It seemed to be a big year for games in 2023 that many have written off 2024 as “the year of the backlog.”

Sure, it’s a good time to whittle your backlogs, but there are still plenty of great games on the horizon. You may not want to hear that if you’re trying to manage your backlog.

With so many games on the horizon, it can be hard to narrow down a list to just five. That’s why this list isn’t intended to be the five most-anticipated games, though some of them may be that, but rather a casual list of five upcoming games.

GreedFall II: The Dying World

I didn’t know GreedFall existed until recently and now, I am stoked for its sequel.

GreedFall is an action RPG developed by Spiders that released in 2019. At the time, the game got decent reviews with some reviewers commenting how the game was almost there in terms of being a solid Western RPG.

GreedFall II: The Dying World comes as a potential answer to that feedback and has the ability, I believe, to be a fantastic entry into the genre.

The game will enter early access on PC during the summer, which provides the developer time to tweak it for a final release. It can be, however, a mixed bag on an official release as some games, like Baldur’s Gate 3, can spend a long time in early access.

Still, this game looks like a blast and I believe having an early access period will help this game hit its full potential. I am looking forward to when this game does finally reach PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Little Nightmares III

The Little Nightmares series is a fairly new franchise in the puzzle-platformer genre but one that adds a horror element to it. The first game released in 2017 and the second launched on 2021. As of now, Little Nightmares III is slated for 2024.

The third installment will feature different developers. Tarsier Studios developed the first two games with Supermassive Games developing the enhanced edition of Little Nightmares II. Supermassive Games will take over development for the third game.

The twist of horror in these games has me intrigued. I love a good platformer as they serve as a good palette cleanser between my action-adventures and RPGs. I’m always down to find new franchises in this genre so Little Nightmares is a welcome sight.

Once again, we have a game that has no definitive date in 2024 so time will tell if it comes this year. That said, there seems to be no indication yet of a delay and it could be a safe assumption this game drops around Halloween.

Black Myth: Wukong

Finally, a game with a definitive release date.

Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG slated release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on Aug. 20. The game takes inspiration from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. Chinese studio Game Science is developing the game.

I am a sucker for historical media and Black Myth: Wukong fits an area that could be really interesting as it is based on Chinese Mythology. Just everything about this game, visually, looks interesting.

Japan is often the setting of historical games like this with Ghosts of Tsushima and Rise of the Ronin being some of the more recent ones. That said, it’s a nice change of pace to have a historical game set in China. Those who find world history fascinating likely will be right at home with Black Myth: Wukong.

This game will not employ the traditional open world that have become synonmous with action RPGs as of late. Still, the world looks rich and full of lore, which is precisely why I’m excited to see this one.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble

Sega announced a new addition to the Super Monkey Ball franchise earlier this year during a Nintendo Partner Showcase and there seemed to be a lot of buzz at the time. The buzz seems to have died off a bit, but that doesn’t change my excitement.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble will launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch on June 25. This game will fit right in with Nintendo’s other colorful franchises and should pose a challenge for experts and newcomers alike.

If you like platformers and want a unique challenge, then this game is for you. It takes the traditional platforming format and adds in a rolling twist where players control a monkey in a ball. This makes the platforming a lot more difficult as it’s not enough to simply land on the next platform.

This is the type of game I love to play but get irrationally frustrated when I fail at a level. I look forward to cursing out this monkey and his ancestors for hours on end.

Nine Sols

In a world where Hollow Knight: Silksong remains just out of reach, there has to be appetizers. Nine Sols looks to be, at least in part, that. That said, it will only release on PC on May 29.

The hand-drawn artwork for this game is gorgeous and is really reminiscent of Hollow Knight. Nine Sols also seems to borrow from the mantra of cute characters in an ominous world.

While there are similarities, I still think Nine Sols will find a way to distinguish itself while still filling that Silksong void. There is a demo out so PC players can tackle this one before its official release. So far, the demo seems to be faring well.

Metroidvania fans have been feasting in recent years and Nine Sols looks to be another under-the-radar gem.

There are five games that may not be on your radar for 2024. While this list only mentioned five, there are plenty more to keep you occupied if you decide to venture off of your backlog.

Which games are you most excited to release this year? Are there any that you have been watching for a while but don’t seem to get the love you think they deserve? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: Red Candle Games (via Noisy Pixel)

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