We’re about to attract the shroud over 2024 — a sophisticated 12 months that gave us glorious video games however which I absolutely count on to be remembered as “troubled” by the business at massive. We’ve had over 14,000 layoffs, a withering marketplace for three growing older consoles, ballooning subscription prices and the (partial) collapse of the dwell service style. However we’ve the primary few weeks of January 2025 to eulogize the 12 months’s occasions. As an alternative, it’s that point: Time to speak about our favourite video games that we loved probably the most this 12 months.
Dean’s already revealed his favourite video games for the 12 months… so now it’s my flip. Simply to be clear, these video games are those that I personally loved probably the most and located to be probably the most elegant total experiences. Hopefully I’ll have the ability to do an extended listing in some unspecified time in the future in 2025 — my listing of video games performed in 2024 isn’t so long as it was final 12 months (although in associated information, I’m higher rested than I used to be one 12 months in the past), however for now, listed here are my prime 5 video games of this 12 months.
5. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Yearly on these lists, I like to incorporate a minimum of one recreation that qualifies as a darkish horse in my High 5 — a smaller title whose inclusion satisfies solely me. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes might have come out early sufficient within the 12 months that it’s subsequently been overshadowed, however I by no means forgot about it. Its surreal, stylized artwork design could be sufficient to stay in my reminiscence, however Lorelei is finally a lot greater than this.
Lorelei is the kind of recreation that challenges the participant. Your complete time you’re taking part in, you are feeling as if the sport has you locked in a battle of wits, and whereas it provides you the whole lot it’s essential to clear up its multitude of puzzles, it’s not going to carry your hand. Even the sport’s diegetic interface and so-called “clue” programs appear extra aimed toward placing the participant on the backfoot than serving to. And matching wits with a recreation might not be everybody’s cup of tea — it’s not at all times my cup, both — however typically it’s what I want and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes does that so nicely.
2024 was an honest 12 months for RPGs, all issues thought of — Baldur’s Gate 3 is a troublesome act to observe. However we had a surprisingly full 12 months. And one RPG rose to the highest with its distinctive, earnest story and enjoyable, quick gameplay: Atlus’s Metaphor: ReFantazio. For me, RPGs dwell and die by how a lot they make me really feel like I’m really part of the world round me, and the world of Metaphor, disagreeable and nasty and fraught with unfair social programs although it was, felt actual — the struggles of its individuals felt essential.
Metaphor: ReFantazio manages to keep away from numerous the pacing pitfalls that befell different RPGs this 12 months (not naming any names, however IYKYK) by preserving you tied to an in-game calendar ticking down in direction of a serious world occasion — a refinement on Atlus’s staple time-management mechanics. Actually, virtually each piece of Metaphor looks like a extra compelling model of one thing Atlus has carried out earlier than, from the artwork design to the turn-based fight. Whereas the story is a little more sober and severe, it’s informed with such conviction and with such a robust message that it’s by no means as soon as boring.
3. Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle
Nicely, look who we’ve right here. MachineGames’ licensed journey recreation starring everybody’s favourite whip-wielding archaeologist has are available on the final month of the 12 months and risen virtually to the very prime of the listing. Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle is among the finest journey video games — and, surprisingly, top-of-the-line stealth video games — I’ve performed in not simply 2024, however the final 5 years. Troy Baker’s efficiency as Dr. Jones goes to date past mere mimicry that it elevates the entire recreation into my High 3.
Nice Circle near-perfectly imitates the attraction of the unique Indiana Jones movies (notice that I say “authentic” with particular intentions) whereas additionally paying homage to the basic point-and-click journey video games that precede it. MachineGames has managed to seize the sequence’ humor and swashbuckling enjoyable, its sense that its not taking itself too significantly, and the satisfaction of beating the crap out of Nazis (a topic with which they need to be very acquainted after the Wolfenstein titles). Additionally, one of many villains is performed by the late Tony Todd, and it’s simply good to see him once more.
2. Astro Bot
As somebody who performs video games professionally, it’s tempting typically to overexplain or overcomplicate my very own opinion. So whereas I might give an extended, drawn-out rationalization for why Astro Bot’s platforming feels so rewarding, or how its story is compelling regardless of its simplistic nature … let’s put it in fewer phrases: Astro Bot is on this listing as a result of it’s enjoyable. It’s enjoyable and entertaining and well-made and offers the participant exactly what they’re anticipating.
Okay, to sprinkle in just a little extra complexity into my opinion: Astro Bot is a platformer polished to a diamond sheen with coronary heart and a humorousness. The number of gameplay retains it recent, and the sport doesn’t put on out its welcome by overstretching its ranges or overplaying any of its gimmicks. It’s additionally simply the precise size to maintain its PlayStation-ness from seeming an excessive amount of like an commercial (although admittedly it does come shut one or two instances). Many are the video games that I play and love as an grownup gamer — few are those that I play and know I might have beloved as a toddler.
1. Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
Being trustworthy, my prime recreation this 12 months stunned even me. Till the ultimate moments I used to be scripting this, I used to be going to provide it to Astro Bot. However then I significantly appeared on the dozens of video games I’ve performed to date this 12 months, and thought of which recreation it was that really introduced me probably the most happiness whereas taking part in. And maybe it’s been lengthy sufficient — virtually a 12 months now — that my reminiscence has gone rosy, however I bear in mind my playthrough of Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown with a heat I’ve felt for little else this 12 months.
The Misplaced Crown has the whole lot I would like in a recreation: It has strong gameplay that evolves as the sport progresses, glorious pacing, platforming selection, story and artwork design that pay homage to historical past and real-world mythology whereas mixing in fantasy, a various and fascinating solid of characters and a lot magnificence that simply taking part in it typically leaves me breathless. There have been so many video games between its January launch and now, and but it nonetheless managed to stick with me all the way in which to the top of the 12 months.