Welcome to a new year filled to the brim with wonderful titles — and it’s only January! I wanted to help indie fans keep the truly exciting, currently announced games of 2024 in mind with this list while not repeating myself too much. So, I’m skipping over games that made it into my most anticipated games last year but got pushed to 2024. That includes Hades 2 (which was the height of wishful thinking), Another Crab’s Treasure, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, and Nine Sols. But even without these spectacular titles in the ranks below, 2024 is looking unbelievable.
Botany Manor – Q2 2024
Botany Manor brought a little light into a rainy GDC day last year, and I had a wonderful time exploring the great house and puzzling over plant-based challenges. Though it was originally set to launch in 2023, the game is now releasing in the sunnier months of this year.
Dungeons Of Hinterberg – 2024
Summer Game Fest had no shortage of heart-capturing titles, but this odd combination of vacation sim and dungeon crawler stood out. I selfishly would love to get a more narrow release window than 2024 just to be sure it’s hitting soon. REally though, no matter when it launches, I’ll be ready.
Earthblade – 2024
Another 2024 game I’m anxious to hear more about, Earthblade got a grand reveal at The Game Awards 2022. The unexpected announcement comes from Extremely OK Games of Celeste fame, and the studio’s follow-up raises a slew of expectations.
Ghost Bike – 2024
Annapurna Interactive has a stunning line-up of upcoming games, though Ghost Bike holds a special place in my heart. A mystical courier society? Contests in the afterlife? Gorgeous minimalistic visuals? I’m all in.
Hauntii – Q2 2024
I went hands-on with Hauntii last year and walked away needing more. It was smart, mesmerizing, and surprisingly funny for a game about death. Sassy signs, heckling hills, and special powers kept me enthralled as I followed my path through the underworld. So, I’m looking forward to exploring more has we get closer to this year’s second quarter.
Neva – 2024
Neva’s debut trailer is a masterclass in how to make viewers cry in under two minutes. Nomada Studio, creator of Gris, is leaning a little more into the action realm with this dazzling title. However, the developer has been fairly quiet about Neva since it was revealed. So, I don’t expect to get an exact launch date until the game makes its next appearance.
Pepper Grinder – 2024
The talented John Carson dug into Pepper Grinder last summer. So, I’ll let him sum it up:
“My time with Pepper Grinder was over in no time, but what I played over about thirty minutes was a blast, and it’s apparent the foundation is in place for what could be a unique platformer. I can’t wait to rev up Grinder again when the full game releases on Switch and PC in 2024.”
Replaced – 2024
Will this be the year? Replaced, though hotly anticipated, has suffered from past delays, being affected by the war in Ukraine. Sad Cat Studios didn’t specify a window besides 2024, but did assure fans that the game’s systems were largely functionally. That gives me hope.
Thank Goodness You’re Here! – 2024
One of the top games in my Pax West Most Brilliantly Bizarre category, this cartoony experience is as ridiculously fun as it looks. The puzzles unfurl with all the logic of a dream, though they are still satisfying to solve. Thank Goodness You’re Here! really should be on your to-watch list this year.
The Plucky Squire – 2024
Anyone who has seen this game’s trailers will know it is something special. The transforming 2D and 3D adventure promises to be one of the most graphically enchanting of the year, and hopefully it won’t find itself delayed again.
The Rise Of The Golden Idol – 2024
Surprises are always the best part of large showcases, and The Rise of the Golden Idol’s reveal is no exception. It’s not secret I love this franchise and have had a great time with all it’s had to offer. So, the new skipping 70’s timeline and more painterly look has me intrigued.
Chasing The Unseen – March 7, 2024
Indie games are great for a lot of reasons, but one of them is that a title can just hit you in the face out of the blue with no warning. When I stumbled over Chasing the Unseen, I wasn’t prepared to fall under its spell so quickly. The tension-filled dreamscape is filled with awe-inspiring sights and fascinating objectives, all conveyed without words.
Magical Delicacy – 2024
Do you ever just want a sip of enchantingly comforting stew? Not only are you looking to make that happen in Magical Delicacy, the game itself excludes that kind of shimmering ease. It also dips interestingly into platforming in a title otherwise steeped in the sim traditions. I left the story on a cliffhanger during my preview and can’t wait to pick it back up.
Ultros – Feb 13, 2024
Ultros is right around the corner and it is a title you absolutely do not want to miss. It won the top prize in my Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Edition coverage for good reason. Simply put: play this game.
Flock – Spring 2024
What a god game for a spring release. I hope it sticks to it because the sunlit hills and flowing gameplay are perfect for the season. This is going to be 2024’s game-as-mood go-to for me. I’m also bursting to try out the game’s multiplayer features.
SULFUR – 2024
I need to get my hands on this game with controller support. Despite my deficiencies with mouse and keyboard, I still walked away from my hands-on time with this silly and brutal underworld action game with a smile on my face.
Mirthwood – 2024
“I venture out into a beautifully hand-drawn world that immediately pulls me into side quests that grant me a rare weapon (with which I kill a couple of threatening bandits), a lesson in cooking, and a chance to try out the game’s mini-game-like socialization system.” I wrote these thoughts just after PAX West, and am excited to try out even more later this year.
Hermit And Pig – 2024
One of my great disappointments of last year was not being able to check out Hermit and Pig at Day of the Devs. However, with the humorous Pokémon-like title launch sometime this year, I (hopefully) don’t have too long to wait until I finally had the game in my hands.
Shadows Of Doubt – 2024
Shadows of Doubt had a wildly successful Early Access release and I loved what I played. Its mind-boggling player freedom is still not complete, however. The developer’s roadmap points to a 1.0 release this year which I’m eager to try to break. And perhaps I’ll catch a murderer along the way.
Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall – 2024
Winter threatens the land. As its ruler, I expect to weather battles in the field and the throne room as I attempt to manage dwindling resources. If you haven’t played the first Yes, Your Grace, now is a good time to pick it up.
Leave a Reply