2024, at least in terms of games based on beloved comic book properties, felt like a stop gap year. Marvel, for example, had no big original game like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 or Marvel’s Midnight Suns and titles starring the likes of Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Iron Man, Blade and others were missing in action. This generation, at least for Sony’s PlayStation ecosystem, has had Insomniac Games perform a lot of the heavy lifting for their release output, and many expected to see a new look at their Wolverine game which simply did not happen.

That’s not to say that 2024 didn’t have some surprises and things worth getting excited over. Among them was the shocking return of the Arkham franchise in an equally unexpected form factor.

The 2024 Comic Book Video Games Game of the Year is:

BATMAN: ARKHAM SHADOW

Last year was bookended by Arkham releases. Early in 2024 Rocksteady Studios’ Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League finally launched and picked up where Batman: Arkham Knight left off. Months later, Batman: Arkham Shadow was unveiled to the world as an exclusive for the Meta Quest 3 family of virtual reality headsets from Marvel’s Iron Man VR developer, Camouflaj. It would arrive as a standalone purchase or as a pack-in for new adopters of a Quest 3 or 3S in October of 2024.

Camouflaj is a relatively young studio, but it’s made up of some of the most talented people working not just the VR space, but the video game industry as a whole. Coming off of Marvel’s Iron Man VR – which only got better with its Quest 2 port – Camouflaj and their development partners not only expanded upon the Arkham universe in some terrific ways, they did so while effectively rebuilding how it works.

Batman: Arkham Shadow takes the proven gameplay loop of freeflow combat, stealth and exploration and immerses you within them like never before through the use of VR. Every action no matter how seemingly insignificant is recreated in first-person for VR and after some minor practice, you quickly develop new muscle memories on how to use your gadgets, punch, counter, and navigate the dark halls of Blackgate Penitentiary. All this is done while experiencing one of the most gripping tales written within the Arkham saga, showing that the decade-and-a-half universe still has some life in it. For those who have been championing Batman: Arkham Origins since 2013, it also legitimizes that chapter like no other and by its chilling conclusion Shadow only makes you hungry for more entries set around this stage of Batman’s career.

When the worst thing that can be said about a game is that due to the current economic climate of the world it’s somewhat of an ask to buy more hardware, you know you’ve got something special. Whether you already owned a Quest 3, just got either a 3 or 3S for the holidays or borrow one from a friend, experience Batman: Arkham Shadow anyway you can. It’s easily one of the best titles based off a DC Comics property that has ever been released and among the top echelon of Arkham titles too.

via Meta Quest YouTube

RUNNER UP: MARVEL VS. CAPCOM FIGHTING COLLECTION: ARCADE CLASSICS

Before I got my hands on Batman: Arkham Shadow very late in 2024, my shoe-in for Game of the Year was easily Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. When it was revealed during a summer Nintendo Direct, I was honestly so excited I nearly flew through the roof. After begging for these games to be bundled outside of an Arcade1up machine, Marvel and Capcom seemingly made the impossible a reality.

Whether you play it on a PlayStation console, Nintendo Switch, PC or eventually an Xbox, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is something you absolutely need to have in your collection. It includes lovingly crafted ports of some of the best Marvel themed video games ever, and its success will assuredly convince both parties to continue working together. Play offline, or online with friends, strangers or both. However you do it, don’t sleep on this important piece of video game history, licensed or otherwise.

via Marvel vs. Capcom YouTube