The Most Exciting Reveals and Announcements From The Game Awards 2024

The 10th annual Game Awards managed to pull off something of a miracle during its broadcast. Commonly accepted as the year's biggest showcase of up-and-coming releases in the wake of E3's demise, The Game Awards had been host to its fair share of controversy over the last few years, especially as the gaming industry continued to suffer layoffs, the cause of which were primarily determined to be mismanagement of studios by executives in C-suite roles with no passion or knowledge of the games they measure the bottom line for. Combined with the "gold rush" toward live-service games over the last few years, the commercialism of The Game Awards seemed to underscore problematic trends in the industry. But then The Game Awards 2024 happened, bringing with it some of the most exciting reveals that prove the industry is correcting itself.

Rather than trailer after trailer of live-service, always online, multiplayer-focused shooters, MOBAs, and other game genres that are now fully over-saturated, most of the shows reveals were for sprawling, immersive, single-player experiences that hearken back to the golden age of gaming and the classics that helped build the industry. To top it off, a title along those same lines took home the Game of the Year award, with Astro Bot (and its 8-hour, self-contained, thrill-ride of a single-player campaign) showing that gamers still love games that are just that: games. There were more than 3 dozen reveals at The Game Awards 2024, but these are the ones that stood out as some of the most promising titles that will help shape the future of the industry.

• Developer — Tactical Adventures
• Publisher — Tactical Adventures
• Genre — Turn-Based Tactical RPG
• Projected Release Date — TBA 2025
• Platforms — PC

One of the more welcome surprises from The Game Awards 2024's crop of announcements is the reveal that Solasta II is on the way. The original Solasta is a fantastic CRPG built using the source document for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rule set, which results in the game being a turn-based tactical RPG with incredible depth and flexibility in how players craft their heroes and compose their party. The first thing that jumps out about the sequel is how massive of a visual overhaul it's bringing over the original. The first Solasta was a phenomenal game with simply serviceable visuals, but Solasta II is already leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor's presentation. The CRPG and TRPG genres have been in the midst of a renaissance, and Solasta II is shaping up to be an exciting addition to look forward to in 2025.

• Developer — Hangar 13
• Publisher — 2K
• Genre — Action, Open-World
• Projected Release Date — Q2/Q3 2025
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Along with Borderlands 4, Mafia: The Old Country was a game that we knew would be making an appearance at The Game Awards, having been previously leaked and confirmed to have a reveal trailer debuting during the broadcast. But what we didn't know was how great Mafia: The Old Country was already looking. It shouldn't be a surprise given how excellent the recent Mafia games have been (in particular, Mafia III and the recent Definitive Edition of the original Mafia), but The Old Country looks to take things a step further with its visuals, gameplay, story, and overall presentation. The Mafia series has always stood out among other open-world action games thanks to its incredibly cinematic delivery of each game's story, and The Old Country's trailer promises the latest game to potentially be the most epic and sweeping tale yet.

• Developer — Sloclap
• Publisher — Sloclap, Kepler Interactive
• Genre — Sports, PvP
• Projected Release Date — Q2/Q3 2025
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

One of my favorite games from 2022 was Sloclap's Sifu, so to see that the studio was working on a new project at the beginning of Rematch's trailer immediately piqued my interest. But after getting my interest, Rematch got my full attention and anticipation by showing off its stylish and cinematic approach to what appears to be a 5v5 competitive multiplayer take on the sport of Futbol (or, as we call it here in the States, Soccer). The high speed and heightened stakes of a soccer match are a perfect framework for a competitive 5v5 game, and Sloclap's signature sense of art direction and expert approach to character animations and fluid movement mechanics means that Rematch will likely be one of the year's most exciting, and original, multiplayer games.

• Developer — The Game Kitchen
• Publisher — DotEmu
• Genre — Action Platformer
• Projected Release Date — Q2/Q3 2025
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Another reveal from The Game Awards 2024 that should have fans of the developer's previous games excited is Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. Getting a new Ninja Gaiden game is great on its own, but to see that The Game Kitchen (the same studio behind the phenomenal Blasphemous and Blasphemous II) means that Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound could be one of the few retro-inspired titles using a classic IP to outdo its predecessors. The original NES trilogy of Ninja Gaiden games are incredibly tough action platformers, so it will be interesting to see how The Game Kitchen balances the series' trademark difficulty with the obvious modern polish of a new, old-school Ninja Gaiden game. Still, with The Game Kitchen behind the wheel, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is likely going to be one of 2025's best action platformers, and with any luck, it might even be the first Ninja Gaiden Metroidvania.

• Developer — AdHoc Studio
• Publisher — AdHoc Studio
• Genre — Point-and-Click Adventure, Narrative
• Projected Release Date — TBA 2025
• Platforms — PC

One thing I did not expect to get from The Game Awards 2024's many announcements was the reveal of a new point-and-click narrative adventure game from a new team made up of Telltale Games veterans, much less one where the main character is voiced by none other than Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul. AdHoc Studio's Dispatch is now one of my most anticipated games of 2025, taking the classic Telltale-style gameplay from the excellent The Walking Dead and A Wolf Among Us and translating it into a humorous and original tale about emergency dispatchers that assign not law enforcement to deal with crises, but superheroes. The trailer showed off some interesting puzzle and strategy elements in the gameplay that go beyond simple point-and-click interactions and dialogue choices, pointing to the possibility that Dispatch might push the envelope for what's possible in an adventure game.

• Developer — Saber Interactive
• Publisher — Saber Interactive
• Genre — Action, Third-Person Shooter, Co-Op
• Projected Release Date — TBA 2025
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Right after wowing millions of gamers with the incredible Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Saber Interactive shocked us all when it dropped the reveal trailer for its next game at The Game Awards. Much like it did with Space Marine, taking a long-dormant game series and reinventing it for a modern audience as a third-person co-op shooter, Saber Interactive is now breathing new life into Turok, which saw its last original release in 2008 (courtesy of the highly underrated reboot, Turok). The upcoming Turok: Origins takes a lot of the elements that made Space Marine 2 so great, including a focus on co-op play while battling hordes of bloodthirsty enemies, which in the case of Turok, are some excellent-looking dinosaur baddies. With Saber Interactive at the helm, I absolutely cannot wait for a co-op-focused, third-person Turok game.

• Developer — RGG Studio
• Publisher — Sega
• Genre — Action, Open-World, Beat 'em Up
• Projected Release Date — TBA
• Platforms — TBD

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio had not one, but two reveals at The Game Awards 2024. In addition to the very welcome surprise that RGG is working on a new Virtua Fighter game, the studio also revealed the initial look at the next original title it's working on with Project Century. RGG is known to be working on several games related to the mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise, and while we don't know if Project Century is one of them, it certainly seems like it. The game takes place in a stunningly recreated 1915 Japan and seems to call back to the Yakuza series' origins as a beat 'em up, with the combat shown off in the trailer being appropriately violent and visceral. As a fan of both the older Yakuza games and the modern Like a Dragon JRPGs, I can't wait to see more of Project Century.

• Developer — Obsidian Entertainment
• Publisher — Xbox Game Studios
• Genre — RPG
• Projected Release Date — Q3/Q4 2025
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Despite knowing that The Outer Worlds 2 was in development at Obsidian Entertainment, nothing had been shown off of the game until the title's debut trailer at The Game Awards 2024. That reveal did not disappoint, bringing one of the funniest trailers of the night that also put The Outer Worlds' trademark dry wit and gallows humor on display alongside its pulpy sci-fi setting. The first Outer Worlds was an excellent Fallout-like RPG that featured many of the same elements that make Obsidian's Fallout: New Vegas one of the most beloved games in the Fallout series, and The Outer Worlds 2 only looks to continue what made the first one so great. Better yet, the game will be releasing toward the end of 2025, so we only have roughly a year before getting to experience what's shaping up to be another excellent RPG from Obsidian.

• Developer — Hazelight Studios
• Publisher — Electronic Arts
• Genre — Co-Op Action-Adventure, Platforming
• Projected Release Date — March 6, 2025
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

After It Takes Two won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021, it was known that Hazelight Studios was working on its follow-up to the title, but that game's reveal at The Game Awards 2024 was still no less stunning. Split Fiction is another co-op-focused action-adventure game with an incredible premise, with two players taking on the roles of authors whose literary creations have come to life. One author specializes in sci-fi worlds while the other is a fantasy writer, creating almost limitless potential for creativity in Split Fiction's level design, gameplay, and mechanics. Aside from its awesome premise, though, Split Fiction is pushing the envelope for co-op games by requiring players to only need one copy to play with a friend. Josef Fares has done it again!

• Developer — Capcom
• Publisher — Capcom
• Genre — Action-adventure, Survival Horror
• Projected Release Date — TBA 2026
• Platforms — TBD

While several of the other major reveals at The Game Awards 2024 were titles that were rumored to be in development or known to be in their early stages, Capcom pulled a one-two punch at the show by announcing two new games in long-dormant franchises. The first of these was the announcement trailer for a new game in the Onimusha series, titled Onimusha: Way of the Sword. In addition to its absolutely breathtaking visuals and gameplay footage, Onimusha: Way of the Sword looks to be a classic feudal Japan-set survival horror game akin to the original PlayStation 2 trilogy, bringing the Onimusha franchise into the modern era in the same way Capcom has done with the highly successful remakes of classic Resident Evil games. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until 2026 before we get to play it.

• Developer — GenDesign
• Publisher — TBD
• Genre — TBD
• Projected Release Date — TBA
• Platforms — TBD

Out of all the reveals from The Game Awards 2024, the one we still know the least about is 'Project Robot'. The next game from Ico and Shadow of the Colossus creator Fumito Ueda, 'Project Robot' was shown off with little more than an announcement that it exists and some brief cinematics. We still know nothing about what type of game it is, what platforms it's being developed for, or a potential release window. However, based on Ueda's previous work, we can make some guesses. Like Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian, 'Project Robot' will likely be an emotional and heartfelt action-adventure game with an impeccable atmosphere and a focus on narrative elements. Just knowing that a new game from Ueda is in development is honestly enough to get fans excited.

• Developer — CLOVERS
• Publisher — Capcom
• Genre — Action-Adventure
• Projected Release Date — TBA
• Platforms — TBD

The Game Awards creator and host Geoff Keighley got emotional ahead of one of the show's most surprising announcements, and it was a sentiment that many of us watching the show shared when the curtain was lifted to reveal that a sequel to Okami was in development. Longtime industry luminary and renowned creator Hideki Kamiya left the studio he co-founded, Platinum Games, in 2023, noting that he would return to a new studio. As it turns out, that new studio is CLOVERS, an obvious reference to Clover Studio, a former Capcom team responsible for legendary titles like Viewtiful Joe, God Hand, and the original Okami. Clover Studio was famously dissolved and absorbed by Platinum Games, so for Kamiya to be working on an Okami sequel feels like a glorious homecoming.

Like 'Project Robot', we know little about the Okami sequel other than that it exists. That said, the original Okami is one of the greatest action-adventure games of all time. Few titles can stand toe-to-toe with The Legend of Zelda in terms of creating pure video game magic, but back in 2004, Okami did. The original Okami is one of the most beautiful and emotional games on the PS2, and a sequel is long, long overdue.

• Developer — CD Projekt RED
• Publisher — CD Projekt RED
• Genre — RPG
• Projected Release Date — TBA
• Platforms — TBD

Even though CD Projekt RED had made it very clear it was working on the next mainline Witcher game, the reveal of The Witcher IV as one of the first major announcements at The Game Awards 2024 left many of us positively stunned. Aside from the incredible cinematic used to show off the world and characters of The Witcher IV, we got the confirmation of the canon ending to The Witcher III, with Cirilla officially stepping into the role of being a Witcher and taking the mantle as the next game's protagonist. Ciri is a phenomenal character who fans were hoping to get to see more of in future games, and The Witcher IV is going to give us the chance to experience her own sweeping tale of adventure, mystery, and monster hunts when it launches.

• Developer — Naughty Dog
• Publisher — Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Genre — Action
• Projected Release Date — TBA
• Platforms — PlayStation 5

The very last reveal of The Game Awards 2024 was for none other than the next game from Naughty Dog, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. In true Naughty Dog fashion, the debut trailer focused on the story and characters first and foremost, introducing players to what's sure to be another excellent story-driven game from the studio behind Uncharted and The Last of Us. This time around, after trying its hand at swashbuckling adventure and post-apocalyptic drama, Naughty Dog is dabbling in science fiction, complete with an obvious lean toward cyberpunk and retrofuturism on full display in Intergalactic's debut trailer. We don't really know much about the title other than its protagonist, setting, and visual style, but it's always a good idea to bet on Naughty Dog delivering an excellent game.

• Developer — FromSoftware
• Publisher — FromSoftware, Bandai Namco
• Genre — Action RPG, Co-Op, Survival
• Projected Release Date — TBA 2025
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Perhaps the most shocking, and unexpected, reveal of the night (other than the Okami sequel, maybe) was the announcement trailer for Elden Ring Nightreign. Nightreign comes as a complete left-field surprise, given that Hidetaka Miyazaki had just recently made comments stating that FromSoftware was not working on an Elden Ring sequel. Technically, those comments are true, as Nightreign is something else altogether. Instead of a single-player experience along the lines of a more traditional FromSoftware game, Elden Ring Nightreign is a co-op-focused survival action RPG in which players must survive The Lands Between across three day/night cycles, fighting horrific bosses from across the FromSoftware universe at the end of each day. It's a departure for FromSoftware, to be sure, but it's one I cannot wait to try when it comes out next year.