Even if the world itself was going to hell in a handbasket, 2023 was largely considered a golden year for gaming. Whether you use gaming as a distraction from doom scrolling, an escape form the horrors of reality, or training for what feels like an imminent apocalypse, 2024 also looks like it’s got what you need. We asked the WellPlayed team which upcoming titles they’re most excited to add to their backlog in 2024, and their responses will shock you. Actually they probably won’t, but there’s nothing wrong with trying to inject some spice into an intro. Let’s do this.
Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio | Publisher: Sega
Platform: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC | Release: 26/01/2024
My very first foray into the Yakuza universe was Yakuza: Like A Dragon, and despite knowing about the series in broad strokes, the sheer wackiness and endearing heart of that game swept me off my feet. Ichiban Kasuga also swept me off my feet (terrible haircut, red suit and all), and I can’t wait to step back into his world of balancing being an arse-kicking gangsta but also a top bloke with a heart of gold. The turn-based RPG is hopping on a plane and going to Hawaii this time around as well, which is an odd choice for an odd game. Count me in.
Kieran Stockton
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Developer: Rocksteady Studios | Publisher: Warner Bros.
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 02/02/2024
It’s been a long, difficult road to finally reach the release of SS:KTJL. With every odd stacked against this game, I hold on to a flicker of hope that somehow Rocksteady captures a unique and fun co-op shooter experience that oozes with their signature Arkharm charm ( Arkcharm, if you will). There is also the heavy weight of Kevin Conroy’s legacy resting on the aching shoulders of this title – being that it will be the last time we see his incredible Batman performance on our gaming screens. It doesn’t even need to be exceptional; just good. Palatable. Enjoyable. C’mon Rocksteady, I still believe in magic.
Ash Wayling
Persona 3 Reload
Developer: P-Studio | Publisher: Sega/Atlus
Platform: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC | Release: 02/02/24
I spent a lot of time recently with the original Persona 3, having itself been re-released on current platforms, which has helped to kindle my interest in this modern remake. Much like Final Fantasy VII, there’s an opportunity for Atlus to broaden the storytelling strokes more so than painting a fancier picture, but the fact we’re getting one of the better narratives of the series mixed with Persona 5’s stunning visual style and turn-based combat should be more than enough for Persona 3 Reload to satisfy my heart once again.
Mark Isaacson
Helldivers 2
Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios | Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS5/PC | Release: 08/02/24
Helldivers was a fantabulous little title, with a goofy attitude and a fun boots-on-the-ground experience. Now Helldivers 2 seems content to blow the lid clean off and deliver a perspective that is far (FAR) closer to your grounded booties. A third-person shooter that openly invites you to enjoy warfare? It’s hard to feel the horrors of war while dad-rock blasts and your allies openly cheer at the carnage and mayhem. It’s a little Starship Troopers, and a whole lot of spreading democracy by any calibre you might be packing – with a huge focus on having fun with your mates by any explosive means necessary. Freedom forever!
Ash Wayling
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Developer: DON’T NOD | Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 13/02/2024
Over the years, French outfit DON’T NOD has established itself as one of AA gaming’s best storytellers and experimental creatives. Whether it’s the evocative Life is Strange series or the bloodsucking action game Vampyr, the studio has never been afraid to try new ideas, and its latest title Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden looks to be fusing everything it has learned thus far. Set in 1695, you play as Red mac Raith and Antea Duarte, two Banishers and lovers who fight ghosts to protect the living. When Antea becomes what she hunts, the pair must work together to find a way to save Antea by making challenging decisions and using weapons, magic and spiritual powers to defeat and banish enemies. I previewed Banishers last year and was hooked by its concept of a love story wrapped around an action game. It’s my most anticipated game of 2024 and thankfully we don’t have long to wait.
Zach Jackson
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Developer: Square Enix | Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PS5 | Release: 29/02/2024
I was as sceptical as everyone when Square-Enix confirmed their plans to expand Final Fantasy VII into a modern trilogy of titles, but Final Fantasy VII Remake was just the kind of ‘remake’ I was hoping for, taking the existing mythology and guiding us down the path not previously taken. They could have just phoned it in, but this unique direction affords the studio the chance to really twist and turn what we already know. Rebirth looks set to expand that idea into an open world brimming with potential in much the same way leaving Midgard in the original changed our perception of the classic FF entry, leaving my hopes high for another stunning entry.
Mark Isaacson
Unicorn Overlord
Developer: Vanillaware | Publisher: Atlus
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/Switch | Release: 08/03/2024
Developer Vanillaware doesn’t miss when it comes to artistic achievement in their titles, as well as having some darned good gameplay ideas underpinning their varied catalogue. For the longest time (as far back as the PlayStation 2) this team were putting out eye-catching and colourful 2D action RPGs like GrimGrimoire and Odin Sphere. In recent years they’ve been a bit quieter but no less impressive, with the must-play visual novel slash mecha tactics game 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. The independent Japanese studio that could, we have been treated to another fetching project courtesy of the upcoming tactical RPG Unicorn Overlord. Likely building on 13 Sentinels’ surprisingly approachable and tight tactical gameplay, it will be surprising if there are any governing unicorns in this interactive art piece. Rather, we’re getting a smorgasbord of middle-fantasy soldiers riding across a very SNES-era RPG overworld before entering impressively scaled real time battles that will likely incorporate plenty of paused-time micromanagement. On pedigree alone, Vanillaware is likely cooking up one of 2024’s best art directions (and soundtrack), sight unseen. To have waited five years for this team’s next opus is genuinely exciting for anyone who has been blessed with experiencing this team’s work.
Nathan Hennessy
Alone in the Dark
Developer: Pieces Interactive | Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 20/03/2024
Hey, it’s that weird horror reboot starring the dude from Stranger Things and Rey’s mum from that Star Wars we don’t talk about. Alone in the Dark really crept up on me, a reboot of the survival horror series that predated even Resident Evil, this new iteration looks to be taking lessons from the past few decades of the genre and retooling them into a narrative-heavy, spooky little thing. Pieces Interactive could pull off something wonderful here, the gothic style leanings and star power alone make this one to watch and the genre could do with a few more heavy hitters.
James Wood
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Developer: Capcom | Publisher: Capcom
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 22/03/2024
Capcom has been having a pretty good period of late. The Resident Evil series has been brought back from the brink of terribly written action games back to the horror genre that made the franchise what it is today. Bring in the success of Monster Hunter and Capcom is riding high (we will forget about Exoprimal). Dragon’s Dogma is a cult classic and a game that I really adore. It’s weird, janky, and easy to be completely lost in – just my style. Dragon’s Dogma 2 looks so damn good, I want it now. I have been wanting this for so damn long.
Jordan Garcia
Princess Peach: Showtime!
Developer: Nintendo | Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Switch | Release: 22/03/2024
My daughter is now five years old and has fully leaned into the recognition of video game characters. With this, a platforming game starring the true face of the Mushroom Kingdom speaks volumes to an experience that I am sure we will both be smitten by. Seriously, if you don’t want to dust off Peach’s long white gloves and get your hands dirty, WHILE playing dress up like old-school Wario platformer titles for special abilities – who hurt you? Why can’t you see the wonder?
Ash Wayling
Rise of the Ronin
Developer: Team Ninja | Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS5 | Release: 22/03/2024
Team Ninja (not to be confused with Ninja Theory) is a studio that can do little wrong in my estimation (like Ninja Theory). With a resume that includes the legendary Ninja Gaiden, and more recently the Nioh series and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, these guys know their way around a hardcore hack-and-slash. Rise of the Ronin looks fairly familiar on the surface, but I’m positive that a generous sprinkling of fun new mechanics and a fresh story set during the fall of the shogunate in 19th-century Japan will make the title worthy of its ancestors.
Kieran Stockton
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Developer: Ninja Theory | Publisher: Xbox Games Studios
Platform: Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 21/05/2024
One game that has always stuck with me was Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Positioned as a AAA indie game, the team at Ninja Theory did an excellent job at creating a unique experience that used sound in some of the best ways I have ever heard in a game. There are arguments to be made about the repetitive nature of its gameplay, but I believe that the repetitive nature of its gameplay is emblematic of the mental battles, and the relentless battering that Senua’s psyche is subjected to. Ninja Theory has been cooking the follow-up to this game for quite a while, and I am very interested to see how they continue her story.
Jordan Garcia
Black Myth Wukong
Developer: Game Science | Publisher: Game Science
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 20/08/2024
This one’s been kicking around for a while, but August 2024 is when we finally get to sample what Chinese studio Game Science has been cooking. The dark fantasy Soulslike vibes are tempered with just the right amount of Monkey Magic, which makes sense as both Black Myth Wukong and Monkey Magic are inspired by the famous 16th-century fantasy novel Journey to the West. We’ve seen some fairly juicy continuous gameplay sections and some obvious vertical slices, but we really won’t know whether this ambitious title is worth the hype until we get a sword in our monkey paws and start making some vertical slices of our own.
Kieran Stockton
S.T.A.L.K.E.R Heart Of Chornobyl
Developer: GSC Game World | Publisher: GSC Game World
Platform: Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 05/09/2024
With the current state of the world in flames as it were, I think we can forgive the fact that the fourth STALKER title still has no clear release window. For the last couple of years, the atmospheric open-world survival FPS has seen numerous delays and not much in the way of any gameplay breakdown. Multiple cinematic and in-engine trailers, sure. I feel somewhat sorry for the Ukrainian developers. Despite relocating to avoid the devastating invasion upon their country, this series also carries with it a storied history of delays, rebuilds, and notoriously buggy builds, but also a rabid fan base and reasonably high critical acclaim. I adore these games for their near-unrivalled capacity to induct players as dark tourists into this photorealistic Chernobyl, while creating an enthralling modern mythology of the place that Fallout wishes it could achieve in its settings. If we finally get a chance to venture into the otherworldly Zone this year, spare a sobering thought for the immense pressure this team has undergone, whatever the final product looks like.
Nathan Hennessy
Anger Foot
Developer: Free Lives | Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform: PC | Release: 2024
It’s a fast-paced, off-the-wall action game published by Devolver. That is all.
But Zach, that’s enough of a reason for me to be all in on any game, why do I need to say more than that? Fine, but I better get a damn hug for writing more.
I was already well and truly on board with the idea of a high-intensity first-person shooter that properly understands how immensely satisfying it is to Spartan kick a goon into oblivion, and then I played it at PAX. Well, I wasn’t wrong, it’s satisfying as hell and so is the game as a whole. Without being too reductive, it has the same run-and-gun thrill as Hotline Miami, which just sweetens the deal.
Adam Ryan
Arc Raiders
Developer: Embark Studios | Publisher: Embark Studios
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
This is a bit of a funny one. Initially, when Arc Raiders was announced at The Game Awards 2021, I was all the way in. The unique aesthetic, crisp visuals and intriguing premise felt like a triple threat that ticked boxes for me. The trailer also played out while Dancing on My Own blasted away in the background, so it garnered extra points. But then, in an attempt to harsh my mellow, it was announced that the game was shifted from a co-op PvE experience to, (you guessed it) a PvPvE extraction shooter. And the crowd let out a defeating groan. This felt like the death nail for my raised eyebrows, as they slid back down my face, but those bushy boys perked right back up when I became obsessed with The Finals over the Christmas break. Without changing this conversation into me gushing about how insanely addictive and fluid The Finals is, quickly becoming my multiplayer game of choice, I’ll just say that Embark has earned more than a little goodwill, so I’m willing to see where they go with Arc Raiders. For now, my eyebrows are all theirs.
Adam Ryan
Broken Sword – Parzival’s Stone
Developer: Revolution Software | Publisher: Revolution Software
Platform: Consoles/PC | Release: 2024
There are very few active series still kicking after almost 30 years, but Revolution Software’s Broken Sword is one of them, with the first entry Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars launching in 1996. After a decade between releases, the long-awaited sixth entry in the famous adventure series Broken Sword – Parzival’s Stone was finally announced last year. Once more it sees our beloved protagonists George Stobbart and Nico Collard entangled in a conspiracy after an ancient manuscript holding clues to the whereabouts of Parzival’s Stone is stolen from a murdered academic the pair were due to meet. This adventure will take them all over Europe as they encounter bloodthirsty treasure hunters, sinister medieval cabals, and the perplexities of quantum physics, all brought to life with the game’s ‘Super 2D’ visuals. I’ve been a fan since I played the very first game and I am looking forward to making new Broken Sword memories this year.
Zach Jackson
Bye Sweet Carole
Developer: Little Sewing Machine | Publisher: Just For Games
Platform: Consoles/PC | Release: 2024
I am an unreasonably huge fan of Chris Darril’s work in the indie video game scene. A sort of auteur behind the tragically underrated Remothered horror titles, Darril returns with a new studio, Little Sewing Machine and a new take on survival horror with Bye Sweet Carole. Set against the backdrop of the early 1900s, you play as a young girl who is investigating a historical missing person case inside a warped orphanage and parallel fantasy kingdom, Corolla. The twist is that everything in the game is styled after the Disney Silver Age of animation, as Little Sewing Machine have carefully and dutifully animated the world to emulate the nostalgic vibe and character designs of the era. It looks bloody incredible, and Darril’s eye for horror narratives backing it up makes Bye Sweet Carole one of my most anticipated titles in years.
James Wood
Dungeons of Hinterberg
Developer: Microbird | Publisher: Curve Games
Platform: Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
Colourful, charming and confident, Dungeons of Hinterberg caught my eye initially with its vibrant cel-shaded art style, but then its premise and setting had me completely sold. Dungeons of Hinterberg is a third-person action-RPG with social sim elements and snowboard traversal set in the titular town of Hinterberg. You’ll play as Luisa, one of many tourists who ventures to the Austrian town to explore and tackle the magical dungeons that appeared a few years earlier. Dungeons are no sightseeing experience though, with monsters and puzzles trying to stop Luisa in her tracks. When she’s not fighting monsters, Luisa will mingle with the townsfolk who will give her helpful tips or new tricks, or simply provide a friendly ear for a chat. It’s landing on Xbox Series X|S (and Game Pass day one), and PC sometime in 2024, and I cannot wait to go on my slaycation.
Zach Jackson
Dustborn
Developer: Red Thread Games | Publisher: Quantic Dream
Platform: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC | Release: 2024
We’ve been here a couple of times already with Dustborn, but this is the year Red Thread Games’ new title should launch. Dustborn is a single-player narrative-driven action-adventure game coming to PC and consoles where players embark on a journey across the Divided States of America as an undercover punk rock band to deliver a stolen package. You’ll assume the role of Pax, an exile and con artist who can weaponise…words, and you’ll need them as you come up against Justice, the authoritarian enforcement outfit out to get you, as well as the people you stole from. Build your crew, meet new people, craft new words, and play some music, as you travel across a gorgeous and colourful rendition of America. This is a little different from what Red Threads and mastermind Ragnar Tørnquist have done in the past but that’s what I love about it.
Zach Jackson
Earth Defense Force 6
Developer: Sandlot | Publisher: D3Publisher
Platform: PS5/PS4/PC | Release: 2024
EDF! EDF! EDF! If you know, you know, but Earth Defense Force is one of those franchises that refuses to die and we’re all the better for it. As part of the titular planetary defence squad, you choose from an array of sci-fi military classes and enter into absolutely mammoth clashes with building sizes bugs and creatures who attack earth in overwhelming numbers at a time. Doing away with modern understandings of ‘good looking’ graphics, the EDF games instead trade in scale, delivering fantastically cheesy stories as you and some mates blast your way through endless waves of critters. Earth Defence Force 6 will undoubtedly continue on this trend, the first trailer already leaning hard into the series’ trademark writing and chaotic gameplay and I personally cannot wait to get back onto the battlefield.
James Wood
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Developer: A44 Games | Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Platform: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
I’m forever championing new IPs. Whether they’re huge AAA swings or indies with an interesting new take on gameplay or narrative, I’d always prefer to see something fresh over Shoot the Gun Five: Reloaded Origins. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is one such new IP that instantly caught my eye with its cinematic reveal trailer early last year. The pirate-era weaponry and setting, mixed with mystical powers and abilities was instantly alluring, but the gameplay trailer that soon followed cemented my excitement. Melee combat looks weighty, and the combination of magical abilities and your fox companion jumping in to lend a paw in the fight is something I can get behind. More than anything, Flintlock looks unique, and that can be rare even in the AA space, so I’m keen to get my eyes on what hasn’t been shown just yet.
Adam Ryan
Forever Ago
Developer: Third Shift | Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Platform: PC | Release: 2024
It feels like…forever ago…I put Forever Ago on my Steam Wishlist. Back then it was being developed by two best friends and aiming to come out in 2021. Since then, Annapurna Interactive has jumped on board and the team is still hard at work on the game, which will hopefully launch this year. A single-player road trip adventure, Forever Ago follows Alfred as he travels to beautiful locations, meets interesting people and documents his journey with his camera in his search for redemption. It’s billed as “a heartfelt story about broken dreams, loss, and regret – but also courage, hope, and true friendship,” and it has a gorgeous art style backing it up. Fans of games like Firewatch and What Remains of Edith Finch should Wishlist this now.
Zach Jackson
Ghost Bike
Developer: MESSHOF | Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Platform: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
The WellPlayed team recently submitted our votes for our game of the year awards, and above all else, it made me realise that I foolishly ignored some of the most acclaimed indie/smaller titles in 2023. So, in an effort to avoid making that same mistake again this year, I’ve got my ear to the ground and my finger on the pulse, ready to play some soul-enriching games in 2024. One such title is Ghost Bike, a semi-open world title that has you riding around a beautifully stylised environment on a push bike, searching for couriers that can ride between the world of the living and the world of the dead. The art style gives me the warm and fuzzies, and I’ll take any excuse to ride a bike in a video game, so it’s a win-win. Plus, look at your little skull pal, he’s a cutie.
Adam Ryan
Hades 2
Developer: Supergiant Games | Publisher: Supergiant Games
Platform: PC | Release: 2024
If you know me, you know I love gay energy and I also enjoy roguelites. Hades was the perfect blend of them both, with thirst trap Zagreus and the game’s delightful cast (Cerberus is a good boy) just all coming together to make every facet of the game so good. Supergiant has gotten better as a developer with every release of theirs and I am very excited to see how they iterate on something as genuinely brilliant as Hades with Hades 2.
Jordan Garcia
Hollow Knight Silksong
Developer: Team Cherry | Publisher: Team Cherry
Platform: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Switch/PC | Release: 2024
I am a simple man. I like cats, chicken nuggets, and Metroidvanias. The Metroidvania genre is chock full of excellent titles, but none have had the staying power of Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight. It is hands down one of my favourite games ever. Its atmosphere, game design, level design, music, art style – it’s all so damn good. Unfortunately, the game’s sequel, Hollow Knight Silksong has been dangled in front of me for far too long and so I am begging whatever gaming god controls the flow of game development to let this game finally come out this year. PLEASE.
Jordan Garcia
Little Nightmares 3
Developer: Supermassive Games | Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/Switch/PC | Release: 2024
I don’t want to say that I’m cautiously anticipating Little Nightmares 3, but that’s probably the most accurate way of phrasing it. Tarsier, the developer of the first two brilliant titles is out, and Supermassive is in, which is equal parts concerning and curious. The reveal trailer certainly contained the same eerie tone and distinct visual style that made the first two games so appealing, so I’m hopeful that it’s a sign that the Until Dawn folks understand the IP. Furthermore, this new take on the series is going to uncharted waters with the addition of two-player co-op, something that appeals to me directly. I played through both of the previous games with my partner eagerly looking on, so allowing her to play alongside me in this world that we’ve fallen in love with will be pretty special. Sorry to get all soppy, the game looks good, I’m keen, there you go.
Adam Ryan
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Developer: Konami | Publisher: Konami
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
Talk about loaded expectations…Metal Gear Solid 3 is an extraordinary stealth action game, and arguably the best title of the PlayStation 2 era. Incomprehensibly dense storytelling with elements of immersive sim interactions, with various ports and a director’s cut, Konami are really playing with fire in 2024. The 1960s Cold War tale is the defining series prequel that recontextualises the entire Metal Gear series both before and after in the timeline. Arguably the only other action title to encapsulate the cinematic video game of this era was Resident Evil 4, and you can be damn sure expectations will be just as high. The question now is how much of the core experience will change to adapt to modern sensibilities. With Kojima likely having no involvement, there’s also concerns around missed opportunities for new writing and cutscenes that eschew sharp contemporary criticisms with the hindsight of recent conflicts. Also, there better be an Ape Escape mode and some sexy new pinups to enjoy in the locker rooms. Come on Konami.
Nathan Hennessy
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Developer: Studio Zero | Publisher: Atlus
Platform: Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
This is a major new IP from the studio behind the institution that is the Persona series. Not much needs to be said here aside from, “Thank goodness”. Now that Persona 5 appears to have been tapped dry after the tired Tactica, fans have been clamouring for something genuinely new from this elite team of stylish JRPG artisans. And what is this? It is neither a Persona game nor a Shin Megami Tensei title. Atlus’ Studio Zero blew us away with a reveal trailer that treads territory similar to the core SMT series, blending various fantasy and mythological elements. Why this should be on the radar of Persona and SMT fans is for one simple reason. Those series have recycled the same pool of Pokémon-adjacent creatures, powers, and core gameplay for decades. This is the first we’re seeing of something genuinely new, and with the calibre of talent involved, these folks stand to once again raise the bar for what is possible in the Japanese RPG space. Seriously, watch the trailer, words cannot describe it.
Nathan Hennessy
Neva
Developer: Nomanda Studio | Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/Switch/PC | Release: 2024
Nomada Studio’s GRIS remains one of the most striking games of the past few console generations, its watercolour inspired world and intimate study of feminine trauma giving the game a memorable style and subject matter in the indie space. With Neva, the Barcelona-based team is continuing to build on that aesthetic and tonal momentum as we follow a young woman on a perilous fantasy journey alongside her lifelong companion, a towering but beautiful white wolf. Little else is known so far but frankly, that’s for the best; Neva, in its short reveal trailer, is already playing with similar concepts as GRIS and will likely be best experienced with a clear head and open heart.
James Wood
Penny’s Big Breakaway
Developer: Evening Star | Publisher: Private Division
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/Switch/PC | Release: 2024
Remember when Sega handed the keys of the Sonic franchise to a small studio that turned it in one of the best 2D iterations of the franchise since the original trilogy? Yes, I’m talking about Sonic Mania, and the lads behind that stellar excursion are about to drop their first independent, original idea in Penny’s Big Breakaway, and it looks just as creative so far. Though we haven’t seen too much of it since it debuted during a Nintendo Direct last year, it gives off big 3D platformer/speedrunner vibes, full of colour and grand ideas that Banjo-Kazooie would be proud of. If this is anywhere near as good as I’m expecting it will be, it could very well be the biggest indie release of the year and then some, granted the competition could be even grander than 2023’s stellar lineup.
Mark Isaacson
The Plucky Squire
Developer: All Possible Futures | Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/Switch/PC | Release: 2024
A storybook that oozes charm. An adventure that leaps off the page – literally. When it comes to clever little games, I am drawn like a moth to a flame to those that break the mould. The Plucky Squire is a stellar looking title from All Possible Futures, made up of talented folks who have assisted with mainline Pokémon games and even produced the similarly gorgeous Swords of Ditto. I have never seen the word ‘plucky’ used so aptly – if this game is even half as fun as it is gorgeous, we’ll be in for a treat.
Ash Wayling
Rose and Locket
Developer: Whistling Wizard | Publisher: Critical Reflex
Platform: PC | Release: 2024
PAX Aus 2023 was a loooong weekend. Thousands of steps were taken, we waited in dozens of lines, dozens more conversations were had with excited developers, and I had to keep an eye on Nathan the whole time to make sure he didn’t disappear back to the board game tables. It was exhausting. Despite the fatigue, it was an amazing few days, filled with intriguing games, filled with copious amounts of promise, but one New Zealand-developed title stood above the rest. The stylised visuals and tight combat of Rose and Locket were a constant source of conversation among the WellPlayed team, bringing us back time and time again to get more hands-on time. The well-voiced characters and alluring premise of a mother fighting against the sins to reclaim the soul of her daughter manage to galvanise my positive feelings for this striking action-platformer. I haven’t stopped thinking about Rose and Locket since October, and I don’t think that’s going to change until the fateful release date arrives.
Adam Ryan
Star Wars Outlaws
Developer: Massive Entertainment | Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
At some point over the past couple of years, Star Wars games have quietly shifted from an industry-wide joke to some of the most competently crafted AAA experiences on the market. With Respawn holding down the fort on Jedi power fantasies, Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft are primed to offer a unique spin on the galaxy far, far away with Outlaws, an open-galaxy third-person shooter that puts us in a smuggler’s shoes, replete with (surprisingly hot) droid companion, planets to plunder, and Empires to dodge or collaborate with. There’s a lot of potential here, the initial gameplay demo looks both visually stunning and sprawling, two things a Ubi title rarely gets wrong. Plus that droid really is hot, you guys.
James Wood
Still Wakes the Deep
Developer: The Chinese Room | Publisher: Secret Mode
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
It’s been a long time between horror drinks for The Chinese Room, but the developer responsible for the popular Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is back with a new first-person horror experience, Still Wakes the Deep. Set in 1975 on an oil rig off the coast of Scotland which has found itself inhabited by an otherworldly horror, your task is to stay alive and save as many of your crew as possible. With nowhere to run, nowhere to hide and no weapons to use, you’ll have to face the horror if you’re to see your family again. I don’t know about you, but a horror game on an oil rig sounds terrifyingly awesome, and I am here for it.
Zach Jackson
Squadron 42
Developer: Cloud Imperium Games | Publisher: Cloud Imperium Games
Platform: PC | Release: 2024
I bloody love space. I love space so much that I really enjoyed Starfield, though I will admit that the game is far below what Bethesda promised and isn’t particularly great, I just love space. It’s natural that as someone who loves space, I came to follow Star Citizen and Squadron 42. While these games are mired in a drawn-out and controversial development timeline, last year’s CitizenCon showed that a lot of what we have been waiting for is actually coming, and the news that Squadron 42 is feature-complete and in its polish phase made me so incredibly excited. The talk among the Star Citizen community is that Squadron 42 will be released at this year’s CitizenCon, and if that is true I cannot wait. Cloud Imperium Games has created some of the best feeling spaceship flight and combat, as well as great FPS combat. If the writing is as good as the game’s insane cast of voice/mocap actors, then this will be incredible. Let’s hope the talk is true.
Jordan Garcia
Transformers: Reactivate
Developer: Splash Damage/Bulkhead | Publisher: Splash Damage
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
What a unique situation I find myself in. In my cold-blooded desperation for a new high-budget Transformers game, I find myself immersed in the stupidity that is Transformers: Reactivate’s pseudo existence. The game has been announced – and nothing more. Numerous sources claim to have insider information, providing piping hot scoops on amazing info gleaned from people close to the project…only it all reeks of bullshit. Any credible information spotlights that the game has had a terrifically troubled development, and at this time it is a rescue project. All that is known is that you will likely shoot stuff, and do it with friends. So I simmer with a coursing rage that this product is likely garbage, but the mystique surrounding it is intoxicating. The game has a fucking toy line! FOR A TITLE THAT CURRENTLY DOES NOT ACTUALLY EXIST! Grumbles.
Ash Wayling
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
Developer: Saber Interactive | Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Platform: PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC | Release: 2024
The original Space Marine title was an anomaly for its time. Solid as a rock and offering an experience like no other, the thrill of wading into a squabbling horde of monstrous orks and unleashing hell was hard to match. That was OVER ten years ago, so sitting on the precipice of a new title is something to be appreciated. A few previews have tickled my eyeballs, promising a similarly visceral experience to what was experienced prior – but with all the modern trimmings and fidelity that can be offered in our latest generation of gaming. For the Emperor, indeed.
Ash Wayling
Wild Bastards
Developer: Blue Manchu | Publisher: Modus Games
Platform: PC | Release: 2024
This one almost snuck up on me, which is fitting given the strategy premise. Aussie/Canadian studio Blue Manchu is back with Wild Bastards, the spiritual successor to the criminally underrated Void Bastards. A hybrid roguelike shooter with pitch perfect humour and a unique visual style, this second helping of absurdity promises more open locations, greater strategic planning across a gang of outlaws, and deeper combat scenarios. If you haven’t played Void Bastards yet, absolutely go check that out while you wait, otherwise I’ll be keeping a very close eye on this one until launch hopefully sometime this year.
Mark Isaacson
The Wolf Among Us 2
Developer: Saber Interactive | Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Platform: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC | Release: 2024
The first season of The Wolf Among Us ended on a note that demanded a second season. That note was struck 10 years ago though, so the follow-up is welcome, if more than a little late. Playing as hardboiled detective Bigby Wolf and solving a mysterious murder with the help and hindrance of twisted fairytale characters hiding amongst the human populace was as fun as it sounds, and enamoured many to Telltale Games’ creation near the height of the studio’s popularity. The second season won’t directly address the ambiguous ending of the first, but who cares? It’s film noir and fantasy’s bastard love child and I need it in my life.
Kieran Stockton
And that’s a wrap. 40 games that the team at WellPlayed are keen for in 2024. Of course, there are more than 40 titles that we could list here but we’d be here all year, and we’d rather be playing games (and then writing about them). Let us know in the comments or on social media what games you’re excited for in 2024.
