Ethan’s Top Games of 2024
Well another year is in the bag, in what feels like a pretty solid year for gaming looking back in retrospect. This year didn’t live up to the highs of the past couple of years for me personally, but there were still plenty of amazing games that have kept me company over the past twelve months. There were some that got away (looking at you Metaphor!) and some that disappointed me (no Life is Strange on an Ethan GOTY list?!), but I’m happy to report that there were at least six games this year that I had a blast playing through.
As for the last year on a personal note, well it's really more of the same. We’ve had some great success with HGO, particularly in the first and last three months of the year, but I can’t help but feel a stagnation with where I am in my current state. I really want to take more swings with HGO in the next year, and hopefully those efforts turn out fruitful as I can’t help but feel like I’ve been coasting these past twelve months.
Regardless, I’ve had a blast sitting down and talking about games these past twelve months, so let's spotlight a few of my highlights. These are my six favourite games of 2024 as of writing. I’m sure Metaphor would be in here if I had the time to play it, so move everything down accordingly when I give my final thoughts on it in six months time. I’ll also mention here that this article may be shorter than last year as I have done reviews of 4 of these games already, so I may be referencing them accordingly. With the preamble done, let's dive straight in.
6: Another Code: Recollection
Image Credit: Nintendo
I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this pair of classic adventure game remakes when they launched on Nintendo Switch earlier this year. Another Code feels like a pioneer of the modern adventure game genre, and I had a blast exploring Ashley Robbins’ world and solving the mysteries the games have to offer. From exploring a creepy mansion to solving a mystery at summer camp, I had a blast sitting back and enjoying these underrated classics.
I particularly loved the second entry, which managed to blend light puzzle solving elements with a wonderful world and blissful soundtrack. You may find the games low stakes and exploration underwhelming, but to those who like to sit and vibe in a games world I cannot recommend it enough, both to newcomers of the genre and veterans alike. It’s a really solid game!
“Its pacing is a tad sloppy, and its performances may be hit and miss, but its charming world, story and characters made me understand why this series is so beloved by fans of the genre.” - Read my review
5: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Image Credit: Lucasfilm, Disney, Machine Games
One thing I’m sure many of you are unaware of is just how much of an Indiana Jones fan I am. While other kids grew up watching Star Wars with their parents my family were always more into Indiana Jones. I’ve seen the original three films more times that I can count and the Indy Stunt Spectacular at Hollywood Studios is one of my favorite memories of Disney World from when I was a kid (and as a grown up too!). I’ve played both of the Lego Games countless times, and have so much Indiana Jones lego in my cupboards upstairs you’d probably think I’m a hoarder. Regardless I’m a huge Indy fan, and The Great Circle doesn’t disappoint.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a dishonored game at heart and I truly say that as a compliment. When any other dev would have taken the easy way out and made a clone of Uncharted, Machine Games turned Indy into an immersive sim filled to the brim with puzzles and side quests that all feel succinctly Indy. From sneaking around and hitting foes round the head with a shovel, to crawling on ledges and avoiding the spotlight, to just beating the hell out of a bunch of nazis in a janky yet perfect combat system. The game just feels like Indiana Jones.
The game really respects your time, allowing you to go down the main path that feels like a long lost movie entry, or explore the world fully and get a director's cut of the same story. It's amazing the amount of effort Machine Games has put into this game to make it feel like an essential Indiana Jones experience. Top that off with the PHENOMENAL performance by Troy Baker and you have a brilliant game that I cannot recommend highly enough. Please support the game if/when you can if you are a fan of this series in any way, as Machine Games has shown more love for Indy in this one game than the past two films have done combined. It’s incredible!
4: Persona 3 Reload
Image Credit: Atlus
Persona 3 Reload is an excellent remake of one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time. It has its faults for sure, like its dog awful lighting, removal of sports and charging you $30 for The Answer, but I really cannot complain as the team has done such an incredible job of modernising Persona 3 for a modern audience and improving on it in various ways.
Its combat is more snappy making Tartarus a lot less tedious in the process. The performances and soundtrack are improved on the original too, with pivotal moments hitting far more than they ever did for me on the PS2. This is all surrounded by the stellar modern UI and animation work from the modern team making it in my opinion the definitive way to experience Persona 3. I wish we had FEMC but man it's close enough to complete that I really cannot complain. I really cannot do this game justice in such a short amount of time, so please go and check out the review I wrote if you have the time!
“Persona 3 Reload is an exceptional remake of one of the most influential JRPGs of all time. It manages to take everything beloved from the original game, rebuilds it with a fresh coat of paint, and simultaneously adds a plethora of new gameplay, visual and story elements that all managed to exceed my highest expectations. The music is stunning, its performances are stellar, yet despite all that it manages to keep its introspective story about life and coming to terms with death its crowning jewel. Persona 3 already told a truly special story back on the PlayStation 2, and now thanks to Reload there is no excuse not to experience it for yourself in this modern outing.” - Read my review
3: ANTONBLAST
Image Credit: Summitsphere
ANTONBLAST is a chaotic cluster**** of incredible 2D platforming with its slick controls, bombastic soundtrack and incredible level design. It's my indie game of the year, and I’ve had such a blast playing it that I have already got one hundred percent the game twice in the month it's been out. ANTONBLAST may be difficult at times and you may hit a wall in a couple of sections, but the game is so addictive and the level design so fair that it’s extremely satisfying to overcome every obstacle that stands in your way. I cannot praise this game enough, and now with it out on Nintendo Switch and running like a dream, you have no excuses not to pick this bad boy up. Check my recent review for some more in depth thoughts!
“Antonblast is a game that proudly wears its inspirations on its sleeve, yet uses said inspiration to create something wholly unique in of itself. I may have spent a good chunk of my time noticing bits and pieces of beloved games from my childhood, but Antonblast supplements those ideas and creates a game that is not only a blast from the past, but a step forward in the genre. It's a masterful 2D platformer that manages to strike the perfect balance between the refined and the chaotic. It’s a game that begs to be replayed and after finishing the final boss I feel like I’ve only just scratched the surface of its potential.” - Read my review
2: Astro Bot
Image Credit: Team Asobi, PlayStation
Astro Bot is the essence of fun condensed into videogame form. It's one of the best 3D Platformers I have ever played, and I honestly have been switching number 1 and 2 on my list constantly over the past few weeks.
Astro Bot is just a ton of fun to play, and is honestly one of the best gaming experiences I have had in recent memory. Each level is expertly crafted and filled to the brim with secrets to discover and classic characters for you to collect. Each world ends with a dedicated level to a beloved IP, and each one brought a smile to my face due to the amount of care and attention each one receives. If I had a complaint it would be that I wish the game was a tad harder, but despite that I would happily recommend Astro Bot to everyone who has a PS5. Go and get it! Let’s prove to Sony that games like Astro Bot still matter!
“Astro Bot is one of those rare few games that elicits pure joy at every turn. From a gameplay standpoint it is platforming perfection, with a plethora of innovative abilities and exceptional level designs that never miss a beat in its 10-14 hour runtime. From a presentation standpoint it’s beautiful, with gorgeous vistas, charming animation and a soundtrack to rival the very best in platforming history. Wrap all this in a nostalgic bow that celebrates PlayStation history better than Sony ever has, and you end up with one of the best games in PlayStation’s entire portfolio.” - Read my review
1: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Image Credit: Square Enix
Who would have guessed that the one I didn’t review would be my game of the year?! Well if I’m honest I’m glad that I didn’t have to review Rebirth, as I had so much fun taking my sweet time and enjoying everything the game has to offer. It took me over 100 hours and a month of playing, but man did I enjoy the hell out of this game.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the videogame equivalent of an all you can eat buffet. It's filled to the brim with side content and story that I can easily see how for many it's just too much. If you’re the kind of person who must see it all you may think the game is holding you hostage, with Queen’s Blood games and fetch quests around every corner. But as someone who adores the FF7 Remake and wanted as much time with these characters as possible, it was everything I could have ever wanted.
Rebirth takes the linear nature of the original Remake and structures it around an open world. Each chapter has you exploring a region and completing a variety of the side content on offer. These may involve card games, fetch quests or larger quests that reference both the larger world of FF7 and callbacks to the original Remake. From smaller quests to area specific stories, there’s plenty to love here structured around a ubisoft-esque open world. Match this with main quests that still have those structured areas and dungeons and you have the rare instance of an open world game that I think benefits from having that freedom of choice.
Rebirth is a love letter to Final Fantasy 7. It takes each and every character that you love and gives them a reason to love them even more. Characters thrown to the side in the original are cherished in Rebirth, with some of my favorite moments of the game coming from main missions and side quests dedicated to smaller characters. Its pacing may be off at times and I’m still not sold on its ending, but Rebirth is an exceptional video game that I enjoyed immensely. That and Queen’s Blood is fantastic. I’m a simple man Square Enix. Give me more Queen’s Blood and you can have GOTY for part 3 as well!
Well those are my games of the year as of writing. Apologies for being brief but life has gotten in the way again and I have had to write this on a tight deadline! Join us tomorrow on the podcast for the Hot Game Awards 2024!