Hated 2024’s biggest bombs? Play these games instead

2024 has been a landmark year for gaming, and not in a good way. Pretty much every big budget AAA has been an abject failure, costing their studios and publishers millions in losses and leading to layoffs. We all know why this is, so there’s really no use in talking about it here. Why don’t we look at some newer and older classic alternatives you can play instead of this year’s biggest bombs.

Didn’t like Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

Try Tales of Arise

For 300 years the people of Dahna have been brutally oppressed by the technologically superior Renan race. One masked slave gets caught up with a rebel group, only to run afoul of a Renan woman who’s looking to shake up the system for her own reasons. She’s suffers from a curse which causes intense pain to anyone who touches her. Iron Mask meanwhile is incapable of feeling any pain at all. Armed with a blazing sword, the unlikely duo travel across the land, vanquishing its evil Lords to secure freedom for the Dhanan people.

The Tales series of action-RPGs have been around for some time. Combat here is real time third-person, with a focus on evading and countering, as well as using arts combos to get the upper hand on your foes. Arise is a mostly linear experience, as each Lord’s realm acts as a self contained chapter. If you’re familiar with the other Tales games, or other titles like Xenoblade, you’ll understand how this works. Aside fromt he main quests, there are also various sidequests you can pick up along the way to gain valuable items and currency.

There’s really a lot of great Tales games that could fit into this list. Symphonia, Graces F, Vesperia, Berseria. Most of which offer similar action-RPG gameplay. Arise though is the latest in the series, boasting some of its best visuals, along with a solid sound track and a reasonable challenge.

Tales of Arise currently retails for $40 on Steam. It’s also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and is Steam Deck verified. Some other recent games worth checking out in this genre are Ys X: Nordics, Visions of Mana, and Scarlett Nexus.

Didn’t like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows?

Try Assassin’s Creed II

One rule I have for this series is to pump up the alternative, not dunk on the bad game. That said, even before Assassin’s Creed: Shadows became riddled with controversy (and a desperate last minute delay to 2025), the franchise was already well on its decline, and has been for at least a decade at this point. What most gamers can agree on though is it really peaked with the Ezio trilogy.

Assassin’s Creed II takes you back to the height of Renaissance Italy. You play as Ezio Auditore, a wealthy young playboy who’s entire world is thrown upside down when his family are executed for a crime they didn’t commit. Ezio swears a vendetta against the rival clan who conspired to murder everyone he cared about, leading him to discover his father’s secret membership in the Assassin’s brotherhood. Don the legendary hood and hidden blades as you travel to across iconic locations, unravelling a dastardly plot that goes far beyond any ordinary family feud.

Gameplay takes the same stealth-action route that was admittedly lacklustre in the first Assassin’s Creed, and polishes it to perfection. Take out enemies quietly from hidden locations using your wrist blades, or engage in fluid combat using swords and other historic melee weapons. Parkour across buildings and enjoy climbing challenges in historic landmarks for bonus rewards. Recruit civilians to your cause and engage with prominent historical figures like the Medicis and even Leonardo DaVinci.

Assassin’s Creed II retails for about $15 USD on Steam. It’s also available on all modern platforms, including Switch, either on its own or part of the Ezio Collection, which includes Revelations and Brotherhood, two other games that are also worth checking out. Other AC games worth playing are the short but sweet AC III: Liberation, and swashbuckling pirate adventure AC IV: Black Flag.

Didn’t like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Try Batman: Arkham Asylum instead

This is a classic case of same studio, much better game. Play as the legendary Caped Crusader as he enters Gotham City’s notorious prison for mentally deranged criminals. The Joker has staged an elaborate coup inside the prison in order to trap Bats inside with all the crooks he’s put there, while threatening to destroy the city with a network of hidden bombs. Batman will have to use every ounce of his wits, gadgets, and stealth to survive this mad plot.

When it released back in 2009, Arkham set the gold standard for what a superhero and stealth-action game should be. Your goal here is not to simply brawl your way through the infamous Asylum, but strike from the shadows quickly and quietly. Being Batman, you have a whole tool kit of gadgets you can rely on, from grappling hooks to reach high places, Batarangs for stealthy takedowns from a distance, explosive foam that can help blow open new paths, and Detective Vision that lets you see your enemies before they see you. While brawling is certainly an option, with silky smooth combat, the game strongly encourages you to handle things the way the Dark Knight would, and not the campy 60s version (sadly there is no dancing).

Arkham Asylum currently retails for about $15 USD on Steam, or you can buy the whole Arkham trilogy for $60. The game is also available on all modern platforms including PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch.