Compared to some years (I am thinking of 2023 and its wealth of offerings, from Cocoon to Viewfinder), 2024 has been a bit slower for must-play video games, particularly for the science and technology-themed titles I like to highlight for a New Scientist audience. But that isn’t to say there was nothing to enjoy – far from it! – so here are my picks for the year.

Astro Bot (Team Asobi)

I suspect this charming platformer (see main image) will be at the top of many game-of-the-year lists, and it would certainly deserve that spot. It is an unashamed…