As the sands of November slip away in Dubai, where many of us have been diving into the gripping narrative of Spec Ops: The Line, it’s time to reveal the December 2024 star of the TA Playlist. We explored this past year’s gaming highlights for December, and our team handpicked a selection of games we felt deserved another chance to shine. ManicMetalhead put forward the thrilling 2017 platformer Cuphead and the open-world adventure Maneater, while BetaSigX20 chose the chilling survival horror sequel Alan Wake 2. ChewieOnIce championed the dynamic action-adventure title Psychonauts 2, launched in 2021. As voting closed, it was Psychonauts 2 that stole the spotlight as the final TA Playlist game of 2024!
Psychonauts 2, a creation of Double Fine and brought to players by Xbox Game Studios, dropped in 2021, marking a significant return 16 years after the inaugural 2005 release. This sequel plunges us back into the whimsical world of Razputin “Raz” Aquato, an acrobat-turned-psychic, who finally joins the ranks of the elite Psychonauts. Yet, all is not well in this psychic espionage agency, as their leader behaves oddly after a rescue from captivity and a treacherous mole has infiltrated their ranks. With humor and peril around every corner, players lead Raz through a mind-bending journey to thwart a villainous psychic foe.
Rated an impressive 4.48 out of 5 by the TA Community, Psychonauts 2 has been started by nearly 178,000 gamers, with a commendable 9% achieving full completion. Tackling all of the game’s 57 achievements could take you between 25 to 30 hours, though CitrineWorm138’s thorough walkthrough might help trim down that time a bit. Whether you’re new or returning, the game is conveniently available on every Xbox Game Pass tier, inviting you to jump right in.
This vote was one of the closest we’ve seen lately, with Psychonauts 2 and Alan Wake 2 in a thrilling head-to-head, each momentarily taking the lead but never pulling away by more than a single vote. Maneater and Cuphead followed suit, maintaining their ranks but not quite challenging for the top spots.
Eager to snag your TA Playlist badge for December? You’re in luck! Just unlock any achievement in Psychonauts 2 during the month or share a meaningful comment in the upcoming Spoiler and Spoiler-Free threads from December 1.
A quick update regarding our forum badges: We’ve adjusted our approach. Previously automated, the awarding of forum participation badges now involves a manual review to ensure posts meet a substantive standard. Though this might mean a slight delay, your effort to contribute meaningful insights will still earn you that coveted badge within a couple of days unless you’re otherwise notified.
Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we’ve seen a drop in “badge only” posts, and we appreciate those who have put in the time to enrich our monthly discussions with thoughtful dialogue. TA Playlist thrives on your engagement, and we’re grateful for everyone who joins us each month!
