The UNiDAYS 2024 Game of the Year Awards

Drumroll, please. As 2024 draws to a close, it’s safe to say it’s been another big year for gaming. But which titles came out on top? Well, let’s talk about that.

Check out our top picks for the year, which we firmly believe are all amazing in their own right. If you’re looking for a game to pick up in your downtime, we’ve got you covered.

Which games make your list?

Best overall game: Astro Bot

If you haven’t heard of Astro Bot, where have you been? What looks from the offset like a cutesy cartoon game for kids has proved itself as one of the best games of 2024, featuring incredible platformer design that forces players to be creative and clever.

Veterans of Astro’s Playroom, rejoice–Astro Bot is like taking the PS5 demo and turning it into a fully fledged game. And they stuck the landing. It does things we haven’t seen in other games before and is one of the most fun gaming experiences this year. We love Astro Bot, and we think you will, too.

Best console game: Helldivers 2

A unique, third-person co-op shooter that procedurally generates alien levels for players to accomplish missions. Do you enjoy chaos? Well, Helldivers 2 might just be the perfect game for you.

It’s complex, yet simple. You team up, head to another planet, shoot things and gather resources. But sometimes, a simple formula is a winning one. And that’s exactly what Arrowhead achieved with Helldivers 2.

Best multiplayer game: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

You won’t believe this, but Mario’s fallen out with Bowser again. Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes the age-old 2D Mario concept and propels it to another level and in terms of crashing on the sofa with friends and family, it’s simply a must-play.

It’s simple. We mean, it’s Mario. A bright, fun, colourful and immersive experience that’ll transform your game night into something fantastic. One thing you can definitely say about Nintendo is they’re gonna deliver on their biggest titles.

Best indie game: Balatro

If card games are your thing, Balatro is the perfect video game for you. Think poker, but for every hand you win, you’ll multiply the chips you earn. Then, between rounds, you can use chips to purchase multipliers, abilities, rules and more. Basically, it gets really crazy, really fast.

Balatro is simple on the surface, but it comes with a perfect learning curve and the ability to take it to a completely new level. Like any card game, there’s math involved and yet… it’s really fun. Satisfying, addictive and infinitely replayable. What’s not to love?

Best expansion: Elden Ring: Shadow of Erdtree

Elden Ring: Shadow of Erdtree is an expansion that takes everything that makes the original game so incredible, plus new areas, builds and weapons to boot. On top of that, there’s so much content in this DLC that you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a game in itself.

Overall, it’s a must-play. We were left so satisfied with Shadow of Erdtree that we’ve already started thinking about how to replay it with another build, so if you’ve not tried it out yet, what are you waiting for?

That’s a wrap for 2024, but we’re looking forward to another huge year for gaming in 2025 (hello, Grand Theft Auto 6).