tldr Best of 2024

If you love when a game tells you nothing, has exploration, puzzles and secrets - all your Christmases have come at once with Animal Well. Its intricate art and wordless storytelling make for a unique and immersive atmosphere. The puzzles are varied and rewarding. Crafting and sustaining this level of intrigue in a metroidvania without combat is an impressive feat. Above all, Animal Well is full of surprises, and the fact that it was all created by one person is remarkable.

Arco blends tactical RPG gameplay with a striking, South American-inspired art style. Its narrative is moody and compelling. Combat is unique, strategic and engaging. Lots of secrets and meaningful choices. Really, really cool game.

Every now and then a game comes along with a narrow but succinct concept, so confident and well-executed that it immediately, effortlessly captures your attention til the credits roll. Arctic Eggs could have just been a silly little browser game (especially considering it was born of a gamejam), but pairing its singular mechanic with an unbelievably cool art style, interesting world and genuinely hilarious writing was a masterstroke that makes it something else entirely. It feels ridiculous to write so glowingly about a short egg-flipping game, but it’s a testament to how refreshing games with small scopes and a solid vision can be.

A triumph for platforming fans, blending nostalgia with fresh and ridiculously creative mechanics. Team Asobi’s clever level design and charming PlayStation callbacks make for smile after smile. A polished, joyous, heartwarming adventure that’s hard to put down.

Balatro absolutely rules. And this is coming from someone with abject disdain of poker… Traditional poker hands are your basic tools, but that’s about as far as the connection goes. The rest of Balatro is a wickedly clever, psychedelic, insta-classic roguelike through which you’ll devise cunning ways to break the game. Cards and modifiers are tightly designed, crisply defined and delightfully synergistic. Again, Balatro just rules. Play it.

You’ll know if you’ll like Ballionaire immediately, and if you’re anything like me, be hooked shortly thereafter. The premise is simple: pachinko roguelite. But the eventually chaotic, physics-based design rewards experimentation and creativity, letting you craft overpowered ‘builds’. It’s easy to pick up but brimming with depth, and almost exploitatively satisfying.

Black Myth: Wukong is a crazy impressive, visually stunning action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology. It’s not a soulslike, and it’s not entirely a boss-rush either. Combat is fluid, satisfying, sometimes challenging. The enemy variety is wild, and the boss designs are compelling. The narrative is engaging, the overall atmosphere and world-building are captivating. Remarkable achievement for a studios first big game.

I was hooked on Children of the Sun after about two minutes into the demo, and the full release didn’t let go. A puzzler disguised as a shooter which seems straightforward initially, but its clever and versatile puzzle design proves remarkably addictive - especially with leaderboards. Combined with the art, sound and music, the vibes here absolutely rule. Play it.

DICEOMANCER stands out amongst roguelike deckbuilders with bold, creative mechanics, including the enigmatic One Dice - no spoilers, but it’s game-changing. Strategic mana management and class variety keep gameplay fresh, while its tense progression system adds challenge. All that with fresh and gorgeous art makes DICEOMANCER a must-play for fans of the genre.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 continues the legacy of its predecessor with expansive open-world exploration and super dynamic combat. I would’ve liked a bit more enemy variety, and the overall narrative is slightly underwhelming, but neither materially impacted my enjoyment. It certainly has its quirks, but after giving myself over to it, I experienced a sense of adventure not felt since BOTW or Elden Ring.

INDIKA is very clearly a game by and for people who enjoy satirical, surreal and profound arthouse cinema. Its eclectic mix of realistic 3D and pixel art 2D is underpinned and elevated by strong writing and voice acting - I was hooked from the first scene, and it even stuck the landing. The narrative is dark and compelling, the puzzles are engaging, and more than anything its thought-provoking themes and presentation make it unforgettable. I would love more games like this.

KILL KNIGHT is a fast-paced, demanding, isometric shooter blending the brutality of DOOM with Crimsonland-like mechanics. Set in an eldritch hellscape dripping with vibes, its tight combat systems, rewarding progression, and striking visuals make it engaging, addictive and ultra cool.

Damn. Mouthwashing is a harrowing triumph of psychological horror, blending PS1-inspired visuals with an unnervingly muffled soundscape over its 2-3 hour playtime. Its non-linear narrative masterfully reveals layers of dread, humanity, and despair. A haunting, unforgettable existential exploration of responsibility and guilt through the darkest corners of the soul.

There’s a temptation to talk about Pacific Drive with reference to genres: survival, extraction, roguelite, action, adventure, driving… But it’s doing something really cool with it’s tone and atmosphere, making it something altogether unique. Clever progression, tactile UI, great music, terrifying SFX, and a world worth exploring. Cool game.

For all its egregious fan-service, turns out Stellar Blade is actually pretty good. You can tell Sekiro is there in its DNA somewhere - with a mild emphasis on parries - but I wish combat was a bit less forgiving and hack-n-slashy. There are a myriad of ways to approach each encounter, which is fun but again, lightens the difficulty a fair bit. I also wish there were more varied environments, which feel a bit samey at a certain point. Overall though, fun game with great music, cool enemies, boss designs and an engaging-enough story.

SULFUR is a roguelite extraction shooter that offers surprisingly tight gunplay, inventive weapon customisation and an awesome, striking artstyle. Though not everything fully clicks, it’s a fun, amusing and engaging experience that oozes passion and creativity. It’s just super cool.

A quirky romp through a surreal Yorkshire town, Thank Goodness You’re Here! is a funny and absurd little gem. Silly, authentic British humour, great voice acting and super clean art style carry the otherwise mostly-on-rails puzzling - which never feels tiresome. The characters are charmingly bizarre, the world is lovingly crafted, and there’s even a couple of nods to their previous game The Good Time Garden. Ripper game… or should I say, it’s reyt good!

Tiny Glade is a charming, stress-free diorama builder where creativity is not constrained by resources, farming, or survival. Its beautiful visuals and tactile building mechanics are impressively executed, making it feel cosy and satisfying. A great option for a relaxing Sunday.

UFO 50 is a collection of 50 retro-style games from famed indie devs Mossmouth and friends, crossing a wide variety of genres. While each game is simple in design, they offer surprising depth and at times challenge - but more than anything, demonstrate a wild imagination and passion for game design. The nostalgic visuals, creative concepts, and sheer variety make it a fun, unique and inspiring experience.

Fish, sell, upgrade, dress-up: simple enough, but there’s a quiet charm here that’s hard to resist. Just you and a few strangers, casting lines and chatting if you feel like it - the exact right kind of lowkey. No pressure, just good vibes, plenty of fish, and maybe even a new friend.

HoYo’s latest gacha has all the tropes and systems you’d expect, this time in a retrofuture urban setting and excelling in presentation, fast-paced combat and quality-of-life improvements. The combat is fluid, satisfying and addictive (albeit never particularly challenging), the story isn’t the deepest but has its moments (even if the pacing could use some work), and the whole thing has great visual design, sound design and music. Smaller than Genshin, its minor flaws are easy to overlook if you’re willing to ignore or accept the predatory gacha foundation.