Look, let’s be real. If you just look at the headlines, you'd think 2024 was a "quiet" year for gaming. People kept saying it was a "gap year" while we all collectively wait for GTA VI to show up and break the internet. But honestly? That narrative is kinda trash.
While the suits in boardrooms were panicking about layoffs and "market corrections," we actually got some of the weirdest, most ambitious, and flat-out best games in a decade. 2024 wasn't a slow year. It was the year of the "Middle Class" game and the indie breakout.
The Heavy Hitters That Actually Landed
We have to talk about the big ones first. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 did exactly what it always does: dominated the charts. It’s officially the best-selling game of 2024 in the US. But the real story isn’t just another military shooter. It’s the stuff that came out of left field.
Take Helldivers 2. Nobody—and I mean nobody—predicted a co-op bug-squashing simulator would become a cultural phenomenon. It sold like crazy because it was actually fun and didn't feel like a second job. Then you have Black Myth: Wukong. It wasn't just a "souls-like"; it was a massive moment for the Chinese dev scene, proving they can go toe-to-toe with the biggest Western AAA studios.
Why 2024 Was Secretly the Year of the RPG
If you like numbers going up and deep stories, you were eating good this year. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was a massive, sprawling mess of a game in the best way possible. It’s huge. Like, "I need to take a week off work just to see the grass" huge.
But then you have Dragon's Dogma 2.
It’s janky.
It’s weird.
Your AI companions won't stop talking about ladders.
And yet, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences of the year because it respects the player’s intelligence. It doesn't hold your hand. It just lets you get eaten by a griffin while you're trying to deliver some flowers.
And we can't ignore Metaphor: ReFantazio. The Persona team decided to do high fantasy, and surprise, surprise—it’s a masterpiece. It basically took the "social link" formula and polished it until it blinded everyone.
The Indie Explosion: Balatro and Beyond
If you haven't played Balatro, what are you even doing? It’s a poker roguelike. Sounds boring? It’s basically digital crack. LocalThunk, the solo dev, managed to make a game that people spent hundreds of hours on for less than the price of a fancy lunch.
Then there's Animal Well. It’s a "Metroidvania" that feels like a fever dream you had in 1988. It's dense with secrets—the kind of stuff that makes people on Reddit go absolutely insane trying to solve.
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The Misconception of the "Empty" Schedule
People kept pointing at the lack of "First Party" Sony or Microsoft blockbusters early in the year as proof that the industry was stalling. That’s such a narrow way to look at video games releasing in 2024.
- College Football 25 returned after a decade and became the best-selling sports game in US history.
- Stellar Blade proved that there's still a massive market for tight, single-player action games.
- Silent Hill 2 Remake actually turned out to be good? Everyone was ready to hate it, but Bloober Team actually stuck the landing.
The reality is that 2024 was a year of diversity. We got Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 for the "big action" fix and The Plucky Squire for pure, creative whimsy.
What This Means for 2025 and 2026
The industry is changing. We’re seeing a shift away from "safe" $200 million sequels that take 7 years to make. Instead, mid-budget hits and polished indies are filling the gaps.
If you're still catching up on the backlog, you've got a lot of work to do. The "quiet" year actually left us with about five different Game of the Year contenders.
Actionable Insights for Your Backlog
If you want to experience the best of video games releasing in 2024, don't just follow the sales charts.
- Try the Weird Stuff: Download Balatro or Animal Well. They cost a fraction of a AAA title and will likely stay in your brain longer.
- Look at the RPGs: If you missed Dragon's Dogma 2 or Metaphor, these are "once in a generation" type games.
- Don't Ignore DLC: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is basically a full game in its own right. It’s arguably better than most full releases this year.
- Check the Revivals: Games like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown proved that old franchises can be reborn with the right mechanics.
The industry might be in a state of flux, but the games themselves? They've rarely been better. Stop waiting for the next "big thing" and play what’s right in front of you.
Check your favorite digital storefront for "Best of 2024" sales, usually happening around seasonal breaks, to snag these titles at a discount. If you're on a budget, prioritize Balatro—it offers the highest "hours-played-to-dollar" ratio of anything released this year. For those with a PS5, Astro Bot is the definitive "feel-good" experience that justifies the hardware.