My Top 8 Games of 2024
2024 delivered another incredible year of gaming, with diverse experiences ranging from massive open-world adventures to innovative survival games. Here’s my personal top 8 games of the year, counting down from #8 to #1.
#8 - Abiotic Factor
Abiotic Factor is a standout survival game that takes the formula and injects it with fresh ideas and engaging co-op gameplay. Set in a research facility after a scientific disaster, you play as a scientist trying to survive against mutated creatures and environmental hazards.
What makes Abiotic Factor special is how it blends survival mechanics with scientific problem-solving. You’re not just crafting tools and weapons - you’re using your scientific knowledge to create solutions, combine elements, and understand the world around you. This intellectual layer adds depth to the survival genre and creates a unique gameplay experience.
The co-op gameplay is excellent. Working together with friends to solve puzzles, explore the facility, and survive against the threats creates a fantastic social experience. The game encourages communication and coordination, making it perfect for playing with friends.
The world is atmospheric and engaging. The research facility setting is well-realized, with distinct areas to explore, secrets to discover, and threats to overcome. The progression system is satisfying, with constant unlocks and improvements that keep you engaged.
Abiotic Factor proves that the survival genre still has room for innovation. It’s a game that respects player intelligence, rewards exploration, and delivers a unique experience that stands out in a crowded genre.
#7 - Platform 8
Platform 8 is a creative and engaging puzzle-platformer that delivers a unique and memorable experience. The game’s core mechanic and design philosophy create something fresh and engaging in the platforming genre.
What makes Platform 8 special is its innovative approach to platforming mechanics. The game introduces new ideas that change how you think about movement and navigation, creating puzzles that feel both challenging and rewarding. Each level introduces new concepts and mechanics, keeping the experience fresh throughout.
The visual design is distinctive and appealing. The art style creates a memorable aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience. The level design is clever, with puzzles that require both skill and creative thinking to solve.
The game’s pacing is excellent. It introduces concepts gradually, allowing you to master each mechanic before moving on to the next. The difficulty curve feels fair and rewarding, making each victory feel earned.
Platform 8 is a game that proves innovation is still possible in the platforming genre. It’s a creative, engaging experience that deserves recognition for its unique approach to familiar gameplay.
#6 - Enshrouded
Enshrouded is a survival crafting game that stands out with its excellent building mechanics, engaging exploration, and polished gameplay systems. Set in a fantasy world covered by a mysterious shroud, you must build your base, explore the dangerous world, and uncover the secrets of the apocalypse.
What makes Enshrouded special is its building system. Unlike many survival games where building can feel tedious, Enshrouded’s voxel-based building is intuitive, flexible, and genuinely fun. You can create impressive structures with ease, and the building tools give you creative freedom to build exactly what you envision.
The exploration is compelling. The world is beautiful and diverse, with distinct biomes to discover and explore. The shroud mechanic adds a layer of danger and strategy, as you must manage your time in dangerous areas. The sense of discovery is constant, with secrets, loot, and challenges scattered throughout the world.
The combat is satisfying and engaging. The action-RPG mechanics provide depth and variety, with different weapons and abilities to master. The progression system is well-designed, with meaningful upgrades and unlocks that keep you motivated.
Enshrouded succeeds because it combines excellent building, engaging exploration, and polished gameplay into one cohesive package. It’s a survival game that respects your time and creativity, delivering an experience that’s both challenging and rewarding.
#5 - Luma Island
Luma Island is a charming and delightful game that captures the magic of exploration and discovery. The game’s approach to gameplay and world-building creates an experience that’s both relaxing and engaging.
What makes Luma Island special is its focus on exploration and wonder. The game encourages you to take your time, discover secrets, and appreciate the world around you. The pacing is perfect for players who want to experience a game at their own pace, without pressure or stress.
The visual design is beautiful and inviting. The art style creates a welcoming atmosphere that draws you into the world. The attention to detail in the environment and character design enhances the overall experience.
The gameplay mechanics are well-designed and engaging. The game introduces concepts naturally and allows you to explore and experiment at your own pace. The progression feels organic and rewarding, with discoveries and achievements that feel meaningful.
Luma Island is a game that reminds you of the joy of exploration and discovery. It’s a charming, delightful experience that offers a welcome change of pace from more intense gaming experiences.
#4 - Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 is a phenomenal cooperative shooter that takes the foundation of the original and elevates it to new heights. The game’s focus on teamwork, strategic gameplay, and chaotic action creates an experience that’s both challenging and incredibly fun.
What makes Helldivers 2 special is how it demands cooperation. The friendly fire mechanic, limited resources, and challenging enemies require genuine teamwork and communication. This creates intense, memorable moments where coordination can mean the difference between success and failure.
The combat is excellent. The third-person perspective adds new tactical considerations, and the variety of weapons, stratagems, and equipment provides plenty of options for different playstyles. The moment-to-moment gameplay is engaging, with satisfying gunplay and explosive set pieces.
The live service elements are well-implemented. The galactic war system creates a sense of community and shared purpose, as players work together to achieve objectives. The constant updates and new content keep the experience fresh and engaging.
Helldivers 2 succeeds because it understands what makes cooperative gaming great. It’s challenging, chaotic, and incredibly fun when played with friends. It’s a game that creates memorable moments and stories, and it’s easily one of the best co-op experiences of the year.
#3 - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers the authentic Indiana Jones experience that fans have been waiting for. MachineGames’ attention to detail, engaging gameplay, and respect for the source material create an adventure that feels like playing through an Indiana Jones movie.
What makes Indiana Jones special is how well it captures the spirit of the films. The adventure, exploration, puzzle-solving, and action all feel true to the character and world. The story is engaging, with the kind of globe-trotting adventure and mystical elements that define the franchise.
The gameplay variety is excellent. The game seamlessly blends exploration, puzzle-solving, platforming, and combat into a cohesive experience. The whip mechanics are satisfying and versatile, serving multiple purposes beyond just combat. The puzzle design is clever and engaging, requiring both logic and observation.
The presentation is outstanding. The voice acting, music, and visual design all contribute to an immersive experience that feels authentic to the Indiana Jones universe. The set pieces are impressive, with the kind of spectacle and excitement that makes the films memorable.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle proves that licensed games can be more than just cash grabs. It’s a labor of love that respects the source material while delivering an engaging, polished gameplay experience. It’s the Indiana Jones game fans have been waiting for.
#2 - Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a stunning and innovative game that blends action, strategy, and Japanese folklore into a unique and memorable experience. Capcom’s creative vision and polished execution create something truly special.
What makes Kunitsu-Gami special is its innovative gameplay systems. The game combines real-time action with strategic elements in a way that feels fresh and engaging. The day/night cycle and purification mechanics create a unique gameplay loop that requires both action skills and strategic thinking.
The visual design is absolutely gorgeous. The game’s art style, inspired by Japanese art and folklore, creates a beautiful and distinctive aesthetic. The environments are stunning, with attention to detail that brings the world to life. The character and enemy designs are memorable and fitting for the game’s themes.
The combat is satisfying and varied. The action elements provide excitement and challenge, while the strategic components add depth and replayability. The progression system is well-designed, with meaningful upgrades and unlocks that enhance your abilities and strategies.
Kunitsu-Gami succeeds because it’s unafraid to be different. It blends genres and mechanics in innovative ways, creating an experience that stands out in a sea of similar games. It’s a creative, polished, and engaging game that deserves recognition for its innovation and quality.
#1 - Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws is my game of the year for 2024, delivering the open-world Star Wars adventure that fans have been dreaming of. Massive Entertainment has created a game that captures the spirit of the Star Wars universe while delivering engaging gameplay, compelling characters, and a story that feels authentic to the franchise.
What makes Star Wars Outlaws special is how well it understands Star Wars. The game isn’t trying to tell a galaxy-spanning epic - instead, it focuses on the smaller stories, the scoundrels, the criminals, and the people just trying to survive in a galaxy controlled by the Empire. This focus creates a more personal, grounded story that feels true to the Star Wars universe.
The open world is impressive and engaging. Multiple planets to explore, each with distinct environments, characters, and activities. The space exploration adds another layer, with seamless transitions between planets and space that create a sense of scale and freedom. The world feels alive, with dynamic events, side quests, and activities that make exploration rewarding.
The gameplay is excellent. The combat is satisfying, with a variety of weapons and abilities that allow for different playstyles. The stealth mechanics work well, giving you options for how to approach encounters. The vehicle handling, from speeder bikes to your ship, feels responsive and fun. The heist missions are highlights, with the kind of planning and execution that makes you feel like a true outlaw.
Kay Vess is a fantastic protagonist. She’s charismatic, capable, and relatable - the kind of character you want to follow on an adventure. The supporting cast is equally strong, with memorable characters that enhance the story and world. The writing captures the tone of Star Wars perfectly, with the right mix of adventure, humor, and drama.
Star Wars Outlaws succeeds because it delivers exactly what it promises: an open-world Star Wars adventure that lets you live out the fantasy of being a scoundrel in the galaxy. It’s polished, engaging, and respectful of the source material. The game creates memorable moments, from epic space battles to quiet conversations in cantinas, and it all feels authentically Star Wars.
For me, Star Wars Outlaws isn’t just the best game of 2024 - it’s the Star Wars game I’ve been waiting for. It captures the magic, adventure, and spirit of Star Wars while delivering a polished, engaging gameplay experience. It’s a game that I’ve spent countless hours in and could easily spend countless more. It represents what licensed games can be when developers truly understand and respect the source material.
Star Wars Outlaws is my game of the year because it’s everything I want from a Star Wars game: adventure, exploration, memorable characters, and the feeling of being part of that galaxy far, far away.