Game of the Year 2024

[RedTwoster]

What’s been your Game of the Year for 2024? 

To avoid confusion, I’m going to split this up in two - categories, those being:

* The best game released in 2024

* The best game you played in 2024, released in any year.

I’m doing this for a specific reason, which will become apparent shortly.

For me…

Game of the Year 2024 - Astro Bot (runners up: FFVII Rebirth and UFO 50) - Astro was an absolute joy to play from beginning to end. Inplayed the whole thing with a big, nostalgic grin from beginning to end. Then there was the free DLC - all brilliant, and all content I’d have paid money for. I don’t know how they do a sequel to this given that it’s heavily tied into the PlayStation’s anniversary - but I hope they do, and I can’t wait to see what it’s like.

Best game I played in 2024 (from any year) - Elden Ring/Cyberpunk 2077 (runner up - Alan Wake 2, Sekiro) - I’d previously had it in my head that I hated From games. I’d dabbled a little with Elden Ring, but I’m not sure a I liked it, and I certainly didn’t love it. This year I was completely sucked in. And last night I FINALLY BEAT RADHAN. I loaded it up after having given up a few weeks ago, fought him, and won first time. If they’ve nerfed him again in that time, please don’t tell me!

I also gave Cyberpunk another run-out this year and really loved it. I couldn’t decide where it ranked compared to Elden Ring, so I included both. Feel free to do the same with your picks!

I’m hoping both games get a re-release on Switch 2, giving me an excuse to revisit them in a different format.

[Hannibal Scorch]

Game of the Year was definitely Astro Bot for me. A game that my wife, daughter and I all played and helped each other complete. Very rare for such an occurrence but it was an absolute treat from start to finish and then some.

Best game I played this year was probably GTA 5. I had never played it before, not playing anything GTA related since Vice City stories on the PSP(maybe LCS, not sure which I played last). But yeah, a great game that I can’t believe I waited so long to play.

Honourable mention to Prince of Persia - The Lost Crown which I enjoyed a fair bit too and The Show 24.

Edited December 16, 2024 by Hannibal Scorch

[RedTwoster]

3 minutes ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

Best game I played this year was probably GTA 5. I had never played it before, not playing anything GTA related since Vice City stories on the PSP(maybe LCS, not sure which I played last). But yeah, a great game that I can’t believe I waited so long to play.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how the series evolves when VI comes out. As good as V is, aspects of it feel very old (to be fair, it is old) and I would imagine the next game will feel as much of a forward step from its predecessor as RDR2 did to RDR1. And the prospect of that is really exciting.

[Dr. Alan Grant]

People keep saying that Cyberpunk is better now. That I should try it again. But there’s a part of me that thinks if I do, it will be terrible and they’ll all shout in unison “oh my god, you believed us? We were joking dude.” 

[RedTwoster]

Just now, Dr. Alan Grant said:

People keep saying that Cyberpunk is better now. That I should try it again. But there’s a part of me that thinks if I do, it will be terrible and they’ll all shout in unison “oh my god, you believed us? We were joking dude.” 

Oh, definitely try it. Judging by the games you’ve said you like, I’d be quite surprised if you didn’t like it. Play it on a PS5, Series X or high-spec PC if you can - it used to work quite well on the Steam Deck, but the release of the DLC utterly arsed up portions of the game. I’m led to believe it’s been patched with fixes, but I can’t vouch for how effective they are (or are not).

[Sphinx]

I've seen it's half price on Steam til Wednesday (£22.49) if you do play on PC.

[BomberPat]

 

 

 

BIG RON'S BIG PIES

[Dr. Alan Grant]

I’ve got a PS4 disc version, if I remember rightly I can get a free PS5 upgrade. 

Fine, I’ll give it a go. If it hasn’t improved a million fold, I may give up gaming forever. 

[Merzbow]

Cyberpunk's issues were never the bugs for me but I've likely gone on about them before..

I'm struggling to think of an actual 2024 release that I've played and really liked, this year had been mostly spent on older games like Deus Ex and the OG Stalker trilogy due to me not having a current gen console or decent PC. Plus I think I'm pretty much tapped out on modern AAA gaming and all it's business practices, nothing stands out from an artistic viewpoint either unless it's a rare indie title.

I'll give my best game played to Needy Streamer Overload just because it's something truly novel and a rare case of being edgy as fuck without being some right wing nonsense. The writing is surprisingly good, makes you feel like a genuine piece of shit if you choose to take certain routes.

[Dr. Alan Grant]

For my GOTY, my 2024 release is Astro Bot. Close second for FF7 Rebirth. I haven’t played a huge number of new releases this year. Other than those two, the only other new games I’ve played are…

Path Of Exile 2 - far too early to have much of an opinion.

Black Ops 6 - worst COD in many a year. The campaign was great, but multiplayer and Warzone integration were bollocks. 

New World Aeternum - got bored after a few weeks.

Shadow Of The Erdtree - loved it, but I can’t bring myself to nominate a DLC (even though it was MASSIVE) for best game. Take note, Game Awards. 

Dragon’s Dogma II - played once, gave up. 

Lords Of The Fallen - I’m sure this came out this year. It was very good. I definitely need to go back and finish it.

In terms of the best game I’ve played old or new, I played Elden Ring a fair bit again this year prior to Erdtree coming out. I also replayed Arkham Knight and Fallout 4. All worthy contenders. Shoutout as well to Tomb Raider. The 2013 one. Finally got around to it, and loved every second. 

I intend to pick up Dragon Age: Veilguard, Star Wars Outlaws, Black Myth and that Ronin game when they drop in price. Who knows if they would have made my list this year.

[TildeGuy~!]

Unsurprisingly for me it was FF7 Rebirth. 

One of the best games I’ve played ever, this year was fun for new games including Like A Dragon:Infinite Wealth, Astro Bot was fun but incredibly short. 

Still want to get to Stellar Blade and Silent Hill 2 

[RedTwoster]

49 minutes ago, Dr. Alan Grant said:

Dragon’s Dogma II - played once, gave up. 

This is a few quality of life improvements away from being excellent. The fast travel system is the worst I’ve seen in a major release, and that drags it down significantly for me. I don’t know what they were thinking, and while I’m sure mods exist to fix that, it shouldn’t have been necessary.

[LaGoosh]

1 hour ago, Dr. Alan Grant said:

People keep saying that Cyberpunk is better now. That I should try it again. But there’s a part of me that thinks if I do, it will be terrible and they’ll all shout in unison “oh my god, you believed us? We were joking dude.” 

I was the same. Played it this year and very much enjoyed it.

Game of the Year is easily Astro Bot.

Best game I've played this year is either Astro Bot or God of War Ragnarok. Astro Bot is easily a better game in terms of level and game design but I loved the world, story and characters of Ragnarok. 

[Chris B]

2 hours ago, BomberPat said:

 

 

 

BIG RON'S BIG PIES

The gag about vegan baked goods made me genuinely laugh out loud. When I showed a friend a clip in the pub, he did an honest-to-goodness spit-take.

Edited December 16, 2024 by Chris B
Typo

[Cousin Jim Bob]

A late comer but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for me. Just absolutely nails what you want from an Indiana Jones game. Just sheer joy.

LAD - Infinite Wealth my number 2. I think Ichiban Kasuga might just be my favourite video game character of all time tbh. He is such a likeable idiot.

Finally got a Switch this year so my Game of any year would be Super Mario Kart 8. Just wonderful. Has that Nintendo magic all over it.