Games Happy

I believed final yr was top-of-the-line years for video games since 2017, however I ended up discovering much more I loved in 2024 throughout platforms and genres. With some ups and downs that even led to me becoming a member of RPG Web site, 2024 is now behind us all, however I struggled to limit the video games I needed to spotlight right here to even 50 after I began pondering of my favourite video games of 2024. 

Not solely did I find yourself discovering some very good smaller video games, however I used to be shocked at how a number of of the larger ones I used to be excited to play ended up left unfinished as I discovered myself having fun with some shock releases. Earlier than entering into the numerous video games I loved in 2024, I wish to point out a number of that I needed to play, however did not find yourself ending them for no matter motive. These are Astro Bot, Rise of the Ronin, Caves of Qud, Stellar Blade, Last Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Slitterhead.

I made a decision to attend on the PC launch for Last Fantasy VII Rebirth earlier than getting deeper into it since I’d have the ability to give it extra time then, and simply did not find yourself with the ability to play a lot of Rise of the Ronin when it debuted regardless of having fun with it lots. I have been slowly chipping away at Caves of Qud, Astro Bot, and Slitterhead over the vacations as properly. I am going to probably have extra to say about them sooner or later, however I’m having fun with them. Having greater than 24 hours in a day would have been very helpful. 

With that out of the way in which, let’s get into the video games I loved lots this yr throughout genres, not simply RPGs.

15 Honorable Mentions throughout two units

I’ve two units of honorable mentions, or video games that did not make into my prime 10. Apart from what you possibly can contemplate “11-20”, I made a decision to place any remakes, re-releases, or remasters right into a separate set as properly. The 5 video games under are unordered:

• Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance – I cherished the unique Shin Megami Tensei V on Swap a number of years in the past, however Vengeance mainly fastened any downside I had. I contemplate it Atlus’ greatest re-release ever and one of many developer’s greatest RPGs in a few years. It additionally occurs to have a legendary soundtrack that in some way lived as much as the Shin Megami Tensei IV rating. 

• Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven – Romancing SaGa 2 is what acquired me into SaGa video games a few years in the past and I am glad to have skilled it once more in an outstanding remake that’s now the definitive option to get into the SaGa sequence for newcomers. I loved Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven a lot that I purchased it thrice to help the discharge. 

• Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake – Sq. Enix’s HD-2D Remake of Dragon Quest III is an ideal mix of old style Dragon Quest with the HD-2D aesthetic I am keen on. Dragon Quest III has been a multitude on fashionable platforms, however I am glad that we now have an outstanding model of it on all present platforms.

• MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Preventing Assortment: Arcade Classics – Having gotten actually into preventing video games over the previous few years and after studying to play with each sticks and leverless controllers, I had been slowly revisiting older video games. MvC2 felt like one thing I’d by no means get to play formally, however MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Preventing Assortment: Arcade Classics delivered an outstanding bundle that I’ve loved enjoying on-line and offline throughout PS5 and Steam Deck.

• Grasp Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus – After I first tried enjoying Rain Code on Swap, it felt like Spike Chunsoft’s greatest recreation manufacturing, nevertheless it was clearly very downgraded on Nintendo’s hybrid system. Rain Code Plus on present consoles and even Steam Deck is an enormous visible enchancment, however one that does not deal with the unique recreation’s points sadly. Both means, Rain Code Plus is a simple suggestion for Danganronpa followers, and I hope we see extra prefer it from Spike Chunsoft sooner or later.

The video games under are what I’d contemplate “11-20” however unordered:

• UFO 50 – UFO 50 felt like a recreation that wasn’t ever going to be launched, nevertheless it continues to impress me every day. UFO 50 took me again to my childhood shareware recreation days with a bundle that really featured 50 full video games throughout genres of various sizes. Not solely does it really feel underpriced given the superlative worth, however I can not consider something that comes near its ambition from any developer, not simply an indie. UFO 50 simply narrowly missed my prime 10 as a result of I wasn’t fond of each single recreation included.

• Shiren the Wanderer: The Thriller Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island – Shiren’s latest launch debuted on Swap earlier within the yr and was instantly top-of-the-line exclusives shortly for Nintendo’s hybrid console. Whereas I have not performed all entries within the sequence, Shiren 6 is well my favourite, and a straightforward suggestion to even newcomers to the style who play on Swap or PC. Shiren 6 is a chic handheld expertise wherever you play.

• Unicorn Overlord – I am as shocked as you might be {that a} brand-new Vanillaware recreation is not in my prime 10, however this yr has simply been that  sturdy. After I was enjoying it, I noticed Vanillaware is just like the Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard who hold exploring completely different genres with every new album and sustaining the standard. The narrative being a bit weaker than I had hoped from the developer is the one actual problem I’ve with this technique RPG gem.

• Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown – I did not find yourself enjoying Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown at launch, however lastly acquired round to it a bit earlier than its Steam launch. It blew me away and whereas it goes on a bit too lengthy, Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown and 9 Sols are simply my favourite metroidvanias in many years. Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown is an incredibly good recreation that managed to impress this old style Prince of Persia fan who has not likely loved the sequence after the primary two video games.

• Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Relink was one other recreation I simply wrote off as a result of it confirmed no indicators of releasing, till it did, and it was superior. Its chic music, glorious visuals, nice multiplayer, and beautiful action-packed single participant marketing campaign impressed me sufficient to replay all of it the way in which. After all of the delays, I am glad Granblue Fantasy: Relink managed to knock it out of the park and develop into considered one of my favourite video games of the yr. 

• Youngsters of the Solar – Youngsters of the Solar is a superb tactical shooter meets puzzle recreation with an impeccable aesthetic. Whereas the core gameplay by itself is well worth the worth of admission, I discovered myself fairly taken with the narrative. It does not overstay its welcome both. 

• SaGa Emerald Past – SaGa Emerald Past is the right follow-up to the wonderful SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions with its unbelievable turn-based fight, construction, and music. This is not actually an accessible recreation, however a SaGa for SaGa sickos (praise).

• Warhammer 40,000: Area Marine 2 – A pal of mine stored telling me about Area Marine 2 for years, and I did not take note of it again then as a result of I wasn’t accustomed to Warhammer 40,000 in any respect. A couple of years in the past I began enjoying many video games primarily based on the universe, and was impressed by a trailer for Area Marine 2 that made it appear to be a giant finances tackle the very good third-person gameplay we might see within the Xbox 360 and PS3 days. I ended up having fun with it lots via its marketing campaign and multiplayer. 

• Tsukihime -A chunk of blue glass moon- – Tsukihime’s remake impressed the hell out of me after I performed it earlier this yr on Swap. Having heard about Kind-Moon’s debut visible novel for a few years, I did not assume I might ever have the ability to expertise it in English, however the remake floored me. I wholeheartedly agree with Josh’s assessment calling it the closest we’re to an AAA visible novel expertise. 

• Mouthwashing – Mouthwashing is a recreation greatest skilled with out understanding something about it. The primary-person strolling simulator horror recreation has characters and a narrative I will not overlook anytime quickly, and it additionally ended up being top-of-the-line examples of pushing the medium ahead narratively. Mouthwashing is greatest when it is not attempting so as to add “gameplay” and simply specializing in its storytelling.

The benefit of desirous to do a photograph just like the one you see above for this text is it made me cease transferring video games out and in of my prime 10 and throughout honorable mentions. After serious about my rating and the video games I needed to cowl right here for a number of weeks now, and even including 9 Sols as the latest recreation, I lastly settled on the rating for my prime 10 video games of 2024.

10) Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Membership

When Nintendo launched two remakes a number of years prior, I believed it was a kind of releases that made lots of Swap house owners (like myself) completely happy, however not likely one thing we must always anticipate to see extra of. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Membership proved me unsuitable and delivered considered one of Nintendo’s most shocking releases in a few years. It’s a very good journey recreation that has top-of-the-line finales. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Membership was simply Nintendo’s greatest recreation of 2024 and a vital for followers of the style. I simply want it had touchscreen help like different journey video games and visible novels on Swap.

9) Arctic Eggs

Arctic Eggs was a recreation I acquired gifted to me as a result of I really like cooking and fishing mini-games in something. I ended up loving its aesthetic, music, and in addition the way it managed. The Steam Deck’s trackpad ended up being my favourite option to attempt to prepare dinner the varied egg requests via the sport’s story, and it was additionally a studying expertise for Steam Enter. Arctic Eggs with its stress-free music and writing felt like the right recreation for somebody who loves Umurangi Technology. Hey, that is me. It does not play too properly with a controller sadly, however is a beautiful Steam Deck expertise when you like utilizing the trackpads. 

8) 9 Sols

9 Sols is actually right here due to James. When he performed it, he used to publish about it lots, and I’ve had it on my wishlist ever since. We acquired despatched an Xbox code for it, and I made a decision to present it a shot on my new ROG Ally. I ended up enjoying for a number of hours and loving it. I purchased it in the course of the current sale, and have been obsessive about it ever since. Actually, I put extra time into 9 Sols during the last two weeks than the rest. The unbelievable fight, beautiful visuals, slick animation work, and memorable (and difficult) boss fights elevated 9 Sols to what’s probably my favourite metroidvania ever. Sure, I imply it. I can not imagine I ended up discovering two of my favorites within the style with Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown and 9 Sols in the identical yr. Please play 9 Sols. Do not get intimidated by the problem as a result of it has some accessibility choices. For those who personal a Steam Deck, it’s excellent on that and a stunner on the OLED display screen.

7) Thank Goodness You are Right here

After I noticed Thank Goodness You are Here is reveal trailer, I believed it could be an honest recreation carried by its voice performing. I used to be unsuitable. I ended up adoring the writing, aesthetic, and interactions throughout the three hours I spent with it. In lots of methods, Thank Goodness You are Right here felt like I used to be enjoying an interactive model of an previous English comedy like Allo Allo with a cartoon aesthetic. Thank Goodness You are Right here may not hit as arduous for individuals who aren’t followers of a selected sort of British humor, nevertheless it did for me. 

6) Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

I have been a Simogo fan ever since I performed Yr Stroll on iPad a very long time in the past. Since then, the studio has put out unbelievable and artistic video games totally on iOS, however we noticed some console and PC video games with Yr Stroll hitting Wii U and Sayonara Wild Hearts launching on all platforms. I used to contemplate System 6 my favourite Simogo recreation, however Lorelei and the Laser Eyes ended up exceeding all my expectations and delivering top-of-the-line puzzle video games I’ve ever performed. It’s meticulously crafted and whereas I first performed it earlier this yr on Swap and Steam, I’ve discovered myself adoring the DualSense haptics included within the new PS5 launch. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is not going to be for everybody nevertheless it hurts me to have it simply out of my prime 5 video games. I stay up for rebuying it each time a bodily launch occurs.

5) Tekken 8

I’ve by no means hidden how a lot Tekken 7 upset me. I hated it at launch on PS4 and mainly by no means touched it once more till years later. I nonetheless wasn’t a fan of the way it was, and mainly wrote off the sequence that I adored in the course of the PS1 period. When Tekken 8 was introduced, it appeared like an enormous step up for the sequence, and I made a decision to present it a shot despite the fact that it launched close to many different video games I used to be excited to play. I am glad I did as a result of Tekken 8 was ok to get me to purchase it on all platforms and play it recurrently with buddies via its base recreation and with every of the DLC characters together with Last Fantasy XVI’s Clive who just lately joined. 

4) The Legend of Heroes: Trails via Dawn

Each time a brand new Trails recreation releases, I be sure to play it and I often get pleasure from it. When discussing it with buddies although, there’s at all times a giant caveat whether or not I like to recommend it or not due to what number of video games you would possibly have to have performed earlier than to get the very best expertise. We have had a number of good entry factors lately, however Trails via Dawn is the very best one but so far as I am involved with its fashionable fight, upgraded recreation engine, very good forged, wonderful protagonist, and mainly not requiring any prior video games. It’s humorous having Trails via Dawn proper under Metaphor in my prime video games of 2024 listing as a result of Metaphor’s fight is clearly impressed by Trails via Dawn. For those who’ve ever needed to get into Trails, that is the place you begin till we get a remake of Trails within the Sky later within the yr in fact. I can not wait to play that as properly.

3) Metaphor: ReFantazio

Metaphor: ReFantazio is one other recreation that felt prefer it was by no means going to be launched given how early it was revealed as Undertaking ReFantasy. After it was formally re-revealed as Metaphor: ReFantazio with a 2024 launch deliberate, I used to be curious, however uncertain what to anticipate. Atlus delivered what seems like a step ahead for RPGs and a biggest hits of Atlus video games with Metaphor: ReFantazio. It has my favourite Atlus recreation forged, iteration on its turn-based fight, a chic soundtrack, and glorious gameplay all through. It’s a bit missing technically even immediately, however Metaphor: ReFantazio is proof that Atlus nonetheless has it in them to ship nice RPGs. I can not wait to see what this staff does subsequent. Metaphor’s fantasy setting, sturdy narrative, soundtrack, construction, and sophistication system all come collectively to make it considered one of my favourite Atlus video games ever. 

2) Balatro

Balatro is a recreation I’ve in all probability put in essentially the most period of time in all yr throughout all platforms. Sure, ever since I performed it round launch on Swap and Steam Deck, I ended up shopping for it on each single platform in order that I’ve it each time I want a break from any lengthy RPG or simply wish to hearken to the wonderful track that by no means will get previous. A poker roguelike is not one thing that I ever thought I might play this a lot, nevertheless it managed to up the ante and in addition transfer up on my recreation of the yr listing to develop into my runner-up recreation of the yr for 2024.

1) Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

I really like the Yakuza / Like a Dragon sequence greater than most issues typically. Yakuza: Like a Dragon felt like a breath of recent air with its new protagonist and turn-based fight shakeup. It was held again by some fight points and one very annoying late-game problem spike. The narrative was wonderful although, and I could not wait to see what the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio did subsequent. About 4 years later we obtained Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth AKA Ryu Ga Gotoku 8 in Japan. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth constructed on the muse laid by Yakuza: Like a Dragon and glued all of my points whereas delivering two full video games value in a single bundle that rewards not solely newer followers, but in addition those who’ve been with the sequence from the beginning.

It’s uncommon for me to get time to play lengthy video games like this a number of instances, however it’s even rarer for me to do it in the identical yr. Some would possibly marvel why I spent over 200 hours with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth as a substitute of enjoying different video games I by no means acquired round to in 2024, however Ichiban, Kiryu, Saeko, Nanba, Adachi, Seonhee, Eric, and Chitose are simply considered one of my favourite casts in gaming, and I can not get sufficient of simply exploring Hawaii and placing time into the plethora of mini-games in my playthroughs throughout platforms. 

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a masterpiece and a mammoth of an RPG that caught with me proper from the time I beat it in January. 2024 has been considered one of my favourite years in gaming with what number of releases catered to my style, however Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth stood tall above the remainder as a Yakuza 0 and Misplaced Judgment-level expertise that I contemplate amongst my favourite RPGs and video games in a really very long time.