Level Up

As we reflect on the past year in gaming, it is withgreat excitement and pride that I present to you our annual roundup of the top 10 games of the year. From captivating narratives to groundbreaking gameplay mechanics, these games have left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape and captivated players around the world. In curating this list, embarked on a journey to discover the most innovative, immersive, and unforgettable gaming experiences of the year. We sifted through a myriad of titles, deliberating over gameplay, storytelling, visuals, sound design, and player engagement to determine the games that truly stood out from the rest. The result is a selection of titles that showcases the breadth and depth of creativity within the gaming industry. Whether you're drawn to epic adventures, strategic challenges, heartwarming narratives, or pulsepounding action, there's something on this list for every type of gamer. From the sprawling open worlds of Spiderman 2 and Zelda, to the emotional rollercoaster of Alan Wake II , to the frenetic multiplayer battles of Street Fighter 6 and Diablo IV, each game offers a unique and unforgettable experience that is sure to resonate with players of all backgrounds and interests.

But beyond their individual merits, these games represent something greater—they embody the power of storytelling, creativity, and human connection to transport us to new worlds, challenge our perceptions, and inspire us to explore the limitless possibilities of interactive entertainment. As we celebrate these exceptional games, let us also recognize the talented developers, artists, writers, musicians, and creators who created such games for us to enjoy. Their passion, and ingenuity have made oursmiles and expanded the boundaries of what gaming can achieve. I invite you to join us as we revisit these standout titles, celebrate their achievements, and revel in the joy of gaming. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the world of gaming, I hope this list inspires you to embark on your own gaming adventures and discover the magic that awaits.

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for gaming. Here's to another year of unforgettable experiences and boundless creativity.

It’s all very heady, mind-bending stuff that makes for a deeply unnerving horror experience. Developer Remedy Entertainment have taken the Lynchian tone of the first game and married it with other influences like Silence of the Lambs and True Detective to create a serial thriller for the ages. Blending digital imagery with selective live-action sequences (Remedy’s house style), it seamlessly blurs the line between video game and playable movie in ways that make the Alan Wake series ripe for the next big-screen adaptation. But until then, delve into the unnerving mystery with controller in hand (and preferably a beefy set of headphones).

Every few years a game arrives to continue pushing the cinematic nature of the medium forward, continually rivaling the storytelling capabilities of Hollywood and often going beyond. This year, that game is Alan Wake 2. The longawaited sequel to 2010’s cult favorite, the game picks up 13 years after the events of the first game, and follows novelist Alan, who has been trapped in an alternate dimension. This time around, it also follows a deuteragonist, FBI agent Saga Anderson whom Alan is writing about as a character in a horror story as a means to escape his ethereal prison.

But it’s not for everyone. It’s the sort of game that, despite the latter resurgence of tabletop gaming in pop culture, is simply too much for some. Too many choices, too many paths to follow, too many ways to build a character that you grow deeply attached to, then another, and another for the next couple of hundred hours of your life. Want to romance a bear? You can do it. Become a wheel of cheese? Yeah, why not? Your character can be one of 12 classes, divided further into 46 subclasses. You can play it over the shoulder or top down. Really, it can be anything you want it to be — you and a group of your closest friends, trading in the pen and paper for a roll of the digital die. In one of the most meticulously crafted, lavishly built games of this or any year in recent memory, “too much” is never enough. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that people will be talking about for years to come. It’s best to get in now to become part of the conversation ahead.

It’s impossible to have any Game of the Year discussion without having Baldur’s Gate 3 at the tip of your tongue. Developed by Larian Studios, it’s technically one of the biggest, most opulently produced indie games of all time (despite having AAA caliber resources behind it). It’s a sweeping epic, pulled from the pages of Dungeons & Dragons, that delivers an operatic, engrossing, player-choice driven odyssey unlike anything on the market.

It’s hard to articulate just how impressive a game The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom truly is. Built on the foundation of its successor, Breath of the Wild, it encompasses everything it that game and more. Just when you think you have an idea of what the game has to offer — a sprawling open world uncluttered by quest markers or copy/paste NPCs, a Minecraft-level crafting system that rewards creativity and a mock doctorate in engineering, an ever-unfurling fusion system that makes enemy eyeballs and jellies into weapons of war — it proceeds to show you something more. There are games within games in Tears of the Kingdom, and it runs on hardware outclassed by the phone in your pocket.

Nintendo’s greatest strength, that which kept it relevant in an industry where horsepower, networking, and cinematic scope have pushed gaming into the echelon of digital art, is its never-ending ability to reinvent. In a series literally predicated on the reincarnation cycle of an elf-eared hero combating a primordial evil, reinvention is key. The promise of Tears of the Kingdom is that, even if you think you know the legend, there’s always going to be more layers to discover. In a year where every corner of the industry brought their A-game, it takes something special to be the best. It takes The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom; it takes a perfect video game.

CONTRIBUTORS

A concept artist who specializes in character design. Currently works at Riot Games.

sojyoo.carrd.co

artstation.com/tbchoi

Senior concept Artist Overwatch, also does character design and visual development

Principal artist for RiotGames an Illustrator for VALORANT also former Illustrator for league of legends

The Process of Character and Game Design

Character design is the heartbeat of video games, breathing life into digital worlds, shaping player perceptions, and driving the narrative forward with each pixelated step

At its core, character design in video games is about storytelling without words, conveying rich narratives, complex emotions, and profound themes through the silent gestures of virtual avatars.

Character design in video games is pivotal as it establishes a connection between players and the virtual world, fostering immersion and emotional investment.

The significance of character design in video games lies in its ability to shape player experiences, driving narrative progression, and creating memorable moments that resonate long after the game is finished.

Character design in video games is more than just creating visuals; it's about crafting personalities that resonate with players, driving narrative and emotional engagement.

In the realm of video games, character design serves as a cornerstone, influencing gameplay dynamics, player interactions, and the overall success of the gaming experience.

Character design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a strategic element that can dictate player choices, evoke empathy, and enhance storytelling, elevating games from mere entertainment to immersive journeys.

CONTROVERSY CREATED

BUZZ

Palworld didn’t shy away from its apparent source material; the inspiration the game drew from Pokémon was a central part of Pocket Pair’s pitch to players. While drawing upon familiar IP has played well for establishing a strong early user base, it’s also led to some backlash and controversy, prompting investigation by The Pokémon Company into potential copyright infringement.

While the jury’s still out on whether the game is simply “inspired” or truly infringing, the debate has done much to draw eyes to the game. When asked “what made you want to play Palworld,” one player responded, “I just heard about the lawsuit, trolls and things, and how it’s like Pokémon.” Another noted, “everybody was playing it and talking about it. And it looked much more fun than Pokémon.”

Based on past NRG research on the attention economy we know that, while it doesn’t guarantee long-term relevance, controversy certainly plays a major role in drawing eyes and generating online discourse–and Palworld is a case in point.

GENRE-BLENDING GENERATED NEW VALUE

While players and reviewers may have dubbed the game “Pokémon with guns,” that shorthand may be a bit of a misnomer. While the game certainly shares a lot of DNA with Pokémon and other “creature collector” games, the top reason players cite for purchasing Palworld is actually its openworld, survival setting.

“It was described as a mix of Pokémon, Ark, and Minecraft,” one player told us when asked what made them want to play the new game. “It’s a mix of Pokémon and other open world crafting survival games,” another concurred, concluding, “what’s not to like about that?”

Rather than “Pokémon with guns,” the game may be better described as “Ark with Pokémon” for its open-world, survival setting–albeit with capturable monsters over dinosaurs. Players have long desired a “Survival/Crafting” take on monster-collecting, and while Pokémon Legends: Arceus went some way towards scratching that itch, its imaginativeness was limited by the bounds of its existing franchise.

As an indie publisher, without the constraints of corporate brand guidelines and consumer expectations, Pocket Pair had the freedom to iterate upon existing IP, recontextualizing familiar themes through new gameplay and mechanics. Ultimately, Palworld succeeded in creating something that appeals to an existing fanbase, but in a new and exciting way–fusing genres and gameplay styles to seemingly create a “best of all worlds.”

POSITIONING PROPELLED ITS POPULARITY

While having a familiar style of game lowers the barrier to entry psychologically–with several other games as a reference, players already have some sense of what they’re going to get–a low price point makes trying a new game a nobrainer. Palworld’s $30 price point let the game spread faster than, say, a $70 AAA title, since the risk to consumers is so much smaller.

46% of players who purchased Palworld said they did so specifically because it cost only $30.

What’s more, Palworld released on Xbox Game Pass, exposing it to a massive network. With the title already circulating social media feeds and peer groups, making the game readily available to the masses encouraged a chain reaction that exploded into mainstream success.

However, anything that would reduce the level of creativity or take jobs away from video game developers is seen as a negative.

“I’ve always viewed art as a solely human creation. The use of generative AI in video games makes me feel much less inclined to play it,”

One player told us when asked about the use of AI in game development. Another player said:

“[Art created using generative AI tools] isn’t real art, and isn’t created by humans that put real effort and love into it.”

From prior NRG research on generative AI in the gaming industry we know that, while excited for its potential, most consumers express at least some concern for the use of AI in game development. In general, players are OK with AI being used as a tool to help developers create procedural worlds or enhance immersion.

“I think generative AI is a good thing for game development,” one player said in our survey.

“[AI] will continue to improve, leading to higher-quality game designs.”

THE QUESTION IT RAISES ABOUT AI IN GAMING

It’s clear that Palworld’s references to Pokémon are a key reason for its fast fanship. Fiftynine percent (59%) of players say they have greater interest in Palworld specifically for its references to Pokémon.

However, consumers still seem to see a difference between “riffing on” and “ripping off”–particularly if existing IP had been literally ingested to create the new one.

22%

of players say they’d lose interest if they knew the monsters in Palworld were made using generative AI.

For many consumers, the issue boils down to a matter of principle. Players want more than just to play a good game; they want to endorse genuine human creativity and ensure that the tools employed in game creation contribute to, rather than compromise, the well-being of human workers. Understanding this point can also help contextualize much larger conversations about working conditions in the gaming industry, where AI can act as a double-edged sword–with the potential to help ease workload for developers or to overwork existing talent.

That said, as we know from NRG research on other ethical issues, like sustainability, many consumers ultimately put principles aside when faced with an appealing option. This player sums up the evident tension, saying

“[AI-generated art] doesn’t feel morally right to me... but the game DOES look very cool.”

SO, WHAT CAN DEVELOPERS LEARN FROM PALWORLD’S RISE TO FAME?

1 2 3 4

Clarity is king: If your game can’t be reduced to a single sentence that makes it easy for people to talk about it (i.e., “Pokémon with guns”), you need to reexamine your value proposition and positioning. Make sure the “pitch” of your game is clear, simple, and exciting.

Examine genre and franchise whitespace: There is a lot of genreblending in the gaming world, today. But there are still plenty of opportunities out there for pre-existing IP to be repurposed and remixed to create something fresh. Above all else, figure out what players are pining for, and mold your game to meet it.

Consider points of entry: While most indie and AA games that release on Steam are well below $70, there are still many at a higher range. For titles without a built-in fan base, it’s important to reduce the barrier to entry by creating inexpensive access points for players to begin engaging with the game and exploring its world–whether that be by actively leveraging gameplay content or debuting at a lower price point.

Prepare a strategy around AI: Whether we like it or not, generative AI is coming for gaming. And if you decide not to use AI, know that your competition will. That doesn’t mean that you should employ generative AI at any and every opportunity; rather, developers should work with studios to develop a clear and agreed-upon strategy that will resonate well with their user base.

Video Game GameSuper Smash Bros

As an average gamer, I often find myself drawn to titles that offer a good mix of fun, challenge, and nostalgia. Super Smash Bros. delivers all that and more. With its colorful cast of characters, fastpaced gameplay, and nostalgic stages, it’s a game that appeals to both casual players and hardcore fans of the franchise.

One of the things that immediately stands out about Super Smash Bros. is its roster of fighters. From classic Nintendo characters like Mario and Pikachu to third-party icons like Sonic and PacMan, there’s a character here for everyone. Each fighter has their own unique moveset and playstyle, adding depth to the gameplay and ensuring that no two matches are ever the same.

Visually, the game is a treat to behold. The character models are well-designed and full of personality, and the stages are beautifully rendered with plenty of detail. Whether you’re fighting on a bustling city street or a serene floating platform, each stage feels unique and immersive.

Overall, Super Smash Bros. is a must-have title for any Nintendo fan. Its diverse roster, addictive gameplay, and wealth of content make it a game that you’ll keep coming back to time and time again. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, there’s always a good time to be had with Super Smash Bros.

Rating

by gamers

why so serious?

-

The Joker

Wanna send the next quote?