What's Next in 2024: 5 New Video Games That Will Shake Things Up

BEST OF 2023
In 2023, the most completed driving game was Forza Motorsport, which was released last October. It also won awards for "Innovation in Accessibility" and "Best Sports/Racing Game" at the 2023 Game Awards.

However, on Steam it has a "Mostly Negative" user score of 39%, which is abysmal for such a highly anticipated AAA game that was meant to put Gran Turismo 7 to shame. At least you can play it on Xbox and PC Game Pass at no additional cost if you decide to subscribe to the service.

After Forza, the most completed games from the driving genre were F-Zero 99, F1 23, LEGO 2K Drive, The Crew Motorfest, Disney Speedstorm, WHAT THE CAR?, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged, F1 Manager 2023, and MotoGP 23.

Now, let's see some of the best upcoming racing and space-related video games from 2024. Keep in mind, at the time of writing, the list is relatively short, with only a handful of titles officially announced on the horizon, but a bunch more will creep up over time.

Star Wars Outlaws

I couldn't start off this list without mentioning one of the most exciting games this year has to offer overall, Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws, which should be released in late 2024 on PC and current-gen consoles. Graphics-wise, it looks out of this world, pun intended.

It's being developed by Massive Entertainment, the team behind Tom Clancy's The Division 2 and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. The best part is that it's being made in Ubi's Snowdrop Engine, the same one used for their latest Avatar game.

On PC, with everything dialed up to 11, Frontiers of Pandora took my breath away more times than I could count. It didn't shake the foundations of the industry gameplay-wise, but oh boy, does it look pretty.

Outlaws is a story-driven open-world game where vehicles will play a significant role in the way you traverse or travel the world. More importantly, some of them will be fitted with laser cannons to shoot enemies in slow-motion, like in a futuristic Western.

The best part is that from the gameplay trailer, it looks like we'll also be able to jump aboard our spaceship and blast off into space. Maybe we'll even engage in dogfights.

Pacific Drive

Next on our most-anticipated list is Pacific Drive, developed by Ironwood Studios from Seattle. It's set to release in Q1 2024 on PS5, Steam, and Epic Games Store.

It's a "run-based" survival game set in a post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest. As you carry on your business behind the wheel of a station wagon inspired by the all-time GOAT, Chevy Suburban, you'll discover a world ripped from a Stephen King novel with Lovecraftian vibes sprinkled all over.

Your garage serves as a main base or HQ, where you will always return to and upgrade your only means of transportation. The gameplay is rinse and repeat, but in the best possible way, because just like in Dredge or Dave the Diver, you'll always find more parts to upgrade your car and gear. Each time you manage to do so, you'll get that itch and will want to do it even more.

"Just one more upgrade; it will take just 5 minutes," you will say, realizing that hours have passed. Pacific Drive looks extremely promising and if it's indeed anything like Dredge in terms of worldbuilding and atmosphere, then get ready for a knockout of a game.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown

Test Drive as a franchise has quite the legacy, spanning nearly four decades. More recently, the first Unlimited title came out way back in 2006 on Xbox 360, and Test Drive Unlimited 2 was released in 2011. Now, Solar Crown is set for sometime this year.

Developed by KT Racing, the team behind the WRC series, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is set in a 1:1 scale replica of Hong Kong Island. It tends to show off a life of luxury with incredible hypercars.

Solar Crown is the name of the competition you will take part in, and not just that. Apparently, the aim is for you to "live a unique lifestyle and social life never seen before in a video game!" While that sounds like mambo-jumbo PR talk aimed at people who never played a game in their lives, let's hope the focus isn't on the social aspect of things.

We have GTA Online for living the good life outside of driving cars. From a Test Drive Unlimited game, we just want to hop into luxurious cars and race the hours away.

Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game

From the creators of MudRunner and SnowRunner, two leading titles from their unique genre, now comes another adventure. Or should I say expedition... That's right, folks! A new Mudrunner game will be out on March 5, 2024.

So get your big tires ready because you'll be embarking on perilous journeys across impossible off-road terrains like arid deserts, rugged forests, deep rivers, steep mountains, or forgotten ruins, all waiting with hidden treasures.

The gameplay mechanics will have you using advanced technologies and high-tech tools to complete missions. Building and managing your base is also part of the job. But even more exciting is that you'll be equipping your vehicles with drones, scanners and other gizmos.

Apparently, the developers took the series' physics to a whole new level to make the off-roading adventure feel as treacherous as it would in real life.

Homeworld 3

Homeworld 3 is last on today's most wanted list because it's been long overdue. For those "not in the know," the RTS (real-time strategy) Homeworld series stretches out for eons and light years. More specifically, it hails from the glorious year of 1999, when it won GOTY.

Homeworld 2 came out in 2003, and since then, we've only seen a remastered collection in 2015, which was fine, but fans have been wanting more from the series.

The most exciting part about this RTS is that it takes place in space, so everything is in three dimensions or all directions. You're not stuck to the usual axes but are free to act however the situation might demand.

It has a Single Player Campaign, also playable in co-op mode with two other players, and of course, PvP or player versus player is also a feature in 1v1, free-for-all, or team battles. Homeworld 3 is scheduled to launch on March 8, 2024.

M.I.A.

While there are many more to come, this would be the cream of the crop. At least we saw trailers and have release dates for these top five. Meanwhile, we're eagerly awaiting other titles like Japanese Drift Master, Assetto Corsa 2, Wreckreation, Le Mans Ultimate, EA Sports F1 24, MotoGP 24, and possibly a new Need for Speed.

It will also be interesting to observe how already existing games will carry over into 2024, like The Crew Motorfest with Year 2, Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo 7 on PC hopefully, GTA Online, Rocket League, Rocket Racing, and Stormgate.

Oh, if you've never heard of Stormgate but are a StarCraft fan, I suggest taking a peak. Especially because it's being made by ex-Blizzard devs, and on top of it all, it will be free to play.