What’s new in May 2024: 7 games that you need to play this month

On paper, May 2024 may look like a weak month for games. The biggest release of the month is Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, a big Xbox exclusive and follow-up to a 2018 horror action game about a woman suffering from psychosis. But if you enjoy experimental indies, this month may just bring your favorite game of 2024 when all is said and done. Developer Team Ninja is being backed up on the indie front, as INDIKA, Animal Well, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and Crow Country are all delivering spooky experiences five months ahead of Halloween.

Of course, those who aren’t fans of horror games also have things to look forward to this month, like the return of a GameCube classic and Warner Bros. crossover fighting game. As we head into May 2024, these are the games that you should be keeping on your radar, listed in chronological order.

INDIKA (May 2)

Recommended if you like: Alone in the Dark

• What’s new in March 2024: 7 upcoming games that you should check out

We’re just one day away from the release of Odd Meter and 11 bit Studios’ INDIKA, and I’m still not entirely sure what it is. This horror game has had some of the trippiest video game trailers I’ve ever watched. They’ve all teased an unsettling adventure about a nun who can seemingly speak with the devil and who descends further into madness as she goes on a journey outside the monastery she calls home. While it probably won’t address mental health problems as adeptly as Hellblade 2, I can’t wait to see what exactly this weird game entails.

INDIKA launches for PC on May 2 and will come to PS5 and Xbox Series X sometime later this month.

Animal Well (May 9)

Recommended if you like: Fez

Animal Well left a strong impression on me when I played it at Summer Game Fest Play Days 2022. It’s a puzzle and exploration-driven Metroidvania with an eerie labyrinthine backdrop realized through gorgeous pixel art. Although it looks fairly straightforward to play, its developer has teased that there are well-hidden secrets that