While 2024 didn’t quite reach the dizzying highs of 2023, it was far from a disappointment. The year delivered many long-awaited sequels and some unexpected twists.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a long-overdue sequel from BioWare, finally arrived after many years of instability at the studio. World of Goo 2 graced us a staggering 16 years after its predecessor. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, plagued by delays due to an ongoing war, emerged at last – albeit with many technical hiccups. Even Skull and Bones managed to finally set sail, seven years after it was first announced.
2024 also felt strangely like stepping into another dimension. The Indiana Jones movie trilogy from the 1980s got an unexpected revival with the Great Circle, a game that felt like a fourth film. Meanwhile, Horizon Zero Dawn turned out to be a LEGO game all along. Star Wars Outlaws took bold steps by moving away from Force powers and lightsaber duels, exploring a grittier side of the galaxy. Real-time strategy fans, still mourning the closure of Mimimi Games, found hope in Sumerian Six, a title so evocative of the closed studio’s work. Even Max found her way back to the Life is Strange franchise, just in time for another photo finish.
Of course, there were the expected annual entries: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, EA Sports FC 25, MLB The Show 24, and NHL 25 kept their respective franchises alive. Co-op gamers had plenty of fun with WH40k: Space Marine 2, The Outlast Trials, and Helldivers 2. Still, elsewhere there was new doubt about the future of Xbox-exclusive games, as Microsoft opened the door for potential of multi-platform launches for their titles. Meanwhile, the PS5 Pro also hit the market to mixed reviews and uncertain value for money.
Indie titles shone brightly. Minami Lane offered a serene experience as players managed a bustling street. Children of the Sun blended sniping and puzzling in a uniquely bizarre way. Crow Country captured the spirit of classic Resident Evil in an isometric survival horror format. And Between Horizons challenged budding detectives to solve mysteries aboard a multi-generational spaceship.
But 2024 wasn’t all smooth sailing. Industry layoffs, already troubling in 2023, worsened, leaving many developers without work. Let’s hope the future brings stability to the people who create the games we love. Some projects like Concord barely got off the ground as they were forced to close, while others such as xDefiant lasted a bit longer. As we look to 2025, there’s a renewed sense of optimism, knowing that no matter what happens, the show will go on.
Ultimately, 2024 was a testament to resilience. Despite following on from such a standout year and enduring significant workforce challengers, the industry pressed on, and it’s time to celebrate the best of the best from the past year. Join us for our annual awards, as voted on by our staff!
