Video games never stop, not even in 2024. Many promising indies are expected to be released during the upcoming year, including many that we probably don’t even know exist. But we are aware of the existence of quite a few, and although we had to leave many out, here we have made a selection of the most promising ones. With something for everyone, it is impossible not to find a game here to keep an eye on during this 2024.
Pacific Drive
Having to investigate a place known as The Zone, we will have only one tool to survive: our van. Pacific Drive is a driving and survival game that promises supernatural encounters as we investigate things beyond our understanding. One of the most promising indies of the beginning of the year.
The Plucky Squire
Garbato is a hero who, according to his story, is brave and managed to save his friends from the forces of evil. At least until the villain Funfuñón expelled him from the story to a strange 3D world very similar to ours. An adventure game with a mix of 2D and 3D elements that strongly resembles the classic The Legend of Zelda.
Holstin
How does Silent Hill in a Polish village in the 90s sound to you? Because that’s the basic idea behind Holstin. With a 2D isometric design for puzzle parts and a first-person 3D design for combat, Holstin is one of the most impressive games that should be coming to us next year. Pure terror.
Ultros
The artist and musician behind the classics Hotline Miami, El Huervo, is venturing into the development of his first video game with his own studio. Ultros has a very peculiar psychedelic aesthetic and promises to be a very interesting twist on the classic metroidvania formula with a compelling story. If someone can promise that, it’s precisely El Huervo.
Butcher’s Creek
One of the few downsides of GTA’s success is that Rockstar ignores its other franchises. That’s why we’re excited about Butcher’s Creek. Inspired by Manhunt and Condemned: Criminal Origins, the developer of Dusk and Iron Lung offers us a gore fantasy where we have to survive a group of psychotic killers who want to make a snuff film with us. Not suitable for faint-hearted, but for lovers of the darkest Rockstar.
SKALD: Against the Black Priory
Role-playing and dark fantasy come together in a retro game that strongly resembles games like Ultima or Eye of the Beholder. Except with a modernized UI and controls perfectly adapted to the sensitivity of contemporary players. A game that can become the obsession of many players.
Mariachi Legends
After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Halberd Studios is ready to release their new game. Clearly inspired by Blasphemous, but drawing from Mexican folklore, we will have to help Death in its ultimate purpose. With a highly refined combat system and elements of action and platforming, it wouldn’t be surprising if it ends up being the indie game everyone is talking about.
Baladins
An RPG for up to four people that can be played in one-hour sessions sounds like something made with the players’ material reality in mind. And that’s exactly what it is. Baladins promises us what we have always been looking for: a game that we can play with our friends and that is something deeper than the typical shooter. Now, with extremely cute art.
Demonschool
What would happen if Persona were a tactical RPG with an art style directly inspired by Go Nagai, creator of Devilman? Well, it would probably look a lot like Demonschool. A game that wears its influences on its sleeve, but is much more than the sum of its parts. A game with the potential to be one of the best hidden gems of 2024.
Rift of the Necrodancer
Returning to the Crypt of the NecroDancer is always good news. And this time we do it with a rhythm game that reminds more of a combination of WarioWare and Guitar Hero. A little fighting game, a little rhythm game, all arcade, Rift of the Necrodancer can be not only one of the games of the year, but of the decade, if it lives up to its ambition.
