The Best Games of 2024 (So Far)

Persona 3 Reload (February 2, 2024)

Persona 3 Reload is a remake of Atlus’ original 2006 Japanese RPG game, Persona 3. In all the ways that matter, Persona 3 Reload has perfected the long journey of the original with modern graphics and an improved combat system. The protagonist can now interact and create deeper bonds with characters inaccessible yet important in the original, making the game more meaningful, all the while maintaining the solidity of the original storyline. Persona games are also known for their thrilling soundtrack and Persona 3 Reload’s versions still hold a candle to their counterpart.

Persona 3 Reload (Play on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S)

Tekken 8 (January 25, 2024)

Another franchise with a long-standing player base and sky-high expectations, Tekken 8 combines the complexity and simplicity of their world and does the impossible. Known to be rather non-beginner-friendly, Tekken 8 creates a much friendlier approach to the franchise that can be enjoyed by older fans and the new generation. With an incredible narrative, rich with deep lore, the combat system is fairly intuitive but takes a while to integrate.

Tekken 8 (Play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows)

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (January 25, 2024)

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio brings back the ever-loved Kazuma Kiryu and teams him up with Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of the 2020 Yakuza game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon. As expected from any RGG game, players can expect hilarious side quests, a dramatic main story and fun mini-games, all wrapped up in this turn-based RPG. With Kiryu and Ichiban unravelling some secrets in Hawaii, older fans can expect to see familiar faces and locations.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Play on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S)

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (January 18, 2024)

After more than a decade, the Prince of Persia series is back with their latest game, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Despite initial hesitations and the disappointment of no The Sands of Time remake, The Lost Crown proved itself to be a solid addition to the series. The 2.5D side-scrolling action-adventure game utilises time to change the past and the rules. With an exciting world, filled with interactive puzzles and brilliant storytelling while exploring the environment, The Lost Crown is a great balance between Metroidvania and the nostalgia of earlier Prince of Persia games.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Play on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S)

Helldivers 2 (February 8, 2024)

The Sony Interactive Entertainment and Arrowhead Game Studios’ new third-person shooter game, Helldivers 2 is a smooth multiplayer game where the servers really work. With a rich combat system, including friendly fire, the game is a delight for any competitive player who craves a deserved victory.

Helldivers 2 (Play on PlayStation 5 and Windows)

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (February 29, 2024)

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth introduces the best version of beloved characters to their fan base. As the second game in Square Enix’s trilogy of Final Fantasy VII remakes, this version is an extended version of FF7, accumulating 30-80 hours of gameplay as Cloud Strife. During this, the player gets to bond with his friends and the journey to stop Sephiroth is action-filled and fruitful. However, players agree that it was too jam-packed with mini-games. Overall, it’s a heartwarming game with tons of memorial events.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Play on PlayStation 5)

MSI Vector GP76 Is it a game-changer or a deal-breaker!

Starting nearly above a couple of lakhs, the Vector GP76 hosts a massive 17.3-inch, 1080p display with a 360Hz refresh rate which is phenomenal. An Intel Core i7 CPU paired with a Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and 16GB of RAM.

It’s an enticing collection of specs at this price point, but that’s not nearly enough to land you with the best gaming laptop. While there are some serious caveats to consider before you pick one up.

Stealth looking!

If DC comics were to design this laptop, the MSI Vector GP76 would likely be the Batman. While the MSI GS76 earns that name with its “discreet yet stealth design,” that would be a fitting name for the Vector.

Blacked out and with a robust metal finish and from the prominently raised hinges to the angled vents on the back and sides of the laptop, it gives the otherwise minimalistic laptop an aggressive look. The matte black lid is only broken by MSI’s dragon logo, which is also in black, but it draws the eye thanks to its glossy finish. There’s no flashy exterior lighting to make the Vector scream that it is a gaming laptop, yet its bulky form, makes it look like it’s meant to do some serious stuff.

The Display everyone’s been talking about!

The MSI Vector GP76’s display definitely prioritizes speed over the resolution with its 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 screen delivering a blisteringly fast 360Hz of refresh rate that will overwhelm pro-gamers that favour fast-twitch FPS titles or racing games.

The colours are excellent with their brightness and HDR capabilities. The solid performance of the RTX 3070 Ti with its 150-watt TGP is also reflected in gaming. All games run at high FPS. Even at maximum settings and with a corresponding external monitor, 4K resolutions are flawless.

Can take a good beating!

Typing on the Vector GP76 is a pleasure with the RGB-backlit keys offering solid key travel and a springy response which is both comfortable and quick to type on. The tactile feedback is confidence-inspiring and fast typing is as buttery smooth as it can get. For gamers, the rigidity will make sure that the keyboard can take a good beating.

The keys are generally well-spaced, with the exception of the cursor keys on the right.

You have complete control over the per-key RGB lighting from the aforementioned Steelseries GG app and it allows sample light to get through the keys without excessive light bleed at the edges.

Is it a Gamers delight?

The specs make it clear, that the Vector GP76 is real gamers’ delight with its 360 Hz display and super-fast response times. In addition, the Core i7-12700H has double the power of the CPU in its predecessor and another highlight is the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti with a real power consumption of 150 watts.

The MSI Vector GP76 gives gamers a lot of what they want with outstanding performance, a great sturdy keyboard and an incredible 360Hz refresh rate display, but the painfully poor battery life and overall poor thermal performance make it dicey to recommend over some of its competition.

Now if you never, or rarely, use your laptop away from a charger and you do all of your gaming with a headset on, that changes the equation significantly. But acknowledging a few drawbacks, the rest of the package offered is solid and unquestionably delivers an excellent gaming experience.

Star Rating – 4

Good

Near class-leading performance and graphics with 360Hz refresh rate

Bad

Loud fans and excessive heat

Ugly

Weak battery life

Specs

MSI Vector GP76 12UGS-434 (GP76 Series)

Processor : Intel Core i7-12700H 14 x 1.7 – 4.7 GHz

Graphics adapter : NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU – 8192 MB, Core: 1585 MHz,

Memory: 1750 MHz, 150 W TDP ( including 15 W Dynamic Boost), GDDR6, Nvidia 512.15, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs

Memory: 16384 MB, Dual Channel DDR4-3200

Display : 17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, AUO B173HAN05.4, IPS, glossy: no, 360Hz

Mainboard: Intel Alder Lake-P PCH

Storage: Micron 2450 1TB MTFDKBA1T0TFK, 1024 GB , 867 GB free

Weight: 2.85 kg

Price: Rs. 2,23,000/- (Prices may vary online)

Hey gamers of India! Gaben is coming…

The Gaming Industry has a huge turnover in India, in tune with the rest of the world. With the pandemic hitting the world so hard, many releases had to be delayed. A huge audience awaits the release of movies, games and books throughout the year. However, there is nothing to be worried about, especially gaming enthusiasts. We’ve got you gamers covered. Here’s a list of the best upcoming games (at least the ones we think are super cool!) that you should look out for:

MARVEL’S AVENGERS

A dream every Marvel Fan has looked forward to coming true; The third-person action-adventure featuring all the Marvel superheroes where you get to step in the shows of your favorite hero. It can be played solo or cooperatively with up to 4 players online. The story starts with an A-Day celebration at the Avengers west coast headquarters. With an explosion due to the latest tarragon crystal reactor, the city of San Francisco is ruined and the avengers are boycotted; Only to be proved innocent by Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel). The super humans are aimed to be fighting against a conspiracy built by an organization, AIM. Play your favorite superhero, and save the world from the threat.

You can unlock powerful skills and gears and customize it according to your playstyle. The game releases on September 4, 2020.

KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM 2~

‘The next generation of space exploration’, Kerbal Space Program 2 is a simulation game and a sequel to the space flight simulation Kerbal Space Program from Private Division. With exciting new parts, colony building in space, interstellar travel, enhanced modding, and stunning visuals; this multiplayer game is all set to take off to space—Pun intended! The exact date is uncertain. Although, spacecraft from the game are known to launch sometime around Fall 2021.

WATCH DOGS: LEGION~

The sequel to Watch Dogs 2, Watch Dogs: Legion is a third-person action-adventure game set up in London. Unlike other versions, this one does not have a single protagonist. Instead, the game revolves around multiple characters recruited through a unique mission. After recruitment: they will be assigned either combat, stealth or hacking. With a unique set of skills, abilities and an entirely different background dictating the special trait, the players level up by completing various missions and activities. Ubisoft announced the game’s planned release on October 29, 2020.

STAR WARS: SQUADRON~

Set up in the universe of Star Wars, it is an upcoming space combat game with the storyline of ‘The Return of Jedi’. For all the star wars fans, this multiplayer game is playable in Virtual Reality using VR Headsets too! The story alternates between two customizable pilots who are flying for New Republic’s Vanguard Squadron and the Empire’s Titan Squadron and pits them against each other. As players move ahead in the game, they unlock exciting features such as gears, upgrades, shields, upgrades and various cosmetic items for the ships!

The game is said to be released on October 2nd, 2020.

FAST & FURIOUS: CROSSROADS~

The film franchise the game is based on has been my personal favorite. The hybrid racing and action role-playing video game is set up in different locations such as Barcelona, New Orleans, Morocco and Athens. Grab this chance of being a part of the ‘Fast saga’ and avoid the traps set up by the villains by using weapons and gadgets available throughout the game. The gameplay in the recent trailer shown is a combination between Ridge Racer and God Eater gameplays.

The game was supposed to be released in May 2020, but was delayed to 7 August 2020 due to the pandemic.

MAFIA: DEFINITIVE EDITION~

The remake of the 2002 video game Mafia, the game takes you back to the 1930s, in the fictional city of Lost Heaven that is hit by The Great Depression. The storyline follows the rise and fall of mobster Tommy Angelo within the Salieri crime family. With a new feature of motorcycles in the series, the game is built with an expanded story and new assets. See yourself changing from Thomas Angelo: The Hardworking taxi-driver to Thomas Angelo: The Mafia.

The game is set to release on August 28, 2020.

GROUNDED~

Imagine yourself as a lilliput in the world of Gulliver’s Travels~ That’s exactly how this game is going to be. A world where players are reduced to the size of ants and must struggle to survive in a backyard filled with dangers. It’s a survival game developed by Obsidian Entertainment. It can be played from a first-person as well as a third-person perspective. This game is not for people who cannot handle insects and bugs crawling up your sleeves. However, the game has an interesting accessibility feature for people with arachnophobia (severely scared of spiders!), allowing players to decide how scary the spiders can be in the game.

The game is set to release on July 28, 2020.

A TOTAL WAR SAGA: TROY~

The first in the award-winning strategy series to focus on the Bronze-age Mediterranean and the legendary twenty-year conflict between the kingdoms of Troy and Mycenaean Greece, known as the Trojan War. The game might obviously focus on the historical Trojan war with new-inspired features. Experience your events and realize your legend as one of the eight iconic heroes. Conquer and build your vast empire with exceptional strategies that your mind creates.

The game is set to release in the year 2021.

DEATH STRANDING~

The name sounds morbid, although it might just be a little more interesting! Few of you must’ve already been playing it by now since it was released on July 14th, 2020. Numerous commentators also noted that the elements of the game resembled that of the Covid-19 pandemic. An action game developed by Kojima Productions, which has players controlling Sam Porter Bridges, a courier tasked with delivering supplies to the fractured and isolated colonies that remain and reconnecting them via a wireless communications network. The player’s main enemies include creatures related to ‘beached things’.

Gaming in India: A virtual future?

Do you remember those clunky game consoles that were available in the markets and happened to be the dreams of every 90’s kid? People with such possessions and the ones who let you play with them turned out to be your favorite humans at those times. Remember Mario? If you’re a gamer, especially an ardent one, you’d know about the rising trends and the upgrades that tend to come along with them. If you wonder what the future of gaming is in India, this article is for you!

With almost 40% of India’s population actively using the internet, the gaming industry in India is yet to achieve another milestone alongside developing new versions of their game. Every day, versions upgrade and the hunger for a better interface just keeps growing. Whether you like it or not, the online gaming industry is growing along with the Jio Revolution, setting high standards for data utilization throughout the country.

According to a report released by Boutique Investment Bank, Maple Capital Advisors titled ‘Gaming — India Story’, the Indian Online Gaming Industry is expected to grow 41% annually, with market value set to value $3750 million by 2024. India is known as the largest market for app downloads worldwide. As per 2019, India is one of the top five mobile gaming markets in the world. Infact, the industry was estimated to be populated with 300 million gamers.

Easily available, affordable and a different way of connecting with friends during the lockdown, mobile gaming is not just a recreational activity anymore; it has turned into a profitable industry. Studies show that the number of mobile users constitute 85% of the total gaming industry, with PC/Laptop and tablet users standing at 11% & 4% respectively. According to reports by Newzoo, 32% of gamers in India are female.

PUBG Mobile is a sensation among mobile users, spreading globally like a wildfire. As of January 2020, India is known to have 116 million downloads which is 21% of the 555 million PUBG players worldwide. The operators holding tournaments for various games, especially PUBG, has increased by 7 times from 2016 to 2018. These operators hold various esports tournaments and avail it for the public through android devices, who can win cash on the platform. Emerging e-sports organizations in India such as competitive scrims & IGPL sports holding everyday mock-tournaments to War Mania, Villager esports & sportskeedaesports, providing gamers with sophisticated and competitive platforms. E-Sports is the new era, besides Social Media that the world is entering into today.

E-Sports were played as a demonstration sport at Asian Games 2018, where Tirth Mehta from Bhuj, Gujarat won a bronze medal & has been commonly called the first Indian e-sports for Hearthstone. That year, the total prize money was 5.63Cr; both tournaments & nationals combined. PUBG, singly constituted 18% of the total prize with CS:Go & Dota2 constituting 6%. In 2019, the prize money took a huge leap and increased to 180% with different cities (such as Delhi & Mumbai) holding international sports events & giving gamers a way to physically interact with each other rather than just muting one another digitally.

Alongside regular addiction to the game, the number of visits to online gaming websites or apps rose by 29% between February & March this year due to the pandemic; with also an increase in the engagement by 21%.

How many times have you yourself played ludo with your friends during the lockdown? Other games such as Teen patti, Rummy, Candy Crush Saga, Coin master and 8 ball pool which eventually turned out to be the most played games during the pandemic. It’s weird how our way of interacting with each other has changed. The chats have shifted from WhatsApp & Instagram to mere emojis & talking throughout the game.

Surprised? There is more to the industry. It has been estimated that approximately 40,000 employees will be working in the industry by 2022. It’s not just an evolution for your hobbies, but for the corporate world as well. Honestly speaking, with more gamers comes more challenges. However, PUBG was banned in many states across the country such as Gujarat declaring that the game was ‘too addictive and violent’—resulting in students’ arrest when they were caught playing.

To conclude, you can either ignore these trends & keep playing games for fun; or you can get better at them & start playing at national eventsーwho knows you win a prize incredible enough!