Top Five: Video Games of 2024

• When I wrote about how 2023 was an interesting year, I didn't realize that I was cursing 2024. At least there were some very good games to enjoy.


• Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Any new release from RGG Studios is a contender for this list, and this game was no exception. The follow-up to Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Infinite Wealth is both a continuation of the story of Ichiban Kasuga, the Hero of Yokohama, but also a(nother) sendoff for the original protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu. Like the prequel game, this is again a turn-based RPG. The four years since the prior installment have meant a number of improvements to its systems. Where is lacks is in the story's heart. Much like the different in Judgment and Lost Judgement, we have received a better game with a story that does not hit the same. Serialized fiction is just like that, I guess. Nonetheless, everything about this game plastered it to this list from the jump and I enjoyed every madcap minute of it.


• Elden Ring - Just when you think you're out, they pull you back in. The "they" in this case is my daughter who likes to hang out with me while I play video games. I had banged my head on Elden Ring before, giving up on my sorceror in frustration even though the received wisdom is that sorcery builds were the good kind of broken. Instead I felt constantly annoyed by FromSoftware's particular brand of systematic petulance. But she wanted to see me adventure (and struggle) in that fantasy world and so I answered the call. Favoring a greatsword build this time (a favorite choice of the likes of Vinny Caravella and Patrick Klepek), I found myself having a much more satisfying time of it. So much so, in fact, that I promised that if I beat the prerequiste boss, I would purchase the DLC expansion. And so I did. Much like prior FromSoft games, I love everything about them except the bosses. But I was able to persevere and became Elden Lord. I just had to promise my daughter that if I finish the game with my sorcerer, I show her the Ranni ending.


• UFO 50 - I've had my eye on this game for some time. The concept is fascinating: a collection of games hailing from a bygone time for a fictional console. As with any collection, not every game is going to hit. But it was fascinating to play through the history of this fantasy developer and see how ideas and themes would expand over time. My absolute favorites of the collection were Warptank and Chameleon, both more thinky games than action. There are some that I haven't devoted enough time to, like the strategy and RPGs. But the shear audacity of UFO 50 has me entralled for days, earning its rightful place on this list.


• Hitman: World of Assassination - In many ways, Hitman is an intimidating game. As it exists now, there are the three primary campaigns, several DLC missions, as well as the live-service missions. It is almost overwhelming to come to the game to be faced with all of that. Though I've tried a time or two before, I still haven't completed all three campaigns. Instead what brought me back to the game was addition of the run based mode, Freelancer, from back in 2023. Of course, I'm slow at discovering these things so I picked it up this year and had a blast. Now make no mistake: I am very bad at the Freelancer mode, but I love getting dropped into a mission where the target(s) could be anyone, anywhere. Adding an endless mode like this is a stroke of genius on IO Interactive's part.


• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - One of the benefits of writing this list so late is allowing end-of-the-year releases like this a proper chance to be noticed. And notice I did. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle get so many things right. On one hand, it could very well be a lost film in the franchise, slotted between Raiders and Last Crusade. On another, it is an amazing adventure around the globe. Each environment, though built around the precepts required of the game, feels unique, such as the claustrophobic warrens of the Vatican or the open desert of Egypt. Finally, it is an effective Indiana Jones simulation, letting you inhabit the well-known character so thoroughly. It is hard to be effusive enough about the decisions MachineGames made in bringing this game to life. I'm going to be thinking about my time with Great Circle for some time. And I can't wait for the forthcoming DLC to give me an excuse to put on the leather jacket and fedora again.


• Honorable Mentions: Marvel's Midnight Suns, XDefiant, Cyberpunk 2077 - I spent quite a lot of time with and each held a spot on this list until they were finally forced off. But being able to list so many almost games says a lot about how this year went.


• And that's it for 2024. I think I'll actually get this out at a resonable time. I guess 2025 is looking up already, right? Right?


• Oh, shit.