Japanese developers have chosen the best games of 2024 – the remake of the classic RPG, released 36 years ago, topped the list

Following an established tradition, the weekly Japanese magazine Famitsu surveyed local representatives of the gaming industry to identify the top five most popular interactive entertainment of the past year.

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181 people took part in the voting: developers, voice actors, artists, bloggers (including YouTubers), commentators and other celebrities interested in games.

In particular, Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, Okami director Hideki Kamiya, Slitterhead author Keiichiro Toyama and other prominent creators shared their opinions.

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The best game of 2024, according to industry representatives surveyed by Famitsu, was Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, a remake of the classic 1988 fantasy JRPG in the graphic style of Octopath Traveler.

According to Famitsu editor-in-chief Hiroki Saga, the choice of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake demonstrates the strength of the original release, which continues to attract fans and new players even after 36 years.

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The top five games of 2024 according to Japanese developers are presented below and, as noted by Famitsu, reflect the modern industry in which classic franchises and original releases coexist:

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake;

Astro Bot;

Metaphor: ReFantasia;

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth;

Black Myth: Wukong.

In previous years, Japanese developers recognized Marvel’s Spider-Man (in 2018), Death Stranding (2019), Ghost of Tsushima (2020), Resident Evil Village (2021), Elden Ring (2022) and The Legend of Zelda: Tears as the best of the Kingdom (2023).