RPGamer - GotY 2024

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RPGamer has chosen their GotY 2024 awards:

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GotY 2024

First Place:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Second Place:
Metaphor: ReFantazio

Third Place:
Unicorn Overlord

Some games have stuck with players their entire lives. Fans of Final Fantasy VII remember their first trip to Midgar, where its first dozen or so hours offer no sense of a world outside of Midgar. It's such a development then, upon leaving Midgar, when the screen fades to black before revealing the world map. Final Fantasy VII Remake focuses solely on expanding this section within Midgar and ends on the cusp of that world map reveal moment. Instead, this exquisite sequence serves as the launching point of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

The world of Rebirth is so joyful, an odd juxtaposition against the dire straits the world is in. Yet that sense of fun permeates the game. The visuals are hugely impressive in scope and execution; the combat builds upon and finesses that from Remake, and the sheer breadth of mini-games is incredible. While we know this game covers just the middle portion of the story, the development team succeeds at making it feel like a complete experience. The cherry on top is the flawless performances from the voice cast, breathing life into the characters. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth nailed it in every sense of the word, earning its award as our Game of the Year.

Several years ago, Atlus teased an ambitious game with a medieval setting that promised a memorable adventure. The time invested in developing Metaphor: ReFantazio fully paid off since this turn-based RPG turned out to be excellent and fan response was no less enthusiastic. The game not only captivated players with its story and characters but also offered a great battle system, solid art, and a superb balance between exploring dungeons and diverse cities. Metaphor also managed to set itself apart from the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series while still drawing inspiration from them. It fully earns the honor to be considered one of our top games of 2024.

Taking something that feels rather niche and making it accessible and enjoyable to everyone is a tricky thing to do. What Unicorn Overlord does so expertly is take every single aspect that makes it an RPG and make it appeal to all comers. The gameplay is strategic, nostalgic, yet always approachable; the members of each unit all co-exist so much in harmony with one another that it feels fun to try out new strategies due to the wealth of options. The story is engaging, with wonderful voice acting and music that heightens every scene, and isn't so dialogue-heavy that it restricts immersing oneself. Exploration is fun and everything else from character interactions to combat situations works together in such harmony that it's an easy recommendation for anyone, and an easy pick as one of our top games of 2024.