Die by the Blade 

Currently in development at Triple Hill Interactive, Die by the Blade is a fighting game that operates on an interesting principle which is that a single hit is the difference between victory and defeat. The fighting mechanics are extremely realistic, and players will have to be mindful of each move during battle to ensure their chances of success. The character designs and visuals might not be too great, but Die by the Blade’s set of gameplay ideas is what helps it stand out from the rest of the crowd. It releases for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 16 May, 2024. 

Gladiators Manager

Gladiators Manager thrusts you into ancient Rome where you must take charge of a crumbling school of gladiators and build it up to be a prestigious institution for the best fighters of the nation. Developed by Ancient Games, Gladiators Manager is more of a management sim than a real-time fighter since you need to keep tabs on resources and consistently upgrade buildings to expand your school. There are fighting sequences as well, but those are of turn-based nature where you have to make good use of the gladiator’s skills to win in battle. It comes out for PC sometime in Q4 2024.

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys: Celes

Arc System Works is a master of creating nuanced fighting games with a compelling set of mechanics and a signature anime-esque art style, and its latest UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH 2 Sys: Celes is no different. With a vast roster of 24 distinct characters and mechanics that are easy to pick but difficult to master, UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH 2 is a game that should serve fighting fans well for dozens of hours. It’s available now on PC, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

First Cut: Samurai Duel

Clearly inspired by classics like Ninja Gaiden and Double Dragon, First Cut: Samurai Duel puts you on a warrior’s path where enemies lie in wait for a fight to the death. The fighting mechanics might look simple on the surface, but there’s a surprising amount of depth to the actual affair as you need to parry attacks and strike only when there’s an opening – and mastering that careful dance is the true essence of First Cut. It’s available now on PC.

Bam Boom Blade

Bam Boom Blade is all about dueling against opponents whilst riding on top of a meter-long bamboo, and it’s just as weird as it sounds. Developed by Blaer Zhang, Bam Boom Blade is a physics-based fighter where you have to smartly take control of the bamboo and use that momentum to slash away at your opponent for a shot at victory. It is now available for PC.

Orbitals 

Orbitals describes itself as a bullet-brawling game, and there’s perhaps no more fitting description for this kind of gameplay. Players have to duke it out against one another in closed arenas and shoot each other off by using a wide variety of weapons ranging from laser beams to shotguns and much more. It looks like a really fun experience and there’s plenty of potential in this formula, so we are definitely excited to experience Orbitals in full when it releases for PC sometime in the near future.

Rivals 2

Rivals 2 is a platform fighter where players have the singular objective of fighting their opponent and pushing them out of the arena. Much like the original game, Rivals 2 features a bunch of elemental fighters that both look and play differently – and players can spend dozens of hours mastering each character and their playstyles. It comes out for PC sometime this year.

Blazing Worldstars

Speaking of throwbacks to the glory days of fighting games, we have Blazing Worldstars from developer Bloodrune Entertainment. The game makes a strong first impression with its retro aesthetics, but Blazing Worldstars also features gameplay elements of its inspirations like Street Fighter 5’s parry system while also introducing its own mechanics like the Enhance system that should make it a game worth sinking your teeth into. It comes out for PC sometime in the near future.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

Developer SNK of The King of Fighters game is hard at work on Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, which is set to take the series to new heights. Due to release sometime in 2025, City of the Wolves will feature updated visuals that are inspired by Marvel Comics and improved gameplay that also includes easy control options – which should make the fighting experience a lot more polished and inclusive than ever before.

Umbral Core

Umbral Core takes place in a dark fantasy world brimming with fierce warriors capable of using dark magic to completely and utterly decimate opposing forces. As one of eight such warriors, you get to take part in fierce fights to the death where you must utilize your moves and skills judiciously to trickle down the opponent’s health bar and eventually win fights. The developer also promises convenient online play with rollback netcode, so Umbral Core might be a game that’s worth looking into when it comes out sometime in the near future.

Shattered 

Team 18k’s upcoming Shattered is a glorious tribute to the fighting games of the 90s. The game presents itself in a gorgeous 16-bit aesthetic with impressive sprite work and smoothed-out animations, and it also adds a few new touches to the gameplay loop while remaining faithful to its inspirations. The character roster is both visually and functionally different, which makes Shattered feel like the perfect nostalgia trip complete with rose-tinted glasses. It comes out for PC sometime in the near future.

WWE 2K24

The WWE 2K series has been pumping out great games for the last couple of years, and WWE 2K24 is a game that definitely belongs to the upper echelon of entries in the franchise. With its solid wrestling mechanics and a bevy of different game modes, WWE 2K24 is a game that will keep fans of the entertainment sport occupied for dozens upon dozens of hours. Whether you are taking part in a Royal Rumble or building a business through the MyGM mode or duking it out against friends in co-op, WWE 2K24 wouldn’t disappoint you. It’s available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.

Project: The Outcast 

Based on the popular Donghua Hitori No Shita, Project: The Outcast is a game that manages to translate the best parts of the series into a mobile game. Project: The Outcast combines bone-chilling horror with fighting sequences that are simply spectacular. The animation work here is especially noteworthy, and the game looks extremely gorgeous with its art style. It will be released for mobile platforms at some point in the near future.

Coreupt 

Set against the backdrop of a dystopian future, Coreupt is a fighting game that tasks players to take part in deadly duels against the most fierce warriors of the galaxy in an effort to save the universe from the clutches of a dark warlord. The Mortal Kombat and Tekken influences are pretty clear here, but Coreupt does manage to impress with its assortment of moves and smooth animations. It comes out for PC sometime this year.

Tekken 8

The latest entry in the long-running fighting franchise, Tekken 8 takes the fight to the next level with its innovations and refinements over past franchises. The new Heat system promotes aggressive play, and the Arcade Quest lets you embark on a grand fighting adventure with your own custom character. The visual presentation is a massive step up from what we saw in Tekken 7, and that combined with the aforementioned gameplay enhancements makes Tekken 8 a worthy entry that is unmissable for fighting games fans. Tekken 8 is available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Shattered Horizon takes place 40 years in the future. A mining accident on the moon nearly destroys it sending tons of rock into earth’s orbit that becomes known as the Arc. Survivors of the accident as well as members of the International Space Station are trapped in the Arc and must fight surviving miners for survival as the miners attempt to take what they can from the wreckage. This interesting back-story is wasted by the fact that there is no single player and therefore, no way to experience it in a plot driven fashion. It is used simply to set up the multiplayer factions.

Just one of the excellently built multiplayer maps available.

Luckily the multiplayer is very good and once you jump in you’ll be too concerned with playing that to worry about a single player campaign. The game runs entirely on dedicated servers, all of which were lag free. Once you select your faction (the only difference between factions is color) you begin play. There are four maps in total with more to come through free downloadable content. The four maps are all very well designed to embrace the gameplay and look great and accommodate up to 32 players. Maps range from the Arc itself to the remains of the International Space Station, to mining facilities on chunks of the moon. Across these maps you can play one of three modes.

• Battle: Classic Conquest mode. Your team tries to capture points while preventing the other team from taking them back. The first team to control all three points wins.

• Assault: Classic Attack & Defend. One team tries to defend three points while the other team tries to take them over. Once the attacking team takes a point, the defending team cannot take it back.

• Skirmish: Classic Team Deathmatch. Teams compete for the most kills, the team with the most kills at the end of the game wins.

While all of these modes are familiar, Shattered Horizon’s gameplay makes them feel new again. All of the environments are entirely Zero-G. That’s right, no gravity. At first it may feel wired to have no solid ground under your feet, but after a game or two you’ll be accustomed to the games easy controls. It controls like most FPS games, however instead of jumping, space allows you to float higher while in stead of crouch, shift allows you to float lower and even land on surfaces. The ability to land on surfaces is especially useful when you want to set up ambushes around a control point. Matches are tons of fun and the gameplay serves to keep the game feeling different from all of the other FPS games out there and will keep people coming back for the unique experience.

Shattered Horizon looks fantastic.

The games only true flaw is the requirements. There is no DirectX 9 compatibility and therefore Windows XP. You’ll need a DX10 compatible card as well as either Windows Vista or Windows 7. The exchange is worth it as Shattered Horizon looks amazing. The lighting is fantastic and textures are spot on. It adds to the immersion of the experience bringing you that much closer to truly fighting in space. Just trust me when I say you’ll want to meet the suggested requirements. A card that meets the minimum will let you play the game, but it won’t guarantee a good experience. Lower end cards will be met with a lower frame-rate, which for obvious reasons is no good for First Person Shooters, and on a lesser note won’t be able to enjoy all of the graphical detail. If you must run it on an older card, do yourself a favor and make sure it’s one the developers recommend. Trust them; they know what they are talking about.

Shattered Horizon succeeds at bringing new life to a genre flooded with the same old shooters. It’s unique gameplay and amazing visuals make for an experience that will most definitely keep players coming back for more. At the price point of $20, many will see it as a steal and will be hard pressed to find a game of better quality and value. Everyone else, either unable or unwilling to upgrade their hardware, will be force to watch from the sideline.

This game was reviewed on the PC.