Alright gamers, gather ’round! It’s that time of the year again, but with a twist—we’re looking back at the legendary 2024 lineup through the lens of 2026, and man, what a year that was. IGN’s throwing it back with their People’s Choice Tournament, letting us, the players, decide which title from that stacked roster truly deserves the crown. Think of it like March Madness, but instead of basketball, we’ve got Helldivers 2 going toe-to-toe with Animal Well, or Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth squaring off against Balatro. The nostalgia is real, folks! I’ve been diving deep into the bracket they randomized into four groups, and let me tell you, picking favorites is like choosing a favorite child—impossible, but we’re gonna try anyway.
🔥 Group 1: The Heavy Hitters & Indie Darlings
This group is wild, y’all! It’s led by absolute beasts like Helldivers 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. But don’t sleep on the indie scene here—Animal Well is lurking in the shadows, ready to pull off an upset. I mean, come on, that game was a vibe! Then you’ve got the sports trio: Madden NFL 25, College Football 25, and MLB The Show 24, bringing that competitive energy. And can we talk about the visuals? Unicorn Overlord and Infinity Nikki were straight-up eye candy. Voting in this group is gonna give me trust issues, for real.
🎭 Group 2: RPGs, Remakes & Technical Marvels
Group 2 is where things get spicy! The Silent Hill 2 remake is leading the charge, but it’s got some fierce competition. We’re talking RPG heavyweights like Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Nintendo’s also in the mix with Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door—classics getting their glow-up! But wait, there’s more: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was a technical masterpiece, and Lorelai and the Laser Eyes? That indie was low-key brilliant. Picking here feels like… well, you know when you’re at a buffet and everything looks good? Yeah, that.
⚔️ Group 3: Award Season Champions & Franchise Giants
Okay, Group 3 is stacked—like, ‘how did they all end up here?’ stacked. Astro Bot, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Black Myth: Wukong were cleaning up awards left and right back in the day. Then you’ve got big names like Star Wars Outlaws and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (they faced off in Round 1—talk about drama!). Long-running series reps include Tekken 8 and Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, plus sports updates with EA Sports FC 25 and NBA 2K25. New IPs? Stellar Blade and Slitterhead brought fresh ideas to the table. This group is a battlefield, and I’m here for it.
🃏 Group 4: RPG Sequels, Family Fun & Surprise Hits
Last but not least, Group 4 is a rollercoaster. Balatro, that indie darling, was winning hearts everywhere, but it’s up against RPG giants: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Persona 3 Reload. On the family-friendly side, we’ve got The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, LEGO Horizon Adventures, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and The Plucky Squire. And let’s not forget the underdogs—Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Enshrouded were total surprises. This group’s got something for everyone, which makes voting… kinda overwhelming, ngl.
🗳️ How to Vote & Why It Matters
So, how does this throwback tournament work? IGN’s running it on their Instagram, posting matchups in stories around 3 p.m. ET. You get 24 hours to vote for each round, starting December 18 and building up to the finals on December 31. Here’s the schedule breakdown:
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Round 1: December 18
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Round 2: December 20
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Round 3: December 23
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Quarterfinals: December 27
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Semifinals: December 30
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Finals: December 31
It’s all about fan power—the winner gets crowned the people’s Game of the Year for 2024, as voted by us in 2026. Talk about a legacy moment! Whether you’re team indie or team AAA, your vote shapes gaming history. So, grab your phone, hit up IGN’s Instagram, and let’s make some noise for those classics. Happy voting, everyone—may the best game win! 😉