Let’s be real: 2023’s sheer quantity and quality of game releases are likely to remain unmatched for a long time, so 2024’s most anticipated games list might look a bit puny by direct comparison. However, despite some lingering unknowns (will Dragon Age: Dreadwolf launch this year after the planned Summer reveal? Could Metroid Prime 4 be released as a Nintendo Switch 2 launch title?), even if nothing else happens, the calendar already offers a solid schedule of new games to look forward to. Here’s our Top 10 most anticipated games of 2024.
Action, RPG, Horror, Fighting, Adventure, Platform, Indie, Expansion/DLC, Sports/Racing, Shooter, Multiplayer, Strategy/Simulation.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (February 29 – PlayStation 5)
The Final Fantasy VII remake project continues next month with Rebirth, the second installment in the projected trilogy. Rebirth aims to build upon the successful previous entry while greatly expanding its scope. While it cannot be described as a seamless open world, the game will feature large open areas ripe for exploration, rendered in gorgeous Unreal Engine graphics. The Synergized mechanics makes a comeback from the Intergrade DLC, allowing players to synchronize the attacks of their party members.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 (March 22 – PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X)
Nearly twelve years after the original, CAPCOM is satisfying the wishes of so many Dragon’s Dogma fans with a sequel. Powered by the RE Engine technology, it will enable creator Hideaki Itsuno to fully realize his original vision, thanks to a much larger game world, much more dynamic AI for Pawns, and more interactive environmental physics. Sadly, online cooperative play is still missing, but at least the Pawns will feature a lot more voiced lines to ensure people don’t hear repeated sentences too often.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (May 21 – PC, Xbox Series S|X)
Ninja Theory impressed everyone with Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, an independent triple-A masterpiece that ultimately led Microsoft to purchase the studio in 2018. Almost seven years later, they’re back with a direct sequel that appears to be targeting the same experience first seen in 2017: short, narrative-focused, but extremely intense. This time around, the visuals are even more impressive, thanks to the higher budget and stunning Unreal Engine 5 technology.
Visions of Mana (Summer 2024 – PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series S|X)
Visions of Mana will be the first new mainline installment in Square Enix’s RPG franchise in over fifteen years. That alone excited fans, but the recent footage shared by the developers certainly played a big part, too. The game looks gorgeous and will offer large explorable areas as well as an intricate action combat system. Square Enix said:
Aerial combat allows for physical and magic attacks in mid-air, and the grand and mysterious powers of the Elemental spirits can assist players in the form of specialized weapons. It’s fast-paced, strategic, and endlessly satisfying.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl (September 5 – PC, Xbox Series S|X)
Fans of the open world first-person shooter horror game STALKER have had to wait seventeen years for a full-fledged sequel. Ukrainian studio GSC Game World first announced STALKER 2 in 2010 for a 2012 launch, but then the team disbanded. They got back together a few years later with the goal to release the game in 2021, which became 2022. Then GSC, like other developers in the country, had to deal with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which further delayed the final development phase. Now, though, they’re in polishing mode after showing off the game at public conventions. Players can look forward to a non-linear story with branching options, a 64 square kilometers open map filled with side content, advanced AI, and immersive survival mechanics.
Avowed (Fall 2024 – PC, Xbox Series S|X)
For a long time, Obsidian used to work on franchises that belonged to other studios, such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, Fallout, Dungeon Siege, and South Park, to name a few. With Pillars of Eternity, they contributed to the revival of the cRPG genre while creating their own IP and original fantasy setting. Avowed is the chance for Pillars of Eternity fans to see a portion of Eora, the Living Lands, rendered in beautiful 3D graphics. Obsidian has shared a lot of new gameplay details between last week’s Xbox Developer Direct and yesterday’s appearance on the Official Xbox Podcast, revealing info on combat, companions, story, exploration, and more.
This first-person action RPG is also Obsidian’s first big game developed entirely under Microsoft, which raises the expectation bar for how polished the game should be compared to the studio’s usual outings.
Metaphor: ReFantazio (Fall 2024 – PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series S|X)
Metaphor: ReFantazio is the new project from the makers of Persona. As such, it’s no big wonder that many gamers are thrilled to check it out. The game is set in a world where people must fight their anxiety to unlock their potential. The protagonist and his friends will ‘awaken’ dormant magical powers by facing their fears. They’ll try to bring together the United Kingdom of Euchronia, a world where the eight tribes dislike each other. The combat system is said to be a mix of real time action and turn based commands, with party customization available through the classic Archetypes.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (Fall 2024 – PC, PS5, XSS|X)
Bloodlines 2 rivals STALKER 2 when it comes to problematic development cycles. The game was previously being made by Hardsuit Labs with a tentative 2020 launch window. However, publisher Paradox Interactive was not satisfied with the result and removed Hardsuit Labs from the project. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 was subsequently very nearly canceled, but The Chinese Room shared a pitch interesting enough to convince Paradox. Their project is keeping the same setting (modern day Seattle during an epic Christmas-time snowstorm) while flipping the protagonist’s concept. Whereas Hardsuit Labs had proposed a newly turned Thin-Blood, The Chinese Room wants players to be an Elder vampire who awakens after a long forced slumber.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (TBA 2024 – PC, Xbox Series S|X)
The new game by MachineGames may have been just revealed, but it already skyrocketed on many most anticipated games lists. The gameplay debut showed promising visuals and intriguing first-person action/adventure gameplay. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is based on an idea by Bethesda’s Todd Howard (who is an Executive Producer on the game) and features a mix of linear levels and open maps, with plenty of optional puzzles for people to discover. Players will be able to choose whether to go stealth or use force with various weapons, including Indiana’s signature whip, which is also used extensively to traverse the environment.
Star Wars Outlaws (TBA 2024 – PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X)
Not long after the launch of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Ubisoft Massive appears ready to release another triple-A game based on a Disney IP. Star Wars Outlaws was by far the most impressive demo shown at the Ubisoft Forward showcase last June, looking like a cross between Red Dead Redemption and Star Wars featuring seamless space battles. Protagonist Kay Vess is also a breath of fresh air compared to the usual Force user we see in most Star Wars games. She brings a Han Solo-like vibe while being her own character, and players will be able to tailor the gameplay experience through their own choices as they navigate the dangerous criminal underworld of the Galactic Empire controlled universe.
Honorable Mentions
We’ve got another ten highly anticipated games for your consideration below:
