2024 looks set to be another bumper year for video games (let’s just hope the people making them fare better than last year). But with hundreds of upcoming games to choose from, where do you start? Right here, that’s where! We asked our community of passionate gamers about the soon-to-be released titles they’re most excited to play, and now we have a list of indie and triple-A games that we’re itching to try.
We restricted nominations to games that could launch in 2024 - partly so we weren’t inundated with GTA 6 nominations. Most nominees received heartfelt and thoughtful recommendations, but such was the hype in our community that their authors often couldn’t limit themselves to one pick and just had to mention a few others that they were also looking forward to. We then put them all in a poll to see just how much the hype was shared by others across our community.
We’ll lay them all out for you now, starting with a selection of nine most anticipated games, followed by 11 honourable mentions.
Hades 2
Release date: TBA (expected Q2 2024)
Expected platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S
According to our poll, Hades 2 is the most anticipated game of 2024 among our community. The original Hades was a slow-brewing sensation, stirring respect with its 2018 Early Access release and then delirious praise with its full launch in 2020. It’s arguably still the benchmark in its genre, and fans of the award-winning, god-like, rogue-like, dungeon-crawling masterpiece will be hoping for a return to form as they take on the Titan of Time in this next adventure. One of those fans is Damien Mason. Here’s why he’s hyped:
“The first game filled me with pure joy. Dying had a purpose to further the story in a more explicit rather than thematic sense, the art style was beautifully realised, and each character felt distinct. I cared about Zagreus even though he was bratty. The accessible nature of it brought me back to the Switch pre-Steam Deck days, and the second game will absolutely be a handheld mainstay once again. I can’t wait to see the improvements being made, but I’d be happy with more of the same.”
And Damien isn’t our only community member counting down the hours until we get more Hades. It tops Retro Stu’s list too:
“I adore the first one so much. I got into speed running it and - with my baby due in a month - I’m going to be giving any gaming time I have to Hades 2!”
Star Wars Outlaws
Release date: TBA (sometime in 2024)
Expected platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S
For those of us still mourning the cancellation of Star Wars 1313 - yes, it’s been a decade, what of it? - a new hope rests in this open-world action-adventure game and its original scoundrel story. Accompanied by adorable sidekick Nix, players don the boots of outlaw Kay Vess in her journey across the galaxy’s most beautiful planets and scummiest hives of villainy. 18% of Just About Video Games’ community members voted Star Wars Outlaws as their most anticipated game, putting it in second place. Scrbzy is watching the minutes count down until release:
“I’m eagerly awaiting Star Wars Outlaws. I’m a massive Star Wars fan, so I’ll eat up anything they put in front of me, but who doesn’t want a modern, open-world Star Wars game?
“Playing as a galaxy-traversing scoundrel stealing valuable goods while avoiding the Empire sounds like a breath of fresh air for the franchise. Massive Entertainment has intimated that choices are impactful, that reputation plays a key role, and that there will be epic dogfights in your ship The Trailblazer. Essentially, it has all the makings of a great single-player space exploration game.
“There’s a part of me that’s cautious. I’ve been hurt before with the likes of Starfield and the No Man's Sky launch. But I think I’m ready to risk getting hurt again.”
Light No Fire
Release date: TBA (expected late 2024)
Expected platforms: PC (confirmed), major consoles (suspected)
If further evidence were needed that Hello Games has pulled off the gaming comeback of the century, it’s that we’re mega-hyped all over again for its next release: Light No Fire. Like No Man’s Sky, Light No Fire will take place in an expansive, procedurally generated game world rich with fantastical creatures. Expect adventure, survival, crafting, and exploration in an ‘earth-sized’ world. It’s the game Philip looks forward to most:
“Light No Fire was announced at The Game Awards as a follow-up to No Man’s Sky. Instead of spaceships and aliens, this time we get magic, dragons, and anthropomorphic characters such as rabbit-, otter-, and pig-people.”
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Release date: 22 March 2024
Expected platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S
It’s difficult to meet anyone who played the original Dragon’s Dogma and didn’t love it. It perfectly meshes narrative and engaging action, and is laden with unique mechanics that set it apart from other ARPGs. While the series is still criminally underknown in some gaming circles - only 6% of our community members voted for it as their most anticipated game - we suspect that will change once Dragon’s Dogma 2 drops. Letitia Lemon put it forward for her most anticipated game, and we wholeheartedly approve.
“There are several games I’m highly excited for but none more so than Dragon’s Dogma 2! The first game is one of my all-time favourites with its beautiful locations, great controls, epic battles, interesting story, and so much more. It has such a satisfying feel to it; it's easy to lose yourself in the plethora of quests dotted about the map. I was so hooked on the original that I’d leave school during our ‘study lessons’ (which we were allowed to go home for) and play Dragon’s Dogma.
“When the original was finally remastered a few years ago, I was beyond happy to have this game on current-gen consoles, and I remember playing it eight times back-to-back for the Platinum trophy. I even have the Switch version, so I can play on the go too. When the sequel was finally announced, I was thrilled! The previews give it the exact same feel as the original, embodying ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’. I’m so intrigued to see how this game builds upon the first while maintaining its charm.”
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Release date: 30 January 2024
Expected platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S
Putting aside exceptions like Insomniac’s Spider-Man series, Marvel movies tend to be more popular and better made than Marvel games. The opposite is true for DC. Self-proclaimed "genre-defying third-person action shooter" Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has the potential to deliver some of the same dark storytelling for which the Injustice games were lauded. As Damien points out, while pre-release news and previews have raised a few flags, there are reasons to be hopeful.
“The game is already surrounded by controversy with its unwelcome live-service approach and out-of-context leaks, but hear me out: unlike Warner Bros Montréal’s Gotham Knights, Rocksteady Studios has a great track record. If anyone can pull off live service and wrap it in a digestible and entertaining package, I have faith that it’s those folks. I’m more cautiously optimistic than excited here, but I’m hopeful.”
Unrecord
Release date: TBA
Expected platforms: PC
Samuel has been on the edge of their seat waiting for Unrecord to leave their Steam wishlist and enter their library. While there’s no guarantee that Unrecord will see a 2024 release, gameplay footage looks near-perfect already. It's a single-player FPS game with mystery-solving elements which puts players in the body armour of a tactical police officer. The player has the viewpoint of the officer's body camera as they work to solve a complex and increasingly personal case. Made with Unreal Engine 5, gameplay footage is startlingly realistic.
“I've been looking forward to Unrecord because it has both the most realistic graphics of any game by the furthest lengths, and because I’ve always wanted to play a game through the eyes of an enforcement agent. Not a Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell-style badass that obliterates everything, but your everyman normal police officer. The graphics are so good on Unrecord that the developer was required to prove that it was an actual game running in-engine.”
EVE Vanguard
Release date: TBA
Expected platforms: PC
Just About EVE Online members will need no introductions to EVE Vanguard. We ran plenty of bounties during the pre-Alpha playtest in December. If you’re looking to know where to start, we recommend reading this article exploring the Just About EVE Online community’s hopes, dreams, and first impressions for Vanguard. If you just want the short version, here’s what you need to know: Vanguard is a multiplayer PvPvE FPS module that directly affects the EVE Online universe and is directly affected by it. At EVE Fanfest 2023, the devs demonstrated what they have so far and the crowd was blown away. There’s no planned release date for Vanguard, and we reckon it’s unlikely to see a full launch in 2024, we’re allowing it on our list because there’s already been a limited playtest and there will be at least one more this year, so we’ll technically get to play it as it takes shape. As a recognisable name on the EVE scene, FUN INC had a lot to say about CCP’s most ambitious shooter to date:
“Outside of EVE Online, 2024 is all about EVE Vanguard for me. As an avid EVE Online player and near 20-year veteran, I really want Vanguard to work. EVE is like an onion - you peel back the layers to reveal different gameplay styles; PvP, PvE, industry, wormholes, manufacturing, they’re just the tip of the iceberg. But adding a whole new game within the sandbox is a super bold move, and something which I can’t wait to see in action.
“If the pre-alpha game-testing is anything to go by, things can only get better - from a great start, I hasten to clarify - and I’m keen to see how Vanguard develops. With playtests every month for the first six months of the year, it’s going to be amazing to see Vanguard evolve from all that feedback. For me, this is 100% the shooter I’ve been waiting for! I can’t wait!”
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Release date: 9 September 2024
Expected platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S
After having its release date delayed by a year, the third-person hack-and-slash shooter Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 fell off the radar for many. For many, but not for MURRRAAAAY. If you’re intrigued by Space Marine 2, we advise you to check out Murray’s original submission as he goes to impressive lengths about what made the original so compelling and why the sequel will surpass it. 12% of community members voted Space Marine 2 as their most anticipated title. To help explain why, we’ve taken a few highlights from Murray’s submission and shared them below:
“The game looks absolutely stunning, almost like a CGI movie. It’s a massive upgrade on the original! This grim, dark future has never looked more spectacular!”
“The enemies this time are swarms of Tyranids, which remind me of the arachnids from Starship Troopers. I’m sure it will be a blast - quite literally - to tear your way through them as a badass Ultramarine! The latest gameplay trailer reveals that there’ll be more than Tyranids to fight though: Chaos Space Marines will be going toe-to-toe with your squad.”
“It has a three-player co-op campaign that will hopefully bring back memories of fun days playing games like Gears of War. There’s an underutilised magic in a co-op campaign.”
“You’ll be taking part in fast, fluid action - sliding, blasting, and smashing the Tyranid threat to pulp, just like a real Ultramarine would do. Now watch this gameplay trailer and tell me you’re not impressed. For the Emperor!”
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
Release date: autumn 2024
Expected platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S
Between Vampire Survivors and V Rising, the vampire game has risen from the dead in recent years, and the popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3’s Astarion shows that our penchant for fanged friends isn’t going anywhere. That trend will likely only accelerate upon the release of the cumbersomely named Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2.
Paradox Interactive’s sequel has all the trappings of another cult hit. It’s been 20 years since the original, and 32 years since the tabletop game that spawned the franchise. It may have had a messy development, with various changes in senior staff and developer, but perhaps we can take that as a signal from publisher Paradox Interactive that it refuses to release a game that doesn’t meet its usual high standards. After several delays, Bloodlines 2 looks fit for the modern gaming era, and trailers have shown off impressive graphics, unique powers, and promising ARPG gameplay. 12% of our community voted for it, and EveOnlineTutorials can’t wait to have their hunger fed:
“I love The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Werewolf, anything like that. I’m obsessed with vampires. Not in a freaky way mind, I just find the lore and legends fascinating. I’m also obsessed with any game that tackles them. And so my excitement levels couldn’t be any higher for Bloodlines 2. Bring it on!”
avrona wants in on the bloodsucking action too:
“Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is a cult hit that I never got to play. So I’m definitely looking forward to the second one.”
Honourable mentions
Life by You - “I don’t imagine I’ll be playing this too much myself, but I hope it lights a fire under EA and makes it care about The Sims more. Plus, everything seems to be pointing towards some sort of integration with Cities Skylines 2, which I play a lot. I can’t wait to see what it’s all about.” As submitted by avrona. Release date: March 9.
Blight: Survival - “I’m looking forward to Blight, both because of its breathtaking graphics and because it looks like a great game to play with friends. Sending stuff to kingdom come will release all my pent-up stress.” As submitted by DaSamCheck.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - “I’m really excited to see if or how the story of the original game will change, and I’m excited to play as Zack!” As submitted by Lanah Tyra. Release date: February 29.
Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail - “I’m not sure if an expansion counts, but it’s always exciting to get an update to my most played game!” As submitted by Lanah Tyra. Anticipated release date: Q2 or Q3 2024.
Not Only Nine - “A game made by my content creator hero, Larryzaur. I can’t wait until Q4 next year when the full game will be released.” As submitted by Lanah Tyra. Anticipated release date: Q4 2024.
Skull and Bones - “I’ve been waiting for this game since E3 2018, and I’m excited that it will hopefully be released. I can finally hit the high seas with my friends.” As submitted by Max Grauer and avrona. Release date: February 16.
Yet Another Fantasy Title (YAFT) - “This looks silly and charming at the same time. In my opinion, this will be a hidden gem.” As submitted by Sturmer. Release date: TBA, 2024.
Dead Static Drive - “This could be a new Disco Elysium, but with more horror and action.” As submitted by Sturmer. Anticipated release date: Q3 2024.
Black Myth: Wukong - “I don’t necessarily want to play myself, but this stand had the longest line of all at Gamescom. People were standing for six hours to get a 45-minute demo.” As submitted by Sturmer. Release date: August 20.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank - “I enjoyed Tax Evasion a lot and have high - but reasonable - expectations for this one.” As submitted by klobbersaurus68. Release date: January 18.
Requiem of the Ancients - “There was a fantastically generous demo giving a real taste of what the game will have to offer at release.” As submitted by Retro Stu. Release date: TBA, 2024.
So there we have it. Which of 2024’s upcoming games are you most looking forward to playing? Did we miss any gems? Let us know in the comments!
Some text has been amended for brevity. You can find the original wording at the bounty post.
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