As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

2024 was a down year for gaming. I didn’t complete many games, but sampled several titles like the displays at Sam’s Club. To avoid endless rambling, I also made some “consolidations”, and listed some games I played for less than five hours (with a few exceptions). Anyways, here’s a recap of my year in gaming:

Winter to Spring

Coming off a rough 2023, I started the year with a renewed determination to play games. At the same time I didn’t feel like committing to anything super long, (aka over 80 hours) so I focused on shorter games in my collection while occasionally indulging in what I would call “slop titles”. (Games that are just a time sink compared to an enjoyable and worthwhile experience) Here’s how it went:

MLB The Show 23 & 24

Hours Played: 21 (MLB 23) & 53 (MLB 24)

My main “slop games” of the year were (paid links) MLB The Show 23 and 24. These are essentially the same game, and I wish the developers would just make a new roster slot instead of charging $70 for what’s essentially a roster update.

As for why I’d even consider playing a baseball video game, it’s because I’m a huge Yankees fan. I was excited for the new season after the team secured Juan Soto in the offseason. (At the time of writing, he holds the richest contract in sports history.) Playing MLB 23 helped me imagine how the team might perform. This continued with MLB 24 as I adjusted to the ever-changing roster.

In typical fashion, the Yankees made it to the playoffs. However this time they’d actually make it to the World Series. I’d be happy with this if they didn’t choke in historic fashion…… Thanks for raising my hopes only to crush them faster than dropping the ball in the fifth inning of Game 5.

On a serious note, while I enjoy playing these games off and on via Xbox Game Pass, they suffer from the same issue plaguing all modern sports games: prioritizing gambling mechanics over gameplay. Single-player content is neglected in favor of monetized card pack mechanics. Aka a massive slot machine where you get ripped off with a lot of garbage pulls or essentially pay to win with excessive spending. It’s sad to see a 2005 game like MVP Baseball 2005 still provide more variety and content then something that has triple the budget and 1000 times the processing power. For now, I only play MLB The Show through Game Pass. If it ever leaves the service, my interest will likely fade.

Roombo: First Blood

Time Played: 3 Hours

The first “real” game I played this year was Roombo: First Blood. The premise of this game is that you play as a murderous Roomba defending a house from intruders while cleaning up their remains before the owners return. This sounds like it would be an amazing game, but unfortunately as the time played suggests it has major problems.

The core gameplay is good, but the game itself exhausts its ideas within the first two hours. After two hours the game became repetitive and tedious. It got so bad that I gave up after three hours. I will not be returning to this game anytime soon if ever again.

Spring to Summer

In March, I got a new job and used my signing bonus to splurge on a Steam Deck OLED.

Here’s what I played on it:

Vampire Survivors

Time Played: 50 Hours

Despite not being a fan of roguelikes, Vampire Survivors hooked me from the start. I initially dismissed roguelikes as overly repetitive with minimal rewards, but this game proved me wrong.

After logging 14 hours in just three days, I was addicted. (Thank you Andrew for providing me with the game equivalent to heroin. lol)  I still play occasionally, though I prefer hyper mode for faster gameplay.

Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale

Time Played: 17 Hours

This store simulator/dungeon crawler exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed the balance of managing a shop and exploring dungeons, though I shelved it temporarily due to time constraints. With an HD remaster coming in 2025, I’ll likely wait for that version.

Summer to Fall

Summer is my usual time for tackling longer games. This year, I focused on one major title:

Valkyria Chronicles 4

Time Played: 120 Hours (Platinum Trophy)

As a fan of Valkyria Chronicles 1, I had high hopes for VC4, and it didn’t disappoint. This anime-styled WWII strategy JRPG is a return to form, blending tactical gameplay with real-time elements.

The game demanded a lot of time and attention, but it was worth every second. I now consider it one of my favorite games. I hope Sega eventually releases VC5 and ports VC2 and VC3 to modern systems.

Fall to Dec 31st

After finishing VC4, I switched to shorter games to preserve my sanity in November:

Backyard Baseball 1997

Time Played: 10 Hours

I rediscovered this nostalgic gem after watching some “Presidents Play” videos. This arcade-style baseball game balances simplicity with fun, offering a refreshing break from overly complex sports games.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Time Played: 20 Hours

I love (paid link) Call of Duty campaigns and multiplayer but dislike the aggressive skill-based matchmaking and predatory monetization. I play it in short bursts—about an hour at a time before the pure amount of sweaty no-lifers wear me out.

Astro’s Playroom & Astro Bot

Hours Played: 1 Hour (Playroom) & 15 Hours (Astro Bot, Platinumed)

I revisited Astro’s Playroom to prepare for Astro Bot, and both games remain standout platformers. The collectibles enhance progression and celebrate PlayStation’s history without feeling bloated. I can’t recommend these games enough.

Mario Party Jamboree

Time Played: 7 Hours

This is one of the better (paid link) Mario Party games in years, though it still doesn’t surpass Mario Party 2. The boards and mini-games are fun, but it lacks the chaotic charm of the older titles. My guess is that it doesn’t have enough games that make you rage at your friend’s plain dumb luck.

Balatro

Time Played: 30 Hours

A roguelike version of Spider Solitaire, Balatro is strangely addictive despite its mobile-like design. Its mechanics encourage “just one more run” gameplay, though I find its “Indie Game of the Year” award a bit of a stretch. It’s like giving the way you play Uno the Game of The Year. It ain’t right lol

Final Fantasy I Pixel Remaster

Time Played: 10 Hours (Platinum Trophy)

Finally, I tackled Final Fantasy I, the game that established the JRPG genre. Its flexible party system makes for unique playthroughs, though a guide is essential to avoiding the nightmarish amount of excessive grinding. I highly recommend it to all JRPG fans.

Bonus Games

These are games I started but shelved for various reasons:

• Super Sami Roll
• Persona 3 Reload
• Frogun
• Alien: Isolation
• Dust: An Elysian Tail
• Dragon Ball FighterZ

Final Thoughts

While 2024 wasn’t a year of significant completions, it was a year of experimentation and rediscovery. Here’s to a more focused gaming year in 2025!

Downs47

Your friendly neighborhood nerd with a passion for games, anime and New York Yankees