We’re about to attract the shroud over 2024 — a sophisticated 12 months that gave us glorious video games however which I absolutely anticipate to be remembered as “troubled” by the trade at massive. We’ve had over 14,000 layoffs, a withering marketplace for three getting old consoles, ballooning subscription prices and the (partial) collapse of the reside service style. However we now have 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 essentially 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 essentially the most and located to be essentially the most elegant general experiences. Hopefully I’ll be capable of do an extended checklist in some unspecified time in the future in 2025 — my checklist 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 below are my prime 5 video games of this 12 months.
5. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Yearly on these lists, I like to incorporate at the very least one sport that qualifies as a darkish horse in my Prime 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 form of sport that challenges the participant. All the time you’re enjoying, you’re feeling as if the sport has you locked in a battle of wits, and whereas it offers you all the pieces you should resolve 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 geared toward placing the participant on the backfoot than serving to. And matching wits with a sport might not be everybody’s cup of tea — it’s not at all times my cup, both — however generally it’s what I want and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes does that so properly.
2024 was a good 12 months for RPGs, all issues thought-about — Baldur’s Gate 3 is a troublesome act to comply with. 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 reside and die by how a lot they make me really feel like I’m actually 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 necessary.
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 conserving you tied to an in-game calendar ticking down in the direction of a serious world occasion — a refinement on Atlus’s staple time-management mechanics. Actually, virtually every bit of Metaphor appears like a extra compelling model of one thing Atlus has achieved earlier than, from the artwork design to the turn-based fight. Whereas the story is a little more sober and critical, it’s informed with such conviction and with such a powerful message that it’s by no means as soon as boring.
3. Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle
Effectively, look who we now have right here. MachineGames’ licensed journey sport starring everybody’s favourite whip-wielding archaeologist has are available in on the final month of the 12 months and risen virtually to the very prime of the checklist. Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle is among the finest journey video games — and, surprisingly, among the best stealth video games — I’ve performed in not simply 2024, however the final 5 years. Troy Baker’s efficiency as Dr. Jones goes up to now past mere mimicry that it elevates the entire sport into my Prime 3.
Nice Circle near-perfectly imitates the allure 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 generally to overexplain or overcomplicate my very own opinion. So whereas I might give a protracted, drawn-out clarification 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 checklist as a result of it’s enjoyable. It’s enjoyable and entertaining and well-made and provides the participant exactly what they’re anticipating.
Okay, to sprinkle in a bit of 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 proper 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’d have liked as a toddler.
1. Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
Being trustworthy, my prime sport 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 regarded on the dozens of video games I’ve performed up to now this 12 months, and thought of which sport it was that truly introduced me essentially the most happiness whereas enjoying. 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 all the pieces I need in a sport: It has stable 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 enjoying it generally 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 best way to the top of the 12 months.
