Awards season is here again, and we’d like to take this opportunity to present the Best Genre winners of 2024, courtesy of our staff at Twisted Voxel.
2024 has been an incredible year for video games, offering something noteworthy in every genre. From psychological horror to thrilling action and innovative VR experiences, the industry’s best titles have kept us busy throughout the year. Here’s a closer look at the standout games that defined this year, earning their places as the Best in Genre for 2024.
Best Horror Game: Silent Hill 2
The long-anticipated remake of Silent Hill 2 surpassed our expectations, as developer Bloober Team delivered a psychological horror experience that largely stayed true to the original’s haunting story, while uplifting its atmospheric visuals and gameplay for modern audiences. The subtle narrative tweaks and environmental storytelling deepened protagonist James Sunderland’s journey, making it a standout in 2024’s horror lineup.
Runner-up: Slitterhead
Honorable Mention: A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead
Best Action Game: Stellar Blade
Stellar Blade’s stylish and over-the-top action instantly resonated with us, and its intense, fast-paced combat kept us hooked across multiple playthroughs. The game successfully delivers fluid hack-and-slash mechanics wrapped in a vibrant sci-fi aesthetic. Protagonist Eve sports a worthwhile arsenal of weapons that allow for varied playstyles.
Runner-up: Black Myth: Wukong
Honorable Mention: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Best Action-Adventure Game: Astro Bot
Team Asobi’s Astro Bot is a triumphant platformer that’s worth celebrating not only for its nostalgic nods to PlayStation’s history but also for its creative level design and game mechanics. It also makes the best use of the PS5’s DualSense controller thus far, making it integral to the experience.
Runner-up: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Honorable Mention: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Best Fighting Game: Tekken 8
Tekken 8 brings the iconic fighting franchise to new heights, combining its signature high-octane battles with cutting-edge graphics and refined mechanics, reaffirming to us its status as a pillar of the fighting game community. The game’s new Heat System adds a new twist to the flow of classic Tekken matches by rewarding aggressive playstyles. Meanwhile, the over-the-top story mode, which delves into the Mishima saga’s explosive conclusion, is also worthy of praise for its cinematic presentation.
Runner-up: Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
Honorable Mention: Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
Best Sports Game: EA Sports FC 25
The latest entry in EA’s football series retains its commitment to realism by incorporating smoother animations, enhanced AI, and expanded player customization options. The addition of women’s leagues further broadens its appeal, making it the definitive sports game of the year.
Runner-up: WWE 2K24
Honorable Mention: EA Sports College Football 25
Best RPG: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth continues the ambitious reimagining of the classic JRPG, offering a sprawling open world, engaging side quests, and a more refined and fluid combat system. With its bold narrative changes deeper exploration of beloved characters, and memorable soundtrack, it has solidified its place as our pick for best RPG of 2024.
Runner-up: Metaphor: ReFantazio
Honorable Mention: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Best First-Person Shooter: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
This year’s Call of Duty installment stands out with its gripping campaign, new omnimovement system, and an engaging multiplayer mode, ensuring its dominance in the FPS genre.
Runner-up: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Honorable Mention: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Best Indie Game: Balatro
Balatro’s clever mechanics, unique humor, minimalist design, and replayability resonated with us. In a year dominated by big-budget releases, our staff spent a considerable amount of time engaged with the game’s fun challenges.
Runner-up: UFO 50
Honorable Mention: Animal Well
Best VR Game: Batman: Arkham Shadow
Batman: Arkham Shadow effectively brings the Dark Knight’s detective work, stealth mechanics, and visceral combat over to VR in satisfying and immersive ways, thanks in part to its intuitive controls, making it the standout VR game of 204 for us.
Runner-up: Asgard’s Wrath 2
Honorable Mention: Arizona Sunshine Remake
