I attended The Recreation Awards 2024 held at the bottom of Los Angeles. As I stepped into the virtual space, I was left uncertain about the online experience, with its relentless barrage of ads, Muppet intermissions, and hastily presented award categories. Yet, in person, my inaugural encounter with this phenomenon was nothing short of mesmerizing –. Witnessing the incredible gaming landscape in 2024 has left me with just one resounding thought: what a phenomenal year for video games?
The lack of recognition for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom among the nominations for Geoff Keighley’s prestigious award ceremony is a notable oversight. The E3 gaming convention was given a thrilling finale when industry giants Harrison Ford, Troy Baker, and Todd Howard took to the stage, generating significant buzz among attendees and viewers alike – although the game’s delayed release meant it missed the crucial timing of the event’s deadline.
As a result of its unique timing, The Game Awards takes place in December annually, running its calendar year roughly from late November to early December, until the same time the following year. The timing of the Oscars and Golden Globes has always puzzled me – these ceremonies take place in March and January, respectively, which seems to be a deliberate attempt to capture the essence of an entire calendar year. Despite any motivation, I assume the real reason is to boost visibility and drive attention to the event around this time of year – The Game Awards awkwardly coincides with the holiday season’s onset.
It is often implied that a handful of video games release too close to the end of the year, making them ineligible for consideration during their initial launch timeframe. This year, one notable omission from the Game of the Year (GOTY) nominees was Indiana Jones and the Staff of Destiny, which fails to garner recognition for its numerous deserving categories, including GOTY, best performance, and best narrative or world design. As I reflect on this oversight, I’m struck by the realization that we neglected to acknowledge this important contribution in our Alternate Awards. Let’s preserve this remarkable film in our minds for its chance to win an award at the 2025 ceremony once it becomes eligible again.
As a thrilling adventure unfolds in this year’s top contender, Indiana Jones takes its rightful place among my most cherished video game experiences of 2024. Am I celebrating a year of relaxation at its finest? While it’s unlikely, no, given that Balatro released in that year – I’ve accumulated 170 hours on Steam, and who knows how many more on my phone. Someone on Crew VG247 has already penned an article about Balatro, but The Nice Circle stands out as a potential favorite game of mine – no easy feat given the impressive lineup this year.
I imply, severely. As a professional editor, I would improve the text in the following way:
I’m the self-proclaimed nerd who let my hyper-enthusiasm for the Ultimate Fantasy series drive me to establish an FF fansite as a teenager, which eventually evolved into one of the most renowned RPG fan communities on the web.
This could be the year that saw the launch of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, arguably the most impressive installment in the series in over 15 years – and it has become my game of the year. It isn’t even second! It’s also the year in which Dragon’s Dogma 2, a game that genuinely excites me, was released.
There’s one thing that’s truly magical – a few recreational activities akin to Indiana Jones’ thrilling escapades. This wasn’t a title that excited me in the long run either? While I appreciate the original trilogy’s iconic storylines, my enthusiasm waned significantly following the series’ inconsistent later installments – a trend that only added to my skepticism regarding Disney’s stewardship of the franchise. How about we rephrase this as: Can we revamp Harrison to better suit our needs?
I was unsure whether I truly wanted to do this. It had long been my firm conviction that I didn’t. While MachineGames succeeded in incorporating an unexpected element: the faint essence of Riddick’s grittiness and the immersive simulation style of its predecessors, subtly infusing their game with the very thing I long for in IO Interactive’s forthcoming James Bond adaptation – a quality that echoes my ardent wishes.
While I’d be happy to revisit my stellar review, the truth is I’m hesitant to do so. Regardless of individual recall, this game will stand out as an absolute best in a remarkably competitive year whenever submissions are made after 2025. It’s good. Play it. Cheers.
