The gaming world continues to produce standout titles that push the boundaries of storytelling, mechanics, and visual design. With each release, critics and fans alike dive deep into what makes these games truly exceptional—or, in some cases, what holds them back. Here’s a look at the key insights from top reviews of the year’s most talked-about games, focusing on what critics are highlighting in terms of gameplay, graphics, narrative, and innovation.
1. “Starfield” – Expansive Universe, but Pacing Issues
Bethesda’s Starfield was one of the most anticipated games of 2024, with promises of a vast open-world universe to explore. While the game delivers on its promise of expansive space exploration and deep lore, reviews have been divided regarding its pacing and mission structure.
- Critic Highlights: Reviewers praised the game’s intricate world-building and attention to detail in crafting alien landscapes and bustling space hubs. The scale of the universe is impressive, offering players a staggering amount of content. However, many critics noted that Starfield suffers from slow pacing, especially in the early stages of the game, with missions that can feel repetitive and lack a clear sense of progression.
- Top Insight: Starfield excels in creating a visually stunning and immersive world but could benefit from tighter mission design and faster pacing to keep players engaged over its long runtime.
2. “The Last of Us Part III” – Emotional Storytelling, but Familiar Mechanics
Naughty Dog returned with The Last of Us Part III, continuing the harrowing story of Ellie and the post-apocalyptic world. While the game has been praised for its emotional depth and cinematic presentation, some critics felt that the gameplay mechanics haven’t evolved enough from previous entries.
- Critic Highlights: Reviewers lauded the emotional weight of the story, with standout performances from the voice cast, particularly Ashley Johnson as Ellie. The game’s narrative tackles complex themes of revenge, redemption, and loss, resonating deeply with players. However, the core gameplay—stealth mechanics, crafting, and combat—felt overly familiar to some critics, who wished for more innovation in this sequel.
- Top Insight: The Last of Us Part III is a masterclass in storytelling, but fans of the series may find that the gameplay doesn’t bring much new to the table.
3. “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Gods” – A New Benchmark for Open-World RPGs
The expansion to the critically acclaimed Elden Ring took what was already an exceptional game and elevated it with Shadow of the Gods. FromSoftware’s blend of open-world exploration, challenging combat, and intricate lore continues to impress, with the expansion offering new regions, bosses, and deeper lore.
- Critic Highlights: Critics raved about the new areas introduced in the expansion, praising the level design and the sense of discovery that has become a hallmark of the series. The challenging combat remains as satisfying as ever, with new enemy types and bosses that test even the most seasoned players. However, some noted that the game’s difficulty spike could be off-putting for newcomers.
- Top Insight: Shadow of the Gods sets a new standard for RPG expansions, adding depth and complexity to an already rich game world, though its high difficulty remains a divisive feature.
4. “Hogwarts Legacy: Dark Arts” – Immersive Magic, but Repetitive Gameplay
Hogwarts Legacy captured the imaginations of Harry Potter fans with its detailed recreation of the wizarding world. The Dark Arts expansion introduces darker storylines and new spells, but critics noted that the gameplay loop starts to feel repetitive over time.
- Critic Highlights: The expansion’s dark storyline and the moral choices players can make were praised for adding complexity to the game’s narrative. The new spells and abilities introduced in Dark Arts were also a hit, giving players fresh tools to experiment with in combat. However, the game’s core structure—consisting of fetch quests and enemy encounters—felt repetitive to some reviewers, particularly toward the latter half of the expansion.
- Top Insight: Hogwarts Legacy: Dark Arts is a must-play for fans of the wizarding world, but its gameplay structure could use more variety to keep long-term players fully engaged.
5. “Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty” – Redemption Through Expansion
Following its rocky initial release, Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty expansion helped redeem the game in the eyes of many players and critics. CD Projekt Red’s commitment to improving the game’s mechanics and narrative through patches and the expansion has been widely praised.
- Critic Highlights: Critics appreciated the overhaul of the game’s systems, with smoother performance and fewer bugs compared to the original release. The Phantom Liberty storyline introduces new characters, including a standout performance by Idris Elba, and offers a tight, gripping narrative that blends espionage with cyberpunk dystopia. The expansion also reworks many gameplay systems, making combat more fluid and exploration more rewarding.
- Top Insight: Phantom Liberty is a triumphant return to form for Cyberpunk 2077, showcasing what the game was always meant to be—an engaging, immersive cyberpunk experience with top-tier storytelling.
6. “Final Fantasy XVI” – Visual Splendor and Complex Combat
Final Fantasy XVI marked a return to darker, more mature storytelling within the iconic franchise. Critics praised its stunning visuals and intricate combat system but noted that the game’s linearity and pacing might not appeal to all players.
- Critic Highlights: The visual presentation of Final Fantasy XVI received universal praise, with its blend of high-fantasy aesthetics and cinematic cutscenes. The combat system, which focuses on real-time action rather than turn-based strategy, was appreciated for its depth and fluidity. However, the game’s linear progression, especially compared to the open-world trend in RPGs, was a point of criticism for some.
- Top Insight: Final Fantasy XVI delivers a visually breathtaking and emotionally charged story, but players expecting an open-world experience may find the linearity restrictive.
7. “Spider-Man 2” – Superhero Fun with Deeper Storytelling
Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 builds on the success of its predecessor with tighter web-swinging mechanics, a compelling storyline, and multiple playable characters. The game has been widely praised for its balance between action-packed gameplay and character-driven storytelling.
- Critic Highlights: Critics praised the game’s fluid traversal mechanics, which make swinging through New York City a joy. The addition of multiple playable characters, each with their unique abilities, adds variety to the gameplay. The story, which focuses on Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they face off against iconic villains, was lauded for its emotional depth and character development. However, some critics noted that the side missions felt somewhat repetitive.
- Top Insight: Spider-Man 2 is a thrilling superhero adventure that excels in both gameplay and storytelling, though some of its side content could use more variety.
Final Thoughts
These highly anticipated games of 2024 have each offered something unique to the gaming world, from groundbreaking visuals to emotionally charged storytelling. While not every game hit every mark, the overall trend shows that developers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming. Whether you’re seeking deep narratives, expansive worlds, or challenging gameplay, this year’s top releases have something for every type of gamer.