January might seem like a quiet month for new game releases, but 2024 is kicking off with a bang! From long-awaited sequels to fresh takes on classic franchises, the first month of the year has some absolute gems in store for gamers. In this rundown, we’ll highlight the 10 titles that have us the most hyped for January.
Whether you’re craving an emotional narrative experience, an intense fighting challenge, or just some quirky, laugh-out-loud fun, the variety of games on offer means there’s something here for everyone. Fans have been eager to return to many of these worlds and characters for years now, making each release feel like an overdue reunion with an old friend. Of course, with so many top-notch games packed into 31 days, we’ll have some tough choices to make on how to budget our time and money.
But these are sacrifices we’re willing to make for the memorable adventures that await. From fresh revivals of iconic series to innovative new virtual reality experiences, the first month of 2024 is a celebration of the creative spirit across every corner of gaming. So power up your console, charge your VR headset, and get ready to dive into the most anticipated titles of January! We can’t wait to share these journeys with you.
10. Palworld
- Release Date: January 2024 (PC via Steam Early Access)
We don’t know much about the enigmatic Palworld yet, but this quirky monster-collecting survival game has certainly piqued our curiosity. Developed by Pocketpair, Palworld lets players explore vivid natural environments while recruiting, caring for, and sometimes exploiting mysterious creatures called Pals. With firearms and other tools, you’ll have to fend off ruthless poachers trying to hunt your Pals to extinction. At the same time, you can make the Pals work, fight, or even eat them to survive in the harsh world. It’s like Pokemon meets Animal Crossing meets Doom.
From riding Pals across land, air, and sea to building structures and automating factories with their “labor,” this game gives you total control over these creatures. You can also breed them to create the ultimate Pal. With multiplayer support, you can adventure or battle friends while trading Pals as well. With early trailers showing Pals wielding guns themselves, this game looks like a whimsical, morally gray take on monster collecting games. The visuals channel a cute, toy-like aesthetic contrasted by intense action. We can’t wait to see how in-depth the creature care and survival systems get. For anyone seeking a quirky new spin on monster befriending in a stylized world, Palworld could provide some dark yet adorable fun when it hits early access this month.
9. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
- Release Date: January 18
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
After committing tax evasion in 2021’s sleeper hit Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, the eponymous sentient vegetable is back for more criminal antics. This time, Turnip Boy has joined up with the Pickled Gang to attempt an absurdly ambitious bank heist. As you gather strange weapons like diamond pickaxes and cardboard boxes, you’ll shake down hostages, dodge security measures, and duel with veggie swat teams in intense shootouts. With roguelite elements turning up the challenge, this bank robbery gone wrong shapes up as a zany co-op adventure perfect for fans of action, comedy, and crime capers.
While the original Turnip Boy skewered bureaucracy with its turn-based battles against the IRS and other enemies, the sequel leans into wacky top-down shooting and platforming. You’ll explore a sprawling bank filled with secrets and timers to beat. The super weird arsenal should fuel creativity and laughs in equal measure. And the roguelite structure means every failed heist will reshuffle elements like power ups and enemy placements to stay fresh. With plenty of hats to collect, new tunes to jam to, and secrets about the world’s lore, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank looks like a delightful dose of mayhem.
The charming hand-drawn art style and nutty tone returns alongside a new cast of food-inspired characters to aid or obstruct your mission. If you’re seeking a pick-up-and-play single-player adventure filled with laughs, charged shootouts, and just the right pinch of chaos, keep this rambunctious rampage on your radar when it launches January 18th for PC and consoles. Turnip Boy is once again primed to become gaming’s favorite petty criminal.
8. Another Code: Recollection
- Release Date: January 19
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
The overlooked classic adventure games Another Code: Two Memories and Another Code: R are being revived in fully 3D glory with Another Code: Recollection for the Nintendo Switch. This remaster compilation follows Ashley Mizuki as she searches for her father on the mysterious Blood Edward Island, solving environmental puzzles and uncovering her own hidden memories along the way. With updated graphics, music, voice acting, and controls, this is a great chance to revisit or discover these eerie, melancholy games about trauma and family.
Originally released for Nintendo DS and Wii, the Another Code games stood out for their well-crafted puzzles based around the dual screen and pointing abilities of those systems. Recollection adapts the gameplay for Joy-Con control, retaining the cerebral challenge. But the real draw is getting to see Blood Edward Island and its cast of complex characters come to life with detailed 3D visuals. The lonely, haunting vibe as you peel back the layers of Ashley’s psyche seems ideally matched to the Switch’s handheld and TV modes.
For anyone seeking narrative depth from their puzzles or who has fond memories of developer Cing’s classics, Another Code: Recollection should satisfy and surprise when it launches January 19. The included free demo is a great way to experience how the enhanced visuals and sound design immerse you in Ashley’s search for closure. Whether you’re new to the series or a returning fan, this reimagining could be the first must-play adventure of the year on Switch.
7. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
- Release Date: January 25
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Court is back in session this January with the Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy, a collection of three immersive legal dramas. This compilation includes Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice. Together these visual novel classics will have you cross-examining witnesses, investigating crime scenes, and fighting for justice one objection at a time. Remastered in HD anime graphics, this is the definitive way to play these fan favorite Ace Attorney games.
The trilogy follows Apollo Justice and Phoenix Wright, ace attorneys who always get to the truth for their clients, no matter how convoluted the case. With its signature mix of over-the-top characters, high-stakes drama, and plenty of humor, these legal adventures are perfect for sinking your teeth into. The collection also includes two bonus DLC episodes to flesh out the backstories of fan favorite characters.
Beyond the remastered visuals, the trilogy also adds an Animation Studio mode for crafting custom animated Ace Attorney scenes. Whether you want to recreate classic moments or produce your own zany content, this special feature opens up creative possibilities. For longtime fans or newcomers ready to try these critically acclaimed legal capers, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is set to make a compelling case on January 25. Objection, Your Honor!
6. Rugby 24
- Release Date: January 30
Scrums are about to get intense as Big Ant Studios prepares for the release of Rugby 24. This officially licensed game will simulate the hard-hitting, fast-paced action of rugby union at its best. With over 130 playable national teams, including professional clubs from competitions like the URC, Top 14, and PROD2, you’ll be able to recreate iconic matchups from around the globe. And as the Official Game of the Rugby World Cup, you can guide your favorite country to glory.
Rugby 24 will feature the largest roster to date, with each team having its own accurate lineup as well as unique kits and designs. This level of authenticity helps capture the emotion and competition of the real sport. And Big Ant’s rugby gameplay engine provides the depth fans expect, with tactical rucks, mauls, lineouts and more. Whether you want to focus on running clean lines and scoring tries as a back, or make bone-crunching tackles and attrition wins as a forward, you have that control.
For any rugby or sports gaming fan, Rugby 24 is one to get pumped up for when it launches later this January. With the World Cup coming up in September, this is the perfect way to get in the mood and start strategizing so your team of choice is primed for glory. Time to master the scrum, ruck some heads, and feel the passion of rugby union when Rugby 24 arrives on consoles this month.
5. Bulletstorm VR
- Release Date: January 18
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Oculus Quest
The over-the-top action and profanity-laden humor of 2011 shooter Bulletstorm is being unleashed in VR headsets in January. Bulletstorm VR remasters the original game while adding touch, motion tracking and environmental interaction to its unique brand of skillshot-based carnage. You’ll step back into the boots of Grayson Hunt, disgraced space pirate dead-set on revenge, and tear through hordes of mutants across a variety of VR-optimized levels.
Part of what made Bulletstorm stand out was the creativity it allowed through its skillshot scoring system. Killing enemies in creative ways, like through clever bullet ricochets or by knocking them into environmental hazards, results in more points and more absurd names for your kill. This freeform approach to combat and traversal is a natural fit for VR, where you manually aim, grab and take cover. Newly designed levels will emphasize this freedom and immersion.
An exclusive addition is the playable character Trishka Novak, who brings her own moveset including deadly energy blades. And new VR-only levels present fresh challenges and skillshot opportunities. Whether you fondly remember the original game’s over-the-top spectacle or are experiencing Bulletstorm’s brand of high octane carnage for the first time, Bulletstorm VR seeks to push the limits of VR action with inventive gunplay and melee when it launches later this month.
4. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Release Date: January 26
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
The irreverent and big-hearted Like A Dragon series is back with this month’s Infinite Wealth, sending Ichiban Kasuga and friends on a soul-searching trip to Hawaii. When Kiryu reaches out for one more adventure before his battle with cancer, Ichiban can’t refuse the chance to team up with the legendary “Dragon of Dojima” himself. But invigorating tropical fistfights soon spiral into a deeper journey about family, fate, and forging your own path.
Infinite Wealth promises all the over-the-top personality and varied minigames the series is loved for, now against colorful new backdrops. You’ll help locals with their problems, play beachside bat-and-ball, battle yakuza goons with a touch of Street Fighter flair, and even design your own Animal Crossing-style tropical village. With many bittersweet moments teased for Kiryu’s arc, expect as much laughter as tears.
For longtime fans ready to see the series’ mix of heart and humor in a vibrant new setting, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth looks set to deliver an unforgettable experience. The journey launches January 26 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
3. The Last of Us Part II Remastered
- Release Date: January 19
- Platform: PS5
Naughty Dog’s acclaimed 2020 action-adventure gets resurrected for PS5 in The Last of Us Part II Remastered. This enhanced edition brings the stunning world and emotional story of Ellie’s quest for justice to next-gen with refined gameplay features. Most notably, a roguelike survival mode provides tense randomized challenges to test your survival skills against overwhelming odds.
Built from the ground up for PS5, TLOU2 Remastered runs in native 4K resolution in its new Fidelity mode for jaw-dropping environmental detail and fluid character animations. Haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support through the DualSense controller also helps immerse you in every encounter. Whether you’re stealthing your way through a Bloater-infested building or engaging the Rattlers in an all-out firefight, the combat feels even more visceral on PS5.
But the biggest addition is the No Return mode, which remixes levels with higher enemy density and ever-changing item spawns. With permadeath enabled, you’ll have to play smart and reflexively to get through this dynamically generated gauntlet of threats. If you somehow survive all 20 rounds, special rewards await. The Remastered package also includes developer commentary and several Lost Levels, letting you explore unfinished areas cut from the original release.
For those seeking both visual enhancements and new challenges within Ellie and Abby’s emotionally charged adventure, The Last of Us Part II Remastered makes a compelling case when it launches January 19 exclusively for PlayStation 5. This is undoubtedly the definitive way to experience one of the PS4’s crowning exclusives.
2. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Release Date: January 18
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
The long-dormant Prince of Persia series is back with a vengeance in the highly stylized action-platformer The Lost Crown. Blending the franchise’s platforming and combat pedigree with an anime-inspired 2D metroidvania format, The Lost Crown aims to propel the Prince into the modern age with grace when it releases January 18.
Ubisoft is taking a major creative risk by shifting the historically 3D series into a 2D perspective, now framed by hand-drawn aesthetics straight out of a lush, vibrant graphic novel. But this change allows for the same flowing, gymnastic movement and puzzle-filled exploration the series is known for, now with a bold new sense of artistry. Early previews praise The Lost Crown’s fluid platforming and combat mechanics, which will have players dashing along walls, swinging from ropes, and utilizing special time abilities during combos and evasive maneuvers.
Each of the Prince’s strikes, dashes, and parkour stunts seamlessly chain together to create an exhilarating sense of motion and control. Lithe movement even factors into The Lost Crown’s epic boss encounters, where conscious timing and positioning are key to surviving and countering massive mythic foes. These battles demand equal parts grace and aggression as you dart between titanic blows from minotaurs and griffins in spectacular, screen-filling clashes.
Though this is a notable departure from previous entries, The Lost Crown still retains that intrepid Prince of Persia spirit. With its fresh feel, dynamic action, and lavish aesthetics, this could be the first true revival for the series in over a decade when it arrives later in January. The shift to 2D action-platforming might surprise some, but by all accounts Ubisoft has nailed the landing. Get ready to run, jump, fight with style, and reclaim the Prince’s crown.
1. Tekken 8
- Release Date: January 26
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The king of 3D fighting games returns with Tekken 8, arriving January 26th to raise the bar for graphics, gameplay, and content in the genre. Building on foundations set by Tekken 7, the eighth core installment in this storied fighting series uplifts the signature strategic combat to new visual heights while welcoming newcomers better than ever before.
With characters and environments recreated in stunning detail thanks to Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 represents a massive visual leap for the series. Lighting, textures, particles, and physics recreate the hard-hitting martial arts combat with incredible fidelity. Whether you’re fighting in the misty Himeji Castle courtyard or a rooftop helipad buffeted by winds, the locales and effects pull you into the experience like never before. Small touches like raindrops running down muscles or the gleam of fighters’ eyes add lifelike realism.
Gameplay also receives new levels of polish, with updated mechanics and a revamped tutorial mode called “Arcade Quest” that eases in new players through a globe-trotting story campaign. Combat retains the strategic triangle system and juggle combos Tekken is known for, now with more aggressive options via the new Heat System that builds power the longer fighters exchange blows. With a larger-than-ever roster out the gate, including returning legends and all-new brawlers, there’s unmatched variety in fighting styles and matchups to master.
The cinematic story mode continues the tragic conflict between father and son, Heihachi and Kazuya Mishima, while exploring compelling developments with series mainstays like Jin, Paul, King, Yoshimitsu, and Nina. Production values are blockbuster-grade, conveying the drama between clashes. Tekken 8 represents the pinnacle of what developer Bandai Namco can achieve with its long-running 3D fighter. When it hits PlayStation and Xbox consoles alongside PC later in January, expect Tekken 8 to set the pace for fighting games and competitive gameplay in 2024. This is King of Iron Fist Tournament action perfected.
