Nine Sols is one of the more beautifully crafted Souls-like releases for this year but it does come with its flaws that make it a little too unforgiving. It could be that the developers are possibly taking a shot at reimagining the genre with a new twist but that will more than likely throw off many fans of the genre when they discover the randomness in combat.
Astor: Blade of the Monolith is shaping up to be an absolutely amazing RPG, aside from that one major flaw with combat. If you can look past the issue at hand, there’s a magical world that’s just waiting to be explored and secrets to discover throughout its rich story, and let’s not forget the mountains of side quests just waiting to be conquered.
Botany Manor is definitely a must-play for anybody who enjoy a little brain scratching through puzzles but also for anybody who enjoys simplicity’s strength. Between the relaxed environments and the unique flowers and their odd growing conditions, there’s never really a dull moment to be had as you explore.
One Last Breath looks great from a distance but that notion changes very quickly when you start playing it. There’s endless potential and it needs a ton more polish before it can really take off but even then, there needs to be more intrigue to hold anybody’s attention. The minimalist story is what might make this game forgettable and it’s a sad fate for any release, however, not all hope is lost yet and we might still see more get added to what could be a great game to possibly rival a similar release known as After Us.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU will take you on one hell of an adventure as it tells a story of grief and overcoming it. The combat and movement mechanics will definitely have you losing more time than you’d like as you explore this masterpiece in design. However, you might also end up learning a few things about yourself and maybe even find closure in a recent loss of your own as you experience Zau’s story, and Zuberi’s resolve. So, while Zau’s father’s story might have come to an end, his story also started there.
No Rest for the Wicked might have a few small issues, but they’re easily overlooked with just how close to a masterpiece this release is. There’s already a gripping story that’ll have you coming back for more but the stunning visuals and voice acting are what ties it all together to build Moon Studios’ next masterpiece. With the constant stream of updates still coming, we can likely expect life in No Rest for the Wicked to just keep getting even better as it goes.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is so close to being the feel-good JRPG for 2024 but it still needs a bit of work before it can shine. If you can look past the issues, there’s a whole world to explore and a literal ton of heroes to recruit and experiment with. Let’s not forget the incredible story that you’ll get to experience too as things unfold while you’re exploring.
Gigantic: Rampage Edition is an obscenely rare sight on the MOBA scene and it looks like it might take a spot among the great MOBAs currently out there. The hero pool might be limited but with how much versatility is on offer with skills, it’s fair that the pool is rather limited but customs builds will also expand just how much is on offer. Aside from the server issues, the only big issue is the possibility of microtransactions possibly ruining another great release.
Broken Roads is setting itself up to be a great RPG, between the story that’ll definitely draw you in and the Moral Compass, you’re in for quite a treat. The use of the classic DND style rolls for different actions is a nice touch and it plays well into the narrative-driven environment, all it needs now is a little combat balancing and it’ll be damned close to perfect.
Lightyear Frontier is a cozy delight that’ll have you exploring a lush new world and taking a ride on the more creative side of life. With the visuals and background music working so well with each other, you’ll find yourself losing hours while building your new homestead away from home. Maybe even a village with several massive farms. There’s endless potential for this Early Access release and even though it’s already great, it can only get better going forward.
Open Roads is a brilliant change of pace for those who want just a story and a little mystery after some intense gaming. However, this might not appeal to everybody due to how slowly the story progresses, giving you only the smallest pieces to run with. If you can look past that and the minor issues with the voice acting, you’re definitely in for a treat with how this story unfolds and getting to see how Tess and Opal build a new bond.
Rise of the Ronin is turning out to be a great souls-like with endless potential and a brilliant story to match. There’s a beautifully detailed world to explore and the unforgiving combat that all hardcore gamers crave, but there’s also so much room for improvement, and a lot of pruning is needed. The cluttered map and the neverending junk loot are two of the biggest factors that dull the experience, but if you can overlook those issues, there’s a massive world to see and a lot of new challenges that await you in Japan.
Alone in the Dark is definitely turning out to be a masterpiece that needs to be experienced by new players and those looking for a blast from the past. Between the world and character design, along with the brilliant voice acting, you’re in for a hell of a ride while possibly running for your life at times.
Outcast – A New Beginning has endless potential, and it’s a pretty solid game to begin with, but it also needs some work before it really shines. There’s already a great story, a beautiful open world to explore, and an interesting combat system, and let’s not forget about the fully voiced world, but a little bit more polish would do wonders for this release.
Contra: Operation Galuga might have been an unexpected remake of an ancient classic, but it’s definitely a remake we needed. For those who want to relive their childhood or want a little blast from the past without being there, this release might be the best remake we’ve had in years. Between the upgraded visuals, new cinematics, and voice acting, Contra: Operation Galuga will most likely take a spot next to its predecessor in the Hall of Fame for years to come for both new and old gamers.
Stolen Realm has so much potential to be great, but it needs a lot of polish and fine-tuning before it can really make a mark. The lack of story is somewhat balanced out by the combat mechanics, but that also needs a bit more work to keep things interesting. While the music leans more toward the monotonous side of things, the voice acting is the saving grace in that regard. However, what really shines above everything else is just how well implemented the low poly world is and how it interacts with the hex block design for combat strategy.
The Thaumaturge is one of those incredibly rare gems that looks incredibly deceiving in some aspects but ends up blowing you away with what it has to offer, putting extra emphasis on Wiktor’s abilities as a thaumaturge and showing that the truth is usually just waiting to be uncovered. Between the already captivating story, breathtaking visuals, and drool-worthy soundtrack, we seem to have one of those rare masterpieces that need to be experienced, but it also leaves us somewhat curious if Fool’s Theory’s next release will be just as great.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is trying its hardest, but it comes off as a messy science project dressed up to look pretty, and we all know it doesn’t really do what it needs to. Sadly, a lot more polish is needed if there’s going to be hope of this release lasting longer than a year as a live-service title because, as we all know, they’re usually driven by the fans and a constant stream of income from microtransactions… Though there’s already a scarcity of pre-teens with a ton of money to burn, only time will tell.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is a somewhat solid remaster with some interesting improvements, but the issues mentioned earlier can still cause what should be a fun experience to come grinding to a halt. While there are some interesting improvements and new features, it feels like this remaster could’ve been handled a lot better or instead turned into a remake to really reignite an old fandom that has long since moved on.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is yet another masterpiece from Don't Nod, with a captivating story, stunning visuals, and even voice acting to help drive the nail home. This game is definitely worthy of the title, and even though it has that one slight issue during the initial start, it's nothing when you compare it to the experience you're in for as you take on the role of a Banisher in a land plagued by ghosts. Another thing to note is the replayability when you consider the two paths at the start and how they affect the entire story as you progress, possibly making Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden a game that might build a fun little cult-style fandom.