Simon Parkin’s Top 5 Must-Play Games of 2024

1. Balatro
LocalThunk
Utilizing foundational poker mechanics, Balatro reshapes, contorts, and redefines the traditional card game into an extraordinarily flexible and distinctive experience for the video game genre. You construct a deck of altered cards that allow for exhilarating combinations, while considering how the decisions made in the present game may influence the ten that follow.

2. Dragon’s Dogma 2
Capcom
This carefree fantasy title exhibits a playful essence tempered by the treacherous journeys you must embark upon through the undulating terrains that connect its ancient cities and villages. Out there, among the foliage, you might encounter a cave troll who, if you aren’t cautious, could trail you into a dragon’s territory, resulting in a chaotic, towering, unscripted confrontation that is unique to your experience. A wonderfully eccentric adventure.

3. UFO 50
Mossmouth
A compilation of 50 retro games that never materialized, UFO 50 serves as a lavish homage to early video-game artistry, grounded in contemporary game design principles. The success rate is exceedingly high: numerous titles in this collection are mini-classics right from their inception – no wonder, considering co-creator Derek Yu is among the most brilliant figures in the indie gaming landscape.

4. The Rise of the Golden Idol
Color Gray Games
Investigate crime-scene dioramas to gather clues – depicted as names and nouns – then deduce the whodunnit, whydunnit, and wheredunnit within a series of interconnected scenarios. The satisfaction of fitting the correct words into the gaps of a summing-up conclusion is delightful, as are the 1970s vibes and how the game’s distinct events culminate into a unified mystery.

5. Animal Well
Billy Basso
After seven years of development, solo creator Billy Basso’s debut – where he assumed roles as artist, writer, composer, and programmer – offers a mystical journey into a maze of dimly lit caves, brimming with puzzles and secrets that must be uncovered using a blend of skill and reasoning. A captivating journey.