2024 was a surprising year — games from small teams rocketed up the charts, while big releases from major companies slowed. Here are our favorites from a diverse year, sortable by platform and genre.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has superb combat and charismatic companions but if you're hoping for a return to the series' origins, you'll be disappointed.

If you've spent the day canvassing and just need to take a breather, here are three games that have hit the spot recently for our pop culture critic.

'Jamboree' feels scattered and altogether too eager to please. But while the game's a mixed bag, it's still one of the best in the chaotic Nintendo series.

Nintendo's latest game is the first to truly star Zelda in the series that has borne her name since 1986. It boasts innovative mechanics but is still a little too linked to the past.

You'll need a hug after Shadow of the Erdtree gets its claws around you. The follow-up to the 2022 gaming phenomenon presents a new realm to explore, new mysteries to unravel, and new bosses to get utterly demolished by.

New action platformer Tales of Kenzera: ZAU delivers a moving story, sleek traversal, and a brilliant setting gleaming with Afro-futurist highlights. It's just not as meaty as competing Metroidvanias.

Princess Peach steals the show in diverse roles like Dashing Thief, Ninja and Mermaid. These delightful transformations elevate a game otherwise weighed down by lackluster boss fights.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth excels when it builds on Remake's innovations. But its new open world distracts from its superb character development.

The new remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong delivers ace animation and a welcome "casual mode," but its two-player co-op can be more frustrating than fun.

Final Fantasy 7 is more than an iconic PlayStation game. It's a multimedia empire embracing novels, short stories, spin-off games — even a movie. We round up the best of it ahead of Rebirth.

Gaming giants Nintendo and Ubisoft each released new takes on old series this week in Another Code: Recollection and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. We review what makes each worth exploring.

An estimated one to two million people already work out while wearing a virtual reality headset. We break down the best fitness apps and games for VR.

Meta Quest fans have been asking for an exclusive longform, big-budget game for years. Asgard's Wrath 2 delivers with diverse gameplay and a divine cast.

2023 broke video game industry records, both in the quantity and quality of acclaimed, financially successful games. NPR staff and contributors bring you their favorites.