by Myles Obenza
After last year’s incredible release line-up and stacked Top 10, I was anticipating a slower, more easy-going 2024. But boy was I wrong – we saw the release of some of the best JRPGs this medium has to offer, countless quality horror experiences, and a handful of platforming revolutionaries. Pair this with a wide variety of outstanding indie games from small studios and you have another contender for one of the best years in video games.
Just like last year, for some added fun I’ll be giving each game on my Top 10 list a Mini Award. Let’s get to it!
10. Fear the Spotlight – Multiplatform
As both an avid survival horror fan and retro game enthusiast, I was sold immediately when Fear the Spotlight was revealed at this year’s Summer Game Fest. Paying homage to PS1-era classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill in both mechanics and presentation, Fear the Spotlight blends minimalist, combat-less survival horror puzzle solving with the eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere you’d expect from this style of game. Great voice acting and storytelling also help make this one of the year’s best spooky games, narrowly beating out Crow Country for this slot.
The Mini Award for creepiest unkillable enemy of the year goes to: The terrifying ghost lady that chases you throughout the house. Shudders.
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – Multiplatform
I’ll be honest – if this weren’t on Xbox Game Pass, this would have been another entry in the long-running FPS franchise that I would have skipped. I’ve dabbled in recent entries here and there, but it’s been along time since I let go of my interest in the Call of Duty games, with the last one I was really into being 2013’s Ghosts. But Black Ops 6 has fully pulled me back in. With the new omni-movement system, balanced gunplay, and using scorestreaks instead of killstreaks (great for a bad player like me), this is one of the most refreshing Call of Duty multiplayer experiences in awhile. While it does have some glaring issues, like most maps being extremely tiny which leads to linearity in strategy and class-building, taking out enemy squads in Search and Destroy feels as good as ever.
The Mini Award for most satisfying kill from a scorestreak goes to: The RC-XD. Feels to great to get kills with, infuriating to get killed by.
8. Marvel Rivals – Multiplatform
2024 really feels like my multiplayer reawakening. When Overwatch launched in 2017, it was a cultural moment for gamers. It offered a fresh twist on the FPS genre, with incredibly creative character designs, well-balanced gameplay, and a competitive meta unlike other games at the time. Fast-forward to now, and Overwatch 2 just isn’t what we remember, to put it lightly. That’s where Marvel Rivals comes in. It’s easy to write this off as a cheap Overwatch clone, but Rivals is so much more than that. The free-to-play structure extends to its post-launch character releases (there are still cosmetic microtransactions, mind you), the third-person perspective makes gameplay feel a bit more dynamic and accessible, and the iconic comic book characters we know and love sport some awesome designs, both aesthetically and in their in-game kits.
The Mini Award for most annoying voice line goes to: Scarlet Witch. You know the one.
7. Neva – Multiplatform
The follow-up to indie developer Nomada Studio’s Gris, Neva adopts the same beautiful pastel art style and sidescrolling gameplay with stunning results. One of the new features this time around is that Neva has combat to go along with its intricate platforming and puzzle-solving, giving it a deeper sense of immersion that really helps you feel the importance of Alba’s quest. You’ll fight regular enemies and a few bosses with responsive dodge-and-parry mechanics, and there is a bit of learning curve. I’m glad it wasn’t a breeze to get through like Gris – offering a bit of challenge to go with its dire story and setting gave me a sense of urgency that I wasn’t quite expecting, but Neva is all the better for it.
The Mini Award for the best dog of the year obviously goes to the titular Neva. Look at how cute.
6. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Switch
2D Zelda made its triumphant return with Echoes of Wisdom, giving longtime fans something they’ve been asking for for years: a mainline entry where you can actually play as Zelda. This outing gave us that and then some. Echoes of Wisdom takes the freedom and creativity from Tears of the Kingdom and translates it flawlessly to two dimensions, offering players the ability to traverse the world and engage in combat however they see fit, thanks to the new Echo system. Zelda can summon virtually anything found in Hyrule, from clay pots to Moblins, and even the mighty Lynel, to do her bidding. This freedom opens it up to the player to hurdle obstacles however they want, and I had a blast finding the funniest way to take out baddies.
The Mini Awards for most unexpected useful item goes to: The Old Bed. It really does everything.
5. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door – Switch
The modern video game industry is no stranger to remakes, revivals, and remasters (as you’ll see further down this list), and Nintendo is no different. Fans have been clamoring for this GameCube icon to make its return, and the Big N responded in kind with a fully-fledged remake of arguably the best entry in the Paper Mario series. The Thousand-Year Door is the last true great turned-based Mario RPG on a home console, with its delightfully whacky cast of characters, whimsical story, and deep combat system. The series has unfortunately since moved away from this formula, but Nintendo seems poised to continue to this style of story-focused adventures if the outsourced Mario & Luigi: Brothership is any indication. A return to form for the Paper Mario series is just what my old ass needs.
The Mini Award for sassiest lil’ guy goes to: Baby Yoshi. That mohawk really brings it all together.
4. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – PS5
The second entry in the gargantuan Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, Rebirth opens up the world far beyond what players experience in the first game’s Midgar, and offers what feels like endless minigames and side content while retelling the classic story. The iconic moments, music, enemies, and locations from the original are all here, with modern changes and quality-of-life features that bring the franchise into the modern age. Seeing Sephiroth in action, fighting Tonberry’s in real time combat, and exploring the intricately designed regions in glorious 4K achieved the impossible task of improving on the original. Oh, and playing Tifa’s theme on piano brings a tear to my eye. Every. Time.
The Mini Award for best mini-game goes to: Queen’s Blood. Or Fort Condor. I dunno, pick one. They’re all awesome.
3. Silent Hill 2 – PS5, PC
Like I said for Fear the Spotlight, survival horror had a hell of a year, and the Silent Hill 2 remake is the best of the bunch. Possibly one of the tensest games ever made, the remake of 2001’s PS1 original improves the horrifying atmosphere tenfold with its tight corridors and unsettling sound design. Seriously, playing this game in the dark in October was the best Halloween-adjacent experience this year. The superb voice performances lend itself to an already gripping story, and the lack of plentiful resources, forcing me to focus on melee combat, had my heart pounding until I rolled credits.
The Mini Award for biggest douchebag goes to James Sunderland. Piss off, James.
2. Astro Bot – PS5
The biggest surprise of the year for me personally, Astro Bot sets a new standard for the 3D platforming genre. Snappy, responsive controls, intuitive level design, and super catchy music makes this a very close runner up for my Game of the Year. As a longtime PlayStation fan, seeing all of my favorite characters and franchises in one place scratched that nostalgic itch – the themed levels were some of the most fun I’ve had while gaming ever. Astro Bot also has intense challenge levels, offering something for casual fans and hardcore gamers alike. Once I Platinumed this, I felt a longing for more that is luckily fulfilled by continuous (free) updates and different modes.
The Mini Award for “fuck this goddamn stupid level” goes to: Splashing Sprint. I have high blood pressure now.
1. Metaphor: ReFantazio – (PC, PS5, XSX/S)
I mentioned at the top of this list that 2024 saw the release of some of the best JRPGs around, and I really meant it. From top-tier remakes like Dragon Quest III HD-2D and Atlus’ own Persona 3 Reload, to new entries in heavy-hitting franchises in Dragon’s Dogma II, and even reissues of popular games of yore like Fantasian Neo Dimension, this was a great year to be an RPG fan. All of these games stand up on their own merits, but the true icing on the JRPG cake (and all genres, as a matter of fact) in 2024 is Metaphor: ReFantazio. This new IP from Persona developer Atlus is set in a fantasy world and tells a grand story that, in true Atlus fashion, has many real-world parallels – it tackles social and political issues that we continue to see today (if a bit on the nose). The highly-stylized turn-based combat that Atlus is known for is on full display here, and improves on the near-perfect battle system from Persona 5 Royal. It also streamlines the social links system, called Followers here, giving players a sense of respected time, despite its 100+ hour runtime. Turn-based battle systems are far from forgotten, and I can’t wait to see where Atlus goes from here.
The Mini Award for biggest snub for Best Performance at the Game Awards goes to: Philippe Spall as Heismay. Or any of the cast, really. What the hell, Keighley?
This year’s list was tough – narrowing it down to just ten after we got hits like Balatro and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was quite the ordeal. As we get deeper into the current console generation, and with Nintendo’s successor to the Switch looming, 2025 is sure to be yet another busy year full of incredible games. We have Monster Hunter: Wilds, Avowed, and Ghost of Yotei to look forward to, just to name a few. Here’s to all of us finding the time for them all. See you next December!