2024 was the year of me failing to play most of the new releases I was looking forward to. It’s actually amazing. I started the year convinced I would play Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth at launch, finish in time for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and wrap that up long before Stellar Blade. None of those games even had a chance to be on this list, because I started playing older games instead, and my grand plan got put on hold.
But I still managed to play some great games that did come out in 2024, so here are my top 10!
10. Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode
To the Moon might be the only series that could release a beach episode and have me put off playing it until I was ready to be emotionally destroyed. Indeed, despite its surface premise being just a lighthearted vacation, Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode is as emotional as I’ve come to expect from these games. While it isn’t as long as the main entries in the series and doesn’t really stand on its own, it’s well worth playing for fans.
9. Another Code: Recollection
When it comes to niche games I didn’t expect to return, Another Code: Recollection is definitely among them. A full remake of Trace Memory and its sequel Another Code: R, this unexpected collection revived the old adventure games (and gave the sequel its first-ever North American release) with a few disappointing changes but enough charm to make up for them. I had a great time with the collection, and I’m still hoping it’s a sign that there could be a third game in the future.
8. R.I.P.
9 R.I.P. is one of the otome games I was looking forward to the most this year. While it isn’t a horror game, it has a spooky theme and deals with a protagonist who winds up in the world of spirits, in various ways. Nine different routes means there’s plenty of variety, and while some parts unfortunately feel rushed, it has enough good stuff that I had a great time with it overall. Really, the Spirit World routes were worth the price of admission alone. I didn’t know I needed my spooky ghost game to veer into wacky comedy hijinks until it happened.
7. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
For years, Paper Mario was one of my favorite series, but I haven’t been satisfied with the direction of the past few entries. As a result, a remake of one of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door felt like a dream come true when it was announced, and it didn’t disappoint. With beautiful graphics and the same charming characters and gameplay that I remembered, it brought back great memories and filled me with hope for the future of the Paper Mario series.
6. Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II
I love the Spirit Hunter series, and so I was overjoyed when Aksys announced a western release of Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II, the third game in the series. (Yes, third. It’s one of those confusing titles.) Although it’s unfortunately the least-scary entry in the series so far, it has a great story with unsettling twists and a ton of body horror in its visuals. I enjoyed the gameplay loop as well, even if some of the new additions don’t hit home quite as well as they could. If we ever get a fourth game–and I hope we do–I’d prefer to see a return to the original style, but I wouldn’t be at all displeased with another game like Death Mark II.
5. Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon
After enjoying Witch on the Holy Night and having some small experience with the Fate series, it was a no-brainer to pick up Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon. With high production values and an intriguing story, this visual novel captured my attention right away. I haven’t entirely finished it yet, as I still need to finish up the second route, but it gave me Arcueid, and that alone earns it a spot on this list.
4. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club
It feels like I had just finished playing the Famicom Detective Club remakes and telling people I wished there was a new game in the series when a new entry was announced for the first time in almost 30 years. While other people might have been disappointed that Emio – The Smiling Man wasn’t a mysterious new horror IP after all, I was ecstatic that this adventure game series was making a return. Best of all, it largely holds true to the gameplay of the originals and doesn’t feel at all out of place next to the remakes. Although I would have liked to see a greater focus on investigative elements, the story in Emio–especially the final section–is powerful enough that I can overlook my quibbles and name it one of my favorite games of 2024.
3. Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!
How does a combination of solitaire and horse racing become one of the most addictive video game experiences? I don’t know, but I couldn’t stop playing the original Pocket Card Jockey back on the 3DS, and when its mobile remake came to the Switch in 2024, I was quickly sucked into it once again. It’s so easy to keep playing one more race as you try to get a winning horse through as many victories as possible. Forget Pokémon, I want to know when Game Freak is going to give us another Pocket Card Jockey.
2. Metaphor: ReFantazio
When Metaphor: ReFantazio was finally revealed after so many years of being a mysterious fantasy project in development at Atlus, I was instantly intrigued. The more I learned about it, the more excited I was, and I’m happy that Metaphor has lived up to my expectations. It has a fantastic gameplay system and a wonderful cast of characters that help its story shine. I also love the little tweaks and adjustments to the Persona-like formula–in particular, I love traveling and how certain traveling activities can’t be done in town. Little things like that help make it truly stand out for me. Now, I haven’t actually finished the whole game yet, but after over 80 hours of gameplay, I think it’s safe enough for me to give it a spot on this list.
1. Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
I literally spent over a decade wishing for an official translation of Ace Attorney Investigations 2 and asking Capcom for it at every opportunity, so the announcement of the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection had me screaming in excitement. Not only does it have both Investigations games bundled together, but it also features completely redrawn HD sprites as well as quality-of-life features and other bonuses. My replay of Ace Attorney Investigations was a refreshing blast from the past, and the official translation of Ace Attorney Investigations 2 was every bit as wonderful as I’d hoped it would be. The characters, the humor, and the stories… I really can’t praise Ace Attorney enough. Maybe it’s a little odd to have a remastered collection of older games as my favorite game of the year, but I don’t care. For me, the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection was the peak of 2024 gaming.
