When it comes to game releases, the only time of year as traditionally slow as December is January. Holiday shopping is done, people are busy chasing resolutions, and they've spent all the money they want to spend for a little bit. Also, The Game Awards have already happened, and games from December and January are often forgotten for consideration the next time around.
There's not a lot of reason to release a game right now. As such, this month is pretty slow—especially when you consider what a banger of a year 2024 was for top-tier games. Even so, there are still some great games on the way, especially if you're a PC gamer who likes previously PlayStation-exclusive titles.
Editor's note: All of the games on this month's list are traditional "Web2" video games with no known crypto or blockchain elements. But you might like 'em anyway.
Hyper Light Breaker
Release Date: January 14
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Hyper Light Drifter was a darling of the Kickstarter days of indie game development, with stunning pixel art and a wordless story supporting an overhead action game with strong mechanics. Now, Heart Machine is returning to the franchise to take things to a whole new dimension, with a 3D open-world game rather than a 2D experience like the original.
This release date marks the game's early access debut on PC via Steam. The developers are promising fun, frenetic combat with a bold visual style evolved from the original pixel aesthetic, and you can play on your own or hop online for co-op.
Most Anticipated Video Games Releasing in December 2024
Parts of the year that we used to consider dead zones for games—January and February, the doldrums of summer—are now just as likely to be hotspots, with companies releasing blockbuster games right when no one else is. December, though, marks the last few weeks before Christmas, and has now become the home of Geoff Keighley's The Game Awards (ft. Hideo Kojima). As such, it still tends to be a pretty quiet month, with most of the big holiday releases hitting store shelves in the weeks prior. As su...
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Release Date: January 16
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD brings the original Wii game—released in 2010—into the modern age with a high-def upgrade. It also features additional content from the Nintendo 3DS release from back when.
Donkey Kong Country was a visual powerhouse back in the days of the SNES, and has long been a fan-favorite platformer among Nintendo's franchises. This entry thankfully keeps the spirit and the compelling game design of Rare’s ‘90s classics intact, now with more flash.
Nintendo Switch 2 Preview: Release Date, Price and Launch Games
The Switch is Nintendo’s best-selling home console of all time, and widely beloved for its rich library of games—a dramatic turn from the middling Wii U before it. But it’s been eight years since the Switch launched, and fans are getting antsy for Nintendo’s next big thing. Luckily, it's coming. Following years of leaks and rumors, and even a couple official acknowledgments that the next-gen model was coming, Nintendo formally revealed the Switch 2 console in January 2025—and now we know when we...
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Release Date: January 23
Platforms: PC (Epic Games Store, Steam)
Less than a year after its release on PlayStation 5, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth—the second entry in the new Final Fantasy VII remake saga—is coming to PC. The first game (FF7 Remake) covered the original’s first section, Midgar, and this one takes you out into the world, visiting locations like Cosmo Canyon and the Golden Saucer casino and introducing the game's later companions like Cait Sith and Cid.
While people aren't quite as hot on Rebirth as they were on Remake, it's absolutely still worth checking out, offering stunning visuals and a new and different take on a classic game.
7 Massive Games From 2024 Worth Playing Over the Holiday Break
For many of us, the upcoming holiday break means having a lot of time on our hands. We're at home with the family, off work or school, and we can only stand so many Christmas movies, so many cookies, and so much time with our beloved family members. Instead of looking for a million little ways to distract ourselves or doomscrolling on our phones, why not look for a single game to invest time in? The following games will each provide you with dozens of hours of fun, and the only regret you'll...
Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles
Release Date: January 23
Platforms: PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S + One, Switch, PC (GOG.com, Steam)
Plucked from 2000 and remastered 25 years later, this remastered, side-scrolling beat 'em up drops you into the events of Star Wars: Episode I, playing as many of the Jedi featured in that movie—Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon Jinn, Mace Windu, and more—using your lightsaber and Force powers to fight a variety of enemy types as you take back the Theed Royal Palace.
In addition to single-player gaming, Jedi Power Battles features local co-op as well as cheat codes—now there's a true throwback—additional characters like Darth Maul, and more.
Spider-Man 2
Release Date: January 30
Platforms: PC (Epic Games Store, Steam)
Step once again into the shoes of the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to protect Manhattan from new threats: Kraven the Hunter and the alien symbiote Venom. You can play as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, switching between them throughout the game to experience their individual parts of the story.
This game features faster, more thrilling traversal with not just web-slinging but gliding as well, along with a collection of new suits, new mini-games, and plenty to do as you explore the world. This was a banger when it debuted on PS5 in late 2023, and now it’s launching on PC.
The Best Games of 2024 That You Can Snag for Under $25
While many of the most popular games this year demand spaceship-level tech or are out of reach due to costs, you don't need a GeForce RTX 4090 to play a handful of this year's memorable experiences via the Steam store. For once, we're not suggesting you throw your wallet into a fire as a sacrifice to the Mighty Retail Lords. In fact, you could get every title on this list for the cost of a little more than two full-price retail games. Let's look at the best games of 2024 under $25. Editor's not...
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Release Date: January 31
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC (Epic Games Store, GOG.com, Steam), Mac
One of the best-written games of 2022 is getting a sequel. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector features a lot of the same elements as the first, including gameplay driven by dice rolls and tough choices. You're still a rogue android trying to escape your past and help anyone you can along the way.
This time, though, you're no longer confined to a single space station. You have a ship to upgrade, a crew to recruit, and contracts to complete. If this game can expand its vision while retaining the same level of writing and difficult choices as the original, then it'll be a treat.
Edited by Andrew Hayward
