Editor's Choice Game of the Year, 2024

2023 was dominated by massive experiences like Baldur's Gate 3, Tears of the Kingdom, Alan Wake 2 and Resident Evil 4. This year was markedly different. Sure, a handful of triple-A marquees still made headlines, but it's also been a stellar — if not uninterrupted — year for indie upstarts.

As such, it was a challenge to compile this list, especially to close the order. Reading the rankings of my rather excellent peers, it's clear that my biggest gaming regret in 2024 is not playing more.

You can find all TheGamer's Game of the Year lists at this handy hub.

10

Thank God you're here

As a true Northerner, I suspect the humor in Thank God You're Here landed differently than it did for others. It was incredibly relatable and I found myself jumping for joy whenever we met a character that reminded me of someone I actually know.

We need more games based in the true north with real people from the north. A sequel set in Newcastle please!

9

Mimic Logic

I'm a big fan of RPG Maker. I've been dabbling in it for years, and while I'd love to eventually release a game of my own, I'm far more interested in discovering the creations of others. So when I come across a gem, I notice.

Mimic Logic is one of the best RPGM games I've played. It's a remarkable roguelike twist on the logic puzzle Liar and Truth Teller, where you read the statements of four treasure chests with the goal of uncovering the knockoffs and collecting as many treasures as possible before the game ends.

8

SandWitch Caravan

The defining feature of the second half of my gaming year has been my search for more comfortable, non-violent games. Caravan SandWitch met the brief and then some, an excellent open-world game full of exploration, mystery, and most of all, heart.

The absence of combat didn't cause a lack of urgency, and a gripping plot centered around an impending catastrophe, a missing sister and the rediscovery of old friendships meant that Cigalo's futuristic world still felt human at its core.

7

Little Kitty, Big City

A cozy puzzle-platformer where you play a mischievous cat just trying to get home, Little Kitty, Big City was an unexpected delight.

It was a big game for me this year too, being the first I played after a major health scare. It helped me get through the fallout, and just when I needed it the most, it reminded me why video games are a lifelong passion.

6

Neva

Neva was an instinctive game. It's stunningly beautiful, but don't let that fool you. Underneath is an intense, emotional experience, one that really makes you look at what it means to fight for what you love while dealing with loss. I was a mess at the end and I wouldn't have it any other way.

5

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

For me, 2024 was like a year when JRPGs finally nailed the sense of urgency that comes with having to save the world. Often you're not that bothered, you're just fighting random enemies and working your way through the dialogue to get to the endgame.

While the Remake's Midgar was self-contained, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth opened up the world and made it feel truly alive. I actually wanted to save these people and these places, for more than an achievement or bragging rights in a final boss fight. I can't wait for part three.

4

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

This urgency was felt even more in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, a spiritual successor to the legendary Suikoden. It would be easy for a game where you recruit literally a hundred heroes for a war to end all wars to feel bogged down by bloat, but Rabbit & Bear Studios manages to balance the overarching JRPG plot with the more intimate character stories.

The best design decision was to make the biggest flashpoints take place through RTS-style combat, rather than the usual turn-based tank-and-spanks that only use a few characters. Everyone is in this war together, and Eiyuden Chronicle never lets you forget that.

3

Astro Bot

Astro Bot was the most fun I've had in a game this year. Sure, it looks like a giant advertisement for the PlayStation on the surface, but underneath the veneer is a precision platformer with a huge amount of heart.

The Asobi team took it upon themselves to turn IP fabric into something delicious and boy did they deliver. Please sir, can I have something else?

2

Balatro

It's a testament to how excellent Balatro is that I feel guilty for only placing him in second place. It's like those Christmas carols we keep hearing this month – once you get it in your head, it won't leave anytime soon. I own it on three different platforms, but I also feel guilty for not playing it enough.

I'm absolutely stupid about it, but that doesn't matter at all. It's the best pick-up-and-play game since Tetris on the original Game Boy by some distance.

Honorable Mentions

1000xResist would have been comfortably in my top three, but I didn't want to rush just for this list. And if I were free about expansions, then No Man's Sky would be GOTY.

I was very late to the Atlus hype, never having been interested in anime-style RPGs. Then I played Persona 5 at the end of the year and what struck me is how excellent it is in terms of both character and world building. You want to care, and Metaphor: ReFantazio dials that feeling up to eleven.

At a time when our world seems more divided than ever, its themes of overcoming oppression and discrimination make you confront your own values. The metaphor makes you i want to free the United Kingdom of Euchronia from its tyranny. It does so through the lens of one of the best casts I've seen, each grieving a loss. It makes for a raw and consuming experience that I wish I could repeat again and again. I probably will.