2024's Most Anticipated Games - Renee's Picks
2024 has a hard act to follow to live up to the incredible release calendar of 2023. That said, there’s still no shortage of high quality games coming this year. No matter whether you play on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or the Nintendo Switch and even its upcoming successor, you’re going to have a lot to play in 2024. Given that, we couldn’t simply pool the team’s thoughts into one top 10 countdown of the most anticipated games, so we solicited 10 from each person to discuss. Today, hear what Renee has to say about her 10 most anticipated games of 2023, sorted from 10 to 1.
10. Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days
When I received an email about Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days I assumed it was just another zombie game. It’s main point of difference to every other zombie game was that it was a side scroller. That kind of caught my attention, as well as the description that it would focus on the mental toll being in a zombie apocalypse would give to characters. Intrigued, I showed up at their booth at Pax, unsure of what I would get. When the developer explained that the game was more like This War of Mine: Zombies Edition, I was all in. Let’s go. I ended up spending thirty minutes at the booth playing through two of the levels. The emphasis is to go into the level with a goal to complete. It seems like a simple concept, but it was a breath of fresh air for an otherwise stale genre. I just need to make sure I don’t kill my character next time I play.
9. Visions Of Mana
I have never played the Secret of Mana series, aside from a very brief stint where I emulated it on my pc back in the early 00’s. I didn’t really get the hype and I didn’t have the nostalgia attached to it. This didn’t stop me from falling in love with what I was seeing in the Visions of Mana Trailer that was shown during the game awards. The combat looked intriguing, and I really loved the art style. I’m hoping they release a demo of this so I can sink my teeth into it and find out whether it’s for me or not. I used to play a lot of JRPG’s on the DS but aside from Final Fantasy XIV, I don’t really play them anymore which is a shame because I do enjoy the heck out of a good RPG. I will absolutely be keeping an eye on this one.
8. Diets and Deities
Another Aussie indie on my list, Diets and Deities caught my attention because it was a rhythm game with a story mode. I enjoy rhythm games but find I have trouble keeping engaged if there’s no story or nothing to work towards. I’m very middling with rhythm games so I often play up to the point that I’m decent and then stop. Having a story to complete will encourage me to keep playing. Even more so when the games story is about a loss of culture and includes foreign music and food to learn about. Games are a great way to experience these things that I may not be able to come across otherwise. Really, it’s a fusion of three of my favourite things, food, music and narrative.
7. Tavern Keeper
If only that bookcase was a bit taller. I will find myself having these thoughts in games like House flipper and in FFXIV’s housing. I wish I could make this cupboard smaller, or that one bigger so it fits. These games will lead to making compromises because you are using items given to you. Tavern keeper changes this by allowing players to adjust everything in the game. The tablecloth is too short? Just lengthen it. Bookcase too short? Just add an extra shelf. It’s a ridiculous level of customisation and I am here for it. There is apparently a story mode and the whole running a tavern part of the game as well. I think the idea is to make your tavern the best in the country of something. I was far too focused on the amount of customisation that was possible. Luckily, there’s a free play mode for nutcases like me who want to just make the perfect tavern and nothing more.
6. The Drifter
I never really played text adventure games as a kid. I wasn’t even aware of their existence. I like reading, so it should be something that’s right up my ally, but I never really felt the need to take the plunge. I ended up playing the demo of The Drifter for my Pax preview series and I was enthralled. The story was captivating and somehow the pixellated art worked perfectly with it, giving the whole thing an atmosphere that isn’t possible in any other medium. The drifter follows a man who is riding a train car back to his hometown because one of his parents had passed on and he needed to be there for the funeral. However, everything gets weird as soon as he arrives. Based on what I played in the demo, The Drifter won Pax’s Indie showcase for a reason.
5. Detective Ridelle
Detective Ridelle is an adventure puzzle game steeped in mystery. It reminds me so very much of Hotel Dusk: Room 512, a game I played on DS and made by Cing. I’m not sure why more of these games aren’t made and why they seem to often come from Japanese studios only. It’s nice to see an Australian company dip their toes into this untapped market and I think the game will be a banger. I got to play the demo after pax and found myself disappointed when it ended. It was exactly what I’d been hoping for from Rain code and found it rather lacking. The fact that the puzzles are made by an escape room expert is honestly icing on this detective cake.
4. Another Code: Recollection
I already own Another Code on DS and Another Code: Two Memories on Wii so it might seem weird that I’m excited for the remake, Another Code: Recollection. I have very fond memories of both games as well as the studio that created them, Cing. Only around from 2005 to 2011, Cing had a way of making the most of the systems features to create interesting puzzles in these narrative driven mystery adventure games. I’m hoping they’ve done the games justice and am excited for more people to discover these underrated games.
3. Princess Peach Showtime!
A lot of the Mario crew have had their own game including Luigi, Wario, Toad and Yoshi. It seems odd that Princess Peach hasn’t really had much chance to shine despite being one of the main cast of the Super Mario series. Of course, there was that disastrous foray into a solo Peach game on DS. Using emotions to fight was a novel idea, but the similarities to a woman suffering PMS couldn’t be overlooked. This is why I’m rather excited to see Peach in Princess Peach showtime. It’s double the excitement due to the theatre theme allowing Peach to wear many hats, just like Mario. Nintendo has done a great job with experimental theming in the past. Like Kirby’s epic yarn, Yoshi’s Woolly world and Paper Mario. I have a feeling this one will give us the Peach game that she’s always deserved.
2. Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
It will be interesting to see if the writers of Final Fantasy XIV have grown tired off ripping players hearts out repeatedly. My guess is they haven’t. As gluttons for punishment, players will queue up on patch day waiting for their chance to play the next expansion in the game, eager to find out what happens next. The most important part of Dawntrail is that clothes will now be able to be dyed two colours. There’s also a graphical upgrade, two new jobs and a bunch of other stuff, but none of that is important. Glamour is the real end game and Final fantasy XIV Two Dyes…I mean Dawntrail, will make me a very happy Warrior of Light.
1. Go-Go Town
I saw the art for Go-go town at Pax Aus and knew it’d be a game that I would enjoy. This was further cemented by the trailer that was playing on the screen. I didn’t really need to see anymore; I knew I would love it. I got the chance to be part of the Go-go Town playtest and yes, I love this game. As the new mayor of Go-go town, it’s the players job to make Go-Go Town into the tourist destination it used to be. It’s a wholesome town builder where, as the mayor, you need to assign your residents jobs to keep the town growing. As it grows, more people will want to move in, providing you with more workers. Alternatively, stop the train and just work on the look of the town. Either way, you’re going to do great.
So that concludes Renee’s list of her most anticipated games of 2024. What are some of yours? Hit us up via social media to let us know what games you are keen on in 2024!
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