After a ruthlessly crowded yr for video video games, you’d assume I’d be able to decelerate and take a breather. Unfortunately for me, the online game business rests for nobody. 2024 is true across the nook, and it’s already filling up with new sport releases — a few of which threaten to be 100-hour affairs that might maintain gamers occupied for a whole yr.
While 2023’s large releases have been set in stone earlier than the yr even started, 2024’s launch calendar is extra of a thriller. We know what’s coming within the first few months and have a obscure concept of some video games that’ll drop by way of the yr, nevertheless it’s not fairly clear what the large breakout releases or vacation system sellers can be but. Instead, we’re sitting on a pile of high-profile RPGs, area of interest tasks, and crowd pleasing indies. Any of these video games could possibly be topping year-end lists 12 months from now.
From Princess Peach’s first solo journey in virtually 20 years to the long-awaited sequel to one among my favourite video games of all time, these are the 10 video games we’re already trying ahead to in 2024.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown — January 18
Ubisoft
I used to be already offered on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown from its first trailer this summer time. A return to the collection’ 2D roots appeared like an ideal technique to revisit the basic collection, particularly as its Sands of Time remake stays in improvement limbo. My anticipation would solely double after going hands-on with it and discovering one of many greatest, most polished Metroidvanias I’ve seen but. Based on its early hours, The Lost Crown is already shaping as much as be a spectacular 2D platformer with different fight, tons of non-obligatory content material, and an enormous world to discover. If the total 20 to 25-hour journey is pretty much as good as what I’ve already performed, we could also be taking a look at 2024’s first Game of the Year contender inside weeks.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — January 26
Sega
Yakuza: Like a Dragon took me without warning in 2020. It was my first introduction to the wild world of Yakuza, and it will suck me in instantly due to its lovable hero, Ichiban Kasuga. Its sequel, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, guarantees to ship much more of what I beloved about Kasuga’s story with much more emotional weight. With a loaded story about Yakuza protagonist Kazama Kiryu battling most cancers, Infinite Wealth appears poised to ship an emotional story on high of its successful, turn-based fight. It doesn’t seem like it’s skimping on the collection’ signature silliness both, because the Hawaiian journey will deliver some really eclectic aspect content material, like a full Animal Crossing-like life simulation mode.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — February 29
Square Enix
Let me put it plainly: Final Fantasy VII Remake is one among my high 10 favourite video games of all time. While it could be polarizing, I like the way in which it subverts all expectations to ship a significant reimagining about characters — and their creators — battling their predetermined fates. While I’m not anticipating the a lot larger Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to be as thematically centered, I’m greater than prepared to proceed Cloud’s unknown journey and see Square Enix’s new tackle characters like Vincent Valentine. If it might ship the identical stability of playful goofiness and high-concept meditating on heady themes, it needs to be one other smash hit.
Princess Peach Showtime! — March 22
Nintendo
It’s been a really very long time since Princess Peach has gotten her personal journey. 2005’s Super Princess Peach would attempt to flip the character into a number one girl however draw criticism for constructing its gameplay round her “emotional” nature — a transfer that performed into drained stereotypes about girls. It’s far too early to say if Princess Peach Showtime! will rectify that awkward second, nevertheless it’s at all times thrilling each time Nintendo begins enjoying round with a completely new collection. All we all know to this point is that Peach will get an array of costumes that give her totally different powers, from a swordfighter to a detective. Hopefully, that concept will construct on Nintendo’s success with Kirby and make for the sort of contemporary franchise her royalty has at all times deserved.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau — April 23
EA
Out of every thing revealed at this yr’s Game Awards, Tales of Zenzera: Zau has caught with me essentially the most. That’s largely due to the passionate introduction Surgent Games’ founder Abubakar Salim gave earlier than its debut trailer on the present. Salim set the stage for an emotional sport constructed to assist him course of his grief after his father handed away. That alone was sufficient to pique my curiosity, however the footage that adopted confirmed what appears to be like like a slick and thrilling 2D action-adventure sport with a wealth of powers to find. The undeniable fact that it additionally appears to be like to ship a uncooked, private story solely makes that pitch stronger.
Animal Well — Early 2024
Bigmode
Animal Well has been on my radar ever because it was first introduced final yr. The visually distinct Metroidvania has gamers exploring a darkish, pixelated world filled with animals. When I performed it final yr at Summer Game Fest, I used to be immediately drawn in by its mysterious, atmospheric world. What intrigues me most of all is that developer Shared Memory teases that the 2D world is loaded with secrets and techniques – a few of which it doesn’t count on gamers to search out for years after some collaborative sleuthing. If it might stay as much as that promise, I feel you’ll be taking a look at an indie sport that will get the identical heat reception as final yr’s Tunic.
Flock — Spring 2024
Annapurna Interactive
I performed numerous video games at an in-person Day of the Devs occasion this month, however there’s one I can’t cease enthusiastic about: Flock. The newest sport from the parents behind Wilmot’s Warehouse feels prefer it was tailored to my pursuits. It’s a nature-watching sport the place gamers fly round on the again of a hen and categorize a bunch of goofy critters. It’s a mixture of a 3D journey and a intelligent deduction sport with gamers observing a colourful world and figuring out its creatures primarily based on context clues. It looks like the precise sort of stress-free expertise I’m at all times keen to take a seat down with come spring.
Metaphor: ReFantazio — Fall 2024
Atlus
If it wasn’t already clear that 2024 goes to be the yr of the RPG, look no additional than Metaphor: ReFantazio. The new challenge comes from the inventive minds that introduced us Persona 3, 4, and 5, which is a robust sufficient pedigree to get us excited. The gameplay trailers we’ve seen to this point tease a sweeping fantasy story full of the identical stylistic touches which have made fashionable Persona video games such a phenomenon. Even extra thrilling is that a lot of it stays a thriller. Its newest trailer features a host of oddball photos, from a strolling ship to a battle towards an egg with legs. Say no extra; we’re in.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 — TBA 2024
Xbox Games Studios
If you’ve but to play Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, you then won’t notice why Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is such a giant deal. The action-adventure sport is one among Xbox’s best exclusives, presenting the uncooked story of a personality residing with psychosis. It’s a difficult work that actively antagonizes gamers in all the suitable methods. While it’s unclear if Hellblade 2 will take that very same method, developer Ninja Theory has proved that it has one thing particular on its fingers with the collection. The extra cinematic sequel ought to elevate the bar for Hellblade with a wider scope, extra cinematic storytelling, and an improved fight system. My solely hope is that it holds on to the identical uncooked exploration of an under-discussed situation that made the primary sport so very important.
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story — TBA 2024
Digital Eclipse
Over the final yr, developer Digital Eclipse has accomplished one thing that I by no means actually anticipated: It perfected the interactive documentary. Both its Atari 50 assortment and 2023’s implausible The Making of Karateka have redefined the concept of a online game remaster, discovering inventive methods to protect historic context alongside outdated video games. Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is about to take that to the subsequent stage. The digital doc will discover the works of developer Jeff Minter, bringing over 40 of his video games collectively in a single eclectic package deal. That’ll be bundled with uncommon archival footage and documentary featurettes that inform the story of a wildly inventive artist attempting to create within the grips of an business that isn’t variety to outside-the-box pondering. It’s a completely left-field premise for Digital Eclipse’s Gold Master collection, however one I can’t wait to take a look at.
That’s solely a tiny style of what’s to come back. Dragon’s Dogma 2 appears to be like prefer it’ll be a breakout sequel. Avowed could possibly be Xbox’s subsequent large unique, and Star Wars Outlaws needs to be a space-faring blast (if it really launches on time). With a launch calendar that’s solely simply starting to replenish, we’re already clearing out numerous gaming time for 2024.
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