Bonus Action's Best Early Access Games of 2024

Sometimes games need some extra time, feedback, or funding to get across the finish line, and one of the most effective ways to do that made a quality product is early access. and in 2024, there has been some great early access releases.

Thanks to this, developers can continue to craft their games as players enjoy and provide feedback, and get to play a game a little sooner than they would. So with that said, we at BA would like to highlight some of the best early access games we have played in 2024.

Hades II – Amanda’s Pick
Fields of Mistria – Cande’s and Laura’s Pick

Hades II – Amanda’s Pick

Hades_2_Featured — Image via Supergiant Games

I used to think the repetitive, designed-to-fail nature of roguelites could never work for me. Then I saw that Hades II featured a witchy protagonist and Greek mythology references galore, and I couldn’t resist giving it a go. I was surprised by just how polished the game felt for Early Access, and by how much I loved getting a little bit better with each dungeon run. Even if I may never get Scylla and the Sirens’ song out of my head, this game will stick with me for all the right reasons.

Everything – the voice acting, the character designs, the monsters – feels so fleshed out for Early Access that it’s hard to believe the game will continue in EA throughout 2025. The game continues to get updates to refine the weapons, skills, and overall user experience, but mainly what we’re waiting on is a full conclusion to the story… and maybe a bit of romance.

Fields of Mistria – Cande’s and Laura’s Pick

Cande – There are only so many times you can go through the motions of tilling soil, planting seeds, and dutifully watering them—only to abandon the whole crop for fishing, mining, and bug-catching for 20 in-game days—before the farming sim formula feels worn out. It’s been done to death in the past few years, with most games offering little to no twists. And let me tell you, painstakingly breaking down every mechanic in these games for guides hasn’t exactly reignited my passion for them.

Just as I was ready to hang up my hoe for good, along came Fields of Mistria, the debut game from NPC Studio. Yes, their first-ever game, and somehow, they hit the nail on the head right out of the gate. I know I’ve muttered, “If I have to schmooze one more bunch of pixelated townsfolk, I’m done,” more times than I can count in our BA chats. But somehow, this game actually made me want to do it right away.

It’s wild to even call this an early-access game, given how much content it already offers. It’s everything a farming sim should be: charming, bug-free, and an absolute time vacuum. My days in Fields of Mistria are a race against the clock to wring every ounce of productivity out of daylight and moonlight alike. But come Friday night, you bet I’m tossing my tools to sprint over to the tavern for a cozy D&D session. I can’t get enough of this delightful little gem.

Laura – I have played many farming sims over the years, and I didn’t realize I’d become numb to the magic of the genre until Fields of Mistria. The game manages to capture all the joys of other titles, put a unique spin on them, and insert them in a polished and more enjoyable manner.

More than that, however, what truly makes Fields of Mistria shine is an attention to detail that just isn’t present in other games. Stardew Valley can be a bit bleak with its commentary on corporate life, Coral Island has stunning art but lacks a depth that would make the world interesting, but Fields of Mistria has taken the time to add little details to every element of the game – and it absolutely shows.

From characters with elaborate backstories to a narrative based on hope and perseverance, I cannot wait to spend more time in the world, restoring the town, and attending tabletop sessions that evolve with every evening I choose to lurk at the tavern.

It’s just wonderful, and I want to marry everyone and play it forever.