Look, 2023 was a pretty great year for games, delivering gems like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate III, and Alan Wake II. But we’re an optimistic bunch, and we think 2024 could be even better.
That’s the vibe we’re getting from the early batch of games expected to launch this year, spanning sequels and original titles alike, ranging from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to Star Wars Outlaws and plenty more in between.
And it’s early still: plenty more games will be slated for 2024, and we might even get the Nintendo Switch 2. Not Grand Theft Auto 6, however—you’ll have to wait ‘til 2025 for that.
But there’s a lot to get excited about already, and we’ve started highlighting the biggest hitters coming down the pipeline in 2024. You’ll find some of our early picks below for games to keep your eye on, but stay tuned as we’ll be updating this list regularly throughout the year to expand it and swap in newly revealed games.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered
Release Date: January 19
With HBO’s The Last of Us television adaptation racking up awards following rave reviews, Sony and Naughty Dog are continuing their efforts to introduce the acclaimed action-adventure series to a broader audience with this upgraded PS5 edition of The Last of Us Part II.
Granted, it hasn’t been that long since the game debuted on PS4 a few years back, but after enhancing the first game for PS5 players last year, this refreshed version of the sequel brings flashier graphics, additional content that was cut from the initial release, and even a new “No Return” survival mode. And it’s not as pricey as your average new PS5 game at $50.
Platform: PlayStation 5
Biggest Video Games Releasing in January 2024
January typically is not an especially busy time of the year for new video games, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing worth playing. Quite the contrary: while January 2024 doesn’t have the meatiest release schedule—especially following the annual holiday barrage—it has a few big releases worth watching. Meaty adventures rule the month, including a new Prince of Persia game and the remastered PlayStation 5 edition of The Last of Us Part II, but there’s also Tekken 8 to deliver some quick thrill...
Tekken 8
Release Date: January 26
Regardless of whether you care about Tekken or even fighting games in general, we implore you to watch the story recap trailer above, which weirdly features Succession’s Brian Cox as he details the many times the games have seen fathers and sons toss each other off of mountains and/or into volcanos. It’s delightfully bizarre stuff.
As for Tekken 8 itself, at a glance it looks like more of the same for Bandai Namco’s long-running fighter, albeit with a fresh coat of polish provided by the latest consoles and PC hardware. But Tekken reliably serves up fun, whether you’re a button masher or skilled brawler, with one of the most diverse casts in the genre.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The Biggest Nintendo Games Still Coming Before the Switch 2
Last fall's critically acclaimed Super Mario Bros. Wonder was described by some as the Nintendo Switch’s swan song—because a follow-up console is reportedly in the works, and Wonder may well be the last seismic Switch exclusive before a Switch 2 rolls out. But it’s certainly not the last notable game that’s set to release for the handheld console. Nintendo has unveiled a variety of upcoming Switch games for 2024 that either tap into familiar characters or put a fresh coat of paint on old classic...
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Release Date: February 2, 2024
After developing the acclaimed Batman: Arkham game trilogy, Rocksteady Studios is making an even larger, open-world Justice League game. Oh, but you’re not playing as the Justice League—no, you’re trying to stop them after Brainiac has brainwashed them, and you’ll do so as the vibrant members of the Suicide Squad, including Harley Quinn and King Shark. Expectations are sky-high, especially launching nine years after Batman: Arkham Knight.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
GTA 6 Preview: Everything You Need to Know About the New Grand Theft Auto
It’s been nearly a decade since Grand Theft Auto 5 was released—but what will the sequel bring? The massively popular open-world action franchise has sold over 405 million copies so far, putting it in the pantheon of the all-time best-selling game series. And that success has ignited widespread excitement over the next entry. Now Grand Theft Auto 6 has been officially revealed, and there’s plenty we already know from the first trailer and announcement, along with subsequent reveals. Here’s what...
Skull & Bones
Release Date: February 16, 2024
Skull & Bones was announced in 2017 and has been in development for a decade as of this writing, so you’ll excuse us for being dubious about its prospects of actually making its release date. But Ubisoft has been flying the flag again lately for this spinoff of the great Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, with promises of naval battles, customizable ships, and online showdown against other squads. Keep your fingers crossed.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Release Date: February 29, 2024
Sometimes it’s a mistake to mess with the all-time classics, but 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake did an impressive job of reinterpreting the influential PSone role-playing gem. However, it was only a sliver of the story: Remake massively expanded just one chunk of the original game into a full-fledged adventure by itself, then teased two more entries in the years to come. The second, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, is due out in February, bringing more of the game’s iconic world into the 4K era.
Platform: PlayStation 5
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Everything You Need to Know
"The world's ending. At least, that's what everyone says." A Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy has been in the works for years, and the second chapter is just around the corner. Join Cloud, Tifa, and the rest of the party to take on the latest chunk of this reimagined take on a classic game from an iconic franchise. Square Enix has set its eyes on the latest console hardware to bring this new chapter to gamers. And we’ve rounded up everything you need to know ahead of release. What is Final Fant...
Princess Peach Showtime
Release Date: March 22, 2024
Smart money says we’ll be wielding the Nintendo Switch 2 (or whatever it’s called) by the end of 2024, but Nintendo still has a few intriguing games in the works for the original device. Princess Peach Showtime gives Mario’s companion a starring role of her own as a hero who transforms into different roles to save the day across a series of theatrical plays. Detective Peach? Swordfighter Peach? We’re keen on Patissier Peach, thank you very much.
Platform: Switch
Nintendo Switch 2 Preview: Everything You Need to Know
The Switch is Nintendo’s best-selling home console of all time, and widely beloved for its rich library of games—a dramatic turn from the middling Wii U before it. But it’s been seven years since the Switch launched, and fans are getting antsy for Nintendo’s next big thing. Luckily, it may not be far off. Rumors and reports point to a Switch successor that will pack in more power than the original while maintaining its winning blend of home console and handheld functionality. We'll call it the S...
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Release Date: Q1 2024
No, it won’t have in-game NFTs after gamers pushed back on developer GSC Game World’s plans in 2021, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl still looks plenty compelling as a first-person shooter with surreal twists and rich storytelling. It’s arriving 15 years after the last entry, and while the previous PC-only entries are considered cult favorites, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s Half-Life vibes and Xbox release could propel this sequel into the big leagues.
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Game Cancels Its NFT Plans After Backlash
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl, sequel to first-person shooter game S.T.A.L.K.E.R., has cancelled its in-game NFT plans after receiving negative criticism on social media, largely from the gaming community. It's the latest example of gamers rising up against NFTs—blockchain-based tokens representing ownership of a digital item. Last week, game maker Ubisoft met vocal backlash from gamers upon announcing its first three in-game NFTs for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. And in November...
Hades II
Release Date: Q2 2024
Hades is one of the most beloved games of the last few years, providing an approachable entry into the tough-as-nails roguelike genre, but with dazzling presentation and sharp storytelling. It’s no surprise, then, that Supergiant Games’ Hades II is one of the most anticipated games in 2024, with an early access PC version set to debut in Q2 before an eventual release on consoles. It looks to have the same vibe, but we’re not complaining.
Platforms: PC
Star Wars Outlaws
Release Date: TBA 2024
Ubisoft, the company behind smash hit series like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, will take a first stab at an open-world action take on the galaxy far, far away in 2024 with Star Wars Outlaws. And it already looks pretty substantial, with the extensive gameplay demo above showcasing the original characters and compelling environments that recall familiar beats while charting some fresh territory. A Disney blog post in January suggested a "late 2024" target, but the company then retracted it.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Star Wars Outlaws Preview: Everything You Need to Know
"He's the chosen one. He will bring balance [to the open world genre]." Star Wars is entering the open-world gaming genre for the very first time with Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws. Gamers will have the opportunity to explore the galaxy, searching vibrant planets with dynamic cities and beautiful landscapes and uncovering new wrinkles in the sci-fi franchise. Embark on your mission as an outlaw, the galaxy is yours to conquer. More and more details have been coming out, and now we have a proper re...
Marvel’s Wolverine
Release Date: TBA 2024
We don’t know for sure yet whether Marvel’s Wolverine will drop in 2024 or perhaps beyond, but given that Insomniac Games first teased it in 2021, we’re hopeful it’ll see the light of day. The famed X-Men lead is getting his own game from the makers of the great recent Spider-Man games, and while we don’t know a whole lot more yet, that’s plenty of reason to be excited. Data stolen from the recent Insomniac hack now suggests the game may not launch until 2025 or 2026, but until we have official word, we're keeping hope (and keeping it on this list).
Platform: PlayStation 5
Edited by Ryan Ozawa
Editor's note: This story was originally published on December 16, 2023 and was last updated with new information on January 15.
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