As November winds down, bringing our adventure in Dubai with Spec Ops: The Line to a close, it’s time to look ahead to our next journey on the December 2024 TA Playlist. The votes are in, and we’re excited to reveal which game has captured your interest for this final month of the year.
For December, we took a stroll down memory lane, revisiting the 2024 Playlists. Each team member nominated a game or two they believed warranted another moment in the spotlight. ManicMetalhead threw in a vote for the brilliantly chaotic 2017 run-and-gun platformer Cuphead, alongside the thrilling open-world “ShARk-PG” Maneater. Meanwhile, BetaSigX20 backed the chilling survival horror sequel Alan Wake 2 from 2023, and ChewieOnIce rallied for the 2021 action-packed adventure Psychonauts 2. The poll saw fierce competition, keeping us on the edge of our seats, but ultimately the crown went to Psychonauts 2!
Developed by the imaginative minds at Double Fine and published by Xbox Game Studios in 2021, Psychonauts 2 came a whopping 16 years after its predecessor launched in 2005. In this installment, players follow Razputin “Raz” Aquato, an agile acrobat with incredible psychic powers, fulfilling his dream of becoming a member of the Psychonauts. However, things are not all rosy; the organization’s leader remains altered post-kidnap, and there’s a dangerous mole in their midst. Raz takes us on a thrilling journey filled with intrigue, danger, and humor as he navigates the minds of allies and enemies alike to thwart a deadly psychic adversary.
Psychonauts 2 has been embraced by the TA Community, boasting a rating of 4.48 out of 5.00. With almost 178,000 gamers tracking their play and about 9%, or just over 16,000, achieving full completion, it stands out as a gamer favorite. Expect to invest between 25-30 hours to snag all 57 achievements, although CitrineWorm138’s walkthrough might help you shave some time off that estimate. Plus, it’s conveniently available on all Xbox Game Pass tiers.
This vote was one for the books, with Psychonauts 2 and Alan Wake 2 neck and neck throughout, hardly ever separated by more than a vote. Meanwhile, Maneater and Cuphead, though constantly nipping at their heels, finished at a respectable third and fourth without ever quite catching up.
Remember, unlocking any achievement in Psychonauts 2 in December, or participating in a meaningful way in the Spoiler and Spoiler-Free threads launching on December 1, will earn you the coveted TA Playlist badge. Speaking of forums, we’ve tweaked the way participation badges are awarded. Previously automatic, the process is now manual, allowing moderators to vet for non-substantive “badge only” posts before rewarding badges. If you’re contributing via the forums, it might take a bit longer for your badge to appear, but it’s on the way unless otherwise notified.
We’re thrilled with the community’s response to reducing non-substantive posts and thank everyone for their dedication to meaningful discussions. After all, TA Playlist thrives on shared dialogue, and your engagement each month makes it a standout experience. Here’s to a lively chat about Psychonauts 2 in December!
