Japanese game creators and celebrities list Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Astro Bot, and Metaphor: ReFantazio as 2024’s top games 

Every year for the past 10 years, Famitsu has been holding its annual “Top Trending Game Awards” (unofficial translation) – a list of the year’s best games according to famous Japanese game developers and celebrities. At the top of 2024’s list are Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Astro Bot, and Metaphor: ReFantazio, followed closely by Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Black Myth: Wukong. 

While the games are the stars of the Top Trending Game Awards, the 181 participants who helped create the list are not to be scoffed at. Just a few of the names included are Guilty Gear franchise creator Daisuke Ishiwatari, game designer and director Hideki Kamiya, voice actor Ruriko Aoki, VTuber AyamadoriNageki, fashion model Asuka Kijima, mangaka Saho Yamamoto, and professional shogi player Manao Kagawa.  

Although most of the people asked to participate in the Top Trending Game Awards work in the games industry, a good number of people come from different walks of life, showing just how many Japanese professionals love video games. These people were asked to list their favorite games of the year in order, with points awarded according to their ranking. The individual lists were compiled, and the points were tallied into one final list. 

Previous winners of the award include Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018), Death Stranding (2019), Elden Ring (2022), and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023). Despite being a remake of a 1988 RPG, it’s refreshing to see Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake at the top of 2024’s list. This proves that remakes can make classic games appeal to modern audiences, and even become Famitsu’s Top Trending Game.