15 Best Linear Games of 2024 - Price Prediction

Throughout the 2010s, it seemed that every studio was creating open-world games in an attempt to replicate the success of Skyrim. However, advancements in technology have made it easier for studios to build massive game worlds, encouraging them to invest their resources into such projects. Despite gamers’ ongoing desire for engaging open worlds, there has been a growing interest in more refined and tailored gaming experiences. Linear games are becoming increasingly popular, with titles like Astro Bot and Black Myth Wukong captivating players this year. Here is a list of the top 15 linear games from 2024.

Arizona Sunshine Remake

Back in 2016, the game “Arizona Sunshine” stirred up some conversation due to certain elements being exclusive to Intel Core i7 CPUs. Fast forward to 2024, all that content including two significant DLCs and numerous updates can be played with a complete overhaul visually similar to “Arizona Sunshine 2”. The game primarily involves shooting zombies with your VR hands in its linear, narrated campaign. However, it’s the quirky environmental interactions that make it an iconic VR experience. What sets it apart is the three-player co-op mode, tripling the fun and chaos. If you own a VR set, “Arizona Sunshine Remake” is undoubtedly worth considering.

Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2

The multiplayer aspects of Space Marine 2 are incredibly enjoyable, but it’s the single-player campaign that truly showcases the game’s essence. The narrative picks up right where Space Marine 1 concluded, with Captain Titus leading his team against Tyranid hordes after sustaining a near-fatal wound. Spanning approximately 10 hours, the campaign of Space Marine 2 is an action-packed journey filled with breathtaking landscapes and intense combat sequences. Although it shares many aspects with a hack and slash game, Space Marine 2 places greater emphasis on strategic countering compared to its predecessor, introducing an element of finesse. Playing alongside a partner in the distinct co-op missions is a delight, but even the AI companions prove reliable with their constant healing and sturdy defense. Overall, Space Marine 2 evokes a nostalgic feeling with its fast-paced campaign design.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

As a die-hard fan, I must admit that reimagining a horror classic like Silent Hill 2 was no small task, but Bloober Team managed to accomplish it with incredible finesse. One major factor in their success lies in the expansive environments. The ominous corridors and eerie outdoor landscapes invite exploration, revealing a treasure trove of new items and collectables that can be examined from multiple angles. To help navigate these larger areas, the game employs a new over-the-shoulder camera perspective, which provides added context to the environments. The original Silent Hill 2 ran for approximately 12 hours, but the remake extends that playtime significantly thanks to all the additional exploration. Remarkably, the remake preserves the fast-paced intensity of the original, making it one of the scariest and most engaging linear games out there.

Black Myth Wukong

In the game known as Black Myth Wukong, the level design takes an unusual path, alternating between narrow corridors reminiscent of a linear structure and vast open spaces. Interestingly, there are no maps or navigational tools provided within the game to aid your exploration journey. However, despite this lack, we were captivated by the diversity of landscapes and breathtaking environments inspired by the classic tale of Journey To the West. What’s more, not only do some areas progress in a linear fashion, but also your weapons and armor upgrade automatically as you advance. Black Myth Wukong excels in its focus; it avoids wasting your time with unnecessary elements, instead concentrating on what truly makes it stand out.

Stellar Blade

If you’re accustomed to the level layouts in Nier Automata, Stellar Blade will seem familiar to you. One aspect where Stellar Blade enhances its level design is through intriguing collectibles hidden throughout its environments. You can find items ranging from soda cans to posters and treasure chests, with the collection earning you new costumes for Eve and her allies. The expansive yet linear structure of the environments strikes a balance that consistently makes you feel like you’re making progress while offering plenty of opportunities for exploration. Certain parts of the story require you to move directly from point A to B, with collectibles tucked away in hidden passages, while others are open areas designed for quests and free exploration. Stellar Blade does well in combining a sense of urgency with exploration through its wide-linear level design.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

In contrast to traditional linear level designs, Hellblade 2 adopts a unique approach by concentrating on intricate, individual settings. This allows the developers at Ninja Theory to lavish each meticulously crafted environment with exquisite detail and deliver it all with an unparalleled cinematic touch. It’s not an overstatement to say that visually, Hellblade 2 ranks among the most stunning games ever made. The blend of high-definition graphics with cinematic finesse helps etch the game’s Norse-inspired landscapes deeply into the minds of players. Despite its simple mechanics, Hellblade 2‘s deep psychological narrative and striking visuals serve as a powerful exclamation mark on its linear design.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership

In the Mario & Luigi series’ addition, Brothership, there is a predominantly conventional progression. The primary objective this time involves illuminating the four Great Lighthouses scattered across Concordia’s seas. To achieve this, the developers crafted exceptional dungeons for each of these lighthouses, placing them at the top of my Mario RPG dungeon rankings. Apart from navigating the Great Lighthouse challenges, Mario & Luigi also work on connecting the uniquely themed islands using their ship. The game artfully weaves its themes of connections throughout the narrative and humor, resulting in a compelling story that stands out despite its simple aesthetics.

The Plucky Squire

In a delightful blend of various game genres, The Plucky Squire unfolds as an engaging top-down adventure with a unique twist. The majority of your playtime is dedicated to sword-fighting and vanquishing adversaries, but what sets this game apart is the assortment of quirky mini-games, such as boxing matches reminiscent of Punch-Out, shootouts similar to Duck Hunt, strategic turn-based RPG segments, and brain-teasing puzzles that require you to reorganize sentences to acquire new items within the storybook universe. To top it off, there are instances where you can escape from the book and venture into the real world. The pop-up book design adds a charming touch, making The Plucky Squire one of the most memorable linearly structured games of the year.

Neva

Similar to how the studio’s last game, Gris, transcended being just a captivating platformer and became an emotional audio-visual masterpiece, Neva follows suit. It’s not just a game; it’s an artistic exploration that intertwines the journey of Alba and her wolf cub, Neva, as they navigate through changing seasons. The evolving bond between them is beautifully depicted through increasingly complex platforming obstacles.

What sets Neva apart from Gris is its focus on combat, revolving around combos, and its precision-based platforming sequences. This results in a linear adventure that’s both punchy and satisfying, filled with heart.

Akimbot

If you’re searching for a classic action/adventure game with an enjoyable, uncomplicated gameplay, Akimbot could be exactly what you need! Reminiscent of games like Ratchet and Clank, it offers various types of weapons to blast through adversaries in a sequential plotline. The action is consistently fast-paced, ensuring you’re always immersed in action-platforming entertainment. What makes it even better is that its gameplay doesn’t grow tiresome due to diverse activities and sequences interrupting the usual shoot ’em up scenes (like the bullet hell sections). Akimbot is one of those games that you can easily pick up and play without much planning or preparation, and I often find myself wanting to restart it months after finishing it.

Lego Horizon Adventures

Although derived from an open-world game like Horizon Zero Dawn, the Lego adaptation stands out as one of the most direct and linear Lego games thus far. The narrative follows the fundamental storyline of Horizon Zero Dawn through sequential mission stages, with brief returns to the hub area known as Mother’s Heart in between your adventures. While there are some smaller open areas and branching paths within the levels, exploration opportunities are relatively limited compared to the original game. However, the hub offers a satisfying degree of customization and personalization that makes it worth playing for both Horizon fans and Lego enthusiasts. Whether you’re enjoying this rendition solo or with two other friends, don’t miss out on experiencing this distinctive interpretation of the PlayStation IP.

Princess Peach Showtime

If you’re seeking an entertaining blend of assorted gameplay concepts and motifs, reminiscent of Nintendo’s style, Princess Peach Showtime is just the ticket. Each level boasts a distinct theme that significantly transforms the gameplay mechanics and visuals, not to mention Peach’s wardrobe. Ranging from lassoing bandits on horseback to dueling through hack-and-slash dungeons with swords, the imaginative stages provide incentives for repeat playthroughs. Similar to previous games by Good Feel, levels are jam-packed with collectibles and secrets, ensuring a satisfying replay experience.

Astro Bot

Unlike characters such as Princess Peach or Akimbot, Astro Bot adopts a more open-ended approach to some of its levels, drawing inspiration from games like Super Mario Galaxy. However, the majority of Astro Bot’s levels consist of linear challenges, which are incredibly enjoyable. The 3D platforming experience with Astro Bot is unparalleled, thanks to its advanced Dual Sense technology – it transcends a mere gimmick, serving as a key element of gameplay. Every action in the game is met with a distinct rumble from the controller. Each stage has been meticulously designed to optimize the PS5 and its controller, offering a distinctive console experience. Similarly, stages utilize Astro’s skills in inventive and imaginative ways, demonstrating that linearity can be a powerful asset in platforming games.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak

Giving a different spin to the original text: It’s understandable if the idea of diving into a JPRG series with so many connected games seems daunting to many. However, I strongly recommend giving Trails Through Daybreak a try. This game serves as the start of a new storyline featuring an entirely fresh cast of characters in a distinct province from the previous installments. Moreover, it’s an exceptional turn-based RPG that should not be missed. If you appreciate dialogue-rich RPG stories with a linear structure that allows for leisurely exploration of towns, Trails Through Daybreak might just become the unexpected gem that hooks you on the entire series.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

In a span of fifteen years, this is the first Indiana Jones game, and it marks MachineGames’ comeback after their string of successful Wolfenstein reboots. Previews suggest that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle emphasizes stealth, deviating from the gunplay typically associated with Indiana Jones. Instead, the gameplay leans more towards titles like Thief, where you frequently hide behind enemies to knock them out before locating the key to an otherwise inaccessible door down the hallway. The trailers give us confidence that MachineGames understands what makes Indiana Jones stories entertaining and appealing. We hope that the stealth mechanics and story can reach the heights that the franchise has missed in recent times when Indiana Jones and the Great Circle releases on December 9th.

2025-01-05 20:11