Of course, the exhilarating thrills of 2025 will be loaded onto our screens in a matter of seconds, but there’s still time to bask in the glory that 2024 brings. From brilliant Bots and beautiful LEGO worlds, to epic fantasy adventures and remastered classics, it’s all available to everyone.
A year of expansive RPGs
It was an enchanting 12 months for great, magical lands full of spell-casting heroes, pointy ears, and sky-dwelling cities. Persona creator Atlas steps into a brave new world with his fantastical ReFantasia Metaphorand with that it got a lot of well-deserved praise thanks to its thoughtful combat mechanics, slick presentation, and That battle theme.
As well as, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth accomplishing the daunting task of reimagining one of the most influential RPGs of all time and maintaining the momentum of its previous, highly successful RPG. Final Fantasy VII Remake. Stick to fantastic, fast-paced action RPGs Granblue Fantasy: Relink delivers some very welcome co-op combat with its sprawling story, meanwhile Dragon Age: Guardians of the Veil ends the year with a highly engaging quest and a stirring soundtrack by royalty composers Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe.
On a slightly more grounded level – relatively speaking – Like a Dragon: Unlimited Wealth delivers a punch for any RPG fan who prefers mean streets to spell sheets, through its entertaining combat system and enjoyable expansion of the rich Yakuza universe.
A year of classic remasters
Not to be outdone by the constant stream of new titles that inspire the imagination, there are a series of impressive classic titles that are back with more than just a new twist. It more than deserved it Disney Epic Mickeywhich sees the iconic mouse return with new abilities to match its beautifully updated visuals.
Speaking of icons, Lara Croft fans have a treasure trove of familiar delights to dig through Tomb Raider I–III Remasteredand he’s not the only one bringing back archaeological wonders, either. Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged brings back George Stobbart and Nico Collard’s quest to discover the mysterious secrets of the Knights Templar in an enhanced 4K version of the beloved adventure.
In a galaxy some distance away, Star Wars: Dark Forces Remastered And Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition both deliver sci-fi fun in the FPS and action-adventure genres – with equally epic audiences in fan-favorite fantasy RPGs through Grandia HD Collection And Persona 3 Reload. Oh, and for players craving remastered zombie action? Capcom already has its finger on the trigger Death Rising Deluxe Remaster staggered onto our screens with a series of… well, clever upgrades. Actually, while we’re on the topic of horror…
A year full of horror and fear inspired by the past
While there are many remasters that make hearts flutter, there are many games that return to provide a real surprise for other hearts. Silent Hill 2 steps out of the fog in terrifying form with a stunning remake that takes us back to the nightmarish encounter with Pyramid Head, albeit with a high fidelity presentation that only adds to the unforgettable story.
There’s also a cavalcade of spooky new titles that are just as powerful in making the hairs on the back of your controller holding them stand on end. For those who like a retro touch, Crow Country Timeless survival horror gameplay perfectly packaged in the familiar 1990s PlayStation visual style. As well as, Fear of the Spotlight plays with an old-school aesthetic to give its scary narrative an intense edge, while the ’80s also make a comeback via the hilarious and disturbing asymmetric multiplayer thrill of Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Gamebased on the 1988 cult classic film.
If you prefer more modern scares, Still Awakening the Deep delivers psychological – and cosmic-tinged – horror that is well-written, truly haunting and claustrophobic. Although going full cosmic is also very easy with the real scares of a VR battle adventure Alien: Rogue Attack. And in your living room, everyone can hear you screaming…
A year of character platformers
Making a breakthrough in this platform genre isn’t easy, but 2024 provides a blueprint that we all want others to follow in the future. Of course, this year’s big flag bearer is a very creative and charming person Astro Bot. Team Asobi’s fun and feature-packed adventure instantly became a classic for its imaginative level design, excellent use of the DualSense wireless controller, and some unforgettable cameos.
But don’t forget some great sleep songs too. Other Crab Treasures introduced us to the action-adventure world of the Jiwa-like Kril, an angry hermit crab capable of using the discarded trash around him as weapons and armor. On the slightly windier side, Penny’s Big Farewell is a bright and colorful callback to the era of kinetic, fast-paced platformers, with the titular hero out to clear his name while being chased by Emperor Eddie’s army of crazed penguins. It’s as wild as it sounds.
A year of creative art design
2024 also plays host to some of the most impressive looking games that not only have a distinct visual identity, but also play well. Beautifully crafted stop-motion animation Harold Halibut contributed to its 10-year development process, with physical dioramas scanned into the game, resulting in a striking aesthetic for a charming graphic adventure.
The strong use of color and contrast is a visual hallmark of the beautiful puzzle-based platformer Nevawhile slapstick adventure Thank goodness you’re here! leaning fully into its absurdist humor with a bright, bold style reminiscent of classic British comedy comic books – and just as eccentric.
Also bold, but also checkered LEGO Horizon Adventurea cute twist on Horizon Zero Dawn. Its visual ingenuity is highlighted by the revelation that everything you see in the game, including its imposing and impressive machines, can be built using real-world LEGO bricks and sets.
Which games and their corresponding trends are your favorites for 2024?
Gaming Hub
A gaming hub can refer to a central platform or space dedicated to gaming, where players can access games, interact with other gamers, and enjoy related content. Here are a few different kinds of gaming hubs you might be referring to:
Physical Gaming Hubs:
Gaming Cafés: Physical locations where players can rent time on high-end gaming PCs or consoles to play popular multiplayer or single-player games.
Esports Arenas: Specialized venues for competitive gaming tournaments where players or teams face off in games like League of Legends, CS
, or Fortnite.
Digital Gaming Hubs:
Steam, Epic Games Store, or GOG: Digital storefronts where you can purchase and play games, join online communities, and access updates and patches.
Game Launchers: Platforms like Steam, Blizzard’s Battle.net, and Xbox Game Pass often act as hubs where gamers can access multiple titles and keep track of their library.
Cloud Gaming Platforms: Services like NVIDIA GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming that allow players to stream games on various devices without needing high-end hardware.
Social/Community Gaming Hubs:
Discord Servers: Dedicated communities for games where players can chat, share tips, and find others to play with.
Reddit Communities: Subreddits dedicated to specific games or gaming news.
Gaming Consoles as Hubs:
Systems like the PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch act as central hubs for playing games, interacting with friends, and even streaming content like Netflix or Twitch.
If you meant something specific by “gaming hub,” let me know and I can elaborate further!
