If the past few years were marked by significant new releases, 2024 has been a year of expansion. Releases that have already become firm favourites – such as Elden Ring and Horizon Zero Dawn – have been treated with new DLCs and remasters. While all of these have expanded each world in a valuable, engaging way, here are some picks for the best entirely new games of 2024.
The first game that springs to mind is one of this year’s more controversial releases, namely The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of the Wild. After over 20 years of the franchise’s existence, this marks the first game where you can actively play as Zelda. This brings added nuance to the game, as Zelda cannot actively combat enemies. Instead, you are forced to solve puzzles and summon other characters, making it a more fresh, engaging concept. The visuals are a joy, even by Nintendo’s standards, and it is a lovingly crafted addition to the franchise.
Flipping to a much smaller studio, Nomada released Neva earlier this month. You may be familiar with Nomada through Gris, a beautifully crafted reflection on the main character’s psyche. Neva uses a similar hand-animated artstyle, but it is a much shorter playthrough. It’s a mix between a puzzle-solver and platformer, creating a much more hands-on experience than its predecessor. If you appreciate well thought-out releases, this one’s for you.
There is one other developer that has followed up on a famous game this year. From Coffee Stain Studios comes Satisfactory, a masterfully made factory builder. While such open-world games aren’t usually everyone’s bag, Satisfactory is quickly becoming the Minecraft of this age. Its incredible design has something for everyone, and the over 100 hours of possible playtime make this even more worth playing. Its polished visuals make it all the more surprising that Coffee Stain’s other popular release is Goat Simulator.
Upping the pace a little comes Palworld, an absolutely ballistic romp of a game. It combines collecting characters, RPG elements and shooter-like combat, sort of like Pokémon meets Zelda on steroids. Some critics commented that each sprite bore a bit too much resemblance to Pokémon, but to me, the extra elements firmly distinguish the two. Its multifaceted nature requires your whole attention span when playing through, making this fast-paced adventure all the more rewarding.
In 2021 came what was possibly the funniest title for a new release: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. While the actual game didn’t exactly live up its name, this year’s sequel was infinitely more engaging. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank keeps the top-down Atari-style graphics, but livens up the combat by giving Turnip Boy a gun. This adds a lot more energy to the game, making fights both more frequent and engaging. It is still a hilarious title to play, with a ridiculous number of quests that NPCs assign you, just like the first installment.
Another sequel that deserves its own spotlight is Luigi’s Mansion 2. While it doesn’t add much in terms of story, the visuals are so much better that it deserves a mention. It is one of the most intricately designed games in recent years, with each house in the mansion having a distinct visual style, almost like an insignia. Similar to Zelda: Echoes of the Wild, you get a sense of real care that has gone into the game’s design. Combined with its even more expansive layout, you are left with a very rewarding (and surprisingly long) playing experience.
On first glance, 2024 seemed like a fairly quiet year for gaming, with only a limited number of big studio releases. However, there have been some absolute gems released this year, from impressive sequels to new releases from legendary indie devs. All of them are an absolute blast, so if you find yourself bored over the Christmas break, start here!
