2023 was one of the best years for video games in recent memory; what’s cooking in 2024? Since I’m a lover of basically every video game genre, this list will contain AAAs, indies, and everything in between.
Top 12 games to look forward to in 2024
I’ve seen people online joke that with all the extremely anticipated games and movies coming in 2025, 2024 has been dubbed a filler year (like how there are filler episodes in anime). After seeing this list, I think you’ll disagree.
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While there are many games we know are coming in 2024 that we don’t have an official date for and there are many games that will be released this year that we don’t know about yet, this list contains a handful of games I think are gonna be great.
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
Arguably, Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth is going to be the biggest game of the year. Personally, I’ve never understood the hype around Final Fantasy, but I know it’s beloved by many — and this one has Sephiroth, so it’s gonna be crazy.
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth is coming out on February 29, 2024. Now is the time to play through Final Fantasy 7: Remake Intergrade to get caught up with the story.
Pacific Drive
Honestly, one of the games I’m most anticipating in 2024 is Pacific Drive. I love the niche genre of games that gives you ownership over a customizable, functional vehicle and lets you free-roam with that home base, and Pacific Drive is just that in a survival roguelike form.
The spooky Pacific Northwest atmosphere, the customizable, upgradable, drivable car, the line between exploring and surviving — it’s all calling my name. Pacific Drive doesn’t have a firm release date yet, but it will be released in 2024.
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Destiny 2 The Final Shape
It’s totally understandable if you aren’t a Destiny 2 fan — at this point, I hardly am myself. However, since I’ve been engrained in the game for so long, I can’t wait to experience the epic conclusion of the Light and Dark Saga that we’re getting in Destiny 2 The Final Shape.
Destiny 2 The Final Shape is releasing on June 4, 2024. I’m hyped Bungie has delayed it, going back to the drawing board to make sure the quality of The Final Shape is as high as possible. As excited as I am for The Final Shape, it’ll be equally interesting to see what happens after The Light and Dark Saga.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
I’m not the biggest Persona fan and even I’m stoked to Metaphor: ReFantazio. This game is a brand new IP for the Persona developers set in a medieval fantasy. Get ready for a deep (and long) story with turn-based and action combat.
Expect Metaphor: ReFantazio in Fall 2024. I’m prepared for Metaphor: ReFantazio to convert me to the Persona-like ways.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma 2 looks insanely good. It’s a single-player medieval fantasy experience where you get to choose your class and work your way toward slaying a dragon. The buildcrafting is strong, the combat looks solid, and the options for how to take down enemies ranges from climbing on them to destroying them with smoke magic.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 comes out on March 22, 2024. If you want to get a taste of what the game will be like, you can play Dragon’s Dogma 1 now as it’s free in many places including PS Plus.
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Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
This one has been in development for a while and I’m very excited for it. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice rocked the gaming world in 2017 with its incredibly character-driven story centered on a Celtic woman suffering from a form of psychosis. It’ll be very interesting to see where Ninja Theory takes the story in Hellbalde 2.
Like many games on this list, Senua’s Saga: Hellbalde 2 doesn’t have a confirmed date but it is coming in 2024. I’m more confident in Hellblade 2 releasing this year since it has been in development for so long.
Zenless Zone Zero
Zenless Zone Zero is basically Genshin Impact or Honkai Star Rail but in an urban setting. MiHoYo has killed it with Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail, and if you haven’t at least tried those games, you should.
Zenless Zone Zero comes out on April 26, 2024. Prepare to grind for anime mommies and zaddies (I hate that I wrote that).
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
There is somewhat of a cult following around S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and that’s because it’s one of the best-crafted open-world survival games to date. People have been anticipating S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 for decades now and finally, in 2024, we’re getting the sequel.
After a few delays, I’m hesitant to believe that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl will be released in 2024, but my fingers are crossed. I loved the Metro series and if this is better than that, you know I’ll be playing it day one.
Star Wars Outlaws
If you love the Star Wars: Jedi series as I do, then you’re probably jazzed at the prospect of more of that with Star Wars Outlaws, but sprinkle in some GTA elements. Ubisoft can be kind of hit or miss, but I won’t pass up the opportunity to play a bounty hunter open-world Star Wars game.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see this game get delayed to 2025 or beyond, but it is currently scheduled for some time in 2024 and I hope that’s when we get it.
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Tekken 8
I’m not much of a fighting games fan — I played my fair share when I was younger with Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Soul Calibur 2, and Super Smash Bros. — but Tekken 8 is gonna change fighting games forever. I’ve had a couple of fighting-fan coworkers play the Tekken 8 beta and they’ve been blown away.
The release date for Tekken 8 is January 26, 2024. Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat 1 fans aren’t ready.
Hades 2
Hades was one of the best indie games of all time. It redefined the roguelike genre through interesting characters, a meaningful story, and tight gameplay. There’s no doubt Supergiant Games will do it again with Hades 2.
Hades 2 is launching in early access in Q2 2024 which I’m kind of disappointed at. I’ve played games that I’ve loved in early access before and it hurts to rip myself away from the game to wait until it is finished and it’s often awkward to return. I’d much rather get a full-game release, but with Hades 2, I’ll make an exception.
Avowed
Though it’s been a minute since we’ve heard anything on Avowed, it does have a 2024 release date and it’s absolutely one to look forward to. If you liked Fallout: New Vegas (which is arguably the best of the series), Outer Worlds, and/or Grounded, then get psyched because the developer of those games, Obsidian Entertainment, is making Avowed which is basically Skyrim in the Pillars of Eternity universe.
These days, I get hesitant to build my excitement for a game when there isn’t a firm release date, so, like with Star Wars Outlaws, take the Avowed 2024 release date with a grain of salt. If Avowed does drop this year, it’ll be massive.
Wishful thinking and honorable mentions
Those are the big swingers coming in 2024, but there are a few honorable mentions and wishful-thinking games I hope come out in 2024, or at least get announced.
The Plucky Squire is an indie game coming in 2024 that looks adorably fun. It blends 2D and 3D combat into a storybook style that I need to play. The Gecko Gods is another indie that looks amazing — beautiful art and you play as a Gecko, what more could you want?
The other AAA games that I’m looking forward to in 2024 are Skull and Bones (I’m crossing my fingers that it doesn’t flop, but I also wouldn’t be surprised), Visions of Mana (I’m a new fan and the new game looks amazing), Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (to me, the delays look like they’ve paid off since the traversal and combat looks more fun… we’ll see), and Black Myth: Wukong (ancient Chinese mythology is such an untapped angle).
I’m a huge Sony Pony, so all I want in 2024 is games (or at least game announcements) from Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Guerilla Games, Housemarque, Media Molecule, and Santa Monica Studios. All of those Sony studios have been quiet for far too long which is why I’m hopeful for an exciting 2024 for Sony… but I’ve been let down before.
Overall, 2024 has some amazing games coming out. I hope there are some surprises as well like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Hi-Fi Rush, two of my favorite games of the year, were in 2023.
