The 16 most anticipated games of 2024

It’s been a bit since we’ve gotten an update on Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, but anxious fans of the action-adventure series can now get their sword-swinging, puzzle-solving, platforming fix in the Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Featuring a new blade-baring protagonist — possessing his very own set of time-bending skills — the promising spin-off features stylish, acrobatic combat, metroidvania exploration and screen-swallowing boss battles, all complemented by a stunning 2.5D presentation evocative of the franchise’s classic, side-scrolling roots.

A year after the TV adaptation of The Last of Us pushed us to the edge of our seats, we’re getting a prettied-up re-release of the 2020 sequel that the show’s second season will largely be based on. And while we look forward to revisiting Joel and Ellie’s living nightmare on PS5, it’s The Last of Us 2 Remastered’s new No Return mode that’s really got us itching to return to the fungal apocalypse. Playing as a variety of main and supporting characters from the story, the rogue-like mode will allow fans to truly put their survival skills to the test as they scavenge resources and combat Cordyceps creeps over repeated, increasingly challenging runs.

2023 was a fantastic year for players of all stripes, but it was particularly special for fighting game fans, who got to blister their thumbs in both Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1. Hopefully those fans have plenty of fight left in them, as the fists and feet will continue to fly in Tekken 8. Built from the ground up to leverage the current-gen consoles’ considerable power and performance, the series’ latest entry boasts cutting-edge visuals, overhauled gameplay — with a fresh focus on especially aggressive fisticuffs — and a packed roster of both fresh and returning fan-favorite pugilists.

After years of being pigeonholed as a quirky, cult-favorite Japanese role-playing game series, Sega’s long-running Yakuza franchise found more mainstream success with 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon. That entry’s fresh naming convention, popular new protagonist — Ichiban Kasuga — and innovative turn-based combat all return in the direct sequel, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The follow-up also features original series’ star Kazuma Kirya in a new story-driven journey set in Hawaii and Japan. Of course, you can also plan on ditching the critical path to indulge in the clever mini-games, absorbing side activities and other meme-worthy distractions the series is known for.

Following a disappointing demo, as well as players’ increasing malaise toward live-service games, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was delayed from last year to address some of those concerns. Now the open-world, co-op action game, which pits up to four players — as DC baddies Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and King Shark — against the good guys is ready for prime time. And while we still have some reservations over its online leanings (and less-than-glowing early previews), we can’t help but be eager to try the next title from Rocksteady Studios, the developer that redefined superhero gaming with the superb Arkham trilogy.

While 2024 will undoubtedly continue to see rumors swirl and fans speculate over the release of a Switch successor, the year’s still got a few current-gen Nintendo exclusives to get excited about. First up, Mario vs. Donkey Kong revisits the rivalry that began in ’80s arcades when the big ape kidnapped the plumber’s ladylove, Pauline. Both a remake and reimagining of the Game Boy Advance classic, the fresh take not only significantly updates the visual presentation and clever puzzle-platforming gameplay of the original but adds local co-op to the key-securing, Mini-Mario toy-rescuing mix.

Another title that’s suffered more than its fair share of delays, Ubisoft’s open-seas pirate game Skull and Bones looks to be worth the wait. Over the course of its recent beta runs, the pillaging, plundering entry has proven to be so much more than a watered-down take on Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’s naval warfare. On top of its cinematic, hull-shattering combat, the long-awaited title sports a surprising amount of RPG-flavored depth and a stunning, immersion-ratcheting presentation that’ll have you tasting the sea salt on your tongue and feeling the sunshine on your face.

2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake not only surpassed the expectations of longtime fans of Square Enix’s PlayStation classic but saw legions of newcomers pick up Cloud Strife’s iconic Buster Sword. The saga continues this year in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second installment of the planned remake trilogy. Following their misadventures in Midgar, the sequel finds Cloud and his crew destined for the “Forgotten Capitol” as they continue hunting big bad Sephiroth. Toss in an evolved take on its predecessor’s excellent combat, an expansive world ripe for exploration and, of course, Chocobo mounts and Rebirth’s set to re-raise the remake bar.

Much like last year’s acclaimed Alan Wake 2, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the long-awaited follow-up to a decade-plus-old cult favorite fans had almost given up on. But that patient, passionate following will finally be rewarded, as the upcoming Dragon’s Dogma 2 is reviving many of its predecessor’s defining elements — from the protagonists’ class-like vocations to their party of helpful pawns — while placing a fresh emphasis on choice-driven gameplay. Powered by the same polygon-pushing tech that’s brought Capcom’s recent Resident Evil titles to scary-real life, the epic-fantasy action RPG is also especially easy on the eyes.

We loved playing as Princess Peach in last year’s excellent Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but the experience also had us pining for a full-on spin-off starring the fan-favorite supporting character. Princess Peach: Showtime! aims to answer the call, putting the Mushroom Kingdom ruler in the protagonist role for the first time since 2005’s Super Princess Peach. But more than giving fans the follow-up they’ve patiently waited for, the new action-adventure looks to elevate the formula with a charming live-theater presentation and promising role-swapping gameplay. The latter will find Peach trading her signature pink dress for ability-granting costumes — from sword fighter to pastry chef — as she battles a showstopping threat and attempts to save the day, er, play.

Microsoft has spent the last several years acquiring talented development studios to craft AAA Xbox exclusives, a strategy that’ll begin bearing fruit big-time in 2024 — likely beginning with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. The sequel to 2017’s revered original, Ninja Theory’s Norse mythology-inspired third-person action-adventure is aiming to harness all those horses beneath the Xbox Series X’s hood to significantly build on its predecessor, deepening the visceral combat and fleshing out its haunting world. Beyond the nuanced melee-focused gameplay and immersive atmosphere, the tortured protagonist’s continuing journey promises to pack a narrative punch that’ll further peel back the layers of her fragile mental state.

If Senua’s Icelandic nightmare sounds a bit too dark for your tastes, Avowed should easily satiate your appetite for looting, leveling and laying waste to mythical monsters. Developed by RPG veterans Obsidian Entertainment, the fantasy action-adventure — which unfolds within the popular Pillars of Eternity universe — promises rich, player choice-influenced storytelling, expansive environments and colorful character interactions. Factor in the ability to vanquish plague-afflicted foes from behind skull-splitting melee weapons, screen-clearing magic attacks and even dual-wielded firearms and the first-person action RPG should ably scratch that Skyrim itch.

This long-awaited sequel to the PC classic usually gets slotted into the “first-person shooter” category, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is far from your typical trigger-pulling fragger. More evocative of the haunting Metro series than, say, Call of Duty, the single-player, story-driven follow-up complements its clip-emptying action with absorbing survival horror and immersive sim elements. Unfolding across the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone — a massive, mutant-filled, anomaly-plagued open world — it also invites brave players to explore, scavenge and survive in incredibly atmospheric — and radiated — environments that should have little trouble fueling future nightmares.

Adored by fans and acclaimed by critics, 2020’s Hades offered an intoxicating mix of Greek mythology, hack-and-slash combat and rogue-like progression. The wickedly anticipated sequel aims to retain its predecessor’s endlessly engaging formula, while evolving its Underworld-escaping template. For starters, the follow-up introduces a fresh, female protagonist, an immortal witch with a bone to pick with brand-new big-bad the Titan of Time. Toss in a bigger world, a witchcraft-tied story and an arsenal of dark sorcery skills to make the ancient gods’ powers look like parlor tricks and we can’t wait to head back to hell when this one hits early access.

In the capable hands of The Division series’ developer Massive Entertainment, Star Wars Outlaws always had the potential to offer a solid open-world adventure set in the galaxy far, far away. But after its promising reveal last summer, it’s set Wookiee-sized expectations to deliver the Star Wars game of our dreams. As the blaster-wielding Kay Vess, players will utilize combat skills and scoundrel smarts to steal, survive and secure their freedom in a galaxy run by ruthless crime syndicates. If all that doesn’t have you signing up for this Han Solo simulator, Outlaws also includes seamless land-to-space transitions, dogfights, speeder bike chases and a cute, furry companion possessing its own set of sneaky skills.

If adventure has a name, it must be MachineGames, the revered studio responsible for reviving the Wolfenstein franchise with a pair of superb, story-driven first-person shooters. Now the talented team’s applying their Nazi-thwarting skills to an original Indiana Jones story, complete with all the whip-wielding, face-pummeling, puzzle-solving shenanigans you’d expect from the iconic, fedora-sporting archaeologist. The new globe-trotting tale — set between the events of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Last Crusade” — looks to organically blend its first- and third-person action with an incredibly immersive, cinematic adventure to rival any of Dr. Jones’ big-screen adventures.