3 Up, 3 Down – January 2024
January was a great start to the year! The three biggest releases all delivered on their promise. It was actually struggle to find games that scored low enough to be in The Bad section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from January 2024. We ended up adding one game that will have a review published in January, but won’t actually come out until February 1. Here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from January 2024:
The Good
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
***click here for our review***
I always tell people who want to get into the Like a Dragon games that they should play them in release order. Don’t start with Yakuza 0, like so many people suggest. A large reason for that is the gameplay evolves, and gets better with every game. The developers often add new major mechanics, without perfecting the old ones. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the first game in the series where everything just feels perfect. It’s a continuation of the turn-based JRPG battles found in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and the new Hawaii setting is the series’ best yet. Our reviewer concluded “With its touching yet hilarious story and intricate, deep combat system, we already have a game of the year contender”. Yakuza fans rejoice!
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
***click here for our review***
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a contender for Metroidvania with the best combat ever. There’s a smooth flow to all the main character’s moves that feels wonderful to control. The game’s also a fantastic reinvention of a classic IP, which makes it an easy contender for placement in The Good section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from January 2024. Our reviewer noted that “it’s a game for both newcomers and Metroidvania veterans”, which will hopefully widen the Prince of Persia and Metroidvania fan bases.
Tekken 8
***click here for our review***
Tekken 8 totally delivered! Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 nailed their current gen releases, and now Tekken has done the same. It’s the highest rated game on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from January 2024. Its combat is perfect, the roster is huge, and there’s a ton of content. The only real complaint is that Tekken 8’s continuing story makes it an odd single player entry point for new fans, but the cinematic story mode is a sight to behold! Our reviewer concluded that “Tekken 8’s focus on aggressive gameplay helps to make this the best entry in the franchise”. We can’t wait to see how this game develops with added content over the coming years.