Astro Bot Takes the Lead in Metacritic's Race for Game of the Year 2024

The race to secure the title of the top-rated game of the year is heating up, as Astro Bot has finally ascended to first place, surpassing Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Astro Bot has taken the lead over both Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and Metaphor: ReFantazio, now holding the position of the highest-rated game on Metacritic this year. It has indeed been a fiercely competitive year for standout games, and it appears that Astro Bot has managed to pull slightly ahead of its rivals on Metacritic. All three titles share an impressive overall score of 94, but Astro Bot boasts 139 reviews, while Shadow of the Erdtree has 70 and Metaphor: ReFantazio has 53.

The triumph of Astro Bot can be attributed to a perfect score recently awarded by Game Grin, which highlighted the game as being "a charming, stunning platformer that looks gorgeous and plays flawlessly." The commendation emphasized its well-crafted levels, highly responsive platforming mechanics, and an incredibly engaging roster of characters. This delightful PS5 adventure developed by Team Asobi pays homage to PlayStation's legacy, featuring appearances from iconic Sony characters, including Kratos, Aloy, and even a hunter from Bloodborne. One reviewer noted that the game "excels to deliver an almost flawless platforming experience."

On the other hand, Catherine's review of Metaphor: ReFantazio described it as "an evolution of Atlus' finest RPGs," while Joel humorously pointed out in his review of Shadow of the Erdtree that "it is becoming routine to praise FromSoftware." Indeed, FromSoftware continues to be a powerhouse in the gaming industry, and news of Sony's interest in acquiring its parent company, Kadokawa, has emerged, though some Japanese analysts speculate that the price might be too steep.

Among these three titles, the only one I've experienced this year is Shadow of the Erdtree, and I find it peculiar to label it a complete game while it vies for Game of the Year. I have great affection for it, yet it feels unusual to compare a DLC, even one as substantial as Shadow of the Erdtree, against entirely new games. However, if this rationale holds, shouldn't we also reconsider the status of sequels?