Earlier this year, I posted about getting a steam deck. Thanks to it, I’ve been able to work through my Gaming backlog and frontlog. Now that the year is ending, I thought I’d give a shoutout to the really cool games I’ve completed in this time window.
Ghost of Tsushima
I don’t have enough words to describe how much I enjoyed this. I’ve written about how The Witcher 3 and AC: Origins elevated my perception of how good open-world games can be, and now Ghost of Tsushima has joined their level of magnificence.
Of course, I can’t discredit my bias towards the Japanese setting. This game is possibly the best “Assassin’s Creed in Japan” game that we have before Assassin’s Creed Shadows is released. And with the way Ubisoft is currently handling the franchise, the forecast is not looking good.
I liked having the capability to singlehandedly take down enemy strongholds with my repertoire of weapons. The RPG elements were handled well and distributed fairly as the story progressed. You had to unlock the game map in portions, which fit the narrative as well as stopped the early game from being too overwhelming.
The combat is challenging but fair. Most of my deaths were skill issues. Some battles can be brutal, but that’s because I keep forgetting about my Kunai and Smoke Bombs. The game can be as difficult or as easy as you want, depending on your playstyle.
My favorite part of the game is just uncovering the map and as someone that needs to finish ALL available sub-quests before the main ones, exploring the islands of Tsushima and Iki was a joy. Sucker Punch made one of the most beautiful games ever and I think computer graphics peaked with this game (sorry MGS3 Snake Eater, I have higher standards now).
Lastly, it’s very feasible to play as a stealth archer and has many perks to make this playstyle powerful. That is always a plus for me, as I always want to strike from far away with arrows. The hallucination blow dart is also a favorite weapon of mine.
This cements it as the my 2024 Game of the Year. Another entry to my list of “Games I wish I can erase my memory and play for the first time again.”
Nier Automata
Right below Ghost of Tsushima is this masterpiece. Finally, after years of hearing good things about this legendary JRPG, I’ve finally finished it. I bow down to Yoko Taro’s genius.
I’ve lovingly called Nier: Automata “my favorite game I’ve never played” because I’ve watched countless reviews and analyses about it without having played a single second. Now that I’ve finished all of the main endings (A to E), I can say that nothing was exaggerated about the rave reviews. Truly, this will go down as one of the most impactful video games in history.
In this game, you play an android soldier with the sexiest back muscles I’ve seen. You are tasked to eradicate the machine lifeforms that have swarmed earth after an alien invasion that destroyed humanity. During the process, you learn more about the truth about this massive war, the concept of free will, the reason for your existence, as well as what truly makes someone “human.”
Sexy robot ass and philosophical themes aside, I enjoyed the RPG elements and the different types of combat from hack-and-slash to bullet hell. Choosing which enhancement chips to fit into the limited slots is fun and trying out the various weapons make every machine encounter interesting. Enemy variety was decent although I found it hard to smash those cute little robots into pieces. Boss fights were incredibly cool and also provide some challenge.
I can’t praise this game any more as so many others have done it better way before I did. I just wish we had more of this game (apparently, 2 game playthroughs and 5 main endings aren’t enough for me). I know that it’s improbable, but a bigger, better sequel is a dream of mine.
I will surely replay this game since I offered my original save file up to the gods. This is an essential game for everyone. I can’t recommend it enough.
Death’s Door
Another favorite for the year. This action-adventure game is adorable and the art style hooked me right from the start.
You play a Crow, a soul reaper. Your assigned soul is taken from you and it is in your best interest to get it back. The idea of crows working for a soul-reaping agency is outlandish but also quite plausible. You meet a lot of quirky characters, some with fitting backstories and some you just have to take at face value.
The game lets you explore different places and enemy variety is big enough that I didn’t get bored. The combat is my favorite aspect. It’s simple enough to grasp, but quite difficult to master. Although the game can be difficult (especially since I played with the Umbrella as my main weapon), it is never unfair. Just like Ghost of Tsushima, most of my deaths were due to my carelessness and lack of skill. There were some boss fights where my blood pressure would spike, but I did eventually beat them once I figured their attack patterns.
This is a game that requires some time to familiarize with the enemies as well as the locations because there is no map. Observation is needed to navigate some of the areas. I resorted to guides for some parts, but they are not necessary to enjoy the game.
This is a very sold game especially since the developer is only a team of two people. They even included some challenging post-game content and it will be a fun challenge for the completionists. The music and sound direction is punchy and the character models are *chef’s kiss*.
This game deserves a sequel and I wish nothing but the best for the devs.
Hades
I’ve already reviewed this game before so I won’t yap any more about it’s greatness. I’ve been playing this on the PC and never got around to finishing the main story until I got the Deck.
Hades is a Steam Deck essential. It’s so easy to pick up and put down as a single run can last from just 10 minutes up to around half an hour. You can do multiple runs in a single gaming session and it works flawlessly.
Despite having finished it, I still get some new dialogue and weapon synergies every now and then. That is a testament to how much effort was put into this game. I’m never deleting this from my Deck. At least, not until the sequel proves to be better.
Euro Truck Simulator 2
When my friend gifted this to me during a sale, I scoffed at the thought of playing a simulator game. I thought driving trucks back and forth is crazy boring. I was proven wrong. Very wrong.
I spent more than a hundred hours in this game. I expanded my hauling company from having a debt of €400,000 to having 100 trucks across 20 warehouses all over Europe. This was more than just a game to me, this was therapy.
Just driving down the highway while listening to Simulator Radio was so relaxing. I found myself grabbing my Steam Deck just to boot this game every chance I got. This game was the perfect relaxation game. Aside from delivering cargo, I allocated my hired drivers to the right trucks, as well as customize my fleet to all be colored pink.
But the open highway is were its at. I even learned how to properly park the trailers without resorting to the 3rd Person view. That in itself took hours of learning truck physics and experimenting. Once I was able to crack it, I was so proud of myself. My friend and I even played a couple of hours on a convoy just delivering stuff and hanging out. Good times.
Once it clicks, this game is madly addictive. I could have spent more than a thousand hours in this game if they didn’t have an update that messed up the Steam Deck controls. That update singlehandedly destroyed my will to play this game anymore.
This is a good thing, because I would have stopped trying other games otherwise and my Steam Deck would be an ETS2 Machine for the rest of its operating life.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
This is the final game I finished before 2024 ended. After a lot of time delaying the inevitable, I had to say goodbye to Adol and the other people of Seiren.
2024 has been a great year for discovering JRPGs. This game has been recommended by a lot of YouTubers and when the Steam Sales began, it was at such a great price that I had to get it. And right now, I’m getting way more bang for my buck with this game.
In this game, you play as the adventurer Adol Cristin. Stranded on a mysterious and dangerous island, you must figure out a way to survive and escape. Now add a world-destroying secret, time-travel, and an amnesiac lady named Dana. It’s up to you to bring together all the castaways and solve the mystery behind this island.
The game’s story and the characters are really what make this game shine. The interactions and subtle humor are my favorite parts. Watching the castaway village grow and seeing your companions become closer as you progress is very heartwarming. I always make it a priority to talk to everyone after a major plot happens.
The action combat is not as complex as other games, but the variety of skills per character and their multiple playstyles give it enough steam to overcome boredom. Enemies are also varied with lots of attack patterns to memorize. I never really got the perfect timing for the blocks and dodges, but thankfully the game provides a lot of healing materials.
Slowly uncovering the secrets and mapping out the island is a good measure of progress. There are some backtracking but the fast travel system never make it tedious. There are also a variety of side content that help the player in the main storyline as well. This is a masterpiece that should be enjoyed fully. And you should, if you want to see the true good ending.
This game really got me interested in the other Ys games and now that I’m done with this game, I will miss the companions here (because I know they’re not coming back). I will miss Sahad’s bellyful laugh the most.
1000xResist
How do I even begin to explain this game. This is less a game and more of an interactive movie. The most gameplay you can get are the platforming stages where you need to warp to an end goal within a time limit. Aside from that, you are advancing your character forward through the plot with every move.
You play as “Watcher,” a member of a colony of the last surviving humans after an alien invasion caused a post-apocalyptic event. Plot twist: Every member of the colony is a clone of the last remaining human, the Allmother. From here, you will experience fragments of the Allmother’s memories to uncover her motivations and ultimately, the truth behind everything.
There are tons of side characters in this game, and in order to get the most out of it, I recommend talking to everyone before moving on to the next phase of the story. This is the only way to play the game and really feel the weight of the things happening.
Almost everyone you encounter is a clone, but they still have different motivations and personalities. I enjoyed getting to know these “other me’s” and even despised some of them. This is a game where side-content IS the content.
It’s a testament to the writers’ skill that they can make a story with sooooo many moving parts and events BUT I can still understand it clearly. The themes it tackles are hard-hitting; from intergenerational trauma and bullying, to anti-authority and isolation. I went through so many emotions playing this game and flashes of this game come up in my subconscious every now and then.
There are also multiple endings and conveniently, most of the choices you make to alter them are right before the end. You don’t have to replay everything in order to see all of these.
If you love games with unique narratives and piecing together a story to uncover the big picture, this is one of the most thought out that I can recommend.
Persona 4 Golden
Ah yes. Analysis Paralysis: The Game.
I played this game during the pandemic and didn’t see the appeal, so I dropped it after a couple of hours. Apparently, playing it on the Steam Deck was the only adjustment I needed in order to finish it and now it’s a game I look back on fondly.
I admit, I played this game with a guide open most of the time because I don’t plan on replaying this game. I needed to make the most out of my single playthrough because once I reach the end of this murder mystery, I’m done. The guide helped me maximize my player’s attributes but I still played my own way when I could afford it.
In this game, you move to a town being haunted by a series of murders. It is up to you and your newly discovered supernatural powers to solve the case and bring the criminal to justice. When you’re not focused on the case, you can date your classmates, go fishing, farming, or do some part-time jobs. For a game with a strict deadline, there’s a lot of activities to do.
There’s something about this game’s aged graphics that are endearing. Atlus is most known for their UI designs, but their character designs here are also noteworthy. And the soundtrack is composed so well that I even listen to it in the office. The characters are lovable, especially sweet Nanako. Everything works well together to provide a good experience.
The gameplay aspect reminds me of Digimon Cybersleuth, only less grindy. There are in-game difficulty sliders, which I am very thankful for. I only grinded to get the Personas that I really liked. The game was balanced in that I never felt under-leveled as long as I finished the required dungeons. As long as you have the right combination of Personas, you’re good to go.
I had a good time with this game and it ran well on my Steam Deck the whole way. It doesn’t drain the battery as much as other games and it survived a back-and-forth roadtrip to the province without even reaching the 50% capacity.
Right now, I’m waiting for a deep sale on Persona 5 so I can play another game like this. Most reviews say that it’s even better than 4 so I’m hyped. I just need it to drop below that P500 price point because I’m a cheapskate.
Chained Echoes
The most amazing thing about this game is that it was made by just one person. I heard about this game from YouTube videos praising its Overdrive system, a way to make turn-based combat more interesting. Seeing as it was a beautiful, pixel-art JRPG, it seemed like another perfect game to play on the deck.
This game is indeed worth the praises it has garnered. There are multiple ways to go about the combat and the unpredictability of the aforementioned Overdrive system makes sure that every turn counts and that you pay attention.
Another aspect that sets this game apart from other JRPGs is that it doesn’t have the standard leveling system. You learn skill points at fixed parts of the story and your team grows accordingly. Speaking of team, you have 12 playable characters with 8 of them able to switch in and out of a single battle. Combine this with unique skills, weapons and armor per character and you have so many ways a fight could go.
The story might seem like a generic fantasy tale at first, but it tackles some adult themes especially relating to the horrors of war. Each character has a dark side, either from the things they’ve done or from the things that has happened to them unwillingly. You uncover these and slowly help them face these traumas.
You play as a soldier that survived a magical nuclear explosion and are on a mission to stop the weapon from being used again. While doing so, you must grapple with the fact that you are a reincarnation of someone in the past whose actions have a clear impact on the present. It’s quite complex, but you will learn all these bit by bit as you progress through the game.
This is a wonderful JRPG that pays tribute to the great games of the past and builds upon their systems. If you like Chrono Trigger and the pixel Final Fantasies, this is a game you must try for yourself.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
This is the latest game I’ve played in the main Yakuza series. It takes place between the events of Yakuza 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon, both games I’ve played and reviewed. Here, we control Kiryu once again in a brawler-style combat game. Yay!
While I enjoy the turn-based combat of Ichiban’s games, I still prefer the beat-em up style. I also think the Dragon Engine combat was perfected in this game. I had a blast completing the fighting coliseum challenges as well as getting into street fights in general. The new Agent Style adds a wacky twist but is still very effective against the multitudes of enemies you face. The cigarette bomb is my favorite and I spammed it as much as I can.
Gaiden plays like all of the previous RGG Studios games. A serious storyline mixed with the most ridiculous and outrageous substories one has ever seen. My only complaint would be that the mini-games are nothing new, and yet they didn’t bring back my favorite one. I’ve already finished Pocket Circuit in 0 and Kiwami. LET ME HAVE MY CABARET CLUB MANAGEMENT, RGG!
In this game, Kiryu has to reconcile all the different parts of his identity from being an ex-yakuza, a dead man, a father to his orphans, and as the legendary Dragon. Not only this, but rapid changes in the Yakuza world bring even more problems that he has to grapple with. This is the game that humanizes Kiryu the most and I loved to see it.
The ending left me as a messy puddle of tears and is definitely one of my favorite conclusions in the series. This game might not be as jam-packed as the mainline entries, but it is just as essential in understanding Kiryu’s journey. This is a must play for any fan of the series.
Despite being a new Dragon Engine game, it ran really well on the Steam Deck without any issues at 45fps. Now, I’m just waiting for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth to drop their price so I can get up to date with all the RGG games.
Like a Dragon: Ishin
What’s better than a Yakuza game? A Yakuza Samurai game.
For some reason, RGG Studios decided to use the Unreal Engine for this game. I felt that this game engine wasn’t quite optimized for the Steam Deck. I experienced some stuttering and frame drops here when I had no problem for their other more demanding games.
Aside from that, I enjoyed my time with this game. Seeing familiar faces made me pay attention to the story even more. It felt like the Yakuza characters were just acting the roles, but they still fit into the character archetype. Playing as a samurai during the tumultuous Bakumatsu period was very interesting as a Japanophile and I learned a lot about old Japan just by playing.
The combat was decent, with 4 different styles plus multiple weapon choices with unique abilities each. However, I eventually ended up using the overpowered Wild Dancer style with my flaming Katana. I was almost untouchable with that right up to the endgame.
Aside from the main story, I was able to test my combat skills in the tournaments as well as the dungeons which only made my character even stronger.
However, my favorite part of Ishin was just doing the sidestories and mini-games. The main story was a bit convoluted (as real life often is), so I took a break by doing some fishing. I also sliced cannonballs being shot at me, made Udon for the customers of Kyoto, and partaking in the… sensual arts in a Gion brothel.
My fondest memory of the game was just taking the time to farm my vegetables and cook all the dishes with Haruka. This game might not be at the same level as other RGG games in terms of technicality, but it makes up for it in activities and heart.
Lost Judgment
This was the first big game I played on the Steam Deck. I was already playing this on my PC, but when I bought the Deck, I immediately migrated to the more portable device. There, it ran without problems at 45fps and I eventually completed the game.
A sequel to Judgment, we play as Detective Yagami. While it takes place in the same setting as the Yakuza games, we are shown the point-of-view of someone from outside the organization. Here, we see how the Yakuza’s decisions impact those of regular civillians. Thankfully, we control someone that is skilled in the martial arts and can go toe-to-toe with even the toughest criminals.
This time, we are tasked in solving a high profile case linked to childhood bullying. This topic is very realistic and adds nuance to the characters and their motivations. Is everything that is legal, morally correct? Is all of vigilantism bad? What are the limits of the law and those acting against it? It tackles topics that even until now are up for debate.
In terms of gameplay, it’s the same fare as the other RGG Studios games, and it uses the Dragon Engine as well. Yagami now has four fighting styles, Crane, Tiger, Boxer, and Snake. These are fun to use and each has a variety of unique quirks. My favorite is the Tiger style just because of Flux Fissure that I’ve been spamming since the first game. Combat is smoother this time around, probably the second best in the series next to the newer Gaiden.
Min-games are plentiful and I spent most of my time in the Robotics Club challenges. I loved this simple capture the flag game so much. Unlocking upgrades to the robot is fun and I steamrolled this entire substory at once.
I also enjoyed the boxing, dancing, and motorcycle racing mini-games. There is so much to do here, from dating the school nurse to shredding the streets with your skateboard. I also completed the Kaito Files Expansion, which added even more hours into the game and let us play as the supporting character, Kaito.
Just like other games from RGG Studios, it combines lighthearted humor with sudden flashes of seriousness and maturity. If this is something you’re interested in, or just want more from the RGG world, this game is for you.
Dave The Diver
Another game that I started on the PC and finished on the Steam Deck. I’ve been playing this game since it was available on early access. I got burnt out when it initially released but there’s just something about the Steam Deck that makes me want to continue playing games.
The main gameplay loop is to dive and catch fish during the day, then cook and serve them at night. In between this routine are so many happenings and other things to do that you will never get bored. There are encounters with rare ocean animals as well as the mysterious sea-people. You must also defend the ocean from so-called conservationists with a dark secret. All this while trying to grow your Sushi restaurant and garner awards.
This game has so much content that it walks the fine line between too much and peak player engagement. The game is polarizing because some people got overwhelmed. Personally, I enjoyed the additional stuff. They add variety to the gameplay plus they also make sense story-wise. The epic boss battles also provide a challenge not seen in just diving for fishes. I also enjoyed the many homages and Easter eggs from pop culture that were included.
There’s endless things to do in this game and they still keep updating it to this day. I keep coming back to try out their collaborations with other games. Recently I just finished their storyline with Godzilla as well as try out their Balatro and Potion Craft tie-ins.
As a big fan of marine biology, it’s nice to see even the most obscure fishes show up and I can’t wait for what else they can add to this game. This is another permanent addition to my Steam Deck library as it is so easy to just pick up and play.
Bugsnax
This game opened my eyes to the potential of gyro aiming. Because of its easy difficulty (no deaths!) and first-person storytelling, I was able to learn the Steam Deck’s gyro without any pressure. There’s not much else to say aside from the fact that this is so enjoyable to play.
You are a journalist tasked to investigate a weird island inhabited by creatures made of food called “Bugsnax”. There are also other inhabitants on this island and they all have different personalities and opinions when it comes to co-habiting with these Bugsnax (and each other). Some of these characters can be endearing and others very annoying. But by the end of the game, you will have gotten to know them better and have become something of a family.
The main gameplay loop is to collect these Bugsnax. Each one has a specific way to be captured. It is up to you to think of a strategy with the resources you have. As you unlock more regions of the island, more secrets are revealed and more gadgets are unlocked for you. You can get very creative with ways to catch Bugsnax but you can finish the game using the most obvious methods, too.
I would recommend this lovely game to anyone looking for something cozy and easy to play. I’m sure you will adore at least one of the characters you meet and find some of the Bugsnax cute. Also, it plays perfectly on the Steam Deck.
Toem
Toem is a cozy and short puzzle game. I got it for free from the Epic Games Store without even knowing what it’s about but I’m glad I tried it.
You are a cute something that is tasked with taking pictures of things in order to advance the story and ultimately capture the phenomenon called the “Toem.” I like how you’re not even told what it is and you have to journey across different places to get closer to the truth.
You must use your camera to solve various puzzles and complete challenges to earn stamps. These stamps are used to reach the next area. Rinse and repeat. I liked the simple gameplay as well as the black & white art style. The characters you meet are quirky, humorous, and oftentimes unexpected.
The game doesn’t overstay. I finished it over a couple of play sessions and got every achievement. Toem gives you a good break from the stressful AAA games and is a good game to unwind with after a long day.
A Space For The Unbound
This game is praised for capturing Indonesian culture quite accurately, but I found the aesthetic and elements can also be relatable from my Filipino experience.
It’s mostly a puzzle game with a lot of back and forth in the different areas. An observant eye is required as you will need to remember a lot of things and where they are located in order to progress.
The good thing is that it never gets overwhelming and everything can be tracked well with the player’s diary. Aside from the puzzle gameplay, there are some parts where your reaction time is tested.
That said, I enjoyed the concept of diving into a person’s psyche and even time traveling in order to solve problems. And while most of the game relies on the supernatural for the plot, there are a lot of human emotions on display. There are a lot of different traumas being explored and each character carries their own burden that you help to ease.
I missed a few side stories on my initial playthrough and I have yet to play this again as it is VERY backtracking heavy. I might need some time to forget the plot before I boot it up again.
I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed this more if I played it as a high-schooler rather than as a working adult, but this coming of age, mystery, fantasy story is worth your time just for reliving a bit of that confusing period of your life.
Until Then
Until Then is like A Space For The Unbound made by Filipinos for Filipinos. There are so many nods to Filipino culture and almost everything is relatable. From the familiar sights of the LRT station to the noisy barkers in the streets, this is as local as you can get.
You play as a high school student with OFW parents who starts off just trying to finish their homework in a post-apocalyptic society; you end up trying to save their best friend from disappearing after prom night as well as saving the entire world from a multi-reality convergence.
Less of a game and more of a walking simulator a la 1000xResist, the story unfolds in a visual novel style. While you do get some control of your character, you are ultimately funneled along the plot, with no choice of yours having an impact on the overall story. It actually has a couple of false endings which confused me a bit at some parts, but thankfully there are some online communities that helped explain it concisely.
My favorite part of the game are the times when we can scroll through the characters’ social media app, read the news and the comments of the people. This is where I really admired the game writers’ attention to detail. It was very realistic and I can tell it was influenced by the past happenings in our country IRL.
This game perfected Filipino representation, but I was left wanting more on the gameplay aspect. Still, I’m glad I played this as it showed me the current potential of Filipino game developers. I can’t wait for this industry’s boom in the future.
Now that I’ve compiled them, I realize that I’ve finished a lot of games this year. All together, I estimate that they took more than half a thousand hours to finish. This wouldn’t be possible without the Steam Deck. It really is the best purchase of the year and I’m glad I bit the bullet.
A2 my beloved, I’m glad to have met you.
Let me know what games you’ve finished and recommend me some! I’ll try them all (as long as they’re cheap or free).
Keep gaming and be safe!
-jgzn
P.S. Some game images were taken from IGDB.com and belong to their respective companies. No copyright infringement intended.
