Engadget’s Ultimate Gaming Picks for 2024: The Year’s Best Titles Unveiled!

This year might not have been as action-packed as 2023 was for gaming, but there were still numerous remarkable new releases. Whether you adore a good indie game or a high-budget production, this year catered to all tastes. All that was required was to explore a bit more thoroughly than you may have in 2023.

Animal Well

The essence of Animal Well isn’t particularly complex: It’s a lock-and-key Metroidvania. You venture to locations to unlock other areas and abilities. There are elements of puzzles. Sections of platforming. Adversaries. A feeling of advancement. Completing the main “narrative” reveals several layers of commendably intricate and increasingly self-referential secrets, but let’s be honest, most individuals curious about those will simply search for the solutions online.

And yet, when you engage with it, you can’t help but contemplate how little there is like it these days. Why is that? It’s not merely the retro aesthetic. It’s the reality that you never discover what your little blob character is. It’s providing you with a map to fill in yourself rather than giving any guidance. It’s the unexpected realization that the disk you’ve clung to for the last three hours isn’t solely for tossing. It’s the giant monkey that throws rocks at you, just for the fun of it. It’s the manner in which each screen is a fixed frame, the way the camera focuses on the environment instead of the player. It’s the endless curiosity and delight of discovering what lurks in the shadows, behind us, beneath our feet, beyond our little wells. And then having no understanding of what it genuinely signifies. That’s authentic stuff.

Animal Well represents that uncommon entity: a contemporary video game that relies on you to deduce it and possesses enough elegance to allow you to fumble in the darkness. I wager the conclusion will leave you astounded.

— Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter

Astro Bot

Astro Bot is a tribute to the three-decade legacy of PlayStation. It highlights every nook of the brand’s chronology, transforming both famous and long-neglected characters from Sony’s history into charming bots that you gather along your adventure.

More crucially, however, Astro Bot firmly establishes its own place among the great PlayStation titles. It’s an exquisitely crafted platformer that overflows with personality, humor, and stunning visuals. Team Asobi has filled its ultra-adorable game with ingenious ideas and mechanics to keep you engaged. It even feels fantastic thanks to the clever use of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback.

Video games aren’t always intended to be enjoyable. Yet, Astro Bot extracts sheer delight from each and every moment — at least when it’s not challenging you in the demanding bonus levels.

— Kris Holt, Contributing Reporter

Batman: Arkham Shadow

I never tire of playing the Batman Arkham games. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve unraveled all of the Riddler’s enigmas or thwarted The Joker’s schemes. Batman: Arkham Shadow does an exceptional job of reproducing all the elements that make the original Batman titles enjoyable, such as using gadgets to accumulate combos in hand-to-hand conflict and swooping from the shadows to eliminate armed henchmen. However, the game’s most remarkable aspect isn’t the combat, Batarang-throwing, or the gratifying sensation when you make a Tyger guard’s leg twist in the opposite direction. It’s the narrative.

Batman: Arkham Shadow delves deeply into the saga of Batman and its Rogues Gallery of thematic villains. It unpacks Bruce Wayne’s tale of endless anguish and quest for emotional salvation just as capably as any of the other games or even some of the cinematic adaptations. Batman: Arkham Shadow illustrates that VR games have significant potential to be more than mere mindless shooting galleries and boxing simulators.

— Danny Gallagher, Contributing Reporter

Balatro

Of all the titles you see listed here, none was as universally adored as Balatro. Almost every member of the Engadget team wanted to express thoughts about the title. So instead of confining ourselves to just one snippet, we composed a complete homage to Balatro.

Crow Country

When I first learned about Crow Country, a release for 2024 that drew significant inspiration from PS1 survival horror games, I was genuinely intrigued but also slightly concerned that it might be merely a nostalgia-based title. But once I started playing it, I completely fell in love and found it to be an exceptional experience despite all the affectionate references to its predecessors.

Crow Country follows Mara Forest, a somewhat dubious protagonist, as she investigates an abandoned amusement park in search of its missing proprietor, Edward Crow. There are constant allusions to a dreadful incident that led to the park’s closure, and bizarre skinless creatures are scattered everywhere. In classic survival horror style, you need to manage your resources like ammunition and health kits, and you’ll encounter numerous puzzles that need to be solved to proceed. I played Crow Country prior to the addition of Hard mode and found it to be eerie and captivating — but surprisingly, also somewhat cozy, which I appreciated. However, there’s a game mode to suit everyone. If you’re looking for a more thrilling adventure, choose Hard mode. If you prefer to avoid confrontations, there’s Exploration mode. Survival, the “normal” mode, lands in between those two.

Crow Country is a wonderful game featuring mild horror and a narrative that was entertaining to piece together throughout the journey. It’s ideal if you want to experience a horror game that has a chilling atmosphere but won’t keep your heart racing the entire time.

— Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend Editor

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Dragon Age: The Veilguard doesn’t hesitate to unveil the full splendor of its visual capabilities and grand narrative. After spending some time in its (remarkable) character creator, it’s merely a matter of minutes before you’re battling to avert the apocalypse. Solas, the unsuspected antagonist from the previous installment, is attempting to dismantle the veil separating the spiritual and human realms. During this, his magical ritual adorns the display with a stunning display of neon illumination, hues, and shadows. If you possess a contemporary GPU, prepare for a ray tracing experience.

I’m a player of uncomplicated pleasures, and I must confess, that explosive opening scene alone was sufficient to enchant me to Dragon Age: The Veilguard. However, what sustained my interest was BioWare’s traditional formula of captivating characters and sharp narratives. I’m willing to overlook the numerous errors of Mass Effect Andromeda, for Veilguard’s ensemble of unconventional heroes clearly indicates that BioWare still retains its storytelling essence.

What’s genuinely astonishing, however, is that Dragon Age: The Veilguard also serves as a commendable action RPG, featuring fast-paced and demanding combat that is more akin to recent God of War titles than anything from the Dragon Age franchise itself. There exists a deep skill tree to develop, and you can always reassign your skills without any repercussions.

For a title that could require a hundred hours to genuinely complete, Veilguard consistently feels invigorating and thrilling every time I decide to play. So, frankly, I don’t mind if it doesn’t resonate as profoundly as earlier installments, or if it doesn’t present as many significant choices as Baldur’s Gate 3. Occasionally, it’s simply enjoyable to relax with your fantasy companions and smash a few demon skulls.

— Devinda Hardawar, Senior Editor

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

The second installment of the eagerly awaited remake of 1997’s Final Fantasy VII leverages the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 to create a more considerable (though not entirely open) universe. (It also stands as one of the most excellent titles to demonstrate the power of the PS5 Pro, providing smoother frame rates and sharper textures and details.) It’s a bigger, better title than Remake.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth broadens Remake‘s often confined streets and structures into vast plains, mountainous terrains, and Mythril caves. What’s intriguing about this middle segment is that the conclusion of Remake seemingly severed ties with the narrative we all recognized from the original. Nevertheless, Cloud, Aerith, and the rest of the eclectic crew traverse most of the same towns and locations from the original game. That sense of nostalgia is blended with a modern, further refined action RPG combat system, featuring new synergy attacks, materia, and summoning spells. It’s all somewhat intricate, but it also allows me to engage with my favorite characters and their styles of play. (Cait Sith isn’t particularly favored.)

It’s a rolling journey that incorporates additional character and narrative details. While exploration in this middle chapter isn’t as extensive as I might have desired, the themed regions are all distinct from one another, filled with their own combat and exploration themes. I absolutely adore the soundtrack of Rebirth – I cherish it so much that it made its way into my most-listened albums of 2024.

— Mat Smith, UK Bureau Chief

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

When I initially discovered that an Indiana Jones game was in development, it felt instantly unnecessary. What’s the point when the Tomb Raider and Uncharted franchises have spent years translating Indy’s explosive action into the realm of video games? I should have been aware not to underestimate MachineGames, the creators of the recent (and outstanding) Wolfenstein games. If anything, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle possesses more similarities with Dishonored and Hitman than the dramatic set pieces that have characterized Uncharted’s Nathan Drake. It’s a first-person experience, for one, and it emphasizes stealth and problem-solving rather than exterminating hordes of enemies.

The adventure opens with a breathtaking reproduction of the introductory scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark, a sequence that consistently had me in awe. Numerous frames are directly mirrored from the original film, the Indy model is surprisingly lifelike, and perhaps the biggest revelation of all, voice actor Troy Baker offers a remarkable rendition of a young Harrison Ford. Honestly, his Indiana Jones sounds more like the character I recall than Ford does in the recent (and genuinely fantastic) Dial of Destiny.

Although you’re armed with a weapon early on, the majority of your time involves exploring vast locations such as the Vatican, stealthily maneuvering through restricted areas and delivering punches to fascists. You’ll also confront a few puzzles that offer just enough challenges to be fulfilling, without becoming excessively frustrating.

Five hours into the adventure, I realized I had yet to discharge my weapon. And it would take several additional hours before that necessity actually arose. I cannot envision many other action franchises that exercise such restraint.

MachineGames didn’t just create a commendable Indiana Jones experience — they fashioned one of the finest Indiana Jones adventures ever produced. I’d choose The Great Circle over Temple of Doom any day. It’s so exceptional, it deserves a place in a museum.

— D.H.

Infinity Nikki

From the hours we dedicate to transmuting items or assembling gear sets for optimal stats, aesthetics have always been subtly crucial in video gaming. So it’s high time that someone decided to dive in, acknowledge that style is everything, and center it in an incredibly delightful game. Infinity Nikki is the most time I have ever invested in a game’s photo mode. How could I not? My in-game wardrobe has been accumulating pieces across the style spectrum – from ultimate cozy lounge wear to astonishingly extravagant pastel treats – and I cherish them all. Adorning myself in fantastic outfits is a significant aspect of Infinity Nikki’s pristine vibes, but there’s an abundance of gameplay here that has wisely drawn inspiration from other excellent titles.

The imprint of Genshin Impact is evident in its approach to gacha mechanics. The open-world exploration and side missions resonate with the experiences found in Breath of the Wild and Tears of…

the Realm. The Whimstar mechanics are directly inspired by any 3D Mario. However, every concept has been softened, resulting in minimal stress and very little difficulty. That seems like it could be tedious. It’s not. Existing in Miraland is an absolute delight.

— Anna Washenko, Contributing Reporter

INDIKA

I haven’t ceased pondering INDIKA since I tried it in May. It’s not an endless stream of thoughts or anything, but recollections of the game frequently drift through my mind, and I embrace them each time — humorous, heart-rending, and everything in between. Yet, INDIKA isn’t a title I would recommend to everyone without hesitation. It’s a satirical and surreal narrative involving the devil residing in a nun’s mind, and while it features laugh-out-loud dialogue and adorable buddy-cop scenarios, it is also intertwined with instances of sexual violence. No matter how sensitively and powerfully these moments are portrayed, they remain weighty.

Nonetheless, if you’re up for it, INDIKA is an entirely distinctive third-person journey that skillfully maintains a balance between humor and pain. It offers a whirlwind of whimsical absurdity, religious critique, and raw human anguish, always with a wink and a nod. INDIKA flourishes in the complex space between enjoyment and discomfort, making it a worthwhile experience for anyone looking for something mature and innovative.

— Jessica Conditt, Senior Reporter

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is full of contradictions. It encapsulates everything that makes a puzzle game engaging, while simultaneously overturning the conventions of the genre. It’s heartwarming yet unsettling, enigmatic yet fulfilling, chaotic and utterly sensible. It’s contemporary, nostalgic, and futuristic all at once.

In Lorelei, players find themselves at the entrance of an otherworldly hotel, and the only choice is to explore the creativity and sorrow that have claimed its grounds throughout the years. The hotel is expansive and filled with mysteries, with each room containing at least one enigma. There are over 150 puzzles within the game — memory challenges, logical conundrums, perspective tricks, mathematical tasks, artistic projects, lunar cycles, astrological clocks, and labyrinths — and the solution in one chamber frequently reveals secrets in other areas. It’s a nonlinear journey, yet it feels as if every element in the hotel is profoundly interconnected. Including you.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is designed for enthusiasts of puzzles, narrative surprises, and David Lynch — but truly, it’s meant for anyone who enjoys remarkable new video games. This is a title like no other, serving as evidence that creativity is thriving in the industry, especially among indie creators.

— J.C.

Metaphor: ReFantazio enhances the Atlus JRPG formula that I’ve cherished through various Shin Megami Tensei and Persona titles in every conceivable aspect. Perhaps the title’s greatest achievement is rendering that classic JRPG grindfest feel distinctive and meaningful. Instead of trudging through dreary, procedurally generated dungeons to level up between critical objectives, you’ll be accepting bounties on creatures, assisting locals in retrieving loved ones, or searching for enigmatic artifacts. Combine that with an engaging and surprisingly relatable storyline, vibrant characters, and a precisely balanced battle system, and you have a definitive success.

The solitary disadvantage is that I wish its technical framework was stronger; all the stunning artwork and chic menus in existence can’t conceal that the game is evidently built on the same engine as Persona 5, extended to its utmost capacities. Coming from the polished Persona 3 remake, which effectively utilized Unreal Engine, it’s somewhat jarring to encounter low-resolution textures, flickering lines, and strange transitions between areas. None of this is enough to prevent Metaphor from being a game I advocate for anyone willing to listen, however.

Here’s to hoping that the upcoming Persona installment — which must be on the horizon, right? — incorporates the gameplay enhancements of Metaphor while pairing them with a more modern engine that wasn’t created to accommodate the PlayStation 3.

— Aaron Souppouris, Executive Editor

Neva

Neva delivers a monumental impact. This action platformer narrates an incredibly poignant tale about illness, decay, and the connection between humans and animals over time. It’s captivating on multiple levels: visually, aurally, and emotionally.

The narrative unfolds almost without words, as Nomada Studio primarily employs its environments, enemy engagements, and your advancement to convey the story. You embody a warrior named Alba who endeavor to purify the world from a corrupting influence afflicting the ecosystem and possessing wildlife. Her ally is a titular wolf. Neva matures from a pup to an adult through the seasons depicted in the game. Alba can summon the wolf to her when they are apart, but the tone of her calls shifts based on the tension of the situation.

Neva is a relatively brief experience, but it’s one that will linger with you. Just as the blight does to the landscapes and fauna of this exquisite world.

— K.H.

Nine Sols

2024 may not be concluded yet, but I can confidently assert that we likely won’t witness Team Cherry unveil Silksong. In other words, it was another disappointing year for Hollow Knight aficionados. However, if you adore Metroidvanias like I do, 2024 has undoubtedly been one of the genre’s finest years since 2017. Even if you consider only two of this year’s more successful entries, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Animal Well, there was no shortage of remarkable Metroidvanias to enjoy over the past 12 months. Yet, if you ask me, most individuals overlooked 2024’s standout offering: Nine Sols.

Nine Sols is one of those uncommon experiences where the elevator pitch truly reflects the game’s essence. It’s a 2D Metroidvania featuring a Sekiro-inspired combat system. I’ll be truthful,a lot. The atmosphere in Still Wakes the Deep is meticulously crafted, pulling players into its unsettling environment. It seizes your attention from the beginning, enveloping you in dark, damp settings where dread permeates every shadow. The narrative unravels through engaging storytelling and compelling visuals that evoke a sense of foreboding, utilizing subtle audio cues that send chills down your spine.

Navigating through eerie hallways and abandoned spaces, players unravel the story of an ill-fated offshore oil rig, where something sinister lurks in the depths. The fear is heightened by a sense of isolation; every creak of the structure creates an intense atmosphere. This game knows how to build tension without resorting to cheap jump scares; instead, it masterfully plays with the players’ anticipation and fear of the unknown.

The character development is also noteworthy; the protagonist feels real and relatable, making the stakes feel even higher in this terrifying tale. Still Wakes the Deep delivers not just on thrills but also presents a rich narrative that stays with you long after the credits roll.

— C.M.

something. Still Wakes the Deep originates from the horror wizards at The Chinese Room, delivering an extraordinary first-person adventure that introduces brutal supernatural creatures to the Beira D oil platform amid the frigid North Sea.

In Still Wakes the Deep, fear manifests in various ways. The encroaching beings move with slender, overly elongated limbs that snap from their forms akin to aggressive bungee cords. Massive blisters and crimson ribbons proliferate along the hallways, radiating a nauseating cosmic illumination. The sea remains an unyielding threat, howling beneath each step taken. Furthermore, the oil rig itself resembles a labyrinthine structure upheld by delicate tension legs at the heart of a turbulent ocean, creaking and tilting as it’s torn apart from within. Each of these aspects is lethal; each presents a distinct form of dread.

In the midst of the life-threatening horror, Still Wakes the Deep succeeds in narrating a poignant tale of family and remorse, largely attributed to the game’s marvelous voice acting and engaging script. This title was easy to overlook in the plethora of excellent horror games released this year, but it rightfully deserves a position right at the top of that lineup.

— J.C.

Silent Hill 2

There isn’t much that can be said about Silent Hill 2 and its narrative that hasn’t been mentioned countless times before; it is profoundly grim, showcasing mastery in psychological horror. In the 2024 remake, the storyline remains largely unchanged, yet there’s a newfound intensity in the foes and environmental features that elevates the horror. Silent Hill 2 (2024) truly burrowed under my skin at times, while at other moments, it made me leap from my seat.

Players assume the role of the bewildered and grieving James Sunderland, who journeys to the town of Silent Hill after receiving correspondence from his deceased spouse indicating that she awaits him. They once vacationed there as a couple, yet it’s needless to say that Silent Hill is not as he remembers. The game presents both a struggle for survival and a riddle that requires solving as James combats horrifying creatures and gradually uncovers clues that hint at dark occurrences. It’s extremely engaging and genuinely terrifying, not to mention emotionally resonant as the narrative gradually unfolds. Bloober Team executed the remake brilliantly, and like the original, it’s the kind of game that lingers in your thoughts long after completing it.

— C.M.

Space Marine 2

At first sight, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 appears to be a straightforward action title reminiscent of Gears of War. It’s explosive, gory, and extravagantly entertaining. However, the more I immersed myself in Space Marine 2, the more I came to admire the depth and intelligence concealed beneath its gleaming Ceramite exterior. For starters, it flawlessly captures the Warhammer 40K universe, both visually and thematically. This is a game that understands its transhuman protagonists are merely cogs in an oppressive and brutal system.

The close-quarters combat system is another aspect that, while seemingly simple, rewards players who invest time to master its tempo. Just because you’re a super soldier doesn’t mean you can recklessly charge into battle; instead, you must block, parry, and counter the deadliest foes on the field. Many other games utilize this rhythm, yet Space Marine 2 establishes its own that feels exceedingly gratifying. Combine this with a captivating co-op mode that features an excellent progression system, and you have a title I’ve engaged with more than any others this year.

— I.B.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remasted

I’m going to take advantage of a loophole to discuss one of my all-time favorite games that, technically, was released back in 2020, The Last of Us Part II. However, Naughty Dog launched a remastered variant for the PS5 in January. Yes, the fundamental game remains the same, and the graphical enhancement isn’t nearly as substantial as the overhaul of the first Last of Us that debut in 2022. Nevertheless, as I mentioned in my review of Part II Remastered, the new roguelike “No Return” mode was certainly worth the $10 upgrade fee by itself.

Initially, I hesitated to document this for our favorite titles of the year, thinking it would be absurd to return to this particular fixation of mine yet again. However, my PlayStation 2024 summary revealed that I invested a remarkably staggering 318 hours engaging with Part II. Indeed, I completed the main campaign once this year and ultimately secured the platinum trophy that had eluded me in the PS4 iteration — yet my rough estimate is that I spent approximately 250 to 275 hours solely on No Return. Yes, that’s teetering on obsessive behavior, but I believe it also reflects just how remarkable the combat system in Part II is. Moreover, engaging in these encounters with 10 distinct characters, each possessing their own traits and peculiarities, ensures substantial replayability here (if I haven’t demonstrated that already). Factor in the randomized modifiers that arise (invisible enemies, healing upon landing a melee attack, tripwire traps filling the arena) and you’ll never experience the same run twice.

— Nathan Ingraham, Deputy Editor

Vendetta Forever

Fitness serves as one of the finest selling points for VR headsets. It isn’t merely a static gaming affair. You can stand up, leap around, crouch, duck, and weave your way through various games. Meatspace Interactive may not have prioritized fitness when they crafted the fast-paced simulator Vendetta Forever, yet it has become one of the most enjoyable methods to break a sweat using a VR headset. Vendetta Forever places you in the position of being the target of a series of minimalist assassins. Similar to Superhot VR, the action intensifies the more you mobilize, though Vendetta Forever boasts a distinctive “LO-KILL-MOTION” concept that renders it incredibly addictive.

You dart between your faceless foes as you intercept weapons mid-air, including firearms, throwing stars, and even pencils while twisting your form to evade incoming shots. It’s simple to become enmeshed in the repetitive action as you traverse quintessential action movie scenes and learn from your fatal errors in one gun run after another. Vendetta Forever is my preferred way to fulfill my daily cardio needs.

— D.G.