2024 Sets a New Benchmark for Video Games Entering 2025

The gaming industry has witnessed a remarkable year in 2024, highlighted by an array of engaging and innovative titles that have captured players’ imaginations over the past twelve months. This year has been graced with diverse releases such as Tekken 8, Palworld, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Balatro, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Astro Bot, Silent Hill 2, Hades 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Black Myth: Wukong, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Each of these titles has received acclaim from both enthusiasts and critics, demonstrating significant diversity in terms of game scale, genres, and development teams. As we approach 2025, the gaming community eagerly anticipates how the upcoming year will measure up.

2024 has not only been about expected heavyweights like the Elden Ring DLC and Hades 2 but also surprise hits that took the gaming community by storm, including Helldivers 2 and Balatro. While some titles, such as Concord and the discontinuation of XDefiant, fell short of expectations, the latter part of the year still delivered hits like Marvel Rivals. The recent Game Awards celebrated the outstanding contributions by developers across the indie and AAA spectrum.

Remarkable Releases of 2024

The Spotlight on Indie and AAA Games

This year has been characterized by a continuous flow of both AAA and indie games. According to Metacritic’s ratings, the standout titles include Astro Bot, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. These AAA games thrived, yet 2024’s charm stemmed largely from indie projects that brought players simple joy.

Among the top games, Helldivers 2 gained significant popularity with its engaging cooperative missions designed for groups of friends battling robots and alien creatures in various challenging scenarios. Unexpectedly, the card game Balatro emerged as a fan favorite. The year also saw solo developers shine, with ConcernedApe, the creator of Stardew Valley, unveiling a substantial free update for its beloved farming simulator. Other noteworthy indie titles such as Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and Crow Country received high praise from reviewers.

2024: A Peak Year for Gaming

Celebrating the Best at The Game Awards

The Game Awards for 2024 showcased an impressive roster of six nominees for Game of the Year, ultimately honoring Astro Bot, a significant accolade for the sole platformer in the running. Other contenders included Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. While many nominations leaned towards fantasy RPGs, the success of a platformer, coupled with recognition for a solo developer’s work, reflects a diverse gaming landscape.

Balatro made waves by winning three awards, including accolades in the indie category and best mobile game of the year. In contrast to the previous year’s Game Awards, which featured a narrower selection of nominees, the 2024 event embraced a healthier diversity, blending genres that ranged from horror to superhero action games. It remains evident that players are drawn to fantasy-themed settings, as demonstrated by titles like Elden Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Black Myth: Wukong.

Disappointments in 2024

Reassessing Live Service Shooter Games

Despite the numerous highs of 2024, there were notable disappointments in the gaming market. One of the most talked-about flops was Concord, a hero shooter priced at $40, developed by Sony and launched in late August. Within weeks, it was pulled offline—indicative of a saturated market already filled with free-to-play alternatives like Apex Legends and Overwatch 2.

Another significant letdown came from XDefiant, which met a similar fate shortly after its release in May, leading to an announcement of its permanent shutdown in early December. While titles like Marvel Rivals illustrate that the live service model can still thrive, these failures highlight the necessity for games to offer compelling features to succeed in a landscape crowded with microtransactions and time-limited events.

Alongside these headline-worthy flops, smaller issues suggested a troubling trend for the industry’s future. Notable alterations, such as the division of battle passes in games like Apex Legends, which required players to pay twice for a single season of content, faced backlash. Moreover, the implementation of mandatory PlayStation account connections for games like Helldivers 2 sparked criticism, with developers occasionally reversing their decisions, yet illustrating an underlying corporate approach that aims to maximize profitability.

Looking Ahead to 2025

A Glimpse into the Future of Gaming

The recent Game Awards not only honored 2024’s milestones but also provided a preview of what lies ahead in 2025. Exciting titles slated for release include Doom: The Dark Ages, Civilization 7, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6. A notable trend among these releases is the emphasis on single-player narratives, which assures offline gaming enthusiasts that they will have much to enjoy next year.

As live service games continue their journey into 2025, it is hoped that developers will heed the lessons learned from 2024’s challenges with titles like Concord and XDefiant. The success of Marvel Rivals, however, indicates promise, provided it maintains a balanced character roster. Additionally, Helldivers 2 remains a strong contender, continuing its cooperative appeal despite the earlier uproar regarding PlayStation account requirements. The excitement surrounding Elden Ring Nightreign ensures that the anticipation for the sequel will not wane anytime soon.

While 2024 set a high benchmark with its exceptional breadth of engaging games and unexpected successes, 2025 holds the potential to build upon this momentum. The emergence of storytelling from Western developers in the coming year could offer a refreshing change, especially since many standout titles in 2024 were developed by Japanese teams and independent studios. Regardless of what adventures await, 2024 has carved out its legacy as an extraordinary year for the gaming community.

Source & Images