2024 was a year of uncertainty. It wasn’t clear what games would dominate the conversation, the slate of blockbuster movies didn’t seem to kick into gear until mid-summer, and there was the constant will-they-won’t-they regarding Nintendo’s announcement of the Switch 2. Despite the Big N’s best efforts, though, a lot of information has surfaced regarding the Nintendo Switch successor, but that’s for 2025.
As far as the past 365 days are concerned, it ended up being just as packed with exciting media to consume, tech to play around with, and events to keep us guessing. As Game Rant’s editor-in-chief, I try my best to stay up to date on what is the newest, latest, and best, but that’s always a fool’s errand. Nevertheless, there were plenty of things that excited me in 2024. Here are my favorite things of 2024.
My Favorite Video Games of 2024
My tastes shift from year to year, but there is always a through line when it comes to franchises I grew up on and titles with engaging-yet-challenging combat. I am lucky enough to get the opportunity to sample a lot of different games from across a variety of genres. A good story can take a game very far, but oftentimes I become addicted to a game with a good open world pull or a striking art style.
However, there are only so many hours in a year, and sometimes that means giving up on games that didn’t click with me out of the gate but that I intend to return to. Will that happen with 2025 looming large? Probably not, but there is still time to clear out the backlog before the onslaught of next year’s titles starts rolling in. I’d also like to add that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the best DLCs I have ever played, and it fully deserved its nods at The Game Awards this year.
Black Myth Wukong captured my attention in a way that I didn’t expect. It started with a hands-on preview at Summer Game Fest and continued until I got to play the finished product. The game is beautiful to look at, but it’s the variety of bosses and the challenge they present that captivated me from beginning to end.
It was a great year for video games. There were joyous experiences like Astro Bot and Echoes of Wisdom to keep the kid in me alive, while titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Neva left me with questions to ponder (in different ways) long after the credits rolled. It’s always hardest to narrow down my video game choices because there are so many I enjoyed for a variety of reasons. If I didn’t have friends to jump in with, for example, I don’t think I would have as much fondness for Helldivers 2.
My Favorite Movies of 2024
Video games are my professional passion, but movies are my personal one. I try to make it out to the movies at least once a week, and I’m always looking for the next intriguing voice in filmmaking. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good popcorn flick as well, as my list should reflect, but I look forward to the next Avengers flick as much as I do the next Paul Thomas Anderson.
Dune: Part 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine delivered the spectacle that I needed this year, two sides of a similar coin. I have become a huge fan of Sean Baker over the years and was very excited to see him win the Palme D’or with Anora. The Brutalist was an epic the likes we don’t see very often. And horror/suspense continues to thrive thanks to films like Heretic and It’s What’s Inside.
I don’t think there was any film this year that absolutely blew me away, but there were plenty that thoroughly entertained me, and quite a few that left me to ponder some tough questions. As with video games, I’m always in search of a good story, but the core components of a film, like cinematography and indelible performances, can also keep me engaged.
My Favorite TV Shows of 2024
Amidst video games and movies, TV doesn’t get as much love from me year-to-year but there were some pretty stellar shows released this year. The landscape of TV continues to shift, rivaling movies with its longform storytelling potential and thanks to actors’ willingness to look more closely at every project that comes their way. Colin Farrell, for example, has seen the potential in streaming and was part of two fantastic series.
Thanks to actors like him and a few risk-taking studios, the types of TV available to us is richer and more diverse than ever. Yes, there is a lot of fluff to sift through, but sometimes the fluff can even become your favorite show.
A good hook goes a long way for me and my TV watching. If the first episode can grab you with a compelling or unique premise, then I’m willing to give it more of a chance than if a show has a slow start, but word of mouth says it improves over time. Oftentimes those simmering series turn out to be some of my favorites, but there are so many good shows everywhere you look and far too many streaming series to subscribe to.
I love that we got another stellar video game adaptation TV series in Fallout. It didn’t copy the formula that made The Last of Us a success, but embraced what makes the Bethesda games great without feeling generic or hokey. Shogun was packed with tremendous performances and took us to a time period and setting that video games use a lot, but is perfect for a TV series. 3 Body Problem was the show that had the most intriguing start, but I’m concerned that it might not have the legs to see that through. I hope so – because the concept is so bold.
My Favorite Tech of 2024
I use a lot of gadgets and gizmos in my daily life. If it makes it easier for me to do that job, then I’m willing to give it a look, but I try not to turn up my nose at anything. Oftentimes it’s the tech that doesn’t reveal its utility at first that ends up becoming essential. I couldn’t see the appeal of a PC gaming handheld at first, but now I can’t imagine going anywhere without having one nearby at all times. Other times, it’s just about improving on the tried-and-true. If something is better than its competitors or among the best I’ve ever used, then it gets added to the rotation very quickly.
I’m lucky to get the opportunity to try a lot of different technology. I love looking for my next favorite controller just as much as the next best mouse, keyboard, or headset. The Audeze Maxwell and Scuf are now among my favorites in their respective category, and the ROG Ally X is currently the handheld to beat when it comes to performance vs. battery life.
But I don’t want to overlook the smaller tech conveniences as well. The Anker MagGo travels with me everywhere and is especially useful on high-use days like visiting Disneyland. And a few of the items on my tech list this year will help us bring you even better content in 2025. I also want to give a shout out to the Corsair Platform:6 desk for giving me even more space to display my collectibles and toys.
My Favorite Collectibles and Toys of 2024
Speaking of, I love to collect. Call it Peter Pan syndrome or whatever you like, but I have a hard time passing up an opportunity to revel in the nostalgia of my youth by displaying high-quality toys that represent my favorite properties of yesteryear. Growing up I took in a lot of media and so that list of “favorites” is as deep as it is wide. And the amount of companies that are seeing value in giving new life to properties both massive and obscure is only growing as well. It hurts the wallet but it warms the soul.
Look, Mattel making Street Sharks figures and LEGO finally adding a Legend of Zelda set were enough to make my year. Mondo (and parent company Funko) continue to operate on a high level, releasing so many exciting toys, collectibles, and memorabilia that it’s difficult to keep up. I took a risk on the Elden Ring Collector’s Edition hoping that Malenia would be a memorable boss and was not let down, so I couldn’t say no to adding Messmer to my collection.
I also have a son so my interests are now informed by his interests. I have taken a deep dive into Minecraft over the last year and learned so much about that game, but it’s also been exciting to watch my favorite things become his favorite things without pressuring him towards any one property. Being a dad has changed my life in many ways, but my favorite part is that it allows me to be a kid again and experience that sense of wonder through him.
Almost everything that I experience now has a new context and I take new things from it that I wouldn’t before. My list of favorite things is unique to me, but my experience is very different than it was a few years ago. I don’t expect that to change in 2025 and I look forward to seeing what new things excite me. I know Nintendo Switch 2, Grand Theft Auto 6, and that new Paul Thomas Anderson are high on my most anticipated list, but it’s the video games, movies, TV, tech, and collectibles that I have no idea about that are what keeping me curious and eager to try out new things.
