Runners-Up

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Liverpool 0 Warhammer 40,000: Spice Marine 2

Votes: 4
Website | OpenCritic: 81 (87% recommend)
Steam

#10

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Votes: 4
Website | OpenCritic: 92 (98% recommend)
Steam | Xbox
Show 1 Review

Reviews of Metaphor: ReFantazio:

Morgan?!

The fact this is here in my votes and not Persona 3 Reload, a remake of my 2nd favourite game ever made, is a testament to just how good a JRPG this is. Press turn is tense and punishing when used against you, and extremely satisfying and expressive of skill and strategy when you get a good combo.

Little Kitty, Big City

Votes: 4
Website | OpenCritic: 77 (78% recommend)
Steam | Game Pass
Show 2 Reviews

The Rise of the Golden Idol

Votes: 4
Website | OpenCritic: 85 (91% recommend)
Steam
Show 2 Reviews

Reviews of Little Kitty, Big City:

mrwonko

I didn't play much of it, but it's so very charming. I'll gladly give it the spot of Destiny 2's new expansion, despite enjoying that, too.

Odsy Wrenn

Choosing to beat the game without ever returning the ducklings (and therefore having a permanent flailing and cheeping entourage) was a wonderful gaming decision. Great cat hat selection!

Reviews of The Rise of the Golden Idol:

The continuing success of this obra-dinn-like series makes me very happy. I loved Golden Idol, and this is (much) more of it, with a bit of polish to boot. Highly recommended for puzzle lovers.

David

Ugly and beautiful at the same time

Citizen Sleeper Citizen Sleeper, Still!

Votes: 4
Website | OpenCritic: 84 (98% recommend)
Steam | GOG | Epic | Humble

The Case of the Golden Idol The Curse of the Golden Idol

Votes: 5
Website | OpenCritic: 88 (97% recommend)
Steam | GOG | Humble
Show 2 Reviews

Reviews of The Case of the Golden Idol:

Noel

Video-game detectoring at its finest. I also played and enjoyed the sequel, but I think the original wins out slightly just for... originality, I suppose.

Gwathdring

A compelling, dark mystery under a wry hidden-object adjacent puzzle game. It takes the ethos behind hidden object games and applies it to interpreting complex narrative sequences instead of hunting for treasures--not unlike Obra Dinn. A great mystery and a really good puzzle.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Votes: 5
Website | OpenCritic: 87 (96% recommend)
Ubistore | Steam
Show 1 Review

1000xRESIST

Votes: 5
Website | OpenCritic: 89 (100% recommend)
Steam
Show 1 Review

Reviews of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown:

Not how I expected to meet the prince again after all these years. One of the best metroidvanias in years, with an extremely creative powerset that is a blast to use both in exploration and combat.

Reviews of 1000xRESIST:

ZeroFA

A different take on the visual novel genre. It's an emotionally compelling story allegorical to real life events. The story beats do not let up and you'll be playing to see what happens next. There is a you that remains, and remains and remains. Hekki allmo.

Thank Goodness You're Here!

Votes: 5
Website | OpenCritic: 85 (94% recommend)
MacOS | Steam | Epic Store
Show 3 Reviews

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Votes: 8
Website | OpenCritic: 94 (99% recommend) | Discuss
Steam
Show 3 Reviews

Reviews of Thank Goodness You're Here!:

Fysi

I mean, I'm from the UK, how can I not have this on here?

Morgan?!

Not a single punchline wasted. Absolute masterclass comedy. Wallace and Gromit would be proud.

David

More penis jokes than I expected, to be honest.

Reviews of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree:

mrwonko

The first time exploring a FromSoft world is always special. This is no exception. Maybe I'll beat the final boss some day.

tjhowse

Incredibly generous expansion. Silk in the hands. Fromsoft at their best.

Fiyenyaa

There's really nothing better than a From game, and this one got me so reinvested into Elden Ring that I played the whole thing, DLC included from start to end all over again. Masterful, Massive, Monumental

The Best Games of 2024

#11

Baldur's Gate 3

Game of the Year Votes: 2
Runner-Up Votes: 7
Reviews: 1
Discuss
Website
OpenCritic: 96
Steam | Playstation | Xbox

Spad 😬

It's so good I had to stop playing because I was at risk of burning myself out by chain-playing new characters. Every CRPG for the next decade is going to be compared to it. I just wish the Evil playthrough options weren't so constraining.

#10

Animal Well Super-Man Plays Animal Good, You're Playing Animal Well

Game of the Year Votes: 2
Runner-Up Votes: 7
Reviews: 3 | Discuss
Website
OpenCritic: 89
Steam | PlayStation | Xbox | Switch

Avagad

I have a real soft spot for metroidvanias and 'metroid-brainias' (where knowledge alone is the key to unlocking secrets). I loved every second of Animal Well and especially enjoyed the small community that emerged on the C&C server as we worked together to uncover its secrets.

Brain-bending metroidvania/puzzle game that seems very simple when you start out but reveals its beautiful clockwork as you play. I'd classify this as a game in the mold of Tunic or Outer Wilds, and if you liked those games you'll love Animal Well.

Dr. Khelzor

Immaculate vibes. Best egg finding game since "Where's an Egg?"

Dragon's Dogma 2

Game of the Year Votes: 3
Runner-Up Votes: 1
Reviews: 1
Website
OpenCritic: 87
Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

mrwonko

I wanted to climb big monsters, and I got to. I love planning the next expedition (Let's try to decapitate a Gorgon! I need another Griffin claw!), which the scarcity of fast travel encourages. Flawed, occasionally obscure, but a joy to spend time in. I should give the predecessor a second chance.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.:. H.e.a.r.t. o.f. C.h.o.r.n.o.b.y.l.

Game of the Year Votes: 3
Runner-Up Votes: 2
Reviews: 3
Website
OpenCritic: 75
Steam | Xbox | Epic | GOG

Fiyenyaa

This game feels like it's from 2006, and my god I love it for that. An extremely huge bug stops this getting the top spot but I have loved it hugely otherwise.

Cordeos

The game is buggy, about half way through you can tell the had to cut a ton of quests, A-life is a mess that may never work right. But damn if the world isn't beautiful, unforgiving and filled with the vibes that tickle my brain just right. I spent a whole day just hunting for the best artifacts <3

IneptHope (Toivo)

It is as if I have traveled back to a time nostalgia has idealized. The low-quality graphics settings I am forced to run pair well with the anachronistic, yet updated, design sensibilities. But what delights most is the Zone: masterfully executed, full of danger, wonder and pure storytelling magic!

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Troy Baker and the Lauded Impersonation

Game of the Year Votes: 3
Runner-Up Votes: 3
Reviews: 3
Website
OpenCritic: 87
Steam | Xbox

Kane

Yes, yes, Troy Baker's performance as Dr. Jones is an uncanny match for the original films. But so are the writing, the sound, the art, the tone and feel. The successor to the 80s Indiana Jones films isn't the new films: it's this extraordinary adventure and the sequels that must certainly follow.

Tyen

A real late contender for me. I can't say enough good things about it. An absolute visual treat. To play it feels like you're in a Indiana Jones movie. 10/10 would fall off a three story Vatican rooftop while trying to photograph a tuxedo cat again.

David

This game has no right being as good as it is. Played it off of GamePass and put 40 hours into it without blinking. Knocked out a Nazi with a fly-swatter.

UFO 50

Game of the Year Votes: 3
Runner-Up Votes: 6
Reviews: 3
Website
OpenCritic: 91
Steam

Avagad

It's 50 games in 1, what more could you ask for! Made me nostalgic for a time I'd forgotten when I would download ROM packs, randomly shuffling between games I'd never played and finding hidden gems. Unlike those packs, UFO 50 is practically all gems, with the developers' love for retro gaming shining through in every title.

I don't think any single entry in here is my favourite, but it's made me think a lot about how I consume games, so I feel like it needs to be acknowledged.

Dr. Khelzor

You don't need to be greater than the sum of your parts if you have enough parts. With that said, the games definitely feel elevated by being framed as one of a collection of 50. 50 is, frankly, a very large number of games to have made.

Factorio: Space Age Factorio: Spice Age

Game of the Year Votes: 4
Runner-Up Votes: 2
Reviews: 1 | Discuss
Website
OpenCritic: 92%
Official Site | Steam | Humble | GOG

tjhowse

The base game completely absorbed my life for several months to an unhealthy degree. The space age expansion did it again. I love it very much. More heroin please.

Satisfactory Adequate Suitable Gratifying Fair Sufficient Acceptable Decent A-OK Perfectly Fine

Game of the Year Votes: 4
Runner-Up Votes: 6
Reviews: 3 | Discuss
Website
OpenCritic: 91
Steam | Epic

Kane

Initially, Satisfactory's 3D world distinguished it from Factorio. That's no longer unique among factory-builders, but it turns out to have many traits to set it apart, like alt recipes, which encourage every production line to be unique, even in the late game. A worthy queen for the genre's king.

Avagad

Went all in once v1.0 released and it absolutely consumed me. Every time I had time to play games I played Satisfactory. When I wasn't playing games I was planning what to add to Satisfactory. It’s incredibly addictive and deeply rewarding. I didn't want it to end!

Colthor

"I swear it made perfect sense at the time!"

Balatro

Game of the Year Votes: 7
Runner-Up Votes: 20
Reviews: 8
Website
OpenCritic: 92
Steam | Switch | PlayStation | Xbox

Noel

playing cards go brr

Fysi

There was a period of time where all I was seeing was Jimbo.

Morgan?!

Extremely well considered and tightly designed with the best game design flair this year (when your score sets on fire because you over-shot the required score for the round)

Avagad

Definitely 2024's Roguelike of the Year. Super addictive, infinitely playable. We played it so much in our house that the score screen got burned into our TV (really)

Don't be like PEGI and confuse this game for a gambling or poker game, look beyond the cards, and see it for what it actually is: the best roguelike that came out last year, and one of the all time greats of the genre. I'll probably keep playing this game until the sun dies.

Fiyenyaa

We all know what incredible GAMEFEEL this has - put it on 2x speed and plopping cards in a row just feels better than anything. Got a bit too hard for my tiny brain to give it the top spot.

David

Poker? I barely know 'er! Joker? I barely know 'er!

Dr. Khelzor

An impossibly tight refinement of the deckbuilder roguelike. There's a Terry Pratchett quote about how Tolkien is like Mt Fuji and how if it doesn't appear in a work it's because the artist was on top of it. In this sense, Balatro was done, like, inside Slay the Spire... Metaphors are hard sub 300 c

Helldivers 2

Game of the Year Votes: 11
Runner-Up Votes: 16
Reviews: 7 | Discuss
Website
OpenCritic: 83
Steam

Kane

Funny, bombastic, full of moments of valor, stupidity, and comic unfairness, Helldivers 2's po-faced satire of fascism doesn't interfere with the joy you'll find in its mechanics. Overtuned physics, pyrotechnic excess, and a top-tier flamethrower kept me in stitches for a year of near daily diving.

mrwonko

I didn't play much of it, but had a great time while I did, and may come back for more. I heard Earth Defense Force is a great alternative, I should check that out some day.

tjhowse

What could be more a more wholesome family activity than gunning down a thousand living creatures every night?

Fiyenyaa

The culmination of multiplayer good times - friendly fire, low health, harsh reload mechanics, and after a few runs you'll be tackling more than you ever thought possible.

Tyen

It's been a real treat to see this rough gem of a game get shaped and polished over the course of the year. Playing with the CnC folks is a joy and I look forward to saying sorry more in 2025 as you walk into my gas grenades.

ZeroFA

It has so much replay value even after getting everything with variable enemy compositions and environments always keeping things fresh. When you think you've seen it all, the game somehow throws a curve ball both good and bad; some of which from the devs and your friends.

Gwathdring

The most fun I've had in online multiplayer outside of ARMA III. I love how the game builds comedy out of serious mechanics--the way orbital strikes pause and then continue longer than feels intuitive, or the way a player will confidently disengage the safety before blowing up with their railgun.

Tactical Breach Wizards

Game of the Year Votes: 12
Runner-Up Votes: 20
Reviews: 9 | Discuss
Website
OpenCritic: 86
Steam

Noel

defenestration is OP

The defenestration trilogy ends in style. Infinite rewinds and a hilarious range of options on any given turn change this contribution to a genre that can sometimes be frustrating into a relaxing, fun box of toys. Tom, if you're reading this, I loved your game!

tjhowse

Tom and co. have fuckin' done it again: Another brilliant game.

Ranneko

Small scale tactics, positioning was critical, dialogue was snappy and dev commentary was interesting. I had enough fun to not only clear the story but to go back and pick up missing achievements and listen through the commentary.

Tyen

Incredible to see it released, a real joy to get to play the full thing. Tom Francis has crafted a wonderful set of wizard puzzles which will sit alongside Slay the Spire as a game I can return to any time.

David

"You already own all these outfits, but you lack the confidence to wear them" is the best unlockable outfits conceit known to man.

Lacero

Incredible writing and ui design. A fairly complex rewind mechanic becomes instictive second nature thanks to what must've been years of playtested refinement.

ZeroFA

Smart and funny writing! Clever bespoke levels with interesting character dynamics and skills combined with a simplistic and attractive art style makes this an easy recommend.

I mean, obviously. I knew the mechanics would be fun, but I didn't expect to get so invested in the story, or that the writing would be that good..

Honourable Mentions

Strong contenders that just didn't make it into the top 20.
(Click underlined items to see reviews.)

Warhammer 40,000:
Space Marine 2

Alan Wake II

Cobalt Core

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor

Spad 😬

It's not Vampire Surviors, but it's not trying to ape it, and has created its own very moreish gameplay loop that's kept me coming back over and over.

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Jammy

got to stop eggman

Hades II

Nine Sols

ZeroFA

Sekiro meets Hollow Knight. Excellent visual story telling, snappy controls and rewarding gameplay mechanics makes you feel like a mystical shaolin bad ass where every encounter feels like a dance.

The game that consumed me entirely. The difficulty will certainly be a barrier for some, which is a shame, but if you can stomach it it's an amazing time. Unbounded Counter for most satisfying mechanic 2025.

Pacific Drive

Ringwraith

The joy of to managing your own custom-made haunted car that sometimes decides to mess with the radio volume when you turn left, or the bonnet flips up when you reverse. Oh, and you're trying to road trip in an even more haunted Zone of broken reality. Then a weird entity steals your car door.

Shadows of Doubt

Stardew Valley

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Outlaws

Vampire Survivors

Fysi

I don't think there is much to be said about Vampire Survivors that hasn't already been said, but saying that, the Castlevania DLC is excellent.

Tyen

I went hard into the game when it first released. Then took a hard break. Then they did a official crossover with Castlevania and I went back in, hard. Despite the rough exterior, the game truly is made with love and attention. There's depths to be plumbed.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

Against the Storm

Arma 3

Tyen

My true constant over the past few years. I continue to play every week with a group of great folks. I also get to dabble in my hobby of modding and stretch my 3D art muscles.

Blood on the Clocktower

Avagad

My favourite multiplayer game of the year, I discovered it in the summer and have played it every week since. Although it's a game designed to be played offline and in person, BOTC has an amazing online interface which does really well to bring the offline game online.

Caravan SandWitch

Destiny 2: The Final Shape

Dota 2

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

Hitman World of Assassination

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

The other game that more or less devoured me entirely, but this time in locks and codes and glitchy PS1 graphics. Spooky without being scary, and very engrossing.

Marvel Rivals

Marvel's Midnight Suns

Ranneko

This was my bus game for a good month or so. I enjoyed the tactical side of it, and the base side was an odd mix of having fun hanging out with characters and 3rd person exploration/adventuring. I let the game stall for too long in order to grind my rep with the characters, that was a mistake.

Mouthwashing

Octopath Traveler II

Outer Wilds

Morgan?!

I know I'm several years late to this one but you know why this game is GOTY of whatever year you first played it in. You already know. You don't need me to tell you.

Gwathdring

This is why I play video games. A heartwarming and heartrending story at the core of a challenging puzzle and fascinating mystery. It's full of life and color and breathtaking moments, with a wonderful soundtrack accompanying.

Project Zomboid

Remnant 2

Takuna

This was more 2023's thing, but technically I was still playing it through most of January of 2024, and it absolutely slaps. I would have kept playing if I hadn't gotten so busy, and there were still plenty of things I'd not yet discovered. I'll hopefully revisit it some day!

Reverse: 1999

Ringwraith

Deftly jumps between genres like gangsters in America's 90s Disco revival to the most haunted Texan motel. Contains so much incredible art. International cast has only gotten better. One of the most endearing characters is a 1910's Austrian psychologist with a gun who says "bang bang!" when firing.

Shogun Showdown

Noel

A very cool tactical roguelike that exists on only 2 dimensions, but requires you to think in what feels like 7.

Sifu

Signalis

Morgan?!

I played this at the same time as Outer Wilds and it's safe to say both sort of changed my life. Signalis has had me in an iron grip with one of the saddest love stories I've ever been told. A love letter to its influences, and beautiful when it stands on its own.

ZeroFA

Retro PS1 graphics with old school Resident Evil as a top down shooter with extremely limited inventory. Equal parts surreal horror and action. When you're done, you'll be wondering if it was all a dream or if it was hell.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory

Slice & Dice

The Talos Principle 2

Kane

This is CroTeam's first attempt at writing branching dialogue and story... and it shows. I have some criticisms of the writing, and it has far less ambitious puzzle design than its predecessor, but those issues fade under the succession of jaw-droppingly gorgeous scenes of natural beauty in Talos 2.

Timberborn

Ranneko

Sometimes it is really fun making sure your beavers are wet and have a good supply of wood. Ultimately this is a game I have most enjoyed watching people with more talent and time than I make cool and elaborate settlements that I will never hope to match.

Unicorn Overlord

Valheim

tjhowse

Playing Valheim co-op with my two boys while bedridden following surgery is a memory I'll cherish forever.

Ringwraith

What we could've had if everyone just made fancy fog and gorgeous lighting instead of too many pixels in their textures. Some basic physics rules to make you build viking lodges, including smoke physics, and smart design to keep you sailing between adventures even when you can build portals.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic

World of Warcraft: The War Within

Special Consideration

Wonderful games recommended by just one member of the community.
Titles in bold were that member's Game of the Year!
(Click underlined items to see reviews.)

Crusader Kings III: Roads to Power

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred

Fysi

Time sponge that just scratches that itch in my brain that I need every couple of months. GOTY purely for the time spent.

Fortnite

Honkai Impact 3rd

Ringwraith

After writing an ending to a main story, they manage to write a new story with a new cast and it still got as big ideas as before. A world sustained by turning fear into goods? Sure. Has the gay tragedy upped massively? Absolutely. Love to get my heart ripped out by sad lesbians. Sadly still gacha.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Legend of Grimrock 2

Bollox

If monster dungeons were real then dungeon-sim enthusiasts would play this one.

Legends of Runeterra

Odsy Wrenn

At least the third time I've returned to this game, and this time I'm here to stay. Unfortunately there are no longer any real reasons to try multiplayer, but the single player Path of Champions is robust enough to make up for it for a long time.

MechWarrior 5: Clans

Othercide

MadZab

The most stylish squad-tactics I've ever played. Brutally hard and with an art style that deserves that moniker. Always whisper the title.

Path of Achra

Runescape

Takuna

I am being treated well. The conditions are good, and I enjoy the daily routine that has been set for me. There are many other boys and girls to play with, and we all have fun. I am happy.

Slay the Princess - The Pristine Cut

Slay the Spire

Noel

I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat Ascension 20, I WILL beat As

The Thaumaturge

Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop

Victoria 3

Warframe

Spad 😬

Sure, maybe this year's 1999 update was laser targeted at this elder millennial, but regardless I played more Warframe than anything else in 2024 and it still manages to keep my attention after over a decade. In my mind that makes it GOTY material yet again.

20 Small Mazes

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

A Hat in Time

Anthology of the Killer

Arctic Eggs

Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles

Aurora

Lacero

There's an incredibly subtle ship design game here, with very slow long term research and mining requirements setting the limits on what you can make. The best ship design system I've ever played. Tragically let down by micromanagement, testing designs in combat is too tedious to enjoy.

Backpack Battles

BattleTech

Beltmatic

Ranneko

A factory game ground down to the rawest of elements. It was a fun challenge until I turned everything into powers of 10 and multipliers for any given number.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect

Bloodborne

mrwonko

2024 is the year I finally finished my first Bloodborne run, only to immediately go into NG+. I even like the oft-maligned Chalice Dungeons and got to the very bottom of them. Could very much use a higher resolution and frame rate, though.

Blood Bowl 3

Bollox

The brutally beautiful game.

Bravely Default

Brighter Shores

Cat Quest III

Clone Hero

Cocoon

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly

Combat Mission Battle for Normandy

Control: Ultimate Edition

Core Keeper

Creaks

Bollox

Amanita Design make what they wanna make and it's always good.

Creeper World 4

Crossout

MadZab

Still going strong. Love the mad-max-vibes and building my vehicle. Very good gameplay even for a free-to-play-dude like myself.

Crusader Kings III

Crypt Custodian

Short, sweet, and a little sad. Nothing about it is ground-breaking, but I had a good time throughout, and the ending gave me just enough of a jab to the heart to make it onto here.

Curse of the Dead Gods

Cyberpunk 2077

Dale & Dawson Stationery Supplies

Deathloop

Deep Rock Galactic

Cordeos

Still my favorite 4 player coop game. Love the content they keep releasing for free. I finally unlocked every cosmetic in the game and I keep going back to play more. ROCK AND STONE!

Divine Divinity

Jammy

Larian has made lots of games. Play them. Unless, you're scared?

Dominions 5 - Warriors of the Faith

Dredge

Odsy Wrenn

The obsession of a week, DREDGE is the closest thing to a game I would have played all the way through in years, except that a few days in my save got wiped, which really took the wind out of my sails, er, fuel out of my tank?

DROD: Gunthro and the Epic Blunder

Dr. Khelzor

DROD:GatEB takes place in one of those "Lagerboy" Hobgoblin posters, as rendered in MS Paint. Cut scenes rendered in the crunchy, 90's action puzzler engine - voice acting that is both charmingly amateurish and hammy as anything. The hardest I've ever been sold on a steam trailer and it delivers.

Dungeons of Hinterberg

Dwarf Fortress

EA Sports WRC

Echo Point Nova

Eleven Table Tennis

Enotria: The Last Song

Eradicator

Factor 72

Factorio

Fysi

Play for the first time this year. This could have been GOTY before I made a conscious decision never to play Factorio every again as it very much would have been the only game I play ever again.

Fallout 4

Fate/stay Night Remastered

Fields of Mistria

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward

Firewatch

Frostpunk 2

FTL: Faster Than Light

MadZab

Subset Games first work was amazing and still is.

Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut

Cordeos

Stabbing people in a pretty map is fun, interested to see how the new AC will compare.

God of War (2018)

Grim Dawn

Gunner, HEAT, PC!

Hades

Hexcells Infinite

Takuna

Nice to dip into now and then, or something to do whilst I listen to music.

Honkai: Star Rail

Hunt: Showdown 1896

Hyper Light Drifter

I Am Your Beast

Infinity Nikki

In Stars And Time

Into the Breach

MadZab

Perfect mech-tactics and highly, dangerously addictive.

ISS Vanguard

Jusant

Kerbal Space Program

KeyWe

Odsy Wrenn

An extremely charming co-op experience although the difficulty ramps up a bit steeply for continued play in a house where Overcooked is a no go. Great bird hat selection!

Leap Year

Lethal Company

Lockdown Protocol

Luck be a Landlord

Lunacid

Mafia III: Definitive Edition

Magic: The Gathering Arena

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

MechWarrior Online

Melvor Idle

Minecraft

Cordeos

Still my favorite game of all time, still love logging in to build some random structure I just thought about or saw. Love that they keep adding more free content over a decade after launch.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Mr. Driller Drill Land

NEBULOUS: Fleet Command

Neon White

NieR:Automata

Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure

Overboard!

Oxygen Not Included

Path of Exile 2

Pentiment

Gwathdring

I've never played anything quite like it. It isn't ostentatiously innovative--it's a visual novel and point-and-click adventure game. But in a medium flooded with pan-medieval fantasy, it has an incredible earnestness and specificity. Vivid characters and a beautiful, lonely sense of place.

Persona 5 Royal

Pokémon GO

Takuna

I don't work from home anymore so I actually have a reason to go outside. I haven't played in years, and I can't believe how bad all the gen 5 pokémon look??? Anyway, I've met up with my local-ish community and they seem ok so it's raiding timmmmmme.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Fiyenyaa

The end of the year was the time I got back into Pokémon in a big way - there's just something about it. And I got Scarlet and Violet to jump into as soon as Sword and Shield is done! That stupid TCG game I played for a couple of months has a lot to answer for

Prey

Pro Philosopher 2: Governments & Grievances

Resident Evil 4

Rift of the NecroDancer

Odsy Wrenn

I've never really cared for classic lane style rhythm games so was disappointed when I saw that's what the Necrodancer sequel was, but the twist they added truly elevates the genre. I'm so close to S+ Full Combo on Easy+Medium+Hard for all demo tracks but don't think I'll pull it off before release.

RoboCop: Rogue City

Roboquest

Rocksmith 2014 Edition

RoGlass

Running With Rifles

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II

Severed Steel

Spad 😬

Cheaters may have ruined my enjoyment of the Daily challenges but I still played it almost every day for the first 6 months of the year. It executes perfectly on its concept and never tries to outreach itself.

Shattered Pixel Dungeon

Spad 😬

I don't know how many hours of this game I've played, and it's probably best it stays that way. A proper roguelike that works perfectly on a phone and is just punishing enough that you never feel like you've got it solved.

Splatoon 3: Side Order

Sporcle

Takuna

Great for killing time between calls whilst I was working from home. My geographical knowledge has greatly improved!

Star Trek: Resurgence

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

SteamWorld Heist II

Gwathdring

I was hoping it would top Steamworld Heist. Instead, it expanded enough to keep me similarly hooked and came dangerously close to overstaying its welcome. That still leaves me with one of my favorite turn-based strategy games with a great soundtrack and the best hats.

Steel Division: Normandy 44

Stephen's Sausage Roll

Dr. Khelzor

For what it's worth, I think this is at least 50 times better than Block Koala (though not quite 50 times better than Party House). What's remarkable is just how much it's able to escalate the act of pushing around sausages.

Still Wakes the Deep

Straftat

Stranded: Alien Dawn

Streets of Rogue

MadZab

Fun, quick, full of options.

Super Auto Pets

System Shock

Tchia

Cordeos

A neat game made by devs from New Caledonia. Cool to explore a different culture through a video game. Gameplay was ok, the ability to posses almost any object or animal was great. Turning into a fuel can, jumping up and launching at an enemy is great. Flying around the island as a bird, great!.

The Bazaar

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak

Ringwraith

We're so back. Moving to Not-America/France for a much more multicultural time, and poking straight into several layers of organised crime, including organisations seeking to protect their immigrant communities from explictly named white supremacists. Also throws in neighbouring Emirate-like princes

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Ranneko

Zelda's first outing as the protagonist in a Nintendo developed Legend of Zelda game is a fun puzzley adventure only really let down by the poorly scaled menu system and the young intended audience.

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

The Sexy Brutale

Bollox

NOT A HENTAI GAME

The Talos Principle

The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection

Tiny Glade

Tiny Rogues

Trials of Fire

Until Then

Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania

Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector

World of Warcraft Classic

Bollox

My retirement home better have an internet café set-up.

World of Warships

Kane

Burdened by an awful content and monetisation model and, honestly, a niche game that's hard to recommend to a general audience, World of Warships's brilliant core mechanics still create exciting and suspenseful multiplayer moments that you won't experience anywhere else. If only they'd remove CVs.

X4: Foundations

Lacero

It's a big old slog, the AI is terrible, and the ships handle like slippery bricks. But there really is nothing else like it if you want to be a space-tycoon

Xenotilt: Hostile Pinball Action

Zenless Zone Zero