You should include these hidden and unique gems of 2024 in your to-do list.

In the last few weeks, there has been a deep reflection on the most notable video games of 2024. Personal stories about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth have been shared, the top ten games of the year have been presented, and the absence of Hollow Knight: Silksong has been discussed. Although many recognized titles have been mentioned, there is always something more to discover. It's a fact that by the end of the year, there remains a list of hidden gems that we are excited to recommend to those looking to expand their backlog. This year, we decided not to keep these games to ourselves; instead, we want to highlight a selection of impressive titles that deserve to be revisited in these last quiet weeks before a new wave of releases. Many of these games are short, making them perfect options for holiday travel. Even if your backlog is already overflowing, we guarantee that these little treasures offer unique experiences that showcase the creativity present in the vast world of video games, even in its most peculiar aspects.

Arctic Eggs is a game that, depending on your level of knowledge in the gaming world, may be a completely unknown title or a surprising phenomenon. This success on Steam, available for $10, tells the story of a cook who can only escape from Mount Everest by cooking for a sufficient number of people at a creepy outpost in a dystopian world. The frying mechanics are deliberately frustrating, reminiscent of games like Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy. Successfully cooking an egg requires extremely subtle control of the joystick; otherwise, the egg will shoot off. The task becomes even more complicated when you have to cook using cigarettes and cockroaches. What does all this mean? That's precisely the question you should be asking yourself.

Grunn is an experience best approached with little prior knowledge. It presents itself as a gardening game, but it is not what it seems. This title is a masterpiece of design that draws inspiration from Outer Wilds. The initial mission is to tend to an overgrown garden over the weekend, but the suburban environment hides unsettling secrets that are revealed with each attempt. It is a small-scale deduction game that invites players to uncover the mysteries hidden beneath the facade of a peaceful garden, requiring the development of a perfect plan over the span of two days.

Indika offers a remarkable experience, combining a 19th-century acid trip with a Christian crisis of faith. In this narrative game, players guide a nun through a hostile territory in Russia, facing complex questions about religion through gameplay mechanics that will test the player's patience. A clear example of this is a sequence where players must slowly fill water buckets, a laborious effort that ultimately proves to be entirely futile, fostering reflection on blind faith and all the trials it entails.

As for Isles of Sea and Sky, it presents itself as the best top-down Zelda-style game of 2024. This indie work is inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and offers a dreamlike adventure across tropical islands. Unlike other games in the genre, there are no swords or boss fights here; instead, players must solve a series of puzzles based on moving boxes.

Judero is undoubtedly a title worth playing if you can only dedicate time to one game on this list. This latest creation by experimental developer Jack King-Spooner presents a curious and beautiful game inspired by the folklore of the Scottish Borders. It stands out for its unique artistic style, featuring stop-motion animated action figures and rudimentary drawings. The dialogues are filled with witty phrases and poetry, while a funny companion in the form of a pink rabbit adds a touch of craziness.

On the other hand, Minishoot’ Adventures combines adventure elements in the style of Zelda with twin-stick shooting mechanics, creating a fun and inventive experience. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it presents itself as an experiment that plays with the idea of blending genres to create something fresh and entertaining.

Mouthwashing stands out within the horror genre. This short tale revolves around a delivery team trapped in space and presents a disturbing narrative about redemption through pain. The claustrophobic and poignant atmosphere has made it a favorite among horror fans.

Finally, Starstruck: Hands of Time tackles a truly strange and original premise. Inspired by Earthbound, it tells the story of an astronaut traveling back in time to save the future by sending his disembodied hand to a small town, where he must overcome obstacles in mini-games reminiscent of Katamari Damacy and participate in rhythm interludes like Guitar Hero. This game takes radical directions to offer a psychologically distressing narrative that explores impostor syndrome.