Keeping track of all the latest video games coming out is an increasingly complex task, what with multiple PC storefronts, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, mobile, and more to keep track of, but don’t worry, I’m here to help. Every month I’ll be running down the games you need to be keeping an eye on, from the big triple-A headliners, to the intriguing indies you might otherwise overlook.
January usually isn’t a particularly active month, but 2024 is actually getting off to a fairly hot start, with the likes of Tekken 8, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Naughty Dog’s expanded The Last of Part II Remastered all on the way. Meanwhile, on the indie front a few potential gems like the striking new character platformer The Cub and innovative CRPG Sovereign Syndicate are on the way.
Note: While I may have played demos or got early access to some of the games recommended in this article, in most cases I’m simply choosing games that look promising, and can’t vouch for the end product. Do wait for reviews before buying!
That said, here are the games you should be looking out for in January…
The Headliners
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, Jan. 18)
The Prince of Persia frachise is making its long-awaited return this month with an embrace of its side-scrolling platformer roots. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown combines old-school 2D action with some new time-based powers reminiscent of later entries in the series. Wccftech’s Francesco De Meo found the game to be a well-designed potential return to form in his hands-on impressions, so you’re going to want to jump on this one. You can pre-order Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown here.
Another Code: Recollection (Switch, Jan. 19)
The Nintendo DS was instrumental to popularizing the Japanese visual novel in the West, with one of the first memorable examples of the genre on the system being Another Code: Two Memories (known as Trace Memory in North America). This was followed by a Wii sequel, Another Code: R. The Another Code games were a bit niche at the time, but they remain well-remembered today, and are getting another chance to shine with the full Switch remake Another Code: Recollection. With visual novels now more popular than ever, hopefully these trailblazing games will get a bit more recognition this time around. You can pre-order Another Code: Recollection here.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered (PS5, Jan. 19)
The Last of Us Part II arrived just months before the release of the PS5, and yet, the game has never received a proper update for Sony’s latest console. Well, that changes this month. The Last of Us II Remastered not only improves the game’s presentation, it adds the all-new “No Return” roguelite mode, restores several levels cut from the original game, and more. Will this game continue to divide audiences? Probably, but if you’re down for what TLOU2 serves up, this is unquestionably going to be the best version of the game. You can pre-order The Last of Us Part II here.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 & PS5, Jan. 26)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the next core entry in the franchise, and like 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon, will once again feature a wacky turn-based combat system rather than the franchise’s traditional brawling action. The game will also feature a face from the past, as it will star both new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and the iconic Kazuma Kiryu, in the series’ first non-Japanese setting, Hawaii. Expect a near-infinite amount of the wild and wacky weirdness that has made this franchise a fan favorite. You can pre-order Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth here.
Tekken 8 (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, Jan. 26)
This past year was a pretty darn big one for fighting games, with the likes of Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 releasing, and now Namco Bandai is kicking off 2024 in a big way with Tekken 8. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 is one of the best-looking fighters to date and should deliver in the ring with new mechanics designed to encourage aggressive play. You can pre-order Tekken 8 here.
Promising Indies
The Night is Grey (PC, Jan. 5)
The Night is Grey casts players as Graham, a regular guy who stumbles upon a lost girl he must help survive as they’re beset by some very strange wolves. An ode to point-and-click adventure games of yore, The Night is Grey serves up rich 2D animated visuals combined with a darker, more disturbing tone than most of the stuff you remember from Sierra or LucasArts. Here’s the Steam page for The Night is Grey.
Sovereign Syndicate (PC, Jan. 15)
Sovereign Syndicate is a new CRPG that combines a Victorian setting with all manner of mythological beasties, from minotaurs to cyclopes and beyond. The game also tosses aside the dice, with certain moments of chance being determined by a unique tarot card system. The CRPG genre can sometimes get a little too stuck in the past, but Sovereign Syndicate looks to be trying a lot of new things. Here’s the Steam page for Sovereign Syndicate.
The Cub (PC, PS4, PS5 & Switch, Jan. 19)
Anyone who owned a Sega Genesis fondly remembers the Disney games with the likes of The Lion King, Aladdin, and Jungle Book proving to be real standouts. The Cub tries to revive the feeling of those games, with smooth, fluid animation and tricky platforming, all set in an original post-apocalyptic world. The result looks to be a experience that’s both nostalgic and thoroughly modern at the same time. Here’s the Steam page for The Cub.
Full List of Games Worth Watching in January:
- The Night is Grey (PC, Jan. 5)
- Momodora: Moonlit Farewell (PC, Jan. 11)
- Top Racer Collection (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, Jan. 11)
- War Hospital (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, Jan. 11)
- Sovereign Syndicate (PC, Jan. 15)
- Time Survivors (PC, Jan. 15)
- New Cycle (PC, Jan. 18)
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 & Switch, Jan. 18)
- Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S & Switch, Jan. 18)
- Another Code: Recollection (Switch, Jan. 19)
- The Cub (PC, PS4, PS5 & Switch, Jan. 19)
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered (PS5, Jan. 19)
- Graven (PC, Jan. 23)
- Stargate: Timekeepers (PC, Jan. 23)
- Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters (Switch, Jan. 24)
- Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (PC, Xbox One, PS4 & Switch, Jan. 25)
- Go Mecha Ball (PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X/S, Jan. 25)
- Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes (PC, Xbox One, PS4 & Switch, Jan. 25)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 & PS5, Jan. 26)
- Tekken 8 (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, Jan. 26)
And those are the games you should be keeping an eye on this coming month. What games are you planning to pick up in January? Did I miss anything you’re looking forward to?
