How many of the best games of 2024 have you had the chance to play? The new year has only just begun and we've already started to see some fantastic new games land, including one of the best fighting games of this console generation. Looking at the long list of new games for 2024, it's likely to be another historic year for video games, which is why we want to help you cut through the noise and find your next interactive obsession.
Our living list of the best games of 2024 will catalog every video game that earns a review score of 3.5 stars or above. You can click this link to learn more about how we score on GamesRadar+, but suffice to say that we believe that "good games are worth playing" around here. Naturally, not every new release will meet the threshold for inclusion on this list, nor are we able to review every game that is released in any given year. But this page is where you're find our strongest picks for Game of the Year contenders.
You should also keep your eyes on GR+ for other recommendations. You can find the rest of our game reviews here – which is also where you'll find titles that we aren't quite ready to score, such as with our Palworld Early Access review. There's also our Indie Spotlight series which shines a light on excellent titles that may have slipped your radar each week, and our editorial team always has something to say about the most interesting new releases of the year. With all that said, you'll want to keep reading on to find our pick of the best games of 2024 so far, and be sure to keep coming back to find more spotlights of the greatest video games of the year that you absolutely shouldn't miss.
5 Stars
Tekken 8 – 5/5
Developer: Bandai Namco
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
Genre: Fighting
The competition for the fighting game throne has never been fiercer. Capcom and WB. Games went all out last year, as you can learn in our respective Street Fighter 6 review and Mortal Kombat 1 review, but developer Bandai Namco isn't one to shy away from a good fight. Tekken 8 is yet further proof that we're in a new Golden Age for the fighting game genre, an absolutely stunning 3D brawler that matches an awesome roster with true technical precision. It's fast, it's frenetic, and it's a bloody excellent time that takes full advantage of the power of the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Learn more in our full Tekken 8 review, where the game earned itself a coveted 5 stars out of 5 rating.
4.5 Stars
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – 4.5/5
Developer: Square Enix
Platform(s): PS5
Release date: February 29, 2024
Genre: RPG
Following Final Fantasy 7 Remake was never going to be an easy task. In Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, developer Square Enix was tasked with delivering the second part of a planned trilogy, and with navigating some of the most iconic sections of the original 1997 release. The studio succeeds because of its keen understanding of when to leverage our nostalgia for the past – building out fan-favorite locations and moments – and when to veer off in entirely new directions, keeping fans of all experience guessing where it might go next. Combine all that with what is undoubtedly the best combat system to reach the Final Fantasy in years, a delicate balance between the strategy of old and the action of new, and Rebirth easily stands tall as a true triumph.
Learn more in our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth review, where the game scored 4.5 stars out of 5.
Sons of the Forest – 4.5/5
Developer: Endnight Games
Platform(s): PC
Release date: February 23, 2024
Genre: Survival
After a year spent weaving its way through Steam Early Access, Sons of the Forest has emerged as one of the best survival games in recent memory – no easy feat, given that the market is currently saturated with competition through the likes of Enshrouded, Palworld, and Nightingale. Still, Sons of the Forest sets itself apart by leaning heavily into survival horror themes, as you and your buddies attempt to survive an island overrun with cannibals. Whether you're crafting shelters in dense forests or delving into dark caves for resources, or poking around every corner for more clues on the wider mystery, Sons of the Forest is an exemplary experience that doesn't disappoint.
Learn more in our Sons of the Forest review, where the game scored 4.5 stars out of 5.
Ultros – 4.5/5
Developer: Hadoque
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4
Release date: February 13, 2024
Genre: Metroidvania
Ultros is a trippy metroidvania which tasks you with descending into the depths of a cosmic uterus. A weird premise that is backed up by absolutely phenomenal play. Typically, games that occupy this genre will see you become gradually stronger in an effort to access new areas of a sprawling map – powers earned through defeating bosses and uncovering hidden locations. In Ultros, progression is gated by your willingness to explore, yes, but your connection to the world itself too; gardening is a central theme, with blooming flowers poking new holes in the environment, while carefully dispatching enemies will allow you to harvest richer resources. Ultros is a psychedelic experience with a thoughtful, refreshing perspective.
Learn more in our Ultros review, where the game scored 4.5 stars out of 5.
4 Stars
Helldivers 2 – 4/5
Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios
Platform(s): PS5, PC
Release date: February 8, 2024
Genre: Third-person shooter
Helldivers 2 is some of the most fun you'll have on PS5 this year. The chaotic shooter has taken the world by storm, with millions of players flocking to enlist in Super Earth Armed Forces in an effort to turn the tide in a Galactic War that's being tracked in real-time. Whether you're rolling into battle solo, or in a squadron with three other friends, Helldivers 2 is an absolute blast – hilarity drawn out from friendly-fire accidents and hectic encounters against an ever-surmounting threat from monstrous bugs and nightmarish cyborgs. And with plenty more updates to come, Helldivers 2 is sure to keep you occupied all year round.
Learn more in our Helldivers 2 review, where the game scored 4 stars out of 5.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – 4/5
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
Genre: JRPG
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is going to consume a hell of a lot of your life. It's another sprawling JRPG from developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, one which generously trots the globe as new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and Yakuza royalty Kazuma Kiryu go off in search of friends, family, and the answers to some of life's most challenging questions. I made that sound pretty dark, didn't I? Well, you can also call a combination of crustaceans into battle to help you defeat a giant shark, or stick street thugs into the backseat of an out-of-control taxi cab to deal them maximum damage. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has a lot of heart and humor, and an undeniably out of control combat system.
Learn more in our Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review, where the game scored 4 stars out of 5.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – 4/5
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
Genre: Metroidvania
It's been a little over a decade since Ubisoft paid the Prince of Persia franchise any real attention, and the publisher delivered one of the strongest installments in the series to date this year. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a sprawling metroidvania which follows Sargon, a new hero protagonist, in his attempt to rescue the prince from a bunch of shadowy time bandits. With plenty of shortcuts to pursue and secret rooms to uncover the interconnected map is a thing of beauty, but it's the challenging platforming puzzles and demanding combat encounters that really steal the show.
Learn more in our Prince of Persia The Lost Crown review, where the game earned 4 stars out of 5.
WWE 2K24 – 4/5
Developer: Visual Concepts
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
Release date: March 5, 2024
Genre: Sports
Historically, the WWE games have always struggled to reflect the fun and fandom so inherent to the franchise itself. That all changed with WWE 2K24, with developer Visual Concepts delivering what is undoubtedly the best wrestling game in years. That's on the strength of its core rhythms of play, where a brilliant, bombastic, and bruising brawler is able to let you live out your fantasy of stepping into the ring with some of the biggest names in the business. WWE 2K24 is also positioned as a celebration of 40 Years of WrestleMania, so if you've been out of the loop for a while there's still plenty to draw you in.
Learn more in our WWE 2K24 review, where the game scored 4 stars out of 5.
This list will update every month with our pick of the best games of 2024. While you wait, take a look at what you can expect to see in our upcoming PS5 games, upcoming Xbox Series X games, and upcoming Switch games lists.
