We’re about to attract the shroud over 2024 — a sophisticated 12 months that gave us wonderful video games however which I totally count on to be remembered as “troubled” by the trade at giant. We’ve had over 14,000 layoffs, a withering marketplace for three growing old consoles, ballooning subscription prices and the (partial) collapse of the reside service style. However we’ve the primary few weeks of January 2025 to eulogize the 12 months’s occasions. As a substitute, it’s that point: Time to speak about our favourite video games that we loved probably the most this 12 months.
5. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Yearly on these lists, I like to incorporate no less than one recreation that qualifies as a darkish horse in my High 5 — a smaller title whose inclusion satisfies solely me. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes could have come out early sufficient within the 12 months that it’s subsequently been overshadowed, however I by no means forgot about it. Its surreal, stylized artwork design can be sufficient to stay in my reminiscence, however Lorelei is in the end a lot greater than this.
Lorelei is the kind of recreation that challenges the participant. The complete time you’re enjoying, you are feeling as if the sport has you locked in a battle of wits, and whereas it offers you all the things you have to resolve its multitude of puzzles, it’s not going to carry your hand. Even the sport’s diegetic interface and so-called “clue” methods appear extra aimed toward placing the participant on the backfoot than serving to. And matching wits with a recreation might not be everybody’s cup of tea — it’s not all the time my cup, both — however generally it’s what I would like and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes does that so nicely.
2024 was an honest 12 months for RPGs, all issues thought of — Baldur’s Gate 3 is a troublesome act to observe. However we had a surprisingly full 12 months. And one RPG rose to the highest with its distinctive, earnest story and enjoyable, quick gameplay: Atlus’s Metaphor: ReFantazio. For me, RPGs reside and die by how a lot they make me really feel like I’m really part of the world round me, and the world of Metaphor, disagreeable and nasty and fraught with unfair social methods although it was, felt actual — the struggles of its folks felt necessary.
Metaphor: ReFantazio manages to keep away from loads of the pacing pitfalls that befell different RPGs this 12 months (not naming any names, however IYKYK) by protecting you tied to an in-game calendar ticking down in direction of a significant world occasion — a refinement on Atlus’s staple time-management mechanics. In actual fact, virtually every bit of Metaphor appears like a extra compelling model of one thing Atlus has performed earlier than, from the artwork design to the turn-based fight. Whereas the story is a little more sober and critical, it’s advised with such conviction and with such a powerful message that it’s by no means as soon as boring.
3. Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle
Effectively, look who we’ve right here. MachineGames’ licensed journey recreation starring everybody’s favourite whip-wielding archaeologist has are available in on the final month of the 12 months and risen virtually to the very prime of the checklist. Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle is without doubt one of the greatest journey video games — and, surprisingly, the most effective stealth video games — I’ve performed in not simply 2024, however the final 5 years. Troy Baker’s efficiency as Dr. Jones goes to date past mere mimicry that it elevates the entire recreation into my High 3.
Nice Circle near-perfectly imitates the appeal of the unique Indiana Jones movies (be aware that I say “original” with particular intentions) whereas additionally paying homage to the traditional point-and-click journey video games that precede it. MachineGames has managed to seize the sequence’ humor and swashbuckling enjoyable, its sense that its not taking itself too severely, and the satisfaction of beating the crap out of Nazis (a topic with which they need to be very acquainted after the Wolfenstein titles). Additionally, one of many villains is performed by the late Tony Todd, and it’s simply good to see him once more.
2. Astro Bot
As somebody who performs video games professionally, it’s tempting generally to overexplain or overcomplicate my very own opinion. So whereas I might give a protracted, drawn-out rationalization for why Astro Bot’s platforming feels so rewarding, or how its story is compelling regardless of its simplistic nature … let’s put it in fewer phrases: Astro Bot is on this checklist as a result of it’s enjoyable. It’s enjoyable and entertaining and well-made and provides the participant exactly what they’re anticipating.
Okay, to sprinkle in slightly extra complexity into my opinion: Astro Bot is a platformer polished to a diamond sheen with coronary heart and a humorousness. The number of gameplay retains it recent, and the sport doesn’t put on out its welcome by overstretching its ranges or overplaying any of its gimmicks. It’s additionally simply the best size to maintain its PlayStation-ness from seeming an excessive amount of like an commercial (although admittedly it does come shut one or two occasions). Many are the video games that I play and love as an grownup gamer — few are those that I play and know I’d have liked as a toddler.
1. Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
Being sincere, my prime recreation this 12 months stunned even me. Till the ultimate moments I used to be scripting this, I used to be going to provide it to Astro Bot. However then I severely appeared on the dozens of video games I’ve performed to date this 12 months, and thought of which recreation it was that truly introduced me probably the most happiness whereas enjoying. And maybe it’s been lengthy sufficient — virtually a 12 months now — that my reminiscence has gone rosy, however I bear in mind my playthrough of Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown with a heat I’ve felt for little else this 12 months.
The Misplaced Crown has all the things I would like in a recreation: It has strong gameplay that evolves as the sport progresses, wonderful pacing, platforming selection, story and artwork design that pay homage to historical past and real-world mythology whereas mixing in fantasy, a various and fascinating solid of characters and a lot magnificence that simply enjoying it generally leaves me breathless. There have been so many video games between its January launch and now, and but it nonetheless managed to stick with me all the best way to the top of the 12 months.
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