So, without further ado, let's take a look at over 40 of the biggest, brightest and best Xbox Series X|S games headed our way over the next 12 months!
It's not too long now until we get our hands on this brand new slice of PoP action, and from the looks of it we're in for a bit of an early year treat.
Yes, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown sees the gravity-defying, time-bending prince back in side-scrolling action as Ubisoft transports us to Persia, where a group known as The Immortals prepare to undertake a daring rescue mission. What we've so far looks stunning, there are some incredibly clever new mechanics in the mix, and with the developers of Rayman at the wheel we have high hopes this is gonna be a stone-cold platforming masterclass when it drops in the very near future.
- Release Date: 18th January 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? No
The Yakuza games have been on an incredible roll lately with recent efforts amongst the best we've seen from RGG Studios, which is really saying something.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduced excellent turn-based combat to the mix back in 2020, whilst the studio has also been busy revamping, remastering and reworking past entries in order to bring the storied history of this franchise to a new audience. In Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, we rejoin Ichiban Kasuga as he hooks up with series stalwart Kazuma Kiryu - the Dragon of Kojima himself - in a tale that takes us out of Japan for the first time in the series, all the way to Hawaii!
The trailers we've caught so far are suitably ludicrous - the zany humour, OTT violence and kooky cast of characters are all present and correct - and with long lost relatives and terminal diseases also in the mix, it's looking like we're in for another surprisingly emotional, hilariously mad and wonderfully violent time come release day. This could well be one of the best of the year, and it's coming very, very soon.
- Release Date: 26th January 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? No
January is looking absolutely stacked this year and amongst all of the heavy hitters getting us underway in 2024, Tekken 8 is one of the potential highlights.
We've had hands on with the betas and demos so we know it's slick, we know it sticks to what we love with regards to Tekken's core mechanics whilst modernising and revamping, but we've still to ascertain whether or not it can match the likes of Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 1 1 and Guilty Gear -Strive-. Will Jun Kazama return? Will we get a big meaty story mode full of very silly NPCs to batter and outfits to wear? (Will anyone ever be able to beat me online?) All of these questions and more shall be answered in the fullness time.
- Release Date? 26th January 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? No
It's looking like Persona fans are going to continue to eat good in 2024 with Persona 5 Tactica having dropped just a few weeks ago, and Persona 3 Reload now close at hand.
Persona 3 was already a bonafide belter in its OG form, but it's now been completely rebuilt and redesigned to fit in with the flow of more modern offerings in the franchise. A total graphical rebuild, slick new UI, combat that hews closer to Persona 5, an all new English cast and more besides should ensure this is a memorable return to action. Let's just hope the dark tone and unsettling vibe aren't somewhat sullied by the refresh.
- Release Date: 2nd February 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Rocksteady finally returns in 2024 with Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, and the solo/co-op action here really couldn't look more different to the dark and brooding melee combat of the superlative Arkham games.
Yes we're still waiting after understandable delays, you gotta let these chefs cook, but it's not too long now until we get our hands on a game which has us all guessing over its quality way more than we thought we might have been in the run-up to a new release from a studio of this quality. With just a few weeks to go now it won't be long before we're on the streets of Metropolis, so let's all hope Rocksteady manages to pull a belter out of its bat-bag.
- Release Date? 2nd February 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? No
With all three of the original Tomb Raider adventures and all of their previously released expansions enhanced and polished to a modern sheen, there's enough Lara Crofting here to last us until 2025.
It's been a very long time since we played these games, (this writer hasn't touched them since originally completing them upon release), and so we're eager to return, with all of Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered's modern conveniences applied, to rediscover what made these adventures so special to so many players back in the day.
Dialing back the bombast and cutscenes of thew recent reboots, this is tomb-raiding in the old-school style and we are here for it, Lara.
- Release Date: 14th February 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Ubisoft's Skull & Bones finally arrives on consoles this year after eleven years in development and multiple delays to its expected release date.
This multiplayer-focused pirate extravaganza sees players rise from scurvy dog to infamous pirate captain, indulging in multiplayer ship-to-ship battles that are based off the sea combat we all know and love from Assassin's Creed Black Flag.
You can check out the gameplay trailer here, we reckon the action looks like it's got plenty of depth to it and that open world looks gorgeous. Of course, Ubisoft has had a lot of time to add depth/refine so we're expecting big things and, with a huge open world set in the Indian Ocean and single player elements for those who wish to go it alone, it seems there's plenty to look forward to when this one finally makes land.
- Release Date: 16th February 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Open Roads is an interactive murder mystery thriller from Open Roads Team (previously Fullbright) that was first announced back in 2020. With both Gone Home and Tacoma in their back catalogue, we already know this is a super talented dev studio, but can they hit another one out of the park?
Despite some major setbacks, this team has pulled through, and what we've got here looks set to be an emotionally charged game that delves into long lost family secrets, the power of memories and a mother and daughter's journey into the truth of their shared pasts. We're 100% into the art style, it looks every bit as riveting as its predecessors, and we can't wait to get stuck in when it finally drops!
- Release Date: 22nd February 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Well, there's not much to say about this one really is there? Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a bonafide classic and its clever dual-control puzzling is getting a sweet revamp this year in a remake that upgrades visuals, controls and more in order to fully modernize the OG 2013 adventure.
If you missed this one first time around this is a fantastic opportunity to play one of the best puzzle games around. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is bringing all the emotion, joy and straight-up dread of the original in a pimped out package and we are here for it.
Now...what's the chances they've added two player co-op?
- Release Date: 28th February 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? No
The Outlast Trials is already out on various other platforms, where it's been warmly received, and we're looking forward to finally getting stuck into this one on Xbox consoles. Pitting you - either solo or co-op - against a gauntlet of twisted and horrific trials, it's up to you and your buddies to work as a team and escape Murkoff Facility by completing all of its terrifying challenges.
Strong stomachs and a love of all things blood-soaked are essential for this savage co-operative horror experience!
- Release Date: 5th March 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? No
1992's Alone in the Dark gets a modern reimagining in what's shaping up to be one of the more exciting prospects for horror fans in 2024.
Let's hope all of the slick pre-release footage we've seen of this return to 1920's Lousiana so far comes packing gameplay to match. With Pieces Interactive ditching the static camera angles of the original, modernising combat and doubling down on the survival aspects of the series, could we be looking at a rejuvenated Resi rival when this one hits shelves in March?
It's certainly got a stellar cast in place with the likes of Jodie Comer and David Harbour present and correct, and everything we've seen and heard so far points to this being a bit of a belter, so let's keep those blood-soaked fingers crossed!
- Release Date? 20th March 2024
- Xbox Game Pass? No
