2023 was a crazy year for gaming, with tons of big, highly praised games dropping almost every month. It’s doubtful that 2024 will be able to match that pace. A quick look at the upcoming releases suggests it won’t.
This year looks like it’s gonna be living in the shadow of the previous one, except for one cool thing: RPGs. The first four months of 2024 are packed with role-playing games, and even beyond that, there are strong hints that it’s gonna be a standout year for the genre. While other game types might take it easy, this year might just be the pinnacle of another RPG renaissance.
Before we dive into what’s coming next, let’s give credit where it’s due—2023’s standout games were the intricate RPGs. Baldur’s Gate 3 clearly stole the show, ruling the latter part of the year and snagging the Game of the Year title at The Game Awards.
However, Starfield, Phantom Liberty, Sea of Stars, and Octopath Traveler 2 also got their fair share of the spotlight. What’s crucial is that each of these games brings something unique to the table. With the incredible RPG buzz from fans last year, 2024 is shaping up to be the prime time for role-playing games to truly stand out.
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The year of RPGs
Looks like we’re in for an RPG extravaganza this year, with several sequels to some of the mega-popular games from the past decade. It all starts a few weeks into the new year with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, a direct follow-up to Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The initial game nailed it, flipping the script on party-based RPGs and seamlessly merging Yakuza’s charm with turn-based RPG gameplay. And just a week later, Sega’s dropping another bombshell: Persona 3 Reload.
You could say Persona 5 played a major role in bringing turn-based RPGs back, pushing the franchise into the mainstream spotlight. This gives Atlus a shot at revisiting one of its most ambitious games and riding the wave of Persona 5’s continued buzz, even eight years after its initial release.
In three weeks, Square Enix is dropping Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, a super ambitious sequel to Remake, which marked a game-changer for the Final Fantasy series. Remake brought in one of the most gripping combat systems in action RPG history, along with some wild plot twists that surprisingly worked out really well.
And we can’t forget about the big sequels coming our way, like Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Hades 2. Both seem set to serve up more of what made the original games stand out, sticking true to their studios’ unique visions.
The second batch of releases is also exciting
And let’s not forget the second batch of releases—RPGs aiming to revive long-dormant franchises. We’ve got Eiyuden Chronicle (a spiritual successor to Suikoden), Visions of Mana, SaGa: Emerald Beyond, Metal Slug: Tactics, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Vampire: The Masquerade 2, and plenty more in the mix.
It’s pretty mind-blowing how many series are making a comeback all at once, and I haven’t even mentioned the ambitious new IPs from powerhouse studios, such as Level 5’s DecaPolice, Obsidian’s Avowed, Atlus’ Metaphor: ReFantazio, Bandai Namco’s Blue Protocol, and a bunch of others.
Even studios known for steering clear of heavy RPGs are switching things up this year. Take Vanillaware’s Unicorn Overlord and Dontnod’s Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, for example. There’s a bunch of choices for action RPG enthusiasts, just as many for turn-based players, and a good dose of strategy games thrown into the mix.
Pushing RPGs into new realms
What’s really cool is that these studios aren’t just into making RPGs; they’re eager to push the genre in fresh and thrilling directions. The folks behind Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, for instance, have been chatting about their goal to craft a gripping open world, taking cues from the likes of The Witcher 3 for inspiration.
The crew working on Eiyuden Chronicle aims to give Suikoden a modern twist. Dragon’s Dogma 2 seems crazy ambitious, with Capcom dead set on fulfilling the visions of the first game, which famously suffered from a significant amount of cut content.
The flood of RPGs probably has a few reasons behind it. Maybe delayed development schedules are finally catching up, or it could be that mega games like The Witcher 3 and Breath of the Wild are getting props by inspiring other developers.
The RPG overload this year is quite a noteworthy trend, especially when you look at other genres. Shooters, for instance, only have a handful of confirmed titles, such as Suicide Squad, Destiny: The Final Shape, and probably another Call of Duty. However you spin it, it looks like RPG enthusiasts are the real winners in the coming year.
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We might see the last of gaming smartphones in 2024
The time of super-dedicated gaming smartphones, made specifically for playing hardcore games with top-notch screens and super-fast processors, is done. We won’t be seeing phones that only care about gaming and forget about the usual phone stuff. The grand entrance of the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro at CES 2024 serves as the ultimate conclusion to the saga of gaming smartphones, signaling the closure of an era. It appears that the once-thriving genre has now taken its place in the pages of history.
The Valve Steam Deck is leading the charge, and it’s got some companions in the form of devices like the Lenovo Legion Go, the Razer Edge, and the Asus ROG Ally – all familiar names. Out of these, only Asus is still in the game of making gaming-focused smartphones. However, as noted earlier, it’s looking more like a regular flagship smartphone than ever before.
The craving for gaming gear on the go is still alive, but brands are adapting to what the audience wants—considering both their needs and the games they’re into. This shift is probably the main reason behind the fall of exclusive gaming smartphones: more people seem to favor playing their favorite PC or console games on the move rather than going all-in on hardcore mobile gaming. Even though mobile esports is still a hit, it looks like this passion doesn’t always translate to smartphone buyers actively looking for gaming features when shopping for a new phone.
