January isn’t usually a particularly busy time for new video games, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing worth playing. Quite the opposite, January 2024 doesn’t have the tightest release schedule, especially after the holiday break, but it does have some big releases worth noting.
Adventures galore dominate this month, including a new Prince of Persia game and a remastered PlayStation 5 edition of The Last of Us Part II, but there’s also Tekken 8, which offers fighting fans a quick thrill. Take a look at the biggest games released in January.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (January 18)
It’s been well over a decade since the last completely new core Prince of Persia game. Ubisoft has finally revived its classic adventure brand with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
Coming to PS5/PS4, Xbox Series But it also takes its cue from games like Metroid and Castlevania, offering expansive maps and a variety of abilities that can be gradually unlocked over time, making the campaign richer as you progress.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered (January 19)
It’s been less than four years since The Last of Us Part II launched on PS4, the last in the series, and the PS5 has already seen performance improvements. However, due to the popularity of the HBO show and a remastered version of the original PS3 action game in 2023, Naughty Dog is set to release a remastered and expanded version of the sequel to PS5.
Along with visual upgrades, it includes some levels cut during original development, additional character costumes, and a new roguelike survival mode called “No Return.” Luckily, it’s selling for $50, which is less than a typical new PS5 game.
Tekken 8 (January 26)
The King of Iron Fist tournament returns with Tekken 8, bringing Bandai Namco’s fighting franchise to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The tone seems largely familiar, but with many returning characters thrown into the mix, Tekken 8 introduces combat elements to reward more aggressive players and adds a more cinematic feel to the action.
Making a 30-year-old franchise feel fresh again can be difficult. Especially after so many entries and spinoffs. However, it appears that Tekken 8 will bring new vitality to the game. Let’s see if it works in Street Fighter 6 as well.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (January 26)
No, you are not mistaken. Sega actually released another Like a Dragon game, The Man Who Erased His Name. November. But the rebranded Yakuza series is expanding again in January, bringing together the two series leads (Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu) for open-world action in the cities of Yokohama and Honolulu, Hawaii. This is the first time outside of Japan.
It is billed as one of the larger mainline series entries and, unlike recent spin-off releases, is a direct sequel to 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Probably not the best place to start this series. However, existing fans will have fun across PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S and One, and PC.
Edited by Ryan Ozawa.
