Windows Central Game Awards 2024 – Presenting the best Xbox and PC games of the year

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Taylor Reeves

Windows Central Game Awards 2024 – Presenting the best Xbox and PC games of the year

2024 is over and 2025 is just around the corner. It’s time to reflect on another year of amazing games on Xbox and PC.

The best games of 2024

It’s been another strange year in the gaming calendar. Layoffs dampened what was otherwise an absolute record year for high-quality games on Xbox and Windows systems. Spectacular indie games have broken through the zeitgeist based on their creativity alone, while mega-franchises have found new footing despite their age.

It was Activision-Blizzard’s first full year under the Xbox banner, as Microsoft shifted its strategies to appeal to gamers outside of the Xbox console ecosystem, potentially risking everything in the process. PlayStation revived the platforming genre with its Astrobot win at the Game Awards, and rumors of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 reveal are keeping fans on their toes.

Valve’s Steam platform continues to break new ground with its hardware offerings, and cloud gaming from Xbox and NVIDIA brings AAA games to people who just don’t want to buy a more expensive system. Generative AI is also lurking in the background and will likely emerge more prominently in 2025, both for game development and in-game features.

The Windows Central Game Awards are hardly scientific in nature, but rather a simple tribute from our small team to all the great games we loved this year. We collect our own nominations and then vote for the games we like best as we complete another journey around the big glowing ball in the sky. Let’s get started right away.

Best Xbox game of 2024

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

We love a little hyper-violence. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Best Windows PC Game

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

The best horror shooter in years. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Best Indie Game of 2024

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

It will take over your life. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The most anticipated game of 2024

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

Time to polish those hunting horns. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Best expansion/DLC of 2024

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

Did you expect something different? (Image credit: Windows Central)

Best Running Game of 2024

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

It’s time to admit that Fallout 76 is good. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Best Story Director of 2024

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

ATLUS can’t stop winning. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Best Game Pass addition of 2024

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 strengthens the Game Pass. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Best Art and Visuals of 2024

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

Hellblade 2 is state of the art. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Best sound and music of 2024

Windows Central Tech and Game Awards 2024

An audio experience that few games can offer. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Editor’s Choice Award 2024

Rogue traders

An honorable mention for the emperor. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Game Developer Excellence Award 2024

Poncle

Another addictive masterpiece. (Image credit: Windows Central)

And that’s it!

As 2024 slowly fades into obscurity, 2025 looks set to be another crowded gaming year. Civilization 7, Monster Hunter Wilds, Avowed and various other games are already releasing in the first quarter, and that’s when the hype train for the Xbox Showcase 2025 and Summer Game Fest begins in earnest. We should also get an Xbox Developer_Direct showcase in January or February, which could provide a glimpse at some of the Xbox games for 2025. Fable, DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, The Outer Worlds 2, Avowed and perhaps other surprises on the horizon, giving Xbox a strong lineup for the next calendar year.

Xbox’s strategy of releasing games on PlayStation and Nintendo threatens to potentially cannibalize the console business, which currently accounts for the lion’s share of Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. However, PC and cloud are on the rise, giving plenty of reasons to remain optimistic about the future of the Xbox ecosystem. Xbox’s ability to offer high-quality exclusives appears to be on the rise, but it may be too late for the console business as users build their digital presence on PlayStation and PC. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft and Xbox respond in 2025, especially as rumors of new Xbox hardware continue to grow. An Xbox handheld sure sounds cool, at least to me.

As for games and their developers, from artists to marketing to PR to engineers and everyone in between: on behalf of everyone here at Windows Central, thank you for your art and passion, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to us in 2025.

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