2023 was a year filled with blockbuster games, starting from Hogwarts Legacy, Dave the Diver, Lies of P, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, to Baldur's Gate 3. Despite some games, like Lord of the Rings: Gollum, facing criticism, the year was undeniably fruitful. Among the various successful releases, the remarkable progress of Korean games stood out, with Dave the Diver and Lies of P achieving success on Steam, bringing winds of change to the Korean gaming industry.

Now, the question arises: What games will delight gamers in the coming year? From MMORPGs leading the revival to games inheriting the legacy of Dave the Diver and Lies of P, and those attracting attention upon their announcement, various games have promised their release this year. In this article, we aim to introduce the diverse and highly anticipated upcoming works for this year, showcasing the same level of excitement as the previous year.

Stellar Blade

Release Date: Confirmed for 2024 / Platform: PS5

Developed by SHIFT UP, led by renowned game artist Kim Hyung-tae, 'Stellar Blade' has garnered international attention since its announcement. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth devastated by extraterrestrial invaders called "NA:tive”, Stellar Blade is an action-adventure game that follows the journey of a female warrior, Eve, dispatched from an orbital colony to reclaim Earth.

Kim Hyung-tae's ambitious project, challenging the AAA console game arena, has officially announced its release for 2024 on Sony's official blog, putting an end to the long wait.

The First Berserker: Khazan

Release Date: Expected in 2024 / Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, XO, XSX|S

Project AK, a single-action RPG set in the Dungeon Fighter universe, has confirmed its official title as 'The First Berserker: Khazan' and is expected to be released later this year. The game explores events that occurred 800 years before Dungeon Fighter, depicting the era after the heroic general Khazan and the archmage Ozma's suppression of the dragon Hizma, who invaded the Pelos Empire. Despite being a hero of the empire, Khazan is framed, loses everything, and becomes an exile, setting out on a journey for revenge.

Yoon Myung-jin, CEO of Neople, hinted in a recent interview that 'The First Berserker: Khazan' marks the beginning of the stories to be unfolded in the Dungeon Fighter IP, indicating the intention to continue expanding the DNF Universe.

inZOI

Release Date: Second half of 2024 / Platform: PC, PS5, XSX|S

When it comes to dark horses at last year's G-Star, many would likely mention Krafton's 'inZOI'. Making a bold move into the life simulation genre, which was practically the exclusive domain of The Sims, 'inZOI’ received the evaluation of K-Sims and drew the attention of gamers worldwide upon its release.

In 'inZOI', players raise their own 'ZOI' in Dowon, a city in a parallel universe. By forming relationships with other ZOIs, players can experience various lives. With high-quality graphics using Unreal Engine 5, 'inZOI', showcased at G-Star last year, proved to be a highly anticipated title. The game is scheduled for release in the second half of this year.

The First Descendant

Release Date: Summer 2024 / Platform: PC, PS5, XSX|S

Nexon's new shooter 'The First Descendant' is set to be officially released this summer. In the game, players become descendants tasked with defending the Ingris continent against the extraterrestrial invaders, who once destroyed human civilization. The game features a variety of characters (descendants) with unique designs and skills. Players can customize their characters by combining various weapons, equipment, and runes to suit their preferred playstyle.

Having demonstrated continuous improvement through Closed Beta Tests and Open Beta Tests, 'The First Descendant' gained attention by surpassing 77,000 simultaneous users on the first day of open beta service in September last year.

Chrono Odyssey

Release Date: Expected in 2024 / Platform: PC, PS5, XSX

Npixel's 'Chrono Odyssey’, eagerly awaited by many MMORPG fans, might also be on the horizon for this year. 'Chrono Odyssey' is an epic fantasy MMORPG based on the theme of time and space. The game is set in the world of 'Setera’, filled with danger and chaos due to distorted time and space, as players fight against the Void, who is seeking to destroy this world.

Although the detailed release date of 'Chrono Odyssey’, which showcased its gameplay trailer in May, hasn't been disclosed, the company's CEO, Bae Bong-geon, hinted in an interview on Twitter last year that it might be released this year.

Breakers: Unlock the World

Release Date: Expected in 2024 / Platform: PC, Mobile

Vic Game Studio's new animation RPG, 'Breakers', might also be making its debut later this year. 'Breakers' is an anime-style RPG with high-quality graphics, depicting the story of Breakers adventuring through the divided world on airships for their own purposes.

'Breakers' garnered praise at last year's Tokyo Game Show and G-Star for its direction and storytelling, which resembles an animated series. The game conducted private tests in Korea and Japan in March 2024, with plans for an official release in the second half of 2024.

Crimson Desert

Release Date: Scheduled for 2024 / Platform: PC, PS5, XSX|S

Will it really be released this year? We're talking about 'Crimson Desert’, a game Pearl Abyss is diligently developing. The release date of 'Crimson Desert,' which has been named as an anticipated title every year, is still shrouded in mystery. This is because the development team has a policy of focusing on raising the quality before confirming the release schedule, rather than developing according to a set release date.

However, after unveiling the gameplay trailer at Gamescom last year and hosting a private event showcasing the developer playing the game for the media at G-Star, expectations are high for the official release this year.

Like a Dragon 8

Release Date: January 26, 2024 / Platform: PC, PS5, XSX|S

The new protagonist, Kasuga, of the 'Like a Dragon' series returns after a four-year absence, and not just with his former comrades but with the eternal protagonist of the series, Kiryu Kazuma. In 'Like a Dragon 8’, two men, Kasuga, a man crawling up from the bottom, and Kiryu, a man gearing up for the last fight of his life, will be the dual protagonists showing the passionate drama of men once again.

Tekken 8

Release Date: January 26, 2024 / Platform: PC, PS5, XSX|S

Tekken is the Guinness World Record-holding game for having the longest video game storyline in history and the longest-running 3D fighting franchise. The latest installment in the Tekken series and the 30th-anniversary commemorative work, 'Tekken 8’, will finally be released on January 26th. The roster of the base characters is dazzling, with familiar faces and new characters like Reina, Asucena, and Victor catching the eye.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Release Date: February 1, 2024 / Platform: PC, PS4, PS5

Cygames' 'Granblue Fantasy: Relink' will finally be officially released, eight years after its first unveiling. 'Granblue Fantasy: Relink' is set in the Sky Realm, composed of various floating islands. The game follows the story of the main characters and the little dragon Vyrn, meets with Lyria and many other peers, heading to the lengendary island, Estalucia, which is known to be at the end of the sky.

Regarding 'Granblue Fantasy: Relink,' Cygames expressed their ambition, stating, "It is a title made with the ambition to spread the Granblue Fantasy IP worldwide," and revealed their high expectations for the game.

Persona 3 Reload

Release Date: February 2, 2024 / Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, XO, XSX|S

Persona 3, which is credited with making Atlus what it is today, will be remade with the title, Persona 3 Reload. The game will be released on February 2nd. Persona 3 Reload focuses on reconstructing the original according to the latest trends.

Not only has it visually improved, but it also added voice scenes and character side episodes not present in the original, with an increased variation in dialogues. By providing a different gameplay experience from the original Persona 3, it seems to cater to both gamers who enjoyed the original and those who didn't.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Release Date: February 3, 2024 / Platform: PC, PS5, XSX|S

Despite several delays, 'Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League' developed by Rocksteady, known for their excellent portrayal of Batman in games, is finally set to be released. In the game, players control the Suicide Squad, including Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, and Deadshot, as they confront the Justice League being manipulated by Brainiac. 

While concerns have been raised due to the repeated delays, the game's developer, Rocksteady, is known for delivering Batman in games, and the overall atmosphere is more about anticipation than worry.

Helldivers 2

Release Date: February 8, 2024 / Platform: PC, PS5

Amidst the consecutive releases of major titles from the beginning of the year, there might be a sense of something missing for gamers who want to enjoy the co-op experience with friends. The game 'Helldivers 2' is finally officially released on February 8 for gamers who want to play with friends. 

One of the significant features of 'Helldivers 2' is the change in perspective. Unlike the top-down view of the previous installment, it has changed to a third-person shooter (TPS) perspective, making the gameplay experience and the scale of the game even larger. The game's identity and the merciless friendly fire are still intact, and there's no need to worry as the game still demands some teamwork against formidable enemies.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Release Date: February 29, 2024 / Platform: PS5

The remake project of Final Fantasy VII, which caused a sensation upon its announcement, continues with the second installment of the three-part series, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, scheduled to be released in February. 

The group led by Cloud officially embarks on a journey to chase Sephiroth outside of Midgar. In the process, they meet new allies and confront truths they had not known before. With upgraded graphics and systems based on the previous work, 'Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’ is highly anticipated, and fans are eager to see what developments it will bring compared to the impactful storyline of the previous installment.

Black Myth: Wukong

Release Date: August 20, 2024 / Platform: PC, PS5, XSX|S

Among Chinese games, can there be another game that has captured the attention of both domestic and international players to this extent? We're talking about 'Black Myth: Wukong’, the dark fantasy reinterpretation of Journey to the West by Game Science. 'Black Myth: Wukong' first appeared in August 2020, attracting the attention of gamers worldwide. All the attention continued to be hot, as they showcased a demo version at last year’s Gamescom, and had the most crowded booth packed with visitors.

Star Wars Outlaws

Release Date: Scheduled for 2024 / Platform: To be determined

Ubisoft is working on a new title in the Star Wars series, 'Star Wars Outlaw', which is also expected to be released this year. This installment covers the story between the second and third parts of the original Star Wars trilogy: 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi’. The protagonist, Kay Vess, is intriguing with her role as a villain who makes a living through illegal activities and her use of a blaster, reminiscent of someone like Han Solo.

Although detailed information about the game has not been disclosed, given Ubisoft's recent track record, fans of both Star Wars and Ubisoft are eagerly awaiting the game that could put an end to Ubisoft's recent unfortunate events.