New PS5 and Xbox game could be surprise saviour of 2024 as Funko Fusion releases this week

After the highs of 2023, this year feels like a bit of a letdown when it comes to new video games. From the doom and gloom of studio closures and layoffs, to disappointing high-profile releases like Star Wars Outlaws, Concord and Suicide Squad, it's easy to forget that this time last year we'd already been treated to the likes of Baldur's Gate 3, Tears of the Kingdom, Street Fighter 6 and Resident Evil 4 Remake. Even more remarkable is that Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 were all still to come! With 2024 in need of a saviour and something to lighten the mood, development studio 10:10 might have just the thing, with Funko Fusion making its debut on September 13 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. (Nintendo Switch and PS4 versions will follow in November.)

Perhaps unsurprisingly given developer 10:10 Games is made up of former Traveller's Tales leads, but Funko Fusion feels a bit like a spiritual successor to LEGO Dimensions, featuring more than 60 different characters from over 20 film, television and video game franchises.

This includes blockbuster IPs like Jurassic World and Back to the Future, as well as cult classics and childhood favourites like Knight Rider, Scott Pilgrim and Masters of the Universe.

With more easter eggs than an obese toddler with divorced parents, not a moment goes by without spotting some kind of pop culture reference, whether it's unlocking a character from one of your favourite TV shows, or stepping into an iconic location from the silver screen.

One minute you'll be investigating a crime scene as Sergeant Angel from Hot Fuzz, before suddenly finding yourself on Amity Island tracking down Jaws, only to end up battering zombies in Shaun of the Dead.

In the Hot Fuzz level, players will use a special camera to examine crime scenes and discover clues leading to the next location. Following the plot of the movie, players can also expect an epic shootout in the local supermarket, not to mention a face-off with a superior in the Model Village.

From what we've seen so far, Jurassic World also leans into the third-person shooter genre, as players pick off baby pterodactyls and fight giant dinosaurs in various scenes from the movie.

I'm interested to see if other franchises like Five Nights At Freddy's, Mega Man and Battlestar Galactica adopt a completely different approach, or if third-person shooting and melee combat is shoehorned into everything. 

Either way, it's the sort of game that demands thorough exploration, just to see what you'll discover next.

One thing that has surprised me is that Funko Fusion isn't actually aimed at kids, despite the colourful aesthetic and breezy gameplay mechanics.

Due to a partnership with Universal Pictures, the game features a surprising number of horror franchises like Child's Play, The Thing and M3GAN.

I'm hoping this will actually work in its benefit, and that Funko Fusion will pack a far greater punch and provide more satisfaction than the old LEGO games, which were entertaining, but a bit too on the easy side.

We'll find out for sure when Funko Fusion launches for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 13. And remember, if it's not as fun as it looks, at least we have Astro Bot to fall back on.