We’re about to attract the shroud over 2024 — a sophisticated yr that gave us wonderful video games however which I totally count on to be remembered as “troubled” by the trade at massive. We’ve had over 14,000 layoffs, a withering marketplace for three getting older consoles, ballooning subscription prices and the (partial) collapse of the stay service style. However we have now the primary few weeks of January 2025 to eulogize the yr’s occasions. As a substitute, it’s that point: Time to speak about our favourite video games that we loved probably the most this yr.
Dean’s already revealed his favourite video games for the yr… 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 be capable to do an extended record in some unspecified time in the future in 2025 — my record of video games performed in 2024 isn’t so long as it was final yr (although in associated information, I’m higher rested than I used to be one yr in the past), however for now, listed below are my prime 5 video games of this yr.
5. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Yearly on these lists, I like to incorporate at the least one sport 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 yr 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 in the end a lot greater than this.
Lorelei is the type of sport that challenges the participant. The complete time you’re enjoying, you’re feeling as if the sport has you locked in a battle of wits, and whereas it offers you every little thing you should clear up its multitude of puzzles, it’s not going to carry your hand. Even the sport’s diegetic interface and so-called “clue” techniques appear extra aimed toward placing the participant on the backfoot than serving to. And matching wits with a sport will not be everybody’s cup of tea — it’s not all the time my cup, both — however generally it’s what I want and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes does that so nicely.
2024 was an honest yr for RPGs, all issues thought of — Baldur’s Gate 3 is a troublesome act to observe. However we had a surprisingly full yr. And one RPG rose to the highest with its distinctive, earnest story and enjoyable, quick gameplay: Atlus’s Metaphor: ReFantazio. For me, RPGs stay 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 techniques although it was, felt actual — the struggles of its folks felt vital.
Metaphor: ReFantazio manages to keep away from loads of the pacing pitfalls that befell different RPGs this yr (not naming any names, however IYKYK) by protecting you tied to an in-game calendar ticking down in the direction of a significant world occasion — a refinement on Atlus’s staple time-management mechanics. In reality, virtually every bit of Metaphor looks like a extra compelling model of one thing Atlus has accomplished 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
Properly, look who we have now right here. MachineGames’ licensed journey sport starring everybody’s favourite whip-wielding archaeologist has are available on the final month of the yr and risen virtually to the very prime of the record. 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 sport into my High 3.
Nice Circle near-perfectly imitates the appeal of the unique Indiana Jones movies (be aware that I say “original” with particular intentions) whereas additionally paying homage to the traditional point-and-click journey video games that precede it. MachineGames has managed to seize the collection’ humor and swashbuckling enjoyable, its sense that its not taking itself too critically, 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 may 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 record 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 slightly 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 correct 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 cherished as a baby.
1. Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
Being trustworthy, my prime sport this yr stunned even me. Till the ultimate moments I used to be penning this, I used to be going to provide it to Astro Bot. However then I critically appeared on the dozens of video games I’ve performed to date this yr, and thought of which sport it was that truly introduced me probably the most happiness whereas enjoying. And maybe it’s been lengthy sufficient — virtually a yr 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 yr.
The Misplaced Crown has every little thing I need in a sport: It has strong gameplay that evolves as the sport progresses, wonderful pacing, platforming selection, story and artwork design that pay homage to historical past and real-world mythology whereas mixing in fantasy, a various and attention-grabbing 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 tip of the yr.
