Thoughts on Games of 2024
GOTY: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PC) – I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did - and perhaps the recency of playing it so close to the end of the year is coloring my thinking - but this was a fun Indiana Jones simulator that managed to nail the character and the beats of his best films in a way that translated well to gameplay and story design.
Runners-Up (Alphabetical):
Astro Bot (PS5) - This one combines most of my favorite ideas from the previous Astro Bot games with a healthy dose of Super Mario Galaxy-inspired design into one of the best platformers I've played in ages.
Balatro (PC/iOS) - A rogue-like poker game that I found easy to pick up, tough to master, and hard to put down. Well deserving of the hype!
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor (PC) - Like Vampire Survivors (2022) and Brotato (2023) before it, this year's favorite "survivor-like" game ate up plenty of time on my Steam Deck and offered a lot of short-burst challenges.
Devil Blade Reboot (PC) - This remastered shmup feels like a Sega Saturn game in all the best ways, and was the most fun arcade-style game I played this year. It's responsive controls, well-designed "retro" graphics, and wide range of play options make this an easy recommendation for fans of the genre.
Selaco (PC) - There's a lot to explore and enjoy in this indie FPS's destructible environments, frantic gunplay, and tiered enemy encounters. A truly impressive early access game created with the durable GZDoom engine, and well worth a look for "boomer shooter" fans.
UFO 50 (PC) - 50 newly made 8-bit games in one collection made to feel like playing a long lost 80s console. There are some real gems in the collection, and all of them are worth checking out.