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If someone were to ask me why it is I love video games, I’d immediately tell them to play Astro Bot. No other title in recent memory has done a better job at instilling the sheer wonder only a medium as interactive as this can provide. Much more than a super-loaded sequel with even more creative levels and mechanics, Astro Bot celebrates the entire medium by delivering unbridled joy distilled into a charming 3D platformer. I never cry at games, but one extended sequence based on one specific PlayStation series saw me come extremely close. That sort of magic doesn’t come around very often, but it’s a kind of magic Astro Bot frequently thrives on. Should you enjoy games in any capacity whatsoever, you absolutely owe it to yourself to share in this magic too.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is one of the biggest surprises of 2024 – one we all maybe should have seen coming. Not only is it a bigger, better sequel that improves exponentially via its visuals, gameplay, and sheer mode variety, it’s also a reminder that there can still be a place in everyone’s gaming palate for a rough-and-tough shooter that doesn’t care about being high art if treated with enough time, care, and passion. Sure, the reliance on lore will leave newcomers flummoxed and some Xbox 360 era sensibilities still bleed their way into mission design, but the crunchy combat, impressive graphics, and generous suite of game mode options stave off these minor quibbles. Regardless of whether you’re a Warhammer 40K person or not, Space Marine 2 is an essential addition to any avid shooter fan’s diet.
I had some amount of fun zooming through Tatooine’s dunes to Jabba’s palace on my speeder, commanding Nix as an extension of myself, and even uncovering fresh threads for Kay to wear. That said, the inconsistency of each open-world coupled with undercooked stealth mechanics, poor technical performance on console, and the frankly odd implementation of the Reputation system makes this not the open-world Star Wars game I was looking for.
In the end, Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club successfully bridges the gap between classic and modern visual novel formats with ease. Because while, on the surface, it appears to share a lot in common with the revitalised Famicom Detective Club duology for Nintendo Switch from a few years back, there’s also some slightly new changes made to its mechanics and presentation that makes it ripe for relative newcomers to the genre. While it’s true that some lines of enquiry outstay their welcome and the correct dialogue action isn’t always made blatantly evident, the story of “Who is Emio?” didn’t disappoint me by the time the final credits rolled.
Black Myth: Wukong is an exceptionally well-playing and slick Soulslike adventure stacked to the rafters with memorable boss fights, an in-depth upgrade system, and some seriously good-looking environments. The fluidity of its staff-based combat combined with the litany of spells, spirits, and creature transformations make it a truly unique entry in the genre, offering more than enough challenge for FromSoftware veterans while still offering just about enough leeway for newcomers to be able to enjoy this epically grand mythological story. Bar a few small niggles with location layouts, and my disappointment with the stance system, Game Science has still crafted a new way to experience Journey to the West in the highly polished and gratifying-to-play Black Myth: Wukong.
Cygni: All Guns Blazing might not entirely reinvent the idea of what a vertically scrolling twin-stick shooter can be, but it does do an excellent job of offering genre fans something slightly different by playing with depth, shield/gun prioritisation, and some seriously punishing, yet rewarding, sections. Yes, you’ll likely be done with the story in just a few short hours, and the narrative largely comes off as melodramatic, but Cygni: All Guns Blazing still sits comfortably as an impressive visual treat compared to its peers and one of the most cinematic genre entries I’ve played in recent years.
Dungeons of Hinterberg could have easily buckled under the weight of its many systems, locations, and most important of all, dungeons. Perhaps against all odds, then, the team at Microbird Games has done a wonderful job keeping its debut game’s various plates spinning with exceptional flair, creating a truly memorable world in the Austrian-inspired Hinterberg that is fun to explore, thrilling to be in, and packed with some of the most inventive (yet never stressful) dungeons I’ve played in a third-person The Legend of Zelda-like such as this in ages. True, while combat isn’t especially spectacular and it would have been nice to see Luisa’s customised gear better represented on her person, Dungeons of Hinterberg is still absolutely one of my personal indie game highlights of 2024. It's a cosy slay-cation worth taking.
Though Hellblade 2 has the power to force your jaw open and give you goosebumps, too often the whole project ends up feeling like a very expensive tech demo – an absolute tour de force of technical achievement bogged down in its own sense of gravitas and mystery. Keeping you off the stick for so many of its most impactful moments, and not giving you enough to play with when you do have control, hobbles the potential of this visual and aural masterpiece enough to make the whole experience feel like it was constantly trying to find a foothold on that dread Icelandic scree, and never really getting to its feet until you come staggering over the finish line.
WWE 2K24 is the best entry in the series since it returned in 2022, with Visual Concepts continuing to improve on what makes the series great.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is the kind of game we don’t get very often; the kind that does a lot with very little, yet in a way that speaks perfectly to my tastes as someone who enjoys video games as a storytelling art form. Don’t Nod’s latest effort transcends anything it’s made before, in my eyes, being a narrative-focused single-player RPG that places its characters firmly at the forefront, fully leaning into its unique premise to the point that Antea and Red’s nature as ghost hunters influence everything from dialogue options and combat, to the upgrade system and of course the world.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth features one of the series' best stories yet, all while packing in a wealth of fantastic side content
Tekken 8 makes great strides to sort out Tekken 7’s biggest issues, all while carving out its own identity within the series thanks to the brand-new Heat system. The wealth of single-player content available is the best I’ve seen since Tekken 5, and the cinematic story mode outclasses the likes of Mortal Kombat and Injustice in the format they pioneered.
It isn’t lost on me, though, that Asgard’s Wrath 2 is very much the exception to the rule as opposed to the norm. VR games with this much budget and creativity behind them almost barely ever come around; hence why – despite an overwhelming amount of stuff to do and the relatively complex menus and control scheme needed to back it up – the game’s scope ends up working for it rather than against it. If you’re seeking a Skyrim-level RPG primed to keep you busy in VR, look no further than Asgard’s Wrath 2.
Persona 5 Tactica is another step up for Persona spinoffs, while it doesn't bring along the overworld exploration from Persona 5 Strikers, I'd say this is a plus it feels like the fat has been trimmed to create a smoother storyline. Plus you're able to check out optional dialogue between the party members between missions to flesh out some of the games story even more.
While more seasoned players may find the experience a bit too easy until the post-game, Super Mario RPG is a great introduction to the RPG genre for newcomers. It’s also just an incredibly charming game, and it's a joy to look at from start to finish.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 amps up the core fighting found in its predecessor, but the roster choices are absolutely baffling in this sequel.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name goes toe-to-toe with the likes of Yakuza 0 and Kiwami 2. It also serves its main purpose and then some: to bring Kiryu back into the fold and get you excited for what could be his final ride in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
Simply put, WarioWare: Move It! is the best the series has been since the Nintendo Wii’s WarioWare: Smooth Moves way back in 2006, with Nintendo opting to take a simpler approach than some of the convoluted entries like 2021’s WarioWare: Get It Together. While the same issues present in most entries persist, it’s undeniable that WarioWare’s core gameplay loop is still as fun as ever, over 20 years down the line.
If you expected spruced-up versions of these titles, you'll leave disappointed. But if you're after a way to play one of the best video game series ever made on modern platforms wrapped up in a nice package, you won't be disappointed.
Simply put, thanks to the inventive gameplay tweaks, and the absolutely gorgeous visuals and animation, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the best 2D Mario since the SNES era, and a strong contender for the best one yet.