10 Most Anticipated PC Games of 2024

Ashley_Buckwell

It’s almost the start of a brand new year, meaning a whole year of new games to look forward to. We are going to go over some of the most anticipated games of 2024 that caught our eye and the titles we simply can’t wait to play. We’ll show you what awaits you in 10 games coming out in 2024, and trust us when we say there is plenty to be excited about.

1. Tekken 8 - Jan 26, 2024

Tekken 8, developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, stands as a testament to the series' legacy while boldly advancing its formula. It maintains its core combat mechanics—movement, spacing, block punishing—yet introduces the novel Heat system and recoverable health to encourage a more offensive playstyle, a significant shift from Tekken's traditionally defensive gameplay. These mechanics enrich the fighting experience, making matches more dynamic and strategic. Furthermore, Tekken 8 enhances its appeal with impressive training tools and the Arcade Quest mode, designed to ease new players into its complex systems. Joining the fray are newcomers Victor, Azucena, and Reina, each bringing unique styles and narratives that weave into the overarching Tekken lore. Despite some concerns about the potential for overpowering certain characters, the universal accessibility of the Heat system, coupled with extensive single-player content and a significantly improved online experience, positions Tekken 8 as a pinnacle of fighting games that honors its past while fearlessly forging ahead. With its thoughtful integration of new mechanics, Tekken 8 scores a commendable 9 out of 10 by IGN, promising a robust future for both newcomers and veterans of the series.

2. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League - February 2, 2024 

Rocksteady Studios, renowned for their critically acclaimed Batman Arkham series, ventures back into the DC universe with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. This title aims to revolutionize team-based action gaming by combining sharp wit and gritty action in a chaotic mix. Players take control of Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, or King Shark, each with unique abilities, to battle a Brainiac-controlled evil version of the Justice League, including an unexpected alliance with Batman. Set in an open-world Metropolis, the game allows for up to four players in co-op, promising an immersive experience. However, IGN's review highlights that while the game boasts engaging storytelling reminiscent of Rocksteady's Arkham series and well-crafted cutscenes, it struggles with a shift to third-person shooting, underwhelming loot systems, repetitive mission design, and lackluster postgame content. Despite its potential, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League delivers a compelling narrative but falls short in gameplay, underscoring a need for refinement in its ambition as a live-service title.

3. World of Warcraft: The War Within - Fall 2024 

The tenth World of Warcraft expansion will be called The War Within. This expansion will be the first part of the Worldsoul Saga, which is being slated as the most ambitious creative endeavor for World of Warcraft since the game’s release almost 20 years ago. The War Within begins with an ancient civilization rising to power deep beneath the surface of Azeroth, as heroes of both the Alliance and Horde alike are bombarded with visions—some are of the Light, others of an alternate, darker fate. The upcoming expansion will take players beneath the surface of the planet to the land of Khaz Algar, where they’ll find the Earthen, a race of dwarves, and darker forces, such as the Nerubians. The expansion is slated for release at the end of 2024 and will introduce new zones to explore, new dungeons and raids to conquer, new game systems to master, and more. In terms of story, the Worldsoul Saga certainly feels like the greatest undertaking we’ve ever seen in World of Warcraft, whose story has been unfolding for almost 20 years (30 if you include the original Warcraft games). The War Within, the first of the three expansions in the Worldsoul Saga, brings to the game new areas, new enemies, and a host of new mechanics, such as delves, warbands, hero talents, and dynamic flying, offering players exciting new ways to enjoy the game. Alpha testing for the game will begin in Spring 2024, cross your fingers and hope you are one of the lucky few to get selected by Blizzard.

4. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 - Fall 2024 

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, sequel to the cult classic 2004 vampire role-playing game, was originally announced by Paradox in 2019 for a 2020 release, but the game suffered from a case of the delays. The game experienced multiple setbacks, lost its original developers, and issued full preorder refunds in 2021 to disgruntled fans who had gotten tired of waiting around for its release. After this developmental implosion, the game eventually resurfaced in a new version made by a different dev team—The Chinese Room. The original game was adapted from a tabletop RPG; however, Bloodlines 2 is shaping up to be a different experience. In a story described by the developer as a “neo-noir thriller,” The Chinese Room has confirmed that Bloodlines 2 breaks the newborn vampire tradition by having players start out as an experienced Elder. We also know that the game will center around the Boston Camarilla—that is, the vampiric council of Boston, Massachusetts, where customizable protagonist Phyre awakens after centuries of slumber. Bloodlines 2 is set to release in fall next year. Whether it will live up to its legendary 2004 origins is unclear, but a lot of fans sure are hoping it will.

5. Hollow Knight: Silksong - 2024 

Hollow Knight: Silksong, developed and published by Team Cherry, serves as a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Hollow Knight (2017). Silksong has been a long time in the making, but given its indie nature and the fact that its development team comprises a single person, fans have been willing to wait the 6 years it’s taken thus far. In the game, players assume the role of Hornet, the princess-protector of Hallownest, as she embarks on a treacherous pilgrimage through a distant land ruled by silk and song. Along the way, she battles foes, seeks allies, and unravels mysteries, ascending to the kingdom’s peak. Silksong retains the beloved 2D platforming and combat gameplay of its predecessor and introduces Hornet’s unique move set and silk-based abilities, which are distinct from the abilities of the Knight, the protagonist in the original Hollow Knight. Silksong brims with more than 165 enemies, a hundred different benches, and a new quest system, promising an enthralling and challenging experience. Furthermore, mods are likely to be written that will extend the gameplay experience in interesting and unexpected ways—check out some of the mods that were written for Hollow Knight here. Scheduled for release in 2024 across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, Silksong is looking to carry the torch of its predecessor’s success, delivering a visually stunning, atmospheric adventure that will no-doubt leave players hooked.

6. Black Myth: Wukong - August 20th, 2024

Black Myth: Wukong is an upcoming action RPG inspired by a 16th-century Chinese novel called Journey to the West. The narrative of the game is based on the adventures of the Monkey King, a famous mythical character who is one of the novel’s primary characters. In the game, this powerful monkey is referred to as the “Destined One.” He has several abilities, such as the power to transform into a swamp of flying insects or into a giant monster. The game pits the player’s monkey warrior character against various legends, foes, and creatures from throughout Chinese mythology, from headless monks to a powerful white dragon. Black Myth: Wukong has been recognized for its stunning visuals and impressive combat gameplay. The game features a variety of weapons and abilities, as well as a variety of enemies and bosses, and it is a great choice for fans of action-adventure games like Devil May Cry and the Soulsborne series. It is sure to be one of the most challenging and rewarding games of 2024.

7. Dragon’s Dogma II - March 22, 2024 

A small but passionate fanbase has been waiting patiently for a sequel to the very ambitious Dragon’s Dogma, an action RPG that came out in 2014 and that became a cult classic of sorts, eventually growing to sizable numbers in terms of sales. Dragon’s Dogma II’s reveal came during a special 10th-anniversary video for Dragon’s Dogma that was hosted by the game’s director, Hideaki Itsuno, in June 2022. That reveal was eventually followed in May 2023 with an announcement trailer at the PlayStation Showcase event. Set in the same world as its predecessor, Dragon’s Dogma II introduces a new protagonist on a quest to vanquish a formidable dragon. The game has massive monsters and environments and tons of weapons and builds. The ability to climb and attack beasts, in a mini–Shadow of the Colossus kind of style, is back. In the trailer, we see small amounts of destructible environments and what appears to be magic for creating objects to cross gaps. Dragon’s Dogma II is set to launch on March 21, 2024, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

8. Star Wars Outlaws - August 30, 2024 

Touted as the “first-ever open-world Star Wars game,” Star Wars Outlaws is the upcoming action-adventure game being developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft under license from Lucasfilm Games. In Outlaws, players will assume the role of Kay Vess, an outlaw with one goal in mind: “Attempt one of the biggest heists the Outer Rim has ever seen.” The game will take place between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and will feature third-person action gameplay with stealth elements and an emphasis on exploration and shooting. Accompanied by her companion (Nix), Kay Vess embarks on this daring heist across several planets, including familiar locations such as Tatooine, Kijimi, and Akiva, as well as previously unknown worlds, such as the moon Toshara, which was inspired by the landscape of the Tanzanian savannah. The game will be set in an open world and offer open combat mechanics, vehicle and space combat, and branching dialog. As a single-player experience, Outlaws promises a deep narrative experience, and as with many recent Star Wars games, it looks expensive and official, with beautiful visuals and presentation to match.

9. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - September 5, 2024 

For the first time in the series’ history, a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game is coming to consoles. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the fourth entry in the series, will be releasing for Microsoft Windows and Xbox Series X|S. This first-person shooter survival horror game by Ukrainian developer GSC Game World aims to revive the series, which received its last installment in 2009 with S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat. Heart of Chornobyl was supposed to come out in 2012 as Call of Pripyat’s sequel but was canceled in the year of its intended release. The game is set in the postapocalyptic Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, an area contaminated by the 1986 nuclear disaster. Mutated monsters and stalkers are roaming around this open world. Players assume the role of a Stalker searching for valuable artifacts. Heart of Chornobyl surpasses its predecessor with a large, open world, a fresh narrative, and new characters and gameplay elements. The life simulation system in particular brings dynamic AI-driven behavior to all entities and randomizes in-game events. Heart of Chornobyl promises to deliver an intense and atmospheric gameplay experience, where player decisions will have profound effects on the course of the game. With the addition of multiplayer elements after its launch, the game will also offer opportunities for shared experiences and challenges. GSC Game World confirmed the final release date for Stalker 2 as Thursday, September 5, 2024, in the final release date announcement trailer. Initially scheduled for Q1 2024, this delay ensures September as the definitive launch date.

10. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - June 21, 2024 

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the first and eagerly awaited DLC for the Game of the Year winner, has been officially announced with a captivating trailer, setting its release for June 21, 2024. This expansion introduces the Land of Shadow, a vast new map separate from but related to the Lands Between, where players will trace the steps of Miquella, a central lore figure who has ventured into this mysterious territory for undisclosed reasons. The narrative focuses on Miquella's quest in the Land of Shadow, exploring his attempts to escape his curse and the Golden Order, diving deeper into the lore surrounding his family and their ties to this ancient land. Game Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has mentioned that the story, while not directly contributed to by George R.R. Martin for this DLC, still draws from the expansive mythos Martin created for Elden Ring, ensuring the expansion is deeply rooted in the game's original lore.

The DLC promises an immersive experience with a new environment that mirrors the base game's blend of open fields and intricate dungeons but introduces new layouts and challenges. Players can expect a variety of new weapons, spells, and encounters, including battles with more than ten bosses, indicating the expansion's significant scale. The narrative intriguingly weaves Miquella's journey with the mysterious figure of Messmer the Impaler, suggesting a complex story of familial legacy, betrayal, and the struggle against destiny within the shadowed lands. As the only planned expansion for Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree aims to enrich the game's world, offering players new lore to discover, territories to explore, and formidable foes to vanquish, cementing its place in the saga's enduring legacy. Pre-orders are now available, featuring a collector's edition with unique items, including a statue of Messmer the Impaler, highlighting the community's anticipation and the developers' commitment to delivering a memorable expansion.

And that rounds up our list of the most anticipated games coming out in 2024. Make sure to wishlist your favorites, and for more games, make sure to check out the lineup available with an Xbox Game Pass. Furthermore, with the purchase of a Windows 11 PC from Acer, you can enjoy one month free of Xbox Game Pass.