I’ve been doing Game of the Year lists now for what must be 10 years easily. And every year it seems I open with ‘it was a bit of a car crash of a year’. Sadly, 2024 hasn’t bucked that trend one bit. Developers got hit hardest with a mind blowing 14,000 studios making talent redundant over the year. This followed hot on the heals of a 2023 when the industry began to implode.
Sure, the front facing part of the industry was all glitz and glam. New titles were shown in far off in faraway sun-kissed lands, with the mouth pieces of the industry acting like everything is fine. When to anyone paying attention, it’s on the ropes, bleeding out, and looks likely go down for the count.
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But, we have to also look at the good things that happened this year, which solely evolved around the games that were released. And this made picking a Top 10 of 2024 harder than you may think. However, I have checked my list twice from the 105 games I have reviewed this past year and came up with my top 10 best games of the year that you really should play…
10. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
For every CoD or Dark Souls wannabe that is released into the ever-growing sea of live service and pay-to-win titles; there is always hope when something new, something fresh, or something original breaks through the waves.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one such title, developed by Capcom. It calls itself an action-strategy where you have to defend villages, a princess and banish demons all while claiming back a mountain and building an army.
Read More: Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess review – Crowning Achievement
A brave title for Capcom in a lot of ways, as it’s something totally new, and a leap of faith in ways. They have created a fresh and enjoyable title that does something new, but also delivers that experimental Capcom standard you would expect from the firm from the past.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a glorious mix of hack-and-slash action, with a heavy mix of other genres which come together to create a bit of a perfect storm.
9. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
2024 started as a good time to be a fan of the Prince of Persia series. The remake of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is still in the works and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown came out of nowhere. The Lost Crown is the first major instalment in the series since 2010’s Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown also delivered a Metroidvania edge to the series, with its drum tight combat. But, it all came with tones of the original games from way back in 1989.
Read More: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown review – Depths to Explore, Puzzles to Battle
But, despite taking some inspiration from its origins, The Lost Crown was very much its own thing. Sargon and co.’s new adventure was short lived, however, as Ubi closed the studio shortly after launch. A true shame, as Lost Crown was fresh and engaging in all the right ways.
8. Tekken 8
The whole fighting genre saw a real second wind at the start of the year, thanks in part to three major fighting franchises, seeing new instalments released during a six-month period from 2023 to 2024.
With the last of this trio being Japanese developers Bandai Namco Studios and Arika’s Tekken 8 – which brought the series arcade combo-fuelled brand of brawling bang up to date for a whole new audience.
Read More: Tekken 8 review – Nexus Gundyr
Keeping the core of being easy to play and hard to master, something its aways had over its fighting brothers. Tekken 8 was no different, delivering a fun time for casual players and a new challenge with true hidden depths for long-time fans and pros to master all over again.
Tekken 8 was one hell of a return for a legendary series, which has gone the distance on the revitalised fighting circuits thanks to constant updates, new content and a strong fan base that are looking for just one more round.
7. Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Untitled Goose Game was quite possibly the most British a game has ever been and as I once said in a national newspaper, it was “the ultimate arsehole simulator”. So, to see I was interested in what the team behind it have been working on next is an understatement.
Thank Goodness You’re Here! is more of an interactive cartoon than game at times if I am honest, but it’s all wrapped around a very funny and extremely Yorkshire core, that you can’t help but smile at.
Read More: Thank Goodness You’re Here! review – Adventure Out of Yorkshire
Truly brilliant from start to finish, but over far too quickly and leaves you hungry for mo. If you’re looking for a game that will have you laughing out loud countless times and leaves you smiling from title screen to the credits, then it’s well worth the price of entry and then some.
6. The Plucky Squire
The Plucky Squire is very much one of those games I fear we are on the brink of losing. A title that takes a wild idea, itself something fresh, then runs with it. Then, after adding a lot of talent, it forges something truly special.
The Plucky Squire features countless art and gameplay styles as you play through a children’s book. What starts out as your standard classic 2D Zelda clone quickly evolves and grows into something truly special. Your words are weapons, letting you shape the world as you wish.
Read More: Game Review Round-Up – Helldivers 2, Stellar Blade, Frank Stone and more
Packed with colour, joy and whimsy, The Plucky Squire dared to be more and believed in a great idea.
5. Helldivers 2
In a year that saw an official Starship Troopers game drop…this is the best Starship Troopers game as Helldivers 2 dare to flip the script a little from the first game and try something totally new. As you and your mates fill the boots of an elite force of shock troops dispatched to combat various threats to humanity, with a heavy splash of satire thrown in the mix.
Combat is thrilling and engaging as you blast everything that moves; from robots, to giant bugs all while having a blast with your buddies in tow.
Gunplay is weighty and unlocking new gear can honestly be rewarding and not a grind, as is the way in most horde-based shooters. Also, Arrowhead Game Studios have supported the game every step of the way, releasing new content monthly that really does enrich the whole experience; like the surprise drop of the Killzone Helghast armour and hints to other PS inspired crossovers in the future.
4. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
January 2024 feels like a long time ago. But, this is when Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the latest in the now-turn-based JRPG series developed by Japanese Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega, landed to wide acclaim.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the ninth mainline entry of the Like a Dragon (Yakuza) series. Delivering what fans love and more, this was a monster of a title that is extremely deep and highly polished. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth features some stellar production across the board.
Read More: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review – Idol Memoirs
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth pulled the lore of Yakuza together to an epic crescendo. It also hinted at the future of the series for long time fans, while newcomers got a perfect intro to an incredible long running series.
3. Metaphor: ReFantazio
Metaphor: ReFantazio was a leap of faith by both Sega and Atlus – a brand-new IP in the era of rehashes. Legendary developer Katsura Hashino helmed this epic sprawling JRPG that will become your new time sink once it gets its hooks into you.
The game tells an epic tale that isn’t scared to touch on some dark and heavy subjects. The United Kingdom of Euchronia draws parallels to the real world despite its fantasy basis.
Read More: Metaphor: ReFantazio review – Fresh Yet Familiar
Metaphor: ReFantazio came from a house of legends and the pedigree can be seen bleeding from every pore. The tale, the combat, the look and feel are all so refined. Metaphor: ReFantazio is, without question, one of the best new IPs of 2024.
2. Astro Bot
Every hero has their day and for this little guy it was long overdue, as over the past few years it’s fair to say Sony have seen the rise of a new system mascot – who also brings with them new and often exciting things, as he stars in titles showcasing what Sony’s new tech can really do.
Astro Bot was released to celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, and it is a tour de force of all things PlayStation. It’s an outstanding 3D platformer that is challenging and rewarding in its own right.
Read More: Astro Bot review – Time, Respect and Care
The DualSense, and the creativity on show in using it, makes this something special that all PS5 owners should play. Astro Bot ultimately shows what can be crafted on their consoles with a little love and care.
1. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
It was thirteen years between the greatest Warhammer videogame of all time, and something worthy of following it. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was thirteen years late to the party, but Saber Interactive made the wait worthwhile. Brutal, bloody and in your face are some of the words that jump to mind. from the bone crushing combat, to all the nods and winks to the Warhammer 40k source material.
Every action within the campaign and its side modes feel like part of a much grander fight. Online, you can rip the world and its mate a new one with your Chainsword and bolter.
Read More: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 review – Worth Every Minute
I waited thirteen years Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. And, somehow, it delivered something worth waiting for. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is the tightly crafted adrenalin-fuelled action fun, I could have only dreamt of.
This is a thrill a minute ride from beginning to end, that is brutal and visceral in equal measures and the fact you can do it all with two mates in tow makes it even better and it’s hands down easily my Game of the Year 2024. For the Emperor!