2023 was an unbelievable year for the video game industry. From the endless adventures of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to the unlimited mutiny of Diablo IV, last year will be enshrined as a paradigm shift in gaming quality.
Though fewer releases from large studios are scheduled this year, that does not mean a lower caliber of entertainment. Here are just some of the upcoming titles that The Daily Illini’s buzz staff has its eyes on.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank — Jan. 18 (Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Title character Turnip Boy trades his fed-ending shovel for a police-pulverizing gun in the upcoming sequel to 2021’s indie classic Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. Studio Snoozy Kazoo brings back the fan-favorite Pickled Gang to assist Turnip Boy in his new, unlawful endeavors. If it’s an improvement on its predecessor, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank will be a short but distinct, full-of-wit gaming experience for any casual player.
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Palworld — January Date TBA (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Ever wonder what would happen if you crossed Civilization, Terraria and Pokémon? Palworld is an amalgamation of many genres: action-adventure, farming, simulation and survival. You can put the Pals you befriend to work in mines, farms, construction or battle. This hyper-capitalistic approach to the popular pocket-monster archetype is sure to stand out in the gaming landscape — whether it’s a sore thumb or a shining star is up in the air.
Persona 3 Reload — Feb. 2 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
This reimagining of Atlus’ 2006 JRPG title Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 aims to be more than a simple remake by bringing the thrilling narrative of the original with revamped graphics and reworked gameplay mechanics. Old fans of the series and new players alike will delve into this loaded experience with an expected playtime of around 100 hours compared to the original game’s playtime of 70-80 hours. Alongside these new mechanics, players will be able to explore the fictional city within Japan, as well as create bonds and connections with those around them.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — Feb. 29 (PlayStation 5)
This second installment in the trilogy of games remaking the 1997 JRPG classic Final Fantasy VII continues the story left off in Final Fantasy VII Remake. Cloud Strife and the rest of his party continue their fight against the evil Shinra Electric Company, who not only control almost everything but are using the planet’s lifestream as electricity. They also are trying to stop Sephiroth, a veteran soldier of Shinra who is trying to summon the magic Meteor in order to damage the planet and absorb its lifestream in order to become a god. Whereas Remake had a more linear approach to the game’s world, Rebirth will take a more open-world approach, allowing players to explore more of what the world has to offer.
Princess Peach: Showtime! — March 22 (Nintendo Switch)
With the popularity of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Nintendo has gained many new fans of the Mushroom Kingdom. Innovative new releases such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder and remakes like Super Mario RPG show the company’s newly energized creative direction for the half-century-long franchise. Showtime! will continue the trend, starring Peach as the main character as her story unfolds on stage in a thrilling adventure.
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley — Q1 2024 (PC, Console TBA)
This cozy adventure game, developed by independent Norwegian studio Hyper Games, is the epitome of high-quality art direction. The fairy-tale-inspired art design is becoming more popular in gaming and Moominvalley exemplifies its bewitching simplicity. Environmental story development will be in full force as you travel through the mythical valley, using music and puzzle-solving skills to progress through this whimsical release.
Little Nightmares III — 2024 date TBA (Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
It can be argued that the Little Nightmares franchise is responsible for the oversaturated field of poorly executed atmospheric horror games. However, this isn’t due to Little Nightmares’ ordinariness; quite the opposite. At first glance, the terror formula developed by studio Supermassive Games is easy to replicate: dimly lit environments with abstract crossing storylines. Upon a closer look, it is the methodical planning and development of all elements in the horror franchise that earned such success. The expectations are high for the third installment of this genre-definer.
