Over the years, the video game market has seen huge expansion. A few decades ago, you could reasonably play every new game released in a year with enough time left over for old favorites, but that’s just not the case anymore. On Steam alone, nearly 19,000 games were released this year, but it’s safe to say that most of them aren’t worth your time. However, this huge number of new releases makes it more and more difficult to figure out what’s worth playing.
To help you separate the mediocre games from the truly great, we’ve whipped up a list of the best games of 2024 across every genre. Together, these games represent the pinnacle of progress in the gaming landscape, either performing the best in their field or pushing the genre forward in meaningful ways. So, whether you’re looking for a new online game to play with pals or a sprawling adventure to get lost in for hours, look no further. These are the best video games of 2024 in every major genre!
Action – Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong is the first internationally released game from Chinese studio, Game Science, and many gamers were curious how it would fare. Based on the classic novel, Journey to the West, it follows a monkey warrior who must travel across six fearsome lands, battling bosses and increasing their power through trials of combat. In many ways, Black Myth: Wukong feels like a linear souls-like game, presenting itself with a decidedly cinematic flair. As you move through the game’s levels, smacking down enemies with your adjustable staff and selection of magical spells, you’ll discover new items and abilities, expanding your arsenal of fighting techniques. This paves the way for creative combat, accented by beautiful graphics, all told within a rich world of lore and mythology. If you like fast-paced action games like Nioh, Bloodborne, or Devil May Cry, this is the game for you.
Adventure – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
The Indiana Jones films have served as the inspiration for some of the greatest games ever made, like Uncharted and Tomb Raider, so it was always curious that the franchise never got a big-budget video game of its own. That all changed with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a sprawling adventure game set between the events of the original movie trilogy. In this original story, the famed archaeologist goes on another huge adventure spanning the entire globe, in search of a mysterious artifact. Through the game’s first-person gameplay, you become deeply immersed in the story at hand, doing everything you’d expect in an Indiana Jones adventure. Solving puzzles, fighting off military combatants, and digging through ancient tombs are all major parts of this explosive game. It took decades, but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle finally does justice to the source material with a knockout adventure game that anyone can enjoy.
Fighting – Tekken 8
Tekken has been a longstanding benchmark in the 3D fighter genre, thanks to its eccentric cast, fun juggling-based combo system, and breadth of modes. In recent years, the quality of Tekken has notably risen above the competition, offering entertaining and replayable titles with consistency. Tekken 8 is another installment in the beloved franchise that continues to offer amazing gameplay, but with significant changes to fighting mechanics and some stellar new modes. Offense is key in Tekken 8, with special moves aplenty and new features that encourage aggression. In addition to the awesome story campaign, new modes like Arcade Quest enrich gameplay offerings, while an abundance of options in online multiplayer keeps the experience from growing stale. Plus, it has one of the best replay systems in any fighting game ever, which helps you analyze your past matches and learn from mistakes. In a year with plenty of competition, Tekken 8 emerges as the best fighting game of 2024, thanks to the variety and overwhelming quality of its content.
First Person Shooter – Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Unlike Tekken, the Call of Duty franchise hasn’t earned the best reputation in recent years. After multiple sequels that were less than satisfying, fans felt like the series would never return to its former glory. Luckily, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is not just the best first-person shooter of 2024, but it’s also one of the best Call of Duty games in a long time. Continuing the weird, super-secret attitude of previous titles, Black Ops 6 has an engaging story campaign with multiple standout missions, amplified by better gunplay and truly next-gen graphics. The online multiplayer is extremely fast-paced and full of action, thanks to the fancy new “omni-movement” mechanic, which lets you run and slide in any direction. To top it all off, Zombies mode has returned and is just as fun as ever, especially with a solid group of pals. Overall, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 delivers the ultimate FPS package, and was a hit with both fans and critics.
Indie – UFO 50
UFO 50 is one of the most ambitious games of all time, and somehow, it lived up to the hype. Developed by Mossmouth, UFO 50 is a collection of 50 new, retro-style games, offering a massive variety of gameplay. For example, you can find arcade fun with shoot ’em ups like Star Waspir or Caramel Caramel, test your platforming skills in titles like Ninpek and Vainger, or engage in turn-based fun with the likes of Grimstone and Divers. These aren’t simple mini-games either, as each game in UFO 50 is a fully developed experience, with no half-baked concepts of note. The quality and pure variety of UFO 50 cannot be understated, and the value of the package is incredible. Even if you only spend 30 minutes with each game, this indie package offers dozens of hours of gameplay at a ridiculously affordable price. Don’t sleep on this indie hit!
Party/Family – Super Mario Party Jamboree
The Mario Party franchise has been kicking since the days of the N64, and like the board game Monopoly, it manages to ignite incredibly fierce competition despite its family-friendly nature. With over a dozen entries in this series, the quality of each entry varies, but Super Mario Party Jamboree proves that this franchise can still be the king of the party. As always, this game pits you against your pals (or computer-controlled opponents) with its mix of board game tactics and bursts of mini-games, equally challenging your strategy and skill. Jamboree is bursting with content, with seven different game boards, over 100 unique mini-games, and a decent selection of modes as well. This includes the standard versus mode, a single-player story mode, mini-game adventures, multiple motion-control exclusive modes, and online multiplayer as well. In 2024, there’s no party like Super Mario Party Jamboree, as it’s always a blast to play with friends and family.
Platformer – Astro Bot
While the platformer genre isn’t as popular as it once was, some truly charming titles are still being created. Fans normally expect the biggest and best platformers from Nintendo, but this year, it was Sony that stole the spotlight with Astro Bot. Designed as a sort of celebration for the 30th anniversary of the PlayStation brand, Astro Bot is all about fun and exciting gameplay, accented by top-of-the-line graphics and a constantly joyful atmosphere. Like Super Mario Galaxy, which it obviously takes inspiration from, Astro Bot displays an admirable variety of levels and constant surprises as you play, making it a magically memorable experience. Above all else, Astro Bot is just tons of fun to play, and will absolutely put a smile on the face of any PlayStation 5 owner.
Role Playing Game – Metaphor: ReFantazio
Metaphor: ReFantazio is the debut game from developer Studio Zero, founded by Katsura Hashino, the creative director of games like Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne and Persona 4. Set in the medieval fantasy country of the United Kingdom of Euchronia, it follows the protagonist, Will, who travels across the tumultuous land in search of a cure for his dying friend. Much like the modern Persona games, players engage in exciting turn-based battles, but now with a flair of real-time combat during boss fights. Similarly, the game plays out over a measured period of time, and players must decide how to best use that time by bonding with party members, investing in skills, and more. This further personalizes the experience and adds replayability, with multiple endings depending on your choices throughout the game. The deep gameplay is complimented by a stunning art style and an excellent soundtrack, which further heightens the story. 2024 had several standout RPGs, highlighting both action and turn-based gameplay, but Metaphor: ReFantazio edges out the rest of the pack with its personality and polish.
Sports and Racing – EA FC 25
Like most years, there were numerous sports and racing games to hit store shelves, but 2024 wasn’t the best year for these types of titles. Many installments in beloved franchises were plagued with micro-transactions, grind-heavy gameplay, underwhelming stories, and lackluster improvements. While it’s true that EA FC 25 falls victim to some of these woes of the genre, it’s still the best in its class and an unbeatable simulation of soccer/football. The game is overflowing with playable leagues, all officially licensed with real athletes, including football clubs all around the world. New gameplay tweaks, like enhanced teammate AI and player-based roles make it easier to manage your team, preventing unnecessary turnovers or missed passes. Plus, the new 5v5 mode offers some fun competition with friends in online multiplayer. If anything, the sports genre needs a boost, but EA FC 25 provided enough fun in the genre to warrant a nod.
Short author bio:
Matt Owen
As a lifelong gamer and overall media fiend, Matt gets his hands on every new game and watches an unhealthy amount of movies and TV: action, horror, mystery, and sci-fi in particular. When not bingeing on entertainment, he enjoys reading and writing short stories, cooking, and producing video and podcast content.