As the year comes to a close, it’s that time of year again to round up the best games of 2023. It doesn’t get any easier than this, but this year we had to expand the list to 10 games instead of the usual 5.
With that said, let’s get serious and dive into the best games 2024 has to offer. Click on any of these titles for a complete and detailed review.
Honorable Mention – Elden Ring: Shadow of the Eldtree
Understood. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is not a standalone game, but a DLC for the already amazing Elden Ring. This piece received an Honorable Mention on its own because it falls into its unique category.
Granted, we’ve played the games on this list, but they’re actually smaller and shorter than this DLC, and we feel that if this was a standalone game it definitely would have qualified for this official list. I am. Nevertheless, this is one of the best expansions we’ve ever played.
10. Awakening of Metro
We always wanted to give some love to VR gaming here, as it seems to be lost in the fog considering not many people own or have adopted VR hardware. I am.
That being said, Metro Awakening stands out as one of the best VR games in recent memory. Packed with some functional mechanics and a constant sense of dread, immersed in a classic and creepy metro atmosphere, it’s really hard not to love it.
9. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines 2
Arguably one of the best action games of 2024, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines 2 does justice to the series with a worthy sequel, packed with as much high-octane action as possible at breakneck speeds .
Not to mention the engaging story and gorgeous environments, players will find this one of the best ways to enjoy or join the Warhammer 40,000 series and have an engaging and fun time Maybe.
8. Helldivers 2
Regardless of what players think now, you have to give Helldivers 2 a spot for simply getting everyone involved. Chaotic launch aside, Helldivers 2 offered small, bite-sized action and excellent co-op play, making it one of the most popular games of the year.
With a live-service model where the world and its goals are constantly changing, it’s no surprise that this is one of the most engaging multiplayer experiences of 2024.
7. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The term metroidvania has been thrown around a lot lately, and it’s easy to see why. It is a formula that was created with this in mind, and multiple matches are held every year. However, “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown” gives a different impression. While staying true to its formula, this is definitely greater than the sum of its parts as one of the most refined experiences of 2024.
Great traverse mechanics and punchy combat combine to make it one of the most rewarding games in recent memory, wrapped in a gorgeous art style. It’s a shame that Ubisoft Montpellier’s development team has disbanded due to declining sales, but I recommend going back and checking this out.
6. Silent Hill 2
A remake that is faithful to the original can still be great. Enter Silent Hill 2. It feels like a 2001 classic in terms of its structure and narrative, but it certainly feels like a fully realized version of something we played all those years ago.
Whether it’s the stunning visuals or the multiple endings to explore, Silent Hill 2 deals with some relatively heavy themes that are handled with both grace and love. It’s easily the best survival horror game of the year.
5. Final Fantasy VII Reverse
After the amazing Final Fantasy VII Remake, many people have been anticipating this for a while. It was certainly worth the wait.
Expanding on its predecessor in almost every way, this sequel offers great combat, new areas to explore, and activities to take part in, while delving even deeper into the relationships and characters outlined in the previous chapter.
If you’re a Final Fantasy fan, or even just a casual observer looking to invest, there’s never been a better time to get involved.
4. Baratolo
This is the only game on our list that we haven’t officially reviewed, but we’re here to set the record straight. Not only is Ballatro one of the biggest surprises of the year, it’s also a game I haven’t been able to shake ever since I started playing it. Combining a simple poker hand with a specific joker card to give the hand a specific ability to achieve the highest score seems like a simple premise, but it’s very well done.
Combining experience and roguelike mechanics to achieve the longest run is also a great idea. Considering this game is available on almost every platform, including mobile devices, there’s really no reason to skip Balatro.
3. Metaphor: Rifantasio
Metaphor: ReFantazio has been praised by just about everyone this year, and it’s no wonder why. Combining an emotional and resonant theme with solid RPG mechanics and a gorgeous world to explore sounds like a success on paper, but it worked in practice.
If you’ve ever been intrigued by Persona-related games or RPG experiences in any way, Metaphor: ReFantazio might pique your interest as one of the best games of all time.
2. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
I’m a huge Indiana Jones fan, but that’s not why Indiana Jones and the Great Circle ranks higher on this list. As the latest entry on this list, this new indie adventure presents itself in a way that’s impossible to ignore. An interesting story and great gameplay combine to create one of the best Indiana Jones properties since the original trilogy of movies.
The game skillfully blends intuitive hand-to-hand combat with meaningful traversal and clever puzzle-solving challenges that will not only make players feel like Indiana Jones himself, but also make them love and appreciate the game. You can also understand how good the games made by humans are. A broader franchise.
1. Atom Robot
Here it is; the best games of 2024.
Astro Bot comes in many varieties. It’s an attractive and functional platformer. It looks beautiful and is a finely crafted homage to 30 glorious years of PlayStation. Packed with all kinds of challenges, collectibles, and replayable levels. While incredibly appealing and accessible to younger audiences, everything from mascots and consoles to lesser-known add-ons and accessories appeals to the older players that have built PlayStation’s long-standing stardom. There are also some challenging enough parts.
But what if all these were tied into a nice little ribbon? It’s the best game of 2024.
And it’s rap! Do you agree with these choices on our list? Did we mention one of your favorites?
Either way, if you haven’t tried it yet, I don’t think there’s a better time than now to try it. From all of us at The AU Review, we’d like to take this time to wish you all a Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. See you in 2025!
