2024 was a year of uncertainty. It wasn't clear what games would dominate the conversation, the slate of blockbuster movies didn't seem to take off until mid-summer, and there was constant will-they-won't-they about Nintendo's Switch announcement. 2. Despite the Big N's best efforts, however, much information has surfaced about the Nintendo Switch successor, but that's only for 2025.
As for the last 365 days, it ended up being equally packed with exciting media to consume, technology to play with and events that keep us guessing. As Game Rant's editor-in-chief, I do my best to keep up to date with what's latest, newest, and greatest, but that's always a bummer. Still, there were a lot of things that excited me about 2024. Here are my favorite things from 2024.
My favorite video games of 2024
My tastes change from year to year, but when it comes to franchises I grew up with and titles with engaging yet challenging combat, there's always a through line. I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity to sample a lot of different games from different genres. A good story can take a game a long way, but I often become addicted to a game with a good open world or striking art style.
However, there are only so many hours in a year, and sometimes that means giving up games that didn't click with me out of the gate, but that I intend to return to. Will it happen as 2025 approaches? Probably not, but there's still time to clean up the backlog before next year's onslaught of titles rolls in. I would also like to add that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the best DLCs I've ever played and fully deserved recognition at The Game Awards this year.
The Black Myth of Wukong caught my attention in a way I didn't expect. It started with a hands-on demo at Summer Game Fest and continued until I played the finished product. The game is beautiful to look at, but it was the variety of bosses and the challenge they presented that kept me hooked from start to finish.
It's been a great year for video games. There were joyful experiences like Astro Bot and Echoes of wisdom to keep the child in me alive while titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Neva It 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 that I've enjoyed for different reasons. If I didn't have friends to hang out with, for example, I don't think I'd have as many hobbies Helldivers 2.
My favorite movies of 2024
Video games are my professional passion, but movies are my personal passion. I try to get to the movies at least once a week and I'm always looking for the next interesting voice in filmmaking. Don't get me wrong, I love a good popcorn too, as my list should reflect, but I'm looking forward to more Avengers flick as I do another Paul Thomas Anderson.
Dune: Part 2 and Deadpool and Wolverine he brought 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 excited to see him win the Palme D'or with Anora. Brutalist was an epic that we don't like very often. And horror/suspense continues to thrive with movies like Heretic and It's What's Inside.
I don't think there was one movie this year that completely blew me away, but there were plenty that thoroughly entertained me and quite a few that left me pondering some tough questions. As with video games, I'm always looking for a good story, but the main components of a movie, such as cinematography and indelible acting, can also hold my attention.
My favorite TV shows of 2024
Between video games and movies, TV doesn't get much love from me year after year, but there have been some pretty stellar shows released this year. The landscape of television continues to shift, rivaling film in its long narrative potential and the actors' willingness to take a closer look at any project that comes their way. Colin Farrell, for example, saw the potential in streaming and was part of two fantastic series.
Thanks to actors like him and a few studios taking risks, the types of television available to us are richer and more diverse than ever. Yes, there's a lot of fluff to sift through, but sometimes the 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 the show has a slow start, but word of mouth says it gets better over time. Often these hot series become my favorites, but everywhere you look there are so many good shows and too many streaming series to sign up for.
I love that we got another stellar TV adaptation of a video game Fallout. It did not copy the established pattern The last of us success, but they embraced what makes Bethesda games great without feeling generic or crazy. Shogun it was packed with great performances and took us into a period and setting that video games use a lot, but is perfect for a TV series. 3 Body problem was the show that had the most exciting start, but I'm afraid it may not have the legs to pull it off. I hope so – because the concept is so bold.
My favorite technique of 2024
I use a lot of gadgets and things in my daily life. If it makes my job easier, I'm willing to look at it, but I try not to turn my nose up at anything. It's often technology that doesn't reveal its usefulness at first glance that ends up being essential. At first I didn't see the appeal of a PC gaming handheld, but now I can't imagine going anywhere without having one around at all times. Other times it's just an improvement on the proven. If something is better than its competitors or among the best I've ever used, then it gets added to the rotation very quickly.
I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity to try a lot of different technologies. I love looking for my next favorite controller as well as the next best mouse, keyboard or headphones. The Audeze Maxwell and Scuf are now among my favorites in their category, and the ROG Ally X is currently the handheld that beats the performance vs. battery life.
But I don't want to overlook even minor technical conveniences. The Anker MagGo travels with me everywhere and is especially useful on days when it gets used a lot, like visiting Disneyland. And a few items on my tech bucket list this year will help us bring you even better content in 2025. I would also like to thank the Corsair Platform:6 table for giving me even more space to display my collectibles and toys. .
My favorite collectibles and toys of 2024
Speaking of which, I like to collect. Call it Peter Pan Syndrome or whatever you want, but I'm hard-pressed to pass up an opportunity to revel in the nostalgia of my youth by displaying quality toys that represent my favorite properties from yesteryear. I found a lot of media growing up, so the list of “favorites” is as deep as it is wide. And the number of companies that see value in breathing new life into real estate, both massive and obscure, is also only growing. It hurts the wallet, but it warms the soul.
Look, Mattel does Street sharks figurines and LEGO eventually adds a The Legend of Zelda sets were enough to make my year. Mondo (and parent company Funko) continues to perform at a high level, releasing so many exciting toys, collectibles, and memorabilia that it's hard to keep up. I risked on Elden Ring Collector's Edition I was hoping that Malenia would be a memorable boss and not let me down, so I couldn't say no to adding Messmer to my collection.
I also have a son so my interests are now based on his interests. I dived in deep Minecraft over the past year and I've learned so much about the game, but it's also been exciting to watch my favorite things become his favorite things without forcing him to own any property. Being a dad has changed my life in so 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 I experience now has a new context and I take new things from it that I would not have experienced before. My list of favorite things is unique to me, but my experience is very different from a few years ago. I don't expect that to change in 2025, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's new that excites me. I know Nintendo Switch 2, Grand Theft Auto 6and that the new Paul Thomas Anderson is high on my most anticipated list, but it's video games, movies, television, technology, and collectibles that I have no idea about that keep me curious and eager to try new things.
Black Myth: Wukong
