My Top 10 Games I Played In 2024

By Atlus / Sega - https://www.gematsu.com/gallery/persona-3-reload/august-23-2023, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74654643

2024 has been a great year for gaming, and I was able to play some of the big releases of the year, as well as many more from previous years. Like I do every year, here is my ranking of the best video games I have played in 2024. These are not games specifically released in 2024, but rather these are games that I played for the first time in 2024. Let's get into it.

10: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (review)

It's crazy that Echoes of Wisdom is only at number ten in my top games of 2024, which shows how many great video games are on this list. Echoes of Wisdom is as good as a traditional Zelda experience as any other, with new and interesting gameplay mechanics, only held back by noticeable performance issues on the Nintendo Switch.

9: Dragon Quest XI Definitive Edition

2024 was the first time I played a Dragon Quest game, and I enjoyed my time playing Dragon Quest XI. It felt comforting to play a traditional JRPG with well-written characters and an enjoyable soundtrack, though I am not the biggest fan of the visuals, as it felt a bit tired. The game also felt a little too long.

8: Deathloop

When I played Deathloop, the originality of the concept and the gameplay mechanics were what particularly impressed me in a sea of formularic and dull first-person shooters. The art direction, writing, and voice-acting were solid, though the focus on investigation more than combat can be boring for some.

7: Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

I put Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart on this list because this game is loads of fun to play. The game's visuals are excellent on the PS5 and the game also tells a surprisingly captivating story with its trademark comedy. You have loads of weapons to use at your disposal, so the possibilities to destroy your enemies seem endless.

6: Dave The Diver (review)

Dave The Diver is probably my top comfort game of the year. I mostly enjoyed the gameplay loop of fishing during the day and serving customers at your sushi restaurant at night. I also liked the steady introduction of all of the different gameplay mechanics, even if the game needed to do a better job of explaining them.

5: Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is a remake of the original Persona 3 released back in 2006. The reasons that made Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal such excellent RPGs are also found in P3R: fully fleshed-out characters, great visual and art design, and a great soundtrack to boot.

4: Animal Well (review)

Animal Well is the best indie game I played this year. I'm not a big fan of the Metroidvania genre, but I enjoyed discovering the many paths, puzzles, and secrets in this game. The pixel-art graphics and the overall atmosphere of this game are sensational.

3: Astro Bot (review)

Astro Bot is the most fun I have had playing a game this year. I have already mentioned this before, but Astro Bot is the best non-Nintendo platformer ever made. It has excellent controls, outstanding level design and challenges, and there is a charm about Astro and the rest of the game that are even as charming as some Kirby games.

2: Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (review)

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is one of the best games in the Yakuza series. The thing about this game that is the most impressive is its re-creation of Honolulu, which is the best thing I have seen in any game I played this year. Add in the sizable side-content and this game sucked me in for over one hundred hours of playtime.

1: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (review)

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard, and there are so many mini-games to play in this game which keep the gameplay fresh. However, I put FFVII Rebirth at the top of my list mostly due to fanservice. I am so invested in these characters that they are now in full and beautiful visuals compared to the original FF7 for the PS1. The writing, dialogue, and voice-acting performances are some of the best that video games currently have to offer.