Princess Peach Showtime!
The second-ever game to star Princess Peach, Showtime! looks like a much better take on the character than Super Princess Peach and the stage play setting and costume gimmick give the game a unique identity. With this being positioned as the major game for the first half of the year for Nintendo so far, Princess Peach Showtime! has a lot to live up to, but from what has been shown so far, the game may be one of the best Super Mario Spinoffs yet.
Avowed
Obsidian Entertainment has made some truly amazing games over the years, with Fallout: New Vegas being a fan favourite to this day. Avowed is the newest project from the studio and is set in the same universe as the Pillars of Eternity series but with a change of perspective. Many have taken to calling this Obsidian’s take on The Elder Scrolls and that is not a bad comparison in some respects, but it is clear Avowed will have its own identity with a lot of potential.
Tekken 8
The Tekken series has come a long way since it first debuted and with Tekken 8, the series looks to be going to new heights. New ideas and mechanics are being implemented and long-time fans have expressed satisfaction with what they have seen. With fighting games enjoying a second Golden Age now, the sky is the limit for what Tekken 8 has to offer.
Alone in the Dark
Alone In The Dark was the progenitor of the modern survival horror genre, but the game has not aged well and many later games in the series have failed to live up to the original game’s impact. The new remake looks to take influence from the Resident Evil remakes to accomplish what Capcom did for those games and apply that to Alone in The Dark. Everything that has been shown and that fans have gotten to try has left them wanting more and this may be the big horror title for 2024.
Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws may be the most unique-looking Star Wars game in a long time. A look at the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe with a focus on the scoundrel characters, Star Wars Outlaws has so much potential for its different take on the franchise that we cannot help but be excited. From what we have seen so far, this is going to be a must-play.
Unicorn Overlord
Vanillaware has made some truly amazing games over the years, all of which have a devoted fan following and the newest game from the developer Unicorn Overlord looks to follow in those titles’ footsteps. A tactical turn-based strategy RPG with a truly gorgeous art style and an intriguing story, when combined with the high quality of the gameplay in Vanillaware’s titles, will be a game that cannot be missed.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma was a fresh experience from Capcom when it was first released, as it was a Japanese-made RPG that was designed as a Western-style RPG and came at a time when the genre was in need of a kick in the pants. Dragon’s Dogma was a great game but even with its expansion there was more that could be done and it seems Capcom is taking the opportunity to push the idea further with the sequel. Bigger and Better does not do this justice as it seems Dragon’s Dogma 2 will address most fan complaints and will be a game we should all be excited for.
Visions of Mana
When Visions of Mana was announced, it took many by surprise. The first mainline title in the Mana series in over 15 years, it looks to take the best elements of the Trials of Mana Remake and then take full advantage of the advancement in technology to do more than ever before. New types of environments new types of boss battles and a deep engaging story are all on offer and Visions of Mana could be the game that helps put the franchise back on top. Now if only we get more info soon.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
A Prince of Persia Metroidvania was something unexpected when this game was first announced, but in retrospect, it actually makes sense as a logical evolution of the series. By utilizing what fans have come to expect from the franchise, and the best of modern Metroidvanias, Prince of Persia The Lost Crown could be one of the best games to start the year.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Yakuza: Like A Dragon was a massive reinvention of the long-established franchise formula and brought in new ideas that proved to be a big hit, along with a new protagonist that fans grew to like while playing. The sequel Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth looks to be even bigger and better, not only building on what came before but also introducing new ideas to this new take on the JRPG format. If the stars align, the Like A Dragon series will continue to get even better than before.
Gothic Remake
Gothic was a truly innovative RPG when it was first released but it has shown its age greatly in recent years. When THQ Nordic announced a remake, fans were excited and with good reason as the teaser used to gauge interest in such a remake proved to be very well made. Considering how influential the original Gothic was, this remake has a lot to live up to, but if the proper care is taken, we may see a rebirth of the franchise in a big way.
And there you have it. We will look back at the end of the year and see how these games turned out.
So what was the twist this year? Well, this is only the first list. Later this week we will do a second list focusing on Indie games to watch in 2024. Look for it soon.
[…] took a look at ten games to watch in 2024 earlier this month, but there were no indies included because this year we are giving indies a […]