Not sure who hit the fast-forward button, but the year is already half-over. Despite the swift passage of time, we've managed to squeeze in plenty of gameplay over the past few months. While some great titles from 2023 still have quite a bit of our attention (looking at you, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Diablo IV, Marvel's Spider-Man 2), there are plenty of solid recently released ones.
In no particular order, here are some of the best video games of 2024, so far:
1. Tekken 8
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Who knew family reunions could be so violent! In this latest installment in the long-running Tekken fighting game series, father Kazuya Mishima and son Jin Kazama are back for a (supposed) final confrontation, along with Jin's mom, Jun Kazama, and other familiar faces. In addition to the usual characters and moves, Tekken 8 introduced new fighting mechanics, keeping things fresh.
2. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
(Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
The newest addition to the Prince of Persia series is side-scrolling action set in a beautiful landscape. In Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, you play as a warrior named Sargon on a rescue mission, solving puzzles, using acrobatics (parkour!) to navigate the world, and engaging in combat with a variety of enemies.
3. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
(Switch)
Mario is seeking treasure and looking for Peach in this papery title. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a remake of the beloved GameCube classic and, while faithful to the original, it builds on that game and its gameplay, offering more to new players. It’s a delightful blend of nostalgia and innovation.
4. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
(PS5)
The action RPG Final Fantasy VII Rebirth picks up after the events of Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020). The game is engaging, engrossing, and challenging but rewarding. There is so much to explore and so many details in what is reportedly the second part of a planned trilogy, it's hard to leave. Bring on the third one, please.
5. Princess Peach: Showtime!
(Switch)
The whole world is a stage for Princess Peach as she gets her moment to shine. Princess Peach: Showtime! might feel a little rushed and simplistic in spots, but it's an overall fun one. And it's great to see Peach as the protagonist, owning the spotlight.
6. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
(PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC)
Yes, the award-winning base game released in 2022, but the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expands so much, it makes revisiting or rediscovering this game, or picking it up for the first time, an immersive treat.
7. Sticky Business
(Switch, PC)
In Sticky Business, the work never ends and will pile up on you, if you're not careful, but somehow it's all very relaxing. This cozy game has you running a sticker shop where you design stickers, add listings to your site, fulfill and pack orders, read notes from your customers and ship off your creations, sometimes with little treats. Sticky Business is creative, calming, and has a sweet, inclusive vibe.
8. Stardew Valley 1.6
(Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC)
The anticipated 1.6 update for Stardew Valley has yet to release for consoles, but it makes the list anyway. The update brings so much new content to the popular game and breathes fresh life into this ultimate cozy life sim (though many of us never slowed or stopped playing). There's a reason Stardew is the title against which so many cozy and farming sim games are compared.
Whether you’re into fighting games, RPGs, side-scrolling adventures, or the cozy vibes of managing a virtual farm or shop, 2024 has offered something for every type of gamer. And we’re only halfway through the year!
