Summary
2024 is a bad year for games, apparently. WithPlayStationnot releasing anything until next year,Xboxstruggling to know what to do with itself, andNintendofrozen until theSwitch successorarrives, gamers are stricken. Bereft of choice, we must head back to the live-service mines to grind our super credits.
Except, that’s not the case at all. PlayStation went back on its word with the reveal ofAstro Bot(and to a less extent, Lego Horizon Aventures),Xbox’s not-E3 showcase was its best in yearswith plenty of games targeting 2024, and Nintendo has a few more tricks left up its sleeve before the Switch gives up the ghost completely.
But even away from the triple-A scene, where many titles will likely be delayed anyway, I’ve found my to-play pile stacking up and threatening to topple. It’s still a lighter year than most before a packed schedule in 2025, and I’m snowed under. We’re only halfway through 2024, and I’m already feeling guilty about the games I’ve missed.
While I haven’t been as obsessed withHelldivers 2as others on TheGamer team, it’s sucked plenty of hours out of me into defending Super Earth.Dragon’s Dogma 2gripped me, despite the fact I hadn’t played the first game, and I was almost glad that I have no way of playingFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthuntil it comes to PC because my time is so scarce as it is.
As Summer Game Fest showed,indies are holding the fortright now. And they’re doing so admirably. Too admirably, you might argue. I’veonly just finished Animal Well, for goodness sake. Indika – the most gamey game of the year – was great, I enjoyedArctic Eggs’frying mechanic, and platformers likePrince of Persia: The Lost Crownhave perfected the snappy movement that keeps me interested. That reminds me, I haven’t playedTales of Kenzera: Zauyet. Another one for the list.
Death of a Wishis brilliant, as are Children of the Sun, Buckshot Roulette, Harold Halibut, and Pepper Grinder.Balatrotook over my life for a solid month and I can’t stop dropping back in for another session. And how can I talk about all these indies without referencing 1000xResist,one of the most exciting narrative games this year?
Games on my ‘to play’ list include: Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Another Crab’s Treasure, Ultros, Still Wakes The Deep, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and The Thaumaturge. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn’s demo also surprised me, so July is already filling up.
If the first six months of the year weren’t bad enough for stellar indies, I’ve been enamoured with countless demos from thetwoSteam Next Festswe’ve already had this year – plenty to stuff the wishlist there – andLudoNarraCondidn’t help either. There’s plenty more to come this year, and I’m faced with inextricable analysis paralysis; I can’t decide what to play next!
Away from indies, there are some triple-A titles releasing this year that need certain contextual reading. I’m set on playingLike A Dragon: Infinite Wealthafter its glowing reviews, but only managed to get 40 hours into Yakuza: Like A Dragon before Dragon’s Dogma 2 took over. I also fully intend on(finally) finishing Dragon Age: Inquisitionbefore The Veilguard drops, as I’ve fallen off multiple times already but I’m so ingrained in the Dragon Age storyline that I must play the new release immediately.
That’s two enormous non-2024 RPGs that I need to play in 2024 in order to play their 2024 sequels, which doesn’t help proceedings. At this point I’m tempted to watch a let’s play of the last part of Like A Dragon instead of grinding in the sewers, even though I know it’ll be a far worse experience.
There are simply too many games. Whether you’re interested in the biggest hitters or hunting tiny indies from one-person studios, games are always releasing, always exciting, and always available. I’ve loved the games I’ve played already, but can’t help feeling guilty about those that languish in my Steam library. I know I shouldn’t, but it’s inevitable.
My biggest worry, though, isn’t of the here and now. If I’m having a backlog problem halfway through 2024, I dread to think what 2025 has in store.
