Tag: Yearly top 10 games I must play

10 games I must play from 2024

After previous years of following game release dates and witnessing delay after delay, I heavily lost interest in keeping track of what games are releasing and when. Admittedly, this is also in no small part because I rarely buy or have time for new games immediately. My philosophy is, once they are out, I will get to them when I get to them. In the meantime, I am not running out of other things to play.

There is something about this mindset that has been an absolute boon this year, where I have been taken by surprise time and time again by the amount of games I really want to play. 2024 has been an outstanding year not only for games, but especially for indies.

Here are some of those games that I absolutely must play.

This list is in release order, from the beginning of the year to the end!

Persona 3 Reload

Developer: ATLUS

Release Date: 2 February 2024

Dive into the Dark Hour and awaken the depths of your heart. Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era with cutting-edge graphics and gameplay.

To my knowledge, the only JRPG other than Pokemon that I have played and finished, is Persona 5. I have dabbled in the first hour of a couple of modern Final Fantasy games, but otherwise it is a genre that I have not embraced yet. When I did play Persona 5 though, I was enraptured. From the first hour or two I was drawn into the story, then hour by hour as the gameplay revealed itself, I was all in. By day, I was Noob. By night, I was Joker, Phantom Thief of Hearts, delivering justice and making the world a better place, one intervention at a time.

Once I finished P5 I saw that both Persona 3 & 4 were available to buy and play immediately, but I dug deep and resisted, knowing that I would most likely be once again consumed. Cue Persona 3 Reload – here to allow me to play the most modern version, and to tempt me all over again.

I am exceptionally curious to see how the game presents itself with any other storyline than the Phantom Thieves. One day.

You can buy Persona 3 Reload here.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Developer: DON’T NOD

Release Date: 12 February 2024

Hunt ghosts as two memorable characters in a story-driven Action-RPG where your decisions carry dramatic consequences. Torn between honoring your oath to the living and saving your departed partner, how far will you go for love?

I don’t know a lot about Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, except that I saw a trailer, liked what I saw, and filed it away as a game I would really like to play. Both before and after the game released, I haven’t seen much chatter around it and I am not sure why. Is it average and forgettable? Or was it just under the radar? Whenever I am presented with these questions my desire to find out for myself rises dramatically.

You can buy Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden here.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

Developer: Simogo

Release Date: 16 May 2024

The stage is set. Imagine an old baroque manor, perhaps a hotel or a museum, somewhere in central Europe. A woman wanders in search of answers.

Classic Noob disclaimer: I get weirdly intimidated by puzzle games. Usually that is only confined to playing them as content. Whether that is the fear of showing myself up, of failing, of being judged, that is an entirely different conversation. So why does this game intimidate me? Even the idea of playing with 0 viewers makes me feel slightly unsure. Everything I have heard about Lorelei and the Laser Eyes sounds intriguing and great, but every part of me is sure that I am not going to get far with it.

I think one factor is a fear of the unknown. All I truly know about this game is that I have seen photographs of peoples notebooks during playing it. As far as I am aware it is a non-linear puzzle game, and that gives me flashbacks to how hard I dropped The Witness 4 hours in. Even the way that the visuals look so oppressive in their own, stylised way. Vibes work hard on me and I almost dropped Animal Well – one of my favourite games of the year – due to a spine chilling moment and gameplay section causing stress and terror. Will this game do that too?

Ultimately, it is my choice to avoid the answers to these questions because I know deep down I would like to find out for myself. And the most burning question of all… why laser eyes?

You can buy Lorelei and the Laser Eyes here.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Developer: Ninja Theory

Release Date: 21 May 2024

The sequel to the award winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Intent on saving those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, Senua faces a battle of overcoming the darkness within and without.

This is another new game that I was aware was releasing that I have heard little to nothing about post launch. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a very important game to me. I didn’t play it myself as I was way more nervous about potential horror back then, opting to watch a playthrough instead. Despite not being the one playing, the game left a huge impression. This is a game with huge themes of grief and it came to me at a time when I was heavily grieving myself, even inspiring me to take my own solo trip into the wilderness in an attempt at healing. This is the impact that I remember the first game for, before I even remember the fantastic audio design, the stunning visuals and haunting atmosphere. All of this to say, I am very fond of the first game, but was surprised when a sequel was announced.

I don’t crave another Hellblade game, but I have got to know where they went with it. Whether it brings disappointment, another extremely emotionally profound experience, or anything between, I feel ready to pick up the controller for myself this time.

You can buy Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II here.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami

Developer: Happy Broccoli Games

Release Date: 23 May 2024

Solving crime is no walk in the pond. You are a down-on-his-luck detective who also happens to be a duck. Use your powers of de-duck-tion to inspect evidence, fill in the blanks, and bust the case wide open! This is a short but twisty detective case.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami was one of my favorite demos of the year, of course I have to play this game. Deduction gameplay, mysteries, good jokes and phenomenal voice acting all within a bite-sized package sounds absolutely perfect for a Noob stream.

You can buy Duck Detective: The Secret Salami here.

Still Wakes the Deep

Developer: The Chinese Room

Release Date: 18 June 2024

1975. Disaster strikes the Beira D oil rig off the coast of Scotland. Navigate the collapsing rig to save your crew from an otherworldly horror on the edge of all logic and reality.

I can’t put my finger on why I am so insistent that I want to Still Wakes the Deep. I have already mentioned my aversion to horror, but this one is drawing me in. The setting is certainly a factor. Not only is an oil rig the perfect isolated environment for whatever horrors lie ahead, but whenever a game is relatively local to me it immediately piques my interest. They really did have me with 2 words – North Sea.

Survival horror is too stressful for me, but I have lead myself to believe this is a more linear and straight forward experience, more akin to Soma than Alien Isolation. Hopefully I don’t get a rude awakening when I finally get to playing it but if so, I would 100% watch a Let’s Play instead as it seems very much up my alley.

You can buy Still Wakes the Deep here.

Crime Scene Cleaner

Developer: President Studio

Release Date: 14 August 2024

Once you get tangled with the mob, you will forever be a part of the mob. At least they pay a decent salary and all you have to do is clean up after their dirty work, but you know what you’re doing. So clean crime scenes, earn as much money as you can, and get ready for the next mission.

Another demo that I thoroughly enjoyed, Crime Scene Cleaner is a game that I would love to be my next House Flipper, Powerwash Sim, task based, hands busy, half a brain, podcast game. I went in with low expectations and came out with a game very high up on my wishlist. Something these types of games do is fun, subtle environmental storytelling and it is endlessly entertaining to me. I imagine I will be picking this one up next time that mood strikes.

You can read my impressions of the Crime Scene Cleaner demo here.

Grunn

Developer: Sokpop Collective, Tom van den Boogaart

Release Date: 4 October 2024

A gardener gets hired for maintenance work over the weekend. A simple task, but strangely some tools are missing… The owner of the garden isn’t around, and their house is off-limits. Perhaps new tools can be found in the mysterious town, or maybe some of the reserved townsfolk have seen them?

Grunn was a demo that I actually had to stop playing because I was seeing too much and I HAVE to play this on stream. Weird, wonderful, awful, hitting those task based feelings I mentioned above but mixing that up with what I can only describe as ‘right unsettling vibes’.

I imagine playing this on stream will be super fun, collaborating on ideas, chat being both the angels and devils on my shoulders at the same time. Noticing any changes will be an entertaining group effort and they might even give me the courage(?) to stay out at night.

You can read my impressions of the Grunn demo here.

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Developer: ATLUS

Release Date: 11 October 2024

The throne sits empty after the king’s assassination. With no heirs, the will of the late king decrees that the next monarch will be elected by the people, & thus begins your fight for the throne..

I felt the fomo HARD when Metaphor: ReFantazio released. I didn’t touch the demo as I knew already that I would want to play it. I haven’t played enough Persona to be sick of the high school setting yet (see the Persona 3 Reload entry above), but regardless of how you feel about real life monarchy, it makes an exciting prospect for fictional drama and I am so here for that idea alone. As the reviews released the fomo grew even more and I knew that this is something I am going to have to make time for eventually.

You can buy Metaphor: ReFantazio or play the demo here.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Developer: MachineGames

Release Date: 9 December 2024

Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in a first-person, single-player adventure. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them – Indiana Jones™.

I haven’t seen a single Indiana Jones film and I wasn’t particularly interested in playing this game. That is until the reviews came out of course. The more I heard about it, the more fun this game sounds.

I think a lot about Uncharted, and wonder if there are many others like me who enjoy adventurous shenanegans but really could not stomach another Uncharted game. After playing all 5, the formula becomes so glaring that it feels impossible to un see it. Everything I have heard about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle makes me feel hopeful that I can have these adventures again in a new and exciting format.

You can buy Indiana Jones and the Great Circle here.

As always, there are way more than 10 games that released this year that I would like to play. The top 10 got swapped around so many times this year, here are some others that I would also like to get around to some day.

  • Balatro
  • Botany Manor
  • The Casting of Frank Stone
  • Caves of Qud
  • Clem
  • Cryptmaster
  • Dungeons of Hinterberg
  • Ete
  • Europa
  • Hades II
  • Indika
  • Life is Strange: Double Exposure
  • Little Kitty, Big City
  • Phoenix Springs
  • Rise of the Golden Idol
  • Tales of Kenzara: Zau
  • Times and Galaxy

Thanks 2024 for another stellar year of video games!

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10 Games I Must Play From 2023

I haven’t played many 2023 games yet, but I hope to change that in the future. The year is going to go down in history as a certified banger and it is going to take literally years to catch up with the crazy amount of great releases. What a feeling!

I have narrowed down a top 10 list of the games that I would like to play, and I have got to say, this was not an easy task.

This list is in release order, from the beginning of the year to the end!

Dredge

Developer: Black Salt Games

Release Date: 30 March 2023

DREDGE is a single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your boat, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Explore a mysterious archipelago and discover why some things are best left forgotten.

Dredge seems like it is the game that I wanted when I tried out Moonglow Bay. I enjoyed the demo but did not predict the popularity the game would have.

On one hand, I am glad to have waited as the game has recieved updates and I do prefer to play the complete version of a game. On the other, I am pleased that so many people jumped on board and allowed the game to be the success that it has become.

Last year I tried my hand at a few crafting games. I always like the idea of the gameplay loop – gather, upgrade to allow you to gather more and better stuff, to allow you to upgrade, to allow you to gather more and better stuff – but it is so rare that it is as satisfying as I hoped. Presuming that even is the loop of this game, I wonder if this will be the one. Plus, I just love the ocean.

I wrote about Dredge in my coverage of the Steam Next Fest – October 2022.

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened

Developer: Frogwares

Release Date: 11 April 2023

Experience a nerve-racking Lovecraftian adventure, rebuilt from the ground up with modern graphics and gameplay. Become Sherlock Holmes, and find yourself at the heart of the terrifying Cthulhu Mythos as you investigate a series of mysterious disappearances in Europe and the US.

I played the demo for this game and I had an absolute MOMENT. As much as I knew it was Sherlock Holmes meets Lovecraft, I didn’t know what that would really mean. Oh how I wish that moment was on stream so that I could have shared it with others, but at least now I have an idea what to expexct.

I had fun with the investigation, the exploration and I am expecting a very different Sherlock experience to any that I have had so far. I am grateful that I did not play the original as I am certain I am in for an absolute ride full of unfathomable weirdness.

I wrote about Sherlock Holmes The Awakened in my coverage of the Steam Next Fest – February 2023.

DAVE THE DIVER

Developer: MINTROCKET

Release Date: 28 June 2023

DAVE THE DIVER is a casual, single player adventure RPG featuring deep-sea exploration and fishing during the day and sushi restaurant management at night. Join Dave and his quirky friends as they seek to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Blue Hole.

I’m something of a diver myself. And this game seemed to come out of the blue. Suddenly, everyone was playing a game called Dave the Diver and I was like wait.. what.. how did I miss this? Not only that, but it is a restaurant manager, another genre that I love to dabble in.

I haven’t seen any gameplay or looked into the gameplay loop as I would like to experience it for myself, but based on the steam description it is giving me Moonlighter vibes. Gather by day, profit by night (or which ever way around it goes). I have downloaded the demo on my Switch so providing it is still available, I am excited to get a taste of what the gameplay is and how the vibes feel.

You can buy DAVE THE DIVER here.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Developer: Larian Studios

Release Date: 3 August 2023

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a story-rich, party-based RPG set in the universe of Dungeons & Dragons, where your choices shape a tale of fellowship and betrayal, survival and sacrifice, and the lure of absolute power.

The fear of missing out was very intense at the release of Baldur’s Gate 3. It is one of those games that took over the lives of seemingly everyone around me, and had so much genuine praise.

The last time I saw this much hype was Elden Ring, which I actually bought on launch – a thing I rarely do – because it felt like a moment of gaming history that I didn’t want to miss. The only reason that I didn’t do the same for BG3 is because it is such a huge game, and I knew I didn’t have the time to get the most out of it.

I am very fortunate to have been gifted the game so as soon as I feel I can give it the attention it deserves, I will dive straight in and I cannot wait for that moment! I don’t believe I have played anything like it before and it is sure to be a heck of an experience.

You can buy Baldur’s Gate 3 here.

Under The Waves

Developer: Parallel Studio

Release Date: 29 August 2023

Stan, a professional diver in the North Sea, is struggling to overcome a life-changing loss during an extended mission underwater. Stuck in his self-imposed solitude, he starts to experience strange events and will have to make the most significant choice of his life…

I was sold when I saw that Under the Waves was taking place in the North Sea. As I mentioned above, I used to scuba dive so when a game includes diving it always piques my interest. This one even more so as the North Sea is my home sea and the one I am most familiar with.

The other factor really drawing me in is that it doesn’t appear to be horror. With narrative and exploration being the driving force I feel a lot more confident in trying the game out.

The overall theme of the game is grief and while that can be hit and miss, I am always open to trying games that deal with these subjects as I have been helped immeasurably by them in the past. Having said that, I do feel like they are best played under certain circumstances, so this one will definitely be a personal game as opposed to a stream game.

You can buy Under the Waves here.

Chants of Sennaar

Developer: Rundisc

Release Date: 5 September 2023

Legend says that one day, a traveller will reunite the Peoples of the Tower who are unable to communicate with each other. Observe, listen, and decipher ancient languages in a fascinating universe inspired by the myth of Babel.

I have already written about Chants of Sennaar, as it was my favourite demo that I tried on the PS5. It left a huge impression and I am still just as eager to play the full game as I was when I first tried it.

The beautiful minimalism engaged me in a way I could not have expected, engendering a trust in the player to discover what is needed, while at the same time feeling extremely user friendly. This is something that I appreciate more and more as I play more games and I believe to be an art in itself.

The type of puzzle that the game presents alone is something that I really enjoy. But paired with the art style, colour pallete and atmosphere, it turned into a sensory experience that put me into my favourite kind of zen. One part of my brain is chugging away at the dopamine from the progression and the other is completely and utterly relaxed. No overwhelm, no underwhelm, just the absolute balance of whelm in the best possible way.

I wrote about Chants of Sennaar in my ‘10 PlayStation 5 Demos‘ post.

Starfield

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Release Date: 6 September 2023

Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4.

While Starfield reviews have been middling, I would still like to make my own opinion on this one. As much as I have seen some damning reveiws, I have also seen people get exactly what they hoped for and have a lot of fun with it.

I can’t help but wonder how much of the criticism has stemmed from the impossibly high expectations Bethesda themselves set for the game. I am not denying that the game could be lacking in some departments, but things always feel worse when you are expecting a complete game changer. That is why I am so interested in going in with low expectations and seeing how I find it.

I am not in the biggest rush however, as I suspect DLC will be coming and based on my experience with Skyrim, I’d rather play the complete version of the game.

You can buy Starfield here.

COCOON

Developer: Geometric Interactive

Release Date: 29 September 2023

From Jeppe Carlsen, the lead gameplay designer of LIMBO and INSIDE — COCOON takes you on an adventure across worlds within worlds. Master world-leaping mechanics and solve intricate puzzles to unravel a cosmic mystery.

I shrugged off the buzz surrounding Cocoon because I thought it was going to be too ‘smart’ for me. I remember seeing the reveal trailer and thinking ‘puzzle game, cool, I have no idea what is going on’.

I was surprised when reviews started releasing and solidifying that the game seems to be way more approachable than I expected, and all of the positive critique appealed to me. From then on, I went into avoidance mode and decided I would like to try it out myself. Hopefully I will find some time to have a Game Pass Shabananza and this is very high up on the priority list.

You can buy COCOON here.

Slay the Princess

Developer: Black Tabby Games

Release Date: 23 October 2023

You’re here to slay the princess. Don’t believe her lies.

I played the demo for an Indie Showcase a while ago and to this day it remains my favourite. I already wrote about why in the post linked below, but TL;DR It’s fantastic.

The only issue with playing this game is that I really would like to Let’s Play it. The problem is that I have no time to record, and I have already promised a Let’s Play of another game before I could get around to this one. So it is very high on the list of games that I want to cover, as soon as life allows.

I wrote about Slay the Princess in my ‘Indie Showcase #51-#100‘ post. I also recorded a first look for my Indie Showcase series.

My Time at Sandrock

Developer: Pathea Games

Release Date: 2 November 2023

Travel to the desert community of Sandrock and take on the role of a fledgling Builder. Use your trusty toolset to gather resources, construct machines, and turn your run-down workshop into a well-oiled production facility to save the town from the jaws of economic ruin!

Veterans of my channel will know that I loved My Time at Portia. It wasn’t without its problems but it provided so much joy both on and off stream, as well as some mindless play when I needed it. This made Sandrock a must play for me.

A long time ago I did play the Sandrock demo on stream. The main thing I remember is that I noticed improvements that made the game immediatly smoother to play. Fast forward to the games release and word of mouth confirms, it is like My Time at Portia but better. That is everything that I hoped for and I love knowing this exists ready for a time that I need a comfort game.

I played the demo of My Time at Sandrock on stream.

Isn’t it wild that this list isn’t even exhaustive? Here are some more that didn’t make the top 10 but I still would love to play.

  • Abscission
  • The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
  • The Game of Fourtune
  • The Isle Tide Hotel
  • Jusant
  • Killer Frequency
  • Moonstone Island
  • Murderous Muses
  • Oxenfree 2
  • The Pale Beyond
  • This Bed We Made
  • Underground Blossom

Thanks 2023!

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10 Games I Must Play From 2022

2022 has been a phenomenal year for games. I personally rarely play games as they release, which means I am going to be feasting for years to come. Since my 2022 games post was a celebration of games both past and present, I also wanted to make a post specifically about games that released this year. For every game I play another 10 release that I want to try. This makes it hard to keep up, so I thought I would pick out 10 that have piqued the peak of my interest.

For reference, I have played 6 games that released this year (not including during 12 Days of Game Pass)

  • Elden Ring
  • Stray
  • Escape Academy
  • The Quarry
  • Powerwash Simulator
  • The Past Within

This of course leave many games untouched. As always, picking only 10 was extremely difficult. But here are the games I am most hyped to try from this year, in release order!

19th May – Eternal threads – Cosmonaut Studios

This is an indie game that is set in the north of England. As a northerner myself, that would be enough to get my interest but I also played the demo. I had a fun time with it. I love when games let you explore something that has already happened (Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture being another example) so I am so very down to pick this one up and piece it all together.

You can see more here.

24th June – AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative – Spike Chunsoft., Ltd.

I only played AI: The Somnium Files for the first time this year which is great timing for me, having the sequel readily available. I haven’t heard much about this one as I have purposefully avoided anything about it, but even the screenshots on Steam leave so many questions. I’m going to need some answers.

You can buy it here.

30th August – Immortality – Sam Barlow/Half Mermaid

I love FMV. I love mysteries. Why havent I played this yet you may ask? I DONT KNOW, I NEED TO OK! I was already interested in what the game may have to offer, but multiple 10/10 ratings and awards/nominations mean I need to get to this one STAT.

Check it out here or it is currently on Game Pass.

22nd September – Beacon Pines – Hiding Spot

I played the demo for Beacon Pines a while ago and really enjoyed it. It has been long enough that I have forgotten a lot of the specifics but I do remember the lovely art, the cool story book narrative puzzle structure and an almost ‘Night in the Woods’ vibe. It is currently on Game Pass so I must jump on that opportunity to play it.

You can get it on Steam here or it is also currently on Game Pass.

28th September – The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow – Cloak and Dagger Games

This is another game that I played the demo of and wanted more. The atmosphere and art were great, and thankfully that is as much as I remember. Once I play a demo, I tend to internalise the want to play but forget a lot of the rest which means that I can enjoy the discovery again when I finally play the full game.

Get more information here.

13th October – The Case of the Golden Idol  – Color Gray Games

I played the demo for The Case of the Golden Idol relatively recently, much more so than the previous two games but much to the same effect. I immediatly knew I needed to play the rest of the game and locked it away until I get the chance for the full story. I do remember exploring wacky scenareos and collecting key words in order to piece together exactly what went down. It was great fun and I absolutely want more.

You can see more here.

9th November – God of War: Ragnarok – Santa Monica Studio

It is probably very obvious that I want to play Ragnarok. I played God of War for the first time in 2022 and while it isn’t in my favourite games of all time, it was extremely enjoyable. I have actively avoided as much as I can from the sequel and everything that I did see was another thing too much. It looks outstanding.

More info on the PS Store here.

15th November – Pentiment – Obsidian Entertainment

I have heard that I will enjoy this one and I 100% believe it. Narrative based, mysteries, detective work, choices, historical setting, murder. Just put it in my veins please.

Pentiment is on Game Pass or you can get it on Steam here.

18th November – The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me – Supermassive Games

I love playing The Dark Pictures Anthology games and was very hyped for this one as it is my favourite premise of the series so far. The reviews are dissapointing, but I am only keeping them in the back of my mind because I am one of the few that thinks Man of Medan is much better people give it credit for. As always, I will go into this one with an open mind and enjoy the inevitably bloody ride!

More details here.

6th December – Kynseed – Pixelcount Studios

This game has been in Early Access for a long time and I have had it on my Wishlist forever. It recently released in full and I must play it. I have a huge soft spot for cosy games but I am equally hit and miss with them. I love experiencing different applications of them and analysing what made one more successful to me over another, and this one looks like its own unique take worth some time.

You can buy it here.

If you would like to see a more extensive list, I’ve got you. Click here for a list of (at the time of writing) 51 games that have my attention. I will be keeping this up to date so if some of them have vanished I do apologise. That does however mean that I am making my way through the backlog so that is a win. Thanks to Game Pass I am able to dive into some of these right away, what an exciting time!

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