2023 and 2024, at least in my world, were two years of perfect gaming juxtaposition. Last year was full of big, meaty triple-A titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. And, while this year still had its fair share of them, it felt like the perfect opportunity for indies to stake a claim to the throne – and that they did.
My top ten over at DualShockers last year was embarrassingly lacking in indie games. In fact, it included a grand total of zero, so although they’re five of this year’s biggest, I’m delighted that half my list is taken by the crafty little buggers.
Many of the editorial team at TheGamer are putting together their top ten lists that will be released in the lead-up to Christmas. Make sure to bookmark this page so you can check them out as they go live!
10 Thank Goodness You’re Here
Thank Goodness You’re Here is hands down one of the funniest video games ever created. While slightly over the top, its depiction of Northern England is pure gold, and even though I’m a soft Southerner, parts of the game felt strangely nostalgic.
I completed it in one joyous sitting, and I’m already yearning for Coal Supper’s next grand adventure.
9 Black Myth: Wukong
While Black Myth: Wukong had a few technical issues that irked me, I was captivated by its Chinese mythology inspirations.
After completing Shadow of the Erdtree and then going back through Elden Ring’s base game, I needed something to fill that Souls-shaped void, and Wukong did a wonderful job at that.
8 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
I’ve not played a Call of Duty game since the original Black Ops. I figured, however, with Black Ops 6 on Xbox Game Pass, I’d give it a shot, and I kinda regret it.
In a time when my backlog is bigger than ever, Microsoft’s marketing machine has worked wonders, and I’ve been unable to pull myself away from the series’ latest offering. It’s really good.
7 TCG Card Shop Simulator
Okay, I’m well aware this isn’t a ‘good’ game. There’s no gripping narrative, stunning 4K textures, or loveable characters. What there is, though, is the perfect gameplay loop for switching your brain off after work and forgetting about the world, and that I certainly did.
I’m now a millionaire card shop owner with a bustling customer base and a collection to rival Gary ‘King Pokemon’ Haase.
6 UFO 50
I’m about to commit blasphemy here, but the Spelunky games never really clicked for me. Mossmouth’s reputation preceded him, though, and cajoled by online chatter, I decided to give UFO 50 a shot. Boy, am I glad I did.
While a few of the 50 entries didn’t hit the mark, many of them could have been released as standalone titles, and they’d absolutely have slapped just as hard.
5 Animal Well
I had limited expectations for Animal Well, but I’m a big fan of Metroidvanias, so in one of the quieter periods of the year, I jumped in.
What ended up happening was me being blown away by one of the smartest games I’ve ever played and getting a tattoo of the main character shortly after. It’s one of those games you’re best going into with as little knowledge as possible, and I can’t recommend it enough.
4 Persona 3 Reload
Atlus games, specifically those in the Persona series, are a bit of a vice for me. They’re stylish adventures that pull no punches when it comes to storytelling.
Persona 3 Reload is the perfect encapsulation of this: super-flashy visuals, a compelling narrative, and a likable cast. In another year, this could have easily been my number one. Now give me Persona 6.
3 Astro Bot
What an absolute delight this little game is. Team Asobi has proven that, if done correctly, there’s still plenty of mileage in the 3D platforming genre.
It’s one that’s been neglected as gaming tastes have evolved and hardware has become more powerful, but I’m hoping that, alongside Nintendo’s inevitably imminent 3D Mario game, this causes some kind of renaissance.
2 Balatro
I’ve always been a sucker for deck-building roguelikes. Inscryption, Slay the Spire, and Monster Train are three games that have each consumed over 100 hours of my life. Balatro is now on that list, and honestly, I think it’s a near-perfect game.
There are not many better feelings in gaming than the stars aligning and pulling off a killer e-scoring combo.
A Couple Of Honorable Mentions
Firstly, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. As DLC, I’m not going to put it on my list, but if I did, it’d be comfortably in the top two. It’s another FromSoftware masterpiece.
Secondly, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. This game is easily in my top 20 of all time. It’s a perfect RPG that blends an interesting story, great humor, and fun characters. As a remake, though, I’m not sure the Switch version does enough to justify a spot in my top ten of 2024.
I don’t know if I mentioned it, but I’m a bit of an Atlus shill. Before the year started, Metaphor ReFantazio was my most anticipated game, and I’m delighted that it lived up to my lofty expectations.
In a particularly politically charged year, Metaphor drove home a surprisingly poignant message, and it feels like the perfect evolution of the Persona formula that I’ve fallen in love with over the last few years. I’m also not sure a game has ever been as aesthetically pleasing as this one.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is absolutely worthy of my number one spot.