December 2024 doesn't promise many bright game releases; publishers, as usual, are simply counting on Christmas sales, so you can save a little money on this month's new releases. Moreover, the most anticipated releases include several free-to-play games (with a "conditional" note, of course), such as the updated cooperative action game Delta Force, the sequel to the action/RPG Path of Exile 2, or the superhero team shooter Marvel Rivals.
But there are also some really interesting projects among paid games. For example, the action/adventure Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which tells about the new adventures of the most famous professor of archeology, the tactical role-playing game Urban Strife, which will immerse you in the post-apocalyptic world of zombies, or the survival simulator Heat Death: Survival Train, where players will have to fight for their lives on a train rushing across a frozen planet.
Delta Force: Hawk Ops
Release date December 5, 2024
Genre multiplayer tactical shooter
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Android, iOS
Delta Force: Hawk Ops, or, as the developers insist, "just Delta Force now", is due to be released in December 2024 in early access on Windows, and later on consoles and mobile platforms. More precisely, not even in early access, but in open beta testing.
For those of you who don't know, the original Delta Force produced by NovaLogic was released back in 1998 and spawned several sequels. Unfortunately, NovaLogic closed down in 2016, and the series came to a standstill. But last year, the Chinese studio TiMi Studio Group, a division of Tencent, decided to resurrect the popular shooter.
The game is being developed by Team Jade, known for its work on Call of Duty: Mobile. Team Jade has already shared the details of beta testing. The game will be free of charge, but with cosmetic microtransactions - skins for weapons and vehicles, as well as Battle pass. At the same time, the developers assure that there will be no pay-to-win, although we have already heard this somewhere.
The beta version offers a wide range of maps, modes, operatives, vehicles, and weapons. The team also worked on gameplay, optimization, and protection against cheaters. There is no support for controllers yet, but it should appear later.
Along with the open beta, the first season, Genesis, will be launched. The seven well-known operatives will be joined by a newcomer, and there will be additional modes, maps, weapons, and vehicles. It looks like there will be a lot of content.
Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer
Release date December 5, 2024
Genre fitness, rhythm game
Platforms Nintendo Switch
Two generations of gaming consoles ago, there was a small but noticeable trend towards mobile gaming. Now, it seems that only Nintendo remains committed to taking care of players' physical fitness. Very soon, the third part of the fitness game with boxing elements - Fitness Boxing 3 - will be released on Nintendo Switch. For those who don't know, it's something like a personal trainer that helps you practice boxing moves to energetic music with Nintendo Joycons in your hands.
The third part of the program includes new features for regular workouts. Thus, the Quick Workout mode allows you to start training immediately after launch, and Mitt Drills allows you to practice with an instructor at your own pace. For those who are not ready for active jumps, we have added the Sit Fit Boxing mode, which allows you to train while sitting, which is better than nothing.
The developers have added 30 new songs and two new instructors whose appearance can be changed, for example, by choosing hairstyles. In total, the game has six trainers ready to motivate players on their way to fitness.
Highway Police Simulator
Release date December 5, 2024
Genre simulator, action/adventure
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Series X|S
Police simulations are not a new genre. Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, Police Simulator 18, True Crime, and Enforcer: Police Crime Action have long allowed you to try on a police badge. This time, German developers Z-Software offer their version of the law enforcement service on the roads of the fictional Camino.
Highway Police Simulator invites you to the open world of city highways and rural roads, where the player will have to deal with everything from banal rule violations to serious crimes. At your disposal will be patrol cars, motorcycles, and even helicopters for aerial surveillance.
The developers are especially proud of the morality system - your decisions should affect the reputation and trust of your colleagues. Do you want to be a "good cop" or decide that the end justifies the means? However, we have already seen similar systems in other games, so let's see if the German developers can offer something really new.
The game promises a variety of tasks: from issuing fines and managing traffic jams to high-speed chases and crime investigations. For those who are not ready for full realism, there is a simplified gameplay mode.
Symphonia
Release date December 5, 2024
Genre platformer, action/adventure
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
From the very first second of the trailer, it becomes clear that music reigns supreme in this game. The orchestral score written by composer Olivier Esman and performed by the Paris Orchestra sets the tone for the entire game. And this is logical, because in the world of Symphonia, music is a source of vital energy.
The game tells the story of the mysterious violinist Filimon, who has to assemble a new orchestra after the founders of the world and their musicians disappeared without warning for unknown reasons. Without music, the world gradually plunges into silence, and its inhabitants find themselves in conflict.
In Symphonia, the protagonist moves through the levels using a violin and a bow. The developers from Sunny Peak studio focused on platforming - players will find jumps, spatial puzzles, and riddles. Hand-drawn locations and charismatic characters add a special atmosphere.
Path of Exile 2
Release date December 6, 2024 (Early access)
Genre action/RPG
Platforms Windows, macOS, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
The free-to-play action/RPG Path of Exile returns 20 years after the events of the first part. Reclast, which enjoyed freedom from filth, is once again under threat as Count Ogama seeks to harness this power for the sake of power.
In the early access, players will receive three acts of the story campaign (approximately 25 hours of play), 50 bosses, and 400 types of enemies. There will be six classes to choose from: monk, warrior, huntress, sorceress, witch, and mercenary. Each class will have two subclasses of advancement, which are opened through special tests.
The developers from Grinding Gear Games have redesigned some mechanics. Now the game has only two flasks - for health and mana, which are replenished after killing enemies. A new resource has been added - the spirit, which allows you to use permanent skills. Also added more than 100 skill stones that can be upgraded.
After completing the campaign, end-game content opens up: an endless Atlas with maps and additional areas, expeditions, rituals, and rifts with demons from other dimensions.
The full version of the game promises to double the amount of content: six acts, 100 locations, 600 enemy types, and 100 bosses. Path of Exile 2 will remain free-to-play, with co-op for up to six players.
Marvel Rivals
Release date December 6, 2024
Genre multiplayer fighting game, shooter
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
In early December, another project of the Marvel universe will be released. This time, it is a team-based shooter with a destructible environment and an emphasis on character interaction.
The plot (yes, it's here) tells the story of a conflict between two Doctors of Minds - one from the present and one from 2099 - and this conflict has led to a collision of universes. Now heroes and villains are forced to unite in unexpected teams to prevent both Dooms from seizing power.
The game offers dynamic 6v6 battles with interesting synergy mechanics: Rocket can get on Groot's back, and Hulk can charge Iron Man's suit with gamma energy for a powerful attack. The environment can be destroyed, forcing teams to constantly adapt their tactics.
At the start, 18 characters will be available, including the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and X-Men. NetEase promises regular updates every season. Marvel calls it "one of its most ambitious projects," although it does not explain why.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Release date December 9, 2024
Genre action/adventure
Platforms Windows, Xbox Series X|S (including Game Pass), PlayStation 5 (in the spring of 2025)
Indiana Jones' adventures in video games began back in 1982 with Raiders of the Lost Ark for the Atari 2600. Since then, more than a dozen games have been released, but only the quest Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992) and the action Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb (2003) have become real hits. And now, 20 years later, MachineGames is preparing a new return of the legendary archaeologist and adventurer.
The Great Circle is about the theft of a valuable artifact from the museum where Professor Jones works. Together with journalist Gina, he investigates the case and discovers that the Third Reich and German agent Emmerich Voss are behind the theft. As always, the Nazis are up to something global.
The game offers a first-person view, except for the moments with the whip and swimming. Indiana can fight hand-to-hand, use a revolver and his legendary whip, and throw everything at anything that comes to hand - from bottles to ancient busts.
The journalists who have already played the demo especially praise the combat system and the interactivity of the environment. "Hitting Nazis with a frying pan to the sounds of old action movies is incredibly fun," writes Amy Eastland of Wccftech. However, you can also take a stealth approach, using disguises and distractions.
Locations are divided into linear and open zones with side quests. The only thing that was criticized was the "empty spaces between points of interest" in the open areas. Some journalists also did not like the animation of the characters' faces.
The developers promise more than 4 hours of cutscenes, separate difficulty settings for puzzles and battles, as well as the ability to return to already visited places. According to Axel Torvenius, the project's creative director, this will be the biggest MachineGames game yet, but we'll see if Indiana's return to the video game space will be a triumph. We don't have long to wait.
Urban Strife
Release date December 10, 2024
Genre role-playing game, turn-based strategy
Platforms Windows
Urban Strife, the debut project of the independent Romanian studio White Pond Games, looks quite interesting. The game combines turn-based strategy, survival, and RPG in the world of the zombie apocalypse.
The gameplay is classic turn-based tactics with an isometric view, an action point system, and stealth capabilities. In combat, you can act in different ways: from quietly eliminating targets to loud shootouts with machine guns and shotguns. Weapons can be modified with found or created parts.
The levels offer tactical flexibility: you can use roofs, windows, and destroy shelters. The game has a system of skills and perks for character specialization. According to the developers, reputation plays an important role here, affecting the attitude of NPCs and factions.
A separate aspect is building and strengthening your own base, crafting items (from Molotov cocktails to sophisticated equipment) and trading with different factions. New recipes can be found by exploring the world or building relationships with NPCs.
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered
Release date December 10, 2024
Genre action/adventure, platformer
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Aspyr Studio is preparing to release a remaster of the cult dilogy about Raziel, a vampire who was betrayed and thrown into a lake by his creator Cain. Returning as a ghost, Raziel seeks revenge in the gloomy Gothic world of Nosgoth.
The developers promise a significant update of the visual component: improved textures, models, and lighting. Particular attention was paid to the boss models - they should look creepy but harmoniously fit into the apocalyptic world of the game.
And if you think that the bosses don't look old-school enough, you can switch to classic graphics at any time - a great opportunity to plunge into the gaming nostalgia of the late nineties.
To make the game more convenient for modern players, we added a new control scheme, an improved camera, and a map with a compass. There is a photo mode for screenshot lovers, achievements for collectors, and an album with concept art for fans. And all this, according to the developers, without compromising the atmosphere of the original.
Heat Death: Survival Train
Release date December 12, 2024 (Early access)
Genre survival simulator
Platforms Windows
While you and I are surviving on our train, hoping that it's not going into the abyss and we won't freeze to death in the winter, a game about surviving on a train in a frozen world has appeared. Who said Snowpiercer?
On an icy planet where every breath turns to frost, the only refuge for the player is a magnetic cushion train. It glides through endless snow, collecting echoes of the past in abandoned stations. Someone was here before us, leaving notes and clues. But where are they - these someone? Why has the planet, once habitable, turned into an icy desert?
In the demo version, you can build your house on the rails. A two-story train with living quarters, warehouses, and production facilities will serve as your shelter from fierce storms. Solar panels and dynamos will provide you with precious energy, without which life in this cold world is impossible.
The atmosphere of loneliness permeates every detail: your footprints slowly disappear under the fresh snow, the metal groans from the frost, and the darkness recedes only before the dim light of the lanterns. Sometimes it seems that you are the last living soul on this planet. But then why are the lights of enemy drones flashing in the dark?
The full version promises to reveal the secrets of this world, add new opportunities for building your train, and tell the story of those who came here before you. In the meantime, you can try the demo on Steam, which offers several hours of lonely traveling in the icy desert.
Neko Odyssey
Release date December 16, 2024
Genre adventure
Platforms Windows
Sometimes you want to take a break from this endless survival, and fortunately, there are more "comfortable" games than ever before, where you don't have to kill anyone and save yourself and others endlessly. So, Neko Odyssey looks like a cute project about cats.
The game invites you to become an urban cat photographer. The player travels around the city, looking for furry models and trying to take the best pictures for his profile in the in-game social network. The more likes his photos receive, the more tips he can get from his followers.
But it's not that simple - some cats will have to be approached before they allow themselves to be photographed. And certain events will open up new opportunities for photo hunting.
According to the developers from Secret Character, the game also has a plot: you will uncover city secrets through photos. They promise a story full of joy and inspiration. The visual style that combines 3D graphics with pixel art adds a special charm.
Alien: Rogue Incursion
Release date December 19, 2024
Genre VR action movie, horror
Platforms PlayStation VR2, SteamVR, Meta Quest 3 (later)
Alien fans have long dreamed of a full-fledged VR game in this universe. There were even those who created the popular MotherVR mod for Alien: Isolation, but it was still an amateur effort. Now, Survios, a studio known for high-quality VR projects such as Raw Data and Creed: Rise to Glory, is releasing the first official VR game in this universe.
The plot of Rogue Incursion revolves around former marine Zula Hendricks. After receiving a distress call from an old colleague, she and the android Davis-01 travel to a remote planet. And, of course, she finds something much more terrifying than she expected.
The developers, who call themselves "fans developing games for fans," pay special attention to the atmosphere. According to them, every element of the game - from sound and lighting to tactile feedback on controllers - works to immerse you in the eerie world of Alien. The behavior of the xenomorphs is particularly impressive: they are truly intelligent, use the environment to hunt and can attack from any direction.
The game mechanics encourage caution: any random sound can attract the attention of predators. Encountering several aliens at once is almost guaranteed to mean death. Although the classic tools of the series (motion detector, pulse rifle, and shotgun) are available in Zula's fight for survival, it is often better to avoid encounters than to engage in combat.
Unlike many modern games in the series that rely on Left 4 Dead-style co-op, Rogue Incursion remains a single-player horror game, preserving the spirit of the original movie. The game is created on the Unreal Engine, which allows to achieve a high level of graphics and physics in VR.
Other interesting games coming in December 2024
Antonblast – is a fast-paced, tear-jerking, graffiti-style destructive platformer. December 3, 2024 (Windows, Nintendo Switch)
Infinity Nikki – is an open-world adventure where Nikki and Momo travel through the fantasy lands of Miraland. The game combines platforming, puzzles, and dress-up. December 5, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Android, iOS)
Ripple In Dirac Sea – PvPvE with two teams (1 god and 6 heroes per team). December 6, 2024 (Windows)
Among Ashes – a survival horror with puzzles. December 9, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 5)
Leif's Adventure: Netherworld Hero – A story-driven action-adventure game where you have to control two different characters. December 19, 2024 (Windows, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch)
Pine: A Story of Loss – a short story about a woodcutter who lost his beloved wife. December 31, 2024 (Windows, Nintendo Switch)
[Updated] The UFL football simulator developed by the Belarusian studio Strikerz Inc has been removed from the list.