January 8, 2024

The video game industry seems to be going through a sort of revolution right now. There were a lot of think pieces and discussions in 2024 that centered around topics of AAA gaming, predatory monetization strategies, and innovation. At the same time, games released by bigger studios didn’t always see success, while some smaller titles recieved acclaim and widespread support. It’s clear that something’s changing.

In terms of my personal list, I didn’t play enough games to where I felt comfortable making a top 10 list, so instead I’m going to write about my top 5 favorites. While there were many controversial releases in 2024, these games reminded me that we’re still in a great period of time for games. I hope you enjoy!

5. Tekken 8

Tekken 8 came out so early in 2024 that it feels like it should be a 2023 release. Honestly though, while it has been out for almost a year now, it feels pretty fresh to me since the community is still strong and really didn’t get into the game until later in 2024. Say what you will about this game (especially since some of the DLC choices have raised some eyebrows) – it’s still great. It had a great launch roster, a fantastic amount of content and customization options, and looks incredible.

I’m no Tekken expert so I don’t feel super qualified to speak about the gameplay at length, but from my experience with Tekken 7 and other fighting games, this game feels fresh and fairly well-balanced. I have seen some discussions online that this game doesn’t have the essence of Tekken or that it features to many 50/50s, but from my experience – especially online – this game is still challenging and feels like a Tekken game.

I wouldn’t reccomend this to people new to fighting games, but if you’ve ever been interested in getting into Tekken, this is the game you should start with. In some ways, this feels like the Guilty Gear Strive of Tekken, where it still has a lot of the elements or complicated techniques that gives the series its soul, but pulls back some layers and polishes elements enough that it’s a little more beginner friendly.

4. Balatro

I already wrote a quick review of Balatro a few weeks back, so I won’t retred too much space here. All I’ll say is that this is a wonderful, addictive game that’s all the more impressive for being developed by one person. I’d recommend this to basically everyone, it’s a phenomanlly simple game that feels great to pick up and play.

3. Unicorn Overlord

Unicorn Overlord is development team Vanillaware’s follow-up to the equally incredible 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Vanillaware is most well known for their beautiful art style, but at this point I think they should just be known for producing an amazing experience every time they release a game.

I almost feel that describing the gameplay of Unicorn Overlord is a bit of a disservice to it, as reviews before and after launch I never really captured the game perfectly. At its core, this is a strategy RPG, but it has plenty of other elements like turn-based battles, real time strategy, social sim elements, and mini-games and customization on top of all of that. While it may seem complicated, this game does a great job of introducing elements slowly while still opening the world up enough for players to learn through trial and error.

It’s amazing, and while the story may not be as phenomenal as 13 Sentinels, it makes up for it with even more compelling gameplay and an almost overwhelming amount of character dialogue to hear and read. If you’re into strategy RPGs or just fantasy media, give this game a shot. Vanillaware truly doesn’t miss.

2. Marvel Rivals

What can you even say about this game? It took the internet completely by storm and eclipsed every other title in the hero-shooter genre. This game is fun, compelling, and addictive. I love the character and world designs, lore, and gameplay. And in a year where people felt taken advantage of by games monetarily, this game came along and offered over 30 playable characters, several modes, and frequent updates for free. If it wasn’t for the absolute hype of the next game on my list, this would easily take the first place spot.

(And I’m very much looking forward to Season 1 dropping later this week!)

1. Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

It takes a Marvel game to beat a Marvel game. This was absolutely my most anticipated release in 2024, and it did not dissapoint. Featuring two versions of seven arcade classics that have been out of commission for years, this game felt like the resurrection of a time where crossovers felt huge and fun. I know this is a somewhat overused sentiment, but this game really made me feel like a kid again. I’ve spent the most amount of time playing Marvel vs. Capcom 2 which is as fun as everyone says and has probably cemented itself on a list of my favorite fighting games – it just feels that good. On top of that, I’ve been able to play some other classic titles that I have never had a chance to experience!

And as great as this collection is, I feel like I enjoyed this even more for what it means for the future! This felt like a huge risk for Marvel in a time where they were becomming more and more complacent. On top of that, this game seems to cement that a new Marvel vs. Capcom game is coming and will feature classic Marvel and Capcom fighters that were missing from Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite. As a huge fan of both companies, this game healed a bit of my soul and deserves its number one spot on my list.