The verdict is in: Balatro has been crowned the best PC game of 2024! In a year packed with innovative titles, this roguelite deckbuilder stood out with its unique twist on poker-inspired gameplay. With accessible mechanics yet deep strategic opportunities, Balatro had us all coming back for more. Its primary gameplay loop — crafting wild, mostly broken decks — is rewarding enough to keep players hooked for hours. Creating a five-of-a-kind hand, or unlocking heavenly powers to bend the rules, Balatro delights with surprises. Its addictive gameplay is only augmented by its minimalist, lo-fi presentation, and it’s a title we expect to be discussing for years to come.
Balatro Wins Best PC Game of 2024: A Look at the Runners-Up and Honorable Mentions
However, Balatro wasn’t the only standout. Such a broad and innovative range of genres, and experiences to be treasured for players, from the runners-up! Animal Well invigorated the puzzle-platformer genre with its emphasis on exploration and creativity. It avoided combat altogether, offering bubble wands and firecrackers as a way to work your way across its layered, enigmatic world. What begins as a simple Metroidvania becomes a sprawling puzzle adventure, rife with surprises and inventive gameplay.
Satisfactory already exploded out of Early Access, providing the finest automation experiences in the process. Players constructed sprawling factories and intricate assembly lines, and resource collection became a deeply gratifying act. Its co-op gameplay and Minecraft-style exploration layered on textures of depth to an already meaty affair that was one of the best games of the year in the sandbox games genre.
UFO 50 was a big deal with its crazy number of 50 retro-style games. And not just a nostalgia lap, each of those games in that collection was steeped in modern design, putting nostalgia in the service of creative play. The final product was a treasure house of experiences that felt both timeless and new.
Other runners-up included 1000xResist, a surreal experience with a visual-novel-esque story and design that sucked players in; and The Rise of the Golden Idol, which excelled on the diorama-style sleuthing aspect. 2024 solidified the PC as the ultimate gaming platform. From off-kilter gambles to touching stories, this year’s lineup showcased the variety that makes PC gaming special.
FAQs
What makes Balatro the best PC game of 2024?
Its unique deckbuilding mechanics and addictive gameplay stood out.
- Advertisement -Which games were the runners-up?
Animal Well, Satisfactory, and UFO 50 were the top contenders.
