The Games I Beat in 2024: Q4

October

Game 37: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Played on: PS5
Release: 2023

Playtime: 31 hours 30 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is an amazing game plagued by numerous technical issues. 

Source: Rock Paper Shotgun

Game 38: Tekken 7

Developer: Bandai Namco
Played on: Series X
Release: 2017

Playtime: 5 hours 45 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: Although Tekken 7 excels in its multiplayer and customization, the single-player content leaves much to be desired.

Source: Bandai Namco Europe

Game 39: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Developer: Nintendo and Grezzo
Played on: Switch
Release: 2024

Playtime: 23 hours 7 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Despite some minor performance hiccups, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a refreshing evolution of the top-down Zelda formula.

Source: Nintendo

DLC 3: Tekken 8 — Unforgotten Echoes

Developer: Bandai Namco and Akira
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 1 hour 34 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: Unforgotten Echoes is a fun little expansion of Tekken 8's excellent story, which doubles as free promotion for the DLC fighters.

Source: PlayStation Blog

Game 40: Balatro

Developer: LocalThunk
Played on: iPad via Apple Arcade
Release: 2024

Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: Balatro offers a masterful twist on poker that's incredibly hard to put down. 

Source: PlayStation Store

November

Game 41: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Played on: Switch
Release: 2024

Playtime: 22 hours 18 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Despite a downgrade in graphics and performance compared to other platforms, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown plays wonderfully on Switch. 

Source: Nintendo

Game 42: Tekken 6

Developer: Bandai Namco
Played on: Series X
Release: 2009

Rating: 6.5
Thoughts: While ambitious, plentiful, and oddly charming in places, Tekken 6's single-player content is incredibly uneven. 

Source: PlayStation Store

Game 43: Ys X: Nordics

Developer: Nihon Falcom
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 46 hours 51 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Be it sailing the open seas of Obelia Gulf or flowing between combat encounters on land, Ys X: Nordics is a joy to play. 

Source: Wccf tech

December

Game 44: God of War Ragnarök

Developer: Santa Monica Studios
Played on: PS5
Release: 2022

Playtime: 37 hours 13 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: God of War Ragnarök is at its best when it pulls players along its linear action and emotional set-pieces. Outside of that, it meanders too much. 

Source: Finger Guns

Game 45: Sonic x Shadow Generations

Developer: Sonic Team
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 17 hours 46 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: While the remastering of Sonic Generations has some technical issues, Shadow Generations is the finest 3D Sonic game in over a decade. 

Source: Sega

DLC 4: Final Fantasy VII Remake — Episode INTERmission

Developer: Square Enix
Played on: PC
Release: 2021

Playtime: 5 hours 51 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: A short and sweet last little romp through Midgar. 

Source: Geeks Under Grace

The Games I Beat in 2024: Q3

July

Game 26: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Developer: Intelligent Systems
Played on: Switch
Release: 2024

Playtime: 34 hours 51 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: No matter the era, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is still a seminal console RPG. However, the backtracking is still an annoyance.

Source: Nintendo

Game 27: Tekken 8

Developer: Bandai Namco and Akira
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 15 hours 40 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Regardless of your skill level, Tekken 8 is a great introduction to 3D fighting games.

Source: Bandai Namco Studios

Game 28: Cat Quest

Developer: The Gentlebros
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2017

Playtime: 7 hours 43 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: Cat Quest is a fun and highly approachable — yet pretty shallow — action RPG.

Source: Nintendo

Game 29: Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition

Developer: Capcom
Played on: Series X
Release: 2020

Playtime: 18 hours 18 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Although Devil May Cry 5 was already a great action game, Special Edition makes it even better.

Source: PlayStation Store

August

Game 30: Air Twister

Developer: Ys Net
Played on: iPad via Apple Arcade
Release: 2022

Rating: 3.5
Thoughts: Air Twister is plagued by obtuse onboarding, unnecessary mechanics, and unfair difficulty.

Source: Nintendo

Game 31: Ridiculous Fishing EX

Developer: KO_OP
Played on: iPad via Apple Arcade
Release: 2023

Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Ridiculous Fishing EX is an excellent update of Vlambeer's mobile classic.

Source: Eurogamer

September

Game 32: Jetpack Joyride 2

Developer: Halfbrick Studios
Played on: iPad via Apple Arcade 
Release: 2022

Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: In adding more complexity to Jetpack Joyride, this sequel gets a little too tedious and grindy. However, the excellent gameplay makes it easy to stomach.

Source: mxdwn.com

Game 33: Cut the Rope Remastered

Developer: Paladin Studios
Played on: iPad via Apple Arcade  
Release: 2021

Rating: 7
Thoughts: While Cut the Rope Remastered has the amazing bones of Cut the Rope, it's hidden under off-putting 3D graphics and obfuscated mechanics.

Source: YouTube

Game 34: Astro Bot

Developer: Team Asobi
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 14 hours 17 minutes
Rating: 10
Thoughts: Astro Bot is an endlessly joyful platformer that gives PlayStation's legacy the celebration it deserves.

Source: PlayStation Store

Game 35: DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition

Developer: Ninja Theory and QLOC
Played on: Series X
Release: 2015

Playtime: 10 hours 48 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: If you can get past its contentious aspects, DmC Devil May Cry is a solid action game with highly creative levels.

Source: DualShockers

Game 36: The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak

Developer: Nihon Falcom
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 102 hours 57 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is a great introduction to a new arc that peaks 20 hours too early. 

Source: Nintendo

The Games I Beat in 2024: Q2

April

Game 14: Gravity Circuit

Developer: Domesticated Ant Games
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 6 hours 34 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Gravity Circuit expertly pays homage to the past while making changes to better establish a flow state. However, the loading can be a pain.

Source: Epic Games Store

Game 15: Concrete Genie

Developer: Pixelopus
Played on: PS5
Release: 2019

Playtime: 3 hours 59 minutes
Rating: 6
Thoughts: Concrete Genie is a collection of interesting ideas and mechanics that never come together to fulfill their true potential.

Source: Gematsu

Game 16: Max: The Curse of Brotherhood

Developer: Press Play
Played on: Series X
Release: 2013

Playtime: 5 hours 50 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is a fun and highly creative puzzle platformer. However, the focus on realism in graphics can sometimes hinder gameplay.

Source: Nintendo

Game 17: Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Developer: PlatinumGames
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 17 hours 57 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Despite a mess of a map system and trickier combat, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a delightful and heartfelt spinoff.

Source: WCCF Tech

Game 18: 20XX

Developer: Batterystaple Games and Fire Hose Games
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2017

Playtime: 10 hours 6 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: 20XX does a good job of adapting Mega Man's gameplay to a roguelite framework. However, it falls short in other key areas, namely its level design.

Source: Fire Hose Games

May

Game 19: Yakuza 3 Remastered

Developer: Ryu ga Gotoku Studio
Played on: PS5
Release: 2019

Playtime: 26 hours 25 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Yakuza 3 is a solid entry in the long-running series. However, the game's slower chapters will test one's patience.

Source: OpenCritic

Game 20: Psychonauts

Developer: Double Fine Productions
Played on: Series X
Release: 2005

Playtime: 12 hours 55 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Even 19 years later, Psychonauts is a highly creative and humorous 3D platformer. However, the level design hasn't aged as gracefully.

Source: Double Fine Productions

Game 21: Psychonauts 2

Developer: Double Fine Productions
Played on: Series X
Release: 2021

Playtime: 17 hours 24 minutes
Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: Improving on its predecessor in every way, Psychonauts 2 is one of the finest 3D platformers ever created.

Source: Double Fine Productions

June

Game 22: Neon White

Developer: Angel Matrix
Played on: PS5
Release: 2022

Playtime: 21 hours 17 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Neon White is an amazing blend of first-person shooting, precision platforming, and visual novel storytelling.

Source: Ben Esposito

Game 23: Brutal Legend

Developer: Double Fine Productions
Played on: Series X
Release: 2009

Playtime: 10 hours 28 minutes
Rating: 6
Thoughts: Between character action, open-world exploration, and real-time strategy, Brutal Legend is too ambitious for its own good.

Source: Double Fine Productions

Game 24: American Arcadia

Developer: Out of the Blue Games
Played on: PC
Release: 2023

Playtime: 5 hours 46 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: American Arcadia expertly combines two disparate genres into a fluid and highly entertaining experience.

Source: Out of the Blue Games

Game 25: Bye-Bye BoxBoy!

Developer: HAL Laboratory
Played on: 3DS
Release: 2017

Playtime: 5 hours 24 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Bye-Bye BoxBoy! is a highly inventive puzzler that moves on from new mechanics a little too quickly.

Source: Nintendo

The Games I Beat in 2023: Q4

October

Game 50: Pikmin 2

Developer: Nintendo
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 9 hours 34 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: While the core gameplay is still excellent, the lack of urgency and caves that stress difficulty over creativity hold down this sequel.

Game 51: Returnal

Developer: Housemarque
Played on: PS5
Release: 2021

Playtime: 26 hours 41 minutes
Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: Returnal is a near-perfect mix of third-person shooter, bullet hell, and roguelike that will keep you returning for more.

Game 52: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Developer: Nintendo
Played on: Switch
Release: 2009

Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Despite how good both the gameplay and level design can be, New Super Mario Bros. Wii's single-player doesn't stand out compared to its predecessor and successors.

Game 53: Pikmin 3 Deluxe

Developer: Nintendo and Eighting
Played on: Switch
Release: 2020

Playtime: 9 hours 17 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: Pikmin 3 is a solid sequel, though the side content exclusive to Deluxe is lacking.

Game 54: Pikmin 4

Developer: Nintendo and Eighting
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 17 hours 31 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Pikmin 4 wonderfully fleshes out and improves on concepts from its predecessors to create the strongest entry in the series.

Game 55: Poinpy

Developer: Moppin
Played on: Pixel 6 via Netflix Games
Release: 2022

Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: A great platformer perfectly suited for smartphones. However, it could do with a high-score leaderboard or an endless mode to entice replayability after completion.

November

Game 56: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Developer: Nintendo
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Rating: 9
Thoughts: Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a great platformer that brings many new ideas to 2D Mario. However, repetition sets in when the game sticks too close to the formula.

Game 57: Super Mario RPG

Developer: ArtePiazza
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 11 hours 35 minutes
Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: Despite what people may say of its length, difficulty, and minor performance issues, Super Mario RPG is a stunning remake of a bonafide classic.

Game 58: The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails

Developer: Nihon Falcom
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 18 hours 6 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: A solid action-RPG with a strong story and compelling level design, but it is held back by repetitive combat and weak side content.

December

DLC 1: Sonic Frontiers — The Final Horizon

Developer: Sonic Team
Played on: PS5
Release: 2023

Playtime: 8 hours 27 minutes
Rating: 4
Thoughts: The Final Horizon has the potential to be better, but it falters under poor design, frustrating challenges, and a rushed development.

Game 59: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Developer: Nintendo
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: Tears of the Kingdom is a superbly crafted game that takes Breath of the Wild's concepts to their natural conclusion. But, some decisions lead to a frustrating opening few hours.

Game 60: Jusant

Developer: Don't Nod
Played on: Series X via Game Pass
Release: 2023

Playtime: 4 hours
Rating: 8
Thoughts: Jusant is a beautiful game best played in short sessions.

Game 61: Deathloop

Developer: Arkane Studios
Played on: PS5
Release: 2021

Playtime: 22 hours 1 minute
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: When it plays fast and loose with its mechanics, Deathloop is wonderful. However, it falters when the objectives are too rigid.

Game 62: Ghostwire: Tokyo – Prelude: The Corrupted Casefile

Developer: Tango Gameworks
Played on: PC
Release: 2022

Playtime: 45 minutes
Rating: 5
Thoughts: Despite a few spelling errors, this prelude visual novel is competent — and nothing more.

Game 63: Ghostwire: Tokyo

Developer: Tango Gameworks
Played on: PS5
Release: 2022

Playtime: 15 hours 41 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: Ghostwire's recreation of Tokyo is a fun playground for this charming first-person open-world adventure.

The Games I Beat in 2023: Q3

July

Game 34: Final Fantasy XVI

Developer: Square Enix
Played on: PS5
Release: 2023

Playtime: 59 hours 33 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: XVI masterfully transitions Final Fantasy to the action genre.

Game 35: River City Girls 2

Developer: WayForward
Played on: Switch
Release: 2022

Rating: 8
Thoughts: An improvement over its predecessor in every way — except for the performance. Slowdown can hamper gameplay when the screen fills up with too many things.

Game 36: The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

Developer: Nihon Falcom
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 63 hours 40 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Uneven pacing and consistent slowdown on Switch hold Trails to Azure back from being the best in the series.

Game 37: LittleBigPlanet 3

Developer: Sumo Digital
Played on: PS5
Release: 2014

Playtime: 5 hours 31 minutes
Rating: 6
Thoughts: LittleBigPlanet 3 has some interesting ideas. However, none of them are fleshed out enough to keep you engaged for long.

Game 38: Tunic

Developer: TUNIC Team
Played on: Switch
Release: 2022

Playtime: 15 hours 7 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Despite its difficulty and obtuse nature, Tunic is a charming and expertly crafted homage to the 2D Zelda adventures of old.

August

Game 39: Prey

Developer: Arkane Studios
Played on: PS5
Release: 2017

Playtime: 20 hours 41 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: The amount of experimentation Prey offers the player in any situation is awe-inspiring. However, frequent load times and a confusing map bog it down.

Game 40: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Developer: Capcom
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: Even 12 years later, Ghost Trick has not lost a step. Easily one of the finest puzzle-adventure games to grace this medium.

September

Game 41: Ratchet & Clank

Developer: Insomniac Games
Played on: PS2
Release: 2002

Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Despite some rough edges, Ratchet & Clank is still as fun and ambitious as when it was first released.

Game 42: WarioWare: Smooth Moves

Developer: Nintendo and Intelligent Systems
Played on: Wii
Release: 2007

Playtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: A silly collection of microgames that will keep you smiling. However, the motion controls can be unreliable at times.

Game 43: The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

Developer: Nihon Falcom
Played on: PS5
Release: 2023

Playtime: 85 hours 24 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Trails into Reverie is an exhilarating epilogue to the Crossbell and Erebonia arcs.

Game 44: Mario Kart 7

Developer: Nintendo and Retro Studios
Played on: 3DS
Release: 2011

Playtime: 15 hours 39 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Mario Kart 7 walked so that Mario Kart 8 could run.

Game 45: Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Developer: MachineGames
Played on: Series X via Game Pass
Release: 2017

Playtime: 15 hours 4 minutes
Rating: 6.5
Thoughts: For all of Wolfenstein II's improvements, its over-reliance on stealth continues to frustrate.

Game 46: New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Developer: Nintendo
Played on: Switch
Release: 2019

Rating: 8
Thoughts: While New Super Mario Bros. U and Luigi U lose some of their lustre in the transition to Switch, they still hold up in terms of gameplay and level design.

Game 47: Sonic Origins Plus

Developer: Sonic Team
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Rating: 8
Thoughts: A good collection of 5 classic Sonic platformers and 12 Game Gear games of varying quality.

Game 48: Cocoon

Developer: Geometric Interactive
Played on: Series X via Game Pass
Release: 2023

Playtime: 3 hours 54 minutes
Rating: 10
Thoughts: A short yet phenomenal puzzle-adventure, Cocoon does more with its mechanics than games 10 times its length.

Game 49: Pikmin 1

Developer: Nintendo
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: While some aspects have dulled with age, Pikmin 1's gameplay loop is timeless.