2023 was an excellent year for indie games, but 2024 is setting out to be an even better one thanks to the release of some hotly-anticipated titles from developers who become industry darlings with their previous titles and spiritual successors that will make this a year to remember.
Here are our five most anticipated indie games launching in the next twelve months.
Previously in Wccftech’s most anticipated games of 2024: Action, RPG, Horror, Fighting, Adventure, Platform
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (April 23rd – PC/PS5/PS4/XB1/XSS|X)
The Suikoden series is still considered, years after it was put on hold by Konami, to be one of the finest JRPG series ever released. While the Japanese publisher is set to release a long-anticipated, remaster of the first two entries in the franchise, a spiritual successor called Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is finally launching on PC and consoles this year.
Directed by the Suikoden series creator Yoshitaka Murayama, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will come with the same features that made the franchise popular: an emotional story featuring multiple characters, amazing world-building, exciting turn-based combat with tons of options, a mix of 2D and 3D graphics, a wealth of mini-games and side activities to keep players engaged for a long time.
The characters of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes may not be the 108 Stars of Destiny, but there is little doubt that they will leave their mark on the genre when the game is released this April.
Hades 2 (Q2 2024 – PC Early Access)
Topping what is one of the best roguelites ever released is no easy task, but Supermassive Games definitely has what it takes to make Hades 2 an even better game than its incredible predecessor.
Starring Zagreus’ sister Melinoë, the princess of the Underworld, players will experience a tale revolving around the Titan Chronos, who managed to escape imprisonment and is now waging war on Olympus. Hades will obviously play a big part in the story, as Melinoë seems to be traveling to the Underworld to release the God of the Dead from imprisonment.
With fast-paced action and a story that gets told over multiple runs, we can expect Hades 2 to be an amazing roguelite, even in its Early Access debut, which is set for the second quarter of the year.
Pacific Drive (February 22nd – PC/PS5)
Survival games are all about preserving one’s life by any means necessary, and sometimes, all one needs to survive is a trusty old car, as Pacific Drive will demonstrate this year.
The game developed by Ironwood Studios is setting out to be a rather unique experience, as players will have to traverse the Olympic Exclusion Zone in the Pacific Northwest using a station wagon, which can be fully customized over the course of the game. Traversal, however, will not be easy, as the Pacific Northwest is plagued by swarms of metal-eating monsters that cannot wait to devour the station wagon and leave players stranded in the Olympic Exclusion Zone.
With a unique premise that powers some rather creative gameplay mechanics, Pacific Drive has the potential to become one of the best indie games of the past few years when it is released this February on PC and PlayStation 5.
Earthblade (TBA 2024 – PC)
Years after its release, Celeste by Extremely OK Games is rightly considered one of the best platform games released in recent times, so it should surprise no one to see players excited about Earthblade, which is being developed by the same studio.
Controlling Névoa, an enigmatic child of Fate, players will explore ruined Earth while fighting different enemies and making all sorts of discoveries that will reveal what really happened to the planet.
With intricate level design, tight platforming, and exciting combat, Earthblade is sure to become as popular as Celeste still is, if not even more.
Demonschool (TBA 2024 – PC/PS5/PS4/XB1/XSS|X/Switch)
Persona fans are eating well this year. Alongside Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, there will be yet another game launching in 2024 that will scratch the same itch the ATLUS franchise does.
Demonschool is clearly inspired by the first two entries in the Persona series, and it doesn’t even attempt to hide it, with its top-down camera, cartoonish visuals, a school setting that will see players plan their schedule to power-up their characters, social simulation games mechanics, and a combat system where character positioning is just as important as the individual strengths of each party member.
Topping some all-time classics is not going to be easy, but Demonschool seems to have every feature that makes up for a solid role-playing game.
Honorable Mentions
Many other indie games are releasing this year alongside the five titles above. Here are a few other titles with a set 2024 release window to look out for.
