Man, what a year for gaming. This year, I played the following 18 titles (an asterisk denotes a title played to completion).
Sunset Overdrive*
Resident Evil 2 (remake)*
Dark Forces Remastered*
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty*
Warhammer 40,000:Boltgun*
Helldivers 2 (Multiplayer only)*
Evil West
Doom 2*
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2*
Alan Wake 2*
Gears of War Ultimate Edition*
Still Wakes The Deep*
Callisto Protocol*
Black Myth: Wukong*
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2*
Ion Fury*
Resident Evil 4(2003 Remake)*
Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered (Tomb Raider 1 completed*, Tomb Raider 2 about 80 percent finished)
Best Singleplayer Game: Black Myth:Wukong
Black Myth:Wukong is a soulslike based on "The Journey to the West" a seminal work of Chinese literature. Basically, it's Dark Souls, but with Unreal Engine 5 visuals and a compelling bestiary derived from Chinese mythology. This game challenged my reflexes, but in the end, I managed to complete it, defeating all of its hardest bosses (Yellow Long was tough, but nothing compared to Erlang, who I defeated purely with dumb luck). The opening forest is a visual feast, and every chapter has a different environment, from dry, sandy deserts and mountains, to icy woods and temples, to lava baked fields and celestial clouds. A compelling mix of exploration, soulslike combat, and incredible graphics, Black Myth:Wukong is my pick for best single player game of the year. If you enjoyed Elden Ring, Wukong is right up your alley.
Best Walking Simulator: Still Wakes The Deep
A Game Pass gem, Still Wakes The Deep tells the story of a Scottish oil rig that's dug too deep, unleashing a cosmic horror that turns humans into monsters resembling the beast in John Carpenter's The Thing. Much has been made of Unreal Engine 5's graphical horsepower, as well as its performance issues, but Still Wakes The Deep looks great and also runs without any stuttering. It's short, and gameplay consists of quicktime event platforming, light exploration, and hiding from monsters that can instantly kill you. It's not as visually impressive as Hellblade 2 (another Game Pass walking simulator) but its story is more compelling, focusing on themes of sacrifice, hope, and dealing with your demons. A definite treat for horror fans, Still Wakes the Deep is worth playing through its six or so hours.
Best Remaster: Tomb Raider 1-3
The first three Tomb Raider games are puzzle/platformers that have their warts. Tank controls take getting used to, and even after you've mastered them, Lara will still die often because you've accidentally stepped off a ledge or mistimed a jump. Still, the puzzles and exploration are great, even if the combat isn't. Lara is basically a sexy mishmash of James Bond and Indiana Jones, and although the reboot trilogy is good, it doesn't quite capture the tone or replicate the unique gameplay of the original three games. The remaster updates the graphics while keeping the level design the same, making it the best way to play on console and modern hardware. Honorable mention goes out to Dark Forces: Remastered, which is also very well done, yet lacks the value of Tomb Raider (I've already spent 46 hours beating just Tomb Raider 1 and making most of my way through Tomb Raider 2, while TR 3 and the expansion packs await).
Best Indie: Neon White
Unlike the other games on this list, Neon White was released in 2022, not 2024. Another Game Pass title, it's a speed-running, first-person shooter/platformer, with dating sim elements in-between missions. You play as a Neon, a damned soul plucked from the abyss by Heaven to cleanse the beyond of its demon problem. Along the way, you'll have to reconstruct your past relationships with your fellow Neons and discover the truth about what's happened to Heaven. There are some anime tropes, but the animation is good, and I actually enjoyed the plot, despite some cringey beats. Gameplaywise, I was so taken with Neon White's speedrunning that I replayed all the levels in order to find all the secrets and get the fastest time. Probably my runner-up for single player game of the year.
Best Multiplayer Game/Best Game of the Year: Helldivers 2
Unlike some of my friend group, I haven't played 1000 hours of Helldivers 2. I have, however, spent over 140 hours in game, and its various complexities and team-focused gameplay have kept it compelling long after the initial shine has worn off. Developers Arrowhead have constantly added content, from new Warbonds (mini battle passes that you can spend in-game currency on) to new enemies and factions, and it's hard to believe that this game was only released this year. Sure, there have been some bumps in the road, but it seems as though Arrowhead has finally embraced the community's vision for the game, and the result has been a large, loyal community that's one of the better in online gaming. Helldivers 2 is pretty much the perfect game to spend an hour or two with your buddies killing Terminids (giant insect aliens similar to the bugs from Starship Troopers) or Automatons (Terminator-like cyborgs). The ability to call in powerful stratagems like the 380 mm Walking Barrage or Eagle 500 kg transform the battlefield into a chaotic storm of fire and bombast. Add in the literally hundreds of loadout combinations you can choose, from weapons like the Autocannon to accessories like a shield backpack or a guarddog rover, and you have a multiplayer horde shooter that you can really sink your teeth into.
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