I didn’t think I’d come close to beating as many games this year as last, but uhhh actually I’ve finished 44 so far? Surprisingly only one of them is from 2023.
Best 2024 game…in 2024…is still Nine Sols, which I talked about over in that other GOTY thread so I will spare no more words. Good game.
Best 2023 game? Well, I only played Blanc and the actual content of the game itself is perhaps less interesting than the fact that it’s a single-screen co-op game. I played it with my partner and we had a great time. Many games have been elevated for me simply by not being solo affairs.
Other than that? I played some real gems this year (Sonic CD, Panzer Dragoon, Star Fox 2, I could go on but really you can look at the list I linked) but the one that took hold of me is Racing Lagoon, a racing RPG where the customizable character is the car itself. I was really charmed by this game and how seriously it takes itself. The actual act of racing is pretty fun and I also enjoyed just driving around the various maps. Felt a lot like having the Micro Machines I always wanted as a kid. (My cousins had them and I so coveted them.)
That said, I did start Mother 3 a couple days ago so there’s every chance that will just dethrone everything.