Upcoming PS5 Games You Need to Play

With changing release dates, surprise announcements, and an ever-fluid development landscape, it can be a challenge to keep track of every single video game coming out in a given year. 2024 may not have titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Spider-Man 2 on the horizon, and Sony has confirmed it won’t be releasing any new installments from its major franchises before 2025, but there are still plenty of noteworthy games coming to the PS5 that are worth checking out in the coming months.

To help keep things straight, we’ve put together a handy little guide here of the upcoming games that PS5 owners should keep an eye on in 2024.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

Square Enix – July 2

Final Fantasy fans have even more to be excited about this year with the release of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. In this expansion, the Warrior of Light has reunited with their comrades for an unexpected mission on the continent of Tural. Dawntrail not only features new quests, new areas to explore, and new characters to meet, it also includes new jobs like Viper and Pictomancer as well as female Hrothgar as a new playable race. Dawntrail has a lot to offer with this update and is sure to keep players coming back for more.

The First Descendant 

Nexon Games – July 2 

Our hands-on time with Nexon’s new third-person looter shooter, The First Descendant, at Summer Game Fest, revealed fun take on the genre that also looks great. The slick art style, empowered by Unreal Engine 5, truly brings the sci-fi world of the game to life.

The First Descendant is set in a world where beings from another dimension, the Magisters, have teamed up with humans to save the planet from those who wish to see it destroyed and conquered. Descendants are humans augmented by the power and technology of the Magisters, and their quest symbolizes hope for humanity to endure. Each playable Descendant has unique skills for both solo and co-op missions for up to four players, so gather your friends and prepare to fight for the future of humanity.

EA Sports College Football 25

EA – July 19

The first college football game in over 10 years, EA Sports College Football 25 will put the electricity of college game day back in the palm of your hands. Whether you want to play as a coach and build your own program from the ground up in Dynasty mode, live the life of a student-athlete in Road to Glory mode, or build your dream team of college football stars in Ultimate Team mode, the game has a variety of gameplay options for you to fulfill your college football dreams and pave the road to a National Championship. The game also has a new “Wear and Tear” feature meant to simulate real-world effects of injury and fatigue on players, encouraging gamers to be strategic in their rosters and not overwork their team, adding realism to the experience.

Black Myth: Wukong

Game Science – Aug. 20

Based on the 16th century novel Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG with deep roots in Chinese mythology. As “The Destined One,” Sun Wukong, the player will go on a journey to uncover the secrets of immortality and confront their destiny. Built in Unreal Engine 5, Black Myth: Wukong features gorgeous scenery befitting the fantastical story that developer Game Science is telling. The combat in this game is rumored to be challenging, with a variety of formidable foes for Wukong to face off against throughout his journey, and has a lot to offer for fans of Soulslike games.

Concord 

Sony Interactive Entertainment – Aug 23

Concord is an upcoming online 5v5 first-person shooter where the player gets to control one of 16 characters known as Freegunners in six different game modes—Trophy Hunt, Elimination, Zone Control, Occupation, Signal Hunt, and Savage. Set in an original, vibrant sci-fi universe, you can play as the various humans and aliens who call the ship the Northstar home. This crew of misfits, outlaws, and adventurers have a plethora of skills, and it’s up to the player and their friends to choose who best fits their team.

Star Wars Outlaws

Ubisoft – Aug. 30

Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Outlaws is the galaxy far, far away’s first open-world video game. Playing as outlaw and scoundrel Kay Vess, you get to explore both new and familiar locations across the galaxy, as Vess tries to start a new life for herself. As one of the most wanted criminals in the Outer Rim, Vess must fight, steal, and talk her way out of a variety of scenarios in order to gain the peace she so desperately craves.

Each planet has unique landscapes, rewards, and adventures for Vess to encounter as the player shapes her journey. Gameplay allows for a variety of travel methods along her journey, including speeders and even the ability to pilot Vess’s ship The Trailblazer.

The expectations are high for Outlaws as a brand-new Star Wars franchise, but after playing a hands-on demo of the game at Summer Game Fest, we can say there’s certainly a lot of potential here, and we can’t wait to spend way more hours exploring this world.

Astro Bot 

Sony Interactive Entertainment – Sept 6 

The next addition to Playstation’s Astro Bot series comes out in September and promises to be as fun and interactive as ever. After the PS5 mothership wrecks and leaves ASTRO and the bot crew stranded across galaxies, it’s up to the player to use ASTRO’s new abilities to traverse over 50 planets in search of their lost friends. This platforming game features a new roster of baddies and bosses to face off against as well as over 150 homages to PlayStation heroes.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment – Sept. 9

A sequel to 2011’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, this video game once again follows Captain Titus, who has now been demoted to Lieutenant after the events of the first game caused him to be arrested and investigated for heresy. Set in the same world as the popular tabletop game Warhammer 40,000, Space Marine 2 takes place in the 42nd Millenium, where the Imperium of Man fights against the Tyranids (insect-like creatures) and the forces of Chaos across the galaxy as they try to reclaim worlds once lost to this alien race.

Combat in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a combination of third-person shooter and melee combat, and features an optional co-op multiplayer mode as Titus is accompanied by fellow Space Marines Chairon and Gadriel throughout his mission. For Warhammer fans, this game looks to be an exciting addition to this universe, but even if you know nothing about this world, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 generally looks like a fun solo or co-op militaristic fighting game.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions 

Warner Bros. Games – Sept 23

Whether you’re a fan of Harry Potter, sports games, or somewhere in between, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions looks to be a fun entry in the franchise’s ever-growing catalog of games. The game is a “standalone Quidditch experience” and doesn’t have any impact on the greater Harry Potter story at large, but fans will still have plenty of easter eggs to find in this version of the Wizarding World. Players can take to the skies alone or with friends in online co-op and PvP modes to become Quidditch champions.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

THQ Nordic – Sept. 24

Another remake coming to the Nintendo Switch this year is Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. Now a vibrant 3D platformer, this game promises to be a faithful remake of the Wii game Disney Epic Mickey as the player, armed with paint and paint thinner as the titular Mickey Mouse, journeys through the Wasteland of forgotten Disney characters and shapes the future of this mysterious realm. With appearances from various Disney characters and levels inspired by animated films and shorts, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is perfect for Disney fans both young and young at heart.

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred  

Blizzard Entertainment – Oct 8 

A new Diablo IV expansion Vessel of Hatred is releasing this fall, and boy does it look like a spooky good time. Set after the end of Diablo IV, the player is now in search of Neyrelle in the ancient jungle of Nahantu. After imprisoning the Prime Evil Mephisto, Neyrelle is now in search of a way to destroy the evil within for good before she succumbs to its corrupting power. But not only does this expansion come with a new location and story for players to work their way through, Vessel of Hatred also comes with a new Spiritborn class that lets the player become the apex predator of the jungle, new mercenaries to recruit, and adoptable pets to accompany your character, aid in material and gold pickup, and just generally look cute as hell.

Silent Hill 2 

Konami – Oct 8

A remake of the classic 2001 survival horror game of the same name, Silent Hill 2 is a total update of the game in Unreal Engine 5 with new graphics and gameplay. The story, however, remains the same as the player follows protagonist James Sunderland, as he searched for his deceased wife back in the town of Silent Hill. But the place where James arrives is not full of happy memories, but rather his worst nightmares come to life. The gameplay style seems very much in line with the recent Resident Evil remakes, so if you’ve found those enjoyable, you should definitely give the Silent Hill 2 remake a try.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero 

Bandai Namco – Oct 11

The latest installment in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero stays true to the Dragon Ball anime and video games that came before it with high-speed 3D fights, gorgeous visuals, and lively animated cutscenes that bring this world and its action to life. But the massive arenas that players can fight in aren’t the only things in the game that react realistically to the player’s actions. The game also features an update to its story mode that allows players to make important decisions “choose-your-own-adventure” style that will impact how the story plays out. You don’t have to be a Dragon Ball fan to enjoy Sparking! Zero, but those who are are certainly in for a treat.

Metaphor: ReFantazio 

Atlus – Oct 11

From the studio behind Persona 3, 4, and 5, Metaphor: ReFantazio blends turn-based combat and real-time action into an incredibly fun-looking RPG. Set in the United Kingdom of Euchronia, the player must gather their party and battle in the royal tournament for the throne, while also trying to break a curse on a prince long to be thought dead. As the protagonist, the player will get to forge friendships with other characters and customize their party based on their archetype powers to make the perfect team for any scenario.

New World: Aeternum 

Amazon Games – Oct 15 

New World: Aeternum is an exciting overhaul of the flagship MMORPG from Amazon Games that encourages players to forge their own destiny on the isle of Aeternum with several gameplay modes, including the main campaign, solo trials, 3v3 arena fights, multiplayer expeditions, PvPvE Lawless Zones, and so much more. Whether you play by yourself or with friends online across platforms, New World: Aeternum has a lot to offer for anyone looking to explore a new fantasy world, especially now that it’s launching on consoles with new ways to quickly jump into the experience and try out the new raid. We played New World: Aeternum at Summer Game Fest and the demo showcased a lot to look forward to when this new version of the game launches later this year.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 

Activision – Oct 25

Set during the Gulf War, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is already setting the bar higher for the franchise by introducing updated visuals crafted by the IW 9.0 engine as well as a new omnimovement feature that allows players to “seamlessly chain combat maneuvers in any direction.” The game’s campaign picks up on plot threads from previous entries in the series, and even brings back a few fan-favorite characters, while the multiplayer mode features 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6. And yes, Zombies are back.

Sonic X Shadow Generations 

SEGA – Oct 25

Shadow’s nemesis, Black Doom, has returned, and it’s up to the hedgehog to unlock the dark powers within himself and save the world. Players can harness Shadow’s Doom Powers to battle enemies, take on platforming challenges, and, with the return of Chaos Control, surf on water, fly over obstacles, and even stop time. Shadow’s journey will take you through time and space, including a new hub-world called the White Space, inspired by the open-zone gameplay of Sonic Frontiers. Shadow will gain access to new areas full of hidden secrets as he unlocks his powers, leaving even more to uncover in Sonic X Shadow Generations.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure

Square Enix – Oct 29

Max Caulfield makes a surprise return in Life is Strange: Double Exposure, a supernatural murder mystery where the player’s choices as Max impact the ending of the story. In the aftermath of the first game Life is Strange, Max has since become the in-house photographer for the prestigious Caledon University. She hasn’t used her time rewind powers in years, but after finding her friend Safi dead, she becomes desperate to save her. Using her powers, she unexpectedly discovers a new talent—shifting to a parallel timeline. In this new timeline, Safi is still alive, but not totally free from danger. Using her new powers, Max must work to save Safi and find her killer in both universes. 

Assassin’s Creed Shadows 

Ubisoft – Nov 15 

Set in the late Sengoku period of feudal Japan, Assassin’s Creed Shadows features two playable protagonists: Naoe, a shinobi assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai. Quests can be handled as either protagonist, with Naoe as the more stealthy and discrete approach and Yasuke as the charismatic warrior, useful for taking on several enemies at a time. The game encourages players to explore the open world gathering intel and building a network of spies ready to help usher Japan into a new era. Based on the hands-off preview we saw at SGF, this already looks like a worthy entry in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

Until Dawn Remaster

Supermassive Games – TBD

Nearly a decade after the original took the world by storm, the popular interactive horror game Until Dawn is returning with an upgrade, but this new version of the game is more than just a remaster. According to developers, Until Dawn has been entirely rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 and enhanced for the PS5. Using a broader cinematic tonal color palette and new perspectives, the goal was to take the story that people know and love and make it more “nuanced and emotional.”

This updated version of the game also includes a third-person camera, contextual character movement animations, and a brand new score by composer Mark Korven to help further immerse the player in the experience of this fateful night at Blackwood Mountain and the horrors that befall this young group of friends. This playable horror movie is a classic for a reason, so it will be interesting to see how much the story is enhanced by these changes.

Whether you’ve played this game a dozen times or are looking for a reason to dive into this world, this updated version of Until Dawn looks sure to be a terrifying time.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard 

BioWare – TBA 

It’s been a decade since the last Dragon Age game was released, but the next entry, titled The Veilguard, is finally almost here. Whereas other games in the Dragon Age series allowed players to import their world-state and choices from previous games creating an overall cohesive narrative, Veilguard instead allows the player to make those choices during character creation. So if you’ve never played a Dragon Age game before, this feels like a great place to start.

With three classes to choose from and a variety of factions, the playable Rook can be whoever you want them to be in this story. Forge alliances and build your party to save Thedas from ancient gods who have been released into the world. In the hands-off preview we saw at SGF, Dragon Age: The Veilguard delivered some shocking twists right out the game—and the return of one fan-favorite character—that players won’t want to miss!

Fear the Spotlight 

Blumhouse Games – TBA 

Fear the Spotlight is an atmospheric third-person horror adventure that follows high schooler Vivian as she sneaks into school after hours with the rebellious Amy. After a seance gone wrong, Vivian finds herself in the school alone with a terrifying monster chasing her. With tense stealth challenges, tactile puzzles, and a spooky school to explore, Vivian must solve the mystery and above all, stay out of the monster’s eerie spotlight. Fear the Spotlight is an exciting throwback to PS1-style horror mysteries, and after playing it at SGF, we can’t wait for you to play it too.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II 

Warhorse Studios – TBA

Set in the Kingdom of Bohemia during the early 15th century, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II follows the story of Henry, a trusted diplomatic escort of the king who seeks revenge for his murdered family. In the game’s open-world Medieval setting, the player can guide Henry on daring adventures, forge alliances with a charismatic cast of characters, and engage in visceral real-time combat. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a gripping action RPG perfect for anyone eager to step into an epic Medieval adventure.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater 

Konami – TBA

Remade in Unreal Engine 5, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater takes everything fans love about the original Metal Gear Solid 3 and elevates it into a brand new experience. Players can choose to keep their controls the same, or change to a new, more intuitive set of controls that allow for a more immersive and modern stealth experience. The graphics have also received quite the glow-up, with a battle damage system that catalogs wear and tear on Snake’s clothes and body in real time—every bullet hole and scar carries on throughout the story. Both long time fans of this survival action series and newcomers have a lot to look forward to when this game drops later this year.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind 

Digital Eclipse – TBA

A loving homage to arcade games, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind remixes Power Rangers lore into a unique storyline that both fans and newcomers can appreciate. In this retro-style game, Rita Repulsa and her robotic reincarnation team up to go back in time and try to stop the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers from forming in the first place by remixing, rewinding, and rewriting the past. It’s up to the player and this motley crew of teenagers to stop the Ritas and their army of Power Ranger foes from screwing up the timeline for good.

Tales of the Shire 

Wētā Workshop – TBA 

New cozy game alert! Tales of the Shire is like if Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing took a trip to the Shire of Lord of the Rings. The game lets players live out their dreams of hanging out in the idyllic landscape of the Shire as they create their own character, decorate their own Hobbit hole, make friends in the community, and help the town flourish. We played Tales of the Shire at SGF and were impressed with the amount of care put into creating this version of the Shire. Even though the game isn’t technically canon, there are still plenty of references and easter eggs for Lord of the Rings fans to find. 

The Thing Remastered 

Nightdive Studios – TBA

Nightdive Studios has taken the beloved 2002 third-person survival horror shooter game, The Thing, and given it a full graphics overhaul for PC and consoles. Both the original and this remaster take place after the events of the 1982 John Carpenter film, and follow a US Army Special Forces rescue team sent to investigate the terrifying events that occurred in the film and try to uncover what happened at Outpost #31. Not only must players face off against various monsters created by The Thing, but they must keep a close eye on their own party to make sure it hasn’t been infiltrated by the monster or paranoia.

Lego Horizon Adventures 

Guerilla Games – TBA 

Set in the world of the Horizon games, Lego Horizon Adventures follows Aloy on a new adventure where she leads a unique crew of heroes on a quest to save the Earth from a man called Helis, whose gang of sun worshippers follow a mysterious, ancient Evil. With couch co-op and online play, you can dive into this thrilling adventure with friends or alone – this brick world is your oyster. Whether this is your first foray into this post-apocalyptic world, or you’ve already tackled the technological mysteries of this world with Aloy in the past, Lego Horizon Adventures is perfect for players young and old.