It may sound redundant now, but 2023 is going to go down as one of the most impressive years in gaming history, both for the quantity of incredible games that we received, but also the variety we had.
From the horrors of Alan Wake 2 to the incredible fantasy of Baldur’s Gate 3, there was something for everyone, and we can only hope that 2024 follows suit, if even in a small fraction of a way. The FandomWire Gaming team has taken a look at the coming year and run through our most anticipated games of 2024.
Our Most Anticipated Games of 2024
Luke Addison (Gaming Co-Lead and Critic) – Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Ever since it was first announced a couple of years ago, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden has piqued my interest. Since then, I got to play it at Gamescom 2023 in Cologne, which further cemented my excitement for it. With the recent delay pushing it into 2024, I’ll now be afforded to give it some serious time when it comes out, rather than rushing my way through it.
After an hour with it, the two main characters Antea and Red left me wanting to explore more of their back story and delve into their characters and their relationship even more, as did the fictional setting of New Eden.
I’m hoping that the developers can really stick the landing with this, as not only is it interesting and unique at face value, but it provides an opportunity for a little variety and a new experience in the semi-open world that gamers won’t have had before.
Daniel Boyd (Gaming Co-Lead and Critic) – Alone in the Dark
I am very excited about a couple of 2024 games that don’t have set release dates like Avowed or Star Wars: Outlaws. However, for the sake of this entry, I’d like to stick to something more of a sure thing, (hopefully, at least, this game has been delayed enough times already). Alone in the Dark has the potential to be the greatest horror remake since Resident Evil 2.
Those who know me know that I love a good scare, combine that with my love of noir fiction, and put two of my favorite actors working today in the two lead roles and I am all in. The demo was also great and despite the repeated delays, I am glad that THQ Nordic is allowing Pieces Interactive to take its time with the development of the game.
The original holds a lot of nostalgia for aging gamers like myself, and I feel as though this project has the potential to be something great. As hyped as I am for Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden and Rise of the Ronin, the Alone in the Dark remake is the 2024 game that I am most looking forward to checking out.
Adil Farooq (Editor and Critic) – Tekken 8
Fighting game fans have been eating well this year with the release of the Titanic Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1, but the real King of Iron Fist comes out just a few weeks after the New Year. Tekken 8 may just be the definitive fighting game.
From what we’ve seen so far, and I even got to play a ton of it during the Closed Network Test, the Closed Beta Test, and the demo, Tekken 8 not only looks immaculate, but it also plays like the most fluid, crisp, and smooth game in all of the next-gen gaming period. The game’s emphasis on aggression with the newly added Heat system changes up the core gameplay so incredibly well that the entire experience feels fresh and new while also being familiar to a series veteran such as myself.
The Tekken franchise has been a huge part of my life, and it feels like, with all the fancy new visuals and epic game modes, it is once again getting the respect it rightfully deserves. I can’t wait to see where the story mode takes my favorite characters, the impact the game will make on the fighting game and eSports landscape, and, of course, make great memories that I and many others in the FGC will undeniably never forget. And because of all that and more, Tekken 8 is my most anticipated game of 2024.
Osama Farooq (Editor and Critic) – Persona 3 Reload
For someone who did not know anything about the Persona franchise, Persona 5 Tactica came as a huge surprise to me this year and ended up being my undisputed Game of the Year. It also ignited an untapped love for the series from deep within me, which is why Persona 3 Reload is easily my most anticipated game of 2024. I have already experienced the tactical and strategic role-playing side of the franchise, so playing through a full-fledged RPG set in the Persona universe definitely piques my interest.
There must be a reason why hardcore fans have been asking for a remake of Persona 3 for a long time, and I genuinely cannot wait to witness the title completely revamped and remade with the modern technology that the gaming industry can utilize today. Since it has been nearly two decades since the original version was released, it feels like the perfect time to revisit the Persona series at one of its extreme highs. Spending time with the Phantom Thieves of Hearts was one of my most memorable gaming sessions in 2023, so being introduced to a brand new set of characters in a Japanese high school environment should be fun.
Ezekiel Hall (Editor and Critic) – Alone in the Dark
When it came to choosing my most anticipated game for 2024, the search felt like both a test of expectation and optimism. While games such as Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden and Rise of the Rōnin seem to have no doubt of success, titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League feel very hit or miss. The one game that I am the most excited to dive into, despite knowing there is some risk of disappointment, is Alone in the Dark.
As a fan of the survival horror genre, the thought of a remake that is fighting to revitalize a beloved franchise is exactly worth taking the chance. The upcoming release also has incredible talent with its main characters played by Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) and David Harbour (Stranger Things), who lent their voice and likeness. Both Comer and Harbour have a great range as actors and are likely to add a necessary element of quality to this next installment.
Although the mocap does look a little off, hopefully with multiple delays in the game the developers have had time to sharpen some of these visuals. It will be an unfortunate situation if gamers do not get to experience the fullest from these incredible actors, who are certainly a big part of my anticipation for Alone in the Dark.
Lisa Kamlot (Critic) – Tales of Kenzera: ZAU
This indie gem was only revealed at The Game Awards two weeks ago, but it immediately grabbed my attention: Tales of Kenzera: ZAU by Surgent Studios. Shaped by the creator’s personal experience with grief, it’s set in African lore and tells the story of a young warrior shaman who has recently lost his father. Hoping to bring him back to life, he travels through dangerous mythical lands to strike a deal with the God of Death himself.
It sounds like the story will be an emotional ride with depth, meaning, and life lessons, and I’m so here for it. It’s packaged in a 2.5D side-scrolling Metroidvania-style platformer, with vibrant colors and a unique art style. Judging by the trailer and description, it features sleek precision platforming, flashy rhythmic combat, and a colorful arsenal of magical special abilities. Throw in some ancestral spirits, mighty gods, and gorgeous hand-crafted visuals, and we have a game that really couldn’t be more up my alley. It’s scheduled to arrive on April 23, 2024, and I can’t wait.
Rohit Tiwari (Writer) – Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
It would have been an easy choice for me if there hadn’t been so many announcements at this year’s Game Awards, still, the game I’m most excited to get my hands on is Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. I have loved the previous games in the franchise and Infinite Wealth has got me pumped again. The game is taking the franchise to Hawaii, US for the first time and will see players play as Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuya Kiryu as they look for Ichiban’s mother.
Sega has described the game as “a larger-than-life RPG” with an “unexpected chain of events,” and seeing how Kasuga Ichiban woke up naked on a beach, I’m all up for the unexpected. Moreover, the combat looks pretty intense as per the trailers, and with more fights, minigames, and a larger map size than ever before, there will be a lot to do and I can’t wait to frequent the streets of Honolulu, pick a few fights, and battle sharks if that’s possible.
Travis Vuong (Writer) – Penny’s Big Breakaway
Out of all the games scheduled for 2024, I’m most looking forward to Penny’s Big Breakaway. Developed by the same team that created Sonic Mania, this is their first original IP and their jump into a 3D platformer. It has colorful visuals and a unique art style that should have any platformer fan on board. There are so many indie platformer games such as A Hat in Time and Frogun but this game is changing the formula again.
There is momentum-based movement, just like Sonic the Hedgehog, and the camera is fixed. Use your yo-yo to leap across platforms and spin on poles. Having Christian Whitehead aka Evening Star behind this new project is enough for me and other Sonic fans to get excited. Sonic Mania is still one of the best Sonic games ever and I’m looking forward to seeing what he and his team can do with a 3D platformer. Penny’s Big Breakaway is scheduled to release in early 2024 on PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Liam Magee (Writer) – Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
My most anticipated game of 2024 is Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. I have always been a fan of the Final Fantasy games, even though a majority of the time they confuse me to my core. However, I have really been enjoying the Final Fantasy VII remakes, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next chapter of the story, especially since it comes out in February. One of the main things I am looking forward to is the mini-games that tend to fill the games’ open world, as they are always so unique and fun to do while also being completely random.
Tanay Sharma (Writer) – Black Myth: Wukong
To be dreadfully honest, there aren’t many games that excite me for the next year in gaming. However, there’s one particular title I can’t wait to see more of. Here’s why I’m most excited about Black Myth: Wukong.
So far, it looks like a game that’s everything I’ve loved about gaming in the past few years. Rich in story, clever in combat, and seems to combine folklore with the right pinch of humanity that’s needed for an engaging narrative. Moreover, the level and gameplay design feel like they’re harnessing the very essence of RPGs to give us a world that’s begging to be explored. What more could I ask from a title, being the hardcore Soulslike fan that I am?
After the gorgeous gameplay reveal, I can only imagine what devs have in store for us. A deep-dive trailer? More about the characters? A memorable, ‘You Died’ screen? Bring it on.
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