Another year, another list full of great games that had me giggling all year long. 2024 was sort of a mess, but it was a mess punctuated by visits with friends and very good video games, so it could always be worse! Let’s count down the slickest titles with your ol’ pal Spence, because January is running outta time real quick:
Credit: Capcom
Honorable Mention – Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
I truly had no idea what to expect from Kunitsu-Gami, but was wildly impressed by how unique and overall fun it was. Original games are always something to be celebrated, and Capcom nailed it out of the park with this Japanese mythology-inspired real-time tactical action game. Despite you not doing any fighting, setting up combat is somehow the highlight of the title, which is unlike anything I’ve played before. If you thought about picking this one up but didn’t, I recommend giving it a shot, because it’s a rarity in every way.
10. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
2D/top-down Zelda games are my favorite of the series, so the combination of that style with a bizarre Garry’s Mod-esque prop manipulation system drew me to Echoes of Wisdom pretty much instantly. It’s an unusual game that takes full advantage of its premise with inventive puzzles and methods of combat, making for the most unique Zelda title since Breath of the Wild. Of course, it’s also great to actually play as Zelda, with the new gameplay mechanics being perfectly suited to her wisdom-oriented character. I’d love to see another Zelda game like this, especially with that loveable Link’s Awakening HD style.
9. Star Wars Outlaws
Now it’s worth noting that I played Star Wars Outlaws after all of the big patches, which seem to have made it far more fun. Of all the additions from patches, being able to blast my way out of stealth situations was the best addition for making me truly feel like a smuggler, which was Outlaws’ goal to begin with. Performing heists and escapes as Kay was some of the most fun I had at the end of the year, and went against everything I had heard about the game.
But everything about the game was just a blast as a major Star Wars guy. The planets and characters didn’t lean too heavily into cameos but distributed enough for it to be neat, the shooting felt weighty and satisfying, and the many minigames and side-quests kept me invested in the game far beyond the main plot. If you’ve been avoiding Outlaws because of its reputation, give it another go now that it’s been fixed up, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
8. Persona 3 Reload
The original Persona 3 was a major game for me, and revisiting it years later with a fresh coat of paint was an absolute joy. The themes of death and life resonate far greater with a 28-year-old me than with a teenager, and I’m also much better at Atlus RPGs after years of playing them, leading to less day-squandering and more Social Link building.
The cast of Persona 3 Reload shines, with the new voice actors doing an excellent job of portraying these iconic characters (and the cameos from the original talent are much appreciated). The press-turn system shines as always, and Persona fusion had me as riveted as ever. I still need to play the remake of The Answer, and I can’t wait to dive back into the game to do so.
7. Sonic x Shadow Generations
My affinity for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is well-known – an affinity that naturally extends to 2011’s Sonic Generations. Of course, this means that updating said game and including a new and brilliant Shadow the Hedgehog game in the package would be an instant “yes” from me. That being said, given that Generations has been out for ages and isn’t new, I’m mainly focused on Shadow Generations here.
In Shadow Generations, Sega/Sonic Team took the best lessons they could learn from Sonic Frontiers and applied them to this campaign. This resulted in an explorable open world that had me running around for quite some time, as well as fast-paced and badass takes on classic Shadow stages, all remade in gorgeous and colorful visuals. Throw in new lore and neat character reappearances, and you’ve got a most promising blueprint for future Sonic games.
6. Silent Hill 2
Perhaps my experience with the Silent Hill 2 remake was enhanced by the depressive episode I was in while playing, but wowee. Remakes are always a worrisome thing, but Silent Hill 2 is an all-around excellent update for the seminal horror game. Everything special about the original game holds up well, with a story and characters that will enthrall you and keep you from being able to look away, even as things get real, real dark.
And the updates? Brilliant. The updated audio is wonderfully disgusting, as every squelch, squish, and smack resonated in an unsettling way. The new performances are top-notch, and James emerges as a highlight of the experience thanks to his masterful portrayal by Luke Roberts. I recommend playing Silent Hill 2 in the darkest and quietest place possible, as this lets the game permeate your mind and envelop your senses, taking you on a melancholy, haunting journey unlike any other.
5. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
The journeys of Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga have both riveted me over the years, so seeing them truly come together in beautiful Hawaii for a new turn-based adventure was an incredibly exciting prospect. What came from this concept was a delightful game filled with insane nonsense, wacky minigames, and heart-wrenching melodrama that had me on the edge of my seat – everything you want from a Yakuza game.
Both main characters had riveting stories that encapsulated everything great about this series, while the breadth of side content was an expected highlight of the package. From an Animal Crossing-esque island to the countless minigames and delightful job system, Infinite Wealth is just packed to the gills with content that had me smiling the whole way through. I can’t wait for Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, if only because it’s been like a year since Infinite Wealth and I need my fix asap.
4. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
The year took a turn downward when Akira Toriyama unexpectedly passed away, but the one-two release of Sparking! Zero and Dragon Ball Daima have felt like a wonderful way to honor his legacy. Sparking! Zero is everything 12-year-old Spencer would have wanted from a new Budokai Tenkaichi game, with an incredibly satisfying visual style and intense back-and-forth action that emulates the anime perfectly.
The enormous roster is the stuff dreams are made of, encapsulating all the series and movies and allowing for every dream match-up you could think of. The upcoming Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero DLC is exciting and promises to carry the game forward for months to come alongside further DLC, meaning I’ll be able to play Sparking! Zero here and there for a good while yet.
3. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
I love me a good Dragon Quest game, which means I love any and all Dragon Quest games. Though I dabbled with Dragon Quest III, I had never completed it before the HD-2D Remake, priming me to go through the new release with fresh eyes. And that I did, and upon doing so found a charming adventure that blew away my already lofty expectations from previewing the game at PAX last year.
The newly remade visuals were a wonder to behold, and I found the voice acting to be a welcome addition to the game. The more straightforward plot allows for a focus on gameplay that I found worked quite well here, as the robust class system was the biggest draw. Visiting all sorts of towns and taking on mischievous monsters provided a perfectly upbeat and relaxing experience for me after finishing Silent Hill 2, all while showcasing the massive impact the original game had on the RPG genre.
2. Metaphor: ReFantazio
You know it’s a great game when you easily sink in 80 hours and don’t mind at all, as was the case for me with Metaphor: ReFantazio. There’s a bit of a theme this year with me enjoying RPGs with job systems; this one is no exception. Seamlessly switching between jobs with the entire party and making them all overpowered beasts was a blast, especially towards the end of the game when my party became, essentially, gods. Metaphor featured perhaps the most robust and exciting job system I’ve experienced, which is a feat in itself.
The intense story and catalog of fascinating characters showed off Atlus’ incredible talent with RPG narratives, as the battle against Louis and his followers had me enraptured from beginning to end. Metaphor also features one of Atlus’ strongest main parties, as I didn’t find any character to be irritating or out of place. Seeing these well-rounded heroes fight against systemic injustice, prejudice, and other heavy topics was refreshing as well, especially due to the way these things were tackled. To put it bluntly, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a very special game, and everyone should try it out to see exactly why.
1. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
Given my favorite game of all time is Final Fantasy VII, Rebirth was likely my most anticipated game release since Final Fantasy VII Remake. I was met with a title that surpassed Remake to be almost everything I’ve wanted from a new take on Final Fantasy VII, where roaming Midgar felt as exciting and new as it did my first time all those years ago.
There were moments in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth that warped me back to my preteen self, excitedly playing Final Fantasy VII and picturing these iconic scenes and battles in a much higher quality than the PS1 would allow. Here, they were portrayed exactly as I imagined them, portraying some of gaming’s most brilliant segments in gorgeous detail. Battling Jenova or Sephiroth felt both familiar and new, providing me with both thrills and chills that I didn’t expect.
Of course, the gameplay still feels like the pinnacle of the action-RPG subgenre, while the new arrangements of Final Fantasy VII’s soundtrack had me grinning from ear to ear the whole way. Every step of Rebirth had me surprised and as happy as can be, and I simply cannot wait to see how the final game in the Remake trilogy ties things up for Cloud and his allies.
