Editor's Picks for Game of the Year 2024

2024 has been a relatively quiet year for gaming, unless you're an asshole like me who usually scoffs at JRPGs. Even though I haven't played as many games as usual (thanks, Dawntrail), it was still pretty difficult to narrow the list down to 10. With that preface out of the way, here are a few of my favorite games. Let's do this without a remake, remaster, or DLC.

Don't be afraid if you don't agree with my perfect taste. There are several Game of the Year lists from my wonderful colleagues, which you can check out here, along with the full list on the site, which will be published on December 18th.

10

Caravan Sand Witch

I've realized this year that feeling good is an essential part of whether I like a game, and Caravan SandWitch has that perfect feeling.

It's relatively simple from a gameplay perspective, but driving around in a small van, picking up debris, and chatting with interesting characters made time seem to melt away. It's perfect because there's a story about environmentalism and a story about insisting on it to men.

9

pacific drive

If I had a nickel for every non-racer car-centric indie game that appeared on my list this year, I'd have two nickels. It's not a huge amount, but it's strange that it happened twice.

Pacific Drive is the exact opposite of Caravan SandWitch in that it has an atmosphere, but it makes you want to curl up behind the sofa. This is an extremely tense survival game that pits you and your brave little car against supernatural phenomena while providing satisfying inventory management. I treasured that car like it was my own family.

8

huntie

I like games that give me something to look at, and I like games that have an interesting art style. Hauntii is the best of both worlds, blending elements of Super Mario Odyssey and bullet hell shooters to create a game that feels completely unique.

Sprinkle in some grand boss battles and tense set pieces to show off the unique art style. It's perfect if you're looking for something a little different to do for a few hours.

7

nine souls

Nine Sols is not the game I thought it would be. I saw a picture of a cute cat and thought I was in an adorable little metroidvania. But what I got was one of the most shocking games I've played this year. , has the most satisfying combat mechanics.

The parry system is perfect, the platforming is tricky but fun, and the comic book aesthetic is very pleasing to the eye. All of this effortlessly combines to make Nine Sols the best metroidvania released this year. Even though he offended me once or twice with his cruelty.

6

Neva

The PlayStation Trophy pop-up made me cry.

honorable mention

5

crow country

Resident Evil is one of my favorite horror franchises. So any game that is a well-crafted love letter to the series is already in my good books. Crow Country takes it a step further and is full of clever puzzles and witty dialogue that will make you laugh a time or two while nervously creeping around the hell out of the theme park grounds.

Now, it's not often that I play an entire game at once, but Crow Country really stuck with me and I didn't let go until the credits rolled.

4

Astrobot

Astro Bot is what you get when you set out to make a game that's pure joy from start to finish. Did you feel a little sad when you met Kat in Gravity Rush and remembered that we weren't getting Kat anymore? Of course. But I hope she and PlayStation's other forgotten heroes are celebrated in an endlessly inventive and inventive platformer that rivals the best Nintendo can muster. It's actually good enough to make the underwater levels fun, and for that alone it deserves its place.

3

Chronicles of Yongyou: One Hundred Heroes

2024 has been a good year for the JRPG genre, so I'm starting what I'm calling the 'JRPG Gauntlet'. Bronze medalist Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is a criminally underrated title that packs 120 characters into a single game, giving them interesting personalities and their own stories.

Whether it's an intense beyblade match or a fancy cooking competition, there are so many people to meet and so much to do. Best of all, it's all wrapped up in one huge story that's worth experiencing on its own, and I encourage more JRPG lovers to give it a try.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is everything I've wanted from Atlus for years. It strips away the oddly sensational and slightly parochial aspects of Persona, builds further on the combat mechanics that have been tweaked and perfected across multiple titles, and throws in Final Fantasy 5's job system for good measure.

It has the best character cast in RPG history (shout out to my son Basilio), and a story that's simultaneously painfully relatable and inspiring. If it weren't for a certain curly-haired absolute dork, this would have easily taken first place this year.

1

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Yes, there was no way the best Like A Dragon game ever made wouldn't top my list this year. Kiryu and Ichiban are my two favorite protagonists. Infinite Wealth was a beautiful send-off for the former and another fun romp for the latter. I was skeptical about Ryu Ga Gotoku bringing Kiryu back, but I'm really glad it did.

Plus, Infinite Wealth boasts one of the best turn-based combat systems I've ever experienced, a dizzying variety of side activities, and some of the more ridiculous and heartwarming side stories that have made me fall in love with the series. For. It's the best game of the year, and even though it feels like an ending in many ways, I'm really excited for the future of the series.