During the 2010s, pen-and-paper-to-video game adaptations proliferated, with numerous studios racing to capitalize on the genre’s popularity with an almost frenzied enthusiasm. Advancements in technology have significantly streamlined the process of crafting vast sport worlds, empowering studios to dedicate more resources and expertise to these endeavors. As enthusiasts of gaming continue to crave rich, expansive worlds to explore, there is an increasing appetite for more focused, expertly crafted experiences that deliver on their promises. Linear video games have been experiencing a resurgence in popularity, with platformers such as Shovel Knight and motion games like Astro’s Playroom captivating the hearts and wallets of avid gamers alike this year. Here are the 15 finest linear video games of 2024:
Arizona Sunshine Remake
The 2016 update sparked controversy over some exclusive content being inaccessible to users with processors other than Intel Core i7. By the end of 2024, players will have access to the entire collection of content, including two substantial downloadable content packs (DLCs) and numerous updates, as part of a comprehensive remake that brings the game’s visuals up to modern standards. As you navigate through the linear narrative-driven campaign with your two VR controllers, you’re surrounded by pictures of zombies, offering an immersive VR experience. The campaign is complemented by quirky environmental interactions that elevate the overall experience. Moreover, the game’s three-player co-op mode allows for triple the fun and shenanigans. If you own a VR headset, buying a VR controller is a no-brainer.
Warhammer 40K House Marine 2
While the multiplayer aspect is excellent and entertaining, it’s the single-player campaign that truly reveals the game’s core essence and substance. As the narrative resumes where it previously concluded, Captain Titus reprises his role as commander of his squad, now determined to lead the charge against the relentless Tyranid hordes despite having sustained a life-threatening injury. With a runtime of approximately 10 hours, the marketing campaign for ‘s new release promises to be an unforgettable experience, bursting at the seams with breathtaking landscapes and heart-pumping combat sequences that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats? While this game still permits a hack-and-slash approach, it places a stronger emphasis on precise counterattacks compared to previous iterations, accompanied by enhanced combos that showcase improved skill. While partnering with an ally on separate co-op missions can be a winning proposition, the AI companions’ consistent healing and robust shielding abilities make them more than just decent partners in crime. Suddenly, a burst of energy from the past manifests itself through a high-intensity marketing drive that is as swift as it is dense.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Redoing a horror classic like isn’t an effortless task, yet Bloober somehow managed to replicate the original’s chilling essence with impressive results. One crucial factor behind that achievement is the broadened range of settings and circumstances. The atmospheric hallways and misty outdoor areas invite extensive exploration, leading players to numerous recent gadgets and collectibles that can be accessed from various angles. With the innovative over-the-shoulder digital camera perspective, effortlessly explore vast territories, gaining a deeper understanding of your surroundings through enhanced contextual information. The revamped game clocked in around 24 hours, comfortably doubling its predecessor’s playtime thanks to the abundance of newly introduced exploration opportunities. Despite its differences, the remake sustains a relentless tempo akin to the original, rendering it an outstandingly terrifying and intense addition to this list of linear video games.
Black Delusion Wukong
Employing an unconventional approach to level design, the game oscillates between linear, corridor-driven sequences and expansive, freely explorable environments. What’s truly perplexing is the absence of a comprehensive map or reliable navigational tools to guide your journey through the game. While we may have been unable to intervene, we were nonetheless astounded by the sheer diversity of biomes and breathtaking environmental wonders in the -inspired narrative. While it’s true that some environments unfold in a linear fashion, what’s equally noteworthy is the steady enhancement of your arsenal and defensive equipment as you make progress. As a masterclass in focus, it streamlines its content, avoiding unnecessary tangents that could inflate the participant’s time with irrelevant information, instead concentrating on the essential elements that truly make it exceptional.
Stellar Blade
If you’re familiar with how we handle degree design, you’ll immediately feel right at home here. The game stands out in its degree design by incorporating a variety of collectibles that are expertly woven into its diverse environments, adding an extra layer of depth and engagement to the overall experience. With a keen eye for detail, you’ve collected everything from soda cans to posters, as well as containers of treasure, which unlocks new costume options for Eve and her companions to don. As players navigate the expansive, linear environments, they consistently hit a sweet spot that fosters a sense of progression and accomplishment, punctuated by ample opportunities for discovery and exploration along the way. While some elements of the story unfold along a linear path, where players must navigate through carefully crafted levels to reach their destination, collecting hidden secrets and surprises along the way, other areas invite exploration and discovery, featuring vast open spaces ripe for questing and uncovering the mysteries that lie within. effectively blends a sense of urgency with exploratory elements through its innovative linear-degree design.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
requires a unique approach to create a linear design. Through intense focus on specific locations, Ninja Concept executed an unparalleled level of meticulous attention to detail in crafting each setting, ultimately delivering a cinematic experience that rivaled the big screen. Is breathtakingly stunning, boasting some of the most visually impressive depictions in gaming history to date. By blending rugged graphical consistency with cinematic flair, the game’s Norse-inspired environments effectively etch themselves into the player’s memory. Although its gameplay may seem straightforward across various aspects, the title’s rich psychological narrative and stunning visual display elevate its linear design to a thrilling experience.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership
Regardless of introducing a crusing ship into the Mario & Luigi sequence, nonetheless follows a kind of conventional essential path. The brothers’ ultimate goal is to illuminate the four iconic lighthouses across Concordia’s vast oceanic territories. The construction team meticulously crafted each of the four Nice Lighthouse dungeons to perfection, earning them a coveted position at the very top of my Mario RPG dungeon rankings. Once they’re not puzzling their means via the Nice Lighthouse dungeons, Mario & Luigi are busy linking collectively the distinctly themed islands with the ship. The book masterfully weaves together its exploration of relationships through its engaging narrative and witty prose, crafting a seamless tale that leaves a lasting impression despite its initial appearance.
The Plucky Squire
Melds diverse genres into the foundation of a top-down journeying game. While battling enemies with swords consumes most of your time, you’ll also find yourself immersed in an eclectic mix of mini-games – from sequence puzzles to fast-paced shootouts and even turns-based RPG encounters – all blending together in a thrillingly unpredictable experience. Following this is the puzzle segment, where you’re tasked with reconfiguring sentence fragments to unlock fresh perspectives and gain insight into the world within your digital book. You’ll also have opportunities to venture out of the ebook and into ‘the actual world’ on several occasions. The pop-up ebook aesthetic neatly wraps up the overall presentation, elevating some of the year’s most endearing linear video games to new heights.
Neva
Like its predecessors at the studio, Neva transcends mere platforming gameplay to deliver an emotionally resonant and visually stunning audiovisual masterpiece. As Alba’s bond with her wolf pup Neva deepens throughout their shared journey, the changing seasons serve as a catalyst for more complex and demanding platforming challenges to emerge. While Neva sets itself apart from others by focusing on combo-based combat and precise platforming, it truly shines through its well-paced, action-packed linear progression that beats strongly with emotional resonance.
Akimbot
Seeking a timeless experience in a retro-style journey? With inspiration as its catalyst, the game offers a diverse range of firearms for players to wield against enemies, set within the context of a straightforward linear storyline. With a seamless flow of action and platforming excitement, the motion unfolds in a captivating succession. What sets this game apart is its expertly paced gameplay, which cleverly disrupts the monotony of standard run-and-gun mechanics through a diverse array of action-packed sequences and phases. This game is probably one of those titles that allows for effortless pick-up-and-play sessions without requiring a significant time investment upfront, yet I often find myself craving another playthrough months after completing it.
Lego Horizon Adventures
Despite its open-world setting, the Lego-ified version of this game stands out as one of the most linear and accessible Lego video games to date? You progress through the game’s primary narrative by completing linear, mission-based levels, periodically returning to the Mom’s Heart hub area between excursions? While there’s limited in-depth exploration beyond initial open areas and meandering paths within the ranges, the central hub offers a satisfying experience through extensive customization and personalization options. Whether you’re a fan of Legos or an aficionado, you’ll be compelled to indulge in this unique interpretation of the PlayStation franchise, either solo or with up to two friends.
Princess Peach Showtime
Seeking a delightful blend of diverse gameplay mechanics and themes characteristic of Nintendo’s signature style? Look no further. Each level boasts a distinct theme that dramatically shifts gameplay and visual identity, with Peach’s attire serving as a notable byproduct of this transformation. With its innovative gameplay mechanics, the game seamlessly transitions from lassoing outlaws on horseback to intense swordfights in treacherous hack-and-slash dungeons, providing ample reasons to revisit and relive these thrilling experiences. Like classic good-value video games, each phase is packed to the brim with hidden collectibles and secret areas, ensuring a high level of replayability.
Astro Bot
Unlike some, Not takes an additional opening method for a few of its operands, drawing inspiration from something like. Despite this, the ranges typically consist of straightforward, linear obstacles, which are surprisingly enjoyable. 3D platforming has never felt more elevated than with ‘s pioneering use of Twin Sense technology, elevating the experience from novelty to integral part of the game’s DNA. As players execute each move in the game, the controller emits a distinctive vibration and rumble, immersing them further in the sports experience. Every stage is meticulously crafted with the PS5 and its controller in mind, delivering an unparalleled level of console exclusivity. Phases masterfully leverages Astro’s creativity and ingenuity, showcasing the limitless potential of linear design in platformer gameplay.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Dawn
While navigating the labyrinthine world of JRPGs can be daunting for some, it’s undeniable that a well-crafted narrative spanning multiple games can captivate audiences worldwide? You owe it to yourself to bask in the warmth of a sunny day. The story introduces a fresh narrative thread by establishing a novel cast of characters within a specific region that was previously explored in earlier video games, thereby presenting a distinct and intriguing setting for this latest installment. This turn-based RPG excels in its phenomenal gameplay from start to finish. For fans of dialogue-driven RPGs with a predictable narrative structure that allows for self-paced exploration of its immersive cities, this surprise hit may just capture their attention and draw them into the larger series.
Is Indiana’s journey really about nice circles?
Is it not the first major Indy title in over 15 years, marking a comeback for MachineGames following their successful reboot series? As some previewers have noted, options seem to offer a considerable amount of stealth. While its core gameplay initially suggests a focus on revolver-based action, it actually deviates significantly from expectations, instead offering a more expertise-driven experience reminiscent of previous games in the series. While you’re often content to lurk in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and take out an enemy before even bothering to investigate the mysterious door at the end of the hall. The trailers have allayed our concerns, demonstrating MachineGames’ understanding of what makes engaging stories truly captivating and endearing. Will hopefully stealth mechanics and storytelling elements successfully elevate the franchise’s current standards when it launches on December 9.th.
