The 20 Best Games Of 2024
Balatro is one of the best games of the year, but where does it rank?
There’s another year in the books, so it’s time for me to round up the best games of 2024. As always, this is my personal list of my favorite games that I played in 2024 that came out in 2024.
I’m upset because I didn’t make enough time for it UFO 50, Animal Well, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Mouthwashing, Still Wakes The Deep, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or 1000x resistance. Nor did I choose Star Wars Outlaws Back after the last major update which seems to have improved the game a lot.
I also wanted to reach him Horizon Lego Adventures, Crow Country, Sheepy: A Short Adventure, Pacific Drive, Monument Valley 3, The Holy Gosh Darn, Grapple Dogs – Cosmic Canines, Black Myth: Wukong and A Quiet Place: The Way Forward. Most of them are on my Steam Deck, but time and the demands of modern life create tough enemies.
I try to play as wide a range of games as possible, generally a mix of things I’m really passionate about and those that are in the zeitgeist. At least I am He tries To check out each game the PR teams were kind enough to send me their review codes, but there are only a very few that I have access to. There are some genres that I rarely touch upon, but sometimes specific titles appeal to me (for example, a particular roguelike deckbuilding game).
Simojo Sayonara Wild Hearts It’s one of my favorite games of all time, so I really wanted to love the studio’s newest game, Lorelei and laser eyes. The aesthetic is impeccable but my mind was not at all engaged with its difficult puzzles. At the same time, I liked the story imitative But the instantaneous movement didn’t land for me.
I I adore concept Times and Galaxy Although the underlying conceit doesn’t quite hold together (a discussion for another day). I liked what I played with Sixth Sumerian and casting frank stone, But I bounced back from it after a few hours and never went back.
Okay, enough nonsense. Here are the 20 best games of 2024:
20) Little Kitty is a big city
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series
Developer/Publisher: Double dagger studio
An absolutely enchanting exploration adventure and exactly as advertised. One to enjoy with the younger players in your life.
19) Galaxy Mix
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Developer: Seeley Games
Suika game I made my list last year and now the mobile version has earned a place in the 2024 edition. But it’s really sold Galaxy Mix For me it is that I can play it on my Apple Watch.
The idea is that when a pair of nice, identical orbs come into contact, they merge into a larger body (as in… Threes). Repeat until you have a black hole or the container overfills. Tetris-style.
I actually prefer the precision of using a dial over a controller or touchscreen when it comes to positioning items before dropping them. Other than Monitoring 2 And one particular card game, I think I spent more time with it Galaxy Mix Than any other game this year. For the record, I started (but didn’t finish) a piece about it back in March and I’m still playing it.
18) Turbo baby
Platforms: Windows (Nintendo Switch TBA)
Developer/Publisher: External Minds Company
I adore turbo kid, An incredibly fun 2015 film that’s a very gory ode to Saturday morning cartoons. It took nine years for this follow-up to arrive. The game does a solid job of expanding the universe while being a delicious traditional Metroidvania in its own right. As with the movie, the soundtrack is absolutely stunning.
17) Swimming pools
platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Developer: Tensory
publisher: Tensory, UNIKAT label
A disturbing art project in the form of a walking simulator. Swimming pools It’s an absorbing film of the narrow space horror of the backroom trend, though it’s more unsettling than truly terrifying.
16) Shem
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series
Developers: Ewood van der Werf, Nils Slickerman
Publishers: Very nice to play with
I would choose a beautiful puzzle game with great, distinctive visuals and a well-told story over most other game types most of the time.
15- Thank God you are here!
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5
Developer: Charcoal dinner
publisher: Panic company
A brazenly funny adventure with a sense of humor that’s almost ripped right out of it Meaning. You play as a silly little guy who takes care of the odd jobs of the residents of a small town by slapping things. I fell in love with Thank goodness you are here! The second I saw that the name of the supermarket was PriceChuggers.
14 – Clikolding
platform: Windows
Developer/Publisher: Strange scaffolding
By far the most disturbing game on this list. I played this weird game about endurance and aggressive deviance at lunchtime, which probably wasn’t the best choice as my brain tried to process it for the rest of my work day.
It is impossible to forget (or recommend with good awareness). I’m glad I witnessed it Clickoldingbut I won’t click on this to open it again.
13) One of the leaders
platform: Windows
Developer: Midnight snacks
Publishers: Midnight Snacks, Ottersloth
One Btn Bosses It’s similar to comedy in that it’s all about timing. You control an automatic shooting ship on a fixed track. At first, your only input is a single button that reverses the vehicle’s direction but resets its damage output, which increases over time. You can unlock different abilities and weapons as you progress, but avoiding damage is all that matters unless you’re interested in moving up the leaderboards. It’s a good time.
Read my review of One Btn Bosses
12) Nephites: Ghosts of New Eden
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
Developer: Don’t nod
publisher: Focus on entertainment
One of the few long games that kept me hooked this year, Nephites: Ghosts of New Eden It is a morality tale wrapped in an RPG blanket. The rich and heartbreaking love story trumps the combat here, but it’s a journey worth taking. Maybe even several times to accommodate the different endings.
Read my review of Nephites: Ghosts of New Eden
11) Trombone Champion: Not flat
Platforms: Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, Steam VR
Developers: Flat2VR Studios, Holy Wow Studios
publisher: Flat2VR Studios
My first real experience in VR was an absolute joy. There are games that resonated more with me this year, but nothing made me laugh as much as the silliness Trombone Champion: Not flat.
Read my impressions about Trombone Champion: Not flat
10) The brave square
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
Developer: All possible futures
publisher: Devolver Digital
It’s a real shame that The brave squire The landing didn’t quite stick and probably went on too long, because I liked this otherwise. It’s packed with smart ideas and features. The brave squire It has a great premise and is a wonderful ode to the importance of creativity and storytelling.
9) Minishoot Adventures
platform: Windows
Developer: Soul Game Studio
publisher: SoulGame Studio, IndieArk
It’s a twin-stick shooter that casts you as a character Galaga-A great ship in a top-down Zelda-like adventure. Depending on which day you ask me A link to the past It’s my favorite game of all time, so Minishot Adventures It was like catnip to me.
They are wonderfully made and full of character. I still can’t quite get over how amazing a job the two-man studio behind this game did in rendering the ship. This is a real gem.
8) Hell Divers 2
Platforms: Windows, PS5
Developer: Arrowhead game studios
publisher: Playstation publishing
I’ve never had so much fun spreading democracy f̶a̶s̶c̶i̶s̶m̶ 🫡
7) Indiana Jones and the Grand Circle
Platforms: Windows, Xbox Series X/S
Developer: Machine games
publisher: Bethesda Softworks
I’ve never had so much fun punching fascism in the face.
5) Eteh
platform: Windows
Developer/Publisher: impossible
I love living in Montreal and this game is a beautiful encapsulation of the city and its many quirks. It turns the city into a huge canvas on which you can paint and drink. Come on It’s my favorite relaxing toy of the year.
4) Palatro
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series
Developer: LocalThunk
publisher: Playstack
Pretty much perfect game. Balatro It may have caused a significant decline in productivity around the world in the past year. He’s convincing and that’s good. It’s on my computer, laptop, Steam Deck, and phone. I never walk away from this.
3) Another crab treasure
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series
Developer/Publisher: Agro crab
Soulslike For people like me, who struggle to access Soulslikes (for life Al-Din ring Play time: three hours). I think I understand it now though.
It’s a colourful, witty and satirical take on the genre, and is actually much darker than many of its ilk given its real-world setting and pollution-driven story. However, it’s really fun to play!
It took me a few hours to really understand the language Another crab treasureExploration and combat. When it clicked though, everything came together correctly. And when I don’t feel like fighting a boss or certain enemies, I can always replace the Kril shell with a giant pistol that shoots any opponent.
2) Neva
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series
Developer: Nomada Studio
publisher: Devolver Digital
Amazing in every sense of the word, follow Nomada Studio Grace It is a deeply moving puzzle game about love, loss, and entropy. necessary.
1) Astro Bot
platform: PS5
Developer: Asobi team
publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sure, it might be the obvious choice. I’m also surprising myself by choosing a GOTY platformer for the third year in a row. But I have to listen to my heart, and the video game that has filled it with more joy than any other in the past year Astro Bot.
It mixes tight platforming, plenty of character, clever level design, and just enough secrets into a cheerful celebration of PlayStation’s long history. It is a game suitable for the whole family to come together and enjoy, even if it is a single player game. Some of the challenging levels are extremely difficult (and often frustrating!) but how could I really get mad at this game? Astro Bot It is really special.
As for the bar, this is my favorite game every year since 2019:
See you next year with a list that may or may not include GTA VI!
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