My games of the year: 2024
I will actually do the opposite of what most articles do, and skip straight my list, and have the storytime afterwards.
I will also break them down into a few classes, in order to not make my job too difficult to have to find a specific rank.
Must Play
This list includes only the very best for a given game type:
- The Invincible (Sci-Fi Storytelling)
A gripping story based on Stanislaw Lem's novel, which impressed on every single level. - Aliens Dark Descent (Layed-back yet engaging gameplay)
A top-down Alien game that does a great job of keeping you engaged while giving you minimal things to do, so you can focus on being on the edge of your seat. - Lethal Company (Get scared... with friends!)
A first-person horror game with an emphasis on surviving monster-plagued dungeons while gathering enough loot to keep your job. - Indika (Mental Health + Religion Storytelling)
The tale of a Christian nun finding her way through perilous situations while also wrestling with one of life's biggest questions.
Good Cannon Fodder
This list includes some standout games, while not being the absolute pinnacle.
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (First person Action)
A movie-like experience that feels well-realized and complete. - The Crew Motorfest (Racing)
If you are into racing, this one brings that car lover's culture and vibes that we all love. One of the most engaging single player campaigns I've played in a racing game. - Alan Wake 2 (3rd Person Horror, Action)
A lovingly-crafted experience that hits some amazing high points. - Helldivers 2 (Multiplayer Shooter)
Against Sony's best anti-consumer efforts, this game is an absolute blast to play with friends. Would still recommend documenting yourself on its tumultuous ongoings.
#NotForMe
These are games that disappointing or just did not appeal to me, they are not bad games, just for some reason frustrating. All of these also have a 2 in their name... curious.
- Hellblade 2 (Mental Health Story)
Feels like a game made purely on the back of a great first game, without having anything new to say. Set pieces are good in the first 1/3 of the game, but fall off afterwards. Unremarkable for the hype - Frostpunk 2 (City Builder)
Not at all a bad game, but loses the intimacy that made the first one great in favor of a bigger scope. Not my style. - Dragons Dogma 2 ( Open-World RPG)
Aging gameplay options that feel lifted from 2010 and horribly repetitive and incessant encounter design make this game a chore to get through.
Full list of contenders
Things I have not played but probably should: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Astro Bot, Metaphor ReFantazio, Final Fantasy 7 rebirth, Balatro. Also the full-ish (as far as I could remember anyway) list of games I have played this year is:
Indiana Jones, Silent Hill 2, Dragons Dogma 2, Frostpunk 2, Age of Mythology Retold, Call of Duty:Black Ops 6, Hellblade 2, Indika, The Thaumaturge, Aliens Dark Descent, The Invincible, Deus Ex Human Revolution, The Crew Motorfest, Last of Us Part 2, Nier Automata, The Medium, Alan Wake 2, AC Revelations, Helldivers 2, Lethal Company, 11-11 Memories Retold, The Begginers Guide, Harold Halibut, Lies of P, Warhammer 40k Darktide, Route96, Star Wars Jedi Survivor
2024 has been a busy year overall from a game release standpoint, and especially so for me because I had multiple games still in the backlog. I also went through significant hardware changes in my chase for my gaming hardware identity. Passed from Laptop+Steam Deck to a PS5 and then to PS5 Pro and ultimately selling that to settle for a gaming PC. It's been a constant chase of convenience, power and reliability but I feel like I have finally found a balance.
I hope this list will provide you with some inspiration on what to play, and feel free to reach out in the comments if you have anything you'd like to share or ask. Happy Holidays!