2024 is in full swing now that we’re heading to the latter part of Spring. After numerous big releases in the first quarter of this year, there are no signs of it slowing down heading into May.
Long awaited releases are set to happen this month and there’s even one entry making a major return to the scene after it’s beta ended last year. Get our full Niche Games release recap for May 2024 below:
Endless Ocean Luminous
Endless Ocean Luminous sees the returns of a popular franchise last seen on the Nintendo Wii. This new game expands upon the original with an even more vast ocean to explore with many more sea creatures to find, some of which thought to be extinct.
There is a newly added multiplayer feature as well, where players can dive alongside 29 other players to explore the underwater sea where they can share emotes and sightings online.
Endless Ocean Luminous launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on May 2nd.
Animal Well
Animal Well is a metroidvania and the first title to be published by Bigmode, a new gaming publisher founded by Youtuber Videogamedunkey. The game is a nonlinear adventure where players will have to numerous puzzles by using the environment around them.
In an age where guides are thrown up the day a game comes out, the developers have made some big claims that harken back to when we didn’t have easy online access with hopes that hidden puzzles will be found years down the road, rather than when the game comes out.
Animal Well releases on May 9th for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC (via Steam).
Little Kitty, Big City
Little Kitty, Big City continues on the popular trend of playing as a normal animal having a fun adventure. With reminders of Stray and Untitled Goose Game before it, this game will see players taking the role of a cat trying to get back home.
Of course, that’s not the only thing to do as there are quests to complete along the way, new friends to make, and fun all around as you explore the city through the eyes of a young cat.
Little Kitty, Big City will release on May 9th for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam).
Homeworld 3
The legendary sci-fi RTS franchise returns this month after 20 years with Homeworld 3. Advances of two decades for gaming brings the series to a fully realized 3D space while maintaining the hallmarks of its gameplay and story.
The latest entry continues on the story from the previous games whilst giving players deep strategical gameplay with fully simulated ballistics requiring close attention to factors such as line-of-sight. New to the franchise is also a roguelike mode to further challenge players.
Homeworld 3 will launch on May 13th for PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store).
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II continues the story of Senua after she survived the myths of the Viking Iceland. However there is no peace for her yet as she returns to find people trapped under oppressive tyranny.
This sequel pushes the cinematic limits of gaming as developer Ninja Theory take their lessons learned from its predecessor with stunning and gruesome detail.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is set to release for Xbox Series X|S and PC (via Steam) on May 21st.
Wuthering Waves
Wuthering Waves is finally coming as a brand new open world anime gacha game to take on giants like Genshin Impact. However it aims to have much more emphasis on combat with a roguelike endgame to challenge players’ skills.
As for the game’s main plot, humanity finds itself on the brink of destruction as a mysterious disaster has left most of humanity dead and the rest struggling to to survive. It’s up to the game’s protagonist, who has awoken from a long slumber to potentially be the one to save the world.
Wuthering Waves is set to launch for iOS, Android, and PC (via Epic Games Store) on May 22nd. The PlayStation versions are set for a later date.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a remaster of the game with the same name that marked it’s initial release two decades ago on the Gamecube. This remaster brings upgrades to the original’s visuals, soundtrack, and quality-of-life changes to gameplay.
Ultimately this is largely the same game that many call the best in the franchise. So players will still find some of their most endearing moments and zany character’s they’ve met all those years ago.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on May 23rd.
MultiVersus
After a largely successful beta test that concluded last year, MultiVersus marks its return and official release this month. While people liked the testing period at first, over time issues with the game did pop up that the developers took the time to listen in on as they worked on the final product.
While much of the core gameplay for this mascot fighter has remained, they’ve improved on many features such as the game’s camera during combat as well as revamped many of the cast’s combat abilities to make the game much more fun and fair for all. They’ve even upgraded from Unreal Engine 4 to 5.
MultiVersus makes it return to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store) on May 28th.
Nine Sols
Nine Sols is a hand-drawn metroidvania that takes inspiration from classics such as Hollow Knight and Sekiro. The Asian fantasy roots are apparent in the game’s artwork and setting as players follow the hero Yi in his quest to take down the nine Sols.
The game has what the developers have dubbed “Sekiro-lite combat” as players slash their way through foes with skillful deflecting and dodging as they navigate tough platforming sequences.
Nine Sols releases for PC (via Steam) on May 29th.
