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We hope you’ve had a chance to dive into Dubai’s sandy dunes with us during the November TA Playlist, featuring Spec Ops: The Line. But as November wraps up, it’s time to reveal the game that snagged the top spot in December 2024’s TA Playlist poll.
For this final month of the year, we decided to reflect on the best of 2024’s playlists. Each team member nominated a game or two they felt deserved another moment in the limelight. ManicMetalhead went with the 2017’s beloved run-and-gun platformer, Cuphead, and the free-roaming “ShARk-PG” adventure, Maneater. BetaSigX20 put forward the chilling 2023 survival horror sequel, Alan Wake 2. Meanwhile, ChewieOnIce championed the 2021 action-packed journey of Psychonauts 2. As the votes trickled in, it became clear this was going to be a nail-biter. But in the end, the game clinching the final TA Playlist crown for 2024 is none other than… Psychonauts 2!
Brought to us by Double Fine and published by Xbox Game Studios in 2021, Psychonauts 2 marks a triumphant return 16 years after its predecessor’s debut in 2005. In this sequel, we reunite with Razputin “Raz” Aquato, a skilled acrobat and budding psychic who’s finally made his dream come true by joining the prestigious international psychic espionage group known as the Psychonauts. But trouble is brewing— the organization’s leader has been acting strangely ever since his rescue from a kidnapping, and there’s a mole lurking among the ranks. Players will accompany Raz on a mind-bending mission through the convoluted psyches of both allies and enemies to foil a vengeful psychic villain.
Receiving a stellar 4.48/5.00 rating from the TA Community, Psychonauts 2 has seen nearly 178,000 eager gamers jump in, though only about 9%—around 16,000 players—have managed to achieve full completion. Expect a playtime of 25-30 hours to tackle all 57 achievements, though you might trim that duration with CitrineWorm138’s detailed walkthrough. Even better, Psychonauts 2 is accessible on all Xbox Game Pass tiers.
The competition was fierce from the start, with Psychonauts 2 and Alan Wake 2 locked in a tight race throughout, constantly wrestling for the lead but always separated by just a smidge. Meanwhile, Maneater and Cuphead remained close contenders, though they settled into third and fourth without seriously threatening the front-runners.
To earn your TA Playlist badge, simply unlock any achievement in Psychonauts 2 during December or get involved in the conversation by posting a thoughtful comment in either the Spoiler or Spoiler-Free threads launching on December 1st.
Regarding our forum activities, there’s been a shift in how we award participation badges. Previously, this process ran automatically on a set schedule, but it didn’t give moderators adequate time to weed out the “badge only” contributions. From here on out, we’ll handle this manually and periodically, ensuring we sift through and discount any unsubstantial posts. If you’re earning your badge by participating in the forum, hang tight—it might take a bit for the badge to appear, but as long as your post meets the criteria, you’ll see it recognized within a day or two.
Since tightening our standards, there’s been a noticeable dip in non-substantive posts. Hats off to everyone pitching in with thoughtful, engaging commentary about the game of the month. TA Playlist thrives on these rich discussions, and we’re grateful for everyone who joins us each month!
