As if the last several years hadn’t been busy enough, 2024 has now almost run its course with one of the more jam-packed video game release schedules in recent memory. The year started strong withthe remaster ofThe Last of Us Part 2and then quickly followed up with two of the year’s most acclaimed games –Tekken 8andLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. But January was also the month that brought us the criminally underratedPrince of Persiareboot inThe Lost Crown, a Metroidvania so good that it begs the question of why more AAA developers don’t dabble in the space.
The prolific release schedule in January would only give way to a seemingly endless cadence of releases, making it virtually impossible to keep up with (much less play) every quality game released in 2024. As is traditionally the case, there are several lesser-known highlights from the2024 release calendarthat may have, for one reason or another, missed their target audience, waiting to be unearthed like buried treasure.Presented in alphabetical order, these games are all hidden gems that may have bigger waves with a less-packed year.
1000xResist
Check out 1000xResist onOpenCritic
Sunset Visitor’s1000xResistis a captivating piece of science fiction that tackles some complex and challenging themes in its runtime, confronting issues related to the immigrant experience and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The game begins with a shocking murder and then puts players to task with unraveling the mystery behind that crime, uncovering unsettling truths along the way. Fans of adventure games, science fiction, and cerebral game narratives like those of Yoko Taro orHideo Kojimashould definitely give1000xResista shot, and it’s likely its narrative will stick with players long after they roll credits.
Arco
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After a strong showing from its Steam Next Fest demo,real-time tactics gameArcowas released earlier this year and quickly made headlines for how criminally underrated it was, despite its “Overwhelmingly Positive” Steam user rating. Contrary to most games in the turn-based tactics genre, every action inArcoplays out in real-time, requiring players to consider not just their moves but the moves of their opponents as well. It’s an innovative and unique approach to the genre that forces players to consider atypical strategies, andArcoonly sweetens the deal by featuring an excellent narrative built around a heartbreaking tale of revenge.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Banishers: Ghosts of New Edenis the second consecutive departure for renowned studio Don’t Nod following last year’smeditative climbing simulator,Jusant.Banishersis a game that puts Don’t Nod’s penchant for strong writing and character development on full display, delivering one of the more emotional narratives of any game in 2024 alongside a very solid action RPG. The closest analog for its combat is Sony Santa Monica’sGod of Warreboot, and while that’s not a 1:1 comparison,Banishers' polish and presentation stand toe-to-toe with the emotional weight of Kratos and Atreus' journey.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus
Squid Shock Studios’Bō: Path of the Teal Lotushad the unfortunate luck of releasing just ahead of the closure of its publisher, with Humble Games' layoffs and restructuring occurring just 6 days after the game’s launch. Thankfully, to its credit,Squid Shockhas followed through on making sure the game received some critical updates and patches to ensure smooth performance on all platforms despite the closure, meaning more people can experience one of the year’s best Metroidvanias. While the first thing players will notice aboutBōis its Japanese mythology-inspired setting andOkami-style visuals, the game’s smooth platforming and “pogo-ing” will feel right at home to fans ofThe Messenger’s Cloudstep ability.
Crypt Custodian
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Indie developer Kyle Thompson followed up the also underratedSheepoandIsletswith one of the year’s strongest Metroidvania titles,Crypt Custodian. Like Thompson’s other games,Crypt Custodianis a visually distinctive and “chill” Metroidvania that incorporates a heartfelt, humorous narrative and an absolute earworm of a soundtrack thanks to his brother Eric Thompson’s original score. But unlike its spiritual predecessors,Crypt Custodianplaces a greater emphasis on direct storytelling and combat while also switching up the perspective, earning its place in the pantheon of similar indie"Zelda-vanias" such asDeath’s DoororHyper Light Drifter.
Dungeons of Hinterberg
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Speaking ofZelda, players would be hard-pressed to find a greater love letter to the “classic” era of 3DZeldagames than Microbird Games’Dungeons of Hinterberg. Part action RPG dungeon-crawler and part slice-of-life narrative adventure game,Dungeons of Hinterbergis a charming title that deftly mixes its disparate gameplay halves to be one of the year’s more unique indies. Getting to know the residents of the snowy mountainside village at night after helping them solve their pesky monster problem during the day blendselements ofPersonaandOcarina of Time, and it’s a mix that many players won’t want to be over by the timeDungeons of Hinterbergreaches its conclusion.
I Am Your Beast
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Strange Scaffold continues to establish itself as one of the more unique and promising indie developers working today, following up surprise hits likeEl Paso, ElsewhereandClickoldingwith this year’sI Am Your Beast. A twitch-FPS that requires lightning-fast reflexes and practically begs for players to repeat levels to shave precious seconds off their time,I Am Your Beastis what would happen if one were to takeNeon Whiteand blend it with the spy thriller action and cel-shaded art style ofclassic first-person shooter:XIII.I Am Your Beastis fast, frenetic, and funny, and each individual “murder maze” is almost endlessly replayable.
I Am Your Beast is a shortform covert revenge thriller FPS about getting hunted across the North American wilderness by the military-industrial complex — and turning the tables.You are secret agent Alphonse Harding. Retired for six years, you’ve been asked to complete ‘one last job’, one too many times. Declining your latest mission sets in motion a furious guerilla war between you and the Covert Operations Initiative (COI) that litters the forest with bodies and bullet casings.Break your opponents. Use their own equipment against them. Duck into your tunnel network before enemy forces zero in on your location. Repeat.Lightning-fast “he’s-in-the-walls” player fantasy, complete with superhuman tree climbing and head explosions. Fully voiced story campaign with 20+ levels. Lush comic book-inspired art style.Chase side objectives while getting the fastest times possible in replayable micro-sandboxesWield pistols, sniper rifles, bear traps, and more. Heart-slamming soundtrack from award-winning composer RJ Lake (Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator, Unbeatable, El Paso, Elsewhere). Innovative “kinetic typography” cutscene system.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Capcom surprised players this year with the completely left-fieldKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. The game’s initial reveal caused many to stand up and take note due to the title’s arresting visuals and incorporation of Japanese mythology, butKunitsu-Gami’s tower defense gameplayseemed to have turned some off expecting a third-person character action game. Missing out onKunitsu-Gamidue to thinking it’s a run-of-the-mill tower defense title would be a shame, though, as Capcom found a way to strike a balance between third-person hack-and-slash action and a strategically deep tower defense game that future genre entries should take note of. Ultimately,Kunitsu-Gami’s singular creative vision is on full display, and it’s one of 2024’s best hidden gems.
Mullet Madjack
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Both roguelikes andboomer shootersare fairly prolific genres in the indie development scene, so it was only a matter of time before more developers came along and began to combine the two. One of the more noteworthy and completely off-the-wall is this year’sMullet Madjack, which is apparently what would happen when a mad scientist combines 90s anime,Hotline Miami,Ultrakill, andJohnny Mnemonicinto a sense-assaulting concoction. Like the best action roguelikes,Mullet Madjacknails the power creep resulting from both power-ups within runs and meaningful meta-progression, and its visuals, music, and aesthetic are somehow reminiscent of Toonami,Quake,andDoom.
WHERE TO PLAY
Your HEALTH is TIMEYou must KILL to get more TIMEA HIGH-OCTANE-ACTION SHOOTER, 90% ARCADE FUN, 10% roguelite.In this future, MAN and INTERNET have merged into a new being. This being needs DOPAMINE every 10 SECONDS, or else it will DIE!ARCADE FUN! You are MULLET MAD JACK, and you must kill enemies to refill your 10 SECONDS OF LIFE!Beat handcraft stages at random full of exciting new obstacles at each chapter!Memorize each room and compete for better times!Cleverly build your character every FLOOR, in a fully-fledge NARRATIVE with small roguelite elements.Defeat the mysterious masterminds and experience the ultimate OLD SCHOOL ANIME plot!You can play the game forever in random levels on ENDLESS MODE. A CLASSIC MODE with no TIMER if you want a traditional campaign. 50+ Power ups that change the way you can play the game.Fast Arcade feel full of dopamine rush like the old times.
Pacific Drive
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The survival genre is one that, understandably, turns many players away due to the often steep learning curve involved. What makes Ironwood Studios’Pacific Drivea unique game within the genre is the way that it smooths out that curve, allowing players who have little or no experience with survival games the chance to enjoy an incredibly atmospheric title with some lightsurvival horror elements. It might seem strange to declare a game about keeping a deteriorating car functional one of the year’s most stressful titles, but anyone who has barely made it from one checkpoint to the next inPacific Drivecan attest to its white-knuckle tension.
