The Best Games I Played In 2024

Like my list of the best books I've read this year, this list focuses on games I played for the first time in 2024, not ones that necessarily came out this year (although there are a couple of them there). It was hard to narrow this list down, as there were a couple I couldn't fit in (namely, the indie puzzler Fez, as well as the Castlevania DLC for Vampire Survivors) but these right here are the cream of the crop.

Blasphemous

  • Genre: Soulslike/Metroidvania
  • Premise: For centuries, the land of Cvstodia has been ravaged by the Grievous Miracle, which sometimes blesses - but more often curses - it's inhabitants, to the point that suffering (both self-inflicted and bestowed upon them) is considered holy. As the Penitent One, a member of the Brotherhood of the Silent Sorrow, you must undergo a pilgrimage to the very ends of the land, defeating manifestations of the Miracle and collecting artifacts along the way, in the hopes of perhaps finally undoing the cycle of torment.
  • Thoughts: I heard a lot about the difficulty level of this game, especially in regards to the platforming, and... Well, I feel they exaggerating a fair bit, but make no mistake, this is a challenging game, but an extremely rewarding one. The combat is satisfying; in addition to slashing with your sword and performing combos, you also have a projectile attack at your disposal, and powerful spells that require fervor to cast. The true bread and butter of your moveset, however, are the dodge and parry skills, as brute force will get you nowhere; this is a soulslike, after all. In true metroidvania fashion, you'll uncover relics that will help you reach areas with new abilities, as well as a staggering amount of collectibles that can either grant you bonuses to your loadout, or help you complete side quests. There's also a currency system, the main purpose of which isn't to buy items (although there are a couple of shops), but to upgrade your skill tree. Every item comes with lore that fleshes out the world, which is heavily inspired by Spanish art and Catholicism. There's also multiple endings, but you will almost certainly not achieve the 'best' ending on your first playthrough, though there's a robust new game plus mode that give it quite a lot of replay value. The only major criticism I have of the game is that one of the DLC updates introduces Miriam from Bloodstained for some inexplicable reason, and the optional platforming challenges she requests you complete for a true 100% are truly mind-numbingly brutal. All in all, Blasphemous is dark and gruesome and an utter blast to play, as there's just simply nothing else like it.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (2024)

  • Genre: RPG
  • Premise: The Gamecube classic, often considered the best in the Paper Mario franchise, has been remade for the Nintendo Switch. When Princess Peach is kidnapped by a new enemy, the X-Nauts, it's up to Mario and the partners he recruits on his travels to rescue her by collecting the crystal stars to open the titular thousand year door. The game employs turn-based combat with action commands, and is a great first RPG for newcomers to the genre.
  • Thoughts: Nintendo may not be willing to return to Paper Mario's heyday, instead introducing sequels that don't really have much in common with the first two games, but they did throw us a bone by giving us a stellar remake of this title. The core experience is much the same, which is a good thing - the witty dialogue will still have you laughing out loud, the combat is still brisk and enjoyable, and Rogueport is still one of the best hub worlds in any game. But they've added a bunch of new features that really make this the definitive way to play the game. On the gameplay side, they've added optional tutorials to practice action commands (which is great even for veteran players, as the drop to 30fps and some minor changes to timing means that muscle memory might betray you), two new superbosses that are total fanservice and worthy challenges, a larger inventory (which makes getting the new completion rewards for getting every recipe much easier), and an npc that, for the right price, can warp you halfway through the pit of 100 trials granted you've already made it that far. Most importantly, they added some new fast travel options, which is a huge boon, considering the amount of backtracking required for not only side quests, but for the main game's Creepy Steeple and Fahr Fahr Outpost segments much more tolerable. The new localization also is much more close to the Japanese script - in fact, Vivian is canonically a trans woman, which is a huge victory! Lastly, unlockable concept art that's never been seen before, as well as a hugely expanded soundtrack that's just incredible, makes this one of the best remakes Nintendo's done. Unfortunately, you can still only take on one side quest at a time, which is a bummer, but it's not nearly enough to taint this masterpiece.

Metroid Prime Remastered

  • Genre: Metroidvania/Action Adventure
  • Premise: A remaster of the Gamecube classic. After fleeing an exploding space pirate frigate in classic Metroid fashion, bounty hunter Samus Aran chases after her longtime nemesis, Ridley, to the planet of Tallon IV. Formerly home to a Chozo civilization, it's now being infected by phazon, a radioactive substance that mutates creatures and that the space pirates had been conducting experiments with. Her suit damaged by her escape, Samus has to explore the dangerous planet in order to find upgrades to repair it, all while trying to hunt down Ridley and find out what the source of the phazon is.
  • Thoughts: You can read my full review here!

Wargroove 2

  • Genre: Turn-based Strategy
  • Premise: This content-rich sequel has multiple campaigns to play through, each from the perspective of a different faction of Aurania, with all the stories linking up towards the end. There's also the addition of a roguelite mode with procedurally generated missions and maps, as well as several multiplayer options and a robust level and campaign editor.
  • Thoughts:You can read my full review here!

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

  • Genre: RPG
  • Premise: An expanded edition to 2021's Shin Megami Tensei V. The high school protagonist is pulled into the Da'at, a post-apocalyptic version of Tokyo, and only saved by the intervention of the proto-fiend Aogami. They merge into one being, known as the nahobino, and together they must travel between the Da'at and modern day Tokyo to fight demons, recruiting some to battle at their side. Other students get caught up in the war and forge their own alliances with demons, both aiding the protagonist and standing in their way.
  • Thoughts: I bit the bullet and bought this, knowing that even if the new content didn't hold up, the base game was so fun that I would still enjoy it. And honestly, it was worth double dipping - the improvements are fantastic. This game includes a brand new campaign that you can choose at the start of your file that has two different endings, and a drastically different plot that, while far from the strongest element of the game, is certainly better than the original's. It also has a completely new region to explore that's easily the best one; while I felt that some of the original regions were a bit too same-y in theming, this one is immediately recognizable and stands out as having a fun map to explore and some much-needed variety in palette and tone. Regardless of which campaign you choose, however, you'll still benefit from the dozens of newly added demons, side quests, and quality of life features. I can't imagine going back to the vanilla release after playing this one, solely for the quality of life improvements alone. For example, there's additional ways to fast travel, the ability to save anywhere, and treasure you've attempted to collect but don't have room for will register as being opened on the submap. This is the definitive way to play the game; the only major complaint I have is that they didn't do anything to spice up the linear and shallow dungeons tacked on towards the end of the game. If you missed out on the first release, now's the perfect time to give the game a spin, as it's the most accessible of the entire franchise. And even if you played it already, I feel confident saying this is worth the price of admission.

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

  • Genre: Action
  • Premise: Dracula has been resurrected, once again, and this time the Belmont who stands in his way is Richter. He must make his way through Dracula's Castle in the hopes of rescuing his girlfriend, Annette, as well the young girl Maria Renard and other captives, using the legendary Vampire Killer to make quick work of his foes.
  • Thoughts: I've played a lot of Castlevania games, with my favorites being the later metroidvania incarnations (in case you couldn't tell, I'm a huge metroidvania fan), but I'm still a big fan of their earlier installments, particularly Castlevania 1 and 3 on the NES. I had been feeling the mood to replay one of those two games, then it occurred to me that I had never actually played Rondo of Blood, which was a shame, as the main character was Richter, my Smash main. I found the PCE game free to download on archive.org (don't confuse this with the SNES game Castlevania: Dracula X; it's not a port, but a retelling with entirely new levels, and is much more lacking) and gave it a spin, and honestly, it's dethroned 3 as my favorite classicvania. The level design is at it's absolute best, the soundtrack is full of earworms, it's difficult without being overly frustrating, and the graphics are beautiful and hold up extremely well. Unlike Castlevania IV, which released on the SNES a couple years earlier, you can only aim your whip in the cardinal directions, but I found that Richter felt better to control than Simon did. You'll probably die to the bosses a lot of times, but there's usually a good assortment of hearts and sub-weapons in the hall before their chamber to give you a fighting chance. Like Castlevania 3, there are multiple routes in exits in most stages, which can take you to new areas, giving it a lot of replay value. You can also rescue Maria early on, who is an alternate playable character with a totally different moveset and potential sub-weapons. She's weaker than Richter, but can make certain stages easier, and is great fun to experiment with. It's a shame that the U.S. only ever got Dracula X, because it pales in comparison to this game. If you're a fan of old-school action platformers, you need to give this one a try, as it excels at basically every facet of its design.

Death's Door

  • Genre: Action Adventure/Soulslike
  • Premise: The protagonist, one of the many crows who reaps souls to deliver them to their afterlife, is tasked with collecting a specific soul. Unfortunately, a wizened old crow steals the soul, and will only give it back to them if they collect three giant souls, which will open the eponymous death's door. You'll travel to the farthest corners of the land to find them, learning of their various plights and attachments to life, while also slowly coming to realize that not all is as it seems in this afterlife.
  • Thoughts: I played this game at a serendipitous time in my life. I had barely made it to the first 'dungeon' when I got the news that my brother had passed away. Because of that, this game, which has such a positive message about death and moving on, became a way for me to grieve. Like the previously mentioned Blasphemous, I had heard mostly about the soulslike elements of the game above everything else, and while it's challenge level ranged from "pleasant" to "aggravating", I felt that its difficulty was oversold. Sure, there were moments where I'd growl in frustration and get heated, but after a breather I was able to manage them, and I never found it to be unduly unfair. Whereas Blasphemous took its cues from metroidvanias, Death's Door instead is an isometric action adventure in the vein of The Legend of Zelda. The world is beautiful and a blast to explore, with many secrets just waiting to be discovered. The puzzles are nothing like the ones you might see in fellow indie darling Tunic, but they're enjoyable. Honestly, if you take every element individually, there's nothing about the game that is truly exceptional, but as a whole, they make something achingly poignant. The moody music, characters trying to avoid their inevitable deaths, simple skill tree, and combat that revolves around parrying and dodging all manage to make something incredible without being overly complicated. The core mechanics are perfect, and everything else is the cherry on top. I cried while playing this game multiple times, and I'm sure that it's almost entirely because of my brother's passing, but it doesn't stop this game from holding a special place in my heart. If you're a fan of zeldalikes or soulslikes, this is a great game that does just about everything right.

Animal Well

  • Genre: Metroidvania
  • Premise: A creature awakens in a mysterious well full of other animals, with nothing to do but explore their surroundings. On your journey, you'll come across gear that will aid you in solving puzzles and traversing it's depths, as well as strange collectibles that have unknown purposes. Slowly, the player will understand the secrets of this world, learning how to use the tools in their inventory.
  • Thoughts: This is my game of the year, and it's not even close. As a huge metroidvania and puzzle fan, this game ticks off every possible box for me, including ones that I didn't even know were possible. The map may seem smaller than most metroidvanias, but it is by far the most dense - seriously, it's incredible how much creator Billy Basso was able to effortlessly cram into the space available! It has an atmosphere like no other, with ambient noises and sparse melodies that combine with the gorgeous faux-retro pixel art to craft an equally eerie and comforting experience. There is no combat in this game; while there are animals that can harm you (as well as various hazards like spikes), your method of 'fighting' mostly consists of throwing fireworks to frighten them off or otherwise dissuade them. The emphasis is instead firmly on the puzzles, and make no mistake, these are the cleverest and most rewarding puzzles I've had the pleasure of racking my brain over. Most metroidvanias are gated by what abilities you have; if you're playing a Metroid game, you can only open certain doors with a power missile, so until you pick up the upgrade, you can't progress through them. Animal Well is different in that it's knowledge-gated, for the most part, in a similar vein to games like Tunic or Fez. You by and large have the techniques you need to progress further, but until you figure out how they work, you'll be shunted down specific routes. For example, a disc that can be tossed like a frisbee to hit switches or distract dogs can also be used in an unique way that you'll most likely discover organically, and will open new areas for you to explore. The game is widely recognized has having four 'layers,' with some players satisfied with only completing one or two, while others will unravel the secrets of the later ones. Layer 1 would be an any% completion of the game - you do what you need to do to roll the credits, nothing more and nothing less. Layer 2 is closer to a 100% playthrough, as you'll collect every egg (the main collectable in the game), which requires advanced techniques and finding additional gear that you wouldn't otherwise need. Layer 3 is where things get elaborate, featuring ARG elements; Basso didn't expect any single player to solve all of these puzzles on their own, with one in particular outright requiring the community collaboration to complete. Layer 4 is the most intense, and for the most diehard players, as the requirements for completion are often hidden, and require multiple playthroughs. I finished Layer 3, and hope to tackle Layer 4 one day, as it's been a blast to wander forums and aid other players while working together to understand the game's mysteries. This is a charming masterpiece that has changed how I see video games as a medium, and one that I highly recommend to everyone who has even a passing interest in metroidvanias or puzzle platformers.

Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition

  • Genre: RPG
  • Premise: Teenage boy Serge lived mostly in peace until he was pulled into a parallel universe where he died as a child. With the help of the thief Kid, and dozens of allies he has the potential to recruit on his journey, he tries to return to his home dimension, all while getting caught up in the nefarious plans of the villainous Lynx, who has his eye on Serge for some reason...
  • Thoughts: I was incredibly hesitant to play this game because Chrono Trigger is one of my favorite games, and I still find comforting to come back to today, even after getting every ending and maxing each character's levels. You'd think this would have me ecstatic to get my hands on the sequel, but I knew full well that despite being a well-loved game, Cross has a reputation among Trigger fans as being a baffling and aggravating sequel, to the point most of the players on forums I frequented back in the day tended to just ignore that it existed. Still, I worked up the courage and bit the bullet, going in with the mindset "this isn't going to be a satisfying conclusion to the story I love so much, but instead a fun game that shares many of it's themes." That was indeed the right decision on my part, as it's place in the continuity is perplexing at the best of times, but damn if it isn't an absorbing RPG. The combat is quite different, using a rather unique element system based off of six colors, with each having a counterpart they're simultaneously strong against and vulnerable to. This forces you to be careful when considering matchups, but the wrinkle to combat I enjoyed the most was that all of your elemental attacks are customizable. With the exception of a handful of character-exclusive moves, you can assign elements you find on your journey to each character's grid, which has a limited number of slots. Mixing and matching attacks to take advantage of specific bosses is fun, especially when you consider you can use traps to learn special techniques from enemies you can't get elsewise. I was concerned about the huge playable cast - There are 45 in all, which range from plot-important to silly and inconsequential. My primary worry was that keeping your team properly leveled was going to be a nightmare, and it would reward you for just using the same ones over and over. Thankfully, while it's not perfect, the unique experience system here mostly alleviates that concern. Outside of gameplay, the loss of Akira Toriyama's art hurts, but the music is stunning, thanks to the legendary Yasunori Mitsuda, and while the plot is convoluted and will probably make you scratch your head towards the end, there are some very poignant moments and scenes that make you feel for many of the characters. A particular highlight is seeing how different each character's counterpart is. All in all, don't go into this expecting Chrono Trigger 2, as the moments when the game actually pretends to be a sequel are the lowest; instead, enjoy this for what it is, an excellent and creative RPG, and you'll be more than satisfied.

Live a Live

  • Genre: RPG
  • Premise: A remake of the SNES cult classic, there are seven scenarios to play through here in any order you like, each being a self-contained story set in a different time period; play as an exiled caveman, a martial artist in imperial China, a ninja in Edo Japan, a gunslinger in the wild west, a modern day wrestler, a psychic orphan from the near future, and a robot in the distant future. After you've completed them all, you'll unlock the final scenario, where you play as a knight in the middle ages. Then, at last, all the characters will come together across time for one final stand...
  • Thoughts: You can read my full review here!
Want more 2024 roundups?

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