VGIM’s Games of the Year: 2024 Round-Up, 19/12/2024
It's the end of the year as we know it, and I feel fine
VGIM readers (and me) pick out the best games from 2024
Balatro dev LocalThunk escalates its public spat with PEGI
I get excited about 1954’s finest games console in this week’s palate cleanser
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Howdy VGIM-ers,
Welcome to the final newsletter of the year.
As you read this, I’m currently shutting down my office in exactly the same way that the rats shut down Scrooge’s business in The Muppet Christmas Carol. Painful catapult related injuries are inevitable.
But before I pull down the shutters for the year, there are three things I want to tell you about.
First, I’m creating a starter pack for Video Games Industry Memo readers over on Bluesky. If you’d like to be a part of it, pop me a like on my post on Bluesky here or get in touch via the comments below this piece on Substack to let me know you’re on board.
Second, I wanted to give you a quick run through of what’s coming next for Video Games Industry Memo.
As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, VGIM is taking a break for the next couple of weeks. Usual VGIM service will resume on Thursday 9th January 2025.
And in terms of wider plans, I’m not quite ready to talk about those yet given that I have to make sure they fit around i) running a consultancy, ii) writing a book and iii) avoiding a nervous breakdown in the next 12 months.
But I do have plans in 2025 to expand the value of the paid Insider subs scheme, roll out a new content strand for the newsletter at an appropriate juncture and generally find ways to help businesses alarmed by the gurgling death rattle emitting from the trade press to get their stories out into the wild.
When I’m ready to talk about this stuff, you’ll hear about it first here. But if my ideas are intriguing to you and you’d be interested in supporting them, email george@half-space.consulting and we can speak in the New Year.
Finally, and most importantly, I wanted to say thank you for reading Video Games Industry Memo this year. Your support makes the hard work worthwhile, so give yourself a hearty pat on the back from me.
And with that, here endeth the announcements. How does one final big read for 2024 sound to you?
P.S. I had to cut the jobs and weekly releases section this week due to space constraints. They’ll be back as per usual in the New Year.
The big read - VGIM’s Games of the Year: 2024 Round-Up
As mentioned in VGIM passim, 2024 was not the greatest year for the industry by any stretch of the imagination.
Between rampant layoffs, constant company closures and a dearth of major releases, it is a year that will go down in industry history as “less than ideal.”
Nevertheless, we were still blessed by the release of many a good game across the year. In particular, we were able to reap the benefits of a bumper crop of lovely lil indie games capable of washing away the bad taste generated by a series of whopping live service flops.
But which games stood out this year? Rather than rely solely upon the insight of me, a man who has played fewer games than he’d like to, VGIM has once again reached into the collective wisdom - and work ethic - of its readership to tell you what you should have played this year.
Let’s dive into our community’s game of the year selections then, shall we?
Balatro
Hannah Flynn, Communications Director at Failbetter Games and inveterate joker whisperer
I wanted to send you a game review but I'm too busy playing Balatro.
See the thing is that if i put that joker at the end it's got the best X mult, but what I'm really saying is that unless it's polychrome I don't want to hear about it. I need that polychrome in the last slot, right? And this run it's all about churning through planet cards to buff flushes, but honestly these jokers are laughing at me, where's a 10-4 card when you need it…YIKES what does that joker do? It eats other ones to gain X mults? ohhhh boy I can make use of that ok, ok, YES OK!!
…what do you mean I've got work to do?
Astrobot
Matt Honeycombe-Foster, UK News Editor at Politico who still wants to play Dreamcast games with Tim Walz
Nothing like bravely smashing the conventional wisdom by choosing an Edge 10/10 and the literal Game of the Year, but, look, Astro Bot just *feels* that good.
It’s the first game I’ve played in ages that can go toe-to-toe with the Nintendo greats in terms of how it moves on the screen. It’s fluid, fast and, god, what’s that word we used to use for video games ... fun?
But it’s no cheap nostalgia play either. Like Mario Galaxy at its best, Astro Bot tosses new ideas up into the air, plays with them for a while, and then has the confidence to set them aside and hand you another one. The hits just keep coming.
Astro Bot also makes the PS5 itself feel like magic — a rare thing at a time when some are questioning whether these glorified PCs under the TV make sense anymore.
It looks stunning: silky smooth, vivid and tactile. When it rains, you can actually feel the teeny tiny patter of raindrops through the PS5 Dual Sense. In a grim year, it’s lovely to play something by a comparatively small team that just seems so happy being itself.
Also: there is a tree in it that belts out a disco banger. Game. Of. The. Year.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Mason King, Senior Corporate Tax Manager at Plus Accounting and keeper of the financial wolves from the Half-Space Consulting door
It feels rare for me to find an affinity for a game character as instantly as I did for Ichiban Kasuga in 2020's Yakuza: Like a Dragon, instantly bonding with his upbeat nature and self-confessed obsession with Dragon Quest. Taking Ichiban on a vacation in Hawaii was not where I saw our next grand adventure together, but it’s one I am so happy happened with the release of Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
The turned-based RPG set on the backdrop of a semi-serious story is again filled to the brim with absolutely bizarre events, addictive mini games and a cast of engaging characters. One moment Ichiban and the gang are taking the Segway down the sun-kissed coast of Honolulu when a fight ensues with some local gangsters, but only moments later he is now helping his sidekick lobster romantically impress a hermit crab. The game really does go anywhere.
Video games are an art of escapism, and Like A Dragon presents a game world I never want to step away from. Fortunately with the (infinite) wealth of content to play through and the promising Majima-led pirate spin-off releasing early next year, there's still a lot of enjoyment yet to come on my Yakuza adventures in Hawaii.
Thank Goodness, You're Here
Murray Robertson, He’s writing (in the arts section of) The List and he’s checking it twice (probably for typos, it’s good practice y’know)
Given that there are so many games constantly vying for our attention, I’m a big fan of anything that can be polished off in an evening. Thank Goodness You’re Here from Yorkshire developer Coal Supper (lovely name) is tailor-made for a quick binge.
It tells the story of a lemon-shaped travelling salesman who gets roped into helping out the motley residents of a fictional northern English town.
It’s simple to control, with fun wee puzzles that are not at all taxing, and it’s presented as an exquisitely animated cartoon with bold, colourful clear-line animation. It’s the perfect way to wind down for a few hours on a Sunday evening.
The disparate townsfolk are voiced with utter charm by comedy performers including Matt Berry, Em Humble and Chris Cantrill, and each performance is imbued with a delightfully exacerbated cadence (there’s no subtlety here and I’m all for it).
The game really leans into its Yorkshire roots and it features a laugh-out loud script with the occasional musical interlude. Developers James Carbutt and Will Todd (who also contribute to the performances) have a style that’s unlike anything else around and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
Tactical Breach Wizards
Nick Payne, Legal eagle and dweller in the Osborn sphere of influence (neighbourhood)
My most played game this year was Tactical Breach Wizards. What sounds like a throwaway game with an enjoyably silly premise - what if wizards were real, and they formed SWAT teams to take down foes - turns out to be remarkably deep and (dare I say it) meaningful.
Its gameplay looks like Xcom’s isometric 3D turned based combat scenarios but actually plays more like a combat puzzle game like Into The Breach.
Each of your growing list of characters brings their own unique set of abilities to the table, which must be combined in increasingly challenging ways to clear the stages.
The game also mixes things up by constantly varying which of your team you have access to, and sets entirely optional challenge objectives in each level to encourage you to experiment.
The writing meanwhile, is not only funny but surprisingly emotive. The game tackles interesting themes, both personal and political, whilst building a diverse and engaging group of characters for you to build enjoyably strong relationships with.
All in all, a charming, challenging and creative gem.
Destiny 2: The Final Shape
James Whatley, strategy man at Lego, George whisperer and occasional on time distributor of Five Things on Friday
Yeah, one of us had to and I’m afraid it’s going to be me.
Hey. I see you. Yeah you. The lapsed D1 player that secretly loved Witch Queen. Or you, the ‘bounced off after Beyond Light’-er. Yeah, you. Come around. Bring your raid jacket and your secret tricorn tattoo. And listen up. This is for you.
Irrespective of the game’s current state, it is inarguable that when Bungie delivered literally and figuratively The Final Shape Chapter of D2’s ten-year-long Light and Dark saga, it had to stick the landing. It had to. The penultimate beat, Lightfall was, by their own admittance, not amazing.
The pressure was and… well, they nailed it. They absolutely nailed it.
Emotional beats for every major NPC you’ve ever met, a stunning new area to explore with The Pale Heart; a tricky-ass raid in Salvation’s Edge, THE RETURN OF CAYDE-6 FOR CRYING OUT LOUD - and to top it off, a THRILLING 12-player mission (something that only ever been achieved with hacks) against the ultimate big bad: The Witness.
Live service games are hard. Single player narrative games are hard. (OK fine, making literally any game at all is a minor miracle) but wrapping up a decade-long arc in a way that really felt like something MATTERED to you, the player that’s been there since the beginning…? Well, I gotta say Bungo, you smashed it.
To all Bungie folk, past and present - whatever input you had on making The Final Shape the emotional, weighted, important end to a story - in a game that has not only taken up so much of my life… I want to say thank you.
Maybe the real Final Shape of Destiny 2 is the friends we made along the way.
Animal Well
George E. Osborn, writer, consultant and 6th on the FBI’s Most Wanted list
Ok, some real talk here: Balatro is actually my game of the year. But given that Hannah’s fevered muttering at the top of the newsletter communicated its appeal more than my criticism ever could, I thought it made sense for me to give Animal Well my nod for 2024’s game of the year.
Animal Well’s brilliance can be found in its onion-like nature. On the surface, it’s a tightly wound borderline pacifist Metroidvania capable of channeling equal parts cuteness and creepiness in just the right balance to power you through its playtime.
But once you’ve peeled that layer away, Animal Well becomes something else: a multi-layered puzzle box that reveals more and more of its secrets and mystiques the more that you’re willing to tug at the corners of its game world.
And while it may have little in common with Balatro mechanically, Animal Well is an argument in favour of carefully considered authorship; of taking an argument and being unafraid to run with it over and over and over again until you squeeze the most out of it.
Honourable mentions
Helldivers 2 was one of the few live service games launched in 2024 that was both a commercial success and broadly avoided disgracing itself. One notable bun fight with its community aside, its pitch of “Starship Troopers: The Multiplayer video game” resonated with a nihilistic player base who remarkably quickly accepted the role of intergalactic cannon fodder.
Metaphor: ReFantazio continued Atlus’s run of creating hit RPGs, this time leaning away from Persona’s “schoolkids dive into dreams” vibe towards a brand new fantasy world called the United Kingdom of Euchronia. As well as receiving a nomination for a Game Award, it also proved to be a better role playing experience than Dragon Age: The Veilguard which, although enjoyable, completed its transition into “fantasy Mass Effect” and went all action-y as a result.
Space Marine 2 was one of the few games locked into the release schedule from the start of 2024 and it reaped the benefits of doing so. As well as scoring a major hit for Saber Interactive just as it separated itself out from the embrace of Embacer, it turned out to be a fun slashy smashy killy game that allowed us all to live out the dream of being a tank-like eight foot tall sci-fi super soldier.
And while the developer of Black Myth: Wukong appears to be miffed that Astro Bot beat it at the game awards, its success in August this year gave the Chinese games industry its first true taste of Triple A superstardom.
News in brief
Against the odds: Balatro developer LocalThunk has taken a swing at PEGI for giving the game an 18 rating, implying that it would receive a 3+ rating if it added ‘gambling’ mechanics such as the loot boxes seen within EA Sports FC. The ongoing scrap is representative of a wider debate within the age rating world over whether the “context” of a game - such as certain types of in-game purchases - should be included within a rating process currently reserved for looking at the content alone.
UK rulemakers ruin our Christmases - Part 1: Ofcom has published its first code of practices and guidance regarding the Online Safety Act as an early Christmas present. Games with user-to-user communications that are available in the UK have until 17th March 2025 to make sure they’re ready to follow the rules laid out by the regulator, including appointing a senior exec to take the rap for online safety breaches, strengthen moderation tools and processes and take extra steps to address harms regarding child sexual abuse online. Companies that don’t comply by that date risk hefty fines of up to £18m or 10% of global turnover (depending on which is bigger).
UK rulemakers ruin our Christmases - Part 2: In further “sod this, we’re getting it out before the holidays” news, the UK Government has also opened up a consultation on a proposal that would allow AI models to be trained on copyrighted materials - even for commercial reasons - unless a rights holder explicitly opts out via a rights reservation system. The proposal has gone down badly amongst the creative community, receiving extensive criticism for putting the onus on businesses and individuals to protect their rights - rather than the AI businesses that, with the greater respect to the people working at them, are trampling all over them. You have until 25th February 2025 to get your thoughts in.
On the Telefonica: Epic Games has inked a deal with telecoms company Telefonica to pre-install its store and Fortnite on compatible Android devices in the UK, Germany, Spain and Spanish speaking countries in Latin America. It isn’t just a canny way to get round the intransigence of certain app store gatekeepers; it’s also a delightful throwback to the early days of mobile games when carriers ruled the roost. Simpler times…
Osborn Down Under: Finally, if you thought I had written enough about the Australian games industry then you were dead wrong. Game Developer kindly commissioned me to write about the sector, so I rewarded them with a 4,000 word long read drenched in financial, political and cultural commentary. A perfect read for the festive season, I’m sure you’ll agree.
Events and conferences
Pocket Gamer Connects, London - 20th-21st January
Taipei Game Show, Taipei - 23rd-26th January
Yorkshire Games Fest, Bradford - 10th-25th February
DICE Summit, Las Vegas - 11th-13th February
devcomm leadership summit, Lisbon - 19th-21st February
Before you go…
I cut the game release section this week because it’s nearly Christmas and clearly nobody wants to lob new games out into the market.
But if you’re looking for something “new” to play, never fear: Alasdair Beckett-King has the completely serious lowdown on 1954’s most popular games console The Phonko Supreme for you to take a look at.
Hands up if you’re also excited to play Tupperware Lesbians III *raises hand*.