The best games for 2024
As the new year began, the biggest question on gamers' minds was this: How the hell was 2024 going to measure up to last year's lineup of video games? If you don't believe that 2023 was the best year the gaming community had ever seen - Alan Wake! Baldur's Gate 3! The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom! – then you have to at least admit that it was one of the best.
But just because the calendar says it's New Year's doesn't mean the world stops producing great video games. It's all just getting started. This year, we'll most likely see an open-world game in the series. Star Wars, Elden Ring DLC and another addition to Starfield. So fire up your console of choice – here are the best video games of 2024 (so far):
MLB: The Show 24
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
We start with MLB: The Show as the best sports game franchise. When you start the game, you get a beautiful, inspiring meditation on the persistence of great play – narrated by Bob Kendrick – the president of Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Of course, the game nails the essentials – dynamic gameplay, a killer franchise experience, and an ever-evolving character mode. No game respects and honors its sport more than MLB: The Show.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The magnum opus of the long-running Yakuza series, Infinite Wealth, brazenly combines violent (yet light-hearted!) games with a dual storyline involving the legendary Kazuma Kiryu and the newest hero Ichiban Kasuga. Full of quirky battles, plenty of mini-games, and island-style support Animal Crossing, Infinite Wealth is so packed with content that midnight karaoke sessions will make you forget your next destination.
The Last of Us Pt. II Remastered
Platforms: PlayStation 5
For those who want to relive the harrowing events of The Last of Us Pt. II, an official enhanced version of the game launched this year. The new version comes with the original DLC and "„roguelike survival mode“" with random encounters, called "„No Return“". If you already own the original Pt. II, it will only cost you $10 to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 edition.
Tekken 8
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Tekken 8 is the first appearance of the famous fighting series since Tekken 7 since 2015. In the decade since the last edition of Tekken, the team of Bandai Namco established itself as the first studio to power a major fighting title with the graphical improvements of Unreal Engine 5. Bandai also created a new game system "„Heat State„", which hopes to make Tekken 8 The best fighting game of the year.
Persona 3 Reload
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
At first glance Persona 3 Reload is just a remake of Persona 3 from 2006. But make no mistake – the enhanced version's improved graphics and sleek character designs highlight why the original was such an influential title in the development of the fan-favorite RPG series.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Mario vs. Donkey Kong – which is the fifth installment in the puzzle platforming series – acts as a spiritual successor to the original arcade title Donkey Kong. The new, graphically improved version comes with local multiplayer, over 130 levels and the use of Mario Minis, to help you along the way.
Helldivers 2
Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
Helldivers 2 plays exactly as you would imagine a game would function Starship Troopers. Seriously – this game has so much unintentional humor. No one plans on making a game with bugs, of course. But the ways you accidentally die in this alien shooter… They take us back to the nostalgic days of dying by Hello plasma grenades – and then dying of laughter with your friends.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Platform: PlayStation 5
If you are not obsessed with Final Fantasy, please feel free to move on and save yourself the headache. Are you still here? Okay. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the continuation of Final Fantasy VII Remake from 2020, which in itself - it is also contained in the name - is a remake of Final Fantasy VII since 1997. It's a lot, we know. But for a hell of a lot of gamers, it was the most anticipated title of the year.
Balatro
Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Sometimes it's hard to sell a card game, but Balatro is much more than a standard poker simulator. Using well-made hands, the player can unlock wild cards that multiply their score. In every arcade-style game, the main draw (incoming card game) figures out how to break the mechanics so that you get an infinitely high score. I'm serious — there are already quintillions of players.
Princess Peach: Showtime!
Platform: Nintendo Switch
This year, Princess Peach finally got her first solo adventure in almost 20 years. Titled Princess Peach: Showtime!, the game follows Peach through a stage play as she swings swords, cooks dishes, and searches for clues. Is there anything she can't do?
Rise of the Ronin
Platforms: PlayStation 5
We've seen a lot of clones of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, since FromSoftware's 2019 title was almost unanimously named Game of the Year. Rise of the Ronin, from the developers of Ninja Gaiden, has a bit more vitality than its competitors. The fiery sword in the trailer should completely captivate you, but the game also features bosses that are so grueling that even pros will find it difficult to complete. Elden Ring they will tremble.
