Hello everyone,
Welcome to Gaming Influence, a reboot of the same name I created in WrestleCorp. However, I will not only be giving my thoughts on certain video games and video game series but also on video game movies, video game anime, video game digital presentations, etc.
I'll rank my favorite video games for this Gaming Influence edition in 2024.
Before I start, my rankings will only be based on games that came out in 2024, including new original games, remakes, remasters, and ports with additional content that wasn't in the original game. My rankings will not include re-releases on other consoles and DLC unless it's a separate game with a physical copy (Ex. Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak). In addition, if your favorite games of 2024 aren't listed on my rankings, that doesn't mean it's a bad game, it's just that I haven't played the game or have no interest in it so keep that in mind.
Anyway, let's get started!
Here are some honorable mentions that I enjoyed, but didn't make it on the list:
Honorable Mentions: Helldivers II, Mario Vs. Donkey Kong, Penny's Big Breakaway, Zenless Zone Zero, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Neva, Palworld, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, World of Goo 2, Visions of Mana, Ys X: Nordics, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, Another Crab's Treasure, Infinity Nikki, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, ANIMAL WELL, Princess Peach: Showtime!, Another Code: Recollection
Now, let's start with my #20 favorite video game in 2024:
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a platformer developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. The game was released on Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC on October 22, 2024.
The original Sonic Generations that came out on PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 in 2011 was a great game and one of the best 3D Sonic games out there. Sonic X Shadow Generations is pretty much the same game as the original with improved graphics and better QoL improvements. However, the biggest new addition of this game is Shadow Generations and that part of the game is incredible. The level designs were great and giving more backstory to Shadow which is his year was amazing to see. If you love the original Sonic Generations, you’ll love Sonic X Shadow Generations, especially with the new content of Shadow Generations which feels like its own game within itself.
Here's my #19 favorite video game in 2024:
Super Mario Party Jamboree is a party game developed by Nintendo Cube and published by Nintendo. The game was released on Switch on October 17, 2024.
Mario Party games have significantly improved ever since Super Mario Party on Switch. Now, Super Mario Party Jamboree managed to become the best Mario Party game to date. The boards that they have in this game are great including the return of two classic ones and the amount of minigames included is insane too. Not only that, but the fact that you can play with up to twenty players online is insanity as this is truly the biggest Mario Party game of all time. It makes me very curious to see how they’ll top this, but until then, going to enjoy this game as much as I can.
Here's my #18 favorite video game in 2024:
Balatro is a poker-themed roguelike deck-building game developed by LocalThunk and published by Playstack. The game was released on Switch, PS5, and PC on February 20, 2024.
Even though there were a lot of great indie games this year, there was one that managed to make it on my favorite video games this year, and that was Balatro. I never thought a poker-themed roguelike deck-building game would be so fun and addicting to play, but this one did and it’s awesome. If you have any interest in this game, would recommend trying it out as it’s a lot of fun and addicting especially if you’re into poker.
Here's my #17 favorite video game in 2024:
Silent Hill 2 is a survival horror game developed by Bloober Team and published by Konami. The game was released on PS5 and PC on October 7, 2024.
The original Silent Hill 2 back on PS2 was an excellent game and despite how you feel about Bloober Team, they were able to remake the game in the best way possible. They didn’t change anything from the original as it was pretty much one-to-one with improved graphics, new voice acting, and a remixed soundtrack which was done well. Hope this game means that Silent Hill is back for Konami, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens from here.
Here's my #16 favorite video game in 2024:
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an action-adventure game developed and published by Ubisoft. It was released on January 18, 2024, for Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC.
Whoever’s idea it was to make a Metroidvania game that takes place in the Prince of Persia deserves praise as this game is awesome. Don’t let the game being 2D make you think that the game isn’t great because it is great. The combat is extremely satisfying and the area exploration was well done too as they nailed the Metroidvania formula here greatly. If you’re into Metroidvanias, would recommend giving this game a shot as it’s worth your time.
Here's my #15 favorite video game in 2024:
Emio—The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is an adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released on Switch on August 29, 2024.
The first two Famicom Detective Club games were remade back in 2021 and three years later, we got a new original Famicom Detective Club game after more than thirty years is insane. Not only did we get a new original Famicom Detective Club game, but it was great as well as it improved the gameplay from the remakes, it was easier to know what to do next to progress the story which was hard to tell from the remakes, and the story of this game was phenomenal from beginning to end. Happy to see Famicom Detective Club returning in this form and hope to see more games from this franchise in the future.
Here's my #14 favorite video game in 2024:
DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is a role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix. The game was released on PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, and PC on November 14, 2024.
Dragon Quest III is such a classic, yet amazing JRPG that still holds up to this day, and with the DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake, just made this amazing game even better. Not only did they improve the graphics, but they added a new remixed soundtrack, voice acting, and new classes that weren’t in the original game. If you want to experience one of the best JRPGs of all time, play DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake. You won’t regret it.
Here's my #13 favorite video game in 2024:
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. The game was released on Switch on July 22, 2024.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is one of my favorite games to play on GameCube and seeing a remake of this game on Switch twenty years later is incredible. The game still holds up, but the QoL improvements made this game even better. To me, this is probably the best Paper Mario game along with the original Paper Mario on Nintendo 64 so if you haven’t played it before, would recommend doing so as it’s a blast.
Here's my #12 favorite video game in 2024:
Persona 3 Reload is a role-playing game developed by Atlus and published by Sega. The game was released on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 1, 2024.
Another remake on here, but in a way, this is the year of remakes and this game is an incredible remake where it’s still the same Persona 3 we loved back on PS2, but with the art style and gameplay of Persona 5 and it’s awesome. Even though I still feel like this version of Persona 3 is incomplete without Kotone, it’s still an amazing remake,e and maybe down the line, they’ll add Kotone, but we’ll see.
Here's my #11 favorite video game in 2024:
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is a role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom and published by NIS America. The game was released worldwide outside of Japan on PS5, PS4, and Switch on July 5, 2024.
You thought it was another remake on here, do you? Well, got ya! I’ve always been a fan of the Trails series and with this game, it started a new arc and it’s off to a great start. Very curious to see where this series will go from here with this story arc and hope the series will continue to grow from here.
Now, we're in the top ten. Here's my #10 favorite video game in 2024:
Dragon's Dogma II is an action role-playing game developed and published by Capcom. It was released on March 21, 2024, for PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
It’s been twelve years since the first Dragon’s Dogma game and it’s great to see a sequel after all this time and it even delivered. A lot more customization from the first game and the combat is very smooth and fun to play. If you’re into action RPGs, I would recommend checking out Dragon’s Dogma II and you won’t regret it.
Here's my #9 favorite video game in 2024:
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The game was released on Switch on September 26, 2024.
I never thought we would get a 2D Legend of Zelda game that would feature Zelda as the main protagonist, but here we are and it delivered. The game is pretty much Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 2D form and it’s amazing that you can customize and echo pretty much almost everything in the game which is absurd. If you love the 2D style of Zelda and the gameplay and world exploration of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, this is the game for you.
Here's my #8 favorite video game in 2024:
Tekken 8 is a fighting game developed and published by Bandai Namco. The game was released on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on January 26, 2024.
That's right. Tekken 8 is #8 in my favorite video games in 2024. What a coincidence! This is one of the best Tekken games since Tekken 3 as it's a new beginning for the Tekken series. It's still classic Tekken that we love in terms of gameplay, but they have a pretty character roster, and great modes to play on, and the online so far has been pretty good as well. In addition, the additional DLC characters continue to expand the great roster of the game which is still continuing at this time. If you love fighting games and the Tekken series, you'll love Tekken 8.
Here's my #7 favorite video game in 2024:
Unicorn Overlord is a tactical role-playing game developed by Vanillaware and published by Atlus. The game was released on Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One on March 8, 2024.
I am a huge fan when it comes to Vanillaware games and I'm also a huge fan of strategy games. When Atlus announced that Vanillaware would be making a tactical strategy game, I was in for it and after playing it, it delivered on that front. The art style is quite beautiful, the gameplay is a lot of fun which is a combination of Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics into one, and the music is quite incredible as well. If you're into strategy games, check out Unicorn Overlord.
Here's my #6 favorite video game in 2024:
Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game developed and published by Game Science. The game was released on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on August 19, 2024.
I had an eye on this game for quite a while and after playing it, it definitely delivered on what I expected from the game. Not only the game was visually pleasing to see in terms of graphics, but the gameplay was very smooth in terms of combat where it's definitely a soulslike game as it can destroy you, but as long as you're committed, you can get through with it. If you're into soulslike games, would recommend checking out Black Myth: Wukong.
Now, we're in the top five. Here's my #5 favorite video game in 2024:
Astro Bot is a platformer developed by Team Asobi and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game was released on PS5 on September 6, 2024.
Astro's Playroom was pretty much a beta test for this game with Astro Bot and my god, it's one of the best 3D platformers out there along with the 3D Super Mario games. It has everything you want in a 3D platformer, beautiful graphics, fun gameplay, fun level designs, cool abilities, and the music is very catchy as well. In addition, the cameos with the history of PlayStation is also great as well which I love. If you love 3D platformers, would recommend checking out Astro Bot.
Here's my #4 favorite video game in 2024:
Stellar Blade is an action-adventure game developed by Shift Up and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game was released on PS5 on April 26, 2024.
This was another game that I had my eye on for a while and when it was finally released, it definitely delivered. It had beautiful graphics, and an intriguing story, the gameplay is a lot of fun with its combat and the combos you can do in the game as well, and the music is incredible as well. This game reminds me so much of NieR Automata and it just works. If you're into action games, would recommend checking out Stellar Blade and you won't be disappointed.
Here's my #3 favorite video game in 2024:
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a role-playing game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. The game was released on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC on January 25, 2024.
I've been a fan of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series for a long time and this is pretty much the finale of a story for one character that has been going on since the beginning as it paid off amazingly. The game still has what you like about Yakuza/Like a Dragon in terms of combining hilarious comedy with very dramatic and epic intense moments which I love the series for and this game has it. The series has been going in a new direction ever since Toshihiro Nagoshi left Sega and I think it's doing well without him so far surprisingly. This is the perfect finale for a certain character and looking forward to the new era of Yakuza/Like a Dragon after this game.
Here's my #2 favorite video game in 2024:
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a role-playing game developed by Studio Zero and published by Atlus. It was released on October 11, 2024, for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and PC.
This is another game that I had my eyes on for a while as I'm a huge fan when it comes to Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, but a Shin Megami Tensei and Persona game taking place in an isekai is something I wanted for a long time and with Metaphor: ReFantazio, it delivered in that front and it was incredible. Metaphor: ReFantazio is pretty much Shin Megami Tensei and Persona in an isekai, and I love it. The graphics are visually stunning, the story is very intriguing, the gameplay is more in-depth compared to Shin Megami Tensei and Persona in terms of mixing archetypes with skills and so forth which is nice, and the music is godlike. If you love Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, would recommend checking out Metaphor: ReFantazio as you won't be disappointed.
Now, here's my #1 favorite video game in 2024:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix. The game was released on PS5 on February 29, 2024.
I've been waiting for this game ever since Final Fantasy Remake was finished and after playing it, this game exceeded my expectations and more which I never thought it could do, but it did. It's pretty much Final Fantasy Remake, but yet, adding the open areas where you can explore almost anywhere you want to in that region is incredible. The story and gameplay have improved from Final Fantasy VII Remake while we still got the beautiful graphics and amazing soundtrack from it as well. I'm so looking forward to the final part of this trilogy and this is my personal Game of the Year this year.
Those are my favorite video games in 2024.
What are your favorite video games in 2024?
Let me know in the comments below.
Thank you for reading.
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