With the summer in full swing, Sunday was an opportunity for Microsoft to show off what it’s got in store for Windows, the Xbox Series X, and the Xbox Series S. That’s right, we’re talking about the Xbox Games Showcase 2024.
Boy, did it not disappoint. That’s putting it lightly.
From reconstructions of classic franchises to inventive sequels that promise to reinvent the wheel to a certain degree, there looks to be a lot of fun stuff coming up in the Xbox family. Let’s rank the most exciting video games revealed during the 2024 Xbox Showcase.
All footage and screenshots courtesy of Microsoft/Xbox.
6. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
A remake of the PlayStation 2 classic, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater thrusts you back into the shoes of Naked Snake, a.k.a. “Big Boss.” The word “Delta” is in reference to Konami wanting to remake gameplay and story elements but not otherwise changing key structure.
Here is the latest trailer:
Expect to dive back into some good old Cold War stealthy chaos sometime later in 2024.
5. State of Decay 3
In a zombie genre that can be stale and stagnant, the State of Decay franchise has been a welcome breath of fresh air. The latest entry (release date to be announced) promises to once again challenge players’ leadership abilities as they manage the throes of a zombie apocalypse.
And let me tell you, the trailer already promises an incredibly intense affair:
I am shuddering (with fear and anticipation) just watching that.
4. Perfect Dark
It’s been over a decade since we got to kick some major you-know-what with Joanna Dark. Judging by the latest gameplay reveal of the series’ reboot — set in a future torn apart by climate change — it was well worth the wait.
Seriously, this footage makes this Perfect Dark look like a proper next-game:
While a release date is still unclear, I, for one, cannot wait for this wonderful first-person adventure led by Ms. Dark.
3. Gears of War: E-Day
It wouldn’t be a genuine Xbox console without an entry to the classic Gears of War series. After a half-decade absence, Gears of War: E-Day will serve as an origin story for Marcus Fenix and Co. That’s right, we’re going back to the first day the Locust horde emerged onto the surface of Sera and waged war on the humans.
Oh, baby:
Folks, at the risk of stating the obvious (Gary Jules voice): It’s a very, very mad world (mad world, mad world). Whenever this comes out, we’ll be ready.
2. Fable
At this point, the Fable franchise is just about two decades old. And it has gone through no shortage of face-lifts, reboots, reimaginations, and, unfortunately, declines.
The role-playing video game space is crowded and innovative these days. The trailer makes it apparent that this Fable reboot is prepared to step its game up in a comprehensive way come 2025:
One thing certainly hasn’t changed — an impeccable sense of humor from this franchise.
1. DOOM: The Dark Ages
With all due respect to the other games on this list, there is nothing quite like the feel of a polished DOOM game. id Software’s rebooted trilogy that resurfaced in 2016 and 2020 is proof in this pudding. The latest DOOM takes the Doom Slayer and transports it to a Medieval realm with the appropriate elements.
Imagine this hyper-violent series with swords, crazy traps, and aptly new malevolent monsters. No, really, visualize it because it’s happening:
I’m sorry, but was the Doom Slayer … FLYING A DRAGON??? The year 2025 cannot nearly come soon enough. Holy cow.