2024 was my year of remakes/remasters/re-releases.
1) Fate/stay night Remastered
I could talk about how this lauded visual novel, which finally made its way outside of Japan, spawned a multimedia series with a fervent following. However, I would rather talk about mapo tofu. Fate/stay night Remastered is the game that introduced me to the deliciousness that is mapo tofu, and I want Rin Tohsaka’s recipe for it.
2) Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus
This was the game I most wanted to play in 2023, but could not because it was a Switch exclusive back then and I don’t have one. In 2024, I finally got to play it on Steam. All I can say is that Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus more than lived up to my internal hype. It’s a great game with sleeper hit potential.
3) Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated
I missed this game the first time around, so I played this remastered version. It is clear why this brief yet fulfilling experience was an indie darling the first time around, and I’m glad a new generation of RPG fans can now enjoy it.
4) Vay
A solid remake I was not expecting. I never beat the original because of its design issues, but this definitive remake provided enough quality-of-life features to make for a rosy nostalgia trip. Wind Elemental is beatable and there is no farting fairy nonsense!
2023 Game I Finally Got to Play in 2024
SaGa Frontier: Remastered
The New Game Plus and quality-of-life features make this esoteric game incredibly fun and engaging to play. Sure, it gets repetitive and some segments are annoyingly gimmicky (e.g. Mosperiburg in Riki’s storyline), but the diversity of the world and all the characters in it remind me of The Amazing World of Gumball in all the best ways. Of all the video games I played in 2024 (I’m talking all of them and not just the ones released in 2024), SaGa Frontier: Remastered was hands down my favorite.
2024 Game I Want to Play in the Future
1000xRESIST
Surprisingly, this one slipped completely under my radar in 2024. The positive buzz surrounding this game has been overwhelming and I wonder if it might be the best-kept secret in another stacked year for gaming.
