2024 is off to a flying begin on the subject of video games, with main titles like Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Tekken 8 releasing in January. February, too, guarantees a bunch of recent launches throughout completely different genres from big-name builders like Rocksteady Studios, Sq. Enix, and Ubisoft. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League kicks off this month, bringing gamers again into the beloved Arkham universe, albeit with a dwell service twist. Whereas earlier Batman Arkham video games have been narrative-focussed single participant titles, Suicide Squad is co-op looter shooter with colour-coded weapons, content material drops, and microtransactions.
February can even see a bunch of remasters and remakes of standard older video games launching on trendy {hardware}. Persona 3 Reload, a remake of 2006’s Persona 3, launched on February 2 on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, whereas Tomb Raider I–III Remastered, a remaster of the unique Tomb Raider video games from Core Design, arrives February 14. Then there’s Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a remake of 2004’s puzzle platformer for the Nintendo Swap, and Brothers: A Story of Two Sons remake, which brings 2013’s acclaimed journey title in an enhanced bundle.
Maybe the month’s largest launch is Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second title within the remake trilogy for the 1997 traditional, Remaining Fantasy VII. Sq. Enix’s action-RPG, which is able to try and retell (and maybe re-interpret) the beloved story of the unique recreation, arrives February 29 on the PS5. From RPGs to on-line shooters, February includes a various lineup of video games. Listed here are our picks for the most important titles releasing this month on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Sequence S/X and Nintendo Swap.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
When: February 2
The place: PS5, Xbox Sequence X/S, PC
Rocksteady Studios — makers of the favored Batman Arkham collection — is again with a brand new title that’s now out there to obtain and play. You will be dropped right into a dystopian Metropolis that has been taken over by Brainiac, whereas its residents live in concern of the Justice League. Your mission? Eliminating the Justice League whereas taking part in Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and King Shark.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League options each quick vary melee fight and weapons — plenty of weapons. You will additionally be capable of discover Metropolis — or what’s left of it — as you search out the previous guardians of town. The sport will supply a single participant mode that permits you to swap completely different characters, or a co-op mode with three different gamers on-line.
Persona 3 Reload
When: February 2
The place: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X/S
Broadly, Persona 3 Reload stays true to its roots. The elemental narrative occasions, characters, and settings are all current within the remake. By day you’re a sprightly faculty pupil and by evening you’re battling unearthly entities.
Each evening, colossal Shadows wander, odd individuals turn into coffins, and the native faculty adjustments into Tartarus, a construction of unimaginable dimensions. The Specialised Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES) is the one group of scholars who’re acutely aware of the Darkish Hour and use their skills, often called Personas, to maintain unwary civilians secure.
Persona 3 Reload additionally sees a visible overhaul, together with an improved map and superior graphics. This interprets to areas and layouts of Tarturus seeing redesign. You’re going to get extra dorm actions and prolonged Hyperlink Episodes, as effectively. Gamers can even be capable of have interaction in new battle mechanics like Theurgy, the place everybody has a gauge, which when stuffed (by fulfilling particular duties) permits them to launch a harmful strike. The traditional All Out Assault additionally makes a comeback.
The 33 Most Anticipated Video games of 2024
Foamstars
When: February 6
The place: PS4, PS5
Sq. Enix’s Splatoon-inspired 4v4 on-line social gathering shooter arrives on PS4 and PS5 as a day-one launch title on PS Plus. The sport leads February’s PS Plus month-to-month free video games lineup and options quirky characters battling each other in soaped-up arenas. Foamstars will deliver three PvP modes — Smash the Star, Comfortable Bathtub Survival, and Rubber Duck Occasion, throughout three completely different maps.
The sport can even embrace a PvE mode known as Missions, which will be performed each solo and co-op. Foamstars can be confirmed to obtain post-launch content material like further maps, characters and extra over the following yr. The sport will probably be out there to obtain at no further value for PS Plus subscribers throughout Important, Additional and Deluxe/Premium tiers, beginning February 6.
Helldivers 2
When: February 8
The place: PC, PS5
It’s what you anticipate it to be – an intergalactic adrenaline surge the place the cosmos is your playground the place you are supposed to be combating to guard a cocktail of freedom and liberty. Helldivers 2 is constructing increased stakes with nastier enemies and cinematic explosions.
Trailers have proven us that earlier than missions in Helldivers 2, a third-person shooter from Arrowhead Recreation Studios, you can customise your soldier’s ammo based mostly on the kinds of enemies you may be combating, together with armour-penetrating rounds. This could possibly be paired with heavy or mild armour, with the latter being higher for motion.
Helldivers 2 guarantees a fascinating narrative that develops as you journey via the galaxies. Uncover the wonders of unknown planets, meet unusual alien races, and battle colossal enemies who will put your skills and camaraderie to the last word check. The sport additionally presents various landscapes so that you can traverse – from lush alien jungles to barren ice planets, every mission guarantees to be a visually spectacular journey.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
When: February 13
The place: PC, PS5, Xbox Sequence X/S
Developer Do not Nod is thought for its distinctive strategy and story-driven video games, however Banishers provides motion to the combination. The motion RPG is the studio’s try and construct a darkish, scary, and but participating narrative and gamers will discover themselves experiencing all these parts proper from the get-go. Set in 1965 in North America, you play the sport as a ghost-hunting couple, who’re making an attempt to maintain the spirits away from getting into the realm of the residing. In your quest, it is possible for you to to make use of each the weaponry of the residing and the talents of spirits, making it way more enjoyable to fend off enemies. The sport guarantees an excellent mixture of each melee fight in addition to environment-based puzzles.
The center of the sport, nonetheless, is within the storyline. Banishers provides you ample alternative to make decisions within the recreation, which is able to affect and impression the result of the ending. There’s a very private goal which you could battle for, otherwise you will be the hero and give attention to the higher good.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft
When: February 14
The place: PS5, PS4, Xbox Sequence X/S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Swap
Should you missed the unique Tomb Raider video games that have been launched between 1996 and 1998, the upcoming remastered variations of all three video games is the very best alternative to step into the footwear of archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft on the seek for historic artefacts whilst you get chased down by dinosaurs or dodge sneaky traps alongside your path.
Developer Aspyr has additionally added some useful new options over the unique titles, together with well being bars while you’re battling bosses, a photograph mode that was added to extra trendy titles, and the power to modify management schemes. You’ll be able to select between the unique graphics and an improved model — further nostalgia factors if you happen to choose the previous with its polygon look — whereas taking part in all three video games together with all expansions and secret ranges.
Cranium and Bones
When: February 16
The place: PC, PS5, Xbox Sequence X/S
Ubisoft’s seafaring and plundering story of pirates is prone to be stuffed with pleasure. You begin the sport within the Indian Ocean through the golden age of piracy as an outcast caught in a shipwreck. However as you relentlessly transfer ahead, you get the chance to captain ships, participate in naval fight, and construct your empire. Skulls and Bones additionally offer you a free hand to customize your pirate ship. You’ll be able to choose and select from completely different ship lessons, choose particular strengths and weaknesses to fit your playstyle, after which use the beauty choices to make it look the best way you need. The sport additionally allows you to choose the proper pet to accompany you in your adventures.
A big a part of the sport is naval fight in PvE eventualities, nonetheless, there are methods to provoke PvP battles as effectively. When you have loved the naval missions in Murderer’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Murderer’s Creed Rogue, then this will probably be proper up your alley. Curiously, Skulls and Bones was initially deliberate as an enlargement of Black Flag. Moreover, parts of the sport allow you to discover the lands as you come throughout settlements, outposts, manufacturing websites and extra.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
When: February 16
The place: Nintendo Swap
Twenty years after it was first launched, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is again on Nintendo’s transportable console. You’ll witness Donkey Kong steal all of the Mini-Mario toys from the favored plumber’s manufacturing unit, plunging you into the sport. As this can be a remake, it has much better graphics than the unique recreation, together with new animated cutscenes.
You can even benefit from new bonus ranges which you could harvest for extra lives. There is a new timer-less informal mode that permits you to deal with the degrees with out breaking a sweat. That may simply turn out to be useful as you make your approach throughout Nintendo’s eight worlds, main as much as the eventual rescue of the stolen toys and an inevitable battle with Donkey Kong.
Nightingale
When: February 22
The place: PC
An inexplicable occasion known as ‘the Pale’ has blanketed Earth, plunging all it touches right into a state of inertia. Nightingale, the only remaining human metropolis, is remoted by the magical portals resulting in its malfunction. All the community of portals and Fae realms are in disarray, flinging human Realm Walkers, together with your self, right into a chaotic whirlwind. Welcome to the most recent journey RPG from Inflexion Video games.
Nightingale introduces us to a magical and mesmerising world the place you may soar via moonlit skies as a realm walker, weaving between historic timber and mystical landscapes, all whereas navigating perilous terrains and overcoming completely different challenges. It weaves a tapestry of characters drawn from historical past, literature, and folklore, making it a pleasant treasure trove for buffs. The sport blends Fae enchantment, magic, and Victorian influences harking back to the fantastical aspect of steampunk, with a sci-fi aptitude.
Puck, your Shakespearean Fae-inspired companion, not solely accompanies you in your journey but in addition educates you concerning the intricacies of the world. He units you on small quests that unveil the sport’s narrative steadily. Although the overarching story could seem inconsequential within the grand scheme, it serves as a fascinating entry level into Nightingale’s enchanting world.
Brothers: A Story of Two Sons Remake
When: February 28
The place: PC, PS5, Xbox Sequence X/S
Brothers: A Story of Two Sons Remake was introduced on the Recreation Awards 2023 by Josef Fares, the favored online game designer and director. The unique, which got here out in 2013, rapidly turned a beloved title and has been a daily point out each time narrative-based video games and recreation artwork are mentioned. Mentioned to stay devoted to the unique recreation, the remake will retell the story of Naiee and Naia, the 2 brothers who set out on an journey to search out medication for his or her father’s sickness. The journey is emotionally charged and awe-inspiring because the protagonists meet fascinating characters corresponding to orcs, trolls, and a monstrous spider.
The sport is being solely rebuilt on Unreal Engine 5 and showcases beautiful animation and recreation mechanics, however will retain the soulful storyline. The action-adventure title will probably be a single-player recreation the place it’s important to management each brothers concurrently to navigate via tough puzzles. This time, writer 505 Video games has additionally added a neighborhood co-op mode that permits two gamers to regulate one brother every. However we should warn you, this recreation will check each your mind and your coronary heart.
Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth
When: February 29
The place: PS5
Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth continues the story of Remaining Fantasy VII Remake, placing gamers within the footwear of Cloud Strife and his allies as they tackle the silver haired Sephiroth. Whereas the sport is the second title within the remake trilogy for the unique traditional, Sq. Enix has hinted that there could possibly be new narrative beats which might be prone to shock followers of the collection.
The sport options real-time motion and RPG methods, with a give attention to exploration. And, in fact, Chocobos returns to assist gamers uncover the sport world. The sport, identical to the predecessor, will reimagine the story of the unique Remaining Fantasy VII, taking part in round with the timeline to throw a number of surprises.
