The Best Video Games of 2024 So Far

Video game remakes and remasters are getting more abundant each year. One of the key factors driving this trend is rising development costs for modern games. This is prompting publishers to dig into their game catalogs to re-release older titles with established fanbases. Another factor is that publishers are simply riding the wave of increasing appreciation for retro games.

We've already seen some excellent video games this year. Some of the best games have been retro games with enhanced visuals, controls, or features. In this post we take a look at the best video games of 2024 for retro game fans.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was a much-anticipated release early this year and brings Lara Croft's original adventures to modern platforms. These adventure games were originally developed in the late '90s and have been updated with modern graphics and new gameplay options. This trilogy still holds up with challenging puzzles, well-paced action, and that special sense of being on your own in far away lands. If you grew up with these games they will look totally recognizeable, but now have improved textures, lighting, and controls. This collection is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern gaming.

Animal Well

Animal Well from developer Shared Memory and publisher BigMode is a modern take on the retro Metroidvania genre, blending intricate pixel art with contemporary design. This atmospheric exploration game takes players to delve into a mysterious and interconnected world filled with secrets and puzzles. Animal Well draws heavy inspiration from classic games, offering a nostalgic experience with fresh, innovative mechanics that appeal to both retro game fans and folks with modern tastes. But seriously, even if you don't play the game at least check out the incredible easter eggs.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the highly anticipated continuation of the 2020 Final Fantasy VII Remake. Together the games form the first chunk of a massive and super expensive remake of the 1997 class Final Fantasy VII. Rebirth reimagines the original game's battle system, features breathtaking graphics, new gameplay mechanics, and an expanded storyline that delves deeper into the rich lore of the original game. This game is massive, so it's the perfect adventure for those long summer days.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a remake of the puzzle-platformer that was originally released on the Game Boy Advance. This updated version features improved graphics and refined controls, breathing new life into the the classic cat-and-mouse chase between Mario and DK. The nostalgic gameplay with modern touches makes for a great experience for fans of this style of game. I've always been a bigger fan of Donkey Kong 1994 for the Game Boy but I'm just happy this series is getting some love from Nintendo.

Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload revitalizes the classic RPG with modern graphics and gameplay enhancements. This remaster of the cult classic PlayStation 2 game retains its deep story and unique social simulation elements while updating the visuals and mechanics to meet modern standards. There are some nice improvements to character models, environments, and battle systems, that overall make it more accessible to newcomers.

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is another labor of love from Nightdive Studios and brings back the classic FPS set in the Star Wars universe. LucasArts could do no wrong in this era and this game stands the test of time. The remaster is thoughtfully done with nice improvements to the graphics, performance bumps, and retouched cutscenes. This is one of the best Doom clones from the 1990s and still plays great today. It's easy to recommend to anyone who likes retro FPS games or Star Wars. So, basically everyone.

Luigi's Mansion 2

Luigi's Mansion 2 was originally released on the Nintendo 3DS and has been remastered with some subtle but nice visual improvements, along with offering dual joystick inputs. This remaster retains all the charm and humor of Luigi's 3DS adventure.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a fan favorite in the Paper Mario series and this is another excellent remaster from Nintendo. This updated version enhances the unique paper-cutout visuals and expressive animations to give the game even more personality. If you like accessible RPGs and good storytelling this one is easy to recommend.

Metroid Prime Remastered

OK I'm totally cheating because this is a 2023 game, but Metroid Prime Remastered absolutely deserves an honorable mention among the 2024 games. You can tell that Retro Studios really put effort into updating their original masterpiece. This remaster preserves the atmospheric exploration and intense combat of the GameCube title while providing a fresh experience for players with modern tastes. Somehow Retro Studies managed to make a masterpiece even better. I can't say enough good things about this game.

Playing the Originals

I'm a huge fan of remakes and remasters and am thrilled that publishers are keeping these classics alive and giving some of them quality-of-life improvements.

But, there's something special about playing the original games on their original hardware. If you want to play original versions of the remasters and remakes from our list, be sure to check out the game listings on Video Game Marketplace.