Last year was a great one for games, with fresh new takes on both Sonic and Pokémon, as well as LEGO Star Wars. And a few smaller efforts. There was a lot of smaller games I’d played, too. Not everything was covered in my look back at 2022, but it was a great year. Of course, this year is set to be even better. There’s a lot of big games coming, and also smaller games I’ve been interested in getting to play for some time.
To start this off, as ever, Star Wars. Jedi: Survivor was announced early last year, with a trailer at The Game Awards giving a good idea of just how this game will expand on the first. Battle stances are the big change to combat, with each providing differing combat options. The planets look more open and explorable this time around, with mounts that can be used for traversal and in combat. The story also seems to be taking a bit of a darker turn as it edges further into the dark times of the Empire’s rule.
Sonic Frontiers released late last year, being one of the best Sonic experiences of the last ten years. After its release, Sega announced a year of extra content to be released throughout this year. There’s major additions such as challenge modes, and smaller additions such as a juke box and photo mode. A birthday celebration event is also coming as part of it, but the biggest addition comes at the end of this roadmap. New story with new playable characters. For the first time in an age in a 3D Sonic game, Sonic’s friends are finally going to be playable once again. It can’t come soon enough.
Also released late last year were Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. There’s not really any news regarding additions to them, but it’s obvious that something will come. There’s an entire section of the map greyed out, after all. More map to explore is great for me, but how much could we really get? And is it possible that the greyed out area is just a small part of an entire region attached to Paldea? People are speculating Kalos, but would Game Freak remake a region in an open world style? Would that not be better for its own game?
Continuing on with the speculation, is it time for Nintendo to add the Game Boy family of systems to Switch Online? Pokémon would certainly be one way to announce the additions of those systems being added, especially if all the games from those three generations arrived at once. Of course, the two I will not shut up about are getting the Orre duo from the Gamecube onto the Switch. Colosseum and Gale of Darkness are absolute delights to play, and I’d like for easy access to them.
And still with the speculation, but for Power Rangers. After all, I keep wishing for an original game and not a celebration one to arrive on consoles. I get that such would likely take time, but if there’s ever a time to release one, it would be with the 30th anniversary. Now, you might ask why something original and not a celebration game on what is a major anniversary, but I have reasons for wishing it.
One such reason being that there’s been nothing but franchise celebration in the games department for the last five years. Franchise celebration is great for fans, not so much for a general audience. The hype surrounding the major anniversary is likely to get people beyond fans looking at the franchise, so if there’s an original game that doesn’t require investment in what has already been, they might just give it a shot. And if it proves to be good, it might just set them on becoming fans.
It’s not just my cores that I’m interested in seeing new games for, as the Switch is preparing something big. We’ve known about it for a few years now, but last year it finally got a name. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to expand what we know of the Hyrule we were introduced to in Breath of the Wild, with the skies above being explorable as part of the overall world. A number of new powers and other secrets unknown will be uncovered in this sequel to the 2017 hit.
Lightyear Frontier interested me when it was first announced, being a farming game where you’re confined to a mech. That mech serves as transportation and working suit, allowing you to travel the world searching for and gathering materials to start a farm at the place you are stranded. There seems to be a lot to learn in surviving this strange new world, with several areas to learn about. The first one has already been shown, with the second only teased, but from what we have seen, they are sure to be great areas to explore.
While Microsoft have a number of games set to release this year, I’m interested in getting to some action on the new Forza Motorsport. While there’s no shortage of racing games to occupy me – especially as Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown should hopefully be releasing this year, I’ve loved seeing what new tracks each new Motorsport brings while enjoying some old favourites. Already there’s been two new ones confirmed, with the current confirmed returning ones being favourites of mine. All of them have seen improvements in how they look, so it’ll be nice to see how much detail has been packed into these environments.
The second expansion for Forza Horizon 5 is also set to release this year. With a return to the Hot Wheels licence with a new map already having released last year, it’s a mystery as to what this second expansion is going to be. While people believe in the pattern of real then licenced for the expansions, I believe it is based on how big a certain expansion will be instead. Since we’ve already had a Hot Wheels expansion, it’s hardly the huge deal it was back when it first was announced for Horizon 3. Which has me thinking whatever this second expansion is will bring a huge world to explore, with diverse biomes such as what the Hot Wheels expansion delivered.
Story of Seasons is bringing another old classic into the modern age, but this is one from the Gamecube. A Wonderful Life was a different sort of Harvest Moon in that the world moved with you. People aged, moved on, and things happened to them. It had endings rather than being never-ending. It’s one that I’m happy to get to experience for the first time.
The Nacon Life games is a label I’ve had my eye on since it was first announced. It’s been a few years since that time, and now the games that make up the label are starting to be released. Simteract have already seen a release of Train Life, with their next game of Taxi Life bringing a recreation of Barcelona to consoles this year. Cyanide’s Chef Life has a fixed date of release for February, bringing culinary management to consoles. It’s been a while since we’ve heard from other games of the label, but I’m sure others will get more information revealed on them soon enough.
At long last, Pikmin 4 is finally coming. Having been said to have been in development from before the Switch even released, this new entry in the real-time strategy series brings the camera closer to the ground. Several of the familiar staples are here, such as the primary coloured Pikmin and their old foe the Bulborb. Just what our mission is in this fourth game is yet to be known, but the release of it can’t be far off. At least, more information certainly won’t be. The first Nintendo Direct of the year is sure to flood us with plenty of news.
Along with the second half of the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, there’s another kart racer I’ve got my eye on. Disney Speedstorm brings Disney and Pixar characters onto the track in this combat racer. Delayed into this year to further refine the vision Gameloft have for it, Speedstorm is looking to have a lot to enjoy for fans of Disney, with Gameloft pulling from all eras of Disney to provide something for everyone. I’m looking forward to giving this one a go when it eventually releases, but since it’s a free-to-play game, it will need to be fair with its gameplay for me to continue playing.
All these games, and even more such as Starfield and Minecraft Legends, and it’s only the second day of the year. Many new announcements are sure to spark my interest across this year, with some of them likely releasing this year. After all, I doubt GTA VI will do a Need For Speed Unbound and release three months after it sees an official announcement. Although that would easily make this year the best in gaming for a long time. From what I’m seeing though, even without it that claim can be made.
Images Taken From:
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Official Reveal Trailer | EA Star Wars
Media | Lightyear Frontier
Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator | Steam
