The Biggest January 2024 Video Game Releases

• Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
• Rating: T for Teen

While we all patiently wait for the much-anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, Ubisoft and its Ubisoft Montpellier development studio are taking the franchise for a "Metroidvania" detour that looks pretty dope. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown features a new protagonist named Sargon, who fights alongside his fellow warriors in a group called "The Immortals" to rescue the kidnapped Prince Ghassan. Players will run, jump, and slash through a beautifully animated interconnected world called "Mount Qaf." Sargon's main weapon is a pair of dominant blades that lets him pull off lethal parry moves and he can tap into time-based abilities that further aid him in battle & accentuate his navigation skills.

• Developer: Incuvo
• Rating: M for Mature

Do you know what first-person shooter deserved to sell way more copies? Bulletstorm, which was developed by development studios People Can Fly (Painkiller) and Epic Games (Fortnite). In recent years, this slept-on FPS has gotten a remaster featuring Duke Nukem (!) called Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition. Now VR headset owners will get to enjoy all the insane action that comes from using the game's signature "Instinct Leash" and kicking your enemies into nearby cactuses. Bulletstorm VR is not only coming with the base campaign from the original game, but it's also adding some exclusive content in the form of two levels that will feature space mercenary Trishka Novak. On top of all that, you'll get to tear through her opposers via her devastating "Energy Blades."

• Developer: Arc System Works
• Rating: T for Teen

Two deep cuts from Nintendo's vault of releases are Another Code: Two Memories and Another Code: R - A Journey into Lost Memories, two Nintendo 3DS visual novel adventure games based around a young woman named Ashley Mizuki Robbins. Another Code: Recollection marks two firsts for the little-known series - it'll be the first time both games will get released in North America and the first time both games will make their way onto the Nintendo Switch. Full-on remakes of both titles are being presented here with upgraded visuals, the welcome addition of voice acting for every character, new soundtrack arrangements, and fully explorable environments. Another great aspect of Another Code: Recollection is how it'll implement music, events, and scenarios that were previously left on the cutting room floor into both games, which should make them feel even more definitive.

• Developer: Pocket Pair
• Rating: N/A

"Hey, is this the Pokémon with guns game?" Why, yes it is! Say hello to Palworld! We're going to go out on a limb here and say you were amazed by the first piece of footage for this game and fell in love with its creative creature designs. The fact that you pick up a firearm and blast all those beasts provides the main reason why we're dying to get our hands on this one. Palworld looks like it'll be the perfect amalgamation of open-world survival and crafting elements mechanics. Encountering those cutesy "Pals" is the most enticing portion of this game - shooting them, recruiting them, mounting them, and commanding them to aid your combat & base production efforts means we'll be spending a whole lot of time getting familiar with Palworld's mythical monsters. GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL!

• Developer: Naughty Dog
• Rating: M for Mature

These days, Sony's first-party development studio Naughty Dog seems to be more focused on refining previously released games in The Last of Us franchise. While the remaster of the first game in the series was decent enough, this new and improved version of the sequel looks like it'll be worth checking out a bit more. That's because it's coming with an all-new roguelike survival mode called "No Return," which compiles a bunch of characters with varying weapon loadouts and playstyles for players to master. You'll go on dangerous runs across numerous locales and fight for your life against human threats and a wide array of infected monstrosities. The replay value for this mode is seemingly off the charts, so you'll get plenty of mileage out of it until The Last of Us' new "Factions" multiplayer spinoff (hopefully...) comes out. What you're getting here is a more visually polished campaign and a new mode that'll challenge you to hold your own for as long as possible in a post-apocalyptic world.

• Developers: FRENCH-BREAD, Arc System Works
• Rating: T for Teen

Avid followers of the thriving anime fighting game scene tend to speak highly of the Under Night In-Birth series. That's because it features a roster of cool-looking characters, eye-popping combos & super moves, and a pretty catchy soundtrack. The original game has evolved into updated renditions that have refined its combat mechanics, expanded upon its story, and added new characters. Now we've officially reached the point where the "next" installment in the series is set to arrive with one of the most requested additions fans have been clamoring for - ROLLBACK NETCODE! Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes] will feature that improved rendition of online play at launch, plus it'll include a roster of 24 characters that includes three new combatants and new moves for all the legacy roster members.

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

• Developer: Capcom
• Rating: T for Teen

Avid devotees of Capcom's courtroom drama/puzzler series were over the moon when news of the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy became public. That three-game compilation was great, so now it's time to step into the shoes of Phoenix's apprentice for a new trio of mystery adventures. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy compiles Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice. As a special bonus, two previously DLC-only episodes are also included in this definitive edition. On top of all the gameplay being pushed into this package, fans will get access to an in-game OST player, additional voice languages, an extensive art library, and a diorama mode that lets you create custom scenes with figurines of your favorite series characters.

• Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
• Rating: M for Mature

Last year's Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name gave series fans an explanation of what former frontman Kazuma Kiryu was up to after Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and before, during, and after the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Now he'll stand side by side with the newest franchise protagonist Ichiban Kasuga for his latest turn-based RPG adventure in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. As far as explorable locales go, you can look forward to perusing the Isezaki Ijincho district of Yokohama and exploring Honolulu City in Hawaii. Your party members can still acquire new combat abilities and costume changes via their chosen "Jobs," plus a bunch of minigames from the last mainline series entry will be making their return here. There will also be new ones, such as food delivery jobs, a dating app experience, and being able to manage one's very own resort island. Old-school Sega heads will be happy to know that they'll be able to play Virtua Fighter 3, Sega Bass Fishing, and SpikeOut via this game's retro arcade lineup.

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

• Developers: Bandai Namco Studios, Arika
• Rating: T for Teen

We played the online betas. We spent hours just fighting against our "Ghost" in the offline demo. Plus we've watched every character trailer released beforehand. All those acts have caused us to become uber-excited about the next installment in Bandai Namco's lauded 3D fighting game series. Tekken 8 not only looks, sounds, and feels like a natural evolution of the series' legacy mechanics, but it also features a ton of content on dat one that looks like it'll do enough to keep both casual & hardcore fighting game players satisfied. A monumental story mode, "Arcade Quest," "Super Ghost Battle," and the return of "Tekken Ball" all sound worth the price of admission alone. It's the brand-new characters, returning veteran roster members, and newly implemented "Heat" system that has us even more ready to dive deep into the latest installment of the "King of the Iron Fist Tournament."

Find out more about this game right here.

• Developer: Cygames
• Rating: T for Teen

It's pretty wild when you fathom just how long this grand action RPG has been in the oven. Granblue Fantasy: Relink was revealed in 2016, was initially set up as a development collaboration between PlatinumGames & Cygames, and was publicly shown off in 2017. Then PlatinumGames got taken off the project, leaving Cygames to work on it solo. After countless delays, it's finally set to drop! If you fell in love with the cast of Granblue Fantasy: Versus, then you'll have even more to appreciate here. This game's epic single-player campaign and four-player co-op missions will take you far across gorgeous anime locales as you clash with foes big & small with your chosen "Skyfarer." Fan-favorite heroes such as Lancelot, Siegfried, and Zeta will be at your disposal during your crusade against the sinister individuals who seek to disrupt the sanctity of the fabled "Sky Realm."

Find out more about this game right here.

• Developer: Rocksteady Studios
• Rating: M for Mature

We hear you, folks - there are a bunch of red flags revolving around Rocksteady Studios' next release. A long development timeline, tons of delays, and a hugely negative response to the game's first major gameplay preview have put a damper on it ahead of release. Even with all those factors being considered here, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League still has to be acknowledged as one of the biggest games dropping in 2024. This solo and four-player co-op looter shooter brings Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark together as "Task Force X." Their mission? Kill the Justice League! We have to applaud this upcoming third-person shooter for featuring some stunning visuals, fun mobility mechanics that keep players in motion while they're blasting Brainiacs's army, and an intriguing storyline premise. Fingers crossed that this game ends up being better than expected!

• Developer: 91Act
• Rating: N/A

BlazBlue: Central Fiction and BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle aren't the final series installments from Arc System Works' hype anime fighter. A side-scrolling, roguelite action game called BlazBlue: Entropy Effect features 10 of the most admired characters from the series and presents them in a quality spinoff release. Now that it's finally leaving Early Access, this action-packed experience will launch on January 31 in its most refined state to date. A feature-rich campaign, a sizable roster, an expansive combat system that features mind-blowing combos, and a wealth of character customization skills make BlazeBlue: Entropy Effect a new destination for fans of the Metroidvania formula.