Summary
Though 2024 is only half over, some of the year’s best new video games have already been released, including hits likeBalatroandLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Taking a look at the year so far, the best games are a mixture of old and new. Some of the best games are DLC, sequels, or remasters of existing titles. However,2024 has also presented many original titlesthat are some of the best of the year.
Independent game publishers have had a good showing in 2024, releasing titles that have earned more praise on review sites than some AAA titles. It’s refreshing to see that smaller game developers can crack the top 10 of the year (so far). Aside from representing both big and small studios, this year’s current top 10 games have also featured a refreshing mix of genres, so players have awide variety of quality gamesto pick from, depending on their taste.
“Somewhere A Great Rune Has Broken” - Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Message Explained
In the Shadow Keep, players of Elden Ring’s DLC may see messages informing them of a broken Great Rune and a powerful charm - but what do they mean?
TheElden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeDLC expands the already sprawling world of the base game by introducing a new area: The Land of Shadow. This new area is full of new bosses, enemies, and unique weapons and powers for the player to get their hands on.Shadow of the Erdtreepresents some of the game’s biggest challenges, and it continues FromSoftware’s tradition of unique and interesting enemy designs that make exploring the Land of Shadow so exciting.
While some players have complained aboutShadow of the Erdtree’s difficulty, and the DLC is certainly not for beginners, the DLC doesn’t present any challenges that are too unfair compared to the rest of the game. The new area also blends seamlessly with the original game while also managing to feel distinct from the other parts of the map.Shadow of the Erdtree’s map is large and dense with new challenges, making it well worth the price and a must-play for anyone looking for moreElden Ringto enjoy.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review
Screen Rant’s Chris Teuton reviews Elden Ring’s highly-anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC ahead of its launch on July 19, 2025.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirthis the second in a planned trilogy ofFinal Fantasy VIIremakes. While the decision to split the original game in three was met with some initial skepticism, the sheer scope ofFinal Fantasy VII Rebirthshows why this game couldn’t fit into one title.Players are given a massive world to exploreand more than enough enjoyable content to keep this game from feeling like its own game, even if it is technically just a piece of one. However, at points the world and its many mini-games can start to feel like too much.
Perhaps the aspect ofFinal Fantasy VII Rebirththat shines brightest is its combat. The game’s ability to transition between Classic combat and the newer action-heavy combat system on the fly allows players to take things at their own pace on a fight-by-fight basis. This, coupled withFF7’s well-told narrative, is more than enough to make players forget about the flaws this game has.
Animal Welldoes what indie titles like it do best — remove any unnecessary fluff and simply present a quality gameplay experience. This Metroidvania mixes platforming with puzzle solving in a way that makes each of the game’s challenges feel satisfying to overcome. That said,Animal Well’s gameplay is just part of what makes it such an interesting game.
Animal Well’s pixelated graphics somehow manage to createmore atmosphere than many AAA titleswith far more detailed worlds. Whether it is the light and sound of firecrackers still being present on subsequent screens or the way each tiny blade of grass moves as the player passes through them, the attention to detail inAnimal Wellhelps immerse players in the world of the game just as well if not better than perfectly rendered 3D environments can. This, combined with the game’s excellent sound design and effective use of music, helps it stand out from its competitors.
Balatroisn’t the first deck-building roguelike, and its use of old-school playing cards and poker mechanics may make it seem low-effort at first glance. However,Balatro’s use of special abilities and mechanically unique Joker cards gives what looks like a simple game and turns it into an addicting challenge. Like with any roguelike, players can’t help but wonder what might happen in a subsequent run if only they managed to pull off the perfect combination of items, andBalatrooffersenough variety to allow for a wide range of fun combos.
One aspect of the game that makesBalatroso interesting is how it keeps presenting new cards and abilities to players. This keeps gameplay feeling fresh and gives players the opportunity to constantly adapt their play to new scenarios. Because the game is fast-paced and relatively simple to get the hang of, as it is built on many familiar Poker rules, it’s easy for new players to get drawn in and learn its deeper strategies over time.
Balatro Review: “The Next Great Deckbuilder Roguelite”
Video poker and deckbuilding combine in Balatro, an unassuming but obscenely addictive card game that is one of the first indie hits of the year.
Like the original game,The Last of Us Part II Remasteredremains an emotionally gripping narrative about the cycle of violence. The game representssome of the best storytelling the medium has to offer, and this remaster gives new players who may have become interested in the series after the TV show a nice-looking new version to experience for the first time. The game also offers some interesting new features that make it worth checking out for players who have already played the original.
In addition to the remastered base game,The Last of Us Part II Remasteredalso includes a few new game modes. First is the roguelike “No Return,” which pits players against waves of enemies. There is also the unique Lost Levels which allows players to explore areas of the game that had been worked on but didn’t make the final cut of the game. Since players who already own the base game can upgrade it to the remaster for only $10, it is well worth it to check out these new features.
Destinyhas been a bit of a rollercoaster over the years, so it’sremarkable thatDestiny 2: The Final Shapewas able to create a good conclusion to 10 years' worth of storytelling. Somehow, this final step of the Light and Dark Saga managed to satisfactorily tie up the storylines ofDestiny’s cast of characters in a way that felt like a fitting reward for players who stuck with the game until this point. Players will find The Witness to be a compelling villain and one that serves as a good final threat to this part ofDestiny’s narrative.
Destiny 2: The Final Shapealso added the new Prismatic subclass thatallows players to play around with the game’s various Light and Darknessabilitiesin unique ways. This, plus the inclusion of new weapons and armor, helped this expansion feel fresh from both a gameplay standpoint as well as a narrative one.
After the somewhat contentious reaction toTekken 7, expectations were high thatTekken 8could turn things around for the series. Luckily, this latest installment managed to do just that and achieve something that is rare for fighting games: it is appealing to new players. Many fighting games seem to have abandoned trying to get casual players into the world of fighting games, making the genre unappealing to players who don’t want to play through a middling campaign only to put the game down once their only other option is getting bodied online by veteran players.
There seems to have been a concerted effort tomakeTekken 8enjoyable for new playerswhile retaining the depth that hardcore fighting game fans enjoy. The variety of single-player modes and slightly more accessible controls makeTekken 8a great jumping-on-point for players. While many veteran players still preferStreet Fighter 6for competitive play,Tekken 8has proven to be a solid competitor.
Tekken 8 Review: “One Of Gaming’s Most Complex & Rewarding Fighters”
Gaming’s most intricate fighter has returned with Tekken 8, and while it’s made changes for newcomers, it’s got a lot to chew on for veteran players.
A sequel to 2020’sYakuza: Like a Dragon,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthcontinues the story of Ichiban Kasuga and reintroduces the former protagonist of the series, Kazuma Kiryu. Like its predecessor, the game is a mix of turn-based combat and role-playing elements.Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthkeeps the strange and fun tone of the previous game, providingan engrossing narrative that isn’t afraid to get very weirdin the best ways.
In a departure from the series,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthalso allows players to venture outside of Japan to Hawaii. The beautifully rendered Hawaiian islands provide a unique look and environment for the new game while also preserving everything that fans of the series have come to love. This game reaches some major emotional heights for long-time fans of the series but is also accessible for players who just started playing withYakuza: Like a Dragon.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyesis a spooky and surreal puzzle game set in a strange old mansion. Players will have to solve a variety of different problems to advance through the game, though there is no one correct order to do so. The game’s puzzles, which at first feel like individual tasks, are connected in surprising ways. The game’s design and atmosphere are also unique which, when coupled with the game’s distinct themes and tone, creates an unforgettable experience for players.
The game’s often challenging puzzles aren’t the only thing thatLorelei and the Laser Eyeswant players to think about. It has a rich and engaging mystery that has players wanting to know more about the world of the game while also reflecting on the nature of the genre itself. This is not the type of puzzle game to click through idly, but one that willchallenge the player in a variety of ways not often seenin its like.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorwas one of the most charming games the GameCube had to offer. Now, Nintendo has given fans a chance to relive one of their favorite titles or experience the game for the first time if they weren’t playing 20 years ago. The Nintendo Switch remake captures the charm of the originalPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorwhile making some nice updates.
Aside from polishing the look of the game, the Nintendo Switch version also adds a bit of new content to the game, like new bosses, items, and minigames. The game’s memorable characters and unique storyline make it stand out from other Mario games, and it is easily enjoyable for players who might not think Nintendo’s platforming plumber can carry an RPG. If this game and the others released so far this year are any indication, 2024 will be a great year for gaming.
