2023 was one of the biggest years in gaming history, and with so many colossal titles to choose from, your backlog surely reached its limit with tons of unplayed games. With 2024 in full swing, we cannot discount that this year has its fair share of hits and surefire bangers that many of us have been waiting to play for quite some time.

Apart from the obvious answer, which is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, there are still other titles coming up that we’re excited to play. In January alone, we’re getting Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and by April, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Just like in previous years, we will not be including titles that have no actual release dates yet, but for the ones we have available, it’s certainly looking glorious!

*I’ll use How Long to Beat to determine the approximate completion time.

10 Games to Remove From Your Backlog in 2024

Like A Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)

Time to Complete the Main Story: 10 hours
Time to Complete for Main Story+Extras: 20 hours
In Anticipation of: Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (January 26, 2024)

Recently released last November, this is probably a title you’ve recently added to your backlog. Clocking in at 10 hours, this is barely a quarter of the main story of some of the more involved mainline Yakuza stories. With Infinite Wealth around the corner, this is a good title to catch you up with the recent events!

The Last of Us Part I (2022)

Time to Complete the Main Story: 14 hours
Time to Complete for Main Story + Extras: 17 hours
In Anticipation of: The Last of Us Part II Remastered (January 19, 2024)

Need a refresher for The Last of Us before the remaster of The Last of Us Part II? Look no further with the Part I remake on the PS5! Pro-tip: play it in Hard Mode and it’ll really put you in the shoes of Joel and Ellie! Just like the previous game on this list, this backlog title will be quick to finish, clocking in under 20 hours!

Persona 3 Portable (2023)

Time to Complete the Main Story: 65 hours
Time to Complete for Main Story + Extras: 81 hours
In Anticipation of: Persona 3 Reload (February 2, 2024)

It’s cheating a little bit when we include a backlog game that’s almost the exact same game as an upcoming remake. The good news is that Persona 3 Reload will not include many of the extras found in Persona 3 Portable, so this is probably a good time to play as the female protagonist.

Gotham Knights (2022)

Time to Complete the Main Story: 17 hours
Time to Complete for Main Story + Extras: 28 hours
In Anticipation of: Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (February 2, 2024)

If you’ve been saving another quick game to beat during backlog season, this is a title to pursue while waiting for Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. While the gameplay of the two superhero-themed games will be a little different, it’s something to get warmed up as you go head-to-head with the evil version of the Justice League!

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (2021)

Time to Complete the Main Story+InterMISSION: 38 hours
Time to Complete for InterMISSION: 5 hours
In Anticipation of: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (February 29, 2024)

If there’s a game that you need to finish soon, it would be Final Fantasy VII Remake and its DLC. With one of the most anticipated titles of 2024 coming next month, do yourself a favor and get it out of the way to get yourself warmed up for the next chapter in the series!

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (2020)

Time to Complete the Main Story: 31 hours
Time to Complete for Completionist: 40 hours
In Anticipation of: Unicorn Overlord (March 9, 2023)

With Vanillaware releasing a new title that looks so good, it’s time to dust another title from the backlog and check out this unique visual novel real-time strategy title to get into the groove!

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen (2013)

Time to Complete the Main Story: 33 hours
Time to Complete for Main Story + Extras: 55 hours
In Anticipation of: Dragon’s Dogma 2 (March 22, 2024)

This is probably the most dated title on this list, but I dusted mine off recently, and it plays just as well as any new game that’s out today! Dragon’s Dogma 2 is almost out, and we can’t wait to get our hands on this latest instalment!

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (2022)

Time to Complete the Main Story: 12 hours
Time to Complete for Completionist: 20 hours
In Anticipation of: Eiyuden Chornicle: Hundred Heroes (April 23, 2024)

With Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes nearing release, you have until April to get the prologue to prep yourself up for this Suikoden spiritual successor!

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (2023)

Time to Complete the Main Story: 26 hours
Time to Complete for Main Story + Extras: 35 hours
In Anticipation of: Black Myth Wukong (August 20, 2024)

I don’t usually recommend playing a soulslike, nor getting that soulslike title off your backlog, but with Black Myth Wukong finally getting a release date, you might as well get one of the hardest titles of 2023 out of the way. You have until August; you have plenty of time. You got this!

Hollow Knight (2017)

Time to Complete the Main Story: 27 hours
Time to Complete for Main Story + Extras: 42 hours
In Anticipation of: Hollow Knight Silksong (It’ll launch in 2024, believe it!)

We did say that we were only including titles with release dates, but guess what? We lied! This is your yearly reminder to get Hollow Knight off your backlog because Silksong will be announced in 2024! I promise!

What other games in your backlog are you trying to clear out this new year? Let us know in the comments below!

*All upcoming game release dates are subject to change.