After a ruthlessly crowded yr for video video games, you’d suppose I’d be able to decelerate and take a breather. Sadly for me, the online game business rests for nobody. 2024 is true across the nook, and it’s already filling up with new recreation releases — a few of which threaten to be 100-hour affairs that might preserve gamers occupied for a whole yr.
Whereas 2023’s large releases had been set in stone earlier than the yr even started, 2024’s launch calendar is extra of a thriller. We all know what’s coming within the first few months and have a obscure concept of some video games that’ll drop by the yr, but it surely’s not fairly clear what the massive breakout releases or vacation system sellers will probably be but. As a substitute, we’re sitting on a pile of high-profile RPGs, area of interest initiatives, and attention-grabbing indies. Any of these video games may very well 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 certainly one of 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 Misplaced Crown — January 18
I used to be already offered on Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown from its first trailer this summer time. A return to the collection’ 2D roots appeared like an ideal solution 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 mostly on its early hours, The Misplaced Crown is already shaping as much as be a spectacular 2D platformer with diverse fight, tons of optionally available content material, and an enormous world to discover. If the complete 20 to 25-hour journey is nearly as good as what I’ve already performed, we could also be 2024’s first Recreation of the Yr contender inside weeks.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — January 26
Yakuza: Like a Dragon took me abruptly in 2020. It was my first introduction to the wild world of Yakuza, and it could 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 liked 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 prime of its profitable, turn-based fight. It doesn’t appear to be it’s skimping on the collection’ signature silliness both, because the Hawaiian journey will deliver some really eclectic facet content material, like a full Animal Crossing-like life simulation mode.
Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth — February 29
Let me put it plainly: Remaining Fantasy VII Remake is certainly one of my prime 10 favourite video games of all time. Whereas it might be polarizing, I like the best way it subverts all expectations to ship a significant reimagining about characters — and their creators — battling their predetermined fates. Whereas I’m not anticipating the a lot greater Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth to be as thematically centered, I’m greater than prepared to proceed Cloud’s unknown journey and see Sq. Enix’s new tackle characters like Vincent Valentine. If it may ship the identical steadiness of playful goofiness and high-concept meditating on heady themes, it needs to be one other smash hit.
Princess Peach Showtime! — March 22
It’s been a really very long time since Princess Peach has gotten her personal journey. 2005’s Tremendous 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 ladies. It’s far too early to say if Princess Peach Showtime! will rectify that awkward second, but it surely’s at all times thrilling at any time when Nintendo begins enjoying round with a wholly 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 form of recent franchise her royalty has at all times deserved.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau — April 23
Out of all the pieces revealed at this yr’s Recreation Awards, Tales of Zenzera: Zau has caught with me essentially the most. That’s largely due to the passionate introduction Surgent Video games’ founder Abubakar Salim gave earlier than its debut trailer on the present. Salim set the stage for an emotional recreation 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 seems to be like a slick and thrilling 2D action-adventure recreation with a wealth of powers to find. The truth that it additionally seems to be to ship a uncooked, private story solely makes that pitch stronger.
Animal Properly — Early 2024
Animal Properly has been on my radar ever because it was first introduced final yr. The visually distinct Metroidvania has gamers exploring a darkish, pixelated world stuffed with animals. After I performed it final yr at Summer season Recreation Fest, I used to be immediately drawn in by its mysterious, atmospheric world. What intrigues me most of all is that developer Shared Reminiscence teases that the 2D world is loaded with secrets and techniques – a few of which it doesn’t count on gamers to seek out for years after some collaborative sleuthing. If it may stay as much as that promise, I feel you’ll be an indie recreation that will get the identical heat reception as final yr’s Tunic.
Flock — Spring 2024
I performed numerous video games at an in-person Day of the Devs occasion this month, however there’s one I can’t cease fascinated by: Flock. The newest recreation from the parents behind Wilmot’s Warehouse feels prefer it was tailored to my pursuits. It’s a nature-watching recreation the place gamers fly round on the again of a chicken and categorize a bunch of goofy critters. It’s a mixture of a 3D journey and a intelligent deduction recreation with gamers observing a colourful world and figuring out its creatures primarily based on context clues. It looks as if the precise form of enjoyable expertise I’m at all times keen to sit down down with come spring.
Metaphor: ReFantazio — Fall 2024
If it wasn’t already clear that 2024 goes to be the yr of the RPG, look no additional than Metaphor: ReFantazio. The brand new mission comes from the inventive minds that introduced us Persona 3, 4, and 5, which is a powerful sufficient pedigree to get us excited. The gameplay trailers we’ve seen to this point tease a sweeping fantasy story stuffed with the identical stylistic touches which have made fashionable Persona video games such a phenomenon. Much more thrilling is that a lot of it stays a thriller. Its newest trailer features a host of oddball photographs, 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
For those who’ve but to play Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, you then won’t understand why Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is such a giant deal. The action-adventure recreation is certainly one of 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 fitting methods. Whereas it’s unclear if Hellblade 2 will take that very same method, developer Ninja Idea has proved that it has one thing particular on its arms with the collection. The extra cinematic sequel ought to increase 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 recreation so very important.
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story — TBA 2024
During the last yr, developer Digital Eclipse has finished one thing that I by no means actually anticipated: It perfected the interactive documentary. Each its Atari 50 assortment and 2023’s improbable The Making of Karateka have redefined the concept of a online game remaster, discovering inventive methods to protect historic context alongside previous video games. Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is ready to take that to the subsequent degree. The digital doc will discover the works of developer Jeff Minter, bringing over 40 of his video games collectively in a single eclectic bundle. 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 considering. It’s a wholly left-field premise for Digital Eclipse’s Gold Grasp collection, however one I can’t wait to take a look at.
That’s solely a tiny style of what’s to return. Dragon’s Dogma 2 seems to be prefer it’ll be a breakout sequel. Avowed may very well be Xbox’s subsequent large unique, and Star Wars Outlaws needs to be a space-faring blast (if it truly 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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