THERE’S an expression doing the rounds in the videogame industry right now; survive till ‘25. And that’s not an age thing. This year’s seen more studio closures and mass layoffs than the last.

To add that those of us in the biz are getting angry is something of an understatement. And yet, our anger’s failing to hold capitalism to account in the games we’re creating.

A glance at this month’s Game Awards says it all. The latest cash grab of overly ludocentric games, centring on cutesy robots and infantile, male fantasies, apparently developed for the likes of undiscerning shut-ins, aren’t really doing it for me.

Maybe I’m being unfair. Or maybe it really is an “age thing.” Regardless, it’s slim pickings. Especially when it comes to meaningful, social content that class-conscious gamers can get onboard with. Still, it wasn’t all bad, and, in the spirit of Christmas cheer, I’d like to share three personal highlights from 2024.

First up, Helldivers 2 — a chaotic, multiplayer shooter that became an instant commercial success for Stockholm-based Arrowhead Game Studios when it launched on PC and Playstation 5 back in February.

Though the original passed me by in 2015, I can’t help but salute the return of a Starship Troopers-inspired, satirical take on US imperialism.

It’s also a game that stands out in its genre for rewarding teamwork and close co-ordination, as well as for its expert world design, variety of biomes, and player-linked customisation options. If you prefer challenging, frenetic combat with a dose of humour, it’s probably for you.

Next on our list there’s Still Wakes the Deep, available on PC, Playstation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Despite a gripping opening act, a rare commitment to working-class characters, and overtures towards class conflict, this narrative-driven psychological horror, set on a desolate oil rig in the North Sea, ultimately descends into a confused re-imagining of John Carpenter’s 1982 film, The Thing.

Nonetheless, even though I wasn’t impressed with this outing, it’s a title that tries to move things in the right direction. What it lacks in originality, gameplay, and level design it partly makes up for in sentiment.

What excited me most about this one is what it could have been, and what the talented developers at Brighton-based studio, The Chinese Room, might get up to next. Still Wakes the Deep also has very positive reviews on Steam. So, if you can forgive an all-too-familiar retro-retread, give it a go.  

Last, but by no means least, comes Solium Infernum — which can be translated as “The Throne” or “Bathtub of Hell,” depending on your fancy. Developed by League of Geeks, this heartbreakingly under-appreciated turn-based strategy slipped under the radar when it came out on PC, leading the team behind it to announce a period of hibernation for the foreseeable future.

As the game itself insists, being good doesn’t mean success. Luck and diabolic forces also play their part. In fact, you take on the role of one of six “archfiends,” conspiring to usurp Lucifer’s kingdom by force or guile, presumably while he’s off seducing Eve or causing havoc in Soviet theatres, transforming roubles into dollars.

Similar literary, often Miltonian allusions come thick and fast and lend the brimstone-spewing hellscapes life. The graphics aren’t half-bad and the foreboding soundtrack of Latin chants underscores moments of devious plotting.

Solium Infernum is, in many ways, a digital board game. A masterclass in game design that sucks you in and keeps you thinking. It’s like chess, except you get to bend the rules and, in multiplayer matches, make your opponents hate you. There’s also an asynchronous mode, which means you can take your next move whenever it suits you.

Honestly, if you’re patient enough to learn the game’s intricate mechanics, or just enjoy the devilish irony of celebrating Christmas by ensnaring friends in chains of gold in true, Mammonian fashion, this one’s a must.

For the rest, let’s hang on in there and, yes, survive till ‘25. Next year’s releases, and the industry as a whole, will surely be much better.