You have already seen and read places 50 to 31 of your top 50 games of 2024, today we continue with the golden mean. That means: Places 30 to 11 are next before Silver finally goes to the ten best-placed titles. Who will make it to the top?
30. Indicate
(Odd Meter, 11 bit studios -)
And:I'm always happy when Slavic culture is featured in video games because it immediately connects my hobby with my own roots. When that happens critically, even more exciting. Indika was an incredibly important game this year because it takes a unique approach to a topic that is often ignored in my circles. Video games in particular are so good at drawing creativity from dark, serious and cold topics and conveying new perspectives.
Melanie:Even the first trailer was so disturbing that I didn't know whether to love it or be afraid of it. I haven't dared to play the game yet.
Alex:A bad, bad game in a good way that really affected me. Important work of art that apparently did not go unnoticed. Thank you, dear readers, for voting this high up.
Markus:Another game that passed me by. After watching the trailer for this, I wonder what I saw. Maybe it wasn't wrong to legalize smoking weed after all.
Agent Provocateur:A game that perfectly captures the essence and futility of religion. Bravo.
FlintBlackwater:Yes, it's not an easy game, but it holds the flag high for the artistic possibilities of the medium. Far from pixel art commerce and Triple A.
29. Still Wakes the Deep
(The Chinese Room, Secret Mode)
Martin:Awesome name. Not my game or genre, but cool name.
Alex:Competent walking sim horror with far too few answers - or answers in the wrong place - but an overall good mood. Nevertheless, in the end I felt one thing above all: emptiness.
Markus:A horror game like a horror movie that has no HUD or combat system and only relies on immersion and stealth to tell its gripping story.
PanicRev:Fresh and great setting with an exciting story and body horror moments. The only thing worse than the boss of the oil rig is me.
Airwulf:Great atmosphere, setting and story. Took me away. Recommended if you like walking sims.
28. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
(Asobo Studio, Xbox Game Studios)
Martin:I hope that it will be a little more stable again, for me it was still jerking a little more than it did before the big update, but I'm actually sure that it will happen again. There is still no more impressive piece of software on the market, let alone a game. Sure, there are plenty of games that are more fun if you're not a flightsim nerd, but none that offer anywhere near that wow factor.
Alex:I would have started long ago if I didn't feel compelled to rebuild the entire Hotas system, which is just too time-consuming for me.
Markus:Now that I can get my Boeing 747-400 on the ground in seven out of ten cases without any insurance claims (officially in the other cases the Boeing loses some parts in the air that are not my responsibility), I am quite sure that mine Nothing stands in the way of your pilot career. Who wants to fly with you on vacation?
Benjamin J.:It just looks really nice, a lot better than its predecessor. Occasionally I do a little lap and enjoy the view, but I'm probably not enough of a flight sim nerd to really delve into it in depth or long-term.
27. Starfield: Shattered Space
(Bethesda Game Studios , Bethesda Softworks)
Alex:I had already forgotten about it with the turn of the year and had not yet felt any impulse to return here.
Benjamin J.: Since the release, I've played it in spurts whenever I felt like it. Thanks to,and now Indiana Jones I've been busy elsewhere lately, so Shtattered Space will have to wait until 2025.
26. Life is Strange: Double Exposure
(Deck Nine Games, Square Enix -)
Benjamin:For me a nice and successful further development or continuation of the first Life is Strange. I didn't think everything was perfect, but overall it was handled well and takes the series in an interesting direction. And Max simply remains my favorite protagonist in the series.
Martin:Starts strong, ends weak. You actually know it the other way around. Too bad, let's see if Don't Nod comes with itcan score more next year.
Markus:Good story with diverse characters and numerous decisions that also affect the ending, even if it doesn't quite live up to the original, as some twists are predictable and some solutions are too obvious.
luap700:I was really looking forward to it! Then the first disappointment: no Chloe! Other characters from part one only appear in passing (e.g. in chats). Victoria Chase would have been somehow entertaining as an antagonist or a nuisance. The story with two or three WTF moments grabbed me. Max looks a bit strange at first, but that quickly goes away (especially since Max has the really great original voice from the first part in English! I found the German soundtrack terrible, sounds like an RTL soap. However, the locations are very manageable. Music is good as usual (New Dad, Mood Bored). The wokeness is no longer as exaggerated as in True Colors. It's a real shame: Why doesn't Max even say "Wowser"?
25. Super Mario Party Jamboree
(NCube, Nintendo -)
Benjamin J.:Really good Mario Party that my wife and I have already sunk countless hours into. Great game boards and mini-games, just great fun. The icing on the cake would have been to include all the Mario Party boards from the Switch era. But Nintendo is unfortunately keeping a low profile when it comes to post-launch support or additional content for the Mario Party series.
And:So I'm having a lot of fun with Jamboree. It does what a party game needs to do: destroy friendships! The selection of mini-games is also great! I also like this new Bowser PvE mode.
Markus:Mario Party is finally Mario Party again... It only lasted twelve years.
Airwulf:Bought straight away and, like its predecessor, I have now accumulated numerous hours of play.
24. Persona 3 Reload
(Atlus, Sega - Persona 3 Reload)
And:Get Kotone naked! A great new edition for a great cult classic. More Persona 3 is always good, but take a look at the award, because even though the visuals have been improved, I can't understand why it needs the gaps that it unfortunately currently has. #FreeKotone
Alex:Not in this life anymore. Unfortunately. Fortunately.
WhynotPanda:It's Persona, it's stylish... but oof, I struggled more through the dungeons. than in Persona 4. The story also really picks up pace very slowly. For me, this was the weakest of the modern personas, even if it does have its moments.
blablablablubb21:Persona 3 Reload is a good game, even if it simply serves as an example of the weakness of remakes.
23. Frostpunk 2
(11 bit studios -)
Benjamin S.:Finally convincing diplomacy! In most games you just have to shovel around values to achieve a desired result, negotiating with the Senate feels like itactually like bargaining for ideals, small favors and tug-of-war for political power. The fact that expanding the city is incredibly fun is just the icing on the cake.
Benjamin J.:My experiences with Frostpunk 2 have so far been limited to a detailed gamescom presentation. But it looked good back then. Anyone with the Xbox version take a look to see how quickly I fail this time.
Markus:Frostpunk 2 evokes mixed feelings and that's probably because I went into it thinking it was Frostpunk, only better. In fact, it is far from it. It's less personal, but much more complex, which you first have to get to grips with. This also depends on whether you want to be warm with frost point 2 or whether you prefer to send it out into the cold.
Alex:It's just too depressing for me. Ask me again when the real world isn't ending...
And:Unfortunately I haven't played it yet, but I liked the first Frostpunk so much that I'll definitely catch up on this second part at some point. Maybe in the summer when I need to cool down!
PanicRev:I was worried. that the new gameplay doesn't work and it ends in a disaster similar to Darkest Dungeon 2. But that's not the case, FP2 thrilled me again with its relentless ice atmosphere and merciless snowstorms, even if the release in the summer was very inappropriate. And then these gorgeous graphics! I'm really looking forward to the DLC...
22. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
(Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Sega)
And:Ichiban AND Kiryu! In ONE game! That's just cool. Now I just need another 150 hours.
Martin:Vacation in winter, that was the game. I just took a look, but yes, it was January when I tested this and the perfect time for a Hawaiian vacation. In this context, take a look, it's dark enough outside, it's definitely on sale.
Melanie:Like a Dragon gave us a fun and crazy start to the year. Finally go on adventures with Ichiban again, ride dolphins, escape escape rooms, build your own island resort... The wealth of ideas, variety and scope of the game definitely justify a place on this list.
lebenwielarry:The second Yakuza game as a JRPG. Story-wise I thought the predecessor was better, but the gameplay is so much better. The ability to move around has improved the combat system so much that the predecessor almost feels like a beta. It was also more of a Kiryu game than an Ichiban game. For me as a veteran who played all the parts, it was of course extremely satisfying to see old faces again. Still, it's the first part of the series that didn't make me emotional (yeah, laugh at me, I don't care hahaha) and I missed that a bit. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to Majima next year and hope for more depth in its story because it's being called a direct successor to Infinite Wealth. Then I'll definitely cry again (*；д；)ノ.
21. Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred
(Blizzard, Activision -)
Markus:A successful expansion for D4, which is mainly based on the new class and many allusions to D2, but also brings some great innovations and important improvements for the entire game. However, with the very flexible and varied Spiritborn, the developers have set the bar quite high for future new classes, so we can only hope that they can do the same with the next hero.
Martin:No, I'm not ready yet. When I start, I'll be busy again for 200 hours, which isn't possible right now.
Old_Benz:I also like the add-on for Diablo 4. Brain and chop, just the way I like it.
manuel20xx:Looting and leveling, once again, of course - as with Elden Ring: Shadow of Erdtree, only a DLC. I didn't want to choose, but like there, new character classes and additional content enrich the main game so much that you feel like you're playing half a sequel. And: can you say a few more words about the exemplary localization and the side quests (!), some of which are really fantastically written? After completing it, I was finally out of Diablo 4, but I had so much fun cutting it that it was still enough for a top 8 placement.
20. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
(Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft -)
Martin:I've always wondered how an original Prince of Persia would have turned out had it not made the 3D jump. So that's it. Very good, I can live with that. I didn't have quite as much fun with Lost Crown as I did with Warrior Within back then, but it was very close. And I had a lot of fun with Warrior Within.
Alex:The sight of Lost Crown in the top 20 was supposed to bring great joy, unfortunately the game was not a commercial success and the team was disbanded. It's an incredible shame, because the love for tricky jump-and-run sequences and a playful combat system characterize one of the best Metroidvanias ever.
Benjamin J.:Back then I was able to play a preview version for several hours and I really liked it. So it's definitely on my list of games to play.
Agent Provocateur:I have to thank all the Metroidvanias of the last few years, good or bad, because without them this (almost) perfect diamond of a game wouldn't exist.
Hueni:Mea Culpa, Ubisoft - I only picked up this game after it was already declared a failure. It really has something under the hood; All the skills were a bit too much at first, but you'll get used to it. Things get worse when The Lost Crown shows that things are even harder. ARGH! But that motivates you again, even after the thirtieth slap in the face.
manuel20xx:The best Metroidvania that hardly anyone has played - it's a shame given the buttery playability, the great skill, the well-rounded technology, the clever exploration incentives and some innovative ideas: just for the possibility of placing screenshots as markers on the map, I kiss the eyes of the developers. Consolation: They are now working on Beyond and Good & Evil - given the quality of the 2D adventure about the Persian prince, Ubisoft can only be congratulated on this decision.
KaeptnQuasar:I'm rarely in the mood for Metroidvania and I can't really say why... but Prince of Persia is a really good game in this category and once again a real Ubisoft diamond.
19. Balatro
(LocalThunk, Playstack)
Melanie:Luckily, a card game also landed in the top 50. I love this genre and Balatro is truly a small masterpiece. You feel like you're cheating as you continue to improve your poker hand with effects, jokers, and new cards. But so far even the best hand has lost at some point. Is it even possible to win? Until now, I have always played with the sad certainty that my pile of cards is just a deck for a period of life and not the poker hand for life.
Martin:2Roguelike deck-building poker video game" is one of the keywords that automatically sends the editor to the next email. There are an estimated five new ones every day, one more insignificant than the next. This one is the exception. All the others are allowed Balatro look at how to do it correctly.
Leonie:Clear case of "I'd like it, but I'd be neglecting my life if I played it once."
Gladys:Favorite card roguelike blackjack blend of this year! How do you come up with a game like this?!? Who thinks up something like that?
Airwulf:We played together for many hours, but my girlfriend accumulated most of the playing time alone. She is more insightful here and gets further in the runs. :-)
dr46un:The best indie game of this year! You think to yourself “Just one more lap” and suddenly hours have passed. Simply captivating.
gigsen.Last minute placement. :D The game is simply addictive. Great. ^^
Jimpanse:Whenever I'm sad, I play balatro. And if I'm still sad, I play another round of Balatro. And if I'm still sad, I'll start over. Definite winner of the screaming monkey award 2024.
18. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
(Treyarch, Raven Software, Beenox, High Moon Studios, Activision Shanghai, Sledgehammer Games, Infinity Ward, Demonware, Activision -)
Alex:I surprisingly had a lot of fun, even though the multiplayer lost me sooner than I thought. This time it was more about me than the game, I admit that.
Martin:Really strong campaign. If it's in Game Pass now, treat yourself to these few hours of action cinema. I also thought it was better than Cold War. That had the better highlights, but overall Black Ops 6 is the best since BO 3.
Benjamin J.:I've always wished that the Call of Duty campaigns were available for purchase individually. Game Pass comes closest. But I realized that I haven't played Black Ops 2 and 3 yet, so maybe I'll catch up on them first.
dr46un:This time I barely touched the multiplayer - a clear sign of the quality of the single player. I would like a CoD to focus entirely on the single player. The best Call of Duty in a long time!
Hueni:Should others talk about the campaign or the multiplayer, I'm here for the zombie mode. :) Two maps at the beginning, which also feel significantly different, and now a third one... very nice! Plus the movement system from Cold War (with the Omni-Direction from Part 6 now), which makes moving around (read: getting out of tricky situations) feel very smooth. The chewing gum from Black Ops 3 is making a comeback and so far the Easter eggs are keeping you busy. If they bring the zombie outbreak mode like they did back in Black Ops Cold War, I'll be absolutely happy!
17. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
(Rough, Nintendo -)
Martin:Purchased, downloaded and ready to go. It starts at Christmas, just like it's 1992.
Markus:It feels like there is no year or top 50 without a Zelda. But what is this, a Zelda not in the top 10? Must be a mistake in the matrix.
Alex:My son played it further than I did, but the approach is somewhat ingenious, not least because Zelda finally gets to be the star of her own game.
Benjamin J.:I've solved a few puzzles, but haven't played it big or for long yet. I really liked the first impression and I like that you don't just copy the usual Zelda gameplay with Link and just use Zelda as the protagonist. Hopefully just the start of more Zelda games in which you actually play Zelda.
And:For me it's a wonderful Zelda game. What I like most is that you can find multiple approaches to every situation. I enjoy the fights and collecting them somehow adds a nice element. I don't understand the hate, I'm happy about our reader ranking. :)
Grade Master:Finally play Zelda! My eight-year-old daughter was very happy and played the entire game. The mix of standard Zelda with Pokemon-like real-time monster battles is something different. Unfortunately a bit passive, but I think they've gone a step further when it comes to puzzles.
Kressla1981:Zelda Echos war Hammer.
Ratzi73:Nintendo always manages to give existing franchises new impetus. At no time did I criticize the fact that this time you are allowed to play Zelda and not Link. On the contrary: the fan base would have screamed much louder if Link only had a wand and was only allowed to use his sword to a limited extent. So something new and special was created, but played wonderfully classically.
manuel20xx:Switch 2, now - the technical quality left me quitting with a migraine-like headache a few times. The creative magic, the experimentation, which is much easier and more fun for me in 2D than in 3D, made me reach for the controller again and again, probably because just looking at the map, which has a link to mine Zelda past on the SNES, always get a little endorphin rush in your head and heart.
16. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
(Don't Nod, Focus Entertainment -)
Alex:A fantastically written and criminally under-bought atmosphere board. No game I know of has brought a community of fictional characters to the screen more convincingly. Everyone knows each other, not everyone appreciates each other, it is a real network of distinctive personalities, with many individual stories and fates. As a ghost hunter in the middle of unraveling the many plot threads of how these people came to be cursed has been an absolutely magical adventure for me. A small milestone for me and one of the best games of the year.
Martin:Alex is very enthusiastic that you pushed his beloved Banishers this high on the list. Thank you on his behalf.
Markus:You can clearly tell that Banishers carries the genes of Life is Strange and Vampyr - in a good way. It mixes the excellent narrative and atmosphere of LiS with the RPG elements of Vampyr, throws in a few clever game mechanics and turns it into a gripping action adventure.
Ashgar:I have the feeling that, with the exception of the review here on Eurogamer, Banishers has been far too little appreciated in the general gaming cosmos. In any case, I can only agree with the test here, I don't regret the purchase, especially because of the test here, and it was an absolute highlight early in the year and will be on the podium for me in a deserved third place in 2024.
SectionOne:Don't Nod just keeps getting better.
PanicRev:Another very atmospheric and narratively dense game in an fresh setting, which unfortunately drags a bit and sometimes doesn't dare to do enough in terms of gameplay.
John Donson:I'm really glad that I wasn't put to sleep by the combat mechanics or, previously, by the generic title, because atmospherically, Banishers is one of the best things to hit my screens in the last year. The English voice acting was great and I really liked the story and pacing. Unfortunately, the gameplay part fell off a bit, so I played it over a longer period of time and several sessions. Like many titles published by Don't Nod, I left the game emotionally moved and count it among the best experiences of the 2024 gaming year.
KaeptnQuasar:I really liked the game and the test confirmed what I expected based on the trailers. An incredibly well-written action-adventure with interconnected quests and meaningful dialogue. An authentic world opens up and it conveys an atmosphere à la Sleepy Hollow very well. The fights and especially enemies could have been more varied, but in terms of story, dialogue and quests, it is a strong action adventure with many moral decisions that have to be made. Not easy fare, but highly recommended.
blablablablubb21:My seventh place. I finished Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden almost a month ago. It took forever because I wasn't always motivated to keep playing. It actually does everything right for a AA action RPG, but as is usually the case in this area, the games are a little more special. And with Banishers I was just missing that certain something. For example, I liked Vampyr a lot better, even though Banishers went a step further in all areas.
The combat system is solid, but even the boss fights and the final boss were kind of monotonous. Maybe it's because I played at normal level and browsed the entire map. It was never really difficult and most of the fights weren't demanding either. But I also created a strong synergy with my equipment. Still, I find the combat system just functional. Maybe it's because there are only around ten different standard opponents. Technically it's good too. I hardly know any better looking games in this area. The structure and size of the open world is more like it was at the end of the PS3 or beginning of the PS4 era. This means there is a contiguous map with larger islands connected by corridors. The hub world in Jedi: Survivor, for example, is also structured like this.
The music is really a weak point. Not a single memorable piece and mostly it just fades into the background without enhancing the scenes. The speakers in English, however, are excellent. As already mentioned in the review here on Eurogamer, the synchronization is really successful, right down to the smallest supporting role. Of course, the two protagonists have to be highlighted again.
Because the two characters and their relationship are another highlight of the game. Unfortunately, other characters come and go too quickly for them to do more than just fulfill their role. Although you talk to every friendly NPC in the game when you do all the side missions, most of the time they are only important for their own quests. And as interesting as some cases are, solving them is trivial. All you really have to do is follow the markers, use the interaction objects and exhaust all the dialogue options. To be fair, I also have to say that it's about the resolution and not the solution of the cases. Because the resolution of each case is left to you without any judgment and the end of the cases and the game is determined by the sum of the decisions. That's good and important, because the actual plot isn't that exciting. Actually, the journey is the goal.
15. Metaphor: ReFantasia
(Atlus, Mix -)
And:Yes, GOTY. What else should I add? Check out our games of the year. Atlus has done something really great here again. A playable work of art.
Alex:Far too long and technically very outdated. But still pretty darn cool in style and story premise and stays fresh longer than I thought it would.
Ashgar:If you like the Persona games, you'll like Methphor, and that's the case for me. The setting is actually very original and profound, which is why it deserves sixth place on my list.
WhynotPanda:For me it's the best game of this year because it's simultaneously one of the most traditional and revolutionary JRPGs of the last decade. Atlus continues to refuse to impose newfangled real-time on its games, but simply improves existing systems. I'm really a big fan of the archetypes. The game keeps putting you in situations where there's no going back or forward, you have to beat this boss, and if you haven't grinded enough, then you're forced to find a good strategy. And that's exactly what the archetypes allow, somehow you find a combination that works. Then comes the story. Unfortunately, I'm not quite through it yet, but I think it's great how the classic "We have to find/save the prince, he's the only true ruler" is turned a little on its head and democracy should decide - a criminally neglected topic Fantasy games. There are also characters who do not correspond to the typical clichés that we know from the Persona series. This time the buddy you meet is not a hot-headed, slightly idiotic guy, but the clear-thinking head of the group. We don't have a classic scantily clad waifu in our party. Metaphor goes back to a very classic setting, but breaks some of the stereotypes typical of JRPGs. I hope Persona 6 will take this route too. Now something has gone wrong with me.
TheOriginalDog:Incredibly good development of the Persona formula into a classic fantasy setting. For me, the biggest strokes of genius are the pacing, which switches between dungeon crawls and daily business much more often than the Persona games, and the traveling on the world map in a kind of moving home base.
Sensei:If you want a new persona, you should definitely check out Metaphor. Crisp, cool fights and the soundtrack is once again one hit after another.
Chrono:For me it would be metaphor. Crazy world and a really good story.
Stargaze:It flew completely under the radar for me, I tested the prologue demo out of boredom - what a blessing. For me, Metaphor hit the spot between an exciting persona gameplay loop and a really, really good story. Everything is just right here: graphic style, game pace, characters, music and a fantastic story.
blablablablubb21:Metaphor: ReFantazio is the fantasy persona one might expect. Compared to the last new part, 5 Royal, there are some sensible improvements. It is easily possible to do all social links in the first run without a walkthrough. The archetypes, the equivalent of the personas, can now be freely distributed among the group members and skills can be specifically unlocked and moved around. The combat system is that from the Shin Megami Tensei series. Of course, a lot of this is based on fishing for weaknesses. However, towards the end the action economy and juggling buffs and debuffs becomes much more relevant.
The characters are good, even if I see Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal as being even further ahead. While the party is, as always, very well-crafted and likeable, many of the NPC supporters aren't quite as exciting. At least the protagonist is finally set to music. The story is also pretty good, even if it presents its themes with a wooden hammer. Above all, the antagonist is present all the time and is charismatic enough to fulfill his role. I think that with Metaphor: ReFantazio Atlus has laid the foundation for a new sub-series, but it must continue to innovate here.
14. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
(Ninja Theory, Microsoft -)
Martin:It's pretty. A good graphics blender is always welcome, and this one really blends very well. This is a game where you can calmly say that you're playing it for the graphics and don't have to justify it any further.
Melanie:Great graphics and breathtaking atmosphere. I already loved the first part, and I was really looking forward to Hellblade 2. I'm not finished yet though...
Alex:Rough and not always elegant. But the bottom line is an engaging horror trip.
Benjamin S.:The sequel consolidates my love for games from the British studio Ninja Theory, where they once again created an excellently staged adventure that also follows on from its groundbreaking predecessor in a meaningful way in terms of narrative. Nowhere else will you be sucked into what can be described as an interactive film as much as here.
Vencars:The first part quickly became boring for me, but I really liked the second part because of the atmosphere, the sound design and the graphics.
Gladys:Even though I was only enthusiastic about the concept of the first part, I was still quite hyped for the second part. If you know what to expect in terms of gameplay (not much), then you can fully enjoy this story, intensity and graphics. Senua's Saga doesn't have much competition when it comes to cinematic experiences, and it can easily and undisputedly win this award this year. I still hope that these are the start of titles that can show the real power of the current generation. Even the gameplay was okay. I liked the fights much better than in part one. It's quite massive. The animations are great. But it's just more static. But anything else wouldn't fit at all. My only gripe is the generally slow pace. But of course, this is a conscious decision on the part of the developers.
the_Mar:Simply awesome graphically.
dr46un:Atmospherically and graphically the most impressive game of the year. A true pleasure for the senses.
PineBluff:The year 2024 was fantastic, Hellblade 2 totally fascinated me and is really impressive visually and audio-wise.
Jimpanse:I devoured the game. Of course the game was enjoyed with headphones and large OLED, it was a great experience. The production, scenery, graphics and sound set new standards for me. I'm still thinking about these incredible lighting effects that contributed a lot to the atmosphere. A thank you goes out to MS for allowing a game like this to be developed today. But I immediately take the greetings away and exchange them for a finger because there hasn't been a retail release to date.
13. Warhammer 40.000: Space Marine 2
(Saber Interactive, Focus Entertainment -)
Benjamin J.:Another game that I waited a long time for a sequel and wasn't disappointed in the end. I think Space Marine is in good hands at Saber Interactive and I hope it has a brighter future than after the first part. Sometimes I just need a bit of brutal action every now and then.
Martin:If I didn't find the 40K setting so endlessly unsexy, the game looks crazy! But at least I've made friends with Rogue Trader, I'll give the Space Marines a chance.
Melanie:Helldivers 2, but with thick armor? Well, it's not quite that simple, but I don't even think the comparison is that far-fetched. Except for the class-based gameplay, the swords, and the much less chaotic missions. Well, apples and pears are both fruits.
Benjamin S.:I didn't even have it on the bill. Rarely has it felt so powerful to destroy Tyranids as a testosterone machine. Complements the PlayStation 5 port of Darktide, which was released at almost the same time - 2024 was a banner year for Warhammer 40K!
Markus:A good sequel and further proof that a good shooter works even without an open world.
Alex:A big surprise this year. Warhammer 40K still hasn't completely won me over as a fan - but I think Chaos Gate, which I want to delve deeper into soon, could finally achieve that.
Grade Master:Very cool single player game when it comes to directing and 40k porn. To be honest, gameplay-wise it's just mediocre for me.
Gladys:Have to come in here because of the co-op mode. But the story, the facial animations, the dialogues... It was pretty cruel at times. Other games are dragged through digital hellfire when something like this happens. But no one here cared. What you can't play in the co-op doldrums.
the_Mar:Who doesn't have the dream of feeling like an angel of death teaching a million Tyrandia the non-existent fear?????
elchrillo:As a fan of 40k and the first part, I just say: finally and thank you!
Rawne:A terrific game. Head out and into the slaughter. It's just fun to take apart the Tyranids and slash your way through crazy hordes of enemies. Unfortunately for me the game lost a lot of its fun from the second half onwards when you had to fight against the chaos again. Less hordes, ranged combat and the same type of enemy as in every Warahmmer game. It's a shame, Games Gorkshop, that didn't have to happen. Still a must-have for every Warhammer 40,000 fan.
FlintBlackwater:Pure fun. Now another Gears of War please.
12. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
(GSC Game World -)
Alex:My second favorite game this year - although the condition at launch was deplorable. The fact that, despite all the problems, the zone still has a magical appeal speaks for the enviably good work that GSC Game World has done here. Difficult, gripping, mysterious: Stalker 2 has that certain something, and a truckload of it.
Martin:I'll wait for a few more patches, but then definitely!
PanicRev:FCKPTN.
Old_Benz:Simply Stalker 2. It is the antithesis of the majority of current games. For the first time in a long time I feel like a responsible gamer, not everything is pre-chewed, you don't just run after markers, etc. The atmosphere, visual presentation, Tarkovian gun handling as well as hit feedback and also the story make it my game of the year .
ColeTrain83:Very bulky, but very cool. Either the title of your sex tape oooooor Stalker 2. When you forgive a game for its many flaws, you know that it does a lot right.
gigsen:It's a miracle this game even exists. I played and loved all of the Stalker games back then and that's the same with part two! I'd even say it does surprisingly well for being Stalker. ^^
MadMan:I have now started with version 1.03 and it is simply unbelievable how good it has become. This is easily at Arma Reforger level in terms of gameplay and is therefore years ahead of other shooters, perhaps with the exception of Insurgency Sandstorm. Provided you play it with a mouse and keyboard. The difference in the fun factor is certainly similar to what Martin described in the article about remote-controlled cars when you control with a controller instead of a cell phone display. For me, the intersection between immersive sim and gaming fun was hit just right.
11. Helldivers 2
(Arrowhead Game Studios, PlayStation -)
Melanie:A unique sense of humor that has caught the attention of many players. I love doing things like giving my spaceship a completely over-the-top name, playing interchangeable Helldivers who are constantly trying to kiss their empire's shoes. Even outside of the game, immersion is maintained in all announcements on social media. Great cinema!
Markus:Nice to see that Helldivers 2 has made it this far. In my opinion, the co-op shooter could have been a few places higher up, but the majority decided.
And:Pure fun, pure adrenaline and an incredibly friendly development team.
Martin:First look at the hottest item, then just the top 10 from below. At least, but Helldivers nicely shows how quickly the games come, become a mass phenomenon and then disappear again within months. Not that that's the case with Helldivers 2, it still plays well and compared to another Sony shooter it can run ten times worse and still be a blast. But still, it feels like every Twitch stream is Helldivers and you have secured your small niche and fan base in the current gaming world.
Benjamin S.:Yikes! Helldivers was just this nice top-down shooter for co-op buddies - and then its sequel slams right into the hearts of millions of insect hunters because it sums up the fun carnage thing so well that you can't get enough of it can. One of the most beautiful success stories of ’24!
Alex:The loudest game of the year. I played it off and on throughout the year. What a din! What a panic! Rarely has the chaos of battle been captured as wildly and mercilessly as it is here.
Benjamin:The hype passed me by. But it would be a celebration if they got the Starship Troopers license and brought a big expansion on this topic. I think they would fit together pretty well and then I would take a look.
SectionOne:Only a dead bug is a good bug!
Viator:Simply because it's fun to slog through the chaos of battles with friends until you leave the planet again and have various samples and SuperCredits in your pocket.
Agent Provocateur:My personal multiplayer highlight of the year: cynical, dirty, emotional, pure joy - just like my marriage. And that's exactly why I love the game, it narrowly missed out on the podium this year.
Airwulf:Bought shortly after release due to the hype. It's basically not my genre, so I only played it for a few (but fun) hours.
John Donson:Do you know that? Starting with the intro, this game has kept me hooked and accompanied me the whole year. Just last year I was talking to two friends in Destiny about the fact that the liberated PS360 online days, when you met 99% friendly randoms on the interweb, will probably never come back. Fast forward to HD2 after 2024: And we came and are getting closer to it than ever before. In addition to having fun with my regular playing partners, it's one of the few games where I can play with randoms without hesitation.
To this day I still can't believe that this game works so well, and somehow it can't be explained without experiencing it; But once you're in, you realize how many factors determine success and defeat, how different you can achieve the same goal with other loadouts and play styles, how great friendly fire is and explosions and stupid deaths in general, and how often you have to worry about the many Details was surprised. And the explosions! The rocket launch in particular immediately results in a salute with the pressure wave. Also the subtle way in which it rewards good team play and how incredibly good it feels to be able to jump into the pelican at the last second through hordes of opponents in an impossible way and with all the tests (or to be blown in, because you forgot to switch back from the grenade pistol).
In addition, Arrowhead seems to be largely managing to listen to feedback and address problems rather than developing completely out of step with the community (hey Destiny, look at various waving fence posts!) and to offer very fair MTs who are willing to do so can also be easily earned in the game. With almost 450 hours of play on PC and PlayStation, Helldivers 2 is my personal game of the year, which surprises me because I'm usually really into single-player story games. So, quickly put on some eagle sweats, General Brasch says I have to go back in, I recently discovered ghost diving and am now trying to tackle higher difficulties solo.
Hueni:The perfect Live Service Game doesn't exist... *BAM*! Well, not perfect... but so damn close! No obligation to have a season pass, no gaming disadvantages and the progression system is not the driving carrot, but rather just a decorative accessory. The star is the stories that arise by themselves in these missions: once again the buddy runs in front of his own rifle, then the orbital strike transmitter ricochets off and lands in the middle of the troops. Even if the shine has faded a bit now: Helldivers 2 will forever remain in my memory with funny memories.
