It’s a time to reflect and write down mostly meaningless lists because it’s fun. Yes, my top 5 games of 2024. This is a ranking without any scientific criteria.
But I admit I haven’t played as much as I wanted to this year and have missed quite a few pinch hitters. So, I looked back at the games I reviewed and played this year and felt that they were lacking. I’ve played a number of older titles, but this list only applies to games released this year.
So, without further ado, here are the top five games of 2024 that I enjoyed the most, in no particular order.
Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2
Picking a Warhammer brand video game can be like flipping a coin. Except, one side is shiny gold and the other side is covered in monkey pops and HIV. But according to the Emperor, Space Marine 2 is one of the best licensed Warhammer games like Dawn of War, and I’m mad at myself for not reviewing it.
Basically, you’re a human-shaped tank, a mountain of genetically modified superhumans wearing massive armor that can run straight through tiny beings in a shower of blood. Even walking is satisfying thanks to the weight and strength the developers gave Titus. Every step feels like an earthquake.
That sense of power translates into intense combat as thousands of angry little Tyranids burst out of every corner of the level and hit you like the world’s ugliest tsunami. But you can fight your way through the flesh, wearing battle armor and wielding a chainsword like the wrath of a god revealed with pure malice. It feels so right. The thud, thud, thud sound of the bolt gun is just the icing on the bloody cake.
In fact, the game’s biggest strength is also why some people don’t like it. Space Marine 2 feels a lot like an Xbox 360 game transported back in time. It’s a simple action game with minimal extras and can sometimes feel a bit dated or unrefined. Linear levels with little room to move, some rough transitions, etc. can make the game seem stuck in a time warp.
But those are the things that make me very happy. This is a masterpiece shooter that’s unafraid of simple, fun, uncomplicated double-A action that revels in the comedic seriousness of the Warhammer 40k universe.
Astrobot
Read my review of Atro Bot
As a child, I loved wholesome stories where right and wrong were clear, good ultimately triumphed, love conquered all, and everything was colorful and fun. As I progressed through my teens and into adulthood, I craved ‘mature’ stories where right and wrong were unclear, morality was blurred, characters were complex and imperfect, and good did not always triumph. . But now, at age 32, I am returning to that happy, simple experience. We live in a world where we talk all the time but never communicate. We live in a world where right and wrong are not clear, where everyone has to have an opinion about everything, and where all friendships and families must be destroyed accordingly. It’s good to get back to what’s wholesome, happy, and pure.
pure. Nice words about Astro Bot. It doesn’t care about your politics, religion, beliefs, race, gender identity, or your opinions on whatever celebrity bullshit is currently blowing up social media. It just wants you to have fun, and it does so with rich, vibrant graphics, tons of platforming gimmicks, and an endless supply of charms so powerful that they should be outlawed lest their power be used for evil.
Can it compete with the Mario franchise? It’s hard to talk about, and even harder to judge. There’s years of nostalgia for Mario, and it’s hard to separate the quality of the game itself from the feeling of warmth and love my brain automatically generates as soon as I see the iconic red hat and mustache. And I’m not talking about Santa, baby.
But that’s not a problem because there’s plenty of room for Mario and Astro to coexist. PlayStation makes a lot of amazing games, but there’s a big gap in terms of genre, and Astro neatly fills one of them. And considering that the Nintendo Switch has the game released on PlayStation, who knows, an Astro Bot and Mario crossover might not be impossible.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Read my review of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
As we know, Xbox is going through huge changes. Hardware sales are declining, games are being ported to other platforms, and the entire brand seems to be shifting toward becoming the world’s largest third-party publisher. But while the chaos is swirling, it’s easy to forget that Xbox has many talented studios working in the background that are creating a potentially very strong lineup for the future.
In a world full of big IPs, reviving Indiana Jones isn’t exactly going from strength to strength, and while it might not sound like a good move on paper, that’s exactly what Microsoft and MachineGames have done.
I said it in the review and it’s a completely terrible cliché, but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle truly makes you feel like a good doctor exploring catacombs and punching Nazis in the face. The first-person perspective may sound like an odd choice at first, but MachineGames quickly proves that it was the perfect decision as it keeps you immersed in the world and gameplay.
I was also surprised by how much focus there was on stealth. In most cases, pulling a gun or trying to confront a Nazi was a bad idea and would quickly get Indy swamped.
Going into it, I thought Indiana Jones would probably be a solid but forgettable licensed game. It will be doomed to disappear into the annals of history, where it will inevitably be dug up by archaeologists in top hats and whips tied to their belts. his head. But boy was I wrong. Indiana Jones is an exciting adventure filled with fun puzzles, stealth, brawls, great cutscenes, and great acting.
But really, the best thing about this game is how well it captures the look and feel of the models. Troy Baker’s stellar performance as Indy certainly helps, but it’s more than that. The camera angles, music, and humor all reflect the trilogy.
Helldiver 2
Read my review of Helldivers 2.
For months there, it seemed like the whole world was hooked on Helldivers 2. Everyone was playing this game, everyone was fighting in a great galactic war against endless swarms of bugs and robot bastards. But the most amazing thing was that we were all engaged in role-playing, happily talking to each other as if it were real, absorbed in the crazy comedy of the fascist super-Earth and its propaganda. Developer I stuck with the idea. Players are busy debating whether it’s real and what it means. Clever stuff.
The funny thing is that Helldivers 2 is a very simple game. For example, you’re dropped onto a map with a few other people and told to complete some basic objectives while fighting hordes of enemy bugs or robots. It’s not complicated. But that’s the fun of it. The matches get more intense, the enemies get bigger, and before long you feel like you’re in an epic war movie where you’re making a desperate last stand against endless monsters and terminators. It’s amazing with friends, but even when playing with strangers without microphones, unspoken bonds are formed amid chaos and carnage, and brotherhood is formed amidst fire and bloodshed. I’m honored. Then someone calls in an airstrike too close and blows you away like you’re an Acme firework factory worker who forgot that smoking on the job is a bad idea.
Of course, I haven’t been back to the game in a while. I had to move on and do other things. However, we do know that the game has seen a huge surge in player numbers over the past month, and there’s a consensus that the game is in a good spot and we’re eager to get back into our armor and defend Super-Earth.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Read our review of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
Low sales and general lack of interest seemed almost guaranteed that we wouldn’t get a sequel to The Lost Crown, and that’s a fucking travesty because this was a fantastic metroidvania.
To be honest, just having the Prince of Persia nickname plastered all over him probably wouldn’t have gotten him very far. Names don’t mean much these days, and the game didn’t have much to do with the universe anyway. I mean, you don’t even play under the name Prince. Really the only connection is messing with time control, swinging a sword, and jumping over walls. Then again, without The Lost Crown’s name, it would have had a much harder time finding an audience, especially considering Ubisoft’s current crumbling position within the industry.
Where The Lost Crown shines is its gameplay. The quick controls make it feel great to play. Large maps open up in increasingly satisfying ways as you unlock new upgrades, the combat is great, and the platforming/puzzle-solving is great. The game lags a bit due to the somewhat forgotten story, but that’s not really an issue. I put The Lost Crown up there with the best games in the genre and highly recommend you check it out.
