2023 has been an incredible year for video games! With the likes of Baldur’s Gate III, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Starfield and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, gamers on all platforms have been kept busy.
Now with the year drawing to a close, you might be wondering what next year has in store for you. So here’s a handy breakdown of what Q1 2024 has to offer so far.
January
War Hospital – January 11th
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell – January 11th
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – January 18th
Prince of Persia is returning to its 2D roots in this stylish new action-platformer set in a mythological Persian world. Battle colossal creatures, parkour around a treacherous world, manipulate time and solve mysterious puzzles.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank – January 18th
Another Code: Recollection – January 19th
The Last of Us Part II Remastered – January 19th
The Last of Us Part II is getting the remaster treatment, and while some may think it’s too soon, there seems to be plenty of improvements made to the game. It’s being tweaked to take full advantage of the PS5, with added DualSense features, accessibility options, behind-the-scenes content, a speed-run mode, and an exciting new roguelike mode ‘No Return’.
Players who own TLOU2 already can upgrade for $20 AUD.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy – January 25th
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – January 26th
The next entry in the long-running Like a Dragon/Yakuza series will feature both main characters Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga. In this turn-based RPG, explore the island of Hawai’i and revel in the over-the-top drama.
With mini-games like ‘Crazy-Delivery‘ where you race around delivering food and performing wild stunts on your bicycle, a full-on dating sim ‘Miss Match‘ and even an Animal Crossing style area ‘Dondoko Island‘ to design and build. There’s almost TOO much on offer in this one!
Tekken 8 – January 26th
Tekken 8 will be packed with new and returning fighters, a whopping 32 at launch. There will also be 16 stages to battle it out on, featuring interactive and destructible elements.
There’s a demo available to play now. I had a quick look recently, and while there’s only a few characters available, I was impressed with what I played. The game looks stunning, easily the best Tekken has ever looked! There’s a new ‘Heat‘ combat system, and the story mode is shaping up to be fantastic.
Rugby 24 – January 30th
Palworld – January 2024 (no set date)
February
Granblue Fantasy: Relink – February 1st
With its flashy combat and colourful anime art style, I’m very much looking forward to the Action-RPG Granblue Fantasy: Relink. Join a ragtag crew as they sail the airways of the Sky Realm, searching for a fabled island beyond the end of the skies.
Featuring both single-player and co-op modes, up to four players can team up to quest and battle together.
There’s a whole host of playable characters announced for the game, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and play style.
Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash – February 2nd
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – February 2nd
After a rough reveal and multiple delays, Suicide Squad is set to finally release in early February. With fans expecting a big single-player narrative from Rocksteady, the reveal that they had pivoted to a 3rd person squad shooter (packed full of generic purple aliens) drew a lukewarm reaction to say the least. The fact that it’s also a ‘Games as a Service’ with in-game purchases and a battle pass was enough to put many off this new title.
With shiny graphics, slick combat, top-tier voice acting and an all-new story it should be a home run… But I can’t help but feel the genre is a mismatch for a Suicide Squad game. Only time will tell!
Persona 3 Reload – February 2nd
Helldivers 2 – February 8th
Helldivers II looks to bring more third-person co-op shooting goodness to players, facing off against massive mobs of alien bugs. You’ll be kitted out with a host of super-powered weapons, like rocket launchers and flame throwers, but if you need to squash a host of insectoids in one go, you can call in a half-tonne super bomb!
Blasting bugs with your friends has never looked more fun — and dangerous! With friendly fire always on, you’ll need to be communicating with your squad so no one ends up with a shot in the back!
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden – February 13th
Ultros – February 13th
With its psychedelic colour palette and eerie sci-fi setting, Ultros has the look and feel of a flower-power-acid trip! You play as Ouji, who awakens on The Sarcophagus a “giant, cosmic uterus holding an ancient demonic being”… So, pretty standard stuff!
The side-scrolling Metroidvania will feature intimate close combat against bug-like creatures and cosmic gardening where you can nurture plants that have a variety of effects on the world.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered – February 14th
Skull and Bones – February 16th
Mario vs. Donkey Kong – February 16th
A remake of the 2004 Gameboy Advance puzzle platformer, this is a game no one saw coming. Donkey Kong has stolen a bunch of Mini-Mario toys, and it’s up to our favourite mustachioed plumber to get them back!
Boasting updated graphics, animated cutscenes, and the addition of local co-op. It’s shaping up to be a fun, family-friendly outing.
Nightingale – February 22nd
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake – February 22nd
Open Roads – February 22nd
Pacific Drive – February 22nd
This first-person driving Sci-Fi survival game has you navigating a supernatural landscape with only your car for company. It features sim and roguelike elements, each run into the wilderness brings new obstacles to overcome and new opportunities to restore and upgrade your vehicle. Scavenge materials, make repairs and unravel the long-forgotten mystery of this inhospitable, otherworldly environment.
Creepy horror vibes aren’t usually my thing, but the interesting mash-up of genres has the game firmly on my radar.
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster – February 28th
Welcome to ParadiZe – February 29th
Ufouria: The Saga 2 – February 29th
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – February 29th
After the fantastic Final Fantasy VII Remake in 2020, all eyes are on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to see how it handles a much larger, more complicated chunk of the FFVII story. From what we’ve seen so far, Square Enix is hitting all the right notes. The gang’s all here this time, with Vincent Valentine, Cait Sith, and Cid Highwind rounding out the squad.
Combat looks more action-packed than ever, with characters teaming up for special synergy attacks. The Golden Saucer, fully realised with modern graphics, almost brings a tear to the eye. It looks to be packed with exciting mini-games and activities like chocobo racing. There are dance numbers, summons galore, buckets of melodrama, and a healthy dose of Zack Fair!
I can’t properly express how much I’m looking forward to this game.
March
Life by You (PC Early Access) – March 5th
Unicorn Overlord – March 8th
Vanillaware, developers of the mind-bending Sci-Fi 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, are looking to reinvent the tactical fantasy RPG with Unicorn Overlord. Combining tactics with an innovative battle system, over-world exploration and an epic fantasy story.
Draw from a pool of over 60 characters, to assemble a formidable army and liberate your homeland. Rebuild towns, customise individual units and train your allies. The mix of gameplay elements, art styles and animations is reminiscent of past Vanillaware games. After the fantastic 13 Sentinels, I’ll be there day one to play this next adventure!
Alone in the Dark – March 20th
Dragon’s Dogma 2 – March 22nd
The sequel to the underrated cult classic Dragons’ Dogma, is shaping up as a must-play for high fantasy lovers. In Dragon’s Dogma II, you play as the Arisen, on the path to fulfill your destiny and slay a powerful dragon. You’ll be accompanied by devotees called pawns; AI-controlled characters that are designed to make you feel like you’re playing with other people.
In this narrative-driven ARPG, journey through an immersive world, wielding weapons and magick and taking on fantastical beasts in action-packed combat.
Princess Peach: Showtime! – March 22nd
Rise of the Ronin – March 22nd
From Team Ninja, the developers of Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, comes a brand new samurai epic. As a wandering ronin, this open-world action adventure has you embarking on a grand adventure, across 19th-century Japan. As Western civilisation encroaches on the nation, it’s thrown into a state of turmoil marking the end of the Shogunate era. With an in-depth multi-choice system, who you choose to assassinate, protect, and ally with will shape the course of history.
Combat looks intense and varied, with the clash of East and West bringing a mix of Samurai melee weapons and Western firearms, giving the ronin a diverse arsenal at their disposal. Team Ninja looks to be leaning heavily into traversal, with horse riding, a grappling hook, and a kite glider at your disposal.
One of my most anticipated games of next year.
South Park Snow Day! – March 26th
Looking at Q1 alone, 2024 is shaping up to be another solid year! Let’s hope we don’t see too many delays from this current roster.
