#Zoey Handley’s Prime 10 Picks of 2024

Wow, 2024 was a yr. A complete one. That’s it: a yr. Goal, non-judgmental; that’s me. I performed video video games this yr. It’s typically the one factor that numbs the, er, yr. Yeah. Numerous them. 

As I’m writing at present, I’ve put out 62 scored critiques all year long simply on Destructoid. And that’s not counting unscored impressions and critiques I wrote for my very own web site. That’s how you’ll be able to belief me; I’ve no different priorities. That is what I do.

That’s why you had been right to suppose, “Certain, all these publications have legitimate picks for his or her high video games of the yr, however what does Zoey suppose?” That’s what you thought, proper? I’m so lonely. Right here’s my record of the most effective video games I performed this yr in no specific order.

Mullet MadJack

Right here’s a recreation that has all of it. It’s obtained nice neon ‘90s cyberpunk anime vibes, a protagonist who spouts insipid truths and aspirations to maintain your shallowness up, kill-or-die-trying gameplay, and the aim of taking pictures robotic billionaires within the face (or dick, when you want). Mullet MadJack leans fairly laborious on the requirements set by Put up Void however expands upon them and provides a thematic layer that harnesses the anxiousness of at the moment whereas nonetheless being enjoyable and upbeat about it.

I’m probably not choosing a high recreation of the yr on this record, but when I did it could be Mullet Madjack. Please don’t inform the others.

Arctic Eggs

Arctic Eggs is solely about flipping shit in a frying pan. Not literal shit; every little thing however. Whereas the title implies that eggs are the central focus (they usually typically are), you take care of issues like cups stuffed with liquid, cigarettes, and cockroaches. It’s possibly about one thing deeper, I don’t know, I don’t keep in mind. I solely keep in mind flipping stuff. It’s enjoyable; that’s an important place to begin. Any messaging on high is simply gravy. Gravy on eggs.

Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom

Numerous video games have tried to evoke the marvel of the platformer style’s marvel days on the N64, however most that I’ve performed have been lacking one thing. They’ll put on the garments however can’t stroll the stroll. Weirdly, Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom goes bare by omitting a leap button, however by some means looks like it could be at house on Nintendo’s drunken early-3D console.

Not solely. Few video games on the system had been this colourful, and fewer had been as energetic and peculiar. So, actually, it has the sense of relentless journey and a lust for amassing gewgaws, however is available in with a character of its personal.

Crow Nation

PS1-inspired survival horror is well-trodden floor, however Crow Nation is an exemplary try at it. Not solely is it one of many tightest survival horror recreation I’ve performed in a very long time, it additionally has such a shocking and creative narrative that it makes me jealous that I didn’t give you it. So, screw you, Crow Nation, you unbelievable recreation, you.

Slave Zero X

I can’t say I believed a lot about Slave Zero, the 1999 PC/Dreamcast recreation a few huge stompy robotic. I can’t even keep in mind what led me to taking part in its tardy sequel. However I do keep in mind Slave Zero X. I distinctly keep in mind voices that sound like they’re shouting right into a tin shed and air-juggling dudes till they exploded. I keep in mind its Sega Saturn/PS1 Strider 2-style aesthetic and its extremely excessive talent ceiling. I keep in mind sweating it out within the final couple boss battles, timing my parries with cautious precision, and strategically utilizing my power-ups.

And that’s spectacular because the recreation was launched again in March. A lot of the yr is a blur, however that point, specifically, is so hazy I wouldn’t be shocked if I spent the interval respiratory nothing however gasoline fumes. So, nice job, no matter I used to be simply speaking about!

Earth Protection Pressure 6

Going into Earth Protection Pressure, I used to be anticipating extra of the identical. In spite of everything, the collection isn’t actually identified for evolving. And far of what’s in Earth Protection Pressure 6 can simply be tracked again to the fourth title within the collection. Actually, it’s loads of what has come earlier than. You spend loads of time preventing hordes of large bugs, robots, and alien creatures.

After which it throws a curveball within the type of time journey. And, at first, it sort of looks as if a blatant approach of reusing sources from the earlier recreation, however quite than simply be narrative deja vu, it paradoxically turns into the supply of EDF6’s most shocking parts. It additionally informs the sport’s best strengths. It’s concurrently each an extremely silly recreation and a very good one, and that makes it laborious to look away. Simply, undoubtedly, the most effective recreation within the collection.

Killing Time: Resurrected

I like Nightdive’s remasters, even after they don’t decide the most effective video games. I imply, I completely recognize that they put their loving palms on PO’ed and The Factor, however taking part in them is a unique matter. Killing Time: Resurrected might need been much like that; an important remaster of an okay recreation. Nonetheless, upon taking part in it, it turned abundantly clear that it’s an important recreation, and the remaster simply brings that out extra.

It’s like a large extrapolation of a degree from Doom. This one huge key hunt throughout a mass of interconnected maps that type one huge island property. However regardless of providing you with run of the place, the motion is true up there with the most effective FPS video games of the ‘90s. I had bother placing this one down. So I didn’t. I performed proper via to the top in a single sitting.

Anthology of the Killer

This wasn’t an important yr for me in my private life (a softer approach of claiming it was shit), and on the backside of it, I performed Anthology of the Killer. I imply, it wasn’t what made it the underside. It was that one glimmer of pleasure throughout an in any other case horrible time.

It would assist that Anthology of the Killer has no grounding in actuality. It’s a group of quick type horror video games that, quite than undertake a Hollywood-accepted type of fright, is extraordinarily absurd and dreamlike. It’s very bizarre, typically humorous, and surprisingly scary. In one in every of my uncommon, insightful moments, I described the horror as “the pure discomfort of not discovering a dependable grip.” So, what I suppose I’m saying is: the most effective escape from my distress was taking part in a recreation that finds concern in inconceivable issues.

Uncle Chop’s Rocket Store

You’ll suppose I missed working in I.T. with how a lot I loved Uncle Chop’s Rocket Store. It’s primarily a prognosis and restore recreation a bit nearer to what a mechanic does, nevertheless it applies to computer systems, as effectively. Come to think about it, there are loads of computer systems in Uncle Chop’s Rocket Store, as effectively. Regardless, it’s a joyful work simulator that forces you to each study and apply abilities with assistance from nothing greater than a guide.

It may be distressing. You’re going to make errors that lead to failure, and that doesn’t really feel good. Nonetheless, it manages to maintain feelings buoyed with extraordinarily darkish, humorous dialogue and the satisfaction the comes whenever you do finally get every little thing proper. If that ever comes.

Parking Storage Rally Circuit

That is the primary time a racing recreation has made my record, and that’s most likely as a result of so many today concentrate on realism, and that’s boring. Parking Storage Rally Circuit takes you again to the times of the Sega Saturn and racing titles like Sega Rally Championship. Besides it takes place solely in quite a lot of parking garages.

It’s an important title to play when you love drifting. By that, I imply drift-racing. For those who identical to wandering from city to city, there are higher video games. What actually struck me about PGRC is that it nails its central idea so completely. Like, possibly you don’t desire a drift-racing recreation about rigorously navigating a parking storage. However that doesn’t cease it from being the most effective drift-racing recreation about rigorously navigating a parking storage.

Right here’s to a different yr

Golly, it could’t get any worse, can it? I really feel like calendars take that as a problem. They’re actually pleased with the ache they put me via, so every time I say that, they reply, “Simply watch me.” No less than it was an important yr for issues to play. There have been a number of occasions this yr the place I used to be buried beneath simply heaps of titles I agreed to overview, and it’s the type of punishment I’m keen to endure just because I find it irresistible a lot.

In reality, there are a bunch of video games I actually loved that didn’t fairly make the record. Judero, Nice God Grove, and Dying Noodle Supply spring to thoughts, however I do know there are others that I’m forgetting.

We’ve obtained loads to stay up for, which is possibly a subject for one more record. So, regardless of how laborious 2025 seems to be, at the least we’ll get some nice video games from our favourite creators. Or at the least first rate makes an attempt. Wow, it’s actually tough to be optimistic.

You may also take a look at my better of lists for 2022 and 2023.