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🕹️ Best Games of 2024

A look back the games we played in 2024

As it's the end of the year, we were greeted with numerous Game of the Year lists, and so this edition focuses on that.

🏆 Foofaraw Game of the Year

Thank Goodness You're Here

I did not know too much about this game before I actually started playing it. I knew it was a comedy game—not only that—but I knew that it was published by Panic, the people who also published Untitled Goose Game which I thoroughly enjoyed, so I knew I was in for a good time.

The language

Booting it up, I was greeted with a screen that says "A' tha from Tarn?" with the options:

    • "Dead Reyt"
    • "Sorry What?"

Naturally, I went with Dead Reyt (that’s "Exactly right!"). Also, for the unacquainted, "A’ tha from Tarn?" translates to "Are you from town/Barnsley?"—a line that must have left non-UK players scratching their heads. Truth be told, even some Brits might find themselves baffled, but therein lies part of the charm.

The language in the game is all deeply British, and more specifically, deeply Yorkshire in terms of dialect. This is one of the main draws of the game, I think. Not only is the game surrealist in terms of it's humor, but the extra layer of quirky English accent really accentuates the bizarre nature of the game (again, probably especially so for non-UK residents).

There are a number of other accents represented throughout, most noticeable is the mechanic that helps fix the deep-fat frier in the chippy with a thick Scottish accent.

The main character

For some unknown reason, you are a tiny lil fella (really tiny in some instances) that can do one of two things: (A) jump and (B) punch stuff. These are the only ways you can interact with the world.

He does not talk, and does not change his facial expression throughout.

Missions/story

The game is divided into a set of different tasks for our protagonist to complete. Each follows on sequentially from the other, so the game is linear in nature. All the missions are bonkers, and require the player to do a number of sub-quests in order to fulfill the main mission's objective. Upon completion of each mission, there is a cutscene where someone reads out the mission title, to let you know you have completed it.

It should also be noted that the game has a short run time of approx. 2 hours to fully complete.

The standout mission for me would have to be the "Enough for Everyone" task, just to see Tiny Tom's reaction to Big Ron getting a massive pie (play it, and you'll see! Or, alternatively, watch a walkthrough, of which there are many on YouTube.).

Outside of the main missions, you can find a number of quirky residesnts in the town, including

  • Nick from Nick’s Bricks, hawking bricks from a wall.
  • Two neighbors embroiled in a petty bin feud.
  • A bunch of rats...
  • A horny elderly couple...
  • Some speaking potatoes...

Yeah, it's bizarre. But also hilarious.

In conclusion

Thank goodness Coal Supper (the creators) are here, to deliver us this gem of a comedy game which mixes Untiled Goose Game with something akin to the League of Gentlemen (a show that I really like. And no, not THAT league of gentlemen).

🏃 Runner-ups

🕹️ My favorite games played this year

🥇 The Game Awards

📹 Jacob Geller's list

Jacob Geller is a wonderful video essayist and game reviewer that I really respect on YouTube. This is a list of his best games from 2024.

👾 Top 10 PICO-8 games of 2024

A list close to my heart, compiled by the Nerdy Teacher. Explore more here.

The ranking is based on the number of stars that games received on the official PICO-8 forums.

🍸 Jordan Middler's Top 10 Games of 2024 and What to Drink with Them

An amusing list of Top 10 games from 2024 including, as the title suggests, drinks to accompany each game.

—James

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