2024 was a year of uncertainty. It wasn't clear which games would dominate the conversation, the list of blockbuster movies didn't seem to kick in until mid-summer, and there was the constant will-they-won't-they regarding Nintendo's announcement of the Switch 2. Despite Big N's best efforts, a lot of information has surfaced regarding the Nintendo Switch successor, but it's for 2025.
As for the last 365 days, it ended up being just as jam-packed with exciting media to consume, technology to play with, and events to keep us guessing. As Game Rant's Editor-in-Chief, I do my best to stay up to date on what's the newest, latest, and greatest, but it's always stupid. Still, there were plenty of things that got me excited about 2024. Here are my favorite things about 2024.
My favorite video games of 2024
My tastes shift from year to year, but there's always a consistent line when it comes to franchises I grew up with and titles with engaging yet challenging combat. I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to try many different games from a variety of genres. A good story can carry a game very far, but often I get addicted to a game with a good open world draw or a striking art style.
There are only so many hours in a year, though, and sometimes that means giving up on games that didn't click with me out of the gate but that I intend to return to. Will it happen with 2025 looming? Probably not, but there's still time to clear the backlog before the onslaught of next year's titles starts rolling in. I would also like to add that Ring of Fire: Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the best DLCs I've ever played, and it fully deserved its nods at The Game Awards this year.
Black Myth Wukong caught my attention in a way I didn't expect. It started with a hands-on preview at Summer Game Fest and continued until I got to play the finished product. The game is beautiful to look at, but it's the variety of bosses and the challenge they present that captivated me from start to finish.
It was a good year for video games. There were happy experiences like Astro Bot and Echo of wisdom to keep the child in me alive, while titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Neva left me with questions to ponder (in different ways) long after the credits rolled. It's always the hardest to narrow down my video game choices because there are so many I liked for different reasons. If I didn't have friends to jump in with for example, I don't think I would have as much fondness for Helldivers 2.
My favorite movies of 2024
Video games are my professional passion, but movies are my personal. I try to make it to the cinema at least once a week, and I'm always looking for the next exciting voice in filmmaking. Don't get me wrong, I love a good popcorn movie too, as my list should reflect, but I'm looking forward to the next one Avengers flick as much as I do the next Paul Thomas Anderson.
Dune: Part 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine delivered the spectacle I needed this year, two sides of a similar coin. I've become a big fan of Sean Baker over the years and was very happy to see him win the Palme d'Or with Anora. The Brutalist was an epic that we don't see very often. And horror/suspense continues to thrive thanks to movies like Heretic and It's what's inside.
I don't think there was one movie this year that absolutely blew me away, but there were plenty that thoroughly entertained me, and quite a few that made me think about some tough questions. As with video games, I'm always looking for a good story, but the core components of a movie, like cinematography and indelible performances, can also keep me engaged.
My favorite shows from 2024
Amidst video games and movies, television doesn't get as much love from me year after year, but there were some great shows released this year. The TV landscape continues to change, rivaling films with their long narrative potential and thanks to actors' willingness to take a closer look at every project that comes their way. Colin Farrell, for example, has seen the potential of streaming and was in two fantastic series.
Thanks to actors like him and some risk-taking studios, the types of television available to us are richer and more varied than ever. Yes, there's a lot of fluff to sift through, but sometimes fluff can even become your favorite show.
A good hook goes a long way for me and my TV viewing. If the first episode can hook you with a compelling or unique premise, then I'm willing to give it more of a chance than if a series has a slow start, but word of mouth says it improves over time. Often those simmering series turn out to be some of my favorites, but there are so many great shows everywhere you look and way too many streaming series to subscribe to.
I love that we got another great video game series Fall-out. It didn't copy the formula that did The last of us a success, but embraced what makes Bethesda games great without feeling generic or hokey. Shogun was packed with great performances and took us to a time period and setting that video games use a lot, but is perfect for a TV series. 3 Body problems was the show that had the most exciting start, but I'm worried that it might not have the legs to see through. I hope so – because the concept is so bold.
My favorite technology in 2024
I use a lot of gadgets and gizmos in my daily life. If it makes it easier for me to do that job, I'm willing to look at it, but I try not to turn my nose up at anything. Often it is the technology that at first does not reveal its usefulness that ends up becoming essential. I couldn't see the appeal of a handheld for PC gaming, but now I can't imagine going anywhere without having one around at all times. Other times it's just about improving the proven. If something is better than its competitors or among the best I've ever used, it gets added to the rotation very quickly.
I am lucky to have the opportunity to try a lot of different techniques. I love searching for my next favorite controller as much as the next best mouse, keyboard or headset. Audeze Maxwell and Scuf are now among my favorites in their respective categories, and the ROG Ally X is currently the handheld to beat when it comes to performance versus battery life.
But I don't want to overlook the less technical conveniences as well. The Anker MagGo travels with me everywhere and is especially useful on high-use days like visiting Disneyland. And some of the items on my tech list this year will help us bring you even better content in 2025. I also want to give a shout out to the Corsair Platform:6 desktop for giving me even more space to display my collectibles and toys.
My favorite collectibles and toys in 2024
Speaking of, I love to collect. Call it Peter Pan syndrome or what you will, but I find it hard to pass up an opportunity to revel in the nostalgia of my youth by showcasing high-quality toys that represent my favorite traits from yesteryear. Growing up, I took in a lot of media and so that list of “favorites” is as deep as it is wide. And the number of companies that see the value in bringing new life to both massive and obscure properties is only growing, too. It hurts the wallet but it warms the soul.
Look, Mattel does Street Sharks figures and LEGO is finally adding one The Legend of Zelda set was enough to make my year. Mondo (and parent company Funko) continues to operate at a high level, releasing so many exciting toys, collectibles and memorabilia that it's hard to keep up. I took a risk on The Ring of Fire Collector's Edition hoping that Malenia would be a memorable boss and was not disappointed, so I couldn't say no to adding Messmer to my collection.
I also have a son so my interests are now informed by his interests. I have taken a deep dive into Minecraft over the past year and learned so much about that game, but it's also been exciting to see my favorite things become his favorite things without pushing him towards any property. Being a dad has changed my life in many ways, but my favorite part is that it allows me to be a kid again and experience that sense of wonder through him.
Almost everything that I experience now has a new context and I take new things from it that I wouldn't before. My list of favorite things is unique to me, but my experience is very different than a few years ago. I don't expect that to change in 2025 and I look forward to seeing what new things excite me. I know Nintendo Switch 2, Grand Theft Auto 6and the new Paul Thomas Anderson is high on my most anticipated list, but it's video games, movies, TV, technology, and collectibles that I have no idea about that keep me curious and eager to try new things.
Black Myth: Wukong
