This new Pokémon game is one of the best things I've played this year, and it's free

I think we can all agree that 2024 has been absolutely stacked so far when it comes to amazing new video games.

Whether you're still making your way through Final Fantasy VII Rebirth or getting to grips with Dragon's Dogma 2, you're spoiled for meaty RPGs.

If indies are more your thing, Balatro will take over your life and Botany Manor will soothe your soul. But what if you've an itch that only Pokémon can scratch? Reader, I have the very thing for you.

There's a brand-new Pokémon game on the scene, and without a whiff of hyperbole, I have to say it's one of the best things I've played all year.

It's called Pokérogue, and it's a completely free in-browser fan game that combines Pokémon battling with the roguelite genre. It is incredible. And very hard to actually put down.

How nobody has come up with something like this before is beyond me, but Pokérogue is absolutely inspired. You start by building your team. You have a maximum number of points, and each Pokémon is worth a certain amount, so you can't go straight in with an OP army of monsters.

Once you've done that, you're thrown into an increasingly challenging string of randomly generated battles against wild Pokémon and trainers. At the end of each battle you can spend cash on certain items like revives or potions, and you can even pick up buffs like EXP Shares as you progress.

Wild Pokémon caught during your run will be available to add to your team on the next run, should you wish, so every playthrough feels markedly different and gives you that sense of tangible progression that every good roguelite should have.

Pokérogue is absolutely blowing up at the moment, so I have no idea if/when Nintendo will take it down, but I would urge you to go and check it out while you can. It is truly one of the best games I've played this year, and I would pay no small amount of money to see this concept properly fleshed out somewhere down the line.