It doesn't have to be games you played to completion. It doesn't have to be your most played games of 2024. You may have only popped in for ten minutes or so. But what are the top five games that left a lasting impression with you in 2024?
Anonymous;Code
I might have made a mistake by beginning my experience with the Science Adventure series with Steins;Gate. I thought that story was amazing. Sadly, neither Robotics;Notes nor Chaos;Head came within spitting distance of Steins;Gate. Although I haven't played Anonymous;Code for very long, it is beginning stronger than my previous two experiences.
Vostok Inc.
I feel this is officially in my rotation of games I return to often. It's an Asteroid clone / sim-management lite (roguelite ?) mechanic. The simple process of investing spacebucks into property in order to eventually passively generate trillions of gagillions of spacebucks hits directly into whatever portion of the brain produces dopamine. Straight lethal levels of "just five more minutes".
Infernax
One of the better search / action games I've played in recent memory. The nods to Castlevania II (and other classic Konami properties) are layered throughout the game. The platforming can be tense. The gameplay feels tight and right. And the alignment system, which can lead to multiple different endings, is the cherry on top. A masterclass of the genre.
Monster Hunter Rise
Between late 2023 and early 2024 I played 325 hours of MHR. I ended up stopping at research level 220 because I felt as though my lance build wasn't going to improve without excessive grinding. It's the first Monster Hunter game I played start to finish. Needless to say, my anticipation for Monster Hunters Wilds arriving in a few months is considerable.
Remnant: From the Ashes
This was memorable because I played it with friends. If I had attempted this solo, I might have pulled out what little remains of the hair on top of my head. It's a really good third person shooter. But I could see how these boss fights could be a quitting point for more than a few folks.
Switch Physical Collection - 1,381 games (as of January 19th, 2024)
Favorite Quote: "Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age the child is grown, and puts away childish things. Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies." -Edna St. Vincent Millay
oooooh great topic!! okay i only played 435 hours this year sadly BUT heres my top 5:
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
definitely, definitely, in my top three favorite games of all time. the emotion and meaning in the story was just perfect, and the battle system was fun and even challenging at times (which i like) and monolith soft’s huge open world is just so impressive! every minute put into this game was golden, and im excited to check out the other adventures in this series!
2. Earthbound
i heard so many great things about this game, of how influential and astoundingly deep it was, and those proved to be true. i haven't finished, but mannnn its rly good
Mario Party Jamboree
this one i got more recently, when family came over for thanksgiving week. i got rid of superstars earlier this year, because i was getting tired of the limited content, but MPJ has just blew me away with it’s endless modes and challenges! so fun for family game nights, feel like this should have been a launch title for Switch 2!
Nintendo World Championships
okay beforw i played this game, i was absolute TRASH at most NES games. now, i can beat super mario bros easily (help this sounds like a nintendo ad 😔) really fun game for a low price tho
5. animal crossing new horizons cause its ANIMAL CROSSING NEW HORIZONS.
ok thats my boring list ✌🏻😹
not as active as i used to be :(
just finsihed earthbound!
1. Zelda Echoes of Wisdom - Just absolutely loved the gameplay, art, music, and finally getting to play as Zelda.
2. Peach Showtime - The theatre nerd hidden inside me loved all the theatre tropes and references and I really enjoyed the creativity of the game.
3. Picross LogiartGrimoire - I always like Picross but something about adding an adorable npc and plot and unlockables just made this game in particular a really a fun experience.
4. Dragon Quest Treasures - I played a few rpgs this year, but I had the most fun with this one. Basically just an exploration game, but the characters are all colorful and adorable and it was always fun just to explore weird nooks and crannies and find new treasure. And the game sets up the many quests quite well so that if you prefer to explore on your own, you still progress the story.
5. Super Mario Maker 2 - this game is on my top 5 every year. Although I played less this year than in the past, it is still my go-to game when I just want to chill for a few minutes or want to challenge myself or just want some fun or chaotic platforming.
Those 5 are also all in my top 10 most-played games of the year.
I'll only offer my top 3 because I don't get through many games in a year.
1. Hogwarts Legacy - the feeling that I'm living in the Wizarding World more than makes up for any sluggishness playing this on the Switch. The sense of immersion was wonderful. This was the first game I played that was fully voiced with no subtitles in sight.
2. Tears of the Kingdom - I don't need to justify this one.
3. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles - I'd never played a game of this genre before, and was hooked. Had a few unexpectedly late nights because I was so engrossed with the story.
I game across all three consoles (Switch, Xbox Series X and PS5), so my time is pretty shared here and I don't have as many games to offer for Switch.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Bought this in November as I was in the middle of other games when it released and I didn't want it to be shelved and forgotten about. It was worth the wait and a solid entry to the Zelda series. Took me more than 35 hours to finish but I didn't exactly rush. Loved the ingenuity of it all.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind
I'm a sucker for '90s beat-em-ups and this was a refreshing nostalgia trip, complete with references and Easter eggs pertaining to the show. I just rolled the credits on it today. Loved it, especially since I was big on the MMPR and MMPR: The Movie games on Sega Game Gear. Long live the 2D beat-em-up genre!
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Regrettably I haven't finished this one yet (I hope to), despite being right into it when I got it really early this year and putting in a few hours. What's not to love about a side-scrolling Metroidvania? The graphics are great, the combat and gameplay flow nicely and the power-ups are rewarding.
Oh good, I don't have to have them finished, lol. No particular order.
Super Mario Party Jamboree - This might be my favorite game from 2024! From what I've played, the boards and minigames are great fun, and so is the Koopathlon mode. I also like how there's a lot of playable characters in it, and it even looks fantastic for a Switch game. I would say this is the best Mario Party game on the Switch, hands down. Oh, and it has Western Land in it!
Princess Peach: Showtime! - Haven't finished it yet, but from what I've played, I really like it. It's full of charm and creativity, and I do like how there's all sorts of different themes in it. Love how Peach always dresses up for each theme, too. I didn't have much trouble adapting to all the different gameplay styles either, though the detective part is a bit difficult for me, lol.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - It's TotK. Need I say more? Though I will mention that I've finished it this year!
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - A great classic-styled Zelda game that's a little different from the others. Love the toy-like aesthetic in this game and in the Link's Awakening remake, too. The echo mechanic is an interesting one for sure, though it can get a bit clunky cycling between the echoes later on in the game, since there's a boat load of them. That's my only critique with the game. I even like some of the NPCs!
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door - A very solid remake. There were a couple parts of the game that didn't sit well with me, but other than those it's still a really good game.
"Give yourself the gift of being joyfully you."
ACNH Name/Island: D-Pad/D-World
Dream Address: DA-1613-1378-1995
Playing: Sonic X Shadow Generations
1. Unicorn Overlord - Pretty much everything I could want from a tactical RPG. It's got a distinctive art style, a great soundtrack, and the gameplay to back it up. The story isn't quite up there with 13 Sentinels, I suppose, but that would be a tough act for anyone to follow and what there is has been far better integrated with the rest of the game.
2. Balatro - The breakout indie hit of the year. Not much else needs to be said.
3. Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - It's obviously not on anything like the same scale as TotK and has a few performance issues, but I still loved practically every moment of it and we didn't have to wait six years either.
4. Neva - A puzzle platformer raised to greater heights thanks to its fantastic visuals and storytelling. Anyone who enjoyed Gris should give this a look.
5. World of Goo 2 - We had a long wait for this sequel but it's worth it. It starts off quite similar to the first game but gets pretty wild later on. Would love to see a third game but that could be a while.
Honorable mentions go to The Thousand Year Door, Prince of Persia, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Princess Peach Showtime, Jamboree, Yars Rising and Lunar Lander Beyond.
1. Pikmin 3 Deluxe was a game I got this year and is another exceptional pikmin game. I loved the first two and this one did not disappoint.
2. Stardew Valley was a game I was avoiding because I knew it looked like something I would greatly enjoy. And when I finally decided to get it, enjoy it I did. I can't really say anything here that hasn't already been said about Stardew Valley but, it truly is fantastic.
3. Sonic X Shadow Generations is a game I got very recently and have been enjoying a ton. The Sonic generations part of it is cool but has a lot of annoying jank, but Shadow generations blew my mind with even the hub world itself. Although not perfect, this game is certainly a good time.
4. Paper Mario: TTYD was very great. The characters, the story, the locations, and the battle system all come together to make an incredible sequel to one of my favorite N64 games.
5. Banjo Kazooie is banjo kazooie. You all know how great it is. I started playing in 2023 but gave up quickly because I was confused by all the collectables, but when I returned in 2024, it all clicked. I understood why it was so loved and began to have a blast exploring new worlds, using unique abilities and chuckling at the witty dialogue.
Honorable Mentions: Echoes of Wisdom Animal Well (I didn't get this one on switch, otherwise I would have put it in 1st or 2nd place. I LOVE this game so much.)
Played a few games this year, although a decent chunk was taken up by FFVII Crisis Core/Rebirth on PS5. As far as Switch goes, there have been a few games that didn't quite grab me, but we'll give a top 5 a go!
1. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (including Future Redeemed DLC)
Can only echo what @OctolingKing13 has said above. I fell head-over-heels for this. The characters, the soundtrack, the world...the Switch isn't sold as a graphical powerhouse, but some of the visuals in the game are so striking. Plugged a lot of hours into this, as an adult gaming time is in relatively short supply, but it was so worth it. I've enjoyed all the XC games but this one will stay with me for a long time.
2. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Played a bit of this back in the day but started playing with my partner and we loved going through it as a multiplayer experience. Swapping theories and bouncing ideas off each other has been one of the more memorable multiplayer experiences we've had, as we weren't just sat staring at the TV the whole time. Looking forward to playing more in the series (just dipping our toes into The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles right now)
3. Portal 2
Again, another game my partner and I played together. An oldie but a goodie! The satisfaction you get from working out the solutions and the communication required to co-ordinate made us feel like very clever beans.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
I remember getting pretty excited when the trailer was first shown off. About time Zelda got her own game! The art style is cute, same as Link's Awakening, but it's not my favourite if I'm honest. I'm still not quite finished it, and I've enjoyed it well enough. I never find Zelda games "bad", it's a good version of what it is, but I feel like Zelda deserves better (would love something in the BOTW/TOTK art-style). I really hope it sells well so Nintendo see that there is a market for TLoZ games with a leading lady!
5. Advance Wars
Picked up Re-Boot Camp as I wanted something I could pick away at while on a long train journey. Owned the original on GBA and remember enjoying it but I never completed it. 2024 was a victory for 11-12 year old me! I've enjoyed a few tactical games the past couple of years (got Unicorn Overlord and 13 Sentinels still in the chamber) and I still think this holds up.
Honorable Mentions Star Ocean The Second Story R - wanted to like this so much more than I did! The art-style is great, but I didn't gel with the characters/story as I'd hoped Super Mario Bros Wonder - enjoyed what we played of it but never felt any great pull towards it. We ended up dropping it, not because we thought it was bad or anything, just kinda forgot about it. Venba - I love cooking so it was nice to see a game with cooking as a mechanic/narrative driver. Really made me want to cook more! A nice little game
1. Balatro (Switch Version)
2. Street Fighter 6 (Steam Version)
3. Brotato (Steam & Switch versions)
4. Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze (Switch)
5. Easy Come Easy Golf (Switch)
Runner Ups:
Mario Golf Super Rush
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser´s Fury
TOP 5 "I bought it but haven't played it yet"
1. Fire Emblem Engage + DLC
2. Mario Odyssey
3. Metroid Prime
4. Prince of Persia: Lost Crown + DLC
5. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
TOP 3 "I played a little, but I still didn't like it"
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Topic: Your five favorite games you played on Switch in 2024?
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