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If you thought 2023 was a banger year for games, then you might want to brace yourself for the next 12 months and clear your schedule. While PlayStation and Nintendo have several exclusives locked and loaded on those respective systems, PC gaming still has plenty to choose from and the year ahead is already stacked with confirmed games. No matter your genre preference, there are major releases on the horizon covering them, and those are just the games that we know of currently. Fantasy fans can look forward to Avowed, Dragon's Dogma 2, and Final Fantasy 14's Dawntrail expansion, there's some big escapist action to unwind with in Anger Foot and Helldivers 2, and more relaxing games are also around the corner. For more games, you can check out what's in the pipeline in 2024 for Xbox and PlayStation 5, or see all of 2024's confirmed release dates.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden - February 13
Jusant and Life Is Strange developer Don't Nod Entertainment is headed to the 17th century for its next game, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. Ghostbusting action in a haunted world and starring two cursed lovers, the game stars both Antea Duarte and Red mac Raith in a game of magic and mystery when it ships out, just in time for Valentine's Day.
Skull and Bones - February 16
After numerous delays and alleged upheaval behind the scenes, Skull and Bones has finally set a course for the busy waters of February 2024. Set during the golden age of piracy, it's up to you to assemble the saltiest crew on the high seas, set sail, and carve your name into buccaneer history.
Slave Zero X - February 21
Swift swordplay, killer combos, and a deliciously squishy art direction? It has to be Slave Zero X, a game that juggles Devil May Cry, Strider, and Guilty Gear influences together to create a slick and stylish adventure. It's a fast-paced and bloody title to look out for, and it's also one of the more visually distinct games coming out this year thanks to its mix of '90s-inspired 2D animation, 3D environments, and a catchy soundtrack.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons remake - February 28
More than 10 years after it was first released, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is getting the remake treatment. Like the original game, it'll still be a tight blend of puzzle-solving and storytelling, but with an updated audio-visual design, expect this adventure to hit your emotions harder than ever when you get to the end of its story.
Homeworld 3 - March 8
Few games have managed to capture the solitary beauty of space and throw in riveting real-time battles like the Homeworld series did so many years ago, and Homeworld 3 has some big space-boots to fill when it drops out of warp in March. Fleet combat on a grand scale, this new chapter in the series offers strategic freedom in 3D spaces, cinematic galactic clusters to wage war in, and an intriguing story in an age of cosmic uncertainty.
Alone in the Dark - March 20
After deciding to wisely avoid tangling with Alan Wake 2 last year, developer Pieces Interactive has used its extra time to polish up this latest entry in the Alone in the Dark franchise. With some Hollywood star power, Gothic influences, and a story featuring dual protagonists, you might want to play this game with the lights on when it arrives later this year.
Dragon's Dogma 2 - March 22
The original Dragon's Dogma was a bold reinvention of the fantasy genre when it first debuted more than a decade ago, and so far, it looks like Capcom is doubling down on everything that made that game so special in this long-awaited sequel. The Pawn system looks more fleshed out, the open world feels bigger than ever, and the combat has received some welcome upgrades to help each subclass feel more distinct. 2024 has several big fantasy games lined up, but Dragon's Dogma 2 could be a highlight in this magical genre.
Braid: Anniversary Edition - April 30
Braid is still a fantastic platforming game with fascinating time-manipulation gameplay mechanics, and this year, the 2008 classic is getting an artistic glow-up. The Anniversary Edition features a more detailed art direction, improved animations, and an upgraded soundtrack. In case you missed out on it when it first arrived, you won't want to miss out on this release--especially if you're in the mood for some beautifully inspiring entertainment.
Destiny 2: The Final Shape - June 4
What secrets lie at the pale heart of the Traveler? Come June, Bungie will be wrapping up a decade-long storyline in Destiny 2 as players explore new territory, face off against the Witness, and wield powerful new abilities in the ultimate fight for survival.
Black Myth: Wukong - August 20
Journey to the West has received countless adaptations over the centuries, and Black Myth: Wukong is putting its own spin on that ancient story. Namely, an action-packed romp across a mystical land where you'll flex the monkey king Sun Wukong's magical might against all manner of monsters in this good-looking Souls-like adventure.
Anger Foot
The game is afoot in Anger Foot, as you'll be unleashing glutes of fury more powerful than any firearm in your arsenal. It's a colorful stomp through levels full of cannon fodder foes as you cycle between guns and your furious feet, laying waste to the criminal underworld in the process. Fans of action games that don't take themselves too seriously will probably get a kick out of this one.
Ara: History Untold
There's an underrated joy to grand strategy games where you take a civilization from the Stone Age straight to the Space Age, and if you're of the opinion that there aren't enough of these games available, we have good news! Oxide Games is putting its own creative stamp on the 4X genre with Ara: History Untold, a game where there are no pre-set paths to victory and endless possibilities as you define the world around you in pursuit of a new golden age.
Ark 2
Big changes are lined up for Ark's ambitious sequel, as the game is shaking up its combat with a Souls-like influence and diving deep into a story mode anchored by the Wheelman himself, Vin Diesel. At its core, it's still a survival game set on a harsh alien world full of deadly dinosaurs, but at least you'll be able to gaze at them in all their Unreal Engine 5 glory before they chomp down on you.
Avowed
Obsidian Entertainment has been on a roll with games like The Outer Worlds, Grounded, and Pentiment, and for the studio's next project, it's looking to unleash an enchanting first-person fantasy game. Set in a world of sorcery and secrets, it'll be up to you to rescue the kingdom of Aedyr from destruction. Legions of monsters stand in your way, but fortunately, you're a dab hand at wielding swords, spells, guns, and shields in your quest. Find your combat groove, discover new lands, and save the day when Avowed eventually releases.
Baby Steps
Imagine that you're unemployed, you've got nothing going for you as you kill time in your parents' basement, and all of a sudden you're whisked away to a strange land waiting to be explored, one clumsy footstep at a time. A literal walking simulator from the minds behind Ape Out and Getting Over It, Baby Steps looks hilariously frustrating as you learn to trudge along and find meaning in a wasted life.
Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story
Bandle City has long been a fan-favorite location for League of Legends players, and this year, those cozy woods are in the spin-off spotlight. A crafting RPG from Graveyard Keeper developer Lazy Bear, Bandle Tale is a fun adventure revolving around knitting magic and restoring a portal network in the Bandlewoods.
The Casting of Frank Stone
Talk about a match made in heaven--or hell--as Supermassive Games is entering the Dead By Daylight universe to bring one of the more infamous characters of that horror game to life. Similar to its work in The Quarry and The Dark Pictures Anthology, The Casting of Frank Stone will be a story-driven experience where choices matter, spine-chilling twists lurk around the corner, and high-stakes horror will reveal more about the sadistic killer and his homicidal legacy.
Dustborn
Ready for a road trip across the Divided States of America? Dustborn is an upcoming single-player game about hope, love, friendships, and robots, and as undercover agent Pax, you'll need to hone your punk-rock skills across a divided continent. When the going gets tough, Pax can slug it out with nefarious forces, but her real power lies in a lingual arsenal of words that can influence hearts and minds or send enemies flying.
Frostpunk 2
The original Frostpunk game forced you to make some pretty tough decisions to keep humanity alive during a lethal ice age, and in Frostpunk 2, don't expect those decisions to get any easier. Set decades after the world succumbed to global cooling, Frostpunk 2 fine-tunes its city-building design to give you even more tools to build your colony, grow it, and watch it thrive while you attempt to keep your thirst for power in check.
Ghost Bike
Put the pedal to the tarmac in Ghost Bike, a new game all about ferrying lost souls between the world of the living and the world of the dead. As a streetwise kid on a mission to revive the last of the Ghost Bikes, you'll be saving souls, maintaining your magical bicycle, and engaging in challenges across the stylized open world that Ghost Bike is set in.
Hades 2
Hades 2 marks the first time that Supergiant Games has ever worked on a direct sequel, and in this follow-up to its critically acclaimed 2020 roguelike dungeon-crawling game, the studio is aiming to make a bigger and better experience when Hades 2 enters its early access phase. Players will control the princess of the Underworld, Melinoe, as she takes on the Titan of Time and his endless forces in a more mystical world of gods and monsters.
Helldivers 2
As the last line of offense in a galaxy crawling with alien threats, it's up to you to enlist in the armies of Helldivers 2 and bring freedom to these barren worlds. With its tongue firmly in its cheek, Helldivers 2 is a squad-based action game that's definitely legally distinct from Starship Troopers. You've got liberty, high-tech firearms, and propaganda on your side, and the only real danger to watch out for are gung-ho soldiers when they unleash a barrage of bullets.
Hyper Light Breaker
Hyper Light Drifter fans rejoice because, after a lengthy delay, it looks like developer Heart Machine is ready to release its next game in early access in 2024. A co-op action role-playing game, Hyper Light Breaker is a big 3D shift from the 2D design that made Hyper Light Drifter an instant classic in 2016. You'll be able to explore open worlds, fight savage monsters, unlock gear, and take on the Abyss King in neon style when you aim for that perfect run.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
How do you improve on what many consider to be the ultimate flight simulation game? Four years later, Asobo Studio aims to answer that question with an authentic tour of the skies that doesn't give you just an exhaustive selection of aircraft to fly across the globe, but the chance to master their unique characteristics in real-world situations as well. From small firefighting helicopters to mammoth cargo planes, you'll be able to pursue new career paths in an even more authentic simulator of air travel.
Neva
Gris developer Nomada Studio isn't straying too far from its playbook for Neva, as the game is shaping up to be a mesmerizing combo of emotionally charged action and meditative beauty. As Alba, it'll be up to you to explore a decaying world alongside your wolf cub companion, dodge the nefarious forces following you through the rot, and do whatever it takes to find a new home.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game
It's a tale as old as time, as Killer Klowns From Outer Space is yet another classic horror movie property that's getting the asymmetrical multiplayer treatment. That's not a bad thing at all--just look at the superb Texas Chain Saw Massacre--and Illfonic Publishing has a great track record in this space with games like Friday the 13th and Predator: Hunting Grounds.
Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail
2024 looks set to be a big year for Final Fantasy 14, as in addition to the long-running MMORPG making its way to Xbox Series X|S, a new expansion is also scheduled to launch in the summer. Like its previous expansions, Dawntrail will introduce a ton of new content, raise the level cap, and add new job classes to master as you explore strange new lands.
The Rise of the Golden Idol
Nothing beats a good detective game, and if you were a big fan of 2022's The Case of the Golden Idol, you can sharpen your mind for a brand-new selection of crimes set in a decade of blood and disco fever. There'll be 15 strange cases of crime, death, and depravity, as well as a grand mystery that unravels across the psychedelic '70s in this groovy collection of whodunnits.
Star Wars Outlaws
There's a galaxy full of opportunities to discover in Star Wars Outlaw, a new game in the franchise that isn't an EA-developed open-world adventure. Instead, Ubisoft is taking a tour of the Outer Rim, joining scoundrel Kay Vess in a high-stakes mission to pull off the biggest heist of all time. As one of the most-wanted criminals in the galaxy, you'll need to outfight, outwit, and outplay the opposition while keeping an eye open for lucrative opportunities to exploit.
Pony Island 2: Panda Circus
Pony Island 2: Panda Circus is all about making bargains with the eccentric deities who reign over The Earth Prison, escaping the Underworld, and trying to keep your soul intact. And if there's enough time, it's also about playing a video game within a video game in this latest title from Inscryption developer Daniel Mullins Games.
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