Before I launch into the list, it is probably a good idea for me to explain how I interacted with games through 2024. I play games when I can – my schedule is so busy that I often can’t get sucked into major games even if they are enticing. Instead, I often watch games while I am busy doing something else. This list is a good mixture of both of those things. I am also a big horror gamer, so there are a few horror games that I consider to be top tier this year.
Dead by Daylight
I can’t really have a list without this on it. It is my main go-to game, and when I’m not playing it with my partner or friends, I am watching my favorite streamers. (If you’re interested in catching streamers, I highly recommend: SpookyLoopz, OhTofu, and HybridPanda.)
In case you’re unfamiliar with Dead by Daylight (DBD for short), it is an asymmetrical horror game where you either play as one of four survivors trying to power generators to escape, or the killer trying to catch survivors and sacrifice them on large hooks to The Entity – the powerful creature that controls the realm of the game. As a player, I definitely lean more survivor – as a watcher, I watch a mixture of the two.
This year had some great highlights for DBD, a game that is constantly updated by Behavior Interactive. They introduced a 2v8 mode, doubling the number of both survivors and gamers that was highly praised by players. They also previewed a variety of new characters, including: survivors Lara Croft and Alan Wake, and killers Vecna from Dungeons and Dragons and Dracula.
As you can tell by the new characters for 2024, DBD often collaborates with other franchises to appeal to a wide variety of players. For 2025, I am excited for the 10 year celebration of DBD – where the long awaited collaboration with Five Nights at Freddy’s will be launched in June.
Cult of the Lamb
Another game I play often is Cult of the Lamb. This game is one of those that is so easy to pick up and play a few levels, put it down for a couple of months, and pick up again without missing a beat. It is a cute – yet horric – little game where you play as a Lamb that is destined to rule the entirety of the world in which it lives. You run a cult, and can choose whether you want to run it as a benevolent dictator or a compassionate savior. (I have played both ways, and either can be fun for different reasons.)
In 2024, Cult of the Lamb introduced a new Goat character who is meant to entire as a player two. I have not had the opportunity to play with someone else yet – but this makes me excited!
Astro Bot
I don’t think any top 10 game list of 2024 would be complete without Astrobot. I just got a PS5 last year, and thoroughly enjoyed playing through the Astrobot accompaniment as a way to get used to the new, bulkier PS controller. It was adorable and challenging without being TOO challenging. These same aesthetics/mechanics continued onto the full game released this year by Sony – just more of that cute lil bot that stole everyone’s heart. This game is perfect for those who love gaming but don’t have time to dedicate to mastering a game.
Unpacking
I was well aware of Unpacking when it first came out, but did not have a chance to play it until this year. It honestly came at the most perfect time, as I just moved here a year ago and had been struggling with finding connection in my new space. The game is very basic: you unpack a variety of boxes in different rooms. That’s it. But the story along with it is revealed with each new box, each new room. You begin to learn alot about the owner just by the things she keeps and carries with her to each new location. Such a sweet message, such a sweet game. Highly recommend for those easy game seeking girlies.
The Mortuary Assistant
Moving on to my top horror games of the year – this first one was actually not new this year, but continues to get new updates that put it at the top of the list. The Mortuary Assistant allows you to play as Rebecca, a recent mortuary school graduate who is an apprentice at River Fields Mortuary. The catch is: one of the bodies are possessed by a demon, and you must figure out which one before it possess you. The jump scares in this game could be seen as easy – but the storyline is one that will grab you immediately. There are several different endings (depending on what you unlock as you play), and each one is so masterfully created. Can’t recommend this enough – though, you may not want to play it at night.
The Cabin Factory
My favorite 2024 horror game is The Cabin Factory, a simple ~60 minute game. You play as a factory worker whose sole job is to determine where the small cabins that are mass produced by your factory are haunted or not. You do so by examining the cabins. While examining, different pieces of a larger narrative are revealed – and the story is fantastic. This game is like other psychological horror walking simulators – think Exit 8. It also has some Observation Duty-like qualities to it. If you cannot play this, I highly recommend watching it.
Speaking of watching, here are the games that I spent the most time watching this year:
Balatro
Again, a necessary part of any 2024 gaming list. This game took the gaming by storm – and was SUCH an easy game to watch while writing/grading/doing chores/etc. I did play the game a bit, but I logged far more hours watching.
Mario Party: Jamboree
I know Mario Party doesn’t seem like the type of game you should watch – but I watched a LOT of it. In particular, a group of some of my favorite streamers would play this game together. They’re hilarious, so viewing them battle each other and steal each other’s stars was incredibly entertaining. It is almost like this generation’s Monopoly – guaranteed to ruin friendships. The minigames are great, and as someone who has played this franchise since the beginning, I think this is one of the best installments in a long time.
Shadows of Doubt
In this game, you play as a private investigator during the 80’s in a fictional dystopian town. You are tasked with solving a variety of crimes, including murder. This game wasn’t new in 2024, but it had a great update that I have been watching…including a sniper type murder that is especially difficult to solve. I watch this game often because the art style is appealing and the crimes/murders are generated at random. Also, the person I watch incorporates Twitch chat so that members of his community are the residents of his city. It is a wonderful way for streamers to interact with their chatters, and overall a highly watchable game.
The Binding of Isaac
My final game of 2024 is one I have been watching for years: The Binding of Isaac. The rogue-like game is something I probably watch everyday. Another game that can play in the background while I do my work, The Binding of Isaac randomizes each room, each item, and even has a character that starts differently every time. If you’re looking for something that is highly re-playable, this is your game.
[Editor’s Note: Authors were told to approach their game of the year lists however they wanted, including listing their favorite games they personally played this year regardless of release year.]
