Ah, yes, the end-of-year reflection. Each winter, our team finds a few shreds of time—away from the holiday parties, family get-togethers, and snow shoveling—to think back on the past 12 months of video games. Normally, I’d have ample notes to share—look no further than my wildly unwieldy “Favorite Things of 2023” shtick, complete with my best Julie Andrews impression. But 2024 feels different. It doesn’t feel like a time for jokes, or laughter, or celebration.
Much like how COVID cast a shadow over 2020, this year will forever be known as the year we as a people allowed Donald Trump—felon, rapist, xenophobe, racist, and all-around asshole—to return to the White House. And no amount of checks and balances (of which there are few) will keep him from setting the clock backward for women, the trans and non-binary community, people of color, and so many other non-white, non-privileged, non-conforming individuals.
The election wasn’t the only shitty thing this year. Even in gaming, we’ve seen turbulence, including mass layoffs at Microsoft in January, the closure of multiple Bethesda studios in May, a 17% downsizing at Bungie in July, and countless other studio cuts. We’ve also seen some massive creative failures, from Rocksteady’s universally panned Suicide Squad game to the launch and subsequent shuttering of Sony’s Concord.
Not a fun year! And yet, somehow, despite the constant threat of layoffs, restructures, and anti-woke grifters, game developers still delivered, as they always do. We’ve seen so many excellent titles, big and small, across a plethora of genres, platforms, and price points. Even with so much uncertainty ahead of us, I know this industry will continue to rally around the promise of a more inclusive and equitable future.
But I’m rambling. Let’s get back to the prompt.
10 Video Games That Made 2024 Worth It
Unlike last year, where I rattled off the best things I engaged with over gaming, television, film, and music, I’m back to basics for 2024. No frills. No meandering commentary (intro aside). Just 10 gaming recs, ranked by personal preference.
Without further ado, these are the 10 video games that kept me going in 2024:
10. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Full disclosure: I haven’t played as much of Echoes of Wisdom as I would have liked. The game came out in September, smack dab between a Sony platformer and Atlus RPG you may or may not hear more about further down my list. Still, I’m pleased with the time I’ve spent in Hyrule thus far, thanks to a refreshing take on the classic Zelda formula that finally puts the titular heroine at the center of her own adventure.
Built on the engine that brought us 2019’s Link Awakening remake, Echoes of Wisdom marries a familiar graphical style with all-new gameplay mechanics. Armed with a talking, magical staff (because of course), Zelda can clone practically anything in her environment to summon to her aid. Need to reach a tall platform? Use the “trampoline” echo for some extra height. Staring down a pack of enemies? Summon a Darknut to clear the way. Or, just brute-force your way through the game using a bunch of beds. To hell with rules.
It’s a neat melding of the Zeldas of old with open-ended entries like Breath of the Wild. Some downtime in menus (selecting echoes is a chore) and sluggish combat encounters damper the fun, but don’t be deterred. This is a wonderful adventure—and hopefully the beginning of many more with Zelda at the helm.
(Oh, and let’s not forget THE MUSIC. Holy moly, the music.)
Platform: Nintendo Switch
9. Minishoot’ Adventures
If you tried Echoes of Wisdom but long for an even greater return to that classic 2D Zelda DNA, look no further than Minishoot’ Adventures. This PC-only (for now, at least) indie game takes the tried-and-true Zelda formula and follows it to a T. You’ve got your overworld, dungeons, power-ups, boss keys, secrets… anything you could want from Zelda, and it’s here.
That’s not to say Minishoot’ Adventures doesn’t innovate. The game veers away from Zelda in one fundamental way: Instead of controlling a sword-wielding elf, you pilot a sentient spaceship, with combat playing out like a frenetic shoot-em-up. Instead of slicing up Octoroks and Lizalfos, you’re raining down gunfire and weaving between oncoming bullets.
That might seem like a massive shakeup, but you’d be surprised at how well Zelda translates to a shmup-style game. If anything, Minishoot’ Adventures hits all the right notes while improving on Zelda’s weaker points (namely, combat and overworld navigation). The result is a gem of a game you’ll have trouble putting down until you’ve hit 100% completion.
Platform: PC (Steam)
8. Dungeons of Hinterberg
What a pleasant surprise this one was. If you’re unfamiliar (chances are, you are), Dungeons of Hinterberg is the debut game from indie studio Microbird Games. Promoted as part of Microsoft’s ID@Xbox program, Hinterberg is an action RPG that takes heavy inspiration from two franchises you likely have heard of: Zelda and Persona.
I can already hear your question: How the heck do you meld those two? As it turns out, the pairing works surprisingly well. You play as Luisa, a newly minted lawyer going through the throes of a soul-crushing junior position. Seeking refuge from her crunch of a life, she visits the fictional town of Hinterberg, located in the real-world Austrian Alps. In Hinterberg, magic is real, with adventurers converging from around the world to partake in thrilling dungeon runs.
Each day, you explore one of Hinterberg’s many zones, from woodland forests to the wintery Alps. These zones contain enemies to fight, loot to collect, and numerous dungeons to explore, each with its own set of Zelda-like puzzles to complete. Beat a dungeon, and you’ll gain a stamp for your journal—putting you one step closer to completing all 25.
In the afternoon, you’re free to explore the town of Hinterberg—which is where the Persona elements come into play. By building relationships with various NPCs (think Social Links), you’ll gain perks that aid you in combat down in the dungeons. As with any Persona game, you can expect sharp writing, as well as a plot with plenty of twists and turns.
Dungeons of Hinterberg may take inspiration from others, but the final product is unlike anything I’ve played before. Tragically, it got snubbed by our industry’s biggest award shows, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Grab it when you have the chance.
Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox Series X/S
7. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
In a year filled with surprises, The Lost Crown has to be one of the most welcome. A return to the series’ 2D roots, the game features all the great pinnings of a great Metroidvania. Elegantly designed world—check. Inventive power-ups—check. Collectables worth uncovering—check. The Lost Crown excels in these aspects, but its greatest achievements lie in its innovations.
The game’s combat is sublime. There’s nothing quite like juggling an enemy, charging up an attack, unleashing it, then “rewinding” your body to do it all over again. The Lost Crown features so many slick little combos that there’s a full-blown training mode (delivered by an in-game NPC) for those looking to explore them in depth.
There’s also the whole in-game photo mechanic, which garnered critical acclaim from critics. By taking a snapshot of your immediate environment, you can quickly reference inaccessible treasures on your map—a godsend for tracking collectibles and planning out your backtracking paths. Add in a dope story and even doper protagonist in Sargon, and you have a recipe for one of the best Metroidvania games ever.
The Lost Crown, you are a king among kings.
Platforms: PC (all storefronts), PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Amazon Luna
6. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Elden Ring was my favorite game of 2022, as it was for countless other critics and players. FromSoftware’s magnum opus built on practically everything the studio had made before—from the immaculately designed “legacy dungeons” to the skin-crawling audiovisuals—and tied it all together with a tantalizing open world. Ambitious and unrelenting, Elden Ring was a game I never expected to outright love. Yet, here we are.
It should come as little surprise that Shadow of the Erdtree offers more of what was so successful in Elden Ring. You’ve got more weapons to find, more player builds to explore, and more terrifying bosses to test your might. It’s a sterling example of DLC done right—and though I haven’t gotten close to completing it, I already know it’s worth celebrating.
Just not as much as my top five. (Sorry, Erdtree. I’ve gotta spread the wealth here!)
Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
5. Astro Bot
Long before fellow Punished Backlog writers Sam Martinelli and Mark Bowers extolled the virtues of 2024’s Astro Bot, I had written about a lesser-known title in 2018 known as Astro Bot Rescue Mission. A PSVR-only title, ABRM was Sony’s first foray into the world of the little robot who could. It was cute, it was inventive, and it was one of the best games I played that year.
I wish more people could have experienced Astro’s origin story, but clearly, the pricey headset deterred most. So, I’m glad to see Astro Bot find success six years later on the PlayStation 5, even if it pulls somewhat liberally from what came before. Though most of Astro’s abilities remain unchanged from his inaugural adventure, Astro Bot (2024) still manages to surprise and delight with some truly out-of-this-world levels. (Check out my best Astro Bot levels list for all the details.)
It’s not my favorite game of 2024, but Astro Bot towers over all others in heart and charm.
Platform: PlayStation 5
4. Balatro
If there’s one indie game you’ve played this year, chances are it’s Balatro. (If not, that’s cool too. Let me know in the comments.) The game made a big splash in February and never looked back. Since then, the industry’s favorite poker roguelike (there are a few) has received numerous content updates and collaborations. Dave the Diver, anyone?
Even if you’ve put hundreds of hours into the game, there’s always another reason to jump back in. Like fellow time-sucker Slay the Spire, Balatro offers scaling difficulty options across numerous decks. Even if you manage to complete them all, there’s a bevy of additional scenario challenges to complete—like the hilarious “Omelette” challenge, in which you start with five Egg jokers.
What’s particularly impressive about Balatro—beyond the faultless design and wonderful development story behind it—is that it’s accessible to nearly anyone. You can play it on consoles, in bed with a Switch or Steam Deck, or on the go via iPhone or Android. It costs just $15, making it well within reach for even the most cash-strapped gamer. And though it does falter in areas (blind gamers needed a mod to make it playable), its community and cultural influence are only growing. I can’t wait for the inevitable Balatro movie starring Jack Black.
Platforms: PC & Mac (Steam), PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
3. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
For a time, I was convinced that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth would be my Game of the Year. And for many months, it was. Gameplay-wise, it offered everything I loved about 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake, but more. More characters to control, more abilities to master, and more mini-games to fail miserably at. (So… many… mini-games.)
That “more” mentality was Rebirth’s greatest strength, but also its greatest weakness. The addition of an open world started off cool, slowly became tedious, and ended up an absolute slog. (I wish I could put Chadley in a straightjacket, ship him off to Corel Prison, and never hear him or his annoying sidekick Mai ever again.)
Thankfully, much of that side content is optional. Those who beelined through the main story were rewarded with the same great storytelling and characterization that made Remake such a hit. And though the game suffers some pacing issues, particularly in the later chapters, the core gameplay loop—and promise of learning the fate of you know who—was enough to keep me pressing on.
The ending proved divisive. Many hated it—but I loved it. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth had the daunting task of honoring the PS1 classic while surprising long-time fans, all while catering to those who never played the original. Square Enix was never going to please everyone, and I’m just happy to be sitting on the sunny side of the fence.
Platforms: PlayStation 5
2. Metaphor: ReFantazio
We’re nearing the zenith, folks. If Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was an imperfect RPG that I love dearly, then Metaphor: ReFantazio is a near-flawless RPG that I love even more. Very few notes!
The most bizarrely timely game ever released (the only real competition being 2019’s Death Stranding), Metaphor takes the complex inner workings of the Persona formula and applies them to a very simple question: What if our current world was even shitter? The result is a game where racism is rampant, fascism is normalized, and society’s sole hope is a free and fair election.
Sound familiar?
The U.S. may have collectively lost this election, but in Metaphor, you can experience the exact opposite: a world that overcomes bigotry, slowly but surely, and galvanizes around a common good. Yeah, it’s a fantasy world, and who knows if we’ll ever get there as a modern society, but if gaming ever were a form of escape, Metaphor: ReFantazio is escapism at its finest. And that’s before I even mention the terrific battle system, lovable characters, and badass music.
My one complaint: It’s ugly. Like, really ugly. Hopefully, Atlus greenlights a sequel and puts some of that sweet Persona budget behind it.
Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X/S
1. UFO 50
WTF is UFO 50? If you’re asking this, I’m sad to say the collective gaming zeitgeist failed you this year. That, and the total lack of marketing behind this absolute gem.
Let’s back up. In August 2017, I wrote a passionate news piece covering the announcement of UFO 50. Back then, The Punished Backlog was only six months old. I had learned so little about what makes a good games critic—but even then, I knew from that initial press release that I was keyed into something special.
The premise was simple: 50 games; one package. It seemed too good to be true. (In a way, it was. The game originally promised a 2018 release. Far from!) Developer Mossmouth (helmed by Derek Yu, of Spelunky fame) promised everything from platformers to shoot-em-ups and full-blown RPGs. Surely, the team wouldn’t be able to deliver on that promise?
Fast-forward to September 2024. Seven years have passed since I originally gushed about UFO 50; now, the game is finally here. What strikes me most—besides how much my writing has improved since 2017—is how much those games have evolved since that initial announcement trailer. Some, like the sea-faring Porgy and puzzle-based Block Koala, look exactly the same. Others, like Bug Hunter, look vastly different. In many ways, the development of UFO 50 reminds me of The Punished Backlog—a slow burn that, despite a long, twisty road, never lost its fire.
But this post isn’t about us; it’s about the talented team at Mossmouth. Not only have they delivered on that initial promise (I’ve played all 50 games; the experience has been surreal) but they’ve done so in a way that appeals to my very soul as a gamer. Each time I boot up the collection, a smile forms. Every time I “trophy” or “cherry” a game, a dopamine rush hits the system. I’ve clocked 90 hours into UFO 50, and I have no intentions of stopping soon.
I’ve already written 300+ words about this damn game, and I’ve barely scratched the surface of what it’s about. I doubt I can do it justice in 50 more. (Check out my UFO 50 review for the full picture.) Just know that it’s a love letter to everything you love about gaming, served on the best platter since The Orange Box.
Metaphor may be the more timely game, but UFO 50 is a reminder that games themselves are timeless.
Platform: PC (Steam)
Honorable Mentions
This was a particularly stacked year for games. Shout-out to all the titles that missed my list:
- Animal Well
- Botany Manor (read my Botany Manor review)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
- Nine Sols (read our Nine Sols review)
- Persona 3 Reload
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
What’s Your 2024 Game of the Year?
Let me know in the comments!
