The best new PC games 2024

What are the best new PC games in 2024? Perhaps you’ve just been paid, your bank account is filled with virtual dosh, or you simply want to get caught up with the latest PC games because they’re, well, new and shiny.

As much as we love firing up our old favorites, there are loads of new PC games that deserve some attention, too. To keep you in the know, we’ve got the definitive list of the best PC games that have been released recently, from big-budget RPG games to indie strategy games. Whatever you’re into, stay up to date with all the latest and greatest releases right here on PCGamesN.

The best new PC games in 2024 are:

Dungeons of Hinterberg

Akin to Zelda, this open-world RPG is a fantastical delight. Set in the ‘real world’ but with a magical twist, law student Luisa travels to Hinterberg in the Austrian Alps to explore 25 dungeons that have mysteriously appeared. Accommodated by local officials, everyone who visits Hinterberg is in for a real treat of exploration and adventure as they test their combat skills in each unique dungeon. But, not everything is peachy. The local townspeople aren’t happy with the influx of visitors to their home, and it quickly becomes clear that there’s a divide between them and the local government.

But without giving too much away, you’ll spend your time in Hinterberg exploring each dungeon, battling monsters in satisfying combat, unearthing trinkets and secrets, and solving a myriad of puzzles. We absolutely loved it in our Dungeons of Hinterberg review, saying it “is a wonderfully captivating trek through the gorgeous lands of its magical alpine setting, where a world of adventure, challenges, and intrigue stands at odds with the political machinations of a greedy government.”

Kunitsu-Gami Path of the Goddess

Kunitsu-Gami is the first of its kind, a unique take on the strategy game genre that attempts to blend action elements into the formula to make things more exciting. The game operates on a day and night cycle, with the day being used to recruit players before the moon rises, opening the gates to another world filled with demons. Taking place on Mt. Kafukua, you must recruit villagers during the day and assign them to specific roles to stop the demons at night from taking over.

The gameplay at night switches over to a tower defense-like game as you control Soh, the main character, as she hunts down the demons coming through the gates. Soh is able to attack the enemies as they spawn in, and she can change the villagers’ roles at any time to match the incoming situation. Here’s what Lauren, our news editor, had to say about the game in her Kunitsu-Gami Path of the Goddess review: “Characterized by stunning visuals rooted in Japanese folklore, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess’ tower defense and hack-and-slash action is like nothing I’ve ever played before. While there are a few minor frustrations, Capcom’s new adventure is a must-play and a ready-made cult classic.”

FF14 Dawntrail

We all have that one friend who won’t shut up about Final Fantasy 14. They’ll beg and plead with you to play with them, trying desperately to convince you that this is the MMO that is actually worth your time. Well, if our FF14 Dawntrail review is anything to go by, it seems that nagging friend of yours may actually have a point. Building upon the epic expansion that was Endwalker, Dawntrail introduces new DPS-centric jobs, the Viper and the Pictomancer to help tackle the latest batch of dungeons and raids.

Dawntrail doesn’t just offer a burst of content that players can blast through in a few sessions, there’s plenty to do over the course of the next year that the expansion sets up perfect. Here’s what Ken, our news writer, had to say about Dawntrail’s future in his review: “Yet in perhaps the most important aspect of all, Dawntrail resoundingly delivers: I can’t wait to see what comes next, both mechanically and narratively… Much like the sunny shores of Tural, it’s safe to say that the future of FF14 is looking bright”.

Zenless Zone Zero

For fans of Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Alchemy Stars and other anime gacha games, Zenless Zone Zero is the new game for you. Just like those other games before it, ZZZ is full of high-energy anime characters, fast-paced elemental combat, and, of course, those random gacha mechanics we love but our wallets hate.

Where Zenless Zone Zero stands out is in its technologically advanced, sci-fi theme and unique Exploration quests, which play like mini-puzzles as you make your way across a board of TV screens to collect items and complete objectives. If this isn’t your thing, though, you can play ZZZ how you want, avoiding these puzzle quests for more direct combat quests, and go straight for the satisfying fight mechanics. If you’re intrigued, give Zenless Zone Zero a try – it’s free to play, we’ve got ZZZ codes to get you more character pulls, and our Zenless Zone Zero review speaks particularly highly of the latest Hoyoverse outing.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

How do you improve on one of the best games of all time? Well, you make more of it. Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion for Elden Ring, and it’s so big that you’ve be forgiven for thinking that it was a new entry in its own right. You’ll traverse the new environs, you’ll take down increasingly disgusting bosses, and no doubt pick up bigger, increasingly ridiculous weapons.

Our Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree review heaps praise on the adventure game, focusing on its ambition, creativity, and epic boss battles. Suffice it to say, if you enjoyed Elden Ring, then you have nothing to lose – except for maybe your patience during that last boss fight.

Still Wakes the Deep

Playing as Caz McLeary, stranded on an oil rig in the North Sea, a deadly threat lurks beneath the Beria D, and your job is to navigate it best you can, hoping to eventually escape the looming terror that threatens to swallow you and the crew whole in this narrative horror.

While Still Wakes the Deep isn’t all-out horror, it is a more intense outing than the developer The Chinese Room’s previous offerings, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture and Dear Esther. For those that have played either, you’ll be glad to know getting around is a lot easier as you can run and climb, something you’ll be doing a lot of as you try to flee the oil rig and reach safety. A lot of your time is spent traversing different levels of the rig, reading materials, and hunting for clues, all the while tendrils slip through the walls, grabbing hold of your crewmates and transforming them into monstrous beings.  Find out more about what we loved about this horror game in our Still Wakes the Deep review.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space

Killer Klowns from Outer Space is the latest asymmetrical multiplayer game from Illfonic, who are experts in their field. They are joined by Teravision games, who worked on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and the fact that you are in the care of teams who know and care about the genre and their source material is clear from the moment you launch the game.

Generally speaking, the asymmetrical game is a tough one to get right, and the genre has been mired with complaints of balance and toxic environments for years. Killer Klowns from Outer Space is the closest game we’ve found so far to fixing these issues, thanks to near-perfect balance and brilliant gameplay on both sides – plus, while you can set a preference, you are forced to play both sides from time to time.

From its 80s-inspired, neon, funfair aesthetic to its entertaining ‘Klowntalities’, movie easter eggs, and tense soundtrack, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is incredible fun for those who already love the genre, and might even win you over if you’re new to it. Check out our Killer Klowns from Outer Space review for more.

The Rogue Prince of Persia

The Rogue Prince of Persia is a new twist on the Prince of Persia series, set in the same world as the beloved action-adventure games but with an entirely different feel as a roguelike game with a gorgeous hand-drawn art style. This blend of Prince of Persia and, say, Hades 2 is perfect for both fans of the series itself and those who are more drawn to the replayability of a run-based game.

As we’ve mentioned in our The Rogue Prince of Persia review, this is an early access game, and with that there are a few issues. Whether you want to play right now depends if you can put up with its shortcomings. That said, it’s easy to see that this game is already on the road to something amazing, and the bugs quickly fall by the wayside as you get drawn into yet another run through these challenging and captivating levels.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami

Most of the games on this list right now are long, serious games with hours of gameplay, meaty combat, and deep story-telling. Sure, there are a few exceptions, but if you’re looking for something short, fun, and heartwarming, look no further than Duck Detective: The Secret Salami.

Don’t get us wrong, it’s not quite as whimsical as the title might lead you to believe. This story puts you in the webbed feet of a depressed, divorced, duck, who also happens to be a detective. Use your eyes and your noggin as you speak with the anthropomorphic animals working at the BearBus depot and solve your crime in this short but sweet two-to-three-hour adventure – while learning more about yourself, Eugene McQuacklin, along the way. Have a read of our Duck Detective review if you’re still not convinced, and you will be.

Ghost of Tsushima

No, Ghost of Tsushima might not technically be a new game, but thanks to its recent release to PC, it is a new PC game, and we’re celebrating the astounding action adventure game all over again. In fact, our Ghost of Tsushima review lauds the open-world game as a must-play.

Originally released in 2020, Ghost of Tsushima was released as a PlayStation exclusive, but we’ve come to know that we PC gamers are often allowed in on the action after a few years, and Ghost of Tsushima is perhaps one of most widely anticipated Sony ports in recent times. Set as the Mongols arrive at the launch of their invasion of Japan, Ghost of Tsushima places you in the shoes of a local samurai who barely survives the onslaught, and your adventure gets going following your tough recovery, giving the story depth and emotion alongside all the action.

Hellblade 2

Hellblade 2’s rich, detailed environments, responsive combat, and immersive binaural audio mean it’s more than earned its spot on this list. Ninja Theory’s original Hellblade was released almost seven years ago, but its excellent portrayal of the experience of psychosis meant the game’s protagonist, Senua, told a story that touched players long beyond its release. This time around, Senua explores the process of healing from trauma, and with that, she gains more agency and strength, finding her voice among the many others she hears that formerly drowned her out.

Hellblade 2 introduces replayability in the form of alternate narrators that provide a brand-new perspective on its story, with some only unlockable after finding collectibles such as Hellblade 2 faces and Hellblade 2 Lorestangir. Walking through Senua’s Saga feels like stepping foot in real-world Iceland, and the game’s photo mode is one of the best we’ve seen in recent releases. As we mentioned in our Hellblade 2 review, it’s an impeccable story of overcoming trauma and making difficult decisions, punctuated by moments of outstanding beauty and strength.

Homeworld 3

A blast from the past with a lick of new paint, Homeworld 3 captures the magic it had dialed in years ago, only this time, as things tend to be, the stakes are higher, and the space battles are much more fierce. Homeworld 3 is an RTS game set in three-dimensional space, meaning that you have to contend with up and down, as well as things on the regular plane.

You control the battlefield from a single, gargantuan flagship, commanding your fleet and barreling through a surprisingly emotional story. Check out our Homeworld 3 review if you want to know the ins and outs, but suffice it to say, this channels old-school strategy energy in the best way possible.

Animal Well

With so many scanlines that it’ll make a CRT TV blush, Animal Well is a delightfully trippy metroidvania game where you explore a puzzle-filled world with significantly larger fish, birds, and mammals that are out to kill you. You’ll fling your little blob across perilous gaps or reach well-hidden secrets by using an admittedly finicky yo-yo, among many other tools.

You’re encouraged to experiment as much as possible, mastering the items you pick up. If you can’t pass an obstacle, another path could likely reveal a solution. Those who begin this daunting platform game might want to see all Animal Well egg locations and learn how to rescue Animal Well cats, as they can be tricky to work out at first.

Hades 2

Although it has entered early access, Hades 2 is a well-polished, substantial game in its current form. Supergiant Games’ first-ever sequel, Hades 2, sees you take on the role of the Princess of the Underworld, Melinoë, as she attempts to beat Chronos, the God of Time. She’ll face off against bosses of all shapes and sizes as you forge relationships with returning and new Gods and characters while learning of the events that have transpired since the first game.

Hades 2 takes the roguelike game formula of the original and combines it with expansive areas, twice as much content, and new weapons to master. In our Hades 2 review, we mentioned that it’s the closest thing to a perfect game that you’ll play this year, but if you want to complete the story immediately, you’ll need to wait for its full release in 2025.

Manor Lords

Although still in early access, Manor Lords has much to offer, at least for those looking for a cozy city-builder. Your job is to grow your little hamlet into a burgeoning city by creating a self-sufficient ecosystem, planting, harvesting, mining, and crafting your way to greatness. Rather than just plopping down build zones and watching the action passively, you’ll have to manage your population directly, assigning them jobs and workspaces, if you want to create something special.

Manor Lords emphasizes the seemingly mundane things like growing crops and makes it just involved enough that you’ll truly be excited for the next summer just so you can take advantage of that new, fertile soil. Our Manor Lords early access review goes into this in more detail, and why, if you’re looking for something more combat-focused, you should probably wait for the full release.

Nexus 5X

If you love grand strategy games but struggle to find the time to grind out a weeks-long campaign, then Nexus 5X is the game for you. As our Nexus 5X review states, it’s a “surprisingly nuanced spin on Stellaris that’s perfect for an evening’s gaming session with friends.”

You’ll pick your faction and then set out to dominate the galaxy, along with whoever else happens to be in your way. Backstab and double-cross your friends to take over your immediate surroundings, then venture into the great unknown.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

After 12 long years of waiting, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has finally arrived. On our quest to fulfill our destiny as the Arisen, we’ve spent countless hours traipsing across the map, fighting behemoth enemies, and discovering all the secrets this sprawling world has to offer. Our Dragon’s Dogma 2 review describes it as “a game from another time” that ignores the homogeneity of modern open-world games and instead doubles down on all the idiosyncrasies that helped the series garner its cult audience in the first place.

While more of a reimagining than a sequel, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is everything the original should have been and more. The improved pawn system has imbued your AI companions with the ability to adapt to your playstyle, and new vocations allow for more class flexibility than ever before. There are also plenty of Dragon’s Dogma 2 mods to enhance your experience even further, with a new game plus that extends the adventure past the end credits. If you liked the original Dragon’s Dogma, you’re pretty much guaranteed to love Dragon’s Dogma 2.

Solium Infernum

Between Millennia, Ara History Untold, and Civilization 7, this is an extremely good era for strategy games. The problem, however, is that they mostly exist in the same mold. Create your first city, farm resources, cultivate a military, research technology, and gradually expand outwards – we need more strategy games that challenge conventions. Solium Infernum, where you play one of several archfiends competing for rule of Hell, is the perfect blend of robust mechanics, planning, and strategizing, and visionary new interpretations of what the genre means.

This isn’t a game about acquiring more power, more resources, and more superficial virtual stuff. League of Geeks symbolizes abstract concepts like deceit and manipulation via clear, tangible, and always enjoyable systems and gameplay tools. It’s not quite a puzzle game. It’s not quite an RTS or a linear, narrative-driven ‘experience.’ Solium Infernum is all of these combined and more – a strategy game couched in psychology and behavior. One of the smartest and most unique new PC games, check out our Solium Infernum review for more.

Pacific Drive

Pacific Drive is a driving game like no other. Not content with the race tracks and supercars endemic to the genre, Ironwood Studios’ debut outing is a ‘90s conspiracy thriller that blends crafting-survival elements with a roguelike structure and sports a New Weird aesthetic that’s guaranteed to delight fans of Remedy’s Control and the SCP Foundation. In short, you are a hapless driver transported into the forbidden confines of a fictitious government Exclusion Zone in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. In your bid to escape, you quickly stumble upon your new best friend: a rusty old station wagon that isn’t quite what it seems.

Our Pacific Drive review praises the “delicious friction between Pacific Drive’s tactility and [player] adrenaline” that fosters “emergent chase sequences laced with panic and amusement in equal measure.” While you’re in the driver’s seat, you must juggle the mechanical components of a car – the handbrake, wipers, and headlights – as you withstand fluctuating weather patterns as well as the hostile paranormal Anomalies that populate the Zone. Your forays out into the PNW wilds will take you through dense forests and forbidding swamps, as you slowly puzzle out the mysteries of the Exclusion Zone and its mysterious Remnants. The roguelike loop brings you back to the garage at the end of each run, where you can repair any damage your iron horse has sustained. This forms the basis of Pacific Drive’s crafting-survival element, but its intriguing story is the fuel that propels you through to its end. It also has a seriously good soundtrack to boot.

Balatro

Balatro is a game about poker, breaking the game known as poker, and, well, cheating. The premise is simple: construct a deck and play poker hands (pair, flush, straight, all that jazz) to win ‘chips’. The chip requirement to beat each level goes up, with boss levels adding certain modifiers to that particular bout.

We absolutely love Balatro, with Dave describing the new roguelike as his “latest obsession”. The thrill of adding Jokers to your pack that gives you value and multipliers to your played hands, and finding ways to break the game (such as the Balatro blank voucher, eventually) and build an unbeatable deck is the real beauty of Balatro. It’s deceptively simple and deliciously addictive, and for around $15, you can’t go far wrong.

Last Epoch

The Void has ravaged the dark fantasy world of Eterra, and it’s up to you to harness the power of the eponymous Last Epoch to travel through time and avert the course of history. Our comprehensive Last Epoch review describes Eleventh Hours Games’ ARPG that’s “squarely positioned between the simpler, tighter focus of  Diablo 4 and the vast, winding systems of Path of Exile.” You only have to take a look at Last Epoch’s sales during early access to see that there’s a huge audience lurking in that niche.

Last Epoch’s player-friendly approach, paired with the indie studio’s deep love of action RPG games, has resulted in a game that captures the cinematic scale of Blizzard’s acclaimed series while also addressing its mechanical shortcomings. The developer also promises to bring “substantial new content” in free updates for the foreseeable future, so check out the Last Epoch classes if you’re ready to join the fight to save Eterra.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

We all know that Don’t Nod games have the potential to tug hard at the heartstrings with well-realized characters who are easy to empathize with. Banishers Ghosts of New Eden is “a hauntingly beautiful tale of two lovers embarking on a treacherous journey that tests their relationship through tragedy”.

While the more recent Don’t Nod games have relied on the player solving puzzles and talking their way out of predicaments, Banishers is more action-orientated as you control both characters at once with slick combat mechanics and powerful spirit-purging abilities. According to our Banishers Ghosts of New Eden review, you will be kept on your toes by constantly switching weaknesses between your two protagonists, with Elite enemies acting as end-of-chapter guardians. There are a few issues here and there, but if you want a decent action-adventure that happens to have sublime writing, Banishers is one to keep an eye on.

Persona 3 Reload

As a remake of one of the best PlayStation 2 RPGs, Persona 3 Reload does an excellent job of updating the gameplay mechanics for a modern audience. You play as a transfer student who joins the SEES club at his new school after experiencing the Dark Hour – a phenomenon that seems to be behind an epidemic of “Apathy Syndrome” cases caused by monstrous shadows. In it, you must manage your time saving the world by scaling an ever-changing dungeon, making friends, and doing well at school by giving answers in class.

According to Dave’s Persona 3 Reload review, it still captures the magic of the original game, with the Shift mechanic ensuring that party SP is more manageable during your many trips to Tartarus. Even though the previously available epilogue chapter and second protagonist aren’t in Persona 3 Reload, that’s more of an issue for veteran fans. If you’re looking for the best entry point into the Persona series, look no further.

Tekken 8

We’re truly living in the golden age of fighting games with the release of Tekken 8, the best game in the series so far. Tekken 8 has been built from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5, making the visuals look almost as good as the in-game cutscenes. Featuring a character list with 32 fighters and 16 unique stages to fight on, there’s plenty of content to study and master over the next few years.

Tekken 8 demands quite a lot from its players, but all of the time spent learning the mechanics will turn players into strong fighters. Don’t worry, and things don’t have to be competitive all the time, thanks to game modes like Tekken Ball and the Story mode. Take a look at our Tekken 8 review to find out what we thought of the new fighting mechanics, including the Heat system, and all of the additions to practice mode.

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the first game in the series to take place outside of Japan. This time, the adventure moves to Hawaii as Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of the last game, attempts to find his mother. Infinite Wealth also stars Kazuma Kiryu, the former series lead, as he aids Ichiban on his quest while struggling to deal with his health issues.

Judging by our Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review, this is the best entry in the series yet. “Sprawling but never bloated, it remains captivating from beginning to end across both its main narrative and bountiful side adventures, almost never missing a beat”, says Harry Schofield. You can expect to put in close to 100 hundreds if you want to see everything Infinite Wealth has to offer. Don’t forget to read our Infinite Wealth cast guide if you want to see which voice actors you’ll be hearing regularly.

Palworld

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have at least heard of Palworld, the Pokemon-like game taking the world by storm – both in controversy and record-breaking player numbers. While Palworld has the creature capture, Pal type, and battle elements associated with Pokemon games, there are many ways in which Palworld isn’t like Pokemon, which is perhaps the reason the survival game has done so well.

For one, there are guns. In fact, you can even team up with a Pokemon, give it a gun, and place it on your shoulders to fend off enemies as you explore the Palworld map. Then there’s the item production. Place various machines and production lines around your base and put your Pals to work on them, making guns, forging Palworld resources, and keeping your team well-fed. Palworld may have come out in January, but we’re keeping it on this list of new games as it has recently received a huge new update, with new Pals, bosses, and more.

There you have it, the new PC games you should be playing right now. We’ll admit we were being a little facetious earlier: new PC games aren’t necessarily the cream of the personal computer crop. For that, you should swing by our list of the best old games for the classics, perhaps our favorite free PC games so you can try them without consequence, or even check out our collection of free online games, no download required.