Branching Path: James Galizio's Top 10 Games of 2024

Similarly to Josh, although many folks lamented that 2023 felt like a slower year for games - I didn't feel that when it came time to sit down and finalize my favorites of the year. Indies and "AA" releases were the star of the show this year, alongside a slew of "AAA" RPGs. There's still so many games from 2024 that I simply didn't have the time to play - I blame my raiding addiction in Final Fantasy XIV, frankly.

That being said - with what I did play, there were enough games I wanted to give a shout-out that I ended up with both a Top 10 as well as a runner-up 10 this year; a real first for me. I'll be going through my games' backlog from 2024 for years to come, if I could ever be so lucky - and I've got another list of games from the year that I wish I'd had the chance to get through this year!

Ten Games That Didn't Quite Make My Top Ten, But Rule Anyway (In no specific order)

• Thrasher - This spiritual successor to 2016's Thumper is a very different sort of game, but still an incredible use of VR - especially with hand tracking on the Quest 3. 
• Shadow Generations - I've always loved 3D platformers, and despite everything I found Shadow Generations to be my favorite of the year. If this side project's quality is what we can expect from the next mainline 3D Sonic game, we're in for a real treat.
• Arctic Eggs - An absurdist puzzle game about frying eggs, sardines, cigarettes and all sorts of other things. I played this on my Steam Deck with the weird mouse controls hooked up to the gyro - which I absolutely recommend for the premier experience.
• Mullet Madjack - A fast-paced, "boomer shooter" inspired speedrunning game that really gets the adrenaline pumping. A ton of fun, and unlike pretty much any other shooter on the market.
• Dragon's Dogma II - While I still stand by my original review, Dragon's Dogma II doesn't quite reach my final list - not that it's any worse than what made the top 10, but rather in the end it didn't stick with me quite as much as everything else on it.
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess - The best way to describe this one, is it feels straight out of the PS2 generation; a real dead ringer for the types of projects Clover Studio would've made back in the day. Unsurprisingly, I liked it quite a bit.
• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail - I've lamented how Dawntrail has had what feels like an uneven start; but one benefit of that is that I am in fact a raiding sicko. I have been very well fed.
• Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble - This is the best Super Monkey Ball since the original 2 games, and the first in a long time that actually feels like it even compares. I just wish it wasn't exclusive to Switch; I'd love to play it at 120+ FPS on PC!
• Unicorn Overlord - This isn't on my main list for one reason only; I didn't quite finish it. I got about halfway through the last region, and then put it down when another game for review came in. It's an excellent RTS, and I hope to properly finish it in the near future.
• Another Code: Recollection - I love that this exists - a full remake of both Another Code games, in one combined narrative. It's just a shame that a lot of the character of the puzzles were lost in translation. It's still great, but held back just enough to miss my main list.

10) Destiny 2: The Final Shape

I've had a love-hate relationship with Destiny 2 for a long time now; I played the game religiously back when Forsaken first dropped, but the demanding grind to remain raid-ready for whenever new content dropped eventually led to me shelving it for a while. Then, Destiny Content Vault happened, and I thought I would never return to the game - until last year, when I ended up reviewing Destiny 2: Lightfall on a whim. Destiny 2: The Final Shape is the best that the game has ever been, with an incredible campaign that teaches players how to raid, and an excellent story to go along with it. It's everything Destiny 2 excels at, at it's very peak.

It's such a shame, then, to see the state of Bungie as a whole. The Final Shape ends up on this list due to the merits of the expansion as a whole, but also because I want to show my respect for all the workers - present and former - at Bungie who worked so hard to deliver it. I don't think I'll ever return to Destiny going forward, and it genuinely pains me to say that. At least Bungie was able to send the game off with a proper conclusion; even if some questions will still remain in the end.

9) Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club

When I reviewed the Famicom Detective Club remakes back in 2021, I enjoyed them - but I had no expectation that we would see a proper new entry in the series, just a few years later. Let alone one that so easily outdoes those original classics. Like some of the best murder mysteries, Emio - The Smiling Man isn't just interested in asking the player who did the crime; but also to interrogate what would lead to the criminal's actions in the first place. The result is a story that leaves the player with just as many questions as answers; and isn't just content to investigate crimes in a vacuum.

The final moments of Emio are haunting, and will probably stick with me for a while yet. 2024 might have been a slower year for Nintendo, but I genuinely think the company has released one of their boldest releases yet with Emio. I'm glad that we continue to see the big N fund passion projects like this.

8) Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

I said as much in my review, but part of what makes The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island so impressive, is how it's an example of a game series successfully returning to basics, without making the end result feel like a watered down version of the games that players had grown used to. When stripped down to basics, Shiren the Wanderer emphasizes what remains - and asks you to consider everything about the Mystery Dungeon. The enemies, the items, and how they interact; it's harder to break over your knee, as the player has less tools immediately at their disposal.

It's a bold change, and one that could have just as easily backfired. Instead, I felt more engaged with Shiren the Wanderer than ever before - even when I had taken the time to check out some earlier games in the series prior to its release. Now that it's out on both PC and Nintendo Switch, there's never been a better time to hop on; whether you're a longtime fan of the series, or it's your first journey with Shiren and Koppa.

7) Granblue Fantasy: Relink

I knew this would probably end up on my list when I previewed Granblue Fantasy: Relink last year. More specifically, when the Director told me that the game was partly inspired by Monster Hunter. If you've read my writing for any length of time, you'd know right away what that meant to me - so when I had the chance to check out the PC version prior to release, I dove right in. Granblue: Fantasy Relink's boss fights, its different playable characters, and its overall gameplay loop was exactly what I needed; and I'm eagerly awaiting any potential expansions in the future.

I should probably go back to do some of the new fights...

6) Metaphor: ReFantazio

I figured, no matter what, that Metaphor would end up on my list by the end of the year - but perhaps one of the most surprising things about 2024 is just how much better Metaphor was than I expected. A gripping narrative with a genuinely strong message to share; an incredible Job system, among the best in all of the RPGs I've played, and a battle system that takes the best out of all that Atlus has done before. It's incredibly difficult to not just fall in love with Metaphor - and it's merely a testament to the other games that came out this year that it's not higher up on my personal list.

More than anything else, Metaphor - and everything else that Atlus released this year - makes me intensely excited for their future. It firmly feels like Atlus' best days are still ahead of them, and I can't wait to see what the team continues to make in the years ahead.

5) Batman: Arkham Shadow

2024 was the year I really got back into VR. I knocked a bunch of games off my PSVR1 backlog - some, like Deracine, I wish I had the time to talk about - but if there was any one VR game that stood out that actually released in 2024, it's this one. I've always thought the Batman: Arkham games were alright, but they never really stuck with me the way it seemed they did for others; Arkham Shadow is the first in the series that has really resonated on more than a base level. It takes all the best aspects of games like Arkham Asylum and near-seamlessly adapts it into a VR experience that's more than the sum of its parts.

It's difficult to describe what makes VR so remarkable without someone having tried it theirself; but I'll try. The sense of presence of being in a game rather than spectating it means that the emotional payoff of certain moments in Arkham Shadow hit all the harder. I'm not just watching Batman, Bruce Wayne, or Matches Malone - I am them, and experiencing what they're going through. Beyond the gameplay being incredible, Arkham Shadow is a game that knows exactly how to use VR as a medium to maximize the impact of the story - and combined with an incredible presentation, voice acting and all? If you're at all interested in VR, this is an absolute must play from 2024.

4) Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is anything but a perfect game. For every moment that's among my favorites in any RPG, there's probably at least a handful that remind me - painfully - of just how flawed the game is at its core. But that doesn't matter when Rebirth gets going, when I tackle another NPC with a round of Queen's Blood, when I participate in the Parade minigame, or when I listen to the game's gorgeous remixes of classic tunes. The original Final Fantasy VII was also far from perfect, but it never felt restricted by what it could do, but rather what it wanted to do. I can't think of any higher praise for Rebirth, then, that it keeps that energy alive.

I won't go into any minutae. I enjoyed the game's combat, I loved the new looks at existing characters, and despite any qualms - I'll be counting down the days until the final game in the trilogy. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is everything I want a Final Fantasy to be.

3) 1000xRESIST

I'll keep it short and simple; there's nothing else that I can share about 1000xRESIST that Josh hasn't already said. This is one of the best, and frankly most important, game releases of 2024. Please play it.

2) The Legend of Heroes: Kai no Kiseki - Farewell, O Zemuria

To say my journey with the Trails series has been a bumpy one is to put it mildly. Yet, despite it all, Kai no Kiseki was by far one of the most memorable games I've played this year; and easily the game with the largest cliffhanger I've ever played. Yes, worse than Trails in the Sky FC. Yes, worse than Trails of Cold Steel 3. I already went over all the reasons I loved the game back in November, but I'll just reiterate it here; the best thing I can say about Kai, is that it feels that Falcom knows exactly where the series is headed for its conclusion, and I now have the faith they can stick the landing. I sincerely hope the wait won't be too long for Western players; and I'm both upset and relieved that I won't be seeing the conclusion to Van's story arc in 2025...

I don't want another Cold Steel IV.

1) Nine Sols

While I'd always hoped that Red Candle Games could knock it out of the park, I've gotta admit something - I was skeptical they'd stick the landing with Nine Sols. What has always been Red Candle's bread and butter has been atmospheric, plodding horror games - the complete opposite to Nine Sols. I was almost certain that even if I enjoyed the game, there'd be some asterisks here or there I'd always have to mention; that even if the game was good, there was something inherently holding it back.

Instead of that, however, Nine Sols is probably one of the best metroidvanias I've ever played. Excellent level design, incredible combat and boss fights, a jawdropping soundtrack, and a story that genuinely kept me invested to the finish line. While Red Candle Games' previous works were great, Nine Sols has elevated them to a level I didn't think they had in them. Not everyone will jive with it's parry-based gameplay, but for those of us that are willing to endure it - they've delivered something well and truly special, and undoubtedly my GOTY 2024.

Ten Games That Could've Been On My Top 10, And It Physically Pains Me That I Didn't Play Them

...But what about games from 2024 that I didn't quite get to? Turns out, there were quite a few of them. At least 10, in fact. I played everything that I could this year, but probably thanks to a combination of all the events I went to and a Final Fantasy XIV addiction, some fell to the wayside. Here's the games I still hope to play from 2024:

• S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl - I tried this out at launch, and liked it, but put it aside to wait for A-Life to get fixed. It's now in a much better state, but I've still yet to return. Maybe soon?
• TSUKIHIME: a piece of blue glass moon - Nasu, where's my PC port? I'm not buying this on console when I know it's coming! Nasu?
• Dragon Quest 3: HD-2D Remake - This just came out when there were a couple other RPGs that were taking up my time. I really, really want to get to it soon! I've been waiting for it since finishing SFC Dragon Quest II years ago.
• Super Mario Party: Jamboree - As far as I can tell, this is arguably the best Mario Party, and I would love to get around to playing it with some friends. I haven't had the chance just yet, though.
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - I'm a little more than halfway through this, as far as I can tell, and I've been enjoying it quite a bit! Yet another game that I just didn't finish in time for the end of year list.
• Warhammer 40K: Space Marine II - I don't have anyone to play this co-op with, and I feel like it would've been a disservice to play it solo. It looks dope!
• Persona 3: Reload - I didn't want to choose between playing Persona 3 FES or Persona 3 Portable. Unfortunately there still isn't a definitive version of the game; but at least this is closest?
• Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance - I didn't want to play SMTV on Switch. This is 100% the definitive version, I just didn't quite have the time to get to it.
• UFO 50 - I have a sneaking suspicion this may have ended up my game(s?) of the year, if only I'd played it. I just recently found out the creator of Downwell worked on the project so I'm even more mad I've not touched it yet.
• Lorelei & the Laser Eyes - I love me a good sicko puzzler. Everyone I know who has played it has done nothing but sing its praises; unfortunately there were so many other indie games that came out earlier this year, that I simply didn't have the time to play it.

2024 was a massive, massive year for games - make no mistake. Between RPGs, AA and Indie releases I was very well fed - and I'll likely be struggling to catch up with everything that released this year for months and years to come. It might have been a rough year for the industry, but I'd like to hope that we can continue to shine a light on all the hard work that went into making 2024 one of the best years of game releases this generation. Best of luck in 2025, folks!