2023 will go down in history as one of the most phenomenal years gaming has seen in a long time. But truth be told, a lot of it had to do with the insurmountable amount of delays from COVID-19 that shifted 2021-2022 games and crammed them into 2023. The game release cadence doesn’t look like it’s slowing down any time soon.
2024 is already gearing up to be an impressive year for game releases. As many of our readers know, LOGNET loves a good jam piece. So here are our most anticipated games from the Writers Team.
Flintlock: The Siege – Hayden Willis, Writer
In the heart-pounding realm of 2024’s most anticipated game, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, you’re not just a player; you’re a challenger of the gods, a master of a combat system that demands both skill and strategy. As you navigate through the stunning landscapes of this epic adventure, you’ll find yourself wielding axes with brutal precision, engaging in thrilling gunplay, and harnessing the untamed forces of magic.
The game invites you to unleash devastating combos that not only test your reflexes but also fuel your creativity. Each encounter becomes a canvas for your own unique style of combat, a dynamic dance between raw power and tactical finesse.
Flintlock is not just a game, it’s an immersive journey where every swing, shot, and spellbinding move brings you one step closer to becoming a legendary force challenging the very fabric of the divine. Brace yourself for a gaming experience that transcends the ordinary, as you enter a world where the line between mortal and god is blurred, and your destiny is forged in the crucible of battle.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak – Michael Brown, Writer
Few game series can match the scope and ambition of the Trails series. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie marked the halfway point of the series. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak was released in Japan in 2021. The worldwide release, however, is set for the summer of 2024. Trails Through Daybreak will be the eleventh mainline entry in the Trails series. The game will take place in the Calvard Republic, a first for the series. The Calvard Republic has long been a power player on the world stage. Recent events have given Calvard more power at the expense of its strongest rival. This is certain to have massive political implications across the continent of Zemuria. Exploring Calvard for the first time is sure to be a wonderful experience.
In addition to the narrative excitement, there are new gameplay features coming as well. One such feature is the introduction of a real-time combat option for some battles. The series has featured entirely turn-based combat to this point. This could offer a refreshing change to the series. There will also be an alignment system for the first time in the series. It does not appear that alignment will affect the main story. However, it will change some dialogue as well as who will ally with the protagonist. This will give the player more agency than in previous entries in the series.
The first ten games in the series could easily last one thousand hours combined. It is thus very important to find ways to keep things from getting stale. If Trails Through Daybreak is any indication, the second half of the series looks promising. Players just might be in store for one thousand hours more.
Persona 3 Reload – LyricAi, Senior Video Host
My most anticipated game of 2024 is one coming out in February. I’m most excited about Persona 3: Reload. After years of playing Persona 3 FES and loving the story, wishing that entry received the same love as P4 and P5, I’m happy about the remake.
I can’t wait to get my hands on Reload and experience that story with new gameplay and mechanics, along with the new voice cast. I’m also curious about if there are any carryovers from Portable, such as the ability to save a certain character.
#JustOne Hell Blade 2 – Lord Cognito, ILP & LOGNET CEO
Hell Blade 2 is one of my most anticipated games of 2024. The first one was a cult classic, definitely punched above its weight with a limited budget but still aiming for that AAA-production level. Now, we will see what Ninja Theory can do with the series after being acquired by Microsoft. Hell Blade’s use of sounds and its representation of psychosis in terms of mental health were second to none.
The game debuted alongside the Xbox Series X in the 2019 The Game Awards so we’ve seen it quite a bit over the years. It was interesting when Insomniac Studios themselves looked at Ninja Theory as the gold standard in terms of graphical quality. That speaks volumes to the studio and how its work is respected in the industry.
It will be interesting to see how Hell Blade 2 will move the series move forward. Its predecessor already has a strong foundation. However, I am curious to see how Ninja Theory will develop the game’s puzzles and combat mechanics with a larger budget. The story and characters were top-notch. Now, in 2024 we will all see where the series moves forward. No doubt Hell Blade 2 is going to be one of the most important Xbox titles this year, and I’m really excited about it.
Suikoden and Its Spiritual Successor As Most Anticipated Games of 2024 – Chris Jones, Senior Writer
The games I’m most looking forward to in 2024 are Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes and the Suikoden 1&2 HD Remasters. If you know me, you know I have been watching and covering Hundred Heroes since its Kickstarter beginnings. It’s the spiritual successor for the Suikoden franchise that harks back to JRPGs of old. With 110 unique characters, mini-games, war battles, a vibrant new world, and much more it promises to be one of the great new JRPs. And in my opinion a contender Game of the Year for 2024.
The Suikoden 1&2 HD Remasters are remasters of my favorite game of all time and my second favorite. If it wasn’t for Suikoden 2 I probably wouldn’t be as into gaming as I am. Which means not writing this right now. Suikoden 2 helped me truly understand the importance of certain situations as a kid just based on music alone. Then it’s 108 Stars of Destiny you can recruit is something I haven’t seen or heard of besides in the upcoming Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Next year and beyond JRPG fans will swimming in a sea of amazing games!
REPLACED – Billy Simmons, Writer
One of my most anticipated games of 2024 is REPLACED. REPLACED is set in an alternative 1980s and is a 2.5D sci-fi action pixel art style platformer in which you play as R.E.A.C.H. – an artificial intelligence trapped in a human body against its own will. Puzzle games and Platformers are completely my jam, and pixel art has become one of my favorite video game art styles for this type of genre. REPLACED is scheduled to drop into Xbox Game Pass in 2024 and will be released on Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Epic Game Store, and GOG.
Persona 3 Reload Again As One of Most Anticipated Games of 2024 – Robert Kellett, Writer
Persona 3 Reload. The next installment in the very popular Persona franchise is a remake of the very first game in the series that kickstarted the formula that Persona 4 and 5 ran with. Being one of the first games using the formula and being spread across three different releases. The first two are the ‘definitive editions’ for different reasons, many clamored for a game unifying everything for Persona 3.
Reload promises to mostly do this while taking the strides forward on both the mechanical and presentation front that made Persona 5 so critically acclaimed. In addition, a new soundtrack and English voice cast to ensure that for people, like me, who played through Persona 3 already, this will be a fresh experience. As someone who always thought Persona 3 had the series’ best narrative, I can’t wait to play this in February.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – Ty Tano, Community Manager & Senior Writer
Recently, “Super Hero fatigue” is a term that has been thrown around in the entertainment industry. Many claim the space had become too bloated/predictable in a post Avengers: Endgame world. However, no one ever discounted the villains.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is just around the corner of release. Yet, the game still finds itself surrounded by controversy and uncertainty from consumers. On the other hand, I’ve found myself to have warmed up to the promises Rocksteady has been teasing.
Rocksteady delivered a solid Batman trilogy with the Arkham games and this title is set within that world after the events of Arkham Knight. Additionally, Rocksteady appears to have free reign over DC comic stories overall with the inclusion of Justice League characters and minor villains.
The main squad cast is all but perfect oozing with chaos and charisma. I myself have been looking forward to a genuine game adventure featuring a playable Harley Quinn.
Lastly, live-service games such as Destiny 2 are either on the decline or in troubled waters, so Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is perfectly poised to steal the show. Rocksteady promises an ongoing story beyond the base campaign with future gear and playable characters coming in the near future. I for one am ready to see if a god like Superman can bleed.
JRPGs Lead the Way for Most Anticipated Games in 2024 – Jason Rose, Writer
Ah 2024, the year after what was probably the greatest year in gaming history. What are video games to do for an upmanship then? JRPGs, that’s how!
Outside of a select notable releases, 2023 was mostly threadbare in the genre we like to refer to as Japanese-style RPGs, but 2024 certainly is not.
At the tip top of my list is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the follow-up to the magnificent first of three entries of the heralded remake. Square Enix has been crushing it lately when it comes to their pillar franchise and I see this being no different. But please fans, for all that is HOLY, play the FF7 Remake and the original first. They’re a must to get the most out of Rebirth. 18 inches of Sephiroth will soon be mine muaahhahahaha!
Second is the long-in-development GranBlue Fantasy Relink from CyGames. Initially announced way back in 2015, this hotly anticipated RPG to the popular GranBlue brand seems to have everything going for it. Production, flash, deep combat, you name it and I for one cannot wait for my collector’s edition come February.
Unicorn Overlord and Persona 3 Reload Again!
Third, and this is a bit of a cheat, is Vanillaware’s latest in Unicorn Overlord. I’m a sucker for everything this incredible Japanese developer does and this tactical RPG will be no different. Can you say collectors edition pre-order? Also, do yourself a favour and play their last, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Masterpiece.
Finally, Persona 3 Reload. Persona needs no introduction and from my perspective, I strongly feel 3 was the best of the 5 mainline entries and now others will have the chance to decide for themselves. Meshing the 2 disparate versions, Reload aims to be the definitive release of Persona 3 with all the modern visuals and gameplay updates we all now expect. Collector’s edition number 3 is locked and loaded for this guy.
I could keep going here but this should paint the picture of 2024 being THE year of the generation for JRPGs. Let’s goooooo!
