‘I played more than 40 video games in 2024 – one is a clear winner’

Another stellar year for gaming is wrapping up.

The last 12 months have witnessed the release of some colossal titles, from the grand Black Myth: Wukong to the eagerly-awaited Silent Hill 2 remake and Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth – the second instalment of the cult classic game in the Square Enix franchise.

It’s also been a year of firsts, with the Legend of Zelda franchise launching Echoes of Time – the only main game in the series that lets you play as the princess herself instead of the usual hero, Link.

Regardless of your console or game preference, there’s been something for everyone this year. As a PC-only gamer, I’ve managed to play over 40 unique titles in the past 12 months – an impressive variety for someone who could spend a whole day just playing Valorant. Granted, not all of the games I played this year were released in 2024, but many were.

Here, I’ve categorised my top picks into five unique categories and highlighted my favourites for each – as well as the one game I already know will be a staple in my Steam library throughout 2025.

FPS game – Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals will keep me hooked in 2025 (file)
(Image: NetEase Games)

I’m no stranger to FPS (first-person shooter) games. While I’m not a Call of Duty player, I have a staggering 1,000 hours in Valorant and another 400+ in Overwatch. So when a friend asked if I wanted to try Marvel Rivals when it was released in early December, I didn’t hesitate to say yes.

And what a fantastic idea it was to try this game out. It plays a lot more like Overwatch than Valorant, as it is a hero shooter, but it still has that early-game charm that Overwatch used to have. For me, the Blizzard title has become a bit stale and unbalanced, so Marvel Rivals was the breath of fresh air that I desperately needed.

You don’t even need to know the characters’ back stories to enjoy flying around the maps and taking down enemies. I’m certain that I’ll be playing it a lot more in 2025, as the promised updates for the title – including new heroes – are set to keep players hooked for a long time.

Cosy game – Fields of Mistria

Fields of Mistria is the ultimate cosy game of 2024 (file)
(Image: NPC Studio)

When I’m not putting thousands of hours into FPS games, I usually play something more relaxed with plenty of crops to be planted and mines to explore. I’ve clocked over 200 hours in Stardew Valley, and in 2024, I played a wide range of farming sims and other relaxing titles.

My top pick is Fields of Mistria, which was released in August. If, like me, you’re familiar with Stardew Valley, you’ll get the hang of this game instantly, but Fields of Mistria has a unique charm that I feel its predecessor lacks. For starters, it allows you to choose your pronouns, making the game more inclusive for non-binary individuals like myself. You can also swim and hunt for treasures underwater, and shops are always open – so you can forget about the frustration of not being able to buy seeds for your garden on Wednesdays.

However, it was the art that truly stole my heart. As an enthusiast of classic RPGs (role-playing games), Fields of Mistria appears as if it’s been lifted straight from an early-2000s Japanese RPG – and it’s absolutely stunning. I’ve only clocked 12 hours in the game so far, but I’m keen to log many more in 2025.

AAA title – Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree FromSoftware’s epic 2022 title got its much-anticipated DLC (downloadable content) version in June this year, and it made such a splash in gaming communities that it even landed a Game of the Year nomination at the Game Awards. Shadow of the Erdtree adds a whole new area to explore, new bosses to conquer, and a tonne of new lore to immerse yourself in, taking players away from the vast Lands Between to the mysterious Realm of Shadow.

I didn’t indulge in many AAA (major studio) games this year, and some might argue that including a DLC in this category is somewhat of a cheat since it’s not a full game. However, I’ll counter that by stating that I hadn’t played the base game until this year either, so this nod goes more to Elden Ring as a whole.

The entire game is as tricky as other FromSoftware games like Dark Souls, and I’m by no means good at it. Still, it’s a fun challenge, and so far, I’ve racked up over 70 hours and counting. If you’ve never taken the plunge into a FromSoftware title before, I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

Multiplayer game – Chained Together

Chained Together is stressful but satisfying (file)
(Image: Anegar Games)

Playing games alone can be enjoyable, but they’re always more fun with friends. This year, I made a conscious effort to spend more time gaming with my pals, and the options available in 2024 didn’t let us down. We had a riot playing games like Supermarket Together, Palworld, A Way Out and Valheim – but nothing quite solidified our camaraderie like Chained Together.

Launched in June this year, Chained Together does exactly what its name suggests. You and your mates play as characters who are literally linked by a chain, meaning any movement you make also moves them. Together, you must navigate through a devilishly challenging platformer with one major catch – if you fall off, you’ll tumble all the way back to the beginning.

It certainly sparked a few disputes when I played it, but after a few attempts, you should notice a significant improvement in your communication skills. Plus, you can play the game via split-screen local co-op, so you could even rope your family into the fun.

Nostalgia pick – Final Fantasy XII

Final Fantasy XII is a classic from my childhood (file)
(Image: Square Enix)

Despite the influx of new titles this year, I found myself returning to the classics. As an RPG enthusiast, I did dabble in 2024’s Visions of Mana, but my heart was truly with the old favourites. Grandia II got a replay earlier this year and Breath of Fire IV brought back childhood memories.

However, it was 2006’s Final Fantasy XII that consumed most of my gaming hours. The two standout titles from my youth are X and XII, and I recall watching my dad navigate Vaan and his crew when I was just 11.

Replaying the remastered PC version in 2024 was as thrilling as it was 18 years ago. And I’ve already lined up Final Fantasy VII, X, and XIII in my Steam library for some free time next year.