Feature: Nintendo Life's Alternative Game Awards 2024

Most Played Non-2024 Game

Winner: Stardew Valley

Vampire Survivors just won't die, but update 1.6 saw multiple NL staffers heading back to Stardew Valley.

We imagine Balatro will be a frontrunner for the 'Scourge of the Backlog' award next year, but it's also quite possible Stardew will return yet again. You can't keep a good game down.

Runners-up: Vampire Survivors, Pikmin 4, Mario Wonder

Best Game We Keep Blathering On About That You Really Should Play 2024

Winner: Can of Wormholes

With so many games, it's easy to miss good 'uns (we do). We're very glad we didn't miss Can of Wormholes, though. Plenty of puzzlers deserved your attention this year, and this off-the-wall indie gem was one of the best.

Yes, yes, we've already highlighted this in our Hidden Gems round-up. Editor's prerogative is being exercised all over this category - runners-up too.

Runners-up: Pocket Card Jockey, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

Most 'Huh?' Nintendo Moment 2024

Winner: Nintendo launches new hardware! It's an alarm clock!... It's an alarm clock?

With the whole gaming world awaiting the reveal of Nintendo's new console, the company goes and shadow-drops an alarm clock. The firm's quality-of-life initiative was thought to be on the permanent back-burner, especially since Satoru Iwata's passing in 2015, but the devs were just waiting for the right time to strike.

And with the date for public sales postponed in Japan, at least, (you can only currently order it direct from Nintendo worldwide), it seems to be doing well. Don't get us wrong - Alarmo is absolutely a fun little device. We just love how its release felt like the biggest troll move of the year. Touché, Nintendo.

Runners-up: #WhoIsEmio, No online leaderboards for Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition

Most Prolific eShop Publisher Of Total Rubbish 2024

Winner: Aldora Games

2024 saw an unholy eruption of bilge on the Switch eShop, spearheaded by various publishers pumping out lowest-effort product that grabs attention enough to reel in people who don't know any better.

With plenty to choose from, we're pinning the badge on Aldora Games, a company that vomits out apparently AI-generated crap on a weekly basis. In the last eight days, we've had: Christmas Stories: The adventures of Santa Claus (19th Dec); Little Animals: The Wild Race (19th Dec); Bimfli & His Time Travels: Egypt (20th Dec); High School Love: A Visual Novel Romance (23rd Dec); and The Little Gnomes: The Secret of the Magical Forest (24th Dec).

Avoid as you would a rampaging elephant. Wearing Level 70 Rusty Syringe battle armour. Who's just stepped on a Lego brick.

Runners-up: GOGAME CONSOLE PUBLISHER, Pakotime

The 'It's About Bloody Time' Award 2024

Winner: Zelda gets her own game

We liked so much about Echoes of Wisdom (especially its advice that a good sleep will always improve a bad situation), but the Princess of Hyrule getting the starring role in the series that carries her name felt like a wrong finally made right.

What's that? Zelda's Adventure, you say? You're absolutely right, of course - this is technically Zelda's second starring role. Well done. Now let's never speak of it again.

Runners-up: Peach gets her own game, TTYD remake, Pocket Card Jockey on Switch

Biggest Surprise 2024

Winner: (Lego) Horizon on Switch

With Microsoft open to putting its games on all platforms, we wouldn't be surprised if a flagship Xbox game came to Switch. We've got Minecraft already, of course. But the announcement that Sony's Horizon was coming to Switch was only slightly less surprising thanks to the Lego tie-in.

Sure, kids love Lego, kids love Nintendo - it makes sense to have LEGO Horizon Adventures on Switch. Any chance we could get Astro Bot, Sony? You can make him Lego, if you like.

Runners-up: Nintendo Music, Alarmo, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, a new Zelda game

And that's it for this year! Let us know if you've got other nominations for any of the above categories down below.