Best Games I Played in 2024

In no particular order: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Elden Ring is one of the best video games ever made, and Shadow of the Erdtree is just more of it. It won't change any minds if you already don't like Elden Ring, but if you did, there's no reason not to play it. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance The definitive version of the game, for sure. The new path and new character are great, and the new quality of life features all make the game far more enjoyable. Persona 3: Reload The best way to play Persona 3. A visual treat and the additions make the slog that is running around Tartarus a much more enjoyable experience. Balatro Balatro is rogue-like poker, and one of the most addictive games I've ever played. It's also available on almost everything. I'm partial to the mobile version, but this is one to play any way it's available to you. The Plucky Squire Kind of like Zelda meets Toy Story. Fun little action adventure puzzle game with some really cool ideas. Path of Exile 2 Beta Feels more like a Diablo game than the most recent Diablo game. If you like action rpgs, you can definitely play worse than this. Granblue Fantasy: Relink An action JRPG that's designed kind of like Monster Hunter. A surprise hit for me this year. It's gets even better when you reach the end, and has a lot of replayability. Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven Sleeper hit of the year. I have a checkered past with this series, but this could have been the best JRPG of the year if it weren't such a strong year for the genre. A rare game where your choices matter. YS X: Nordics If you're familiar with the series, it's comfort food. Doesn't reinvent the series or anything, but it's still a really fun entry. Dragon Quest III: HD 2D Remake The definitive way to play one of the best games in the Dragon Quest series. Also not a bad starting point for someone new to Dragon Quest. Also, a lot of game for it's price. Dragon Age: The Veilguard It doesn't have my favorite combat in the series, but I loved the cast in this one, and it's a visual treat. If you like most of Bioware's output, you'll probably like this too. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Made by ex Suikoden developers, it plays just like that series. Considering Suikoden is one of the best JRPG series ever made, you probably shouldn't pass this one up (though I'm told the Switch port has performance problems). Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth About as good of a followup to Remake as it possiblly could be. An absoultely massive game with tons to do, and some fun story additions not available in the orginal game. It was my favorite game of the year for most of the year, but then... Metaphor: ReFantazio I might need more time for this to sit with me before I say this with certainty, but this might be Atlus' best game, and it's definitely one of the best games I've ever played. None of the characters are duds, the overall story and world are full of wonder and thought provoking, and the gameplay takes what Atlus has done with Persona and just perfects it.