With 2023 coming to a close, we can now say with certainty that this year has been monumental for gaming. The mere fact that Baldur’s Gate 3, the unexpected sequel to a long-defunct D&D-inspired franchise from the 90s, snatched the Game of the Year award in place of the latest Zelda installment is proof enough that this year has been a wild ride.
Developers and studios have a lot on their hands to come up with an equally exceptional batch of games next year. Fortunately, the first releases of 2024 show great promise. So, let’s check some of the most exciting games slated for launch in the upcoming month.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The popularity of Prince of Persia peaked in the late 2000s. Lauded by critics and long-time fans alike, the Sands of Time remake put the franchise back into the spotlights while attracting new players in hordes. Sadly, a poor movie adaptation and a half-baked sequel nearly blew it out of the water.
Despite these hiccups, Prince of Persia changed platform gaming forever. Although it needed some polishing to make it relevant again, such an influential franchise could not go dormant any longer. That is why Ubisoft decided to introduce a brand-new face for its upcoming Prince of Persia installation.
Neither a sequel nor a prequel, this 2.5D platformer will feature an original cast and story while remaining deeply rooted in Persian culture. A blend of Metroidvania elements, puzzle-solving, and exploration, this new chapter in the beloved series is dropping on January 18 on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
A soft reboot of the Ace Attorney series, the Apollo Justice trilogy introduces new attorneys taking up the mantle of the legendary Phoenix Wright and new prosecutors to take down in court across 16 episodes full of far-fetched yet glorious twists and turns. Fresh new mechanics revive the investigation and courtroom sections while retaining the good old charm of their predecessors.
While Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a bit of a letdown for hardcore fans expecting a new mainline title after eight long years, the compilation is still worth picking up for fans eager to explore its story on a variety of platforms, as Capcom saw things big with a Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and PC release on January 25.
The revival of the series, cemented by the success of the original trilogy remaster and the Great Ace Attorney spin-off, could also bode well for the future. At any rate, it shows that developers are fully aware of fans’ wishes, and willing to act on them.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Like a Dragon had an amazing run in the past year, with the back-to-back releases of the Like a Dragon Ishin! Edo-era spin-off and the Like a Dragon Gaiden story. The latter paved the way for the grand return of Kazuma Kiryu in the next chapter of the mobster saga. The Dragon of Dojima will join forces with Ichiban Kasuga in the eighth episode of the series, which launches on January 26, as they roam the crime-ridden streets of Honolulu City.
Despite the game’s unusual foreign settings, the iconic formula that made the series so endearing in the first place hasn’t changed one bit. Sega seems to have gone even more overboard with crazy minigames this time around, from an Animal Crossing-like in-game life sim to a brand-new poker minigame upping the ante.
Granted, the game’s gambling options pale in comparison with the offerings of online platforms. Incidentally, slots and poker enthusiasts may turn to virtual casinos to scratch their gambling itch. Some even offer free spins for newcomers to explore their library. These types of bonuses give players extra chances to spin the reels. First-time users may grab such offers as they create a new account or make a deposit. Free spins no deposit promotions even allow them to test out pokies without wagering any money, including several Yakuza-themed slots that might thrill diehard Like a Dragon fans.
2024 looks as promising as 2023 in the gaming department. And there are plenty of exciting games we left out of this list. Tekken 8 and Final Fantasy Rebirth are coming out in January and February, while other highly-anticipated titles like Hades II and Star Wars Outlaws are launching sometime in 2024. With that in mind, we’re positive the coming year is shaping up to be an eventful one.