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Darcy’s Top 10 Games of 2024

10. Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Top 10 - Erdtree

Kicking things off is FromSoft’s absurdly high quality expansion to my 2022 GOTY: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree. Being able to return to this world, with its meditative exploration, jaw-dropping vistas and joyfully stressful boss fights, was a pleasure in danger of going underappreciated in a year full of as many fantastic games as 2024 was.

While it could accurately be described as simply “more Elden Ring” this is, of course, nothing to turn your nose at. It certainly overwhelmed me with the sheer number of new weapons, armour, spells and abilities it offers, and the final boss was an absolute chore, but I otherwise had a wonderful time basking under the boughs of the scadutree.


9. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Top 10 - Zelda

In the almost forty years The Legend of Zelda series has existed, the titular princess has never had a game where she features as the hero. Until 2024’s release of Echoes of Wisdom, that is. Building upon the visual foundation of the 2019 remake of Link’s Awakening, Echoes of Wisdom is a 2.5D Zelda game set in an expanded version of A Link to the Past’s Hyrule. Turning the conventions of 2D Zelda combat on its head, our princess forgoes a sword and shield and instead conjures objects and monsters to solve puzzles and conquer dungeons.

Breath of the Wild and its sequel showed us what a truly open Zelda game can be, but there’s something still so cosy about a linear Zelda game. A world with boundaries and defined environments remains a sure-fire way to hook me. When you add in the echoes mechanic, which allows you to spawn huge moblins to fight on your behalf, a bird to fly to safety, or to stack cubes of water to swim up a cliff, then baby, you got a stew going.


8. Animal Well

Top 10 - Animal Well

2024 was a phenomenal year for clever, gorgeous and innovative metroidvanias, and no game earns that last descriptor more than Animal Well. A puzzle box within several other puzzle boxes, Animal Well presents you with a core mystery, sets you free and says “good luck!”

Combining classic metroidvania exploration with the sense of discovery offered by games like Outer Wilds is a magical mix. Finding a new item is just the beginning; learning all the different ways said item can be used is up to you. On top of this, Animal Well has a distinct visual style and unsettling audio design, best personified by what is perhaps the creepiest kangaroo across all media.


7. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Top 10 - Indy

If someone said at the start of last year that an Indy game would end up cracking my top ten, I’d tell ’em they’re dreaming. Yet, MachineGames really pulled this off. So much more than an FPS with whips, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is like if Dishonored, Uncharted and Wolfenstein were put in a magical blender that… combines different games together real good.

Globetrotting, treasure hunting, tomb diving and killing Nazis, what more could one ask for?

6. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Prince of Persia - Fight

With the gut-wrenching news that the team behind The Lost Crown has been disbanded due to low sales, it’s never been more important to shout from the rooftops about how damn good this game is. it’s been just over a year since the game released, and it already feels criminally underrated.

Gorgeous visuals, responsive combat and platforming, a heartfelt narrative, and a setting that holds its own among the greats. While it may play in only two dimensions, the detail to be found in the backgrounds is nothing short of incredible. Screenshots don’t do this game justice. There’s still a chance long term sales of this game could generate enough interest in a sequel, so please… do your part!


5. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Top 10 - Shark

The latest entry in the Like A Dragon series certainly lives up to its title. The sheer amount of stuff to do in this game is absurd. I spent tens of hours on side content, from the Animal Crossing-like Dondoko Island, to the Pokémon inspired Sujimon League. There is always something to do, and all of it feeds into progressing something else, whether it’s upgrading your abilities, unlocking new side stories or jobs, or just netting you more gear and money.

This is all built on the foundation of a solid and undeniably unique turn-based RPG. The story, party members and villains may not quite hit like Yakuza: Like A Dragon did, but they still hold their own. This series keeps going from strength to strength at a pace that puts many AAA studios to shame, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.


4. Astro Bot

Astro Bot - Photo

A phenomenal 3D platformer. It may not have quite the same warmth and magic as a Mario game, but it comes pretty damn close. The variety of environments and gameplay mechanics is staggering, all of it seamless and polished to perfection.

Dazzling visuals, responsive controls, groundbreaking physics, charming collectables and a banger soundtrack make this a must-buy for any PS5 owner, and indeed any fan of 3D Platformers. In 2024, Astro Bot truly earned its place among the greats.


3. Nine Sols

Nine Sols - Dream

Rounding out the trifecta of fantastic metroidvanias in this Top 10, Nine Sols is a 2D action-platformer from Red Candle Games, the talented Taiwanese studio behind the phenomenal horror games Detention and Devotion. Blending the exploration of Hollow Knight with the parry-based combat of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Nine Sols features a self-described ‘taopunk’ aesthetic, edge-of-your-seat boss fights and a world dripping in mystery and wonder.

Nine Sols is a blast from start to finish, featuring a singular art style, polished but punishingly difficult combat, fantastic characters and a sharp script that tells an emotional, highly conceptual story set in a fascinating world. Red Candle already proved themselves as a studio to watch, and Nine Sols has only cemented this for me.


2. Metaphor: ReFantazio

Metaphor - Key Art

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with the Persona series. The daily schedule and personal development minigames, the nostalgic teenage drama, and the dungeon diving is great… for the first 60 hours or so. By the time I reach credits, I’m more than glad to be done with it. Atlus has resolved these issues with Metaphor. The characters, story and world are robust enough to justify the extended run time; I even jumped right back into New Game + to grab the remaining trophies, a rare occurrence indeed.

Ultimately, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a fantastic evolution, both of the Persona formula, and the genre at large. Stunning art direction, deep and rewarding combat, wonderful characters and sublime voice acting make for an absolutely unmissable RPG, in a year that was chock-full of unmissable RPGs.


1. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Top 10 - Dance

Speaking of which – what an achievement this game is. All the promises of 2020s Remake are delivered on, and then some. Leaving the confines of Midgar, Rebirth lets you explore an enormous, tangible and exciting world, lovingly recreated from the blueprint of the 1997 original. Going on this journey with Cloud and friends, I felt like I was being spoiled at every turn. Right up until the end, this game treats you to all new environments, surprising minigames, and bespoke mechanics.

More than a reimagining, Rebirth is constantly surprising, jam-packed with absurdly high production values, a plethora of minigames, delightful character moments, jaw-dropping cutscenes, near-endless exploration and delicious immersion. In this way, it somehow manages to recapture the essence of how late nineties RPGs felt to play back in the day: utterly cutting-edge, impossibly deep and unprecedentedly emotional.

A few paragraphs and a goofy screenshot can’t do this game justice. It’s so confidently ambitious, striding out from under the shadow of its legacy without a care in the world. There was so much riding on this second entry in the remake trilogy, and they nailed it. A monumental achievement.


Shout Outs

Apropos of nothing, this year I’d like to shout out games that didn’t make the cut in a series of haiku:

Dragon’s Dogma II
Top 10 - Sphinx

Twelve years since first game

The nights are extremely dark

Sphinx face of nightmares


Persona 3: Reload

Top 10 - Persona 3 R

I’d never played this

Found it quite enjoyable

Stupid can’t play girl


Balatro

Top 10 - Balatro

Simple yet complex

Beware, it is addictive

Made by one-man team


Age of Mythology: Retold

Top 10 - AOM Retold

Unexpected fun

Prostagma means ‘Orders?’ (Greek)

Hope they make sequel


UFO 50

Top 10 - UFO50

Fifty games in one

Not all of them are special

Mileage may vary


1000xRESIST

Top 10 - 1000xResist

Cut from sphere to square

Hekki ALLMO, red to blue

Don’t incinerate


Star Wars Outlaws

Star Wars: Outlaws - Crash

I know, I know. Wait.

It’s actually top-notch

You get what you give


Minishoot’ Adventures

Top 10 - Minishoot

Metroid bullet-hell

Really crunchy sound effects

Not a great title


Isles of Sea and Sky

Top 10 - Sea and Sky

This one’s for the freaks

Who like mind-bending puzzles

And the old school vibes


And that’s that for 2024! Thanks so much for reading, and here’s to another exciting year of games in 2025!