My Games of 2024

Well, 2024 is past us and I need to keep my streak going of posting GOTY lists each year. Unfortunately, I am going to have to keep things short and simple this time. After taking care of 3 kids, I only have so much energy at the end of the day. Hopefully next year I will be able to write more about the games I love. This list will be counting down from 10 to 1.

ON TO THE LIST!

10. Yakuza 0

Recommended to me by @bigsocrates. Played a few hours and loved what I've seen so far. Would've played more but I got distracted by my #3 game. Will get back to it.

9. Chants of Senaar

Good, thinky game. If I ever own a Steamdeck, I'll go back and finish it.

8. Final Fantasy VII Remake/Intergrade

Finally got around to finishing this game after dropping off on my PS4 way back when. Excited to see what Rebirth has in store.

7. Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward

This game actually made me scream out in anguish as I watched Haurchefant sacrifice himself to save me.

6. The Rise of the Golden Idol

Mindbendy, just like its predecessor. Still not sure what the antagonist's endgame was had he succeeded.

5. Lil Gator Game

My actual favorite game from the Game Pass Game Club. (Sorry, Bluey) Played this with my oldest son. Was a nice exercise to translate the game quick enough to not break the pace and keep him playing.

4. The Case of the Golden Idol

This hooked me. Played in all on Game Pass, then on Steam to get the achievements there. Still working on the last DLC case. Wins over Rise for having an antagonist with a vision.

3. World of Warcraft: The War Within

I did not want to put this here. It took away SO much game time from other games. I had been over 15 years clean of WoW but the 20th anniversary stuff got me back in and after that, most other games were left forgotten. I'll try to get out of its hold. I have FFVII Rebirth to play in a few weeks.

2. Balatro

This game rules. Not a big deal in Japan, but it brought a smile to my face when my oldest asked me to download it on his Switch so he could play it and also recommend it to his friends.

1. Star Ocean: The Second Story R

Quality of Life.

Quality of Life.

Quality of Life.

This game did so much to streamline the grinding of levels and skills compared to the PSX game. I did not play the PSP version before so if a lot of the QoL was done on that version, props to the team. Also bringing back the original voice acting cast (I played in Japanese)from the PSX version to record their lines and including the VO from the PSP version to the game was great. Not only that, but allowing the player to mix and match which version they wanted which character to be voiced by was a very nice touch. So much more I want to write about this game.

It's perfect.

Honorable Mention: Paranormasight

Deserved to be played more. I really should stop playing MMO's. From what I've played, it's earned the praise.

Here's to 2025!