Can you believe we are nearly through August already? The year is a little more than halfway through, and we have some stellar games come out. Let’s look at some of the best games of 2024 so far!
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Elden Ring, the game of the year in 2022 by FromSoftware Inc, elevated the open-world RPG (role-playing game) scene. It create an adventure filled with the same wonder and grueling challenge that many of their past games are typically attributed. Not to mention, it did all of this while also bringing in many newcomers with its more flexible approach. The “Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC (downloadable content) reminded fans how grueling their games can be. The expansion takes you to an uncharted area players discover is almost as large a space as the original game! The boss fights were unforgettable, and FromSoftware took everything from the original game and cranked it up to 11. This year might be a first where we could see a DLC to a game win Game of the Year. It is definitely one of the best games of 2024.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Steam
Animal Well
It is hard to describe Animal Well without ruining what makes it so special. Developed by Shared Memory and published by Videogamedunkey’s Bigmode, Animal Well redefined what exploration in video games means. Animal Well provides players with a handful of basic parameters and tells you to go explore its world. Mechanics and the world are not explained in the slightest. There are no cutscenes, no prefacing, nothing. It is just you and the world in front of you. It was a wonderful experience akin to Outer Wilds in how those games are best experienced with going in knowing very little.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Steam
Balatro
So imagine poker. Now add rogue-like deck-building mechanics around with modifiers that quadruple your card values when you play holographic versions of the cards, or double their value when you don’t discard any cards, or a multitude of other variations. Balatro, by LocalThunk, has had its hooks in me since it came out in February.
The ease of jumping into a run and seeing how a series of modifiers can shape your deck as you try to go further and further into the harder levels never got dull. I love it for it’s complexity and it’s simplicity, which feels so weird to say. The barrier for entry is so low, but I find that it ramps up if you tinker and fine-tune your run. If you’re a fan of poker or a fan of card games, I guarantee you will find something to love about Balatro.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Steam, Nintendo Switch
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The Prince of Persia series made a big statement this year with “The Lost Crown.” Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown took many of the things I enjoy from a Metroidvania style game and elevated them in every aspect. The combat was fantastic when you were running between rooms fighting minions, and especially during boss fights! The combat blended elements of God of War with Street Fighter. The story and cinematics were wild and anime-esque at times, but in the best ways possible. I loved the blend of Persian mythology. I rarely see my Iranian history in fictional depictions be treated so well. Seeing it in such cool, cinematic ways is an absolute treat. It easily solidified itself as one of the best games of 2024.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Steam, Nintendo Switch
Helldivers 2
This is the game that caught everyone by surprise this year. Arrowhead Game Studios developed this third-person shooter as a direct sequel 9 years later to their original Helldivers top-down shooter. Playing as a Helldiver soldier for Super-Earth, you are spreading “Democracy” throughout the galaxy against robot terminators and hive-mind superbugs alongside 3 of your buddies. Helldivers 2 brought the satire and co-operative shenanigans when it launched. It cannot be denied how much fun it has been to load in with my friends and cause mayhem and chaos. It has been one of the best online-multiplayer experiences I have been able to enjoy in a long time and everyone I have played with has come together for a fun time. While it has fallen off for many, it is hard to deny the impact it made in the conversation for best games of 2024.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Steam
Another Crab’s Treasure
Imagine Dark Souls but instead, you are a crab in search of his shell. Another Crab’s Treasure, by Aggro Crab, is a souls-like adventure where you play as Kril the hermit crab who lost his shell and he’s out to get it back. The developers are big fans of the Dark Souls franchise by FromSoftware Inc., which is what they talked about last year at PAX West in Seattle. Dark Souls, a third-person action-rpg series, is a game series focuses on carefully crafted level designs, challenging boss fights, and gameplay that encourages trial and error for players to learn and progress. Aggro Crab pays homage to FromSoftware with this game while adding their own wonderful twists and turns. The sense of humor in the game is one of my favorites this year and the various gameplay mechanics they incorporate with how you can customize shells to give you different abilities as you go on your adventure is tons of fun. Another Crab’s Treasure takes you on a journey that you will not forget and definitely enjoy.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Steam, Nintendo Switch
Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Thank Goodness You’re Here is a gaming experience I hope everyone gets a chance to have this year. You take the role of a traveling salesman, and the only things you can do are move and slap things in this quirky town of Barnsworth in Northern England.
The game is probably the only one this year that made me laugh out loud numerous times at the absurd situations and characters you interact with. It’s a 2-3 hour experience that studio Coal Supper put together that I cannot stop thinking about. You will be smiling ear to ear after you finish playing it.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Steam, Nintendo Switch
Hades 2 (early access)
While in early access, Hades 2 has so much game available that it can’t be ignored this year. Supergiant Games first-ever sequel to the award winning Hades, we follow Zagreus’ sister, Melinoe in the rogue-like dungeon crawler as you try to face off with Chronos, the God of Time. The original Hades had many wonderful qualities that Hades 2 has taken and put its own spin on, namely the cast of characters and their charming personalities. Every encounter with a denizen of the underworld or a God of Olympus left me wanting to learn more about these characters. The relationships you build blended with the addictive combat makes for a pairing that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Steam
These are some of the best games of 2024 so far that we have played, and there are so many more that we could gush about. Are there any games you loved that weren’t on this list? Share your thoughts with us on our socials!
