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Last year was all about legendary releases. Titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Alan Wake 2 captivated gamers across the globe, but life behind the scenes was a world on fire. We felt the consequences of that in 2024. Studios had a turbulent year, and many big releases were delayed or canceled. So was it a good year for video games, like as a whole? In time, we’ll see. For now, we’re going to celebrate the fact that plenty of incredible games came out in 2024 by awarding the best of them.
This year wasn’t about one (or three) standout, generation-defining titles. Instead, a bunch of niches and fan bases popped off for their own thing. If you love long RPGs, you were eating good with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Metaphor: Re:Fantazio, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard—though we’ve been so swamped that two of us barely had time to catch up on the masterful Remake from 2020, let alone any of this year’s 60-hour-plus epics. On top of that, indie games were unassailable in 2024. Animal Well was one of the most inventive takes on the Metrodvania in years, and 1000XRESIST tells one of the best stories of the year, hands down. In other news, Silent Hill 2 finally got a remake, and it wasn’t terrible! There was even a pretty good Batman game in VR. Those are all great ways to spend your time. None of them even made it close to our top-five list.
This year wasn’t just about the new releases, either. From controllers to gaming chairs and keyboards, we’ve spent the year finding the best in gamer gear. Only the things we truly loved get an Esquire Gaming Award. So here they are.
Esquire’s Games of the Year
College Football 25
$41.99 at amazon.com
If you’re unfamiliar with the Discourse, 2024’s game-of-the-year debate is reaching existential-crisis territory. Unlike with our top title in 2023, Alan Wake 2, there’s no clear-cut winner this year. Can a DLC (Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree) win the year’s top honors? What about a remake (Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth)? Or could it just be Astro Bot? When we hashed it out, we kept coming back to one improbable title, a release we never expected to award Game of the Year back in January. EA Sports delivered an acclaimed game to a niche of notoriously picky fans after an 11-year wait. (Bethesda, are you taking notes?) At a certain point, you simply can’t ignore the outsize cultural impact of a moment like that. Even if it’s for a sports game. Cue your fight song of choice: Esquire’s Game of the Year is College Football 25.
After taking a digital beating (and then some) for lackluster Madden efforts, EA Sports built a football sim that actually feels new. Do you know how hard that is to pull off? College Football 25’s gameplay feels like college football. Schemes are wonderfully weird, and playing defense sometimes feels impossible. Big stadiums like Ohio State’s horseshoe, Oregon’s Autzen, and LSU’s Death Valley are markedly more difficult to play in. EA Sports painstakingly incorporated details and quirks of all 134 FBS schools to make every fan—from Texas to Toledo—feel like their program was cared for. And the beloved dynasty mode? I won’t even tell you how many years I’ve burned through so far. In the end, it felt like the world stopped the day College Football 25 reached the masses, and we had the most fun gaming this year when we were airing it out on Saturday afternoons. —Brady Langmann
UFO 50
$24.99 at steampowered.com
Why get one NES-throwback-style indie when you can get 50 of them for the same price? Yes, you read that correctly. While most major studios struggle to make one $70 title function correctly, UFO 50’s team of indie developers came together to make 50 games plus a whole meta narrative/hidden game. The kicker? They’re all fucking good.
The ’80s-inspired collection features brand-new platformers, puzzlers, and RPGs that range from quick bursts of fun to multi-hour affairs. Highlights include Party House, a strategy rogue-lite about throwing the perfect party before the cops arrive; Mortol, an action platformer about sacrificing copies of your character to cross obstacles and reach the next stage, only to have to turn around; and Pilot Quest, an idle game that runs in the background until it transforms into a full-fledged RPG of its own. The entire collection costs just $24.99, meaning you’re clocking out at around $0.50 a title. That’s insane. I can fully guarantee that you won’t find a better deal this year. —Josh Rosenberg
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
$44.99 at amazon.com
Like a Dragon is the greatest video game franchise of all time. I have no reservations about that statement. As any fan will tell you, the Japanese gangster RPG contains one of the wackiest, longest-running stories in interactive storytelling today, as well as a treasure trove of side quests that rival the title’s core content. The latest title is no exception. In fact, Infinite Wealth is a magnum opus for the series.
The game combines characters from across its 20-year history to tell a wide-reaching and compelling story about Japanese gangsters in Hawaii. Infinite Wealth also manages to pack in even more mini games than ever before. After spending hours at the dartboard, the batting cage, the karaoke bar, the mah-jongg parlor, the go-kart tournament, or even the Animal Crossing–esque island creator, you’ll forget that you haven’t touched the main story in days. Controlled insanity is the key to Infinite Wealth’s success. I know it sounds daunting and incredibly silly. Just call and thank me after the most ridiculous side quest still manages to make you weep. —J.R.
Astro Bot
$59.00 at amazon.com
This year’s biggest bundle of feel-good nostalgia has got to be PlayStation’s salute to the mascot platformer. In and of itself, Astro Bot is a tight, ambitious, creative 3D platformer that nearly single-handedly revives the very genre it’s paying homage to. It incorporates every unique feature of the DualSense controller, reminding you why you got a PS5 in the first place.
But it’s the targeted and refined nostalgia play that makes it my personal Game of the Year. For so many fans and critics who lived through the eras it celebrates, it was pure joy. With over 150 unique bots to find, triumphant themed levels based on Uncharted, God of War, and even some more obscure fan favorites, Astro Bot is as much of an easter-egg hunt as it is a history lesson. —Bryn Gelbart
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
$52.45 at amazon.com
Tears of the Kingdom excelled because it granted players nearly unlimited creativity. It was also incredibly hard. Using the core mechanics of grabbing things and sticking them together to build a giant robot was a blast, but it wasn’t easy, nor did it make getting to the final boss that much easier.
In The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Nintendo allowed players to “break the game” once again, this time completely in the player’s favor. In Princess Zelda’s first-ever leading title, she possesses the ability to copy and reuse just about any object you find in Hyrule. Players can combine two beds to forge bridges or populate chairs in the wild to reach high ledges. Multiple solutions exist for every puzzle. And as always with Nintendo, the title’s design is incredibly intuitive for younger players to enjoy. If you’re picking up a Nintendo title for the holidays this year, this better be it. —J.R.
Best Gaming Devices of 2024
ROG Ally X
Handheld PC-gaming devices have finally evolved to give gamers what they’ve always dreamed of: the ability to play brand-new releases wherever they go. The ROG Ally X from Asus is the most powerful gaming handheld on the market, and it’s got a stunning 120Hz VRR screen. It’s perfect to pick up and play for quick sessions but doesn’t give your hands fatigue during those longer binges. For the full spiel, read our review.
$799.99 at asus.com
Quest 3
This headset dropped late last year, but it’s still the gold standard for VR. No PC or gaming console required; just plug and play. Three generations in, Meta has built a healthy library of hit games like Asgard’s Wrath 2 and mixed-reality programs like Supernatural VR Fitness. Right now, you can get a 512GB headset with an included copy of the brand new Meta exclusive Batman: Arkham Shadow.
$499.99 at
One
Between Netflix and Apple Arcade, there’s a huge selection of full big-budget video games that you can play on your phone. And you probably don’t even realize you have them. Playing GTA or Hades with a touch screen is nuts; it’s horrible. That’s when you need a Backbone. This year, the company finally released one modeled after a PlayStation controller, for all your white device aesthetic needs.
$99.99 at amazon.com
Interactive Screen Wireless Controller
The controller has a screen in the middle. Pretty cool, right? In practice, it makes the Manba One the ultimate controller for gamers who love to switch between PC and mobile in just a couple quick inputs. Sick of not being able to remap buttons on your Nintendo console? This is the perfect solution. The clicky face buttons make it perfect for playing Diablo IV, or any other game native to PC, on Switch. It’s got trigger locks, Hall-effect joysticks, and all the bells and whistles—plus more—you’d expect from your controller upgrade.
$69.99 at amazon.com
U8
TVs get bigger and more expensive than this, but for gaming on Xbox and PlayStation it doesn’t get that much better. It supports refresh rates up to 144Hz. That means framerates hitting 120 fps. All that, a Dolby Vision palette that pops, and audio that doesn’t immediately require a soundbar makes us recommend this TV to any console gamer who knows what’s best for them.
$697.99 at amazon.com
Best Gaming Accessories of 2024
Vantum Gaming Chair
An all-purpose desk chair you can sit comfortably in for hours without any discomfort? Call it a gamer’s dream. The subtle forward lean will help you keep your eyes on the monitor and minimize slouching, regardless of whether you’re lining up headshots or poring over spreadsheets. We’ve been using it around the office and know that whoever is sitting there is the most comfortable person at work that day.
$671.25 at hermanmiller.com
BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%
Razer has done the impossible with a mechanical keyboard for both the gaming and keyboard-customization communities. It’s got those clickies and clackies we love, but it’s also fully hot-swappable, so you can adjust the feel to your own preference. When gaming, you can take full advantage of the OLED control panel, never again having to exit a game to adjust your PC settings. Once again, you can read our review for more.
$299.99 at razer.com
Arctis GameBuds
The dawn of gaming earbuds is here at last. With styles that support PS5 or Xbox, the GameBuds are built from the ground up for creating an immersive sound experience for video games. They can connect via Bluetooth, but the 2.4GHz dongle is right there inside the charging case. Get a clue and use it.
$159.99 at steelseries.com
Odyssey OLED G6
Let’s just say it outright. Samsung monitors are GOATED. However, a lot of them are pretty extreme in one direction or another—extreme curves or refresh rate so high your eyes don’t know the difference. Not so here. This OLED has a beautiful screen for single-player gamers and boasts a 144Hz refresh rate and 27-inch screen for those who need to lock it in and perform at the highest level possible.
$899.99 at Samsung
Virtuoso Max Wireless
This is the best gaming headset on the market, hands down. It’s classy and comfortable, and it rocks a mighty impressive transparency mode. With one tap of the headphones, you can go between head-in-the-game mode and talking about dinner plans without missing a beat, or a headshot.
$329.99 at corsair.com
Everything Else We Loved in 2024
Freyja
This also wins the secret award for coolest thing that I initially scoffed at. I have to give it up to Razer for thinking outside the box with Freyja. This haptic seat cushion is packed full of force feedback, the first in line at the door of a growing trend. Freyja adds that 4DX vibe to your gaming chair. And with hundreds of games hot to go with custom developer-approved presets, you know you’re getting the full level of immersion the game’s creators intended. —B.G.
$299.99 at razer.com
Stream Deck Neo
If getting on Twitch is your 2025 resolution, you absolutely need this gadget. Elgato’s latest Stream Deck, the Neo, is an all-in-one command center for your game-streaming setup. Call up saved web pages and programs at the push of a button, and custom-map production shortcuts to make your life easier and your streams smoother. You can program pages’ worth of quick inputs across its buttons and then sit back and watch the viewers come to you. —B.G.
$99.99 at amazon.com
Fighting as a Big Bear in Tekken 8
Bizarre characters are a staple of fighting games. Fighters Megamix included the car from Daytona, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 featured an anthropomorphic cactus named Amingo, and the Super Smash Bros. franchise sees Mario and Luigi go blow for blow with Steve from Minecraft. None of them can compete with Kuma. He’s a big bear in a leather jacket, his name literally translates to bear in Japanese, and he hits like a tank. Kuma hails from the Tekken series, and Tekken 8 includes the best bear-attack action yet. Kuma slaps opponents with a giant salmon that he fishes out of the water. Kuma plays dead. Kuma performs a barrel roll and then lands on his opponent with his furry behind. It’s a blast. —J.R.
$49.99 at amazon.com
Hitting E in Balatro
This poker-inspired rogue-lite is another one of our favorites from this year. It scratched that “just one more run” itch more than anything else we’ve played in recent memory. Nothing was more satisfying than finally seeing a score so high it could be expressed only with exponential notation. That’s what we Balatro pros like to call hitting E. If it sounds like doing drugs, then we’ve spent every waking moment since chasing that dragon. —B.G.
$19.99 at amazon.com
Elden Ring and Alan Wake 2 expansions
What happens when the best game of the decade gets an equally good expansion? We lose our minds. So what about when it happens twice? Elden Ring’s Bloodborne-sized expansion Shadow of the Erdtree and The Lake House, Alan Wake 2’s final expansion, both released this year. These DLC packs live up to the standards set by our 2022 and 2023 GOTYs respectively and deliver the goods yet again, whether that be meta-textual mind-fuckery or bosses that beat your ass senseless. Pick your poison. —B.G.
$39.99 at xbox.com
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