Summary
2023 has been an incredible year for the gaming industry, with many pointing to it as one of the absolute best years the industry has ever seen.2023 is going to be extremely hard to top, and it remains to be seen if 2024 will be able to topple it. But while the jury is still out on exactly how the 2024 new video game releases will stack up compared to 2023’s offerings, it’s clear that the new year is kicking things off with a bang.
Gamers won’t have a clear picture ofall the new games releasing in 2024until the new year arrives, but some release dates have already been confirmed. January and February in particular have already been filled with major new gaming releases, with January 2024 looking surprisingly stacked.
January typically has one or two big game releases each year, but January 2024 has at least five for fans to look forward to so far, not to mention smaller releases that could very well break through as sleeper hits. Fans should keep in mind that the January 2024 lineup could very well change between now and then, as games could get delayed and titles could be announced to sweeten the port even further. That being said, at the time of this writing,January 2024 boastsAlone in the Darkon January 16,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownon January 18,Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogyon January 25,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthon January 26, andTekken 8on January 26.
Alone in the Dark
PC/PS5/Xbox Series X
January 26
January 2024 will really get started with the release ofAlone in the Darkon January 16. This re-imagining of the survival-horror classic was once scheduled to launch in October, but the decision was ultimately made to push it back to January where there would be less competition. ThisnewAlone in the Darkis clearly taking inspiration from modern survival-horror hits, but stands out by enlisting the Hollywood talents of David Harbour and Jodie Comer. 2023 was a great year for the survival-horror genre, andAlone in the Darkshould go a long way in ensuring that 2024 is a solid year for horror fans as well.
WHERE TO PLAY
Alone in the Dark weaves a chilling tapestry of psychological horror and Southern Gothic charm, reimagining the iconic game that set the benchmark for the genre. We invite you to join us on a journey into madness, where each encounter could be your last. With each step you take closer to unravelling Derceto’s mystery, the eyes that watch from the darkness grow hungrier.Every bullet means the difference between survival and an unthinkable end. The next door you unlock could lead to a nightmarish realm offering nothing but slashing claws, grasping tentacles, and frayed sanity. Journey to interbellum Louisiana, where an era of decadence hides a darker tale - of escape from past traumas and an intolerant society, into the waiting grasp of something darker, something that has patiently lurked for impossible eons.This is Alone in the Dark as you’ve never seen it - a skillfully-woven narrative of Southern Gothic elegance and eldritch madness that pays homage to its legendary origins while taking the next step forward in survival horror storytelling.
Two days afterAlone in the Darkhits the market, fans can check outPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown, the latest installment in Ubisoft’s belovedPrince of Persiaseries.Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownis taking the franchise back to its 2D platforming roots, but with modern enhancements and features.The Lost Crownwill combine Metroidvania elementswith signaturePrince of Persiaaction, and what has been shown of the game so far indicates that it has certainly pulled it off.Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownhas potential to be one of 2024’s surprise hits, but fans will have to wait to play it for themselves on January 18 to see if it lives up to expectations.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate. Play as Sargon and evolve from sword-wielding prodigy to extraordinary legend as you master acrobatic combat and unlock new Time Powers and unique super abilities.UNLEASH YOUR INNER WARRIORUse your Time Powers, combat, and platforming skills to perform deadly combos and defeat time-corrupted enemies and mythological creatures.LOSE YOURSELF IN THE PRODIGIOUS MOUNT QAFDiscover a cursed Persian-inspired world filled with larger-than-life landmarks and explore a variety of highly detailed biomes, each with their own identity, wonder, and danger.LIVE AN EPIC ADVENTUREImmerse yourself in a Persian mythological fantasy through an intriguing and original story as you use your wits to solve puzzles, find hidden treasures, and complete quests to learn more about this corrupted place.
The following week, fans can look forward to Capcom’sApollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy. Thisnew collection ofAce AttorneygamesbringsApollo Justice: Ace Attorneytogether withPhoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual DestiniesandPhoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice. The collection’s release will mean that all the main seriesAce Attorneygames are playable on modern platforms. Those that have yet to experience the secondAce Attorneytrilogy or who want to revisit the classic games will be able to do so on their platform of choice beginning January 26.
January 26, meanwhile, will potentially be the biggest day for games in all of January 2024, as two heavy hitters are set to launch at the same time. First up isLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the latest installment in the long-runningLike a Dragonfranchise. The new game will serve as a direct sequel to the critically-acclaimed 2020 gameYakuza: Like a Dragon, with bothLike a Dragon’s protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu, the main character of the previous games, featured. While the core gameplay should be familiar to longtime fans,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthisintroducing anAnimal Crossing-style islandand a slew of other exciting new features.
Tekken 8will be available the same dayLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthhits the market.Tekken 8is taking the fighting game franchise in some bold new directions, with an increased focus on aggressive play and thenew Arcade Quest game mode. Reactions toTekken 8tests have been largely positive, and it stands a good shot at being the standout new game release of January 2024.
Tekken 8
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
