The Great 2024 Video Game Challenge

Happy New Year and welcome to another edition of the Great Video Game Challenge! I changed up the years challenges a little bit. They were just arbitrary blocks of 10 years, so I decided to split them up into groups of two generations each, at 1990 (JP release of the SNES), 2000 (PS2 release) and 2013 (PS4 release).

Credit goes to tazzyboyishere for first starting this in 2016, and Robazoid for carrying the torch through 2020. Basically, there are 50 challenges outlined below that will require you to beat 52 games total. This isn't a competition and there's no prize for winning aside from a sense of accomplishment. This is just a fun thing to participate in while we all work through our video game libraries. It also gives us a place to discuss what we're playing. Feel free to join in!

Rules:
- A single playthrough of a game can only be used for one challenge
- Use your own judgment to decide if game fits in a certain category
- Games started in 2023 or earlier are fine as long as they're finished in 2024
- Please add your own games to the spreadsheet linked to below, which anyone can edit
- When using the spreadsheet, please don't mess with checklists/tallies that aren't yours
- There's a tab listing favorite games in the spreadsheet if you need help with Challenge 42
- If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gEsQxLlfdbdj1jEWDcoVgJdUu95ZlZzU_AVNvlZ5os0/edit?usp=sharing

Challenges:

Years (5)
1. Beat a game released before 1990
2. Beat a game released between 1990-1999
3. Beat a game released between 2000-2012
4. Beat a game released between 2013-2023
5. Beat a game released in 2024

Series (4)
6. Beat a game in a completely new series
7. Beat a game in a series you've already played some of
8. Beat a spin-off or a game that rebooted a franchise
9. Beat a remake or enhanced port

Creators (4)
10. Beat a game made by a director/composer/artist/etc that you like
11. Beat a game made by a developer you like
12. Beat a game made by a developer you've never tried
13. Beat a game made by an indie developer

Genres (10)
14. Beat an RPG
15. Beat a puzzle game
16. Beat a rhythm game
17. Beat a shooting game
18. Beat a simulation game
19. Beat a platformer
20. Beat an action game
21. Beat a strategy game
22. Beat a fighting game
23. Beat a sports game

Themes (6)
24. Beat a game with romance as a central theme
25. Beat a game with horror as a central theme
26. Beat a game with revenge as a central theme
27. Beat a game with mystery as a central theme
28. Beat a game with the supernatural as a central theme
29. Beat a game with comedy as a central theme

Demographics (6)
30. Beat a game with a female lead
31. Beat a game with a child lead
32. Beat a game with a non-white lead
33. Beat a game with a robot/artificial lead
34. Beat a game with an animal lead
35. Beat a game with a lead that's from a fictional species

Time (4)
36. Beat a game that's been in your backlog for a long time
37. Beat a game you'd dropped or had a long hold on
38. Finish a game in one day
39. Finish a game that took you at least twenty-five hours to beat

Stats (3)
40. Beat a game with a Metascore below 70
41. Beat a game with a Metascore above 90
42. Beat another user's favorite game

Adaptation (3)
43. Beat a game based on licensed stories/characters
44. Beat a game that's been adapted into another medium
45. Beat a game that features historical events or people

Miscellaneous (5)
46. Beat a game you received for free or through a paid subscription service
47. Play a technically unbeatable game for at least six hours
48. Beat a game that starts with the first letter of your username
49. Choose a random page on TVTropes and beat something from the video game section
50-52. Beat three games in a series

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DentedIron

Some pretty good options here!

I'm going to try to participate this year.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CasinoPark

As for my random trope, I like this one quite a bit.

42. Beat another user's favorite game
Celeste

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f8a52f65.jpg

I died a lot, and didn't get a lot of Strawberries, but it was a really fun game. I liked the challenge, and might go back to do more in it later. I'm glad there wasn't a lives system, and instead you just respawned with a lot of checkpoints. Some of the jumps were a little crazy.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SundialWaypoint

Maybe it's time to play Kingdom of Loathing again?

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/BullyHunter/VideoGames

I plan on playing both Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Tekken 8 so this definitely works out and even then, I got more options.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SwordPlant

Devil May Cry, Dragon's Lair, Final Fantasy XII, Zelda: Skyward Sword/ALttP, Mega Man 8, and any (?) Tales of game are their listed examples that I could do

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DoAndroidsDream

Maybe this is the year I finally complete the TVTropes challenge!

I finished more than I put in the topic last year, about 25.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SteppingOutToReact

FF14 is not a viable game to finish as the only listed one here. Does it even have a finish?

The second one I got was this and I'm not entirely sure Jackbox counts. Not sure I'll have time for much gaming this year anyway but might be skipping the trope category this time out.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DemonicDummy

38. Finish a game in one day
Limbo

This game isn't something I could see myself going back to. It actually felt a lot longer than it needed to be, despite being pretty short. The atmosphere was great, but everything else kind of fell apart. Overall, I didn't like it. It wasn't so much bad as it wasn't really fun.

A little disappointed the categories weren't changed up more, but looking forward to trying to make some progress again. I rolled like ten TVTropes articles and none of them worked so I'm giving up on it for now.

38. Finish a game in one day
A Short Hike

1/52

8. Beat a spin-off or a game that rebooted a franchise
Pokemon Snap

This was an easy game to clear. Didn't take long either. The controls were a little weird. I liked the newer one better (still have to beat that one, might do that for another category)

33. Beat a game with a robot/artificial lead
Gravity Circuit

If only I played this earlier, it might have contended for my GotY last year. It's like if Mega Man games were actually good!

1/52

Natalie posted...

A little disappointed the categories weren't changed up more, but looking forward to trying to make some progress again. I rolled like ten TVTropes articles and none of them worked so I'm giving up on it for now.

I don't like to mess with the formula too much, since this project has been around a long time and wasn't mine to begin with. I'm usually open to adding new challenges if someone throws some ideas out at the end of the year though

26. Beat a game with revenge as a central theme

Sanabi

Starting 2024 the way I ended 2023, but this time on the one hit death difficulty. I was a little worried doing this kind of challenge run might make me love the game less. Nope. Still already want to replay it again. Please play Sanabi.

1/52

TheArkOfTurus posted...

Please play Sanabi.

I have played 75 minutes of Sanabi. I liked what I played so far so I should really get back to it

2. Beat a game released between 1990-1999
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game

Beat this with my dad, which was a bit of fun, and didn't take long either. The Final Boss beat us once, but we had much better luck on the second go.

34. Beat a game with an animal lead
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

Also beat this one with my dad. It was more fun than the first one. Though the final boss was way too easy. Is that what people thought 2020 would really be like back then? No social distancing?!

39. Finish a game that took you at least twenty-five hours to beat
Yakuza 0 (PS4)

Hell of a game. First RPG I've been hooked on in ages.

1/52

1. Beat a game released before 1990
Metroid

I never thought I'd actually beat the final boss. Thankfully I found out you can go back and regain your health. Nearly didn't make it, but I beat my first Metroid game! Hoping to add Dread to the list eventually.

22. Beat a fighting game
Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition

I'm not much for fighting games outside of Smash Brothers, but this one was okay I guess. More importantly it was free on game pass. But I'd rather count it toward the fighting game and beat something else for my game I received free.

9. Beat a remake or enhanced port
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion

Finally got around to playing this one. Definitely got me more hyped for Rebirth.

1/52

Hey guys, I'm new to the Great Video Game Challenge, but thought I'd have a crack this year.

7. Beat a game in a series you've already played some of
Dino Crisis 2

I love this game. Superior to the first even with its shift away from survival horror. I love the dynamic backgrounds

37. Beat a game you'd dropped or had a long hold on
Silent Hill 4: The Room

I played this when I was younger but dropped it after you start revisiting the world's all over again. However I enjoyed it a lot this time round. I always liked the premise, I just thought the execution wasn't quite there.

2/52

23. Beat a sports game

Super Punch-Out!

24. Beat a game with romance as a central theme
Maquette

Some of those puzzles were tough to figure out.

2/52

50. Beat three games in a series
Sonic the Hedgehog

I've played all 3 of the original Sonic trilogy games but I've never actually beaten any of them until now. My plan is to do Sonic 2 for #51 and Sonic 3 for #52.

3/53

22. Beat a fighting game

Street Fighter II

48. Beat a game that starts with the first letter of your username
Banjo-Kazooie

I managed to get all 100 Jiggys, but couldn't get all the notes. I gave up after about 890. The Final Boss was really tough. Mostly annoying because the flying section controls weren't great. The game would've been a lot better if you didn't need red feathers to fly. Or at least if they gave you about 200. I mean you already need the flight pad to fly, so I'm not sure why they needed an extra restriction. Especially when the final boss requires you to fly. Still, it was a lot of fun.

47. Play a technically unbeatable game for at least six hours

Genshin Impact

It was either going to be this or Honkai: Star Rail but I've only been doing dailies in the latter so far

1/50

23. Beat a sports game

Dredge (Maybe a slight stretch, but.... Eh.)

47. Play a game that's technically unbeatable for at least six hours

Granblue Fantasy

43. Beat a game based on licensed stories/characters
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth (PS5)

Surprisingly good SotN-like. Derivative, but very fun for a few hours anyway.

2/52

50-52. Beat three games in a series

Higurashi Ch. 6-8. I highly recommend the series as a whole if you like mystery. Makes me want to replay Umineko

38. Finish a game in one day

TMNT: Fall Of The Foot Clan. The first Game boy game; it's not interesting but it's easy.

2/50

36. Beat a game that's been in your backlog for a long time
DuckTales: Remastered

Got this for Christmas many years ago. Always meant to get around to playing it, but well... now I have at least! It was pretty good. At least for a remake of a very old game. The voice acting added quite a bit to it.

15. Beat a puzzle game
Magical Drop II

The gameplay was pretty fun. I definitely enjoyed it. There wasn't really a story in story mode. I struggled a couple of times before figuring out you could grab multiples of the same color at the same time.

51. Beat three games in a series
Sonic the Hedgehog 2

4/53

Cavedweller2000 posted...

Hey guys, I'm new to the Great Video Game Challenge, but thought I'd have a crack this year.

welcome aboard!

37. Beat a game you'd dropped or had a long hold on
Pokemon Legends: Arceus

I never ended up doing the post game stuff until now. Glad I did, though. It was a lot of fun.

16. Beat a rhythm game
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone

OMG! I love this game so much. I had already beaten most of the songs, so this almost feels like cheating. But FINALLY clearing Negopasi*Continues and The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku is definitely an accomplishment. I never thought I'd actually do it. I'll definitely keep playing this game cause it's one of my favorites, and trying to get all Excellents. But I'll settle for clearing all songs to count toward this one.

MZero posted...

welcome aboard!

Thanks man

47. Play a technically unbeatable game for at least six hours
Gran Turismo: The Real Driving Simulator (PSP)

There's no campaign or simulation mode and no end credits.

3/52

23. Beat a sports game

Golf Club: Wasteland

Naturally, after I shoehorn Dredge into sports game, the next game I beat is a sports game.

4/52.

30. Beat a game with a female lead
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

I think Shantae is human in this one, so I don't think I can count it toward the 'fictional species', but I should be able to if I beat another game in the series (which I plan to do). It was a fun game, though. Some of it was a little frustrating. Lots of fanservice, but I didn't mind. Surprised this game was rated E though!

I wonder if I'll actually be able to finish the list this year, for a change.
I made some suggestions for some different rules a couple of years back and last year I was thinking that if I beat all 52 basic ones then I could have a go at the new ones too. But I failed to get the 52. If I'm serious about doing that then a good start would be to stop playing HL2 Mods (the current activity) that don't count!
A better start than last year, at least.

46. Beat a game you received for free or through a paid subscription service
Rebel Galaxy

38. Finish a game in one day
Cats Hidden in Jingle Jam

47. Play a technically unbeatable game for at least six hours
Goobies

3/52

Natalie posted...

A little disappointed the categories weren't changed up more, but looking forward to trying to make some progress again. I rolled like ten TVTropes articles and none of them worked so I'm giving up on it for now.

I cheated last year and reverse-engineered it: I looked up a game I was currently playing, what tropes were available for it and chose one of those. I'm going to do exactly the same this year to prevent the feeling that I'm being pushed into playing something I'm not in the mood for.

32. Beat a game with a non-white lead
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Wanted to get this one out of the way before starting Spider-Man 2. I don't think it was as good as the first one. But it was still pretty fun. Almost beat this before Christmas, but then got into Indigo Disk instead.

31. Beat a game with a child lead
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg

5/53

47. Play a technically unbeatable game for at least six hours
Dead by Daylight

Pretty sure I've played this at least 6 hours this year. I didn't exactly time it, but if not I'll have definitely have played six hours by the end of the year. The game can't really be beaten.

26. Beat a game with revenge as a central theme

G-Senjou No Maou (The Devil On G-String). I think this is a pretty popular visual novel. It's hard to follow up my last VN (Higurashi), but it's very good regardless.

3/50

30. Beat a game with a female lead
Parasite Eve 2

4/52

36. Beat a game that's been in your backlog for a long time

Magical Eyes - Red Is For Anguish. Pretty good visual novel, but unfortunately I found out after I beat it that this was supposed to be part of a series that will likely not be completed.

4/50

13. Beat a game made by an indie developer
Undertale

This was a pretty enjoyable little story. Some good characters. I went for the pacifist ending, knowing a little about the game to begin with. (Namely that there was a pacifist route, and the game kind of leads you there anyway). Some parts were pretty hard. Chose to stay with Toriel in the end.

27. Beat a game with mystery as a central theme

Blankspace. Escape room style game in visual novel format. I liked it. Not too long either

5/50