It’s that point of the yr but once more, a time to mirror and write principally pointless lists as a result of they’re enjoyable. Yup, it’s my high 5 video games of 2024, ranked based mostly on completely no scientific standards.
I admit, although, that I didn’t play as a lot as I wished to this yr and missed out on fairly a couple of massive hitters. So after I was looking again by way of the video games I’ve reviewed and performed this yr, it felt missing. I did play plenty of older titles, however I’m retaining this checklist strictly to video games launched this yr.
So with out additional ado, right here’s the highest 5 video games of 2024 that I loved essentially the most in no particuilar order.
Warhammer 40k: Area Marine 2
Choosing up a Warhammer branded videogame may be like flipping a coin, besides one facet is shiny and golden and the opposite facet is roofed in monkey pop and HIV. However by the Emperor, Area Marine 2 is likely one of the finest licensed Warhammer video games, proper up there with the likes of Daybreak of Struggle, and I’m indignant at myself for not reviewing it.
Mainly, you’re a human-shaped tank, a mountain of a genetically modified super-human clad in large armour that allows you to run straight by way of lesser beings in a bathe of gore. Even strolling feels satisfying due to the sense of weight and energy that the builders have imbued Titus with. Each step appears like a seismic occasion.
That sense of powers carries by way of to the meaty fight the place 1000’s of indignant little Tyranid burst out of each nook of the extent and swarm over you just like the world’s ugliest tsunami. However you may wade by way of the mass of flesh, swinging a sequence sword just like the wrath of God made manifest in battle armour and pure spite. It simply feels so proper. The thump, thump, thump of your boltgun is the icing on the blood-flavoured cake.
Actually, the sport’s largest power can also be most likely the explanation some folks received’t prefer it – Area Marine 2 feels loads like an Xbox 360 recreation that’s been transported by way of time. It’s a simple motion recreation with minimal bells and whistles, and generally that may go away it feeling a bit archaic or missing in polish. Linear ranges with little room to maneuver round, some tough transitions and so forth could make it look like the sport is caught in a time warp.
However it’s these issues that make it so fulfilling to me. It’s a balls-to-the-wall shooter, unafraid to be precisely what’s: easy, enjoyable, uncomplicated double-A motion that revels within the comedic seriousness of the Warhammer 40k universe.
Astro Bot
After I was a child I liked healthful tales the place proper and flawed have been clearly divided, the place good would in the end triumph, love would conquer all and all the things was vibrant and enjoyable. As I grew into a young person after which into an grownup, I craved what I deemed “mature” tales the place proper and flawed weren’t so clear, the place morality was muddied, characters have been complicated and imperfect, and good didn’t at all times win the day. Now, although, on the ripe previous age of 32, I discover myself going again to these happier, less complicated experiences. We stay in a world we discuss on a regular basis however by no means talk, the place proper and flawed aren’t very clear, the place everybody must have an opinion on all the things and full friendships and households have to be destroyed based mostly on them. It’s good to return to one thing healthful, comfortable and pure.
Pure. That’s a great phrase for Astro Bot. It doesn’t care about your politics, your faith, your creed, your race, your gender identification or your opinion on no matter superstar bullshit is at present blowing up social media. It simply desires you to have enjoyable, and it does that by way of wealthy, vibrant graphics, loads of platforming shenanigans and an limitless provide of appeal so sturdy that it could must be made unlawful lest its energy be used for evil.
Does it rival the Mario franchise? Powerful to say, and even more durable to evaluate. Mario has years of nostalgia behind it, and it’s laborious to separate the standard of the video games themselves from that feeling of heat and love that my mind robotically generates as quickly because it glimpses the enduring pink hat and moustache. And I ain’t speaking about Santa, child.
It doesn’t matter, although, as a result of there’s loads of room for Mario and Astro to co-exist. PlayStation does quite a lot of superb video games however they’ve some massive gaps when it comes to style and Astro neat fills one in all them. And who is aware of, contemplating we’ve a PlayStation revealed recreation on the Nintendo Swap, possibly an Astro bot and Mario crossover isn’t not possible?
Indiana Jones & The Nice Circle
Learn my evaluate of Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle
Xbox as we all know it’s within the midst of some large adjustments. {Hardware} gross sales are in decline, video games are being ported to different platforms and the entire model appears to be shifting towards changing into the globe’s largest third occasion writer. However whereas out that chaos is swirling round it’s simple to overlook that Xbox has quite a lot of proficient studios working away within the background making a doubtlessly very sturdy line-up for the long run.
In a world filled with large IPs resurrecting Indiana Jones, which hasn’t precisely been going from power to power, won’t sound like a great transfer on paper and but that’s precisely what Microsoft and MachineGames did.
I mentioned it within the evaluate, and it’s completely a horrid cliché, however Indiana Jones and The Nice Circle genuinely does make you’re feeling like the nice physician himself, venturing by way of underground tombs and punching Nazis within the face. The primary-person view seems like an odd selection at first however MachineGames rapidly proves that it was the proper resolution as you retains you immersed on the earth and gameplay.
I used to be additionally stunned by how a lot of a concentrate on stealth there was. More often than not pulling a gun or attempting to sq. as much as the Nazis was a nasty thought and would get Indy rapidly swamped.
Going into it I believed Indiana Jones was most likely going to be a stable however forgettable licensed recreation, doomed to fade away unto the annals of historical past the place it may very well be inevitably be dug up by an archaeologist with a whip strapped to his belt and a hat on his head. However boy was I flawed. Indiana Jones is an thrilling journey filled with enjoyable puzzles, stealth, brawls, wonderful cutscenes and terrific appearing.
Actually, although, the very best a part of the sport is how properly it captures the appear and feel of the fashions. Troy Baker’s good efficiency as Indy actually helps, nevertheless it’s way over that – the digicam angles, the music and the humour all mirror the trllogy.
Helldivers 2
Learn my evaluate of Helldivers 2
For a couple of months there it appeared like all the world had been drawn into Helldivers 2. All people was taking part in it, everyone was preventing within the nice galactic conflict towards the limitless bug tide and robo-bastards. However essentially the most superb factor is all of us joined in with the roleplaying, gleefully speaking to one another prefer it was all actual, absorbed into the loopy comedy of fascist Tremendous Earth and its propaganda. To their credit score, developer X caught with the concept, extending the video games lore to the actual world, placing out recreation updates like they have been in-universe information broadcasts, always teasing upcoming content material and additions, randomly dropping stuff into the sport and letting phrase unfold amongst gamers who have been busy debating whether or not it was actual or what it might imply. Intelligent stuff.
The humorous factor is, Helldivers 2 is a quite simple recreation. Like, you get dropped onto a map with a couple of different folks and advised to finish a handful of fundamental targets whereas preventing by way of hordes of enemy bugs or robots. It’s not sophisticated stuff. That’s the enjoyable of it although: the matches ramp up in depth, the enemies get greater and more durable and earlier than lengthy it feels such as you’re in an epic conflict film making a determined final stand towards a limitless tide of monsters and terminators. It’s superb with associates, however even once you play with strangers who don’t have a microphone, an unstated bond is fashioned within the midst of chaos and carnage, a brotherhood solid in hearth and gore. It’s superb. After which anyone calls in an airstrike a bit too shut and blows you the fuck up such as you’re an Acme firework manufacturing facility employee who forgot that smoking on the job was a nasty thought.
Admittedly, I haven’t gone again to the sport shortly. I needed to transfer on and play different issues. However I do know during the last month the sport has seen one other big surge in gamers, and the consensus appears to be that it’s in an awesome place, which has me eager to strap my armour again on and defend Tremendous Earth as soon as once more.
Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
Learn my evaluate of Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
Low gross sales and a common lack of curiosity have seemingly all however assured that we received’t be getting a sequel to The Misplaced Crown and that’s a fucking travesty as a result of this was a incredible metroidvania.
In all honesty it most likely didn’t get a lot from having the Prince of Persia moniker plastered throughout it. The title doesn’t imply an awesome deal lately, and the sport didn’t have a lot to do with the universe anyway. I imply, you don’t even play because the titular prince. Actually, the one connections are that you just mess about with time management, swing a sword and run up partitions. Then once more, with out the title The Misplaced Crown might need had a fair more durable time discovering an viewers, particularly given Ubisoft’s at present crumbling place throughout the business.
The gameplay is the place The Misplaced Crown shines. It feels good to play because of the snappy controls. The massive map regularly opens up satisfyingly as you unlock new upgrades, the fight is superb and the platforming/puzzle fixing is nice, too. A considerably forgettable story holds the sport again a wee bit, nevertheless it’s probably not an issue. I’d put The Misplaced Crown up there with among the finest video games within the style and extremely advocate checking it out.
