The year of gaming seems to be as packed as ever, with plenty of new experiences to be delivered across the year. For me, there’s a lot coming in just the first quarter that I’m interested in. What’s very unknown for me is that of my cores. There is very much only rumour and speculation regarding them. Except for Star Wars, but Outlaws is potentially not even arriving this year. As for the rest…

Hunters is a new mobile Star Wars game that’s also set to arrive on the Switch. A multiplayer arena-combat game, it features some fun character designs. I’m still undecided on it, but there’s definitely a good game here. A Dark Forces remaster will be arriving at the end of February. This one is being remastered by Nightdive Studios, and seems to have reworked a lot of the game. It will be fun to give this one a try.

Sonic the Hedgehog has never been in a stronger position, with Paramount’s movie series, Netflix’s Prime, and the games of Frontiers and Superstars providing a lot of good for the franchise. A brand presentation for Sega of America leaked online, with the slide providing a roadmap for the Sonic franchise stating a new game would arrive this year. It’s unknown what that game is, but at least it’s coming. There’s plenty I’d like to see from a new game, but I’ve talked some ideas before.

Pokémon last year saw Scarlet and Violet get an expansion with The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, matching the cycle of Generation 8. Which means this year is likely to be a remake. A majority of signs point to something happening with the Unova region, what with Blueberry Academy being a part of it. Is it possible that this new game is just a region remake, with an original story within it? Would be a very interesting thing to happen.

Now, it’s very unlikely to happen, but can we finally see a new Power Rangers game? Battle for the Grid was almost five years ago, and mobile game Morphin Legends got canned before it had the chance to fully launch. With it looking unlikely for any TV series to arrive on screens, a game with a story could easily fill the void. But… I can’t see it happening bar a surprise announcement within this first half of the year.

There’s plenty of other games to talk about, and so I’m starting with Nacon. The Nacon Life games are continuing to be strong simulation games. Except… well, one outlier. I’ll have words to say on Hotel Life soon enough. But both Chef Life and Train Life are great games. And it so happens that one of the next Life games is by the same developer as Train Life.

Taxi Life recreates a large area of Barcelona for players to explore during their duties as a taxi driver. There’s a lot to be aware of across this city, with dynamic events that are likely to divert your route to the destination. Along with a bunch of company management stuff, customisation of the vehicle, and even sightseeing and challenge opportunities, there should be a lot to enjoy when it arrives in February.

Also in February is Garden Life. Being developed by stillalive studios, the same team behind the Bus Simulator series, this game sees you developing a plot of land to bring beauty back to it. Grow flowers and nurture them as you would in real life to keep them healthy, unlocking new seeds as you progress through the story. A story that is said to reveal the secrets of this garden you are working at.

Then there’s the recently announced Ambulance Life, which only has a tentative 2024 date attached to it. Being developed by Aesir Interactive, the team behind Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, it is said Ambulance Life will need you to be fast and efficient in reaching those who need your aid. It’s not as simple as putting them into the ambulance once you arrive, either. On-site first aid will be a part of it, making sure the right treatment is given to make the patient as comfortable as possible.

Then there’s the game not part of the Life series. The game I have been waiting for since its announcement in 2020. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. The absolute perfect driving game series finally returning. Under Kylotonn, I have faith in it being good. What they have shown has been enough to excite me. It will be good to get driving around Hong Kong Island and engaging in the Solar Crown tournament again.

Sticking with vehicles, developer Monster and Monster is bringing a unique twist to the truck driving genre with Star Trucker. The twist is that these trucks are intergalactic travellers, soaring through the literal spacelanes hauling cargo. It’s a very Americana-infused version of space, with truck stops, road signs and billboards to be found on these routes. It is looking a fantastic exploration of this beautiful galaxy.

When Microsoft released the latest Flight Simulator in 2020, it was a great thing to play just to fly around various locations. Powered through the cloud, it recreated the entire world as accurately as possible. There were issues with that recreation, but a new one releasing this year should improve greatly upon all aspects of that world. There’s a lot of new things being added to it, including plenty of missions and aircraft types. I feel I’ll be spending a lot more time with this new one.

Nintendo have been surprising greatly with the number of Gamecube games they’ve been bringing to the Switch. And considering what they’ve previously said about the series, it’s a surprise that one of those remakes is Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. I’ve not played it before, like many of the great Gamecube classics (despite it being my favourite console), so to get the chance to do so is an exciting prospect to me.

A game meant to be coming last year but was then delayed to March of this, Life by You is providing a bit of competition to The Sims. A life simulator where you have the ability to build everything. Construct an open world town for the people to live, the people themselves, and their stories. I really want to get creating with this game, building up a world of my own. That is likely going to be greatly inspired by places I know.

A game I featured in the latest What I’m Waiting For, Little Kitty, Big City is pretty much an urban playground. Control the kitten trying to find its way back home, but there’s plenty of distractions to have fun with. Quests to complete from various other animals, plenty of ways to cause chaos, and hats to be found that the kitty can wear! There’s a delightful energy to it that I can’t wait to experience.

There are plenty of others I could talk about, but let’s not. There’s already plenty here to give you an idea of the games I’ve got my eye on for this year, without including the likes of Resistor, The Precinct, Lightyear Frontier, and Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time. Honestly, these first three months are already packed of greatness that it’s going to be difficult balancing everything. But I’ll certainly be having fun with everything that I pick up.

Images Taken From:
Sonic Heroes Wallpapers | Wallpaper Cave
Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator | Steam
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | Nintendo UK