VGChartz's Evan Norris: "Over the years, I've been lucky enough to cover the work of many different developers and publishers, from all over the globe. In some cases, after I’ve played several titles in a row from a specific game maker, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the studio's portfolio and a better understanding of its design philosophy and trajectory. I’ve also noticed if a company is spinning its wheels or firing on all cylinders. In the case of publisher Spike Chunsoft, in the year 2024, the latter is very much the case. Over the last 12 months, I was fortunate to review four of its games — two of which I regard as GOTY contenders and the other two of which I consider tantalizingly close to greatness."
VGChartz's Evan Norris: "It's easier and often more profitable to focus on the negative in the video game industry, but there's enough gloominess in the world. Let's focus instead on all the happy surprises that 2024 gave us. First, there's Balatro, the little indie-that-could that made a bigger splash than most AAA games. Second, there's Bakeru, an unassuming action-platformer with style and creativity approximating the giants of the genre. Third, there's The Plucky Squire, an outside-the-box (and off-the-page) action-adventure that constantly breaks the rules. Fourth, there's Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which against the odds delivers both an outstanding Metroidvania and a game worthy of the legendary franchise. Finally, there's Silent Hill 2, which, despite months of hand-wringing, turned out to be one of the best remakes of the year."
VGChartz: "Launch troubles and a mixed reception for what would ordinarily be heavy favourites in the Best Simulation Game category left an opening for some cult hits in 2024, but would any of them ultimately be able to cause an upset?
Representing the former category we have the sequel to Planet Coaster, The first title had finally done the rollercoaster sim sub-genre justice following over a decade of RollerCoaster Tycoon decline, but the sequel came very close to going off the rails. The Microsoft Flight Simulator series similarly took some flak; the 2020 title had been a runaway hit, but this year's entry felt incomplete to many. And so there was an opening for rivals. The two that survived the cull were: Satisfactory, an addictive and highly successful factory sim that finally left Early Access in 2024; and Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid, the only life sim to make the cut this year, but it's one filled with heart-warming charm."
VGChartz's Evan Norris: "Not every genre came to play in 2024, but action certainly did. It delivered several high-quality games covering a variety of play styles: action-platforming, beat-'em-up, hack-and-slash, etc. For those looking for a spiritual successor to Goemon, Good-Feel delivered the goods with the brawling platformer Bakeru. For millennials searching for that nostalgia fix, Digital Eclipse brought Power Rangers back into the spotlight with the co-op belt-scroller Rita's Rewind. For those craving more Souls-like, deflection-based gameplay, Red Candle Games produced an action-platformer even Sekiro diehards could respect. And for those asking what fills the void after Nier: Automata, Shift Up offered a possible answer in Stellar Blade."
