2024 was a bust year for the game industry but an absolutely banger year for video games. The sheer amount of creativity and quality on display (especially within the indie scene) was electrifying, which makes it all the more depressing to see execs continue to champion AI-generated slurry and cookie-cutter IP over bold new ideas that could perhaps rejuvenate the weary developers that are no doubt tired of being canon fodder for corporations.
Food for thought as we stare down the barrel of 2025.
Anyway, I digress. Back to the topic at hand: here are the video games that left an impression on me in 2024. Those titles that, for whatever reason, stayed with me as the days and months melted into the aether. Let's take a look.
3D platformers are rarely this absorbing. The fact Astro Bot was repeatedly compared to Nintendo's finest offerings is a testament to the design expertise on display in Team Asobi's vibrant adventure. There was a once time when video games prioritized mirth and silliness above all else, encouraging players to cut loose by indulging their inner child. Those experiences are few and far between these days, but Astro Bot is a wonderful, joyous reminder of what can happen when you unleash the giddy power of play.
I spent a week in Paris last year and decided to swing by the Louvre to catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa. It was smaller than I expected. Understated but still captivating. I spent a few minutes in a room with a portrait viewed as a masterpiece the world over, but I'm still not sure I understand it.
That's how I feel about Animal Well. Billy Basso's dreamy metroidvania is enigmatic and obtuse. As someone who's only ever flirted with the genre, I have the sense it wasn't really made for me—but I find it irresistible all the same. Sometimes, there's pleasure in admiring the abstract. In watching a dedicated craftsman ascend to greatness. As I plunge into Animal Well's intoxicating, interlocking puzzles—which take the guise of a meandering labyrinth pulsing with mystery and danger—every solution presents another problem. I might remain trapped here forever, unable to comprehend the vast sprawl laid out before me. I don't think I'd mind that so much.
There's a thumping cadence underpinning Balatro that makes the roguelike deck-builder irresistible. Each run provides hope and dread in equal measure: will the cards favor you this time, giving you all the components you need to assemble a killer deck? And if they do, will you have the foresight and knowhow to piece the puzzle together before a boss strikes you down? If the stars align, you'll quickly enter a delirious flow state. Multipliers, mystical boons, and coinage will rain down from the cosmos as you play hand after hand with ruthless precision. The rules now march to the beat of your drum, pumping your score into the stratosphere. Finally, the joke is on them.
Pokemon TCG Pocket takes the tabletop version of Pokemon TCG and distills it down to a quick-fire battler without sacrificing the tactical elements that make the core game so captivating. Assembling decks around your favorite Pokemon is just as rewarding here as it is in the real world, and there's plenty of joy to be found curating binders and pulling rares.
Crucially, Pocket doesn't overstay its welcome or place too much focus on spending. Most players will probably dip into the experience for 30 minutes or so each day to rip open some free boosters, hit their daily challenges, and smash a few battles over lunch. Those with a more competitive edge will likely focus on limited-time events and challenges. If you want to drop cash in search of a specific card, you can, but the game doesn't require exorbitant spending.
An irreverent, kooky, and quietly sweet comedy 'slapformer' about a conspicuously small man who becomes taskmaster-in-chief of a barmpot town, Thank Goodness You're Here! is a heartfelt love letter to northern England that shows its affection in that most British of ways: by taking the absolute piss. I have to give props to developer Coal Supper and publisher Panic for having the courage to bring an experience this absurd to market. Does it have mass appeal? Maybe not. But we need more video games that are unafraid to try something new—especially when that something new puts honking great big MEAT PIES back on the map.
Thank you for exploring Chris Kerr's top game picks of 2024 with us! This article is one of many 2024 reflections hitting Game Developer this month, with more to come! For even more thoughts and insights on the best of 2024, check out our Game Developer’s 2024 Wrap-Up keyword to catch up on all our End of Year content.
Read more about:
Game Developer's 2024 Wrap-Up: Top Games, Devs, and TrendsGame Developer EssentialsTop StoriesFeaturesYou May Also Like
