2023 was a pretty big year for the gaming community. However, that’s likely to pale into insignificance compared to what’s coming in the year ahead. Some of the world’s largest developers will be releasing titles across the gaming spectrum, hoping to inculcate even more people in the habit.
So, what’s coming down the pike? Let’s take a look.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Coming in at the top of the list of hotly-anticipated games for 2024 is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second in the reboot series after the triumph of Final Fantasy VII Remake, a tour de force by developer Square-Enix. The game faithfully recreated the original 1997 Final Fantasy VII in stunning detail, enabling players to move through the visionary world of Mako reactors and Materia for the first time (and meet all the fully-voiced characters up close).
What do we know about this game so far? Well, we know that the 2024 title will add the open-world element that was so revolutionary in the original Final Fantasy VII game. Players will leave the confines of Midgar (as they do in the original) and travel around the world to places like Kalm, Junon (with the big cannon), and Nibelheim. Square also teased trailers featuring Cosmo Canyon and even the return of Vincent, an optional character in the original game you acquired after unlocking certain secrets.
Naturally, we expect Sephiroth to feature extensively in the new game. Whether there will be a battle with him remains to be seen, but Zack Fair and the rest of the characters from SOLDIER should appear.
Hopefully, this time, the story will be a little clearer for players. The original had a great plot, but it was hard to understand with 20th-century graphics and dodgy Japanese translations.
Tekken 8
Not to be outdone by Mortal Kombat, Tekken 8 will be released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S this year. The game will commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Tekken saga, promising players a chance to enjoy the ultimate showdown between the father and son duo, Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama, as in other games.
Players are most looking forward to the game’s AI system. This addition will make playing the title against the computer more enjoyable. Improved graphics, animations, and ghost battles are also expected.
Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws is another hotly anticipated game after the triumph of Battlefront II. Gamers are looking for a game that will make up for some of the disappointment of recent years, with lackluster titles from the world-famous IP. Fans are also hoping that Star Wars Outlaws will also make it into stores, given the cancellation of Project Ragtag and Star Wars 1313.
The game may still struggle, though. Developer Ubisoft remains adamant that its approach to open-world gameplay is best and that the recent successes of Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild are flukes.
However, ultimately, gamers will decide. While it might be nice to have an Assassin’s Creed game with a Star Wars skin on it, the underlying gameplay elements could disappoint some gamers.
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong
The two names most associated with Nintendo are Mario and Donkey Kong. Now, the developers are making a game that includes both characters, available for Nintendo Switch in February (so not too long to wait).
The game builds on the ideas from the original 2004 release of the same name. The goal is to navigate through various obstacles. Multiplayer options are available for those who want to play with friends.
Alone In The Dark
Alone in the Dark is another game expected to make waves in 2024. The game was originally supposed to be released in 2023, but problems forced the developers to delay it until March this year.
The original Alone in the Dark was released in 1992. The survival horror game relied on a basic graphics engine and plenty of text to thrill gamers.
The new version will be fully immersive and more gruesome than the original. Pieces Interactive, the game’s developer, is also hiring some big guns to get results for gamers. For instance, it’s hiring David Harbour from Stranger Things and Jodie Comer from Killing Eve.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
When Capcom released Dragon’s Dogma in 2012, the game became an overnight success and cult classic. Players kept returning to the game, enjoying its J-RPG elements.
Capcom says that the new game will refine the original instead of introducing new concepts and gameplay mechanics. The developer doesn’t want to play around with the original formula too much, since that’s what players seem to love. In terms of analogies, Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be more like the Doom (2016) franchise reboot than Doom 3, which tried to take the IP in a more horror-filled direction.
However, we will see some changes. For example, Capcom wants to increase the role of Pawns, giving them more skills to assist you on your adventure. It will also add some new classes to help broaden the gameplay mechanics and prevent playthroughs from feeling the same.
The Last Of Us Part II Remastered
The Last Of Us Part II Remastered is a game that adapts the HBO TV series The Last of Us. It is a newer version of The Last of Us Part II which was released in 2020 to much critical acclaim. You won’t have to wait long to play this title, either. The Last Of Us Part II Remastered is coming out in January.
The factors getting people excited vary considerably from one commentator to another. The main change will be the upgraded 4K output, made possible by the PlayStation 5’s enhanced visuals. However, players will also get access to previously unseen levels and get extra commentary from the development team to put the rogue-like survival mode in context.
Wolfenstein 3
Though unlikely, 2024 could see the release of Wolfenstein 3, the third installment in the trilogy released over thirty years ago. Players will battle Nazis and attempt to bring down the regime in what will undoubtedly be among the most satisfying shooters in history.
The majority of the gaming community believes Bethesda will release Wolfenstein 3 at some point in 2025. However, there remains an outside chance that we could see it in the next twelve months.
Unfortunately, the game is being held under tight wraps, so we know hardly anything about it. Most commentators believe the game will be set after the fall of New Colossus and follow the protagonist’s attempts to deal with the fallout. However, that remains to be seen.
Avowed
Another title worth waiting for is Avowed by Obsidian. The game will be an Elder Scrolls-like adventure, set in the Pillars of Eternity universe.
We still don’t know when the title will be released, so you might want to entertain yourself with a pool game until then. However, we do know that it will be a first-person RPG, offering Obsidian’s trademark charm and eccentricity.
As yet, there is hardly any public information on Avowed. The trailer sure looks good, but we’ve been hoodwinked by gaming studios before, so don’t read too much into that.
IMAGE CREDIT: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-building-sitting-on-top-of-a-lake-next-to-a-forest-Xh1IyBukL3g
Rise Of Ronin
Finally, we are expecting Rise of Ronin at some point in March on PlayStation 5 from Team Ninja. The game is set in war-torn 19th century Japan and will see players battle it out in the Tokugawa Shogunate’s chaotic rule and the black ships from the West. You will be anointed as a nameless warrior, tasked with saving society from collapse, exploring pre-industrial Japan on horseback.
Categories: Gaming Talk Stuff
