The Video Game Awards 2024 – Highlights from the show (and Day of the Devs!)

The Game Awards’ 20th Anniversary was just over a week ago and it proved to be one of the best shows Mr Keighley has ever hosted. After some deliberation, here are my highlights from both it and Day of the Devs!

Demon Tides

I’ve been following this project on Twitter for a while now and it’s been revealed to be a follow up game to 3D Platformer Demon Turf. In what will be a common theme for this list, I’ve not actually played the first game (Not that it’s necessary here) but looks like I should in the lead up to this one. I know I like Wavetale and Super Mario 3D World: Bowser’s Fury and this seems right up that alley.

Blue Prince

… Like blueprints. This is quite the interesting one, having you seemingly making your own escaper rooms on your quest to discover a hidden 46th Door in an ever changing mansion. It’s easier for you to get an understanding for yourself from trailers but I am excited for it.

InKonbini

There’s been a definite rise in cosy type games over the past 10 years or so - given the state of the world, I don’ blame people for looking to something else for distraction. Running your own cosy little Japanese corner shop and lisening to the stories of it’s patrons sounds like something I would love to play. Luckily for me, InKonbini is out in 2025.

Blippo+

I love games that are artsy and so unknowable that even the press release isn’t sure what to say about it. Published by PANIC! who also published Untitled Goose Game and Thank Goodness You’re Here!, the game seems to both be 1-Bit and FMV which is quite an interesting

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

If one unrelated prior game makes a trend then the trend Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown started is being followed by Ninja Gaiden. When it comes to 2D Platformers, game feel is the most important thing to me so a demo would be appreciated. Purely from the trailer, I’m interested.

Shadow Labyrinth

Coming from the same design decision as the Pac-Man episode of Amazon’s Secret Level, Shadow Labyrinth follows a nameless swordsman being guided by a monstrous Pac-Man through a an alien, metroidvania world. Honestly it doesn’t look super great but I’ve got a morbid curiosity about it

Thick as Thieves

The trailer had me sold on Immersive Sim but then lost me when it said multiplayer in the next scene. I’ve mulled it over and I think I’m sold on it. The game looks good, it’s got the pedigree of Warren Spectre and really I could do with trying to get into multiplayer titles. I can’t imagine it’ll be a long lived game just ecause of industry trends but it could be good to enjoy while it lasts. That’s not until 2026 though so no doubt I’ll be elaborating on the game this time next year.

The Witcher IV

Finally receiving its official reveal, the next Witcher game is indeed The Witcher 4. Not sure why they were being so coy about Ciri being the protagonist but I think obviously she’s a great fit as Geralt’s daughter. We know the game is a wee bit in the future post Witcher 3 but we don’t have any other details as of yet. If I was a betting individual I’d say that we might see the remake of the original Witcher before we see 4 but regardless I’ll be there day 1 for both of them. Witcher 3 may have developed a reputation for being overhyped and glazed but that’s because it’s a fantastic game.

Elden Ring: Nightreign

I’ve got an entire article up next dedicated to this game so stay tuned for that!

‘Project Robot’ (GenDESIGN Game 4)

It seems like taking a great many years is becoming the rule rather than the exception for GenDESIGN.. The PS2 saw the release of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. The next game, The Last Guardian infamously missed the PS3 and launched on the PS4. This project may be lucky to hit PS5 considering they don’t even seem to have a name. I loved ICO but cpould’t get into SotC on my first try, so my excitement for this one will rely on The Last Guardian.

The Outer Worlds 2

I tried the original and bounced off of it pretty hard - I think I spread my stats too thin at the start and suffered because of it. I did find out afterwards that people didn’t really rate the game as a whole. The sequel is looking a lot better and I did intend to return to the original eventually so here’s my motivation to do so.

Split Fiction

The next game from Josef Fares, another Game of the Year? It’s certainly possible given the quality of Hazelight’s previous games. The mix of Fantasy and Sci-Fi is well trodden ground but it seems like the perfect fit for a split screen experience. I’ve got the joy of playing it both with my friend Sean and my lovely partner Jade to get both sides of the story.

Project Century

Quite an intriguing looking game coming out of the Yakuza devs - set in 1920’s Japan, it looks to potentially be a spinoff title like Judgement rather than in the Yakuza-verse but it remains to be seen. RRG Studios works incredibly quickly so there’s a good chance for news soon and an early 2026 release date.

Stage Fright

I never played Overcooked, not really having a squad of friends willing to play it. I don’t feel to bad about it despite the quality of the game (obviously from what I’ve heard). This next game I do intend to play, it looks like another Co-op banger and is being described as Luigi’s Mansion x Escape Room. That sounds right up my alley and it’s another one for me and Jade. No date on this one though.

Mafia: The Old Country

Admittedly, when I found out that of the two rumoured settings – 70’s Vegas or 20’s Sicily – that they were going with the latter, I was a wee bit disappointed. Having seen the trailer, I am no longer disappointed and instead I am incredibly excited about it. The trailer shown here - The Inhiation - does a great job pof highlighting the drama we’ll see. That and it’s a linear adventure. Hallelujah.

Dispatch

Wow, they put the gameplay in a TellTale game! Facetious? Yes. True? Also yes. Mixing classic Telltale style choices and dialogue mixed with a more active participation in the gameplay - assigning heroes to relevant emergencies which is actually a really cool idea. It’s due out in 2025 so potentially not long to wait until we see more of how that gameplay will actually work. if nothing else it’s got a stellar cast of voice actors.

Okami Sequel

Merely a CGI trailer for a game that’s probably years out this point but I know that there’s thousands of Okami fans who have received the news like it’s winning the lottery. Okami is on my list but looks like I’ll have plenty of time to get around to it.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

The show’s big closing announcement was for the next Naughty Dog title – Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The title is word garble but I think that’s the point with the games 80’s futuristic theming. The focus on melee combat teased at the end of the trailer is interesting but I wager we’ll not hear from this project for a long while.

And that’s the list! Some good games there with a nice mix of this upcoming year and beyond. Check out the article on my most anticipated games of 2025, coming out in the last days of the year!