Mike
Every year is a good year for games these days, and while last year saw Baldur’s Gate 3 sweep awards ceremonies, a new Zelda entry, and plenty more, this year has been no slouch either.
From Elden Ring’s mammoth Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and the adorable Astrobot, there’s plenty to play. There are also some amazing games you may not have had the chance to play.
With that in mind, here are some of the best games you may have missed in 2024.
Animal Well
In a sea of Metroidvania platformers, how do you do something truly remarkable? That’s the question posed to Animal Well , which was developed by a solo developer over the course of seven years.
The answer, it turns out, is to layer the game so that anyone can finish it, but some of its deepest secrets will take years to solve. Whether you’re interested in those ambitious plans or not, Animal Well is a slick, 2D platformer with a gorgeous, lo-fi artstyle.
The Rogue Prince of Persia
Two games bearing the Prince of Persia name launched this year, and neither of them got the attention they deserved. And while The Lost Crown is a decidedly prettier affair, it’s Rogue Prince of Persia I’ve found myself coming back to.
A dream mash-up between the legendary franchise and the team that worked on Dead Cells, Rogue Prince of Persia mixes loot, wall-running, and an absolutely fantastic soundtrack to bring its world of pastel colours to life.
Capes
First thing’s first - no one wears capes in Capes. This turn-based, tactical title feels a lot like Marvel’s Midnight Suns, but it’s a little less interest with superheroes becoming pals and more keen on telling genuinely funny jokes while saving the world.
It’s an homage to comic book absurdity, while also offering plenty of tactical depth and challenge for even turn-based experts. Did I mention it’s really, really funny, too?
Shadows of Doubt
The trouble with being a detective in a video game is that there tends to be only one answer to a case, and once it’s solved, the mystery of the game is gone.
Shadows of Doubt counters this by making its investigations procedurally generated, meaning you’ll find something new to uncover in its noir-style world each time. It’s still a little buggy, but what’s there is already a fantastic product worth checking out.
Tactical Breach Wizards
Another very, very funny game in the turn-based tactics genre, Tactical Breach Wizards is as silly as the name suggests. It takes place in a world of magic, but it’s deemed as just another part of life.
It’s a world where your crack squad will be sending enemies flying out of windows one minute, then come face-to-face with a Traffic Warlock the next. Its fun, quippy dialog persists throughout, and just writing about it now has me looking to start yet another playthrough.
