Most Anticipated Games of 2024

With the New Year already ongoing we at YUPLAY decided to give our take on what AAA hits the gaming industry is going to offer fans all through 2024. We have made sure to have a fine selection of titles from all types of genres that fans have either been waiting for quite a bit or have a big enough magnitude to mark a serious impact on the market this year.

We would like to cover some entries that are to be released quite soon and you would be able to grab them in a week or two and then gradually shift through the later quarters of the year and get to some titles without a proper release date yet!

So, let us have a look at what the most anticipated games of 2024 are, together!

Tekken 8

It has been quite some time since Tekken 7 finished its life-cycle and we got the announcement for the next entry in the popular franchise back in 2022. But the long wait is almost over and this January 26th is going to mark the release of the latest eighth installment in the emblematic TEKKEN fighting series by Bandai Namco. Tekken 8 is going to allow players to finally enjoy the continuation of the epic saga and from what we have seen so far from reveal trailers and media around the title, it looks to be greater than any of its predecessors in every aspect!

The title is going to offer 32 characters, all with their unique fighting styles, combos, moves and flair to their persona, so that there absolutely should be a suitable combatant for anyone seeking to play the game. The storyline is also another component to not skip over, as it would immerse players in a campaign with lots of twists and developments across the known rivalries that fans love so much!

What’s more are the added Arcade modes, new mechanics such as the Heat Gauge, the stunning visual effects and crisp graphics as well as the fact that there are going to be multiple destructible objects, environments and arena pieces that would increase the level of fun and utter carnage during matches.

In our opinion this game could absolutely dominate the fighting arena all throughout this year right from the start, as it is one of the most beloved and favorite series around for almost 30 years, with a proven track record and wholesome delivery that never disappoints.

Helldivers 2

The initial Helldivers gaming experience was all the way back in 2015 and even though fans of the co-op genre loved the quirky and full of satire concept, the franchise was quiet for quite a bit, however this year we are getting a sequel with a new fresh third person over the shoulder perspective that promises to grab the spotlight and not let go of it without a decent fight.

Even though the first game was in top-down view and the gameplay has experienced some changes and improvements for modern gaming, the humor and all of the other major components included in the game have been kept and actually boosted in power.

You should expect even more intense alien battles as you are riding your massive mech suit with your “trusted” team members all while choosing how to blast through the battlefield in an over-the-top aggressive style. The arsenal has been greatly expanded since bringing “democracy” and “liberty” to all regions of space does prove to be a difficult and tough task if you come underprepared, so make sure to take as many of the guns, bombs, grenades and equipment with you on this journey across the galaxy.

We always praise and welcome originality when games build on their concepts but at the same time retain what actually made them great in the first place and improve on the formula with modern approaches that elevate the game towards current audiences, so be sure to check Helldivers 2 when it becomes available on the 8th of February 2024.

Skull & Bones

The open-world pirates game Skull & Bones by Ubisoft is reaching the market shores during the first quarter of 2024 to rock your world. After several delays and a bumpy development cycle the release date is set for the 16th of February and expectations could not be higher for the title!

In this multiplayer title you would enter the role of a pirate of your own making and then go on an exciting adventure to conquer the Indian Ocean and fight against navy ships and forces that are going to try and stop your venture. You would have to establish a strategy to survive and increase your notoriety over time, manage to plunder as much as possible and deal enough damage to enemy ships during the intense battles in open waters.

The goal is to experience a “Rags to Riches” type of story in which through different treaty contracts and bounty hunts you would be able to transform your character, equipment, ship(s) and crew to greater levels of infamy across the in-game world. Establish your reputation of a fiery and vicious pirate captain to be feared just by the mere mention of their name!

To effectively do that you would have to fit your vessels with enough weapon firepower and other important tools in order to easily attack and have a legitimate chance to withstand the blows and advances on your ships and what’s more important – to keep and increase the amounts of the attained loot during the various campaigns and endeavors you have undertaken. The game offers not only the

PvE mode, but there is also the option to join PvP servers where you would be able to challenge other players in battle.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Next, we have probably one of the most awaited entries in the RPG genre for this year would be Dragon’s Dogma 2 by Capcom. Ever since its prequel in 2012 got released, fans have been craving for more of the same and after exactly 10 years the second part got announced and so far, it has amounted more than 10,000 Wishlist entries and it keeps going strong. The Dragon’s Dogma 2 release date is set for March 22nd and it is going to be powered by Capcom’s RE Engine, making it a potential candidate for one of the most technically crafted titles in 2024.

Just as the original had an array of interesting and captivating qualities, so does this next part looks to be an even grander representation of the same core gameplay but with more features and mechanics included. The main focus of course would be to present a deeper storyline with enhanced graphics and combat system that would offer greater action in fights, bigger and stronger monster creatures to go against and the pawn system, which is also getting improvements and more vocations added for players to choose from.

Create your own Arisen as you deem necessary and choose your vocation wisely, that is going to allow you to battle the way you prefer throughout the game. Here are just a few of them: Fighter, Archer, Thief, Mage, Sorcerer, Warrior and Trickster, as well as some that actually combine two elements together like the Mystic Spearhand and Magick Archer. Pawns are also quite important as they go along together with you and assist you in various ways and specializations, thus making the gameplay even more diverse and with an increased number of possible combinations for your party.

This year expect to have lots of epic fights with both new and already familiar monster types such as Ogres, Golems, Griffins, Minotaurs, the Undead and many more. When in battle you could apply multiple tactics and use the area at your advantage by causing environmental events and doing what’s necessary to overcome anything that stands in your way!

Stalker 2 Heart of Chernobyl

It has just been announced a few days ago that so highly-anticipated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is going to get released on September 5th 2024. Up to now it stands as the fourth installment in the overall series and is expected to be a truly grueling experience since it is shaping up as a definite hit. One truly impressive looking first-person survival horror shooter, developed by GSC Game World, that would most certainly keep you tense from start to finish.

In the Final Release Date Announcement Trailer of the game we saw a small group of men and some gear around a campfire, just sitting and listening to the guitar music performed by one of them…well, that sounds chill enough, right?

Enter the desolate and quite dangerous reality of the Zone that has fallen around these abandoned ruins, remaining here to attest for the past, the storyline revolves around you as one of the few mercenaries roaming around in this cruel world. With an impressive 64-km² of radioactive lands, all in last gen graphics and a plethora of locations you would need to do your best in order to survive in, there is definitely a lot to be discovered and experienced.

You would face up to terrifying creatures in places with various lethal anomalies and extraordinary supernatural events occurring all the time. You never know what could happen and a sense of uncertainty would always follow you here. You would need to pick up any useful and mysterious artifacts to somehow help you on your objectives as well as make the right decisions to best navigate your gameplay destiny or you could easily and quickly fall to your death.

Pax Dei

This upcoming MMORPG by Mainframe Industries is also something to keep your eyes open for and it gets direct inspiration by various legends and mythological lore from the medieval times. It heavily focuses on the player built community in a high-definition fantasy-themed world where you could not only explore freely, but also build a home and settle in it.

With tons of ancient mysteries to uncover, treasures to be obtained and monsters to be defeated, these lands allow you to do as you choose, every choice matters

and leads to its respective consequences. Make sure to not take important decisions lightly, the further you stray from the safety of light, the greater the risks would become, but so does the prize and glory!

You should actively take part in the economy and society that populates this world, as through interactions with others you could forge strong alliances and clans, the together go seek what the mystery holds.

You can craft almost anything ranging from clothing and armor to weapons, tools and give it a personal feel, exchange and cooperation is vital and there are multiple play styles combined to ensure a flourishing and engaging interactive models. The potentials are huge and scenarios depend on what you determine to be the right moves, build your own settlements or forage for goods, explore the woods to get additional resources or fight for territory with other clans.

Dragon Age Dreadwolf

This BioWare title that is published by EA is the upcoming fourth major entry in the Dragon Age franchise and is the sequel to “Dragon Age: Inquisition”. As of the writing of this text, the only information about the potential release is that it is going to be happening some time during the summer of 2024 and no specific date is yet clear for this single-player game.

The Soulless – a mage with grand dreams and ambition also known to some as Dreadwolf is an elvish god of lies and deception or a heroic fighter against tyranny depending on which story you would prefer to trust.

In his final fight he imprisoned the other gods under a veil that split the world from magic, now he wants to tear down the veil and actually destroy the whole world. You are among the only ones able to stop him and prevent this from ever happening. In this entry there would be a new hero, the kind of person nobody would expect to see or find, not even the Dreadwolf. This would be your mysterious story, one you would need to create yourself with your choices and decisions!

When it was first conceptualized the BioWare had decided to release a complex multiplayer game, but during the development cycle of the title they shifted their focus over the single-player campaign and drop any concepts around the multiplayer gameplay. The entry aims to further the established and renowned design with deep stories based in interactive worlds and well-written characters that would engage with the protagonist in various manners.

Even though it is no certain release date yet, be sure to stay informed about this adventure masterpiece and then experience it as soon as it becomes available in the middle of this year, it would certainly have a mighty grab that is not very easy to overcome and let go of!

Warhammer 40000 Space Marine 2

The Warhammer 40000 franchise does not really need any form of official introduction as it is an already proven title with lots of intense action and gore. This year we can expect to get our hands on the third-person shooter by Saber Interactive and also published by Focus Entertainment, Warhammer 40000: Space Marine 2. It is going to be available on 9th September 2024 and is currently in pre-order stage and you could even order a Collector’s Edition!

The plot is set during the distant future of the 42nd millennium in the Indomitus era. You get to play as an Ultramarine Space Marine named Lieutenant Titus. Your mission is to practice the skill of battle and protecting your honor by fighting off the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Leviathan and other threatening Chaos forces that have emerged after a past conflict against the Inquisition.

Hack-and-Slash your way through hordes of enemies while engaging in furious battles, after all you would be coming fully equipped for it. With a certainly high tone of violence and gore the entry would bring together what we all love about the franchise into modern gaming, with more than impressive graphics and visuals to enjoy the carnage even more.

Use a mix between melee and firearm weapons to handle things both close and afar, clear any alien threat standing in your way through the imperial worlds of Avarax and Kadaku as you proceed towards the completion of your objectives. Do not forget to also experience the scenery and gameplay havoc in its full glory with this one!

Star Wars: Outlaws

This year Lucasfilm Games and Ubisoft are going to bring us an action-adventure game which is set between Episode V The Empire Strikes back & Episode VI Return of the Jedi of the Star Wars original trilogy. You explore the worlds from the perspective of Kay Vess, a seasoned outlaw and her partner Nix as they are planning and actively working on pulling off one of the biggest heists in the Outer Rim regions.

It is not an easy process as it would require them to complete a series of objectives over a few different planets, some more familiar to fans than others, in a succession of multiple gaming modes and elements. There is stealthy mechanics and moments when you should use the environment as a way to progress undetected, then if caught you could get involved in a seriously outnumbered action packed gunfight with various opponents. But this is far from everything, as you could ride on multiple types of vehicles and crafts with their very own parameters and mechanics. You could always count on your partner Nix for clever assistances during tough situations such as pushing buttons, or fetching you a new weapon on command.

Fans would most certainly enjoy the multiple references to the movies and how it manages to expand on the period with new lore and perspectives. You would be able to visit some iconic locations and familiar places such as Tatooine, Kijimi and Akiva, but also explore more mysterious regions and planets that have not been in the spotlight.

In the storyline you could still make choices and choose the direction of the plot with the branching dialogue system, thus going deeper into the narrative of the popular franchise. The world is open and you are free to explore different opportunities and options, take on missions and bounties, evade the Empire and sabotage or trick them.

Ubisoft have done a splendid job at crafting a mix of so many concepts into one title with different types of dynamics and pace.

Black Myth Wukong

As we are nearing the end of our list we throw our gaze at what we could expect during the later months of 2024 and we would like to bring your attention to a title that is heavily inspired by the “Journey to the West” Chinese Fantasy novel from 1592. This entry on the list has been very strongly anticipated ever since it got announced and revealed back in 2020. The more recent trailers and showcases have offered a more detailed glimpse into the gameplay and it should absolutely be noted that it has extraordinary visual effects and details.

The story-driven narrative goes around various philosophical themes of good and evil as well as the balance of the world, but also comes paired with imaginative designs, environments and mythology that sparked the interest of fans from the start.

You take the role of the Destined One (based on the monkey king Sun Wukong) as he embarks on his mysterious journey that leads him through the lands of a visually magnificent world full of folklore and legendary creatures. Go against in battle with some of the most vicious enemy monsters this world has to offer and manage to overcome them in order to find more and more pieces of the puzzle that is leading you to confront your destiny.

Black Myth Wukong is set to release on August 20th 2024 and it would surely deliver an epic adventure with stunning moments that would keep fans captivated.

Avowed

Yet another entry that got announced way back in 2020 and is set to become available some time during this year but still lacking a concrete release date, but is rumored that it could potentially be in the autumn, is Avowed by Obsidian.

Set in Eora, a very colorful and picturesque fantasy world with a first-person shooter gameplay that takes place in the same universe as another title by the studio, namely Pillar of Eternity. More specifically the game develops in the region of the Living lands that are controlled by the Aedyr Empire.

You would encounter multiple types of creatures and races that you can interact or battle with, most of them are not that happy to see you coming anyway and you are not always welcomed with ease and very peacefully. This might be due to the fact that you are an envoy sent by the Empire to investigate disruptions related to a local supernatural plague that has been causing unwanted trouble.

You would have to resolve the problems one way or another and how you do that depends on your choices and ways that you interact with the surrounding world. You could go in direct battle with weapons or wage different magic spells to progress through and get closer to answers.

Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga

This last entry in today’s list has been in the making for several years and ever since its predecessor Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice became available in 2017, the craze for a continuation has been only increasing, and when an actual trailer and gameplay were shown it becomes quite clear why all the fuss is about!

In this title developed by Ninja Theory, the brutal and intense storyline is going to be pushed further in Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga all the way to new extremes and levels of madness. You would once again take the role of Senua as she tries to cope with the ever worsening and deranged thoughts of death and doom in her mind, the guilt is continually crushing and bending her mind in a spiral of crazy whispers, screams and ramblings.

But the external worlds is not much better, with almost complete lack of greenery, light and comfort, it mostly compromises of just stone and dust, the rough terrain you would need to traverse and manage to somehow survive on is not a very nice location and the ways you need to accomplish this would torture your mind even more.

The title does emit a sense of constant paranoia, fear, and cold chills as you go through claustrophobic caves and tunnels full of nightmarish experiences. What Senua’s fate would be and is she ever going to get out alive from her photorealistic adventure? You would have to wait a bit more to find out if you dare! One thing is abundantly clear though, the wait is going to be worth it!

With such incredible titles coming all through the year, it is certain that we should expect a year of outstanding titles with lots of thrills in preparation and that the studios have prepared a massive hit to be anticipated for every genre.

We could only eagerly wait and follow-up on any interesting news in gaming and keep you posted with more information whenever there are release updates, so stay with us for more exciting announcements and YUPLAY posts all year long!