2024 has been a fascinating year for video games, with some real highs - and lows - across all platforms. This year we saw a wonderful slate of AAA games enjoy their well-deserved praise and accolades, with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth kicking off the year in style, all the way up to end-of-year hits like Silent Hill 2 remake, and Indiana Jones & The Great Circle. It's also been a phenomenal year for indie games thanks to the surprise hits of Palworld, along with instant classics like Neva and Balatro.

Last year was largely dominated by the phenomenal Baldur's Gate 3, which was a sure-fire win for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023. This year, however, it was anyone's game with nominees Metaphor: ReFantazio, Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. The award surprised viewers by going to Astro Bot - a well-deserved win, in our opinion.

Still, there are plenty of other games the editors here at Screen Rant have dubbed worthy of the title of "best." The following games have been selected by our Gaming editors, considering not just awards, accolades, general reception - plus our own review scores - but also our own personal favorite candidates for games we've loved most throughout the year.

20 World Of Warcraft: The War Within

A Gaming Classic Gets Better

What it's about: The opening chapter of the Worldsoul Saga and the 10th World of Warcraft expansion, The War Within challenges players to explore beneath the surface of Azeroth.

World of Warcraft as a whole has been a part of my life for almost 17 years now. The massive amount of abilities, different playstyles, and the sense of community that I get from my guild is something I will never forget. Ranking top dog in DPS, healing like no other in raids, and completing the new questline from the first expansion in the Saga always brings back those feelings of when I first started playing back in Vanilla WoW.

Though times have changed drastically, the storyline and lore that is presented in TWW keep me coming back for more.

- Written by Samantha Giambra-Plaisance, Gaming Editor.

19 Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

One Of The Best In The Series

What it's about: Since the Great Dissolution three years ago, Ichiban Kasuga has been helping ex-Yakuza rehabilitate and re society. Along with his companions, Kasuga is forced to uncover the truth behind a dangerous financial empire.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth improves upon the many RPG systems introduced in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and combines it with a fantastic story that fans of the franchise will cherish. Its turn-based combat system may initially feel awkward, but it blossoms into one of the most enjoyable and action-packed Yakuza experiences.

With a narrative packed with drama, action, and comedy, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth stands tall as one of the best games in the series.

- Written by Akshay Bhalla, Gaming Editor.

18 Persona 3 Reload

A Perfect Remake

What it's about: Returning to the city he was born in, Persona 3 Reload’s protagonist transfers to Gekkoukan High School and s a strange dorm. The game follows a group of high school students who want to uncover the truth behind the mysterious Dark Hour and the concept of Death itself.

Persona 3 Reload may just be another remake from afar, but Atlus reimagined one of the most revered titles in the series with modern visuals, updated gameplay mechanics, and a fully-voiced social links system, unlike the original. There’s no hiding that Persona 3 Reload got the same treatment as Persona 5, with meaningful additions that make the remake a whole new experience for new and returning players.

Having said that, Persona 3 Reload’s fast-paced gameplay, revamped Tartarus, and brand-new social link activities make it one of the best RPGs to release in 2024.

- Written by Akshay Bhalla, Gaming Editor.

17 Stardew Valley 1.6

Not A Full New Game - But May As Well Be!

What it's about: Originally released in 2016, Stardew Valley is a cozy farming simulator in which players take over their grandfather's farm, building it up to turn a profit while exploring the town and befriending its villagers. Developer ConcernedApe has released several big game updates for Stardew, including 2024's major 1.6 expansion.

Stardew Valley may not be a "new" game, but 2024's 1.6 update introduced more than enough new content to justify a place on this list. From the new mastery system to the addition of a new farm type, the sheer breadth of new content that was added in 1.6 was just what I - and lots of players - needed to bring us back to Pelican Town after an extended hiatus from my farm.

ConcernedApe knows exactly how to make an update special, and booting up 1.6 for the first time felt just like playing an all-new Stardew Valley.

- Written by Lara Jackson, Deputy Gaming Editor.

16 Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6

A Return To Form

What it's about: The Black Ops 6 campaign follows rogue CIA operatives as they look to uncover the secret behind a mysterious military group with ties to the organization. Meanwhile, the Zombies narrative sees favorites like Edward Richtofen return to further investigate the Dark Aether's secrets. Then, the classic Call of Duty multiplayer experience is back in full force as BO6 cranks it up a notch with the new Omnimovement system.

Call of Duty swung for the fences with its new Omnimovement system in Black Ops 6 and is reaping the rewards. Movement is smoother than ever and Treyarch's fine-tuned gunplay is fresh and exciting. Given Warzone's recent dominance, I couldn't imagine Call of Duty Multiplayer and Zombies wrestling back its status as the focal point of the franchise, but we seem to be barreling toward that outcome.

The polished core mechanics on display make Black Ops 6 a worthy entry in the famed saga.

- Written by Luca Di Marzo, Gaming Editor.

15 Crow Country

A New Venture

What it's about: Crow Country is a survival horror game set in the 1990s, players explore an abandoned theme park. The game is heavily inspired by PS1 classic horror games, and has been compared to the original Resident Evil and Silent Hill games.

In a year of spectacular indie games like Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, UFO 50, and Balatro, Crow Country carves out a park-sized niche of its own. I played through the game in one night and found every step of the journey to be almost miraculously assured, smoothing over the erratic frustrations found in its PS1 inspirations without sanding off what made them so interesting.

Throwback stylings are all the rage, but it’s rare for something to understand late ‘90s game design so intimately and update it so effortlessly.

- Written by Ben Brosofsky, Gaming Editor.

14 Star Wars Outlaws

An Immersive Star Wars Experience

What it's about: Set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world RPG, where players take on the role of thief Kay Vess. Unlike most Star Wars releases, Outlaws doesn't focus on the typical Jedi-centric storylines, offering something new to fans.

Star Wars Outlaws is a title I could go back and play over and over, if not only for the nostalgia of the Star Wars franchise. While it may not have many of the characters I came to know and love, Kay made the game engaging, immersive, and just a lot of fun to play.

The different paths to go down cater to the “decision maker” in me, and that makes for even more replayability in my opinion.

- Written by Samantha Giambra-Plaisance, Gaming Editor.

13 Marvel Rivals

A Surprisingly Addictive Game

What it's about: A free-to-play hero-shooter that incorporates many iconic characters from the Marvel universe and pits them against each other in team-based battles.

An excellent multiplayer title needs to be fun and easy to pick up, and that’s precisely why Marvel Rivals has been so successful. While Marvel Rivals is heavily inspired by Overwatch, the game keeps things fresh with additional features such as Team-Up moves, interesting map designs, and unique character abilities.

With a diverse roster of iconic characters, chaotic fights, and intense matches, Marvel Rivals is an excellent example of the hero-shooter genre that could leave its contemporaries behind.

- Written by Akshay Bhalla, Gaming Editor.

12 Helldivers 2

Updates Keep It Fresh & Fun

What it's about: As the Helldivers, players battle the enemies of Super Earth in a surprisingly lore-heavy squad-based shooter set in a futuristic dystopian world.

I had all but lost interest in Helldivers 2 after getting more than my fill near the beginning of the year, but the emergence of the hostile Illuminate in the game's recent update has me once again on the front lines defending Super Earth's managed democracy. It's an unadulterated power fantasy where being expendable is a huge part of the appeal.

I still laugh every time a teammate's orbital barrage sends my character's limbs flying, or my lightning-shooting gun discharges through a couple enemies and inadvertently into another Helldiver, insta-killing them.

- Written by Kyle Gratton, Gaming Editor.

11 Neva

A Beautiful Adventure

What it's about: A short but sweet adventure, Neva follows Alba and a wolf cub, Neva. Even though it takes just a few hours to beat, the game takes what made 2018's GRIS so magical and expands it even further in its storytelling and visuals.

Neva was one of my most-anticipated games of 2024, and its beautiful world didn't disappoint. GRIS is one of my favorite indie games of all time, and the world and story of Neva are just a beautiful, emotionally challenging, and inspiring. As our reviewer Leo Faierman put it in Screen Rant's 9/10 review: "It's no exaggeration to say that nearly any screenshot is worthy of framing."

If you haven't played this one yet, it should absolutely be on your radar.

- Written by Lara Jackson, Deputy Gaming Editor.