Tag: Yearly top 10 games

Noob’s Top 10 Games Experienced in 2024

2024 was undeniably an incredible year for games. I don’t often tend to play new releases, so it is to my complete surprise that four games from the current year have made it to my top 10 list this year. Four! As primarily a backlog and PS Plus gamer, I often don’t even experience that many current games in a year, let alone enjoy them enough that they dominate the top 5 of my list.

While I haven’t managed to play as many games this year as I did in the previous years, it is safe to say I had some all timer experiences and it was a particular struggle ordering the lower end of the list, having to decide who to cut despite also giving me some fantastic memories.

Without further ado, here is the best of my 2024 gaming experiences.

I do my game tracking on GG App, you can see all 34 of the games I experienced in 2024 here.

10. Alan Wake 2

Developer: Remedy Entertainment

Release Date: 27 October 2023

Saga Anderson arrives to investigate ritualistic murders in a small town. Alan Wake pens a dark story to shape the reality around him. These two heroes are somehow connected. Can they become the heroes they need to be?

Number 10 on the list is a game that I didn’t play myself, but was one hell of an experience regardless. Watching a friend play the game and theory crafting along the way of this absolute trip of a journey was an especially fun time. Tying it into the first game – which I didn’t enjoy very much – and Control – which was only just bumped down from this very list – allowed us to go full corkboard and strings while taking in the atmosphere of this dingy, eerily beautiful world.

Ask me right now to summarise the story and I am not sure that I could off the top of my head, but it was a lot of fun along the way and now I think in spirals.

You can buy the game here.

9. Mass Effect 3/Legendary Edition

Developer: BioWare

Release Date: 14 May 2021

The Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from the highly acclaimed Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 games, including promo weapons, armors, and packs — remastered and optimized for 4K Ultra HD.

Finishing up the Mass Effect trilogy was a monumental moment. Legitimately the end of an era. Despite the fact that we only played Mass Effect 3 this year, I am including the others in here too as they are all within the Legendary Edition.

It took us years and now I finally understand why the ending is disliked on such a universal level. Thankfully, it did not dampen the memories of my years long playthrough of this epic series, with moments of the finale having me in actual tears on stream, something that I generally prefer to avoid.

You can see my fill playthroughs of Mass Effect 1, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 here.

8. The Talos Principle

Developer: Croteam

Release Date: 11 December 2014

The Talos Principle is a first-person puzzle game in the tradition of philosophical science fiction. Made by Croteam and written by Tom Jubert (FTL, The Swapper) and Jonas Kyratzes (The Sea Will Claim Everything).

This list has a couple of games that I didn’t have the most fun playing but shone so bright in other areas that I loved them anyway. The Talos Principle is the first of those. I made my way through the puzzles because I had to. What I was really there for was the story, delivered in the form of a computer archive. Every new area I made it to gave me the rush of finding new information. While I found the puzzles fun at first, they eventually became a block between me and my next lore fix.

I will admit, by the end I was following a guide for most of the puzzles – especially the stars – but the story was so interesting that despite this, I think this is my favourite first person puzzle game that I have played yet (unless Portal 2 co-op counts as its own game).

You can buy The Talos Principle here.

7. Frostpunk

Developer: 11 bit studios

Release Date: 24 April 2018

Frostpunk is the first society survival game. As the ruler of the last city on Earth, it is your duty to manage both its citizens and infrastructure. What decisions will you make to ensure your society’s survival? What will you do when pushed to breaking point? Who will you become in the process?

Frostpunk is the only game that made it onto this list from my 12 Days of Epic Games series, but it sure did earn its place. It was only the second game of the 12 and I immediatly broke my own rule that I was only trying out these games. I ended up finishing the campaign within the week.

I couldn’t get enough of the stress. I am not sure that I have played a game that balanced that line of helplessness but just scraping by so well in my entire life. I was sure I was going to fail, tens of times. Yet every time, through some miracle, we managed to pull through. It was not elegent, there was suffering, but I fully embodied my position of leader and did everything in my power to save my people.

What I am saying is, this is the most immersive, thrilling, coldest city builder that I have ever played. It was memorable, and it was pretty incredible.

You can see my experience with Frostpunk here.

6. Undertale

Developer: tobyfox

Release Date: 15 September 2015

UNDERTALE! The RPG game where you don’t have to destroy anyone.

Above I mentioned some games making it onto the list despite not having the most fun during the act of playing. Undertale is the second. I very nearly quit, but I am so pleased I persevered.

I had heard bits about Undertale but didn’t really know what to expect until I tried it out during 12 Days of Game Pass. Even then, I knew that I liked it, but I didn’t realise quite how much I was going to enjoy it until I finally jumped back in, 2 years later. Despite having some things spoiled, I really appreciate what this game is. It is humorous, clever, heartfelt, more difficult than I had hoped but I am not sure that is a problem for everyone.

Whether you find it iconic or cheesy, the Stay Determined messaging stayed with me for a while, making a real life effort to notice things that I too could stay determined about.

You can see my first look at Undertale here.

5. Mouthwashing

Developer: Wrong Organ

Release Date: 26 September 2024

The five crew members of the Tulpar are stranded in the empty reaches of space, shrouded in perpetual sunset. God is not watching.

Mouthwashing is the second and final game on the list that I watched rather than played. Once I watched it, I immediatly watched it again. And again. And I wasn’t sick of it even after watching 3 different playthroughs. I was glad that I didn’t play it myself because of certain gameplay sections, although part of me wishes they weren’t even there. Not just because I wouldn’t have enjoyed playing them, but because I think the game would have been better for it.

Overall though, I couldn’t get enough of the bleak, disturbing tones of this game. The claustrophobic setting and the off putting characters drew me in in the exact opposite way that I would have fled from them in real life. The game is an examination of a few themes that almost feel spoilery to mention, but hits that morbid mood itch in its own unique, worthwhile way.

You can buy Mouthwashing here.

4. Animal Well

Developer: Billy Basso

Release Date: 9 May 2024

Explore a dense, interconnected labyrinth, and unravel its many secrets. Collect items to manipulate your environment in surprising and meaningful ways. Encounter beautiful and unsettling creatures, as you attempt to survive what lurks in the dark. There is more than what you see.

Just like Undertale, I very nearly quit this game. But despite that, the impeccable uncanny atmosphere, the stunning colours and the freedom of puzzle solving kept me coming back for more. It took my eyes a short while to adjust, but once they did, this could well be the most stylish pixel art game I have ever played. The audio design also deserves a massive shout out for being both confidently understated yet enticingly effective.

Animal Well would never have worked as a stream game for me, but I desperately wish I could capture the absolutely chaotic energy during my journey of discovery. I perhaps got even more joy from stumbling into solutions than I did using my brain. Over and over again I would somehow make exactly the right mistake at exactly the right time to learn something that I would never have even thought of. It is masterful in design and the lack of handholding is somehow empowering.

This game can get spooky. My blood ran cold at least 3 times and I almost quit at least as many. Guides were my friend in these scenarios and I am glad that I pushed through to experience this gem that I would have passed on if it wasn’t available on PS Plus.

You can buy Animal Well here.

3. Life is Strange 2

Developer: DONTNOT Entertainment

Release Date: 26 September 2018

After a tragic incident, brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz run away from home. Fearing the police, and dealing with Daniel’s new telekinetic power, the boys head to Mexico. Each stop on their journey brings new friends and new challenges.

Life is Strange 2 was the final Life is Strange game that I had left to play. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I definitely saved the best till last.

This game was better than I could have hoped. It didn’t take me long to get invested in the brothers, but it was the ‘on the road’ element that really made this game tailored to me. It was full of emotions, highs and lows, wondering what might be next, and I connected with it more than I have any other LiS game to date.

I think it is a shame that so many people pass this one by. I understand that my experience isn’t the most common one, but if you enjoy the LiS format but skipped 2 because of low expectations, I would ask you to reconsider and give it a shot. It was definitely worth my time and may well be worth yours too.

You can play Episode 1 for free here.

2. 1000xRESIST

Developer: sunset visitor 斜陽過客

Release Date: 9 May 2024

1000xRESIST is a thrilling sci-fi adventure. The year is unknown, and a disease spread by an alien invasion keeps you underground. You are Watcher. You dutifully fulfil your purpose in serving the ALLMOTHER, until the day you discover a shocking secret that changes everything.

Oh. My. God. 1000xRESIST came out of nowhere and just decided to become part of my life. I have written extensively about both my first impressions (which took me a while to warm up) and my full experience with the game, so I won’t go into much detail here. What I will say is that this game is worth your time.

There is a reason that this game recieved so many nominations and awards. It tells a story that so many others could only hope to tell, so confidently that you don’t have any choice but to listen, admire, and continue to ponder long after playing. It is bold in its choices in a way that most AAA could not be, and if you can buy into the world they created – which you should – then you are guaranteed to go on a thoughtful and emotional journey, on both a personal and grand scale.

You can read my first impressions of 1000xRESIST here or my full review here.

1. Astro Bot

Developer: Team Asobi

Release Date: 6 September 2024

The PS5® mothership has been wrecked, leaving ASTRO and the bot crew scattered all over the galaxies. Time to ride your trusty Dual Speeder across more than 50 planets full of fun, danger and surprises. On your journey, make the most of ASTRO’s new powers and reunite with many iconic heroes from the PlayStation universe! 

I think everyone knows by now that Astro Bot is a delight. This feels like an objective fact, and I can’t imagine anyone disputing it. I was slightly worried that it couldn’t live up to Astro’s Playroom (more on that below) but my worries were completely unfounded as the compact yet densely packed levels provide so much fun and so many surprises along the way that I could hardly contain myself.

The level of detail is just phenomenal. Every new level, just take a second and admire the physics of every single thing that you touch. I have never been in such kinetic and satisfying environments and this could only possibly have come to fruition from a team putting their heart and soul into their project. It is genuinely awe-inspiring, as well as wholesome and nostalgic as you make your way through the carefully crafted planets.

For the record, I have been championing Astro since Playroom and if you haven’t played it yet, I still think it is very worth it. It has a different set up to Astro Bot and it will make everytime you power on your PS5 feel like magic. Plus, it has one of my favourite video game songs ever (I am looking at you, GPU). I have yet to play the VR game but overall, this is the most joyful series that I have ever touched and Team Asobi have my trust for anything that they create in the future.

You can see my full playthrough of Astro Bot here.

Considering I have had so many high quality experiences with game in the past, it feels insane that there are still so many waiting for me. I have already selected a bunch of games I hope to play in 2025 as part of a backlog challenge and I look forward to seeing which games make it onto next years list.

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Noob’s Top 10 Demos played in 2024

Demos have not only made a comeback, they have firmly solidified their place in the gaming world.

Sometimes playing a demo will show that a game is not what you expected, is not for you, or simply that your device cannot handle what is required to run the game smoothly. However, sometimes you stumble upon a demo so excellent that sells you on the experience so well, that you would wishlist it 10x over if you could.

I have been covering Steam Next Fests and other festivals for years, but at this point in time, even without anymore festivals, I have so many demos to check out that I could play a new one every week and still have plenty left over for 2026. Not to mention that rarely a week go by that I am not alerted to at least one more demo that catches my interest, be it a game that I missed or a brand new release.

In 2024 I played somewhere around 80 game demos, writing impressions posts about 23 of them! Below is a list of my favourite 10 demos that I played in 2024.

The list is in order finishing up with my favourite, but all of them are worth checking out if you think they could be up your street.

Going into 2025 I still have demos of 2024 releases to play, as well as games from a few years back, and games that don’t have release dates yet. I hope to continue making my way through, highlighting the gems that I uncover along the way.

Other Demo Impressions

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Noob’s Top 10 Games Experienced in 2023

As always, since I don’t tend to play new games, I can’t really join in the game of the year discussions. And honestly, as the years go by, keeping up with the latest releases seems like more and more of a mammoth task.

For context, this year I experienced 5 2023 games
– Tchia
– King of the Castle
– Humanity
– Resident Evil 4 Remake
– House Flipper 2

Instead of talking about my Game of the Year, I like to take a look at all of the games I played throughout the year no matter the release date, and reflect on my favourites.

A couple of things to note – they are ranked in an order relating to my experience. They might not be in the ‘best’ order in a technical sense, but instead I have based it on factors like how much fun I had in the way that I played (whether that was alone or on stream), how much I personally clicked with the game or the characters, how much of an impact the game may have had on me and/or how memorable I found it.

The second note is that I track games that I only watched alongside games that I have played myself, and quite often games that I didn’t even play make it onto the list because I had such a positive experience with them.

I do a bunch of my game tracking on GG App, you can see all 43 of the games I experienced in 2023 here.

10. Sea of Thieves

Developer: Rare Ltd

Release Date: 3 June 2020

Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right. With no set roles, you have complete freedom to approach the world, and other players, however you choose.

2023 was not my first year of playing Sea of Thieves. It’s not even my second year. But it does feel like it was the definitive year.

Getting pirate legend, captained ships, playing both with a crew and solo, and now safer seas. It feels like this is the year it became the true Sea of Thieves, both for the game itself and me as a player.

Between playing the game and watching streams, I would imagine this is the game that has taken the majority of my gaming time this year. I can’t get enough of the gorgeous environments, I love the ocean and I am a gatherer by nature so finding treasure is always satisfying. It is the adventure simulator I always wanted.

You can see my first stream of Sea of Thieves here, some galleries of my screenshot adventures here and my written review here.

9. Outer Wilds

Developer: Mobius Digital

Release Date: 18 June 2020

Named Game of the Year 2019 by Giant Bomb, Polygon, Eurogamer, and The Guardian, Outer Wilds is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning open world mystery about a solar system trapped in an endless time loop.

I have a complicated relationship with Outer Wilds. I did play quite a bit of the game for myself back in mid 2022. I had fun exploring, discovering and experimenting. I had no intention to stop, but then a bunch of horrible irl circumstances stopped me streaming for a while. When I came back, I couldn’t face picking the game up again for a few reasons.

I gave it some time and picked it back up off stream, but I could no longer get away with the flying controls. I decided I would watch it instead, which was then decided for me when the game left Game Pass.

I ended up watching a full playthrough and it was very interesting seeing things being discovered in a different order than mine, finding new secrets through another’s eyes, and seeing someone else connect with the game in a different way than I had. By the end I was glad to have seen it, but a little sad that I didn’t ‘get’ it the way others seemed to have.

The reason that Outer Wilds still ends up on this list, is that even though the ending felt like it hit differently to me than it did for many others, it still hit. Interpretations are just that, and that is the beauty of art. My interpretation is my interpretation. Whether I liked it or not, it lingered and the more time that I spent reflecting on it, the more I realise that it made an impact, and I still think about it to this day.

You can see my partial playthrough here.

8. Pupperazzi

Developer: Sundae Month

Release Date: 20 January 2022

Put your love for pups to the test – we have a bunch of dogs that need their photos taken, doggone it! Photograph and catalogue the finest (and derpiest) dogs to build your career, upgrade your camera, and discover new canines. WOOF.

It almost feels bad to admit that I went into this game with the lowest expectations. It was completely unexpected how much I thoroughly enjoyed this game.

I already expressed my delight in my review, so rather than rehash that here I will redirect you there if you are interested. But I also would like to stress that this is a delightful game about taking photos of dogs and if you are ever feeling low and need a hug in a video game, that is how this game felt for me.

You can read my review here or see the results of my photoshoot here.

7. Citizen Sleeper

Developer: Jump Over The Age

Release Date: 5 May 2022

Roleplaying in the ruins of interplanetary capitalism. Live the life of an escaped worker, washed-up on a lawless station at the edge of an interstellar society. Inspired by the flexibility and freedom of TTRPGs, explore the station, choose your friends, escape your past and change your future.

Considering Citizen Sleeper is a text based game, it did a great job of causing tension and stress, keeping me on the edge of my seat, wondering whether I would survive to see the next week.

I was introduced to this one as part of my 12 Days of Game Pass series but went on to complete the full playthrough as a Let’s Play. It had a good pace, an addicting loop, some very interesting concepts and had a variety of characters, some detestable and some I absolutely adored.

It almost doesn’t make sense that a game can put all kinds of high stakes pressures on you yet still feel relaxing. I think that sense of ease came from both the consistently comfortable aesthetics, and the games systems being very clear to use and easy to understand.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with it. Somehow the DLC’s improved it again, and while I am not extremely eager to Let’s Play another game with this much reading, I am glad to have experienced it this way as I think reading out loud can bring a deeper connection with the words on the screen and the characters they represent.

You can see my full playthrough of Citizen Sleeper here.

6. Late Shift

Developer: CtrlMovie

Release Date: 18 April 2017

Late Shift is a high stakes FMV crime thriller. Forced into a brutal London heist, your choices matter in this interactive cinematic experience with adaptable storylines that lead to one of seven conclusions. Your decisions are you.

Late Shift was so much fun. It is another game that I entered with low expectations and ended up having a blast. It isn’t the greatest game or the greatest movie, but there is something about the bite size entertainment provided by an FMV that brings me joy, and this is one of my favourites.

The promo images for the game don’t even give a hint what it is about, which is a shame because it is one of the reasons I waited so long to play this one. I had no idea that I was going to love the main character so much and the situations that we ended up in were so silly that I had a big dumb smile on my face throughout.

There are enough variables to immediately jump in again and have a different experience, and playing through a second time was the icing on the cake.

You can see both of my playthroughs of Late Shift here.

5. Beacon Pines

Developer: Hiding Spot

Release Date: 22 September 2022

Beacon Pines is a cute and creepy adventure set within a mysterious book. Sneak out late, make new friends, uncover hidden truths, and collect words that will change the course of fate!

Out of all of the games that I will talk about in this post, Beacon Pines has got to be the one that has flown the furthest under the radar. While it only has vague commonalities with Night in the Woods, it’s hard to believe after playing that it seemingly hasn’t received the same level of following.

Needless to say, I thought this game was fantastic. I played the demo a long while ago and enjoyed it enough to want to play the rest. The game really succeeded in living up to its potential. It is cute, eerie, emotional, mysterious, funny and just an all around beautiful game.

The storybook aesthetic and innocent child characters work in a genius contrast to some of the themes explored. The branching narrative is an ongoing mechanic rather than a game ender and the narrator does a lovely job of guiding us along in both the writing and her soothing tone.

This game is a gem and I highly recommend giving it a go if you have any interest in narrative games.

You can see my full playthrough of Beacon Pines here.

4. Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Developer: Ember Lab

Release Date: 21 September 2021

A story-driven, action adventure combining exploration with fast-paced combat. Untangle the past as Kena, a young Spirit Guide in search of the sacred Mountain Shrine. Help free the spirits trapped in a forgotten village with the help of the Rot, her adorable (yet powerful) spirit companions.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is gorgeous in every way. From the art style, the graphics, the music, the tasks that we were doing and of course, the rot. This aesthetic pleasure made it so easy to pick the game back up every time another session came around.

It isn’t all style though, the substance holds up by itself. Funnily enough, the closest game that I can compare it to -a game with arguably as opposite energy as could be – is God of War. Taking beats from both combat and game structure, I personally was very happy to feel the familiarity from another game that I am very fond of.

The story was emotional, it was a flavour of fantasy that I have never really experienced before, and did I mention the rot? They are great 😄

You can see my full playthrough of Kena: Bridge of Spirits here.

3. Mass Effect 1/2

Developer: BioWare

Release Date: 14 May 2021

The Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from the highly acclaimed Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 games, including promo weapons, armours, and packs — remastered and optimized for 4K Ultra HD.

For number three have two games in one because I don’t know how to choose just one. Partly because I enjoyed both but partly because they have blurred together. I may have done some of the longest playthroughs in the history of playthroughs, but we took on every mission that came our way, explored the universe to the best of our ability and took in every detail that we possibly could.

While I do find the combat sections of these games fun, where it really shines is the world building. I didn’t grow up interested in space. My first look at how fun and interesting space could be as a setting was the MCU. Guardians of the Galaxy woke me up to the wonderous potentials, and while I have enjoyed space fiction more since then, this is my first lore filled, sprawling universe with so much history. The aliens aren’t just green and blue humans. There are cultures and politics, along side unseen beauties and unknowable dangers.

I still don’t know whether these games will land in my all time favorites. The dialogue choices don’t always make the most sense, situations can change direction in a heartbeat in ways that sometimes don’t feel earned, and gameplay itself feels quite segmented and predictable. But each of these games have lots to enjoy and the pros have outweighed the cons, especially sharing the experience of my Commander Noob Shepard’s journey with an excellent audience.

You can see my full playthrough of Mass Effect 1 here and Mass Effect 2 here.

2. Tinykin

Developer: Splashteam

Release Date: 30 August 2022

Catch hundreds of tinykin and use their unique powers to bring Milo back to his home planet and back to normal size!

I don’t know why but initially I was put off by the art style of Tinykin. The 2D characters in a 3D world didn’t feel like it would work for me. I was so dumb. It wasn’t until I saw a friend streaming this game that I felt the love begin to grow. Watching wasn’t enough, I had to play for myself and it did not dissapoint.

I honestly loved everything about this game. The environments were so clever, the insane attention to detail bringing joy around every corner. Who knew that so many mundane objects could be used in such fun ways?! The gameplay itself was perfect for me. This is a 3D platformer but challenge isn’t the purpose. The world is covered in collectibles and little side quests waiting for you to explore every inch of this insect infested house. As I mentioned earlier, I am a gatherer so as you can imagine, this was heaven for me.

Finally, the writing and characters were very fun, adding more charm to an already delightful experience. There are lots of puns and references to be found if you want, and if not then you can follow the main objectives and still have a fun filled time.

The only thing that I didn’t love about the game is that it had to end. I can’t think of another game that I would like a sequel or successor to more than this one.

You can buy Tinykin here.

1. The Forgotten City

Developer: Modern Storyteller

Release Date: 28 July 2021

The Forgotten City is a narrative-driven time loop adventure in ancient Rome. Discover the ruins of an ancient underground city, travel 2000 years into the past, and unravel the mystery of who destroyed it by cleverly exploiting the power to wind back time. The fate of the city is in your hands.

The Forgotten City is an outstanding game. The developer carefully considered the player experience and respected the players time so beautifully, alongside a captivating story. I was engrossed and thrilled, with every loop bringing me another five ideas that I would like to try in the next loop.

I can’t express just how excited I was playing this game. If it wasn’t for one specific gameplay section, I would say it was somehow entirely made for me. The characters were really fun to get to know, the mysteries were exciting and the historical setting gave the entire atmosphere such flair. It satisfied my need for both deep, profound philosophy and, to my amusement, soap opera drama.

Mostly though, this is a game that constantly made me admire the mind behind it. Over and over again I was in awe of the decisions that had been made, completely inspired and hoping the developer(s) are proud of what they have achieved. If I were ever to make a game, I could only dream that it would have the polish, creativity and innovation that makes this special. The other game that gave me these feelings is Return of the Obra Dinn. Those that follow my work probably know how highly I think of that game, and The Forgotten City reached those heights for me too, albeit in a different way.

You can see my full playthrough of The Forgotten City here.

Another year, another fantastic time playing video games. And if the calibre of releases this year is anything to go by, I am going to be enjoying video games for a long time to come.

All the best for 2024 everyone.

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Noob’s Top 10 Games Experienced in 2022

The year is almost over! Since I don’t make a habit of playing many brand new games on release I don’t often have a lot to add to the Game of the Year conversation. I do however track all of the games that I play within a given year. Since I missed so many titles throughout my life, I am very fortunate to experience many amazing games for the first time all year around. I want to celebrate that, so here are my Top 10 Games from this year!

Here is a chart of the release year of all the games I experienced this year!

10. AI: The Somnium Files (2019)

It was very difficult narrowing this list down. I have played so many good games this year that could make my top 10 for so many different reasons. After much back and forth, I have chosen AI: The Somnium Files as number 10. Despite not enjoying everything about it, I have to acknowledge that I loved the core mystery. Not only did the game deliver a murder mystery that kept me guessing with so many wild yet somehow plausible theories, it managed to bring it all together to a satisfying conclusion. When an ending falls flat it can often dampen my memory of the rest of the experience and that could very easily happen with a story so full of twists and turns. Thankfully, they nailed it!

If you would like to hear more about my mixed feelings on this crazy game, you can read my review here.

9. God of War (2018)

God of War felt like my first delve into the best that cinematic gaming has to offer. I felt like I was playing a blockbuster and because that is so rare to me, it was pretty damn awe-inspiring. I think the reason that this game doesn’t make it further up the list is becasue when something shines so much, the rough edges feel a little rougher. Slight issues with pacing, invisible walls and certain character arcs occasionally took me out of the experience and stopped this from being up there with my favourites. However, the fight choreography, the mythology and the characters themselves were so much fun, it was overall a fantastic experience.

8. Yes, Your Grace (2020)

I almost missed this one so I am so glad that I got to play it before it left Game Pass. The tough choices every day, the looming threat and the never knowing whether we would get through the next week created an extremely stressful and melancholic atmosphere in which I personally felt the weight of the kingdom on my shoulders. Yet somehow that is not all I remember. I remember the charm of every character being recognisable despite their pixel forms. I remember the nerves when someone returned to the palace, and the joy when they were saying thank you (and bringing me supplies). I remember the shenanigans of my daughters that elevated the game from a management sim to a life sim. It can be sad, it can be stressful, it can be buggy, but it is very worth playing.

7. Astrologaster (2019)

Having zero expectations helped as I discovered how much of a total delight Astrologaster really is. The music, the history, the choices, the relationships, the consequences – that is what the game is all about. It is all delivered with a sense of humour that couldn’t be nailed by just anyone. The passion and heart from the devs is palpable. If you are having a bad day, I couldn’t recommend this enough to get at least a few giggles. For how simple the game is moment to moment, the production value shines and makes this a stand out indie title.

6. Zero Time Dilemma (2016)

Finishing the Zero Escape series was the end of an era for me. I played the entire series for YouTube and each one was as wild as the next in their own way. It took me a while to adjust to the third and final game having such a new style, but once I got used to it I grew to love it. The janky animations added character as much as anything else, and the new flow of gameplay made a lot of sense in terms of the story. As I reflect, this game and Virtues Last Reward keep trading places for my favourite in the series, and that was very unexpected considering how much I enjoyed VLR.

If you would like to hear more of my feelings on this game, not only can you watch my series in the video above but I guested on the Left Behind Game Club podcast where we talked in a lot of depth. You can find more information about that here.

5. Elden Ring (2022)

One one hand, it almost feels wrong to put Elden Ring on this list as I am not even sure I am half way through yet. On the other hand, I HAD to put Elden Ring on this list. I have quietly enjoyed the souls games from a distance for a few years, but never thought I could actually play them. I wanted that sense of exploration but I don’t have the patience required for the combat. Then Elden Ring came along. It is like Dark Souls had a child with.. well.. me. Every change they made and feature they added feels tailored to my enjoyment and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the game so far, knowing I have many more hours of joy, discovery, fear and fascination to go. This was my onlyday one gaming splurge this year and I am so glad that I did it.

4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2021)

I am not entirely sure why it took me so long to play Guardians of the Galaxy. I had access to it for a while but the timing never felt quite right. Now that I think back, it is like it was for a reason. In an extremely stressful time in my life, this game gave me a wonderful place of respite. It is another that felt designed for me on a few different levels. The character interactions and small details were fantastic and the levels were very fun to explore. I even enjoyed the combat which isn’t usual for me. The only hype I really heard about this game were the few who were championing it saying it is underrated, and I whole-heartedly agree. I always hope for more people to play it because I’m sure there will be many that have as much love for it as I do. It is funny, colourful, bold, emotional, and so worth your time.

3. Stray (2022)

Stray was everything I needed it to be and more. To this day I see people calling it ‘that cat game’ but that feels so reductive to me. In my review I went into detail about why I believe this game worked so well, so instead of rehashing that, I will leave a link here. What I do want to say is while this game will not be for everyone, I am so happy that there is a space for games like these to be made. Not everything has to be a blockbuster, but I do believe games need some sort of substance. This is a short game that is bursting with atmosphere, gorgeous visuals, small moments, world building, and feelings; perhaps even more impressive considering all of the characters are animals and robots.

2. Persona 5 (2016)

This game took over my life in a way that I didn’t expect. At a time when I was creating a schedule – forcing in some mandatory yet reluctant rest time – P5 became part of my evening routine. Having never played a story based JRPG before (unless Pokemon counts) I wasn’t even sure what to expect, let alone whether I would like it. But after playing the first couple of hours I was completely sold. It was a totally new experience and I was entirely on board. The further in I got, the more I loved the characters and the more excitement I got from new mechanics, new story beats or discovering new elements of the game. This game is a masterclass in style and I couldn’t get enough. I lulled in the middle which isn’t unusual for me during a long game, but overall, Persona 5 took a place in my heart. Maybe even stole it? A hugely enjoyable experience that I will remember for a long time.

1. Return of the Obra Dinn (2018)

The award for favourite game that I have played this year goes to – Return of the Obra Dinn! All I knew going into this game was that there might be murder mysteries and puzzles, and that I was slightly off-put by the art style. It is so interesting how thoughts like that can 180 so hard that it becomes one of your favourite game experiences to date. As soon as I felt the game in motion I knew I had it wrong. This game is art in every sense. Not only the visual aesthetic, but the music, the audio design, the pacing of every reveal, the setting, the characters, the story, the clues, the unravelling. It is crafted to perfection.

In puzzle books my favourite pages are the logic grid puzzles. I had no idea this game would basically be a huge, sprawling version of those. Except for a couple of tiny niggles, this game ‘hit’ on every level for me. My only regret is not being able to experience it for the first time again.

Looking back over my list and writing this post is pretty magical. These games are outstanding and were one of the saving graces of a tough personal year for me. And the best part? I know there are 1000s more where they came from, just waiting to give more fantastic, wild, emotional, challenging, thoughtful, hilarious, *insert all other adjectives here* experiences, and the library just grows and grows.

For anyone else like me – people who want to experience everything there is, Indie and AAA alike – we will never be able to play all of the games that we would like to before we die. There literally aren’t enough hours. On one hand, that could be a reason to be super selective. On the other, how many games have clicked with you on a level that you never expected or could not have predicted? For me, that number is pretty high. The conclusion – be adventurous. Go with your gut. Listen to others, but not too closely. Curious about something? Give it a go! Not really feeling anything? Try absolutely anything! Games are more accessible than they have ever been, what better way to celebrate that then.. well.. playing games.

If you would like to see more of what I played this year, I have a Twitter thread with initial thoughts of every game I played here. I also have a more concise visual list on GGApp that you can view here.

Happy gaming and all the best for 2023!

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Noobs Top 10 of 2021

I like to consider myself a patient gamer. I don’t really buy new games, which means I often don’t have a lot to contribute to the Game of the Year conversations. I am however, an avid list keeper and would love to write about the top 10 games that I experienced this year! I am going to go in a descending(ish) order, but frankly, I really struggle to rank things so just remember that I loved every experience on this list!

10. Psychonauts 2

Oh hey, I am already contradicting what I said in the opening paragraph! Generally I am a patient gamer. BUT, when you have Game Pass and an anticipated game like this comes out it would be rude not to.. right? I was introduced to Psychonauts by The Left Behind Game Club Podcast and played it for the first time in 2020 (last year). Whilst I don’t have the nostalgia that some may have for a game of its age, it managed to charm its way into my soul and I loved my time with it. Needless to say, the prospect of a modern sequel was pretty hype for me and the fact that it was released day one on Game Pass was perfect.

The game was wonderful. Some of the levels felt more grand at the time, but others have stuck with me for their underlying messages. Overall, the psychedelic visuals, the fun platforming, the attention to detail and the thoughtful messages provided me with a lovely experience that I got to share with everyone. There are certain things that I think the game could have done to be higher up on my list, but they are personal preferences and I am going to try to keep this list positive. Perhaps I will write a post about it some day!

9. Hades

2021 unexpectedly became the year of the roguelike for me. This is not the first one that I played this year but it is the latest. Hades is so universally praised, both critically and within my social circles. However, whenever I tried to watch anyone playing I never had any idea what was happening and just decided it was not going to be a game for me. Fast forward to November with a little bit of experience, who could have guessed I would be getting my first clear? Certainly not me! I streamed my entire time from my first moments in Tartarus, to the many failures on the way. There were some absolutely nail-biting runs. Not only down to the game but my.. should we say.. chaotic style? There was progress, then there wasn’t. Every time I thought I was near the game would throw something new into the mix. It was stressful and adrenaline fuelled while also being a great, funny time. Every new milestone felt like a huge achievement, leaping yet creeping ever so closer to the goal of whatever the heck was going to happen when we finally escaped. 

Did it take me a while to pluck up the commitment to play this game? Yes. Did I love it very much? Yes. I feel like sharing the game with the community helped give me a higher appreciation, especially for the art. The music and entire vibe were cool. Every time I dropped into a new run my head would start bobbing. But is this game difficult? Yes. Have I played much since my first clear? No. Am I going to put it on God Mode (a sort of adaptive difficulty) because I find the later levels a bit tedious? Yes. Because despite the difficulties, I have really really enjoyed getting to know the Greek gods. Even with every failure there more story, and I feel pretty invested in it.

8. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

I almost didn’t get round to this one this year. Thankfully my Game Pass coming to an end forced me to make some priorities, and this felt like a good December game. I played Ori and the Blind Forest earlier in the year. I really enjoyed my time with it, but I find myself struggling to remember anything too specific about the game. I know that I may have some recency bias for Will of the Wisps, but contrary to Blind Forest, I feel like there are many things from this game that are going to stay with me for a long time. In a strange way, it almost feels like they took the first game, but then tailored it specifically more to me. I think the main change that suits me is that there is a very forgiving checkpoint system which makes exploring so much less of a daunting task and much more freeing.

As well as 2021 being the year of roguelikes for me, it has also been the year of the platformer. During the year I have played Unravel, Limbo, Inside and more. And do you know what? I am so grateful that I did. I feel like all of this experience that I didn’t have last year really elevated my overall experience, to fully embrace everything about the game. The art is breathtaking. The music evokes so much emotion. The movement is very precise and extremely fun. The metroidvania aspects really release that dopamine when you get a new ability. The sidequests bring so much life to the world. And finally, the emotions. Gosh the emotions. I have never cried on stream before. This game made me cry twice. If I think ‘beauty’, I think of this game.

7. It Takes Two

The official Game of the Year! And the second none patient game on my list. Oops. It Takes Two is available on Game Pass via EA Play, and it also comes with a Friend Pass so only one person needs to have it! That is a pretty sweet deal for one of the weirdest, hectic, annoying yet smooth, heartfelt and creative co-op games I’ve ever seen. This game was made by the developers of A Way Out, and while I haven’t played that one, I have seen enough playthroughs to know that I would have had a blast playing it blind. Based on that, I knew I wanted to play what they made next. And It Takes Two did not disappoint.

This game has a totally different tone to the other games by the devs, but still contains the fun, co-op mischief that they are starting to be known for. It was great playing a split screen game for the first time in a long time, it felt nostalgic but still very current. I think the game is longer and has a lot more to it than anyone could have expected, and while it may look like a family game.. I would not recommend it for kids! I played with my good friend Brox. We had so many laughs, the game feels very designed for that. Plenty of ways to kill each other as well as innuendos left, right and centre. Particularly in the first couple of levels, I feel like we were close to dying laughing. Despite it being longer than expected it never gets stale. Every chapter gives you new environments with new abilities which provide new puzzle solving techniques. All I can say is, if you are looking for a co-op game, play it!

6. Disco Elysium

A game I was slightly intimidated by before starting – and infinitely more so after. Disco Elysium was a game that I was frightened that I wouldn’t be smart enough for, but instead it beautifully presented an insight into things that do go on in the world. When thinking back to this game I think sombre. I think gloomy. I almost think of hopelessness. But then I hear the music in the Whirling-in-Rags and feel at home. I think of Kim – one of my favourite characters in a game ever – a ray of the realest sunshine. I think of our different systems talking to us, but us ultimately deciding who to listen to. I think of those times we messed up but then carried on. I think of the times we shouldn’t have got by but did. I remember what we achieved in a world where everything was against us. Nothing, and yet something. I feel comfort. And I think that is all I want to say.

5. Bugsnax

Time is going so quickly and yet so slowly, to think that it has been nearly a year since we played Bugsnax! After not being too hyped by the trailer and the memeness of the entire thing, my interest was slightly piqued at the fact that it was going to be on Ps Plus. Little did I know I would be completely sucked into this strange adventure. It has become pretty clear to me this year that I am an exploration girl. Give me a map to explore and I am in my element. The other thing that I like more than a lot of folk is collectibles. If you strip this game down to its very core, it’s about exploring for collectables. But then when you look at the full picture it gets so much better. There is a seemingly surprisingly dark mystery on the Island. You are a journalist interviewing all of the characters. You get to customise characters with the collectables you gather. Every collectible is a puzzle to solve, some getting quite difficult towards the end. And one of the best parts of it is that you absolutely don’t have to catch them all if you do not want to. Based on my expectations, this game blew me away. We recently coined the term ‘compulsionist’ in the community. Sometimes I like to be completionist, but there are only a rare few games where I can’t stop, and this was one of them. We could have ended the game, but instead we spent a few hours catching them all and you know what? It was very worth it. I enjoyed every second.

4. Resident Evil Village

I have to start with a disclaimer for this one. This is not a game that I have played myself. However, I do sort of consider myself a RE fan. They are not games I would play myself but I enjoy watching playthroughs, and Village is no exception. Before the game came out it earned a place in my heart. If you were watching at the time then you may know where I am coming from with this. I believe it was the PS5 reveal event. The trailer premiered and it was my favourite moment in any game event I have ever witnessed. “It looks a little like RE7 in the graphics department.”. “Probably not, what is this weird story?”. “That looks like a puzzely statue.”. “Oh never mind werewolves.”. “This mansion looking place with a nice staircase looks very RE.”. “Na these frames are awful.”. “Was that an Umbrella logo? Could it be?”. Then the title ‘Village’ appeared. “Oh, I guess not then.” Then eventually the 8 appears over the Village logo and it all makes sense. Mannnn so many goose bumps just thinking back to it. That hype I was feeling put this game into a pretty bad position for me. I don’t get high expectations very often, but I was very much looking forward to watching the game. When I am that excited there is a lot of room to feel let down, but thankfully, it was even better than I hoped it would be.

I personally think it could be the best paced RE game to date. I was really excited to see how they were going to make RE7 but in an outdoors environment as my brain could not understand what that would look like. Exploring that village for the first time? That felt special. Then every time after coming back? Also felt special. The opening was so intense, followed by some completely new territory with no idea what to expect, I was horrified! I find the Lycans terrifying and I really do think the opening few hours of the game are a masterpiece. The game continues with new environments and themes, while still always feeling like a Resident Evil game. The idea that they were going to cross RE4 with RE7 (based on the trailer) left me excited. In reality they also threw in some RE2Make and in my opinion they delivered. If it isnt obvious this was my pick for Game of the Year.

3. 428 Shibuya Scramble

A game that I feel like no one has played! 428 Shibuya Scramble is a visual novel, where the artwork is photography and the characters are played by real actors. Unfortunately it isnt voice acted, and it is a long game which would be a heck of an undertaking for anyone recording or streaming it. Playing/reading it yourself though is so very worth it. A girl has been kidnapped, and throughout the game you will play as 5 different people, some more involved than others but their stories intertwined none the less. The story is full of twists and turns and I HAD to know what was going to happen next. Each character has their own visual and music style which gives them each their personality.

The game is played in 1 hour in-game chunks. You choose a character and read their novel, making choices as you go. You may get a bad end, which means you made a bad choice somewhere in that hour, but not necessarily on that character. Its a really fun way to add a puzzle element into a visual novel and some of the outcomes are fantastic. If you like visual novels, if you like creative games, if you like fun but dramatic/thrilling stories it is a must play.

2. Virtues Last Reward

Virtues Last Reward is the second game in the Nonary Games Series and I believe is the last big game that I recorded purely for YouTube. I had the most amazing time recording this series. It was hilarious, it was confusing, it was dramatic, and every time I thought I might have had it figured out I didn’t. Every time one question was answered three more arose. I enjoy all of the updates from its predecessor 999. It feels like it does a lot of the same, with a cool story, suspense and plot twists, but better. At the same time, it has less of the caveats. The way the Nonary Game changed from the first one opened up a whole new level of mistrust and difficult decisions. It’s not something I would have thought of myself but the second I learned the new rules I was entirely on board and it lived up to my hype.

I feel like the routes you take in this game are a little less random than the first game, which is a welcome change. But other than that the gameplay is the same. Make some choices and do some escape rooms. Some of which I found very difficult. The gameplay loop was enjoyable and the cliff hangers are killers, but it all comes together in a very satisfying way leaving me very excited to play Zero Time Dilemma. (Disclaimer: Zero Time Dilemma is coming at some point. I promise. I’m sorry for the delay)

1. The Binding of Isaac

Never in a million years would I expect my favourite game I’ve played this year to be a game like Isaac. I didnt even think I liked games like Isaac! It turns out there is so much to love about it and I haven’t even gotten to Repentance yet! The Binding of Isaac is a roguelike game where you play as a young boy, escaping from his abusive mother. You descend into the basement and beyond, fighting monsters with your tears. It is full of nasty things like abusive themes, infant death, suicide, religious extremism and poop. Lots of poop. I am very aware that I am not selling the game well and the problem is, the game has so much depth that I cannot do it justice in a paragraph or two. All I can do is try to point out why it clicked with me.

I feel like one of the things that makes Isaac special are the synergies. You pick up two or more items per floor of the game. Some of them are basic stat ups, but some can be game changing. Change your tears into scythes that do more damage. Get homing tears. Get tears that go through the walls. Get bomb tears. Get different status effects that each give every tear an individual look. Almost all of the items also give Isaac cosmetic changes. Another point I love is that every consumable can be used as a currency in one way or another. This means that you don’t always necessarily have to be good at the game to do well. There are ways you can game the game to ultimately get an insane run if you are so inclined, and I’ve got to tell you, it is a blast.

This is definitely the kind of game that benefits having a friend to share experiences with. It would be easy to believe that you have beaten the game pretty quickly, but at that point you have barely scratched the surface. I was lucky to have a friend to show me the game and tell me everything I wanted to know to get the most out of my experience. Once you know that the game isnt over when you win, it could then very suddenly seem overwhelming or intimidating. All I can say is if you are slightly interested you should give it a chance. You will learn as you go and although it is not an easy game, there are multiple ways to win. If I can do it, anyone can!

I hate that some games that I loved didn’t make the cut! I wanted to add them but I have to stop, otherwise I’ll just be writing a list of most of the games I have played this year. I do want to give a special shout out though to some multiplayer games as I don’t really feel like they fit well in the ranking lists.

Sea of Thieves might be my favourite game to just jump in and find some random adventures. Navigating and driving the boat is so satisfying. The slight added threat that there are other people out there is enough to keep you on your toes, but not enough to stop the grog and sea shanties. It’s really good for simulating the vibe of hanging out, and giving you something to do together.

Astroneer is the first game of its kind that I have really played (gather resources to make more machines to gather more resources etc) and it was a delight. I feel very grateful to have had friends there to show me the ropes. We completed the game but not for lack of mishaps!

Satisfactory is the second game of its kind I have played after Astroneer. There are glaring differences, but I would at least put them in the same genre. The game truly is satisfactory. It is dangerously addictive so I am going to have to limit my time playing, but it is very fun having the freedom to make not only functional but beautiful factories.

What were your favourite games you played this year? If you struggle to keep track you could keep a twitter thread starting now! I love looking back on my list throughout the year 🙂

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