2024 was a pretty good year for video games it turns out. There’s way too many releases in most years and I had trouble getting to everything even during a year where I spent most of my time actually playing games rather than talking about them. While I definitely tried out a bunch of games, there are only a handful I put enough time into to feel comfortable putting on a “game of the year” list.
Honorable Mentions
Starfield
Starfield was my most played game of 2024, mostly due to how much I played of it at the top of the year as I was still helplessly addicted to its gameplay loop. I wasn’t a huge fan of the games first DLC as it focused on the games weaker elements. I still believe Bethesda made a great space game and I can see myself coming back for more throughout the generation, but even if I never end up returning, I’ve still enjoyed the hundreds of hours I’ve spent exploring the galaxy Bethesda created.
The Outer Worlds
This is a game I came back to at the very tail end of 2024 and I forgot just how good it was. I knew I enjoyed it when I beat it back in 2019, but forgot just how good the game felt to play, how funny the dialogue was, how well written and explored your companions are. The game is clearly made on a budget so it can feel a bit repetitive in its locales and combat scenarios, but I’m excited to see how the upcoming sequel expands upon an already great experience.
Stalker 2
A game I wish I had put more time into. I really love the world and think the gameplay is top notch. This game is already pretty good now and with continued updates and quality of life improvements I’m confident this will go down as a game worthy of the Stalker name.
7. Final Fantasy 7R/Rebirth
I’ve never really been interested in the Final Fantasy series but before Rebirth came out I decided to buy the Final Fantasy 7 Remake/Rebirth bundle and finally find out what I was missing. While I have only put a few dozen hours into both, I’m glad I made the jump into the series as I really enjoyed my time with them. The games look great visually and the combat is genuinely fun. The characters are interesting and I want to see where the story goes. One day I’ll make the time to fully invest myself and beat both in anticipation of the third entry.
6. Dragon’s Dogma II
Another game I wish I had put more time into, Dragon’s Dogma II is one of my favorite experiences of the year. I really enjoyed the vagueness of the story and the games near complete lack of handholding. I wouldn’t say the game was difficult by any means, but it didn’t feel like I was just going from checkpoint to checkpoint like so many other open world games. Highly recommended if you want a game where you genuinely feel like you’re roleplaying in a fantasy world.
5. Silent Hill II
I was stunned by how much I loved this game and think this could go down as my favorite “survival horror” type game. I love Resident Evil 2 Remake and Dead Space, but Silent Hill 2’s foggy town, story about inter-personal tragedy, and beautifully enchanting score might push this title over the edge as the game that defines the genre for me.
4. Hellblade II
This game is a better version of the first game, a game I really enjoyed. A lot of the pre release marketing seemed to indicate a much larger experience than the one we got, which may have lead to some of the “mixed” reviews the game received. If I just judge the game for what it is however, it’s a game I really like. It’s best in class in visuals and sound design, has genuinely engaging combat and story telling, and has a fair amount of replay value for a game that only lasts about 5-6 hours. I hope we get a third game if Ninja Theory so chooses, but maybe with a bit of an evolution in the gameplay.
3. Fallout 76
In a time when many companies give up on live service games if they aren’t insta-hits, Bethesda and Xbox allowed Fallout 76 to go through its growing pains and eventually prosper. The result of this patience is one of the very best Fallout experiences available. Fallout 76 has the best map of any of the modern Fallout releases, and is now chock full of content. I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what the game has to offer and I can easily see myself playing this game for years to come.
2. Black Ops 6
My days of putting hundreds of hours into Call of Duty every year are over, but Black Ops 6 is a true return to form for the series and one of my favorite games of the year. I spent most of my time playing Zombies and Multiplayer which are the best the series has offered in years. The games introduction of Omni-movement changes everything as you now have complete control of your character. This is a game I look forward to checking back into over the next year or so to see how the game evolves.
1 Indiana Jones and The Great Circle
Indiana Jones and The Great Circle joins Halo Infinite and Starfield as my favorite games of the generation, and when all is said and done Indy may end up being my favorite of the bunch. Indiana Jones is a near flawlessly designed experience, oozing with confidence and flair, and is unafraid to stick to its vision. Many people wanted the game to be third person and join a long list of third person action adventure games that have come out over the last 10 years. After putting more than 35 hours into the game, it’s clear this game could ever only be a first person game as its dedication to immersion relies on feeling like you are in the shoes of this great character.
The game already feels like an all timer, and I want nothing more than for Machine Games to get the opportunity if they so choose to explore this character and world further as they’ve earned the right after making such a masterful Indiana Jones experience on their first try. This is one of the very best games I’ve ever played, not something I would have ever guessed would be the case when it was unveiled last January.
