The most anticipated games of 2024 you can’t miss

The 2024 gaming year is approaching the home stretch, and if there’s one common thread linking all the biggest releases of this year, it’s that some of these games have become unexpected hits. From the continuations of legendary franchises to unique indie projects, this year has impressed both gamers and developers. What makes these games unique? How did Ukraine attract the attention of the global gaming community? In this article, we will review the top games of 2024 that are definitely worth your attention.

1. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Gamers have been waiting for the continuation of the legendary series for a whole 17 years — since the release of the first part S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Heart of Chornobyl in 2007. Since then, several attempts to create a new game were announced, but development was only completed in 2024.

In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, players once again immerse themselves in the Chornobyl zone, filled with dangers, mutants, and unique anomalies. The feature of this project is attention to detail, realistic graphics and well-developed locations that reflect the post-catastrophe atmosphere.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 officially released on November 20, 2024, and just three days after it sold over 1 million copies, significantly exceeding expectations.

What’s more, on the launch day, the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was watched by over 416,400 viewers on Twitch, making it the most popular game of the day among streamers.

The game provides a unique and detailed depiction of Ukrainian culture, including mosaic bus stops — a distinctive feature of many Ukrainian cities — as well as the use of Ukrainian music, which adds authenticity and depth to the gameplay. Such elements allow players to better immerse themselves in the atmosphere that conveys the cultural heritage of Ukraine.

2. Astro Bot

The game Astro Bot definitely deserves its place among the top games of 2024 due to its unique concept and innovative mechanics. The original version of the game for PlayStation VR received high praise for combining classic platformer elements with virtual reality. The player controls a robot, interacting with the environment in 360 view, creating a deep immersion and sense of presence unique to the genre. The key idea is that the player becomes part of the world and helps the robot overcome obstacles, while also solving puzzles.

The sales figures are self-evident: over 1.5 million copies in 9 weeks, according to PlayStation Lifestyle. On top of that, among PS4 and PS5 platform users, the game received an impressive rating of 91/100 based on critic reviews on the Metacritic aggregator.

3. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Elden Ring is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of recent years. And in 2024, it receives the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC  — not just a continuation of the storyline, but also a new stage in the development of the universe created by FromSoftware. Players will once again have the opportunity to enjoy a detailed open world, filled with new locations, enemies and bosses.

According to Gagadget, Elden Ring has sold over 23 million copies two years after its release, making it one of the most profitable games of all time. Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has a chance to break the original game’s records.

4. Metaphor: ReFantazio

This is a new Japanese role-playing action game from the developers of the Persona series. As in previous Atlus projects, Metaphor: ReFantazio offers complex storylines and emotionally rich characters. However, this game differs from the rest of the Persona universe by adding fantasy elements: magic and technogenic monsters. Its art style was developed by the famous artist Shigenori Soejima, known for having worked on character design in the Persona series.

Metaphor: ReFantazio has already attracted the attention of fans thanks to its impressive visuals and innovative gameplay mechanics. Moreover, the game has great potential, as on the release day, October 11, over a million copies were sold worldwide in just six hours.

5. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

The continuation of the legendary Final Fantasy VII was one of the biggest announcements in recent years. In the second part of the remake, Rebirth, players will once again see a familiar world, but this time on new platforms and with enhanced graphics. Combat mechanics, storytelling, and the open world have received many new additions.

The game is available from February 2024, and at the time of release, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has already received over 90 points on Metacritic.

How localization affects the popularity of games

Localization allows for the preservation of cultural peculiarities and the adaptation of content for different markets. For example, the developers of Persona 5 changed the characters’ names and used unique dialogues to fit them better for the cultural context of the US and Europe. This helped make the game more accessible and appealing to players outside of Japan, while preserving its original atmosphere.

In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, an important part of the localization was the adjustment of difficulty levels and the adaptation of the combat system to meet the needs of different regions. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a vivid example of localization. Giving that the game has a strong connection to Ukrainian culture and history, the adaptation of content for Western markets included not only the translation of texts but also the addition of subtitles and voiceovers for 18 languages, which allowed for broader access to the game for a global audience.

To ensure that the game organically reflects the audience’s context and that immersion in the game world is natural and comfortable for users from different parts of the world, it’s important to localize it with professional help. Companies like MK:translations meticulously work on every element of the game — from the interface to in-game texts. Such high-quality localization allows games to overcome borders and achieve global success.