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Table of Contents
Rules
This time, we asked the members of our great community at the Bonus Level group to choose the best games deserving a chance in the battle for the GAMIVO Game of the Year title. With their help, we create a list of 12 video games.
The rules were short:
- Participating games had to be released (fully or in early access) between January 1 and December 30, 2024.
- We allowed only base games, so even the best DLC couldn’t participate.
Voting
Without further ado, here’s the list of 12 nominated games. We’re waiting for your votes until January 6, 2025.
Candidates
Let’s meet our nominees.
Astro Bot
- Release date: September 6, 2024
- Developer: Team Asobi
- Publisher: Sony
Astro Bot is a captivating 3D platformer that reimagines the genre with its imaginative gameplay and charming design. You take control of Astro, a playful robot, as he journeys across vibrant galaxies to rescue his scattered crewmates and rebuild his spaceship. The journey spreads across 50 diverse planers. Each level brims with colorful landscapes, hidden surprises, and inventive mechanics. The game seamlessly integrates classic platforming with modern enhancements, offering power-ups and abilities like air-dashing through terrain or climbing with specialized gloves.
Astro Bot celebrates PlayStation’s rich history through delightful cameos, collectible character-themed Bots, and levels inspired by iconic franchises like God of War and Horizon. Its visual style is a feast for the eyes, filled with lively animations and expressive character design that bring Astro and his universe to life. Accessible yet challenging, the game caters to a wide audience, providing optional tougher stages for fans seeking mastery. With its joyful tone and clever use of DualSense features, Astro Bot delivers an unforgettable, family-friendly adventure for gamers of all skill levels.
Balatro
- Release date: February 20, 2024
- Developer: LocalThunk
- Publisher: Playstack
Balatro is probably the biggest sensation of the year and proof that a single developer can create a game that mesmerizes millions. This thrilling roguelike deck-builder puts a unique poker-inspired twist on the genre. Players craft their strategy by building powerful synergies, combining traditional poker hands with a variety of game-changing Joker cards. The game features elements like Tarot cards, Planet cards, and Vouchers that enhance the gameplay. The game’s dynamic mechanics ensure no two runs are the same, offering an endless combination of combos and tactics to master.
The game pairs its strategic depth with accessible gameplay, making it perfect for avid deck-builder enthusiasts and newcomers. With over 150 unique Joker cards, countless unlockables, and challenging boss blinds, Balatro provides a deeply engaging adventure where every decision has the potential to transform your outcome.
Black Myth Wukong
- Release date: August 20, 2024
- Developer: Game Science
- Publisher: Game Science
This game was a mystery. Its trailers had looked amazing, but no one had known what to expect from a generally unknown Chinese studio. Hence, its release in August was one of the most-expected premieres of the year. Fortunately, the game delivered what it promised! Black Myth: Wukong is an enthralling action RPG inspired by Chinese mythology and the timeless tale of Journey to the West. Players step into the role of the Destined One, battling through a breathtaking world filled with ancient wonders and formidable foes. The game blends engaging combat that mises staff techniques, spells, transformations, and magic vessels, allowing players to customize their combat style and adapt to diverse challenges.
With its richly detailed environments, animations, and cinematic presentation rooted in Chinese art, Wukong captivates with its unparalleled visual splendor. It offers an intense, story-driven adventure where players uncover heartfelt backstories while engaging in epic battles against powerful adversaries steeped in mythology.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Release date: October 31, 2024
- Developer: BioWare
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
Dragon Age: The Veilguard lets players return to the rich fantasy world of Thedas. We take on the role of Rook, a customizable hero leading a diverse team of seven unique companions in a fight against two resurrected elven gods threatening to plunge the world into chaos. The game blends deep storytelling with moment-to-moment combat, offering a dynamic mix of tactical decisions and visceral action.
Players traverse beautifully crafted regions like the forests of Arlathan and the grand halls of Minrathous using magical Eluvian portals. Every companion has a detailed backstory, unique skills, and the freedom for meaningful relationships, including romance options.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
- Release date: March 22, 2024
- Developer: Capcom
- Publisher: Capcom
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is an action RPG that puts players in the role of the Arisen, a chosen hero tasked with defeating a mighty dragon. The game offers deep customization, allowing you to shape your Arisen’s appearance, race, and vocation, each determining unique abilities and combat styles.
Vividly detailed settings, ranging from the medieval-inspired realm of humans to areas influenced by Arab Mediterranean aesthetics, provide striking backdrops for your quests. With flexible vocations, day-night cycles affecting gameplay, and emergent events shaped by player choices, Dragon’s Dogma 2 builds on its predecessor’s legacy while delivering thrilling, modern RPG mechanics in a rich and unpredictable fantasy world.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Release date: February 29, 2024
- Developer: Square Enix
- Publisher: Square Enix
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second part of the remake of the classic RPG, reimagines the beloved classic with modern gameplay and stunning visuals. Picking up where its predecessor left off, players join Cloud Strife and his party as they venture beyond Midgar into a beautifully crafted world filled with mystery, danger, and unforgettable moments. The story explores themes of destiny and defiance, with twists that challenge expectations while honoring the original.
The game blends fast-paced real-time combat with tactical depth through the Active-Time Battle system, adding new synergized attacks that allow party members to team up for impactful combos. Characters like Tifa, Aerith, and Barret bring distinct abilities.
Helldivers II
- Release date: February 8, 2024
- Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios
- Publisher: Sony
Helldivers 2, one of the 2024 bestsellers, is a cooperative third-person shooter that immerses players in a satirical intergalactic war. Set in a futuristic world ruled by the managed democracy of Super Earth, players assume the role of elite soldiers tasked with defending humanity from alien threats like the Terminids and Automatons. The game’s fast-paced missions demand teamwork, strategy, and precision with an arsenal of overpowered weapons.
Challenging but fair gameplay keeps players engaged, with difficulty levels scaling up to dramatic, high-stakes operations. The always-on friendly fire mechanic adds intensity and humor, as missteps lead to occasionally hilarious consequences. Helldivers 2 delivers an action-packed and replayable multiplayer experience. If not for the controversy surrounding the forced PSN account, the game could have been even more popular.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Release date: October 11, 2024
- Developer: Studio Zero
- Publisher: Sega
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a role-playing game set in the medieval world of Euchronia. The story unfolds after the assassination of the king, with the kingdom spiraling into political chaos and a magical curse threatening the land. Players guide the protagonist and his companion, Gallica, as they unravel mysteries, build alliances, and participate in the high-stakes tournament to secure the throne.
The game features a unique blend of turn-based strategy and real-time action. The Archetype system enables players to customize their party’s abilities, allowing strategic depth and creativity. With deep character-building options, a gripping narrative rooted in themes of anxiety and unity, and a dynamic time-management system to balance quests and relationships, Metaphor offers an unforgettable role-playing experience.
Palworld
- Release date: January 19, 2024 (early access)
- Developer: Pocketpair
- Publisher: Pocketpair
Palworld was arguably the hottest premiere of the early 2024. This open-world survival crafting game was inspired by Pokemons, which has led to a clash between Pocketpair and Nintendo. Nonetheless, legal affairs haven’t prevented players from having fun on Palpagos Islands, where they can collect and befriend unique creatures known as Pals. They can be equipped with skills or weapons, utilized as mounts to traverse land, sea, and sky, or assigned tasks like mining resources or building vast structures.
Survival is no easy feat in this unpredictable world, as food shortages, harsh weather, and poachers add tension to every decision. Whether you’re managing your idyllic farmstead, spelunking dangerous dungeons with loyal Pals by your side, or participating in morally challenging activities like poaching and black-market trading, the game offers countless ways to play. Its breeding system lets players combine Pals to pass down traits, creating rare, powerful hybrids.
Satisfactory
- Release date: September 10, 2024
- Developer: Coffee Stain
- Publisher: Coffee Stain
This first-person, open-world factory simulation invites players to transform an alien landscape into an industrial empire. Set on the visually striking and resource-rich planet Massage-2(AB)b, players assume the role of a Pioneer tasked with exploiting the land’s vast natural resources to build sprawling, automated factories. The gameplay includes exploration, strategy, and automation as players gather resources, construct custom factories, and optimize intricate conveyor belt systems.
The game excels in creativity and customization, offering tools like jetpacks, vehicles, and drones to streamline production and exploration. A mix of cooperative multiplayer and solo play ensures flexibility, while exciting encounters with alien wildlife add unexpected challenges. Those values are reflected by sky-high scores from critics and players alike.
Silent Hill 2
- Release date: October 8, 2024
- Developer: Bloober Team
- Publisher: Konami
Remaking such an iconic game as Silent Hill 2 seemed risky, but sometimes taking chances pays off. Bloober Team did an outstanding job reimagining the beloved tale of loss and torment. Set in the eerie, fog-shrouded town of Silent Hill, the game follows James Sunderland as he unravels the haunting mystery of a letter from his late wife. With oppressive atmospheres and deeply unsettling creatures, the game creates a chilling and memorable experience.
The gameplay features a modernized third-person perspective with overhauled combat, allowing for fluid but tense encounters. Enemies lurk in shadows, utilizing stealth to surprise players. Exploration is perilous but rewarding, with revamped environmental puzzles and expanded areas that enhance immersion. All in all, Silent Hill 2 captures the emotional depth of the original while delivering a fresh, modern horror experience.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
- Release date: September 9, 2024
- Developer: Saber Interactive
- Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a thunderous third-person shooter and hack-and-slash experience that plunges players into the heart of the grimdark 41st millennium. Taking on the role of Lieutenant Titus of the Ultramarines, you wield an arsenal of brutal ranged and melee weapons to confront relentless waves of Tyranids in tactically intense battles. The game blends gunplay with visceral melee combat, offering satisfying parries, executions, and devastating special abilities.
The campaign presents a compelling mix of large-scale warfare and personal ambition, spanning vivid alien terrains and dystopian urban sceneries. Whether solo or in three-player co-op, the missions emphasize camaraderie and tactical coordination amidst the chaos.
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