The end of 2024 and start of 2025 were difficult with significant health challenges. So, I am just now getting around to reflecting on 2024. Bear with me as we look back at least year. I had hoped to play a lot of games and read more during my Christmas Holiday this year, but that didn’t happen. Hopefully I can get even more games played and more books read in 2025!
This is not a top 10 list of new books and games this year, nor my all-time favorite lists. These are books and games that impacted me personally in 2024, no matter when they were originally published. Why did these impact me and thus stand out for the year? As I share about my standouts, I hope you will gain some insights into my interests and passions.
Dragonlance Chronicles on Audible
Angie and I enjoy listening to audiobooks during lunch and when we drive places. With the 40th anniversary of the DragonLance Chronicles, I decided this would be a good time to introduce the fantasy series to my wife. I haven’t read the entire series since high school so this would be a very nostalgic return for me as well. We finished Finished Dragons of Autumn Twilight in 2024 and started Dragons of Winter Night. I had forgotten how much I enjoy that first book and the emotional impact it has on me.
Walking with Frodo: A Devotional Journey Through the Lord of the Rings
I have mentioned here before my passion for the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, especially Middle-Earth. I often look for fun devotionals for me to read each day, to give me new insights into the Bible. Merging my interests in Middle-Earth and the Bible was an instant read for me. I really enjoyed this literary and spiritual journey.
Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton
Some books are both joyful and painful to read. I have always been a Chicago Bears fan for as long as I can remember and have fond memories of the 85 Bears winning the Super Bowl (and their Super Bowl Shuffle song). When I found this book at Goodwill, I knew I had to read it but also that it would be emotional. I learned so much more about the man Walter Payton, his friends, and his family. I shed many a tear reading this book.
Paragons & Prowlers Ultimate Edition
After years of focusing my regular tabletop roleplaying on current systems (D&D 5e and Pathfinder 2e), I have decided to step back to my original passion, AD&D first edition, to run the most epic of campaigns for the forseeable future (this will take years for my gaming group to complete). I have always wanted to run what is called the Supermodule of AD&D which includes the class AD&D modules T1-4 Temple of Elemental Evil, A1-4 Against the Slavers, G1-3 Against the Giants, and the D1-3 & Q1 Drow modules. My players thought this was a fun idea and committed to trying to finish them all in the coming years. So, my tabletop gaming is set on an epic path and we are having SO much fun already.
My two brothers-in-law and I enjoy playing games together each week on our Playstations. For most of 2024 and now into 2025, we have been focused on Baldur’s Gate 3. I played BG1 and BG2 numerous times over the years and really like the world and storyline. Having played previous Baldur’s Gate games and Divinity: The Original Sin which is the game engine BG3 is built upon, I had recommended we try this as our next multiplayer game and glad I did. We hae been immersed in the story and already discussing playing it through again once we complete this play through.
Dune Imperium quickly became my heavy game of choice in 2024 with multiple plays with my gaming group and introducing it to friends at a work conference in the Spring. I even have the digital edition of the game now and enjoy playing it. Dune is one of my favorite science fiction books and I really enjoy how they incorporate the theme and feel of that world into the gameplay. And the game has this great mix of systems with working placement, deckbuilding, and area control/combat. When I am interested in a longer, thinky game, this is my first choice.
Space Base on BoardGameArena.com
Whenever my gaming groups cannot get together to play in-person because of weather or illnesses, we often play games on Board Game Arena. A game that quickly became one of our most played is Space Base, a game with a similar feel to Catan’s and Machi Koro but with a fun scifi theme and art style. For some reason, my mind really clicks with this game and have become the person to beat, wracking up the most wins in my game groups. I am amazed they still request we play this game, but I know it is because they want to find that strategy that can consistently beat me. I welcome the challenge.
What games and books stood out for you in 2024, and what made them stand out? I am curious what makes one special to you.