Harvesting the 2024 crop: the best games of the year

Throughout December, we discuss the new releases of the departing year. Not long ago, we took a look at the cemetery of dying projects to learn about the most notable failures, and now it's time to switch to the bright side and consider the best games of 2024 according to Ensigame!

Pacific Drive

Image: cdkeys.com 

An unexpected start, isn't it? Yes, this game did not receive any awards at TGA, but it became a real find for gamers. Undoubtedly, you are looking at one of the main contenders for the title of best indie game of the year!

If you like games with an unusual atmosphere and survival elements, then Pacific Drive is what you need. The combination of a unique visual style, deep gameplay, and incredible atmosphere gave players what they had been waiting for—a breath of fresh air among endless clones.

The action takes place in a post-apocalyptic Northwestern region of the USA. You travel in an old station wagon, which becomes your main friend and even your home. Indeed, the car is the second main character and has its own personality. Because of this, you will truly want to upgrade, repair, and customize it—there's ample space for that.

As for the world, it is both mesmerizing and frightening. Locations are generated automatically, which is a plus for the game. Each time you will find yourself in a new anomalous zone, where every blade of grass wishes death upon the protagonist. Sometimes Pacific Drive turns into a real horror.

The Planet Crafter

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Another small game that managed to bring more to the industry than some AAA projects. The Planet Crafter is not just another sandbox where you have to survive and escape from a hostile world—the player's task is to transform a lifeless planet into a blooming oasis, and it's amazing!

The results of your efforts here are measured not only in numbers and the filling of chests. Every action brings a tangible result to the world, and you will watch as the sky turns blue, the first puddles of water appear, followed by lakes and oceans. Before the player's eyes, the first life, plants, and forests will emerge. The satisfaction of progress here is comparable to the best representatives of the genre, and the ability to create your unique world makes the game truly engaging.

The gameplay is not limited to simply building a base and accumulating resources. Everything must be done sequentially, monitoring the levels of oxygen, heat, and pressure on the planet. Already, the crafting list in the game is such that it surpasses some long-standing projects. If you love the survival genre, do not miss this masterpiece!

Last Epoch

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After the not-so-great release of Diablo IV, ARPG fans received a real gift in 2024. Last Epoch burst into the industry and made so much noise that Steam was buzzing—gamers got what they had been waiting for since Diablo II. Not surprisingly, as some of the developers come from Blizzard's old guard.

The plot revolves around time travel, where you explore different eras and try to save the world. Thus, the world changes dynamically, and the same location looks different in various eras. Not only does the environment change, but also the mobs and bosses. Different eras correspond to different weapons and armor, which is delightful.

A separate joy was the skill system, where the main competitor looks inferior. Each skill here has a gigantic development tree, so the number of builds and playstyles is astonishing. Last Epoch is a game not only for fans but also for new players. It is convenient, understandable, yet can introduce challenges. Currently, it is one of the best representatives of the genre, and for those who need more difficulty and deeper progression, the next game should be considered.

Path of Exile 2

Image: youtube.com  

Recently, another big announcement has stunned the gaming industry, and Steam records were broken again. The sequel to the cult ARPG returns to elevate the genre to a new level. Path of Exile 2 offers updated graphics, new campaigns, and a revamped skill system.

Right at the start of early access, more than 300 skills were available for selection! You can find numerous reactions from streamers online to the development tree, and it's truly speechless. The developers have already promised more classes and skills at release, and the project will be free at the official launch.

Regarding difficulty, the new installment continues the predecessor's traditions. The first bosses can make you suffer, and the game has already been dubbed a souls-like in the ARPG world. It won't be easy, but for all genre enthusiasts, this game is a must-play.

Helldivers 2

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Democracy in danger! Helldivers 2 was one of the main topics almost the entire year, and at the time of release, the project was a record-holder on Steam. Gamers received one of the best service-based games with brisk, dynamic gameplay, dark humor, and cool cooperative play. If you want to know what's happening there, just remember the movie "Starship Troopers"—the main source of inspiration for the developers.

The project is truly unique and can provide very vivid emotions. Want to just relax? Please, there's an easy mission mode. For those who appreciate pain, there are hardcore missions that you can't handle without a coordinated team. This is the charm of the game—you can play it either without friends with a random team or with a coordinated team of buddies.

So why then was there a decline in online activity and an influx of negative reviews? It's not due to the game but because of Sony, which suddenly decided to make the "PS+" subscription mandatory, which is unavailable in many countries. Hundreds of thousands of gamers simply lost the ability to play Helldivers 2, and it was a very painful blow.

Zenless Zone Zero

Image: destructoid.com 

Role-playing games from Chinese developers are no longer a niche product. This distinct genre for loot and character collection enthusiasts is firmly embedded in the modern industry, displacing giants like MMORPGs. A prime example is the already cult classic Genshin Impact, and the developers of this monster released another game in 2024.

Zenless Zone Zero is a blend of anime aesthetics, dynamic gameplay, and a captivating world. The game immerses you in a chaotic metropolis full of mysteries and dangers. Light roguelike elements make each session unique, and spectacular battles delight the eye. Yes, there's no open world here, and many liked it because the duration of gaming sessions has significantly decreased.

Genre enthusiasts are in complete delight. The characters are vivid and memorable, the graphics are lush and bright, and the gameplay keeps you engaged. An excellent session-based game that certainly deserves a place on this list.

Dragon's Dogma 2

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The sequel to the cult RPG was awaited by the entire fan community. The announcement of Dragon's Dogma 2 was loud, but the release nearly buried the project. Optimization issues and microtransactions enraged gamers, but the developers managed to fix the situation. Now we have an excellent representative of the genre with a huge beautiful world, a cool combat system, and a good storyline.

The main feature of the predecessor was an advanced combat system with battles against huge monsters—here this system became even cooler. You can jump on a dragon and stab a sword into its eye, kick a troll's legs to make it fall, or grab an enemy to throw it at another—all in real-time!

Another feature is the "pawns"—your companions. You can take three "pawns" with you, and one of them is unique because the player creates and levels it up themselves. Your "pawn" enters the game world for all players, so you can travel with others' companions, and they will suggest what their owner did.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

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Another highly anticipated sequel is Space Marine 2. Titus returns to fulfill the Emperor's will, but with a new game engine, modern graphics, and an epic combat system. The battles here look exactly as we imagined while reading books, and this time the enemies are not small hordes of orcs but an entire swarm of Tyranids.

The race of space bugs has become one of the game's features because on the screen you see thousands of monsters, each of which is a real entity, not just decoration. Hundreds of creatures will attack simultaneously, so even a minor scuffle will be unforgettable!

In terms of visual aspects—it's a paradise for fans. The Warhammer 40,000 world is recreated with all details and currently best conveys the franchise's atmosphere. Think that's all? No! There's a cooperative mode similar to Helldivers 2 and a multiplayer mode where you can play not only as loyalists but also as Chaos minions. We have detailed more about the game in this article.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

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After a long wait, we are finally returning to the Zone. It's amazing how the game about the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone managed to unite players across all continents… many years have passed, and fans received not just a continuation but one of the most modern games of the time. The graphics in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 reached such a level that the titans of the gaming industry should consider trying to keep up with the competition.

The core of the gameplay hasn't changed—the player enters the anomalous zone around the Chernobyl NPP, and this small world lives by its own laws. The Zone is like a living organism, and the people in it are nothing more than microbes that the Zone wants to eliminate. Surviving here is difficult, considering that the dangerous world has grown even larger, and now it's a giant seamless location.

This time, the developers placed greater emphasis on survival, which pleased the series' fans. Finally, Stalker is not just a shooter but also a large, complex sandbox in a world of localized post-apocalypse. However, the foundation remains exploration of the world and shootouts, which have become much better and more technological.

Black Myth: Wukong

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An epic adventure based on Chinese mythology is stunning. Who would have thought that an RPG from a small Chinese studio would become so popular, crashing Steam charts. Black Myth: Wukong offers an incredible level of detail, engaging gameplay, and battles that require skills. Yes, it won't be easy, as part of it is a souls-like genre, but it will be very easy for newcomers to get into.

The combat system and progression here do not make you read dozens of guides, yet make you think. It should be noted that visually, the battles are incredibly beautiful thanks to smooth animations.

The main strength of the project lies in its setting and visual design. You will enter a real fairy tale, and it will be very hard to detach from it, as the character design and the world's beauty are stunning. According to gamers, Black Myth: Wukong should have received the "Game of the Year 2024" nomination at the TGA.

2024 is full of games ready to amaze, inspire, and immerse you in their worlds. We couldn't include all the cool new releases here, but here are those definitely worth mentioning: Manor Lords, Frostpunk 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and Marvel Rivals.

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