AndresPlays Top 10 Games of 2024

Editor’s Note: This is the first ever post on Big Nerd Gaming not written by Westen! I want to thank Andres for using this platform to share his top 10 games of 2024. You can find him on Twitter, Bluesky, and Threads at the attached links. Stay Tuned for more end of year content on this site soon!

I’ve been thinking a lot about 2024. Mainly since I remember gasping in awe at Shadow of the Erdtree’s sprawling new Land of Shadow in July like it was yesterday while staring at my Christmas tree as I write this. Where does time go by, I ask myself as I catch up with new video game releases and make a dent in a seemingly endless backlog.

This year saw an incredibly varied amount of releases ranging from the most addictive little card game from one developer to the most epic high fantasy narrative ever seen in recent years. As 2023 was the moment when many promises made were finally delivered after a series of tumultuous years in the form of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Baldur’s Gate 3, and many more, it felt like 2024 broke new ground. 

Of course, as all video games are iterative, it is hard to say that all of the experiences of my top 10 games of 2024 were brand new. Although some of them are, I am quite glad this industry continues to innovate as the challenges it faces seem insurmountable at times.

I will not try to convince you or give you an extensive review of any of the games I chose for my top 10. This is a deeply personal list in which I will go in-depth about why I chose each of them, making sense as I go along with my choices, and hopefully, your understanding of my train of thought.

Without further ado, here are my top 10 and three special games that didn’t make the cut:

Honorable Mentions

Toy Trains

I can already hear the “Oh, it’s a VR game” but hear me out! Imagine you are a kid again, and you have a fascination with -you guessed it- toy trains, so you are left in your attic to play with your train sets for hours on end. The funniest part is I was never really into model train sets like that myself, but the curiosity was always there. Who knew a game would make me so happy and forget the world with its charm and the magic of virtual reality? Play this game if you ever get the chance.

Sonic X Shadow Generations

Sonic is back and better than ever. This seems to have been planned by Sega since Frontiers back in 2022, but to see its gameplay so solid, intuitive, and exciting to play is a wonder. Each level is on point. Remixing classic Sonic Adventure 2 stages with new ideas? An absolute genius move. Whoever is in charge at Sonic Team deserves a raise. I mean it. If they add a Chao Garden in the next I will personally give it to them.

Granblue Fantasy Relink

Let me preface this by saying I have a soft spot for Japanese action RPGs. Having played Tales of Symphonia back on the GameCube, Granblue Fantasy Relink harkens back to those gameplay elements with a new coat of paint. Linear levels that always end up with a boss fight are guaranteed to catch my attention, if at least for a while. A main hub from which to strategize is something new for me as it reminded me of Monster Hunter a bit in the best of ways. Lastly, its fantasy world is based on floating archipelagos that look stunning thanks to its art style. There’s much to love here if you are a fan of the genre.

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10. Life is Strange: Double Exposure

2024 saw the return of several beloved franchises as new entries and remastered versions. Horizon Zero Dawn, Legacy of Kain, Prince Of Persia. Yet one character I did not see coming back at all is one I fell in love with back in 2015: Max Caulfield. Hannah Telle, her voice actor, imbued her personality with such charm and clumsiness that it was impossible not to. And this October after many years of fans begging for her to come back, she actually did. Front and center.

Featuring an all-new cast of characters and mystery, to have Max as our anchor with her trademark humor and supported by a once again evocative soundtrack, it is a delight to see her evolve after all this time. Powerfully nostalgic, it introduces new concepts into the Life is Strange universe that both longtime fans and newcomers will enjoy.

9. Rise of the Ronin

This year, for the first time in my life, I decided to give Souls games a fair chance, and as discussed in that podcast episode I dedicated to it, it’s been a rush of blood playing most of those games from beginning to end. In my search to frantically play the games that started it all by FromSoftware and similar titles, I ended up playing Nioh, its sequel, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. I am fully aware that Team Ninja games are not Soulslikes but fall more into the realm of action games. I found out a bit late about that fact, but one thing they do have in common is their punishing difficulty. It was common for my character to die after one or two attacks.

Regardless of how I ended up playing these games, I was absolutely blown away by Rise of the Ronin. An immense activity-riddled map, refined parry system, and myriad of decisions that affect the narrative all set in the backdrop of the Bakumatsu period are all thoroughly engaging features. Hanging out with real-life Japanese historical figures a la Assassin’s Creed while being one of the last Samurai to ever exist has never played so great.

8. Caravan SandWitch

Every three months or so it seems that a new indie comes out and takes the world by storm, for me at least. Established in a futuristic Provence-Punk world drained of its resources by an inhumane corporation focused on profits over people, Caravan SandWitch has bold statements to say hidden under the guise of a relaxing road trip. Spending most of your time collecting resources in a desert-like biome with your trusty van, as with most games side quests where you get to know the ravaged population and their troubles is where the heart of Caravan SandWitch lies.

Scored by a wondrous musical journey that fits every story beat, by the end you will be enamored by protagonist Sauge, emphasized in the moments where you lay down to rest and reminisce. What excites me the most about these types of games is that as I write this an independent video game developer is hard at work, uncertain of how their work will be received, and I will be on the lookout, eager to find it, play it, and recommend it to others.

7. Silent Hill 2 Remake

For those who don’t know me, I am not a brave man. I am easily frightened, and the ones who caught my streams of Silent Hill 2 Remake can attest to that. Usually, I try to play a slew of horror games during the whole month of October leading up to Halloween, but for a few reasons like commitments to other games or reviews pending I barely played a few. I do not regret at all just playing this remake as one of the few horror experiences this year because it traumatized me to the point of exhaustion.

To maintain a tense atmosphere for over 15 hours is no small feat, all while throwing at you clever puzzles, nightmarish monsters, and a macabre sound design that will forever keep you on edge. Having never played the Silent Hill franchise before this entry, I am fully on board with it and actively trying to play the classic games on previous consoles. I’m thinking that because they’re dated they might not be as scary… right?

6. Crow Country

Ever since I started reviewing games consistently at the beginning of 2023 I would be amazed at the creativity on display of games and studios that I had never heard before in my life but were now on my radar due to my capacity as a gaming journalist. Crow Country is such a case. Having never owned a PlayStation 1 I wondered if this frightful indie inspired by the games on that system would work for me.

As we have established, nostalgia is a powerful tool. But no, thankfully my lack of familiarity with that aesthetic did not interfere with my enjoyment of it. The somewhat clunky combat, the clever-but-not-too-clever puzzles, and the overall increasingly weirder tale set in a shut-down amusement park make up for a wild ride.

5. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Don’t Nod has always been synonymous with passionate storytelling ever since its inception. Compelling gameplay has always felt like a second priority but it felt that slowly but surely they were inching closer to that goal of having both at the same high standard. In that sense, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is their best work yet.

Working as a spiritual successor to the supernatural horror adventure Vampyr, this entry full of ghosts, heartbreak, and mystery is one of the most referential examples of gothic fiction in video games. Bonus points if you play this in Autumn, as it embodies a perfect ambiance for that weather.

4. Dungeons of Hinterberg

Ah, Dungeons of Hinterberg. One of those games that crept up on me without any prior knowledge and instantly fell in love with it. I had read the rumblings of it being compared to Persona in its social links and The Legend of Zelda in its classic dungeons, but I genuinely did not expect it to be done in such a masterful way. I joined Game Pass the month of its release to play Hellblade 2 and other great games on the service.

Little did I know that Dungeons of Hinterberg would become a full-blown addiction for the next four days of my life. I tried it out the first night, doing the first two out of 25 dungeons available, only to wake up the next day and crave more. For the game to increase in complexity and ingenuity as I progressed was an absolute delight to witness, and that is why it has earned a place on this list. I have much appreciation for what Microbird Games has created here, and you should, too.

3. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Ryu Ga Gotoku games boast an envious originality, wackiness, and edge that other franchises can only dream of. To be able to talk in one moment about serious subject matters like a government conspiracy involving the highest rings of power and the next be involved in a side quest about having to remember the name of Hawaiian dishes as a waiter is something only RGG can gracefully do. As it continues to iterate its magical formula, now as a turn-based saga, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth fuses the best of both worlds with Kiryu Kazuma and Ichiban Kasuga, the most asymmetrical pair gaming has seen yet.

And yet, it all blends perfectly. Honoring every single storyline that came before with the legendary Kiryu, and carving new, crazy avenues with Ichiban strikes a balance that is hard to achieve. Having the most heart-wrenching narrative of the Yakuza series as a whole, this is a mature game that if you are invested in the overarching storyline, it will inevitably pull at your heartstrings, and leave you with much to think about after playing.

2. Harold Halibut

Those who have followed my career know that over the 50 game reviews I’ve written so far, Harold Halibut is the only game that has that coveted 10 out of 10 for me. You see, I understand it has a 76 median score on Metacritic, but I know why I love it so deeply. Never in my life had I ever seen such a story that wore its heart on its sleeve so purely. Add to that its quirky underwater spaceship sci-fi setting, evoking Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy level satire that will keep you chuckling throughout and you have a recipe for success.

Its unique cast of side characters, all with their personal issues that you come to learn about if you’re able to lend an ear, are grounded and make you root for them. Last but not least, the sensational soundtrack kept this alluring slow-burn adventure under the sea captivating at all times. As I personally knew one of the songs beforehand it made this experience feel like it was tailor-made to break my heart. How could I not fall in love with a story fundamentally about friendship and finding your place in a harsh world? Harold Halibut discusses some deep topics that have stayed with me for a while now, and I believe such will be the case for a long time to come.

1. Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Gaming is supposed to be FUN, right? I suppose we can all agree with that. That’s how I arrived at this conclusion of my game of the year. A sequel nine years in the making with a rocky development time and multiple layoffs that had all bets against it. But it delivered on every front. 

Each conversation with the enigmatic Solas, a character alluded to in Dragon Age 2 as the Dread Wolf and a companion in Dragon Age: Inquisition feels like discussing with a seasoned veteran strategist. The many homages in conversation and carefully placed easter eggs are just a constant flow of treats for fans of the series.  Combat is one of those elements that evolved the strongest and for the better. Every parry, ability, and long and short-range attack feels impactful, and being able to command and do skill combos with your comrades is a gameplay loop I cannot get enough of. All of this set in the foundation of an interconnected level design that respects the player makes it an irresistible package. 

Finally, a riveting narrative that delivers what it set out to do all those years ago. To have the Veilguard be a group of conflicted, intriguing, and ultimately selfless companions as the bedrock of this fantasy action RPG is one that I will struggle to leave and not want to replay over and over again with different permutations based on the many different decisions that can be made in the storyline. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is my game of the year because every single time I booted it up I was looking forward to it, and each of those 100 hours was enjoyed to the fullest. In the end, that is what it’s all about.

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And there you have it. Emotions are a strange thing. You can never dictate how to make yourself feel something in a poignant moment in a story because then it would be artificial, and the heart only recognizes what it sees as real. So I would encourage YOU who took the time to read my thoughts to share what memorable moments this bygone year is leaving behind. You know where to find me.

My melancholic soul wishes you happy holidays with loved ones and all the best for the new year.

Thank you so much for reading. You can find all my content here.