Top-Rated Gaming Gems of 2024 You Can’t Miss!

The year 2024 proved to be another exceptional period for video games, marked by a series of major releases, successful remakes, and unexpected successes. Yet, even with numerous titles that gained attention, IGN bestowed a perfect score of 10 upon only one new game, leading some to question if it can be classified as a ‘true’ game. What could it be? Keep reading to discover.

Annually, we delve into our collection of reviews to reflect on the highest-rated games at IGN. This year, 27 games earned scores of 9 or 10, with only one new title achieving a 10 (the other 10 was awarded to a re-evaluation of a very popular game). This marks a noticeable drop from 2023, where a total of 36 games received our most favorable scores, including five titles with a 10.

However, this should not imply that 2024 was a lesser year for gaming – quite the opposite. What is clear is that game releases were spread out over time, unlike last year, which felt like an endless stream of hits. In 2024, IGN refrained from issuing any 9s or 10s from late June until early September, which helps clarify why it seemed somewhat sparse for game releases overall. Nevertheless, the year kicked off with a literal flood of outstanding games before entering a noticeable summer slowdown.

A Major Year for RPGs

In the early months of 2024, several major RPGs were released, all of which scored a 9. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth was the first to launch, continuing the narrative of Ichiban Kasuga, who discovers himself on the shores of Hawaii. Sega followed suit with Persona 3 Reload, a comprehensive remake of the cherished Atlus JRPG. In addition, Atlus eventually released the latest Vanillaware title, Unicorn Overlord, a strategic RPG featuring the stunning art style for which the developer has become known.

The final significant RPG release before summer was undoubtedly Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the long-awaited continuation of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 remake series. The sequel is set to be even larger than its predecessor, featuring an immense open-world to explore, filled with hundreds of hours of side quests, all while reliving the tale of Final Fantasy 7.

The next series of RPGs did not arrive until October, when Atlus launched Metaphor: ReFantazio, its third RPG of the year and arguably the most significant. From the team responsible for the Persona series, Metaphor is a straightforward fantasy RPG addressing a dramatic political struggle for the throne, with numerous parallels to contemporary issues. Meanwhile, BioWare released its first RPG in what feels like an eternity with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, continuing the story after the events of the beloved Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Finally, Square Enix unveiled another RPG remake with the stunning Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, which reinterprets the classic JRPG in pixelated HD. Even with the gaps between major releases, any enthusiast of RPGs exceeding 100 hours had a fantastic experience this year. In fact, you’re likely still immersed in at least a few of these titles.

Sim City

Another category that shone in 2024 was simulation games. Though “simulators” encompass a wide spectrum, there were some intriguing additions to the genre, such as Coffee Stain Studios’ factory simulator Satisfactory, where players embark on the task of establishing a new factory on an extraterrestrial world.

Additionally, there was Sons of the Forest, a follow-up to the successful survival title from 2014, which is larger and more challenging than its predecessor. Of course, the year concluded with the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator, which provided even more authentic flying experiences.

Indies Shine This Year

The third notable trend of 2024 was the surge of indie games in our list of best-rated titles. The highly-anticipated sequel, Hades 2, entered early access, fulfilling its promise of battling through the underworld once again, while games like Animal Well, 1000xResist, and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes captured our attention through their inventive gameplay and narrative style. All of these games achieved a score of 9, along with numerous nominations in the IGN Awards.

Nonetheless, the standout sensation in the indie arena is undeniably Balatro, the roguelike poker game that has captivated many players. Having debuted on PC and consoles, Balatro is now also accessible on mobile, where I’ve been enjoying this quirky little roguelike. While the fundamentals of Balatro may be recognizable to anyone with a basic understanding of poker, the clever modifiers and various methods to achieve higher scores ensure it stimulates excitement and deserves all the accolades it has garnered this year.

There was one indie title that we awarded a 10 this year – our re-review of Stardew Valley, the delightful farming simulator that has taken the world by storm…

storm. Following multiple updates, supplementary features, and novel gameplay elements, Stardew Valley appears entirely transformed from the version that debuted, yet remains equally captivating. Nearly nine years after its initial release, Stardew Valley continues to thrive. And speaking of thriving…

The Live-Service Train Continues

For those who remain dedicated to a single game over the years, 2024 has brought outstanding expansions. Destiny 2’s latest update, The Final Shape, serves as a fitting conclusion to Bungie’s enduring shooter, while World of Warcraft’s recent expansion, The War Within, marks a fresh beginning for Blizzard’s cherished MMORPG.

In addition, renowned ongoing titles like V Rising celebrated a full release and earned a 9, alongside a reevaluation of Epic’s colossal battle royale, Fortnite, which had an exceptional year, bolstered by another remarkable collaboration with Marvel and the recent Chapter 2 Remix, starring rap icons Snoop Dogg and Eminem.

A new live-service competitor this year that also garnered a 9 is Infinity Nikki. The latest installment in the popular Nikki fashion series, Infinity Nikki transforms the dress-up tradition into an expansive RPG, concentrating entirely on what the series excels at: stunning apparel and delightful outfits.

However, the most significant surprise this year was Helldivers 2. Arrowhead Game Studios’ entertaining and witty shooter emerged as this year’s breakout sensation, swiftly recruiting millions of players for its interstellar conflict. Despite a few missteps with recent updates, it remains immensely popular and is PlayStation’s standout live-service success of the year.

Notable Titles, Impressive Review Scores

2024 was a fruitful year for beloved game franchises making notable comebacks. Tekken 8 launched the year — quite literally — with its latest iteration, which we described as an “amazing evolution for the series” due to some intriguing modifications made to the classic 3D fighter that revitalizes the traditional combat.

The same can be said for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, delivering one of the finest single-player campaigns in the series’ history due to its inventiveness and diversity. This popcorn spy adventure, as labeled in our review, splendidly merges the franchise’s penchant for grand, cinematic storytelling with various plot twists and turns that keep players engaged.

The Life is Strange series also made a return with Life is Strange: Double Exposure, following original protagonist Maxine Caulfield a decade after the events of the first game. It serves as a deserving successor to the immersive mystery title that initiated the series.

For all loyal Sonic enthusiasts, the newly updated Sonic x Shadow Generations re-release revives one of the best contemporary Sonic titles, while introducing a considerable dose of everyone’s infamous yet adored hedgehog, Shadow. If that isn’t sufficient, you can catch him in cinemas this holiday season as he features in the latest Sonic film.

And for those seeking an all-star ensemble, PlayStation launched a title boasting the biggest names in Astro Bot, an exceptional platformer that matches the caliber of anything its Nintendo competitors produce. There are countless collectible characters from PlayStation’s most significant franchises to discover, turning it into a game overflowing with big names.

One significant name that arrived towards the year’s end is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. MachineGames’ initial title following the conclusion of its Wolfenstein reboots is yet another exhilarating, Nazi-fighting escapade that ushers the cinematic hero into the AAA gaming landscape. It not only represents a substantial win for Indy fans but also for Xbox Games Studios that finally possesses a genuine hit.

Nintendo’s Subdued Year

Nintendo experienced a considerably quieter year in 2024 and didn’t release massive new titles like 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, presumably due to its efforts on a successor to the Switch. However, that does not imply there weren’t any successes from the Mario House this year.

Instead of blockbuster releases, Nintendo’s noteworthy games stemmed from surprising franchises. The recent Mario Party title, Super Mario Party Jamboree, received a 9 due to its return to the fundamentals of the cherished party game format. Additionally, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was fully remade for the Nintendo Switch and earned an Editor’s Choice distinction to accompany it.

Nintendo did have one pleasant surprise this year, the first Zelda game that genuinely centers around Princess Zelda. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom revisits the top-down Zelda realm last observed in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, employing the same toy-like visual style. Yet, the Echoes puzzle element, wherein Zelda can summon everyday items she has memorized, leads to a plethora of delightful surprises. Imagine the freedom of Tears of the Kingdom blended with the aesthetics of Link’s Awakening, and you’ll be headed in the right direction.

The Big 10

In addition to Stardew Valley’s reevaluation, only one new title achieved a 10 from IGN this year, which was none other than FromSoftware’s first DLC for Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree. This new expansion not only introduces an entirely new region to explore within The Lands Between, but also a suite of weapons, armors, and even combat styles such as martial arts, enhancing FromSoftware’s masterpiece.

Yet, it isn’t merely a substantial expansion overflowing with content. The universe of Elden Ring is rich with mythology, and the narrative told in Shadow of the Erdtree adds fresh dimensions to that extensive lore. The backstories of characters like Queen Marika and Miquella are both enlightening and heart-wrenching, and the sense of revelation players experience when uncovering these secrets demonstrates that no one designs worlds quite like FromSoftware. This expansion is so significant it almost feels like a sequel.

While such a DLC won’t be nominated for IGN’s Game of the Year shortlist (spoiler: it may vie for Best DLC!), we understand how a monumental title like Shadow of the Erdtree can contend for top honors in gaming.

And that concludes our retrospective on the best-reviewed titles of the year. For more from the IGN Awards, check out our comprehensive list of winners across all our various award categories for the year.

Matt Kim is IGN’s Senior Features Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.