From Hades 2 to Palworld, the best early access games of 2024 are already great to play
Dec. 10, 2024Year in Review | Here’s the must-play early access games of the year that are well worth celebrating
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5. The Rogue Prince of Persia
Developer:Evil EmpirePlatform:PC
You’ll already know this is a good year for fans of the Prince of Persia series if you’ve checked out our full games of the year list. Where Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown keeps you coming back by slowly opening up a metroidvania map, however, The Rogue Prince of Persia pulls you in again and again with roguelike elements (clue’s in the name). From the developer that gifted the world Dead Cells, it’s a story about the Prince trying to repel an invasion of his homeland. Death is not a problem, as every time he fails, time is reversed and he can give it another go. Movement and combat are as acrobatic as you’d hope (there’s even wallrunning!), while unlockable weapons and buffs keep runs fresh. We look forward to seeing this tale completed.
Learn more in ourThe Rogue Prince of Persia review, where we noted that it has “a strong foundation to be built on”
Developer:Funday GamesPlatform:PC
How do you capitalize on the popularity of your co-op FPS? With a single-player, top-down survival shooter, apparently. It’s an unusual next step, but one that we’re glad was taken for Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor. It’s tempting to say that it’sVampire Survivorswith dwarves – and it kind of is – but there’s more to it than that. Mining and resource collection is still part of the loop, for example, important considerations if you want to unlock those all-important upgrades. Also, while weapons fire automatically as is typical for the “survivor” genre, here they need reloading – which, just like firing, happens automatically. Keeping an eye on your magazines therefore is crucial. Four distinct classes, short runs, and plenty of potential for varying our build keep us coming back, and we’re itching to see what comes next.
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Developer:Slavic MagicPlatform:PC
This list would not be complete withoutManor Lords. Early access it may be, but the depth, breadth, and quality of content already available is truly impressive. This medieval city builder allows a refreshing level of freedom in where and how you build, and once you have a settlement going, you can do more than simply look down upon it like a bored god while you wait for numbers to go up. You can wander your creation at ground level as a visiting noble, but don’t spend too long admiring your handiwork. There are jobs to assign, nearby lords and bandits to negotiate with and/or fight, and seasonal resources that need to be harvested on the clock. Pre-built scenario or customised setup, Manor Lords offers a deep and rewarding experience.
Learn more in ourManor Lords review, where we said it’s “brimming with the potential to exceed its already broad horizons”
Developer:PocketpairPlatforms:PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Palworldhas already seen phenomenal success and alawsuit from Nintendo; and on both counts, it’s easy to see why (don’t hold your breath for a Nintendo Switch version). It’s very much its own spectacularly popular game, but the brightly coloured, cutesy creatures you encounter are at least vaguely reminiscent of… something else. Anyway, unlike That Game, Palworld is a survival game set in an open world, with crafting elements. It’s actually more likeArk: Survival Evolvedin terms of what you (don’t) start out with and how long it takes to get to the best stuff. Once the game is dancing to your tune though, you’ll have a range of guns and monsters under your command that make the world your oyster. It’s an odd one, but despite its clear influences manages tofeellike little else. Gotta acquire each available one!
Learn more inPalword review, where we called it a “strange and obliviously cruel game that nonetheless shows effort and some real thought running through its core design”
Developer:Supergiant GamesPlatform:PC
Come on. You and I both know that it was always going to beHades 2at the number one spot here. Just like the first game, it’s starting in early access – and just like the first game, pretty much everybody fell in love with it immediately (you donotwant to see our playtime hour count here – ouch!). Zagreus has been replaced by his sister Melinoë, but the experience is like slipping into a wonderfully designed pair of familiar gaming slippers. Movement and combat don’t stray too far from the winning formula of the first game, nor does the fundamental idea of gameplay-twisting boons from the gods. It’s no lazy retread though. New skills and abilities allow for tactics Zagreus never had access to, mostly revolving around charging up attacks to alter their properties, and the storytelling is even more ambitious than before. Hades 2’s escape from early access can’t come soon enough.
Learn more in ourHades 2 review, where we called it an “astounding early access success”
There’s a lot of great ones in this list already, but if you want to check out thebest roguelike gamesthat are fully released then check out our list!
Luke contributed regularly to PLAY Magazine as well as PC Gamer, SFX, The Guardian, and Eurogamer. His crowning achievement? Writing many, many words for the last 18 issues of GamesMaster, something he’ll eagerly tell anybody who’ll listen (and anybody who won’t). While happy to try his hand at anything, he’s particularly fond of FPS games, strong narratives, and anything with a good sense of humour. He is also in a competition with his eldest child to see who can be the most enthusiastic fan of the Life is Strange series.
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