🏆The Games Letter’s 2024 Games of the Year
We asked our subscribers for their favorites. Here are the 2024 winners!
In December, we offered our subscribers an opportunity to vote on their favorite games and game-related entertainment from 2024. We gave them until the end of the year to submit their votes. Those votes were tallied, and below are the results.
Best Virtual Reality Game
Virtual reality is still a niche product, which is evident by the low number of votes in this category. Still, unlike last year, we actually had a winner for 2024.
WINNER: Batman: Arkham Shadow
Given the chance, who wouldn’t want to be Batman? Arkham Shadow gives players an opportunity to immerse themselves in Gotham City.
Best Sleeper/Indie Darling
2024 offered up a host of incredible indie titles. 1000xResist, Little Kitty Big City, Helldivers II and Thank Goodness You’re Here were just a few of the great games from small publishers. However, a card game developed by a solo developer took the award.
WINNER: Balatro
The addictive poker-based card game was a hit, with players saying “just one more round.” It was a popular game among TGL subscribers, and might show up again in this list.
Favorite Gaming-Related Media (show, movie, album, etc.)
Games are becoming an increasingly bigger part of pop culture. Television shows, movies, novels and more often take place in the worlds created by video games. We saw Borderlands and a third Sonic the Hedgehog adapted for the big screen, while Yakuza and Secret Level found success on streaming services. But which title took home the top honor?
WINNER: Fallout
The Fallout show builds upon the video games to create a new and fascinating story. The show can be found on Amazon Prime.
Most Anticipated Game of 2025
While most critics expected 2024 would be a weaker year for games after a robust 2023, 2025 looks to be dominated by one title: Grand Theft Auto VI. Publishers have said they plan to avoid announcing their own release dates until they know GTA’s to avoid launching at a similar time and having their games virtually ignored. Still, this mega-title did not fare as well in our poll, finishing behind Borderlands 4, Slay the Spire 2 and Avowed. So, who is The Games Letter’s most anticipated game?
WINNER: Ghosts of Yotei
The follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima takes place over 300 years in the future from the original. Head back to ancient Japan in this beautifully designed game. Check out the trailer.
Best Mobile Game
A new category in 2024, we decided to ask our subscribers for their favorite mobile game of the year. Wordle and Traffic Escape were two mentioned, but neither could take the trick.
WINNER: Balatro
The mobile version of Balatro launched over six months from the PC version, but quickly became a preferred way for many to play, while introducing it to a whole new audience. I mean, who doesn’t have a phone?
Best Tabletop Role-Playing Game
Whether you sit down at a table with friends to roll dice or play over Zoom, TTRPGs have seen a resurgence in the past few years. However, this year’s winner is one most people will know.
WINNER: Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player's Handbook
A new version of the rules to celebrate Dungeons & Dragons 50th anniversary made some popular changes (at least to our subscribers) to the already great game.
Best Board Game
Subscribers were asked to submit their top three games in this category, from first to third. After tallying the votes, here are the results:
3. Skyrise
An auction-style city building game where players take on the role of visionaries trying to complete secret objectives and build the best skyrises in the clouds.
2. Slay The Spire: The Board Game
Based on the video game of the same name, Slay The Spire has adventurers teaming up to find loot and engage in epic battles. Save your progress with friends and continue to grow your character.
WINNER: Arcs
Set in a dark but humorous science fiction universe, your goal is to gain power for your home world though either diplomatic relations, gaining resources or battle. Can you gain ultimate control?
Best Video Game
Subscribers were asked to rank their top five video games. We tallied those votes, and here are TGL’s top video games of the year.
5. (Tie) Metaphor: ReFantazio and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
It seems fitting that the two big and in-depth RPGs would share a spot on this list. From the makers of the Persona series, Metaphor: ReFantazio creates a new story and lore for players. Meanwhile Final Fantasy VII Rebirth brings players back to the world of FFVII in this second game of three planned to remake the 1997 classic.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
The first Zelda game where you get to play as the namesake protagonist. Use magic to replicate items and try to save the poor captured Link.
3. Astro Bot
The PlayStation 5 exclusive platformer has players flying to distant planets to try and rescue other Astro Bots that were flung across the galaxy. A perfect game to help Sony celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary (also it’s a lot of fun).
2. Balatro
The little card game that could finds itself on our list for a third time as the runner-up for our Game of the Year. However, it just couldn’t whip the top game of 2024.
WINNER: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Despite its late release (Dec. 9), Indy eked out a narrow victory. It certainly helped that it was available on Xbox Game Pass for enthusiasts to play on Xbox or PC for the cost of a subscription. Take the whip as Indy in this all-new adventure.
Congratulations to the 2024 winners, and thank you to our subscribers who voted. Start your lists now for 2025!
