What are the best new PC games in 2024?
Perhaps you’ve just been paid, your bank account is filled with virtual dosh, or you simply want to get caught up with the latest PC games because they’re, well, new and shiny.
It’s all well and good starting another daring round of multiplayer game PUBG, taking on a new 100-hour Football Manager save, or embarking on yet another The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim adventure but, as much as we love setting mammoths ablaze, there are plenty of
new PC games
that will more than supply your gaming fix. You don’t want to be the person who isn’t ‘in the know’ now, do you? Whatever you’re into, this list includes the best PC games from the last few months, including RPG games,
that
space game, and more.
The best new PC games in 2024 are:
Tekken 8
We’re truly living in the golden age of fighting games with the release of Tekken 8, the best game in the series so far. Tekken 8 has been built from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5, making the visuals look almost as good as the in-game cutscenes. Featuring a character list with 32 fighters and 16 unique stages to fight on, there’s plenty of content to study and master over the next few years.
Tekken 8 demands quite a lot from its players, but all of the time spent learning the mechanics will turn players into strong fighters. Don’t worry, things don’t have to be competitive all the time thanks to game modes like Tekken Ball and the Story mode. Take a look at our Tekken 8 review to find out what we thought of the new fighting mechanics, including the Heat system, and all of the additions to practice mode.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the first game in the series to take place outside of Japan. This time the adventure moves to Hawaii as Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of the last game attempts to find his mother. Infinite Wealth also stars Kazuma Kiryu, the former series lead, as he aids Ichiban on his quest while struggling to deal with his health issues.
Judging by our Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review, this is the best entry in the series yet. “Sprawling but never bloated, it remains captivating from beginning to end across both its main narrative and bountiful side adventures, almost never missing a beat”, says Harry Schofield. You can expect to put in close to 100 hundreds if you want to see everything Infinite Wealth has to offer. Don’t forget to read our Infinite Wealth cast guide if you want to see which voice actors you’ll be hearing regularly.
Palworld
Unless you’ve been living under a rock in recent weeks, you’ll have at least heard of Palworld, the Pokemon-like game taking the world by storm – both in controversy and record-breaking player numbers. While Palworld has the creature capture, Pal type, and battle elements associated with Pokemon games, there are many ways in which Palworld isn’t like Pokemon, which is perhaps the reason the survival game has done so well.
For one, there are guns. In fact, you can even team up with a Pokemon, give it a gun and place it on your shoulders to fend off enemies as your explore the Palworld map. Then there’s the item production. Place various machines and production lines around your base and put your Pals to work on them, making guns, forging Palworld resources, and keeping your team well fed.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Our Prince of Persia The Lost Crown review praises the metroidvania for being ‘fast, fluid, and mechanically engaging’. It’s your time-traveling prince, but not quite as you remember him; what begins as a rescue mission quickly turns south, and those you once considered your allies may soon become enemies. You’ll hop, skip, and jump through increasingly difficult terrain, picking up abilities and powerups that allow you to travel ever deeper into the unknown.
If you are planning on picking up Prince of Persia The Lost Crown and don’t want to miss anything, make sure you check out our Prince of Persia The Lost Crown Mystery Chest locations, Spirited Sand Jar locations, and Xerxes Coin locations. We also have every Prince of Persia The Lost Crown mission here if you want to know what you’re getting into.
Against the Storm
Against the Storm isn’t the first game to mix roguelike and strategy game mechanics, but its time in early access has enabled Eremite Games to craft something special. In this dark fantasy woodland setting, you are the Queen’s Viceroy as you build the city. Your decisions affect the fate of the humans and other critters that inhabit your town, leading them to prosperity or damnation.
It certainly impresses, as our Against the Storm review mentions that it’s “both simple enough on the surface to draw you in and complex enough to keep you enthralled in its gratifying risk/reward gameplay loop.”
Assassin’s Creed: Nexus
As we express in our Assassin’s Creed Nexus review, this jump to VR for such a massive series was a worrying one, but our fears were allayed as soon as we donned our headset and stepped back into the lives of Ezio, Kassandra, and Connor in three separate story arcs. If you’re a big AC fan, you may want to know if Assassin’s Creed Nexus is
canon
to the main story.
The campaign takes us through new adventures of these three characters, and some new ones, and provides hours upon hours of engaging gameplay. Check out our how long is Assassin’s Creed Nexus article to find out exactly how long this journey should take you. That said, we didn’t ever feel the need to rush through and we didn’t want it to end, which is handy when you’re playing in VR.
Football Manager 2024
A game about you (the manager) molding a team of players into the best darn sports (football) team the world has ever seen. Perhaps one for football purists only, the Football Manager series has hit new heights this year, with an under-the-radar set of changes and the new ability to continue that old Rotherham save that’s been going for 30 seasons.
Our Football Manager 2024 review goes into the overhauls in detail but with agent improvements, as well as the much-needed increase to positional control. We’ve got some handy guides to help you on your journey, including a list of the best free agents, the best tactics and formations, and where to find the best bargains. If you’ve ever wanted to dip your toe into the world of football management, or if this is your 10th year in the job, it looks like FM24 is the place to be.
Alan Wake 2
Over a decade later, Alan Wake is finally back. Where’s he been all this time? Unfortunately for him, stuck in the Dark Place where we left him. Literally all this time, as Alan Wake 2 kicks off in the present day. The horror novelist is still trying to work out how to get out, but otherwise, nothing much has happened since we last saw him.
As we explain in our glowing Alan Wake 2 review, you start in the role of a new Alan Wake protagonist, an FBI agent exploring a series of murders. We’ll leave you to discover how Saga Anderson’s story fits in with Wake’s as he tries to escape the Dark Place, but you will switch between the two characters during your adventure. If you can’t wait to play Alan Wake 2 but aren’t sure whether you should play Alan Wake first, we’ve got you covered with a Remedy recap.
Ghostrunner
2
If you’re looking for a parkour game to rival Mirror’s Edge, consider it found. Ghostrunner 2 boasts a slick parkour system that allows you to harness breakneck speed and agility without even breaking a sweat. It also seamlessly drops you back into the action whenever you stumble, and includes abilities like bullet time, invincibility, and even lasers to outfox even the toughest of bosses.
As our Ghostrunner 2 review certainly attests, it’s a worthy sequel, declaring it a “surprise GOTY contender” that’s “so much more” than its predecessor – including an all-new hub area and a rogue Ghostrunner faction intent on bending the citizens of Dharma to their will. On that note, Ghostrunner 2’s traversal and combat mechanics are folded into a cyberpunk world dripping in rain, neon, and pure style. Whether it’s parkour, puzzles, or pure aesthetics you’re after, Ghostrunner 2 has all of the above in spades.
Total War: Pharaoh
A war set against the backdrop of the Nile Delta, Total War: Pharaoh sees men attempt to achieve victory over enemy TW Pharaoh leaders, environmental disaster, and the constant threat of outsiders. Our Total War Pharaoh review goes into depth about this compelling strategy game, but if you ever wanted to visit 12th-century Egypt and battle over every grain of sand, you won’t do any better than this.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Our Assassin’s Creed Mirage review highlights the apparent “renewed focus that trims the fat from its predecessors to commemorate the very best bits of the series.” By going back to basics, Mirage’s missions don’t outstay their welcome, and the investigation-based campaign allows you to take your time following leads. Combat eschews the excessive RPG elements of earlier entries, instead opting for a simpler and ironically more engaging block and counter strategies. While there are plenty of collectibles, such as AC Mirage outfits and AC Mirage Lost Books hidden in Baghdad, they aren’t anywhere near as horrendous to try and find – well, except for the AC Mirage Enigmas that is.
Payday 3
In our Payday 3 review, we celebrate the improvements to Payday 3 weapons and other, more refined mechanics in comparison to the previous two games. Payday 3 truly makes you feel like an expert thief, whether you’re new to the series or a returning veteran. With eight Payday 3 heists available at launch and four difficulties to try for each, there’s plenty to keep you busy as you strive to get away with the most cash you can. The biggest downside to the stealth game, meanwhile, is the Payday 3 server issues, thanks to its overwhelming popularity.
Mortal Kombat 1
Our Mortal Kombat 1 review praises the new fighting mechanics, with the refreshing addition of MK1 Kameo characters making for a fast-paced experience that isn’t too complex. With comically gruesome Mortal Kombat 1 Fatalities, the returning Mortal Kombat 1 Brutalities, and a story that’s utterly bonkers from start to finish, fans of the NetherRealm Studios fighting game series will likely have a grand time. Time will tell when it comes to how the MK1 Invasions Mode will keep an active player base during its six-
week
seasonal offerings, but at least it’s something a bit different from the norm.
Starfield
If you’ve ever dreamed of taking to the stars in your own spaceship, exploring planets, mining resources, and… eating sandwiches, then it doesn’t get much better than Starfield. Our Starfield review talks about the game’s lofty goals – giving you the freedom to do as you please while you slowly orbit a rather intriguing story, the space game takes what Bethesda Game Studios does best and blasts it off into the big black.
If you’ve just started your adventure, we have a Starfield walkthrough here to aid you on your travels and a bunch of the best Starfield builds so you can take on whatever the universe throws at you.
Sea of Stars
If you want to experience a classic JRPG without having to put up with dated mechanics, Sabotage Studios’ Sea of Stars has been inspired by some of the genre’s best, like Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG, to relive that era. Our 9/10 Sea of Stars review points out that many developers have tried their hand at recreating the nostalgia those Super NES games elicit, but few have managed to do so convincingly.
Sabotage Studios’ wonderful pixel art assets, combined with the tracks from Chrono Trigger’s primary composer, Yasunori Mitsuda, blend together to create a brilliant turn-based RPG. You can even collect Sea of Stars relics to alter how you play the game, allowing you to customize the experience to your liking. We also have a list of Sea of Stars Rainbow Conch locations if you’re struggling to find all 60 of them on your own.
Armored Core 6
Before the legendary Japanese developer became known for their Souls games, their claim to fame stemmed from the long-running Armored Core series. First released back in 1997, Armored Core lets players live out their mech dreams as they build a giant robot to lay waste to their evil robotic counterparts. After 11 years since the last mainline game, From Software has a brand new audience of fans to pull from. As our 8/10 Armored Core 6 review points out, AC6 isn’t trying to be a Souls game; it’s unequivocally an Armored Core game in every sense of the word.
Armored Core 6’s length should take most players just under 20 hours to complete, but the game has been designed for multiple playthroughs as there are different missions, endings, and mech parts to unlock. Speaking of Armored Core 6 parts, the robot game gives you plenty of options to build radically different mechs. From AC6 weapons like missile launchers and shotguns to Armored Core 6 OS Upgrades that drastically enhance your mech’s abilities, your subsequent playthroughs can be completely different just by picking new parts.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Our Baldur’s Gate 3 review backs this as one of the best PC games of the year, thanks to its varied outcomes, interesting (and sometimes annoying) Baldur’s Gate 3 companions, and the fact that you can craft your BG3 experience as you see fit.
Based on
Dungeons and Dragons
5e, Baldur’s Gate 3 is accessible for both DnD veterans and novices, and you don’t need to have played a Larian Studios game before this one either – thanks to its immersive RPG experience, making it one of the best RPGs around, you’ll learn everything you need as you go.
Remnant 2
Gunfire Games returns with a follow-up to cult hit Remnant: From the Ashes to bring everything its predecessor did, but better – just check our Remnant 2 review if you don’t believe us. Remnant 2 is a multiversal adventure like no other, blending the RNG of roguelike games with the no-holds-barred punishment of Soulslikes in a third-person shooter.
Weapons scavenged from a variety of distinct worlds are imbued with mods and function as the basis of Remnant 2’s build customization, allowing you to cultivate your firepower until you can take down the toughest and meanest bosses in the multiverse. You can even bring a friend along with you for the ride and uncover the secrets that lie beyond Ward 13’s World Stone. If you’re looking for a co-op experience full of surprises, look no further than Remnant 2.
Oxenfree 2
The world of indie sleeper Oxenfree is expanded in its sequel, as Night School Studio seeks to close the book on the mysteries of the fictional Ellis Island and the lost souls that lie beyond its shores. Like its predecessor, Oxenfree 2 has a few light puzzles and plenty of exploration to scratch that classic adventure game itch, but its main draw is its organic conversation system.
Level-headed hiker Riley is thrown into cahoots with local weirdo Jacob. Instead of reconciling the trials and tribulations of a teenage friend group, Riley and Jacob struggle to reconcile regrets spanning familial relationships and careers against the background of Oxenfree’s ‘80s movie aesthetic. As per our Oxenfree 2 review: “Closing rifts between realities is hard; closing rifts between people is harder.”
Diablo 4
Diablo 4 is the first 10/10 to grace the site in a long while, but in our Diablo 4 review, not much stands in the way of making this pitch-perfect as news editor Lauren says, “Diablo 4 embodies the essence of what makes Diablo so great, taking the best elements of its predecessors and sewing them together to create an ever-changing, ever-evolving chimera that we can’t wait to play for years to come.”
If you don’t need any more convincing, then here are our Diablo 4 tips to get started, including which Diablo 4 class to pick and whether Diablo 4 is coming to Game Pass.
Street Fighter 6
Now, this is a game that welcomes newcomers, if you aren’t familiar with this fighting game, now’s the time to punch in. Our Street Fighter 6 review highlights just how much the game has learned from previous installments and creates an in-depth campaign with a control system that appeals to newbies but challenges fighting game veterans. If you’re thinking of giving it a whirl, here’s our Street Fighter 6 tier list and Street Fighter 6 roster.
The Outlast Trials
If you’re looking for a horror game to play among friends, The Outlast Trials is the perfect co-op experience for a terrifying and disturbing look at the events before the original Outlast games. As you head to a secretive facility with the promise of a brighter future, that quickly fades as you’re forced into mind control experiments and brainwashing.
To flee the facility and return to society, you and up to four friends must compete in a series of trials and challenges involving evading creepy monsters and making morally compromising decisions – all in the name of science.
Age of Wonders 4
If you’re after a strategy game, the new fantasy game Age of Wonders has earned rave reviews, especially our Age of Wonders 4 review: “This is undoubtedly the best 4X game I’ve played in years, delivering top-notch exploration, combat, and diplomacy alongside a rewarding and dynamic customization system.” With improved customization and faction mechanics and compelling exploration, combat, and diplomacy systems, it’s no wonder Age of Wonders 4 has stormed the Steam charts.
There you have it, the new PC games you should be playing right now. Now, we’ll admit we were being a little facetious earlier: new PC games aren’t necessarily the cream of the personal computer crop. For that, you should swing by our list of the best old games for the classics, perhaps our favorite free PC games so you can try them without consequence, or even check out our collection of free online games, no download required.
VIA:
.pcgamesn.com
