Reflecting on personal gaming experiences in 2024, the author finds the year less memorable, highlighting their favorite games and missed titles. They declare “Alan Wake 2” as their Game of the Year for 2023 and share their top anticipated games for 2024, including “Star Wars Outlaws” and “Hades II”. However, they express disappointment with these expectations. Among their top four games for 2024 are the “Elden Ring” expansion “Shadow of the Erdtree,” “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2,” “Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle,” and the “Silent Hill 2 Remake,” with the latter being their Game of the Year.
Reflecting on the Year in Gaming
Isn’t it amusing how a year wraps up after just twelve months? When the time comes to reflect, taking a moment to savor each experience, it becomes clear that my gaming year of 2024 was not particularly memorable (at least from the gaming perspective, which is our focus here). This article is rooted in my personal views, and I recognize that I may have overlooked some outstanding titles—be they AAA, indie, or something in between—largely due to budget constraints. The hours I spent on Overwatch 2 and F1 24 (not the subject of this discussion) reveal my gaming habits.
After some scheduling challenges and a deep-seated desire for well-deserved rest, we missed sharing our Top 5 games of 2023 and expectations for 2024. So, let’s quickly address that oversight. Alan Wake 2 was my Game of the Year for 2023, alongside notable titles like Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (yes, it’s a DLC, but stay tuned for my rankings), Decarnation, Chants of Sennaar, and of course, Baldur’s Gate 3… which I still haven’t completed. I often lose my momentum whenever I step away from a game for more than a week.
As for my expectations for 2024, I chuckle as I revisit my Top 5 list featuring Star Wars Outlaws, Hades II, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, and the anticipated Silent Hill 2. Spoiler alert: none of these games have particularly wowed me, and the vampire-themed title hasn’t even made its debut yet. My only brush with vampires this year has been my (late) enjoyment of the series What We Do in the Shadows, equally delightful as the original film (Vampires en toute intimité in French).
My Top 4 Games of 2024
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Before I unveil my Game of the Year for 2024, let’s discuss some of the other standout titles. Typically, we would compile a Top 5, but as I revisited the games I played this year, only four titles truly shone. Among them is an expansion. Yes, Shadow of the Erdtree, the expansion for Elden Ring, deserves a spot in my top picks for 2024. This expansion delivers everything fans hoped for and more, featuring stunning visuals, clever level design, epic boss encounters (except for the last one, which has since been patched), and new weapons that invigorate the gameplay. In short, it’s a must-have for any fan of Elden Ring.
TEST: Is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Masterpiece?
To my surprise, as someone unfamiliar with the franchise, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 proved to be an excellent revelation in 2024. The gameplay is violent, intense, and fully realized, combined with a stunning artistic style that blends gothic architecture with sci-fi elements, alongside an easily accessible cooperative mode. Saber had already impressed me with World War Z, and they’ve successfully adapted their winning formula in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. I often boot up the game just to enjoy a mission or two, relishing the joy of obliterating hordes of Tyranids. Given its successful sales, I’m hopeful the developers will continue to support it for years to come (much like WWZ), which is a delightful prospect.
TEST: Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 the Pinnacle of the 40K Franchise?
This third title narrowly missed the top spot on my 2024 podium, but it ended my gaming year on a high note. Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle is a true homage to adventure games, showcasing a genuine love for the original trilogy (What? There are five films? No way). MachineGames shares my admiration for Spielberg’s work, evident throughout the game, which is rich in content and features an engaging narrative with well-crafted characters that delighted fans. And we even have Richard Darbois voicing in the French version—what more could one ask for? Oh, perhaps fewer bugs would be nice.
TEST: Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle: A Must-Play for Your Console!
And now for my Game of the Year 2024. It’s no surprise that it’s the Silent Hill 2 Remake. While it may not fully capture the brilliance of the PS2 original, the survival-horror game from Bloober Team offers a fresh take while honoring the source material, ensuring that comparisons remain superficial. Each game will have its own place in my library, and I look forward to revisiting both for their atmosphere, characters, and music. Now, I’m hopeful to see more from the Silent Hill franchise, perhaps a new installment from Bloober.
TEST: Silent Hill 2: The Haunting Remake of a Classic
So yes, that’s just four games… I could have mentioned Buckshot Roulette and Children of the Sun, which have been on my radar for only a few days (thanks to the Autumn Sales on Steam), but I haven’t had the chance to explore them fully yet. The Pokémon Pocket Trading Card Game was also a delightful find, though it merely consists of opening