Summary
2024 may not have been quite as busy as 2023 when it came to big budget AAA releases, but the year still saw its fair share of critically-acclaimed games. In fact, some of the highest-rated new video games of all timewere released in 2024, ensuring gamers across PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox all had something great and new to play.
While there are still a handful of new releases left for 2024, barring any completely out-of-field surprises, it’s safe to say that the top 25 highest-rated games of the year list is solidified. These are the titles that stand out as the best games of 2024, with many of them earning nods from various award shows like theGeoff Keighley-hosted Game Awards.
According toreview aggregate site OpenCritic, the highest-rated new game release of 2024 was PlayStation 5 exclusiveAstro Bot, with a 95 overall rating. The rest of the top 10 consists ofAnimal Wellwith 89,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,UFO 50,Tekken 8, andThe Crimson Diamondwith 90,BalatroandSatisfactorywith 91,Metaphor: ReFantaziowith 92, andFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthwith 93. I decided to exclude more traditional remakes, remasters, and DLC, otherwise the highest-rated games of 2024 list would look quite different.
Highest-Rated Games of 2024
In fact, the top 10 highest-rated games of 2024 list changes rather dramatically if we allow those releases to be counted. Second place would go toElden Ring’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, which has a 94 overall rating and hascontroversially been nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. Another DLC,Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania, has a 94 rating as well and is in third place.Destiny 2: The Final Shape, meanwhile, earned a 91 rating, which would have put it in the top 10. I should also stress that early access games were not considered, which is whyHades 2isn’t included.
While 2024 may not have quite matched2023’s lineup of critically-acclaimed games, it was still a remarkable year for the industry with a multitude of high-quality releases. As far as the top 25 goes, some of my favorites include the brilliant 3D platformerAstro Bot, the wildly addictiveBalatro, and the mind-bending puzzle game that isLorelei and the Laser Eyes. I also had a great deal of fun playing the massive RPGMetaphor: ReFantazioand the chillingSilent Hill 2remake, both of which blew away my expectations.
2025 is looking to be an even bigger year for the industry. Nintendo is expected to release the Switch 2 console, Rockstar is hoping to launchGrand Theft Auto 6, and plenty of other major new game releases are on deck.2025’s game release calendaris filling up, and it will be exciting to see what makes the highest-rated games list next year.
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