2024 was a hell of a year for games, and although I played over 100 different titles during the past 12 months, I still felt like I was missing out. Despite that, I was still extremely impressed with those that I managed to finish, making this best games of 2024 list pretty tough to whip up. These 10 titles afforded some of the best gaming experiences that I had all year, making them worthy of the highlight and my recommendation. As always, this list is completely subjective and based only on my opinion. Ranked in order of my personal preference, these are the best video games of 2024.
The Top 10 Games of 2024
10. Dragon’s Dogma II
I have to admit, when Capcom released the original Dragon’s Dogma in 2012, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the action-RPG. While the setting, storytelling, and concept were all decent enough, it was far too janky for me to get truly invested. However, that changed with the release of Dragon’s Dogma II, which elevates the overall experience without losing the spirit of the original. Once again, you play as a hero known the “Arisen” and are sent on a quest to slay a deadly dragon, accompanied by your custom NPC “Pawn” companion. The jank is still present, but this time, a high level of polish and an unwavering commitment to unique game design make up for the clumsiness.
Much like the first game, Dragon’s Dogma II refuses to hold your hand. Classes have distinct powers that you have to experiment with, simple actions like healing and leveling up are somewhat obtuse, and your decisions have lasting, irreversible consequences. Despite this barrier of entry, Dragon’s Dogma II held my attention for dozens of hours, with its high-stakes gameplay and beautiful visuals. It won’t be for everyone, but this sequel doubled down on the original design philosophy while making marked improvements, and for those who spent the time learning the ropes, it’s easy to see why Dragon’s Dogma II is one of the best games of 2024.
9. Tekken 8
When it comes to fighting games, I’m the kind of guy who prefers Mortal Kombat over everything else, and I rarely get invested in 3D fighters. However, the Tekken franchise is an exception. Each year, Tekken just gets better and better, with flashier visuals, fun new mechanics, and multiple modes to enjoy. Tekken 8 was another standout sequel from Bandai Namco Studios, which held my attention for much longer than I anticipated.
In addition to the ridiculous yet highly entertaining story mode, fun new modes like “Arcade Quest” and the return of “Tekken Ball” offered loads of replayability. Online multiplayer is packed with options and presented through a fun lobby system, which adds a lot of personality to the experience. It also contains one of the best fighting game replay systems ever, helping you fine-tune your performance and learn from crucial mistakes. Even though my days of competitive fighting games are behind me, Tekken 8 still compelled me to learn the intricacies of its combat systems and master several members of the roster, mostly because it’s just so damn fun.
8. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is tough to describe, as it plays like a fusion of a real-time strategy game and a tower defense title, all set in a world of Japanese mythology. Developed by Capcom, this incredibly unique action/strategy game sees you controlling Soh, a supernatural soldier who must guide the divine maiden, Yoshiro, down a corrupt mountain teeming with monsters.
In each level, you escort Yoshiro from one side of the stage to the other, using resources to build obstacles and recruit troops by day, and then battling monsters in hack ‘n slash combat by night. It’s a weird game that’s a hard sell to the mainstream market, which is probably why lots of people skipped it over entirely, but this darkly beautiful game is definitely worth trying out. At the very least, I commend Capcom for taking a risk with Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and in the process, creating a game that is basically one-of-a-kind.
7. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Ever since 2005, the Prince of Persia franchise has endured a slump. Despite numerous spin-offs and reboots, none seemed to match the quality and intrigue of the Sands of Time 3D trilogy or the 1989 original. However, after a few hours of playing Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, I knew I was in for a treat. The Lost Crown offers everything I wanted out of a new Prince of Persia, and presents it all in an interesting way that sets the game apart from most other entries in the franchise.
This 2.5D, Metroidvania adventure puts us in the shoes of Sargon, a powerful warrior tasked with exploring the cursed Mount Qaf on a rescue mission. Instead of trying to change the genre formula, The Lost Crown is a treat for Metroidvania fans above all else, with all the best elements of Prince of Persia working to elevate that gameplay style. This is a buffet of fantastic movement, explosive combat, beautiful environments, tactile exploration, meaningful progression, and spectacular boss fights. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was more than just one of the best games of 2024. This is easily the best Metroidvania game I’ve played in years.
6. Warhammer 40,0000: Space Marine 2
Sometimes, all you want to do is tear through hordes of bad guys in a glorious display of blood and guts, and god dammit, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a hell of a power trip in that regard. As a sequel to the Xbox 360-era third-person shooter, Space Marine 2 sticks close to its roots, giving us a blast-from-the-past experience that feels both fresh and nostalgic.
Playing as the ultra-powerful Primaris Ultramarine, Captain Titus, you must shred through thousands of invasive aliens called the Tyranids using your trusty bolt rifle and chainsword. You can play the campaign solo or in online co-op, there’s a chaotic online PvP multiplayer mode to try, and extra fun can be had through various side missions. If you’ve ever looked back on the days of playing Gears of War campaigns with your buddies over Xbox Live and wished you could return to that simpler time, get a group together and play Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 together. You won’t be disappointed.
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
I’ve played way too many Call of Duty games, but I haven’t gotten as sick of them as most. Usually, I’ll play the online multiplayer for a weekend or two, beat the campaign, and call it a day. However, with Black Ops 6, something was different. For the first time in a long time, there was significant hype around the release, and after playing all three online multiplayer beta events, I was pleasantly surprised by the new “omni-movement” and was looking forward to the final package.
Against all odds, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is even better than expected, and it quickly ate up most of my gaming hours during October. The story campaign is actually awesome, with some really cool open-ended missions that offer branching paths and significant exploration, along with that signature Black Ops weirdness. Online multiplayer can feel extremely sweaty, but even after hitting first Prestige, I still wanted to play more. Better yet, Zombies mode is actually enjoyable for the first time in years, especially when playing with some pals. I didn’t really expect it to be true, but Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is absolutely one of the best games of 2024, and I can only hope that this level of quality persists for a few more sequels.
4. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
While I really wish that MachineGames would finish up the modern Wolfenstein series, I was still more than excited to play their latest first-person adventure, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Set in the 1930s, this big-budget adaptation sees Indy taking up another globe-trotting quest, this time to uncover an all-encompassing ancient conspiracy. This takes him to various vibrant locales, like Rome, Egypt, and beyond, where mysteries await and trouble brews.
Along the way, you’ll explore ancient tombs, solve smartly designed puzzles, and of course, beat the shit out of Nazis, all laid out in medium-sized open-world areas that are ripe with extra content. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle strikes an excellent balance between explosive cinematic moments and leisurely exploration, bolstered by its stunning graphics and notably intriguing story. I honestly did not expect to enjoy Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as much as I did, but the immersion is undeniable and it’s a refreshing experience when compared to other first-person action games of late. It’s been a long time coming, but there’s finally an AAA game that does Indiana Jones right, and in a lot of ways, it’s better than most of the recent movies too.
3. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Elden Ring is one of the best action-adventure games ever made, so the highly anticipated expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, had big shoes to fill. Now, after playing this mammoth experience, calling it an expansion or DLC seems like a technicality. In so many ways, Shadow of the Erdtree feels like a full-on sequel rather than an extra piece of content, with its numerous new bosses, a complex and rich region to explore, and a bevy of additional weapons and gear. It was also incredibly challenging, even by genre standards, with several bosses that truly pushed the limit of my gaming skill.
Shadow of the Erdtree also excelled with its continuation of the base game’s story, resulting in more rich lore for dedicated players to sift through. I loved the narrative of the base game, but there were quite plenty of mysteries left unsolved, and Shadow of the Erdtree delivered answers to those burning questions in an appropriately cryptic way. Like with the base game, sorting through these mysteries and discovering the “truth” of the greater narrative was one of the best parts of the experience. Simply put, with its enhanced combat, evocative setting, and signature storytelling, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree exceeded my expectations and only further improved FromSoft’s masterpiece.
2. UFO 50
First announced way, way back in 2017 (check out the announcement trailer above), UFO 50 is a game that’s so ambitious, that it’s a miracle that it turned out as well as it did. Developed by the small indie team at Mossmouth, this is a collection of 50 games that, while appearing old school, are completely brand new. Following the history of the fictional company, UFO Soft, UFO 50 contains dozens of inventive titles that scratch any sort of retro gaming itch. Almost every genre is represented, ranging from arcade shoot ’em ups to turn-based RPGs, leaving you with a treasure trove of evocative games to enjoy. It’s packed with tons of secrets, both pertaining to gameplay and its meta-narrative, is extremely addictive to play, and has some of the best chiptune music of all time.
It’s hard to understate the immense amount of content that UFO 50 offers. Even if you only spend 15 minutes trying out each game, that’s 12 hours of playtime, and most games will take you much longer to finish. There are ample arcade-style games, including the ninja-themed action/platformer, Ninpek, shoot ’em ups like Star Waspir, or the Snake-inspired Magic Garden, but many other games are multi-hour affairs. Games like the western RPG Grimstone, survival horror point ‘n click Night Manor, idle adventure Pilot Quest, and deck-builder Party House will hold your attention for much longer.
When you first “beat” a game in UFO 50, you’re awarded with a gold medal, but there’s also an elusive “cherry” medal to obtain, which often requires 100% completion or a challenging high score run. Only the most dedicated and skilled gamers can even dream of cherrying all 50 games, and doing so will likely take 200+ hours. Did I mention that this game is only $25? UFO 50 lands very high on this list for good reason. In addition to being one of the best games of the year, it’s also my favorite indie game of 2024 and a ridiculously big bang for your buck.
1. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (GAME OF THE YEAR)
I absolutely love Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Ever since Yakuza 0, I’ve been a big fan of the beat ’em up style Yakuza games and their various spin-offs, but Yakuza: Like a Dragon really won me over with its shift to the JRPG genre. Infinite Wealth took what worked in the last game and improved upon it in almost every way possible, making for a nearly flawless adventure. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth continues the story of Ichiban, but swifts him away to the island of Hawaii, a much-needed change of scenery from the usual urban sprawl of Japan where the rest of the franchise takes place. The ensuing main quest is tons of fun and a tropical treat, but as usual, it’s the side missions, mini-games, and bonus content that make Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth such an enthralling experience.
As you bounce around Hawaii in pursuit of your main mission, it’s incredibly easy to get distracted by the sea of bonus content, sometimes spending dozens of hours on a single side activity. There’s a city-wide photo scavenger hunt to compete in, countless mini-games to play, and dozens of silly side quests to complete. You can also engage with the “Sugimon” side activity, which is essentially a playable parody of Pokemon games, but taken to the extreme, with over 100 Sugimon to capture and train, multiple gym leaders to defeat, and an entire quest line of its own. Alternatively, you can spend well over 50 hours building up your own resort, dubbed DonDoko Island, which plays exactly like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but with a ridiculous Like a Dragon spin.
Throw in some amazing combat summons, over-the-top boss fights, and exciting endgame dungeons, all of which are just as memorable as the rest of the game. There’s just so much content in this game, and none of it feels like filler, resulting in a 100+ hour experience with tons of replayability. Seriously, if you’re a fan of the genre and you haven’t played Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, you’re missing out on one of the most content-rich and entertaining JRPGs of the generation.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the games listed above, there were tons of 2024 games that deserve a shoutout, but didn’t make the cut for one reason or another. Oftentimes, I simply didn’t get enough playtime to form a solid opinion on these games, but resounding acclaim from trusted colleagues and critics makes them worthy of inclusion. Due to innovation, fun factor, strength of narrative, and many more factors, these honorable mentions were also standout games of 2024:
- Animal Well
- Another Crab’s Treasure
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Batman: Arkham Shadow
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Frostpunk 2
- Helldivers 2
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- Life is Strange: Double Exposure
- Marvel Rivals
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Silent Hill 2
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Stellar Blade
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
