Favorites of 2024

Throughout the year there are always a few stand out games. With game time being a bit limited the list is small but full of very enjoyable games.

The following are my top five games, in no particular order: Deadlock, Core Keeper, Hades 2, Marvel Rivals and Neva.

Deadlock – I don’t normally play MOBAs as they can often be very time consuming. This is true for Deadlock, but the game offers a depth of play and complexity that provides a unique challenge. At first I watched from the sidelines as one of my favorite streamers (MFPallytime) played the game. Currently the game is in a very early stage of development. Despite this, it has a very engaging loop, especially if you have friends to enjoy it with.

Marvel Rivals – Another multiplayer game, but this one provides a fast and fun gameplay environment, with a large cast of unique characters from the Marvel universe. The game scratches the same itch as Overwatch, through a third person perspective and what feels like more fleshed out designs. Granted, Rivals is tapping into a vast well of varied and highly popular characters which probably eases some of the development. The future looks bright for the game as they’ve already announced the next characters.

Neva – A wonderfully artistic game. Neva offers a very short but unique experience. Its story is emotional, its environments and art are beautifully painted. It is truly a work of art.

Hades 2 – The first game in the franchise was incredible. So it stands that the sequel will also be that way. Although it is currently in early access, Hades 2 already boasts a lot of content with new weapons to master, a unique main character and a larger challenge. Boss battles are challenging and will sometimes require multiple tries, which is the essence of the genre. The key to this franchise is that every run expands the story itself. I’ve already accumulated over 60 hours, though I will likely hold off playing more until the full release.

Core Keeper – This one was not on my radar at all. It wasn’t until some streamers mentioned it that I decided to check it out. Watching the gameplay helped to convince me that it was going to be an interesting adventure. A survival game in the same vein as Minecraft or Terraria, Core Keeper excels in giving the player just enough to venture outward but also hinting at the vast world further away. The game has good variety of weapons, crafting and similar staples of the genre. There are various bosses to battle and a lot of exploration. The player can build their base, gather materials and fight monsters to loot. It can also be player coop with friends.

Looking ahead to 2025 there are surely lots of interesting games on the horizon. Personally I’m looking forward to Metroid Prime 4, Pokémon Legends ZA and Windblown among others. The advent of the Switch successor is also very interesting. Already a lot of rumors and leaks are flying around the net. All in all, great offerings to come for sure.