2024 aims to be another big year for video game releases. With a number of first-party games on the horizon for Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox we can expect big things coming our way in the months ahead. Not to mention the great list of third-party games on the way too. Of course, the year will likely bring some unannounced games our way too. Whatever 2024 has in store for us, here are some of the games we can’t wait to get our hands on.
Marco – New Nintendo Hardware and Games
I can’t describe my excitement for new Nintendo hardware and games in 2024. Rockstar could release GTA 6 in June (won’t happen) and From Software could release the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree tomorrow and it would not match the anticipation I have for whatever Nintendo is cooking up for us. 2024 will be the year Nintendo announces and launches its Switch successor and it is a really big deal for the industry. It means an entirely new platform for games. It is the start of a whole new era of gaming at Nintendo. Not to mention new hardware means fancy new tech to play around with, controllers to collect, games to get lost in and all that magic that comes with a next-gen console launch. In ten years, we’ll look back at 2024 and remember the year because of Nintendo’s new stuff. Nothing else really matters.
Sam – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
It’s hard not to be excited for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The follow-up to 2020’s Remake is still riddled with questions that really need some answers, especially concerning the ending of the last game. It’s a new direction and one that we hope manages to keep doing the original justice while throwing just enough spins in the story to make it unpredictable.
Marco – Helldivers II
I absolutely loved the original Helldivers back in the day so I can’t wait for the sequel. I was bleak when they delayed the game into 2024 but it is just about a month away. By the look of things, Helldivers II has been completely reworked. Everything from the new third-person camera angle to the over-the-top gunplay looks fantastic. I can’t wait to squash my friends with drop pods while taking down towering alien scum.
Sam – Tekken 8
Now that Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 have played their cards, it’s time for Tekken 8 to step into the competition. If the recently released demo is anything to go by, we might be looking at one of the best entries in the entire franchise, delivering faster-paced gameplay and stylish combos while still giving Tekken fans something new and exciting to call home.
Marco – Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s release date took me by surprise. We knew the game was in development but I had no idea we would be playing it less than a year after its reveal. Regardless, I loved the original game and it is about damn time we got a sequel. Dragon’s Dogma 2 looks to capture all the magic from the original but with new spliced classes, bigger enemies and even environmental hazards that alter the combat field. I think RPG nuts are going to love this.
Sam – Lost Soul Aside
Delivering the same explosive energy as Devil May Cry and Nier in its gameplay presentations, Lost Soul Aside is one game that I’m keeping a close eye on. The combat is its biggest selling point – a mix of flashy, ultra-stylish hack-and-slash gameplay mixed with fantastic visuals and some creative encounters. Hopefully, this one lives up to expectations.
Marco – John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando
I love a horde game as much as the next person but John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando has been on my radar since its original reveal in June last year. I will be able to mow down supernatural creatures while I drive through the countryside in my deathmobile, hop out to then shoot hordes of creatures that come running at me while surviving with friends by my side. Not to mention the game makes use of the awesome Saber Swarm Engine that powered World War Z. I think it is going to be quite a fun ride.
Sam – Stellar Blade
Like Lost Soul Aside, Stellar Blade looks like it might also scratch that hack-and-slash itch in 2024. The gameplay is definitely reminiscent of Bayonetta or Devil May Cry too, complete with a female protagonist which we rarely see in these types of action games today. We still don’t have a release date, sadly.
Marco – Princess Peach Showtime
Princess Peach will finally get the spotlight she deserves this year in her very own game – Princess Peach Showtime. The game reminds me of Puppeteer with its theatre-like themes while also shifting away from the traditional Mushroom Kingdom setting. I think the game will let us appreciate Princess Peach a little bit more.
Sam – Rise of the Ronin
Team Ninja never misses (unless it’s Dead or Alive). When it comes to the studio’s action RPGs like Nioh and Wo Long, the team has the formula nailed down and I can’t wait to see them expand that creativity to an open world with Rise of the Ronin. Everything we’ve seen so far shows plenty of promise, from the same exhilarating and brutal gameplay of the Nioh series to the expansive open world of games like Ghost of Tsushima. That’s a winning recipe.
Marco – Black Myth Wukong
While I am still a little sceptical about Black Myth Wukong given some of the controversy surrounding its scripted and fake gameplay reveal back in the day, recent gameplay from the project has shown it might actually live up to its initial announcement. If that is the case, I am ready for it.
Sam – Dragon’s Dogma 2
It’s been several years in the making but we finally have a sequel to Dragon’s Dogma. Capcom might continue its winning streak with another exciting single-player action RPG that not only doubles down on what made the first game so good but expands on the formula even more with some insane set pieces and beautiful locations.
Marco – Hades II
I got on board the Hades hype train a little later than everyone else. I only discovered the game when it launched on PlayStation 5. However, I finally understood what the hype was about. It is still hands-down the greatest roguelike I have ever played. I had to delete the game because I was suffering from an unhealthy addiction to it. I can’t wait to do it all over again in Hades II.
Sam – Avowed
Obsidian Entertainment took a crack at ‘Fallout in space’ with The Outer Worlds and now, the studio is putting its own spin on The Elder Scrolls with Avowed. Tackling fantasy tropes and mixing magical abilities with first-person melee combat, Avowed looks like an RPG that Obsidian will truly excel at.
Marco – Star Wars: Outlaws
My excitement for Star Wars: Outlaws is a mixture of being a Star Wars fan but also that Ubisoft is doing something different. The project seems to deliver what we want from the studio – a solid single-player, narrative-driven game. From what we have seen, Star Wars: Outlaws looks promising – and we’ll hopefully play it this year.
Sam – Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
Development hell doesn’t even begin to describe all that Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has been through but thankfully, it now has a 2024 release window with a fresh coat of blood (or paint). With Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture developer The Chinese Room at the helm, there’s a spark of hope again for this very long-awaited sequel.
Marco – Stallar Blade
Stellar Blade might be Sony’s killer PS5 game this year. It not only looks absolutely gorgeous but its combat, which is clearly inspired by the likes of Bayonetta and DmC, looks so smooth. I am also ready to take down crazed mutated monsters with my sci-fi weapons all while flipping my ponytail around and looking fabulous.
Sam – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Xbox really needs to start stacking wins this generation. Alongside Avowed, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II could be a breakthrough hit for the company – at least judging by how good the first game was. So far, the sequel shows plenty of promise but we hope that it goes above and beyond to deliver a one-of-a-kind gaming experience.
Marco – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
I can’t wait to play more Final Fantasy VII very soon and Rebirth looks to be the full package. Sure, I am little worried about how canon the game is going to be and whether or not Square Enix is calling it “Rebirth” because the story will deviate from the original PS One game. However, it is a Final Fantasy game which means lots of magic, wonderful music to listen to and all the Sephiroth we could ask for.
Sam – Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Technically, Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion and not a full-fledged game but the fact that it’s an expansion to one of the best games of the decade, it deserves a mention. It’s been almost two years since Elden Ring released so whatever From Software is cooking with this DLC, it’s sure to be something grand.
Marco – Granblue Fantasy: Relink
While I am not the biggest fan of the Granblue Fantasy fighting games, Relink is something completely different. It is a JRPG, MMO-like adventure game where up to four players can join up to take on quests and fight enemies together. The concept sounds great. Firstly, it is not a free-to-play game ridden with in-game purchases. Rather, a stylish button-masher with a dedicated story, a large list of highly diverse characters and a beautiful world to explore. We’ll also get to play it very soon. The game is out on 1 February.
