After the packed year that was 2023, it feels like 2024 may be a bit more of a bridge year, although there’s still plenty for the action fan to look forward to over the next 12 months. A lot of this year’s action games are going big, with Rise of the Ronin and Star Wars Outlaws being full open world, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II at the very least being much larger than its predecessor (Ninja Theory hasn’t confirmed whether they’re going outright open-world yet). Certainly, everything on this list is pushing the technical bar hard, whether it be the dizzying action of Stellar Blade or the UE5 visuals of Metal Gear Solid Delta. Here are Wccftech’s top 5 action games you’ll be battling through in 2024.
Note: Only games with confirmed 2024 release dates are eligible for these lists. Stuff that’s only rumored or speculated to be coming out is relegated to the honorable mentions.
Rise of the Ronin (PS5, March 22, 2024)
Launching exclusively on PlayStation 5 in just a couple of months, Rise of the Ronin is the latest from the Team Ninja folks who made the acclaimed Nioh games. This time around, Team Ninja casts aside the supernatural stuff, telling a more grounded samurai epic set in an expansive open-world version of 19th Century Edo Japan. While you won’t be taking on demons, you can still expect plenty of blood-soaked, thumb-straining Team Ninja combat. For PlayStation fans waiting impatiently for another Ghost of Tsushima game, it looks like Rise of the Ronin could fill the gap nicely.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (PC & Xbox Series X/S, 2024)
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was one of the first games announced for the Xbox Series X/S all the way back in 2019, and it seems we’re finally going to get our hands on the game sometime in 2024. We still haven’t seen that much of Hellblade II in action, but developer Ninja Theory is promising cutting-edge facial animations and a stunningly realistic photogrammetry-assisted recreation of Icelandic scenery. And don’t worry, Senua is still plenty adept with a sword, axe, and other deadly weapons. Senua’s new nightmare has been a long time coming, but it looks like one players won’t soon forget.
Stellar Blade (PS5, 2024)
We’ve been hearing about Stellar Blade for a while (it was included in Wccftech’s Most Anticipated Action Games list last year as well) but it seems like 2024 will be the year it actually arrives. Originally known as Project Eve, the Korean-developed action game has garnered attention for its impressive visuals and the fact that Sony is investing in the project. Stellar Blade’s revealing (and uh, not terribly supportive) costumes have raised a few eyebrows, but the game’s combination of high-octane PlatinumGames-style stylish action and impressive tech is undeniably alluring.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, 2024)
Even amongst the many other acclaimed entries in the series, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater stands out thanks to its unique story, setting, and ambitious mechanics. There’s some reason to be cautious about Konami’s upcoming remake Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater given Kojima isn’t involved, but early UE5 footage has looked fairly impressive, and again, the source material is excellent. Sony has indicated Metal Gear Solid Delta is coming this year, so we’ll find out if this game’s still the big boss soon enough.
Star Wars Outlaws (PC, Xbox Series X/S & PS5, 2024)
The Division creators Massive Entertainment have quietly emerged as one of the most talented and technically proficient studios under the Ubisoft umbrella, and they’re turning their attention toward that galaxy far, far away with Star Wars Outlaws. A full-on interplanetary open-world action-adventure focusing on the rougher side of the Star Wars universe, players will take on the role of scoundrel Kay Vess as she tries to pull off one of the biggest heists the Outer Rim has ever seen. Early gameplay footage of Outlaws has been impressive, and the whole project looks to bring a snappy, fun tone that’s been missing from a lot of recent Star Wars content. There have been rumors of a late 2024 release window, although Ubisoft has since said that mention was a mistake. Still, the game is planned to launch this year, barring any unfortunate delays.
Honorable Mentions and Possible Surprises
Early 2024 sees the release of a couple of major live-service actioners in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Skull and Bones that have inspired a mixed response pre-launch, but who knows? Maybe they’ll shape up better than expected. Later in the year, games like Black Myth: Wukong, Ark 2, and Replaced hold plenty of promise. Of course, there are also the games that are rumored to be coming in 2024 but haven’t been announced or nailed down a release date yet. Ken Levine’s new joint Judas and MachineGames’ Indiana Jones game are both rumored for this year, and who knows what Nintendo might be cooking up for the Switch successor they’re likely dropping sometime in 2024?
Those are the games you’re going to be grappling with in 2024! Any promising action games we here at Wccftech missed? Round up your own list and share it in the comments!
