Favourite games of 2024

[dwwaino]

Since we don't have the traffic that we used to in order to do a worthwhile GOTY thread, for the sake of it just drop a post telling us what was your favourite game/s of 2024.

Also any disappointments and any other random thoughts about gaming for the year if you have any.


For me I think it was one of the strongest years we've had in a long time. Last year was good too and it feels like we're getting back on track to more regular quality releases.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth was always going to be my highlight. Black Myth Wukong really surprised me as I didn't think I'd get into it anywhere near as much as I did. I feared the worst for Stalker 2 but it would comfortably feature in my top 3 if I were doing one. It also launched after the cut off for most game awards so given the support it has received since launch and the support it is planned to continue to receive don't be surprised to see it creep in a few official awards next year. Metaphor is another that came out of nowhere for me. I have been anticipating a new Persona for so long that I didn't even see this coming.

I have finally bought Balatro after everyone's recommendations but still need to get around to it which I should this holidays. My indie (Playside are still technically indie) pick was Kill Knight.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Didn't play a lot of new stuff this year (I'm on leave most of Jan so I'll hopefully get stuck into 2024 stuff then), but so far for me it's Selaco.

 

[eDPS]

Astrobot was my game of the year with Metaphor my second favourite with a bit of a gap after them. Enjoyed the remakes of Persona 3 and Paper Mario:TTYD and I never played the originals. I didn’t mind FF7 Rebirth but I couldn’t finish it I was sick to death of all the different mini games and way preferred Remake.

The new Zelda game didn’t really do it for me and it just came out but a mod for Pokemon Emerald called Pokemon Emerald Legacy has been very fun doing a great job of improving on the original

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

Didn’t play a heap of new games this year, but my top 3 would be:

1. Indiana Jones & the great circle
2. Stalker 2
3. Dragons Dogma 2

 

[Struggle]

1. Metaphor Refantazio
2. Helldivers 2
3. Marvel rivals
4. FF7 part 2

If Shadow of the Erdtree counted it would slip into 2nd place

 

[T2B_]

I feel like mine are almost default because I think the only actual 2024 games I played were:

1. Stalker 2
2. Persona 3 Reloaded

Stalker would be up there in any list for me in its own right. Persona was good, albeit a suped up version of an older game. For that I wouldn't be thinking it would be award material but it was a very good experience.

 

[dexter_]

I rarely play new releases anymore but these are the three that I most enjoyed

Halls of Torment
Dragons Dogma 2
Indiana Jones

 

[Sixpence]

LAD Infinite Wealth by a mile.

Then Black Myth Wukong, Star Wars Outlaws and Persona 3 Reload.

The rest of the games I played were older games - A Plague's Tale Requiem, Fallout 4, Persona 5, Cricket 22.

 

[AFDogs]

Probably Rebirth but I never finished it.

Enjoyed Wukong but also didn’t finish that. Copped massive burnout when the game started throwing impossible bosses at me in Chapter 4.

I did however finish Astrobot but it’s not better than the two I mentioned above.

Only a few hours into Metaphor and I’ve parked it until I’m off work. Enjoyed the first 10 hours or so.

 

[omgfridge]

Game of the Year - Balatro

This game is literally crack with its fun addicting design. Once you play more, you realise how intricate it really is. Perfect for a quick sesh but I've also dropped some serious hours into this game. Currently trying to win with every deck on every individual difficulty. Mrs also an addict, she was using my steamdeck but such is our addiction, she ended up buying it on her phone.

Honorable Mentions

2. Astro Bot

Pure bliss and an absolute blast. Filled with nostalgia but it's also the best platformer since Super Mario Odyssey. The soundtrack also kicks ass. Was an instant hit for me with any reference to Ape Escape.

3. Helldivers II

My favourite game with the boys all year. I'm yet to play the latest update but can't wait. Just so intense and filled with character. Just typing about it now makes me keen to jump in for a match. Liberty!

4. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

I'm definitely in the minority but this is the style of Zelda I prefer. Know it didn't score amazing in reviews but I feel bad enough putting it 4th, I ****ing loved it. Scrolling for echoes is a bit poo but I forgive it with how much fun I have with them. Peahats are my goat.

5. Metaphor: ReFantazio

Will start that I haven't finished it (or am close) but have put enough time to know I really like it. Have found it more accessible than Persona 5 which I'm also playing for the first time this year. Very excited to get more time into it (a focus over the holidays).

6. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

While shorter than the above, I still need to wrap this one up too but its definitely a game I like a lot. Just epic in scale and when it's in full swing, I've sat there enjoying the hell out of it. Never collected Warhammers but man I enjoy the games (Total War, Verminitide & Darktide).

Random thoughts on stuff I've played

Stalker 2 - A long with Metaphor, this is the game I want to play more of. I am a big stan of this series but I'm way too early days to comment. Veyr likely to be on of my favourites.

Marvel Rivals - Has dragged the eye from Fortnite, Verminitide 2 and I guess even Helldivers. Was never an Overwatch guy but this has been hitting the right notes.

Animal Well - Good game but it hasn't quite hooked me like similar games. Will keep on the deck rotation though.

UFO 50 - Only recently got in Steam sales but seems a lot deeper/fun than it initially looks.

Satisfactory - Put 30+ hours into this with mates but also my 2 mates who do play it, got fully addicted so I was always playing catch up with whatever they were now doing. Enjoy logging in to see what they've got up to.

Mario/Luigi - Another I need to play more of. It's one of my favourite series so I'll love it no matter what.

Pacific Drive - Gives me Dredge vibes (my number 2 game from last year). Keen to play more.

Black Myth Wukong - Played it a bit but I feel these games are just not quite my thing. Opening was mint but.

Super Mario Party Jamboree - Just nice to have a new Mario Party and it's very good.

FC25 - Technically my fifth most played Steam game. It's fine, I have to make Tottenham not shit somehow, I purely play career mode.

SW: Outlaws - This game is actually decent. Ubisoft gets a lot of hate but had fun, only stopped as was playing back log/newer games.

Own but havent played yet - not much to add but bought these fairly recently

Tekken 8

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

New Prince of Persia

Games I'm yet to buy but want to

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - My current PC would run it a bit above on minimum settings. May wait for PS5 port less I upgrade. have heap of backlog anyway.

Rebirth - still need to play part one

New Yakuza Like a Dragon - I've been playing the OG like a dragon in passing

Backlog

Too many to mention but a lot throughout the year. Besides the usual my retro emulators do not help this.

 

[Long Live HFC]

STALKER 2
space marine 2

Not a lot of new titles for me this year.

 

[kangle4]

Played a few more new games than I thought. All great but Helldivers 2 is probably my favorite for the countless hours of multiplayer fun.

No particular order:

Helldivers 2
Astro Bot
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Dragon Age The Veilguard
Marvel Rivals
Path of Exile 2
V Rising
FF7 Rebirth but got burnt out on it after a while.

Will get to Outlaws and Space Marine 2.

Special mention to TCG Pocket as well.

 

[revival_mode]

well i spent a big chunk of the first half of the year playing Baldurs Gate 3 which doesnt really count, and other than that i havent played too much at all.
that being said...
1. Metaphor ReFantazio - fantasy Persona. i'm not finished but not far off. super polished turn based game with some social/tme management to balance it out. 10/10.
2. Space Marine 2. this game looks amazing and is a lot of fun. shoot/slash scifi action. i havent ever played the tabletop games but i have read a few of the horus heresy novels and got a lot out of this.
3. Balatro. i dont know how a poker game got its claws into me but here we are. its one of those games where you just want to play a run to fill in time, nect thing you know its 4 hours later lol.

the only other game i really played was Unicorn Overlord and boy was that a dissapointment. great start, but it all got very samey ery quickly. i dont think i even made it halfway through. this looked like it was going to be right up my alley and should have been great but i just didnt get it

te other big game fro this year ihavent gotten to is Dragons Dogma 2, will hook into that onc i finish Metaphor

 

[mickelboy182]

Absurdly good year for JRPG fans.

Metaphor, Infinite Wealth, Reload and my personal favourite Rebirth are all top tier.

 

[CM86]

Path of Exile 2. Plenty of issues with it, but it's leading the way again for this genre.

 

[Marmozet]

Just my opinion but 2024 was a weak year for new releases for me at least. I tried to use it as my "play the games I've already got" year but that didn't quite work out. I played 5 2024 releases.

1) Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden: I was really looking forward to it when it was announced and I bought it day one. I really liked the idea of a open-world ghost hunting game. I definitely liked it, I sunk a lot of hours into it but I did feel that it got a bit tedious after a while, and once I was done the game didn't leave me with any lasting impressions or anything.

2) Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown: Heard good things about it, took a punt because it was cheap but it wasn't for me. I've never been a fan of metroidvanias and this couldn't change my mind.

3) Silent Hill 2: This was more up my alley as I love single-player, story-driven action-adventure and survival horror games. I bought into the hype and bought it day one, but I found a lot of the game to be super annoying. I spent more time looking up walkthroughs on the internet than actually playing the game. Some of those puzzles were ridiculous and I was low-key really relieved when I finally finished the game.

4) A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead: I enjoyed this one, short and sweet and I got the platinum trophy for it. I understand that the gameplay won't be for everyone as the entire game feels like one giant stealth section in any other video game.

5) Astro Bot: I haven't finished it yet but I got it cheaply via Boxing Day sales and Christmas vouchers, and this is my winner for 2024. The game is great fun and it's something that even non-gamers could play and enjoy, and I love all the references and nostalgia in it.

So Astro Bot it is for me. But like I said, 2024 was a very weak year for me but lucky 2025 is looking stacked...although I want as much clear air as possible before and after GTA 6 so the only other new release I'll play might be Mafia: The Old Country. All other 2025 releases may have to wait until I'm ready to move on from GTA 6.

 

[Dancing Potato]

I got through 16 games this year, but only a handful were 2024 releases.

Spent a big portion of the year playing these three 2023 titles - Baldur's Gate 3 (10/10 and absolutely GOATed), Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (9/10 and an improvement on it's predecessor) and Atomic Heart (7/10 yes it's sorta "Temu Bioshock" but I loved it's ambition and setting).

For 2024 release my GOTY is a tie between Still Wakes the Deep and Core Keeper (officially released outside of "early access").

I absolutely loved the setting, atmosphere and slowly parceled out story of Still Wakes the Deep. Some Cthulhu-ish inspired horror shenanigans on a Scottish oil rig in the middle of a storm? Yes please. Yeah it had some clunky gameplay, but it was a brilliant experience overall.

Core Keeper is a completely different experience. A huge and deceptively deep game that is absurdly addictive. Can lose yourself in the base building or the joy of simply exploring. I sunk way too many hours into this one.

Honourable mention to the Castlevania DLC for Vampire Survivors.

Tried a few hours of Marvel Rivals but mostly found it to be a worse and less satisfying version of Overwatch.

Currently downloading Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and wouldn't be surprised if that was ultimately my GOTY for 2024.

 

[Danger Zone]

Played less than previously (Dad life) but managed to find time here and there.

Top 5 for me:
1. Metaphor Refantazio
2. V Rising
3. Moonstone Island
4. Core Keeper
5. 7 Days to Die

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Only played a few Space Marine 2, Black Myth Wukong, and Elden ring DLC. All good, Elden Ring spectacular but DLC. Wukong great but had high expectations that it fell a little short due to lack of open world elements until late. Space Marine 2 great but short campaign and didn't quite have the set pieces of similar 3rd person story shooters like Uncharted and Gears of War.

 

[Purple Suit]

My GOTY was Black Myth Wukong. I was a monkey magic fan as a kid and love 3rd person action games so it really scratched an itch. Almost like a cross between a Souls game and GOW.

I just got Astrobot and half way through it. That is a ripper game and very next gen but a 3D platformer is never going to be my favourite. I can see how it won it at the game awards though.

Notable mentions being Balatro (Don't get it on your phone!) and Indi

 

[jannissary]

bit late, but for mine, it was easily balatro. i played a lot of it early in the year as it was something that was super easy to pick up/put down for 20-30 minutes a night before bed. i managed to beat gold stake on 2 decks before it was made easier, and to see it still being so popular greatly warms my heart.

 

[manureid]

Astro Bot. Only my 2nd ever Platinum as not that fussed about that stuff, but really wanted to finish this one.

 

[biaseddustyfan]

I think the only 2 games I played that released in 2024 were Helldivers 2 and Drova: Forsaken Kin. Helldivers was okay with mates but not really my thing. Drova is awesome, still finishing it now. The reviews say it's like 2d Gothic and that fits pretty well. Just a solid old school feeling RPG with plenty of immersion

The best game I played in general in 2024 was It Takes Two with my gf. Amazing fun. And then finally played Ori and the Will of the Wisps, just like the first game but better in every way

 

[Sirlemsip]

Definitely FFVII Rebirth for me, with Balatro in 2nd place.

Didn't manage to get to Astro Bot, but I suspect it would be in the discussion given how much I loved Astro's Playroom. Its at the top of the backlog pile.

Only played a few hours (basically nothing) of Metaphor but it has been excellent so far. I keep getting distracted by other games I need to review so it is hard to commit (particularly when the review titles are also long RPGs).

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