We've reached the end of the year, so it's that time again: Award Season. And of course people putting out listicles of their favorites...so naturally we should jump in the mix! Here is my definitive list of the bestest games I played during the year 2024; you'll probably already know most of the list if you've been paying any attention to what I've reviewed this year!

In order of release:

Last Epoch

Original Release Date: April 30th, 2019 (Early Access), February 21st, 2024 (official release).
Current Platforms: PC.
Link to my 1.0 Release review.

According to my Steam "Year in Review", I had about 1200 hours of playtime on the platform, between PC and the Steam Deck and across various games. So when I tell you a full quarter of that was spent in this game, you know I mean business. Touted as an Action RPG that sits between Path of Exile and Diablo on the complexity-spectrum, I found my calling early this year with the 1.0 release of Last Epoch.

I relished the opportunity to build my character, with customizable skills and nearly-free respecs so I could tweak as necessary. I appreciated the quality-of-life additions setting it apart from other games in the genre, such as the separate locations for materials and charms to avoid overloading one's inventory, and the built-in loot filter with flexible rulesets. And I even enjoyed the twisty time-travel story, despite its total lack of an end-point. No, I will not let that go: there are cliffhangers, and then there's Last Epoch's "oh well, guess it's time for endgame" complete disregard for proper storytelling. Yes, I'm still salty! Despite this (totally legitimate) annoyance, I really enjoyed Last Epoch's moment-to-moment gameplay, far more than Diablo IV and even Path of Exile (1, at any rate; see below).

If I have any complaint about Last Epoch - besides the story's blue-ball ending - it's that there isn't enough to truly do at the moment beyond rolling a new character. Perhaps not fair to say when the game is still relatively new, but I find their season system to be way too long currently: Season 2 doesn't start until April of 2025, ten months after Season 1 began! While Eleventh Hour Games is a small indie company (literally, not trying to be snarky), such a long time is passing between content drops that I ultimately uninstalled the game to make room for other titles. I will return, of course, to continue the story and try out any major updates, but for now I'm bummed in-that I lack a reason to keep playing.

Hades II

Original Release Date: May 6th, 2024 (Early Access).
Current Platforms: PC.
Link to my Early Access review.

Supergiant Games is not known for sequels; quite literally, as Hades II is their first ever title to claim such a thing. So when I tell you that this game - even in Early Access - is already better than the original, considered Game of the Year in some circles, know that I do not say that lightly. In fact, I may go further and claim that Hades II is one of the best direct-sequels ever made, in this reviewer's opinion...and it's only getting started!

Boasting twice as much content as the first game isn't automatically a good thing...after all, "more" isn't always "better"; everything in moderation, and all that. And yet, in this case, more is absolutely better: more ways to tinker your build, more bosses and enemies to encounter, another amazing soundtrack to listen to, and more NPCs to talk your ear off with that sweet sweet dialogue. The quality hasn't suffered in the slightest, either, meaning you're ultimately getting more bang for your buck here. And unless you were some crazy dash-fanatic* as Zagreus, I would argue Melinoe is just as fun if not more-so than her older brother (*she only has the one dash, compensating with a Sprint ability).

Having already defeated Chronos a couple times, I can't wait for more updates - culminating in a final sequence where I can put down the Titan of Time for good. Whether you're headed down into Hell or to the Heavens above, you're in for a good time with Hades II. I honestly can't recommend it enough, and I genuinely believe it's already worth the price of admission. And with more updates on the horizon, the value's only going to go up.

Death to Chronos!

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door Remake

Original Release Date: May 23rd, 2024.
Current Platforms: Nintendo Switch.
Link to my review.

In my review, I called Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door "the best Mario game period"...and I stand by that statement! 20 years removed from the Gamecube original, I was hit with a megaton nostalgia bomb upon booting up the remake. The sights, the sounds, the dialogue, and the gameplay have all been enhanced, holding onto the charm the game is known for whilst improving upon just about every little niggle Nintendo ever received from their fanbase. Together they amount to an amazing experience, and despite its original age, I would dare to perhaps consider it my Game of the Year.

There's just so much variety to TTYD, from solving mysteries on a train, to having your identity stolen by a spooky body-snatcher, searching for pirate treasure, and/or becoming a wrestling champion. It all comes together to make for a game that's a bit goofy but ultimately just plain fun, with no major caveats...besides the backtracking, which was thankfully alleviated with the new Warp Pipe Room. It's the kind of game where you're left smiling from start to finish; in this day and age, that's about all one can ask for from their video games.

All-in-all, if you're a fan of RPGs, Mario, or both, you shouldn't miss this one. Every owner of a Nintendo Switch must play this game, by decree of yours truly! I've got the paperwork and everything to prove it; it's basically a law now.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Original Release Date: June 21st, 2024.
Current Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.
Link to my review.

The Game Awards decided Shadow of the Erdtree qualified as enough of a full game to nominate it for Game of the Year, so naturally I feel entitled to include it here. And who am I to argue with their assessment? The DLC is absolutely massive...even if you don't include the two large swaths of baffling nothingness to be found. With over 250 new items to acquire, including 95 weapons and 42 spells, Shadow of the Erdtree could've been a game in-of-itself!

The Land of Shadow is just as harrowing and dense as the main game, although I personally found the Blessings system to undermine the difficulty curve (that's what I get for being a thorough explorer). Still, it was for the best: with entire sections of the map hidden away behind secret passages or dungeons, exploring was a thoroughly rewarding endeavor...even if it led to many a death in return. Punishing though the game may be, it only hurts us because it loves us, and in turn I found myself loving the DLC just as much as the base experience. It even improved upon Elden Ring-proper in some aspects, with more intricate dungeon layouts, plus NPCs that were talkative (in a good way) while being integral to the storyline. The base game could be a bit...obtuse with its NPC-interactions at times, so it was refreshing to have the world fleshed out better.

A gauntlet of cool bosses to overcome, badass weapons to try out, and a flavorful landscape to die, die, die again within: what more could you ask for from a DLC? Shadow of the Erdtree was the cherry on top of what turned out to be one of my favorite games of all time. Not bad, considering I essentially peer-pressured myself into buying Elden Ring, so-as-to not miss out on the gaming cultural zeitgeist. I rolled the dice and got a nat-20; sometimes you gotta risk it for the biscuit!

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Original Release Date: October 31st, 2024.
Current Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S.
Link to my First Impressions review.

Despite the (honestly stupid) controversy surrounding this game and its writing, I thoroughly enjoyed Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The story isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be, and I actually liked the characters, as well...especially Emmrich, the Necromancer companion. I found the dapper gentleman to be far more nuanced and interesting than expected, so much so that he became my go-to Mage; I even started a second playthrough as a fellow Mourn Watcher, to further enhance our conversations.

While I can't speak for the Rogue class, the Warrior and Mage both had very fun combat, slashing and/or blasting my way to victory as a Reaper and Spellblade respectively. They felt strong in their own special ways, having different answers to tackle situations. The equipment system - where you can find multiples of the same item to improve upon the rarity of gear you own - is interesting while still rewarding you for exploration. It allows for individual pieces to grow in power alongside your character, and makes for a unique experience wherein you're actually excited to see a duplicate! Equipment drops are tailored to your class of choice, as well, so items are never wrong or unusable; just different choices depending on one's playstyle. Seems like a weird thing to bring up, I know, but I found the system to be pretty cool.

Were there moments in the game where I rolled my eyes at the dialogue? Yes. Does that mean DAV is among the worst RPGs ever made? Of course not. I am of the frank opinion that the hate-train for this title derailed completely, such that people need to reassess their expectations: a game that isn't 1000% what you were hoping for doesn't automatically become a 0/10 because of it. As someone who dipped their toes in the review-business this year, I've played my decent share of games I didn't care for; that said, I wouldn't label anything as "the worst ever" without some serious problems that cause the quality to veer off a cliff. The anti-woke can complain all they want that there's a non-binary character in the limelight: Dragon Age: The Veilguard is still a decent game, if not a good one. All I ask is that you give it a fair shake, and not fully rely on angry reviews designed to clickbait for ad-revenue.

Path of Exile 2

Original Release Date: December 6th, 2024 (Early Access).
Current Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S.

And now for a title I didn't already review! For a long while I had zero interest in the Early Access release of Path of Exile 2 as it was upcoming; I had played over 350 hours of the original game in the past - mostly with friends - and yet didn't enjoy it much as a solo experience. I figured Path of Exile was just too complicated, too obtuse for me...better to stick to Diablo, or Last Epoch, which are simpler in their execution. And my concerns carried over to the sequel: I told myself to wait until full release to give it a shot, just in case I still found it against my tastes.

For once I am glad to be impulsive, because I paid into Early Access and am having a great time! Don't get me wrong: Path of Exile 2 still requires learning and a solid understanding of mechanics to wade into it successfully. And yet, I find it far and away better than the first one. "Path of Dark Souls" is what a coworker described it as, and they ain't wrong, but after my awakening to the grand experience that is the Soulslike genre, I find that to be very much a good thing. A game that can simultaneously be brutal and merciless yet also rewarding and fulfilling, one that makes you go "Whoo, I DID IT" when you kill that boss or finish that dungeon. That feeling blossomed when I first played Elden Ring, and now it is in bloom once more with Path of Exile 2.

Each boss is unique in its design, with more interesting mechanics and flash than a lot of "Diablo-like" Action RPGs, its namesake included. More weapon types and skills, more build customization, while somehow also being easier to pick up and learn than the original Path of Exile (in my opinion; my previous experience with Soulslikes and ARPGs of this ilk not withstanding). All this and we're only in Early Access, with more classes, skill gems, and story content on their way before we hit the official release! Honestly the genre might need to be called "Exile-like" from now on.

With my depression seemingly at an all-time high, it's very rare that I am genuinely excited for something - I muster what I can in the moment, but even with games I look forward to I don't necessarily feel that "OMG my body is ready" euphoria that others experience. Marvel Rivals was one of them: I was interested in playing right up to its release, and then that energy slipped from my grasp. Having completed the first three Acts of Path of Exile 2, I feel that anticipation for wanting more, to dig in and savor every bite I can get my grubby hands on. I want to keep playing, in a way that's hard to hold onto for someone like me. And if that's not an endorsement, then I don't understand the concept.

Honorable Mentions

  • Baldur's Gate III (again!) - Still tryin' to do a full run of Baldur's Gate III, still lovin' every moment of it. Now with mods, to bring all my companions along for maximum story and combat potential.
  • Black Myth: Wukong - Despite not finishing it the first time around, I loved the game. Definitely, definitely need to go back and experience more of that Action RPG/Soulslike goodness.
  • The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - It may no longer be my namesake, but I retain my soft-spot for Zelda titles nevertheless. That said, I did not finish Echoes; a fact I hope to remedy eventually.

What were some of your favorite games from 2024? Have you played any of those listed above? Excited for anything in particular for 2025? Let us know in the comments below!