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2024 game releases

The best new game releases of 2024: the essential retrospective guide

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2024’s standout releases covered sprawling RPGs, cooperative shooters, cinematic action games, platformers, remakes and Nintendo adventures. The strongest shortlist is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for a story-led PS5 RPG, Helldivers 2 for co-op, Astro Bot for single-player platforming, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom for Switch adventure, and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake for a classic remake. The dates below are historical 2024 launch dates, not upcoming announcements.

2024’s major releases at a glance

This comparison uses the published 2024 schedule and retrospective reporting. “Not stated” means the cited material does not establish a value; it is not a prediction.

Game Confirmed 2024 date Platforms named in the sources Genre and focus Format or access notes
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth February 29, 2024 PS5 Story-led RPG; solo PS5 boxed and digital availability should be checked by edition and region
Dragon’s Dogma 2 March 22, 2024 Not stated in the cited schedule Open-ended action RPG; solo focus Access model not stated
Helldivers 2 February 2024 release Not stated in the cited material Cooperative third-person shooter Online co-op is central; access details vary by platform
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II May 21, 2024 Xbox Series X|S and PC Cinematic action; solo Xbox’s 2024 lineup covered console, PC, cloud and Game Pass access; confirm the title’s current tier
Black Myth: Wukong August 20, 2024 PS5 and PC Action RPG; solo focus PS5 boxed and digital availability should be checked by region
Astro Bot September 6, 2024 PS5 Platformer; solo PS5 boxed and digital availability should be checked by edition and region
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom September 26, 2024 Nintendo Switch Adventure; solo Switch physical and digital editions were the clearest purchase options, subject to stock and region
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 October 25, 2024 PS5, Xbox and PC Shooter; multiplayer emphasis Broad platform support; Xbox access can involve console, PC, cloud or Game Pass, depending on the current offering
Mario & Luigi: Brothership November 7, 2024 Nintendo Switch RPG; solo Switch physical and digital editions, with regional stock and pricing to verify
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake November 14, 2024 PS5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch and PC Classic RPG remake; solo Digital and boxed options depend on platform and region

The release dates and named platform information in this table come from Game Informer’s 2024 release schedule. Xbox’s console, PC, cloud and Game Pass framing is described by Xbox Wire.

Which 2024 releases are the best fit for you?

For a large, story-driven RPG

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was the clearest PS5 choice for players wanting a major narrative sequel. Its February 29 date makes it an early-year anchor, and its appeal is specifically its story-led RPG scale rather than multiplayer.

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For open-ended action-RPG exploration

Dragon’s Dogma 2 belongs on the shortlist if your priority is action-RPG exploration and a less linear-feeling adventure. The cited schedule confirms its March 22 release, but does not specify platforms, playtime or purchase format; check those details for your region before buying.

For co-op with friends

Helldivers 2 is the standout multiplayer recommendation. Time reported that it “became PlayStation’s fastest-selling title of all time” and that, within a week of its February release, its servers could not handle all the new players. That demand is useful context for anyone choosing a cooperative game, although it is not a guarantee of current population or server performance. Read the contemporary account at Time.

For a short, cinematic solo experience

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II targets players who prefer a focused cinematic action game over a huge open-world RPG. Its confirmed date was May 21 on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Xbox’s broader 2024 strategy included consoles, PC, cloud and Game Pass, so the practical question is which access route is offered on the device and subscription you use.

For challenging action on PS5 or PC

Black Myth: Wukong launched August 20 on PS5 and PC. It is the action-RPG pick in this group, offering a different tone and structure from the story-heavy Final Fantasy choice. The supplied schedule does not establish expected playtime or a universal access model.

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For a pure single-player platformer

Astro Bot is the strongest counterweight to the RPGs and online shooters. Its September 6 PS5 release makes it an easy recommendation for players who want a dedicated platforming adventure and no co-op requirement.

For a new Zelda-style Switch adventure

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom arrived September 26 on Switch. It is the Switch adventure choice for players seeking a solo Nintendo release rather than an RPG remake or multiplayer shooter.

For broad-platform multiplayer

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 released October 25 on PS5, Xbox and PC. Choose it when playing with friends across a wide set of platforms matters more than committing to a single-player campaign or a platform-exclusive release.

For Switch RPG fans

Mario & Luigi: Brothership launched November 7 on Switch. It gives Nintendo players a lighter, character-driven RPG option late in the year, with physical and digital purchase routes subject to regional availability.

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For a classic RPG remake

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake released November 14 on PS5, Xbox Series, Switch and PC. Its HD-2D remake format makes it the most direct choice for players who want a traditional role-playing structure presented for modern platforms.

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How to choose by platform

PS5

  • Pick Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for a large story-led RPG.
  • Pick Astro Bot for focused solo platforming.
  • Pick Black Myth: Wukong for action RPG combat.
  • Pick Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for cross-platform multiplayer.

Xbox Series X|S

  • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is the focused cinematic option.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the broad multiplayer option.
  • Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is the traditional RPG remake.

Xbox positioned its 2024 releases across console, PC, cloud and Game Pass, but subscription inclusion and cloud availability can change. Confirm the current listing rather than assuming every Xbox title uses every access route.

PC

  • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II suits players seeking cinematic action.
  • Black Myth: Wukong suits action-RPG fans.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 suits multiplayer groups.
  • Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake suits classic-RPG fans.

Nintendo Switch

  • The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the adventure pick.
  • Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the character-driven RPG pick.
  • Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is the classic-remake pick.

Buying a 2024 release now

Because these launches are historical, check the exact edition, platform, region, current price and stock immediately before purchase. Physical opportunities are clearest for Switch and PS5 software, while Xbox and PC choices may involve digital stores, cloud access or Game Pass. A boxed copy is not automatically interchangeable with a digital entitlement, and platform-specific editions can differ.

What made the 2024 calendar notable

The year was strongest when treated as a varied portfolio rather than one race for a single “game of the year”: a major PS5 sequel, an open-ended action RPG, a breakout co-op shooter, a cinematic Xbox-and-PC release, a PS5 platformer, two Switch adventures, a cross-platform shooter and a multi-platform remake. That spread is why the best choice depends more on platform and preferred style than on release date alone.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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