The leaves are turning, football’s kicking off, and the kids are back in school: summer has ended. But fear not, as the fall promises indie darlings and Triple A hits week after week. This year has a lot to live up to compared to 2023’s best video games, but it’s been strong so far with releases like Princess Peach: Showtime! and Little Kitty, Big City winning over gamers and cat lovers alike.
Let’s check out what video games are hitting storefronts this week.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred (10/8)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Diablo IV receives its first major expansion in Vessel of Hatred tomorrow. It’ll introduce a new corrupted jungle region alongside a new class, the Spiritborn, which relies on summoning Spirit Guardians like the Eagle Spirit or Gorilla Spirit for crowd control. Vessel of Hatred will release alongside plenty of base game updates for Diablo IV, such as new skills, dungeon types, and rewards from the Tree of Whispers. The expansion will retail for $39.99 and can be purchased bundled with the base game for $69.99 for new players.
Silent Hill 2 Remake (10/8)
Platforms: PC and PlayStation 5
We saw the release of the Until Dawn remake last week, and another horror classic remake releases this week. The Silent Hill 2 remake will have big shoes to fill as the original 2001 game is considered one of the best video games of all time. It’ll follow a widower returning to the town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his deceased wife. It’ll feature a revamped camera, immersive soundscapes, and an updated combat system.
Metaphor: ReFantazio (10/11)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S
Metaphor: ReFantazio comes from Studio Zero, which features several developers from the past three mainline Persona games. It’ll feature gameplay elements similar to Persona games, like time management and social relationships, alongside combat that blends turn-based and real-time action. Metaphor: ReFantasio will be set in a medieval fantasy world and revolve around a tournament to determine the successor to the recently assassinated king.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero (10/11)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S
After 17 years, the wait is finally over — Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, the successor to Budokai Tenkaichi 3, launches this week. It’ll feature a robust roster of 182 characters and transformations, ranging from Raditz and early DBZ Goku all the way up to the Tournament of Power’s Jiren and Ultra Instinct Goku in addition to non-canonical Dragon Ball GT characters. The gameplay is fast, fluid, and, at times, chaotic — just like the anime. Episode battles will retell notable events from Dragon Ball‘s story, and meeting certain conditions during fights or choosing different paths, like Goku fighting Imperfect Cell after the Piccolo/17 fight, will unlock branching narratives. Sparking! Zero will be a game to be played and enjoyed for years to come, and is a personal favorite for 2024’s game of the year.
Also worth checking out: Europa, Amanda the Adventurer on consoles, Bloodless on Switch, Last Time I Saw You, Transformers: Galactic Trials, and Necro Story.
