The 12 months 2023 is coming to an in depth. And as time carries on into the brand new 12 months, we’ve obtained much more video games to fill our infinite backlogs, starting from small surprises to our most anticipated recognized launches.

Actually, 2024 is already shaping as much as one other massive 12 months for video games. Proper off the bat within the first quarter, we’ll see RPG followers consuming nicely with the likes of Infinite Wealth, Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Persona 3 Reload.

Princess Peach will get to take the stage, and Ubisoft may ship a little bit of a shock with Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown. Additionally, we’ll (most likely) see the launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Cranium and Bones. That’s simply within the span of January to March!

However what are we trying ahead to, right here at Destructoid? We’ve put collectively a listing of our most anticipated recreation of 2024 to this unranked, unordered record. To not present any form of definitive must-watch, however somewhat, present you a smorgasbord of potential video games to keep watch over.

I already gained massive final 12 months, with my most anticipated recreation turning out to be the thunderous hit of the 12 months. Not that this can be a competitors or something. However I believe we’re in a very good period for role-playing video games, and of all the great RPGs already on deck for 2024, Metaphor is the subsequent one I’ve my eye on.

We’ve been in an actual great place for prime fantasy recently, so this SMT tackle the style already had me intrigued there. Then it roped me in with unimaginable menus and artwork. Now, in a latest dev video, the staff has highlighted a cool hybrid of motion and turn-based fight, in addition to a time administration system that’s very paying homage to Persona. (Becoming, as Metaphor‘s obtained some massive Persona names on workers, together with director Katsura Hashino and character artist Shigenori Soejima.)

Odd title apart, Metaphor: ReFantazio seems to be primed to be a Persona-caliber hit within the RPG area subsequent 12 months. Even towards the likes of a brand new Like a Dragon and Vanillaware tackling ways, I do know that is the one I’m extraordinarily desperate to dig into.

Zoey Handley: Hen Police: Into the Hive

Annually, it’s simpler for me to choose a recognized amount for many anticipated, somewhat than one I’m hoping lives as much as its ambition. I picked Pikmin 4 for 2023, which got here and went. It’s nice, really. I very a lot loved it. However then I moved on. It didn’t go away a long-lasting itch. So, whereas Hollywood Animals seems to be nice on paper proper now, Hen Police: Into the Hive looks like a safer wager.

I liked 2020’s Hen Police: Paint it Purple. The noir photomanipulation aesthetic offers it a singular appear and feel; it’s the fervour behind the narrative that also sticks with me. There’s numerous love behind the world and characters, and you’ll really feel that craft all through. It makes the odd misstep, however earnestness is usually extra beneficial than lawlessness.

This carried via to the latest small prologue recreation, Zipp’s Cafe, which has solely made me extra enthusiastic about Hen Police: Into the Hive. I don’t know if it’s going to be polished, impactful, or revolutionary, however I’m nearly sure that it is going to be precisely what I would like.

Timothy Monbleau: Visions of Mana

Choosing a most anticipated recreation for 2024 was truthfully actually powerful, since there are numerous promising RPGs on the horizon which might be proper in my wheelhouse. In 2023, I had the prospect to check out Persona 3 Reload, Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Dragon’s Dogma 2. And albeit, I’m trying ahead to all of these.

Nevertheless, I typically discover that my most anticipated recreation isn’t essentially the one I believe will likely be a slam dunk, however the one I simply need to be good probably the most. And from what we all know of 2024, nothing compares to Visions of Mana on that entrance. It’s Sq. Enix’s first all-new console Mana recreation in nicely over a decade, and the little we’ve seen to this point seems to be interesting. I really like the vibes and the designs to this point, and if the gameplay can proceed the upward development of high quality we’ve seen between the Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana remakes, this might become an actual hit.

Additionally… if I’m being sincere, I actually wished to place Ys X right here. Nevertheless, I can’t precisely try this with none assure that it’ll truly come out in English subsequent 12 months. So I’m additionally form of choosing Visions of Mana as a result of it’s probably the most similar-looking title to Falcom’s flagship sequence that’s on my radar proper now. I’m not saying that’s a great cause to choose Visions of Mana as my most anticipated recreation, nevertheless it undoubtedly is a cause.

Steven Mills: Remaining Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Wow, 2023 was an incredible 12 months for video games however 2024 is already trying prefer it’s going to be simply pretty much as good, particularly for RPG lovers. It was onerous to not be part of Eric right here and go along with Metaphor: ReFantazio. I’m an enormous fan of the SMT formulation, however Metaphor’s setting has me much more .

However after a lot back-and-forth, I went with Remaining Fantasy VII: Rebirth. Having the ability to discover the world of Gaia on current-gen methods goes to be a blast. Cosmo Canyon? Costa del Sol?! The Gold Saucer?!?! As nice as Remaining Fantasy VII Remake was, it feels prefer it’s going to finish up being an appetizer in comparison with what Rebirth has in retailer. Extra importantly, it seems to be just like the narrative will function much more thriller and chaos within the story everyone knows from our childhoods, and I’m all for it.

I’m additionally very excited in regards to the upcoming Factorio enlargement, Factorio: House Age. I’ve over 1,000 hours within the base recreation and nonetheless discover myself going again in with varied mod packs. The enlargement seems to be as if it should broaden on the bottom recreation with one other 60-100 hours of content material whereas additionally constructing upon the core methods which might be already there. As I mentioned, 2024 seems to be prefer it’s gonna be a terrific 12 months.

Smangaliso Simelane: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Hellblade: Senua’s Saga is a mission that tries to do one thing slightly totally different out of your common recreation. It makes an attempt to depict psychosis, however in a means that’s genuine and makes use of totally different senses. The result’s a murals that’s typically overwhelming however by no means sacrifices authenticity.

I really like Hellblade, however it’s tough across the edges. It options puzzles which might be irritating to resolve, and the fight leaves a lot to be desired. Properly, we’ve got a sequel on the best way and it seems to be like we’re going from an experimental AA recreation to a fully-fledged AAA title set to outshine its predecessor.

We haven’t seen a lot of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2’s fight and gameplay but, however the visuals are gorgeous. That is Ninja Principle’s probability to enhance and totally flesh out the revolutionary concepts launched in Hellblade. My hopes are excessive that we’ve obtained one thing particular on the best way.

Andrea Shearon: Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

Endwalker put a pleasant bowtie on a few of Remaining Fantasy XIV’s largest threads, bringing one of many realm’s largest battles to an in depth and bookending a few of our earliest beginnings, harkening all the best way again to A Realm Reborn’s theme track, “Solutions.” Now, it’s time to begin recent with a brand new enlargement in Dawntrail.

In a 12 months the place I backed off my regular FFXIV routine, it’s good to sit up for one other massive journey with Dawntrail’s breezy summer time ambitions. As extra of a hermit, swamp creature form of gal, model 7.0’s summer time vacation-style episode wasn’t my cup of tea at first, nevertheless it’s grown on me. If something, I’ve discovered to belief the method relating to XIV, and in some unspecified time in the future, it’ll ship on the emotional turmoil and extensional disaster story beats I crave.

Although a journey centered on Meracydia is my dream, I’m excited for what’s to return in Tural. Dawntrail period updates embrace main enhancements to FFXIV visuals, new glamour options, two DPS jobs, and the return of one among my Endwalker favorites, Erenville. Throw in a few dragon cameos and extra awkward Estinien moments, and I promise I gained’t complain once more till 8.0.