This year brought an avalanche of game releases, with surprise hits, a few misfires, and some hidden gems. For me, 2024 wasn’t just about keeping up with new games—it was about finding ones that truly resonated with my life in some way, even if they weren’t new from this year. (Last year, I wrote about my top seven therapeutic games of 2023.)
I finally entered the current gaming generation with a PlayStation 5 snagged during a Black Friday sale. It’s been a transformative year for me—one defined by significant personal challenges and moments where I wasn’t gaming much at all–yet there were a handful of games that pulled me in so deeply, I couldn’t put them down, even when life got tough.
Donovan’s Top 5 Games of 2024
5. Baldur’s Gate 3
Starting my first D&D campaign this year was both exciting and daunting. Playing 2023’s Baldur’s Gate 3 around the same time made the process easier and infinitely more fun. It’s a sprawling game with endless possibilities—every decision, every playthrough feels fresh and rewarding. At first, the sheer scope of the game was overwhelming, but as I grew more comfortable with real-life D&D, I found myself diving deeper into the game’s mechanics and storytelling.
I ultimately settled on a fighter and monk as my go-to classes. The blend of turn-based combat and rich narrative made every session feel like an epic adventure. I know there’s still so much left to discover in this vibrant, unpredictable universe.
4. Helldivers 2
While I usually gravitate toward single-player games to keep my blood pressure in check, Helldivers 2 pulled me out of my comfort zone and into its chaotic, cooperative worlds. This game pushed me to team up with friends and family to face relentless hordes of enemies, turning each session into a bonding experience I hadn’t had with multiplayer gaming in years.
The game’s difficulty is no joke, but the sense of progression as you improve your arsenal is incredibly rewarding. Its biting humor and satirical take on militarism add another layer of charm to the experience. With its challenging gameplay, rewarding mechanics, and absurdly funny moments, Helldivers 2 is a standout title from this year that’s equal parts intense and hilarious. By the end of the year, this game had become one of my favorite ways to reconnect with people and rediscover the joys of cooperative play.
3. Kill Knight
As I mentioned in my October review, Kill Knight is an addictive, endlessly replayable gem that rewards players for mastering its deep arsenal of abilities. It’s a game that thrives on momentum, encouraging you to use every tool at your disposal to overcome increasingly difficult challenges. Few games this year captured my attention the way this one did, with its tight controls, atmospheric design, and satisfying progression system.
Each run felt like an opportunity to improve, to experiment, and to push myself further. If you haven’t played it yet, you’re missing out on one of the most thrilling indie games of the year. I still find myself going back for just one more run, only to lose track of hours in its addictive gameplay loop.
2. Fallout 3 & 1. Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout’s award-winning TV adaptation brought the wasteland to life in a way that felt tangible, and visiting the world through the games deepened my connection to the franchise. The journey in the games enhanced my appreciation for the show that I have rewatched dozens of times.
I had never played a Fallout game before seeing the Fallout show, which debuted on Prime Video in April. It quickly became my favorite show of the year, and its masterful worldbuilding and storytelling inspired me to dive into two of the most beloved games in the franchise, Fallout 3 (2008) and Fallout: New Vegas (2010). To modernize the gameplay and avoid technical issues on my PC, I used a popular mod called Tale of Two Wastelands. This mod seamlessly merges Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas into one cohesive experience while adding quality-of-life updates like enhanced textures, improved menus, and quicker load times.
My time spent in these worlds left an unexpected impact on me. Their post-apocalyptic worlds mirrored my own emotional fallout in ways I hadn’t expected. Whether as the Lone Wanderer in Fallout 3 or the Courier in New Vegas, I found myself navigating desolation and piecing together a new sense of purpose. The hauntingly beautiful soundtracks—filled with Billie Holiday, The Ink Spots, and other timeless artists—punctuated those feelings of loneliness and heartbreak but also offered comfort. Each song felt like a message of resilience and understanding, a reminder that even in the bleakest times, beauty and hope could still be found.
Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas also gave me the grounding that my emotional experience is not completely isolated. If the people of the wasteland could endure deathclaws, raiders, and radiation, maybe I could endure my own challenges.
Like the games’ protagonists, I learned that survival comes from exploration, perseverance, and leaning on the right companions. The games also emphasized the importance of humor, finding joy in small victories, and making the best of what you have. And maybe a little whisky.
For all the incredible games this year, Fallout games from more than a decade ago became my anchor—a therapeutic escape and a reminder that even in the most hostile environments, there’s beauty, humor, and hope. Sinking hundreds of hours into these games taught me lessons about resilience and connection that extended far beyond the screen. They weren’t just games—they were a reflection of my journey, and a therapeutic source of strength and comfort when I needed it most.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to those above, I also enjoyed the following games, listed in alphabetical order.
- Balatro
- Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus (read my Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus review)
- Fight Crab 2 (read my Fight Crab 2 review)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Marvel Rivals
- Nine Sols (read my Nine Sols review)
- Parking Garage Rally Circuit
- UFO 50
