Bloomtown: A Different Story is a brilliant spin on Persona with a different perspective and narrative that’ll keep you coming back for more. Some people come for the story, some will love it for the battle, but a select few will absolutely adore it for everything it is. You’re in for a hell of a ride with this adventure and the chaotic goodness from the demonic side of things.
Melobot - A Last Song has so much to offer in a tiny package, but you won't be disappointed with how much there is to see and hear. It's a great change of pace if you're a fan of anything music-related, and if you can look past the sprint issue, you'll be in for what might be the most relaxed gameplay ever.
Caravan SandWitch is the cozy twist in gaming we all need occasionally. Anybody who enjoys a great story and some good music will absolutely adore this gem simply due to how much charm everything oozes. However, you’ll need to prepare beforehand for what might be a genuinely touching story that will hit a little too close to home.
Hollowbody is like a love letter to the old PS2 horror games and all of their many tropes. It’s a great change of pace that’ll keep you on your toes while getting a little blast from the past. The visuals might not be the greatest, but that’s what adds so much to the atmosphere. If you’re a fan of the old horror games, you’ll have a hell of a time with Hollowbody and it’s many tropes.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is quite literally the game we all needed. With its smooth but still fast gameplay and great story, it's well worth a try if you like gunning down endless swarms of aliens. At the same time, there's never a dull moment when simply exploring and taking in all the detail that the world has to offer.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is good for what it is, but it also looks like a missed opportunity from Warner Bros to expand on an already popular release with a DLC. Between the short-lived campaign and the repetitive gameplay, it can be somewhat fun for the first few hours, but it’ll likely become one of those releases that live on your shelf for the occasional couch co-op.
Shogun Showdown is well worth a shot if you’re up for a challenge while leaning more towards a casual atmosphere. The gameplay and combat might look a little daunting, and you’ll find yourself getting drawn back to it for another round after each run. Luckily, with an endless supply of skills and weapons to unlock, there’s never a dull moment to be had, and we can’t forget about the speedrunner potential.
Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is a must-play remaster if you like the original trilogy. Between the overhauled and heavily upgraded visuals, there’s already enough to get anybody hooked on the chaotic due’s antics, but you’ll likely find yourself staying for the music, too. It’s refreshing to see that Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse got several major QOL improvements, too, for the sake of modernizing the gameplay while maintaining the original nostalgia. So, if you’re a fan of the old trilogy or new, you’re in for a treat with this one.
White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies will definitely answer all the questions left behind by its predecessor while giving you a good scare when you least expect it. Aside from a slow start in the first episode, there’s never a dull moment as you explore the hallways of Yeondu High, and there’s always trouble around the corner. If you can look past the minor visual flaws, you’re in for a hell of a time with the adventure that awaits.
STAR WARS: Bounty Hunter is a good attempt at a remaster but it doesn’t quite make the cut, and this is simply due to its age. A better option would have been to explore the remake route instead to spark a revival of a very old fandom, sadly, we can only hope for things like these. Luckily, most of the original gameplay is still somewhat the same but it might end up being frustrating if you’re new to the older releases from this franchise.
Creatures of Ava will, without a doubt, go above and beyond to get you hooked on its story and visuals, but it’ll just keep adding on as you explore and see more of Ava. Between the already stunning visuals and inspired music, it’s already set up to be amazing, but it keeps getting better as you progress.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess has so much to explore and delve into, and there is never a dull moment between the chaos of pushing back the hordes of Seethe and the peaceful moments of rebuilding the villages. Between the inspired world and character designs and the enamoring ambiance, that’s already more than enough to keep anybody going, but the best aspect of this release is how well it blends tower defense with action adventure. This is without a doubt another gem from the infamous Capcom that you’ll want to experience for its story and beauty.
The First Descendant was shaping up to be great during its beta stages, and it’s just getting better now with its full release. There have been some major improvements and one or two horrible additions to the mix, like the dreaded microtransactions and pay-to-win aspects, but there is still hope for this release. There’s a whole world to explore and a story to discover, and all it takes is a little willingness and some creativity, and it’ll be worth every second in the end.
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.