2024 has been an exhilarating year for gaming. We’ve been treated to groundbreaking AAA games, splendid indie titles, and follow-ups to some big-time hits. There was also a sort of liberalisation in the online shooter space in the sense that a lot of them went cross-platform, allowing people to enjoy them notwithstanding the platform. Meanwhile, microtransactions were still their evil selves, but some things just don’t change, do they? Read on to find out what we thought were the best video games of 2024.
Helldivers 2
With its fresh twist on tactical shooting gameplay, Helldivers 2 cemented its spot on this list in February itself. Its intense, high-stakes alien battles on a variety of hostile planets transport you into a truly unique world. Developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, this title adds depth to its gameplay through a strategic layer that requires teamwork, precise communication, and careful planning. Helldivers 2 was released simultaneously for PC and PS5 and featured cross-play from day one. It’s no wonder that it was PlayStation’s fastest-selling title of all time, surpassing 12 million units within 12 weeks of its release.
Thank Goodness You’re Here!
This standout indie title took adventure gameplay to the next level with its unique elements. Its appeal was further enhanced by its unique surreal humour and hand-drawn art style. Developed by the UK-based studio Coal Supper, this video game combined the absurd and the mundane in a way that is both refreshing and thoroughly engaging. Set in a quirky English town, it makes you interact with a series of strange, hilarious scenarios that are born out of the eccentricity of its locals. This indie gem is a well-deserved entry to this list for its charm, originality, and attention to detail.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
The first Dragon’s Dogma, which came out in 2012, featured mind-blowing RPG gameplay but fell short on the visuals front. Its sequel solved that second aspect and doubled down on the gameplay to deliver one of the most enjoyable games of 2024. This video game’s spirit lies in its distinct, at times hilarious, lore and its open world that’s designed to surprise you every step of the way. In many ways, it plays like a Souls-like game, but it can’t be called one outright. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is an absolute delight, so go ahead and play it right away in case you’ve been holding off on it.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia started its journey in the 1990s as a side-scrolling platformer, and the makers of the latest entry went back to these roots and crafted a surprisingly delightful entry. This video game offers a neat blend of fast-paced platforming and challenging combat and is set in a vibrant, mythic world. As one of the standout titles of 2024, it reintroduced the beloved franchise with a stunning, side-scrolling design that combines nostalgic mechanics with modern gameplay innovations. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a must-play for both longtime fans and newcomers in 2024.
Astro Bot
The purpose of the character Astro Bot has always been to demonstrate the capabilities of PlayStation hardware. But this time around, Sony decided to let loose and create a full-fledged game out of it. And boy was that a good decision. Astro Bot maintains the charm of its predecessors and crafts clever puzzles that immerse you completely in its gameplay. With refined mechanics, endearing characters, and stunning environments, Astro Bot offers a refreshing, family-friendly adventure that brilliantly highlights the basic joys of gaming in 2024.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Thirty-eight years after the franchise’s birth, its makers finally gave its namesake, Princess Zelda, her own full game. Gamers got to control the titular character, who has set out to save Link and the kingdom of Hyrule using her magical Tri Rod. The game had all the trappings of a splendid Zelda experience and was lapped up by fans with immense enthusiasm. It beautifully combined open-world exploration with intricate dungeons while introducing fresh puzzles, unique abilities, and breathtaking landscapes.
Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws put us into the shoes of Kay Vess and let us traverse a diverse open-world setting in a galaxy far, far away. More than anything, it was the game’s combat, with its combination of melee attacks, a blaster, and environmental objects, that made it such an engaging affair. The game also impressed us with its stealth elements, as well as Kay’s ability to use the grappling hook. It’s worth noting that this was Ubisoft’s first-ever Star Wars game, and the fact that they hit it out of the park on their first attempt means a few more might be on the anvil.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Although not a full game, this expansion for Elden Ring made waves with its arrival back in June. Shadow of the Erdtree ventured into a new location called the Land of Shadow and introduced plenty of new lore surrounding Miquella the Unalloyed, the most powerful demigod in Elden Ring. Forty new boss battles, one more brutal than another, formed part of this DLC. It expanded the game’s lore in a truly breathtaking way and stayed true to its habit of rewarding patience and exploration. Yet, there was notable criticism from fans regarding its difficulty, which sometimes felt a bit too dialled up even to hardened players.
Animal Well
In an era when gaming is all about microtransactions and season passes, Animal Well was pure nostalgia. The Metroidvania game combined puzzle and platformer elements and asked us to guide a blob as it navigates through a dark, mysterious world filled with strange creatures and hidden secrets. The game is made more attractive by its rich and vibrant pixel art design that’s accompanied by nuanced lighting, shading, and colour blending. It’s hard to believe that Animal Well was developed by a single person and has a file size of just 40MB on PC.
Silent Hill 2
Fans got to return to the classic horror mania of Silent Hill 2, which offered much more than they had expected. The original Silent Hill was a game of utmost substance, combining mature storytelling with psychological themes, but it felt short on the visuals front due to the hardware limitations of its time. This remake solves that problem and delivers a stunning experience to old fans and new ones. This thoughtful reimagining of the original game was so eagerly awaited that it managed to sell more than a million copies within three days of release.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes was one of the most striking and mysterious games of 2024. Its intricate, enigmatic storytelling and mesmerising visual style made it an absolute hit among players and critics. It’s a puzzle-adventure game that plunges you into a surreal, noir-inspired world of mystery and suspense. Set in a haunting European mansion, players unravel a complex web of puzzles and secrets, piecing together clues and following a story that defies traditional narrative structures. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes has earned its spot as one of the best games of 2024 by offering a deeply cerebral and visually captivating experience that pushes the boundaries of interactive storytelling.
Pacific Drive
Yet another indie title in this year-end list is Pacific Drive, a first-person survival game that has you avoiding strange anomalies and obstacles while being armed with only a beat-up station wagon. You are asked to navigate the treacherous terrain of the Olympic Exclusion Zone, a twisted, supernatural version of the Pacific Northwest. The game’s procedural elements and dynamic weather captivate you with their unique atmosphere, and its realistic mechanics add thrill to the whole experience. Pacific Drive stands out as one of the year’s most memorable and innovative survival games.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
The final addition to this list is another remake. More specifically, it’s the second chapter of the planned trilogy that will complete the Final Fantasy VII Remake. It chronicled the middle chapters of the classic RPG and let us journey through vast open environments beyond Midgar. It brought back the thrilling real-time combat system that seamlessly combines strategic elements with action, along with beautifully updated visuals and cinematic storytelling. Not only does Rebirth deepen fan-favourite characters and explore new storylines, but it also introduces stunning new regions, expansive side quests, and exciting combat mechanics that keep the experience fresh even for longtime fans.
