5 BIG Games to Watch in Fall 2024
From Warhammer to Dragon Age, and everything in between.
Fall is one of the most exciting times of the year for the gaming community. Companies big and small are releasing projects they’ve been chipping away at for years, tossing their game into the ring to try and win fans’ hearts and wallets as the holiday shopping season kicks off. You’ve got your annualized franchises, like Madden and Call of Duty, mixed in with one-off releases or returning age-old franchises that haven’t been seen in years.
2024 is no exception — from indie darlings to AAA behemoths, the weekly release roster is packed from now until the end of the year with a wide variety of games spanning nearly every genre. Last week, I shared some of the smaller games that I’ve got on my radar for the rest of the year. Now, I’m turning my attention toward the heavy hitters that are sure to turn some heads when they land on the digital console storefronts this fall.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine was released more than ten years ago on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC to a huge amount of praise. It’s since become one of the not-so-hidden gems of the entire era, packing in combat that blends Gears of War and DOOM to create something special.
Now, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 continues the story that fans fell in love with more than a decade ago. Captain Titus — now Lieutenant Titus — is back for round two, ripping and tearing aliens called Tyranids with the trusty ol’ Chainsword. This time around, single-player isn’t the only option on the menu. With an entire multiplayer suite spanning co-op and PvP gameplay, Space Marine 2 looks like it’s building on the foundation that the first game laid all those years ago to create something that’s satisfying old-school fans while proving to newcomers why this series is one worth keeping your eyes on.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
Diablo IV was one of the biggest games of 2023, and Vessel of Hatred is set to be one of the largest expansions of 2024. The story focuses on the player finding Neyrelle, one of the main characters from the campaign, while exploring the new region of Nahantu (that’s actually making its return from Diablo II.)
A new class, Spiritborn, is also coming to the game for fans who have spent five seasons rolling new characters in the same classes time after time. While it might not be the Paladin that fans have been asking for, it’s a brand new addition to the Diablo experience that’s never been seen before in either Diablo IV or the ever-popular Diablo Immortal. While changes to any live service-style game are sure to divide fans, I’m always excited about new story content and additional mechanics in games that I love — and I certainly love Diablo IV.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Much like Space Marine 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is another game marking the return of a classic franchise after nearly a decade. After false starts in Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem, BioWare is back to try its hand at a return to the fan-favorite Dragon Age series — and fans aren’t completely buying in quite yet. From the art style to the gameplay, The Veilguard is a big departure from the traditional look and feel of past Dragon Age games. While it might feature returning characters that longtime players will be familiar with, it’s safe to say that this is going to be a new kind of Dragon Age experience compared to something like Inquisition.
While it might not be a popular opinion, Dragon Age: The Veilguard should be an entirely new experience because an entirely new generation of players has to be convinced to try it. As someone who was too young to play and appreciate Dragon Age when it was at its peak, I have no connection to the world or desire to play the new game based on a nostalgia factor that immediately draws me in. Instead, I’m interested in The Veilguard because it looks like an interesting fantasy action RPG. I’m approaching it as an interesting new action-adventure RPG that happens to be a Dragon Age game, rather than a Dragon Age game that’s completely changing its core formula. My fingers are crossed that it wins me over as a player in a new generation of fans.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster
One of the more surprising announcements of the year is Capcom’s return to Dead Rising with a remaster that could technically qualify as a remake. Dead Rising was released in 2006 and catapulted the series into the zombie game Hall of Fame (if there is one.) It took a non-serious approach to the zombie apocalypse, introducing the world to photographer Frank West in the Willamette Mall as he gets to the bottom of what’s causing a zombie outbreak in this small Colorado town.
For many, the campy tone and simple gameplay of Dead Rising is a timeless classic. While some of the controls have been updated to take advantage of modern features and improvements, the fundamental basics of the game have stayed the same. The entire game has been rebuilt in Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine, the same tech powering the latest Resident Evil games. Unreal Engine 5 might be the industry standard for many studios, but it’s hard to argue with the level of quality that Capcom has been able to hit by using the RE Engine over the last few years.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Since Assassin’s Creed came to the New World in Assassin’s Creed III, fans have been vying for the series to head to the time and location that made perfect sense for its parkour-packed gameplay style — Feudal Japan. Now, Ubisoft is making the dream of that game a reality with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This is a return to the larger open-world RPG-style Assassin’s Creed games following last year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Rather than being bigger than ever, Ubisoft says that the world will be roughly the size of Assassin’s Creed Origins, which you’ll explore as the two main characters: Naoe and Yasuke.
Naoe delivers the more traditional Assassin’s Creed gameplay experience; running across rooftops and diving down to strike with the hidden blade. Yasuke is leaning more into the modern RPG combat we’ve seen in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. As a Samurai, Yasuke fights his enemies head-on with intentional strikes and defensive maneuvers. The entire game is playable as either of the main characters, or players can switch between them at any time depending on how they want to experience the game.
Every year brings a wide variety of new gaming experiences, but I’d love to hear what larger games have your attention for the fall release season. Leave a comment letting me know what games you’re looking forward to, or tag me in a post on Threads to let me know what games I should keep on my radar. That will keep my wish list up-to-date and help shape future coverage in upcoming content. Happy gaming!
