Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 indie game of 2024.
Bronze Trophy: Crypt Custodian
What if instead of going to heaven when you die, you're instead instructed to clean the afterlife with a broom as a cat? That's the setup for Crypt Custodian, and it helps fuel one of this year's best Metroidvanias. Its gameplay loop of action and platforming is oh so enjoyable, and its light Metroidvania elements of opening up new paths with fresh abilities keep any backtracking engaging. The whole thing is just incredibly charming and a proper example of how the indie scene is still shining bright.
Read our Crypt Custodian PS5 review through the link.
Silver Trophy: Thank Goodness You're Here!
Thank Goodness You're Here! is the silliest game we've played in a long time, and it achieves that with such aplomb that it has to be rewarded. In essence, it's akin to a point and click adventure; all you can do is jump and smack things, but these interactions lead to consistently funny dialogue and scenes throughout. The cartoon Yorkshire town of Barnsworth is so well observed, and along with its barmy cast of residents, it feels like a real place. The presentation is perfectly pitched, the voice work is great, and the unhinged British humour hits the mark all the way through. It's not the most complex game in the world, but it's one of the most entertaining we've played this year.
Read our Thank Goodness You're Here! PS5 review through the link.
Gold Trophy: Nine Sols
Red Candle Games has converted Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice into a 2D Metroidvania, and in doing so, produced one of the finest independent games of the year. It may be difficult, but stick with it and you'll be rewarded with a very gripping adventure bursting with fantastic combat, stunning visuals, and a surprisingly good story. With an excellent soundtrack to boot, there's no need to continue your excruciating wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong because one of the very best Metroidvanias is already available now.
Read our Nine Sols PS5 review through the link.
Platinum Trophy: Balatro
There's a simple reason Balatro is the most talked about indie game of 2024, and it's because it's bloody brilliant. This roguelike card game starts simple as you play your typical 52-card deck, but soon evolves into something far deeper and richer the further you go. It layers on various synergistic systems and items, all combining in deliciously satisfying ways to make your deck a potent points-earning machine. Building a game-breakingly powerful deck and watching all the multipliers and effects pop off is incredibly rewarding, and you'll be searching over and over for opportunities to get that dopamine hit. It's endlessly replayable, hypnotically addictive, and stuffed with new cards to unlock and alternative ways to play. This is our top indie game of the year, but it's easily among the best games of 2024 period.
Read our Balatro PS5 review through the link.
Do you agree with our picks for the best PS5 indie game of 2024? Share your thoughts in the comments below and check out more of our Game of the Year coverage through the link.
Comments 34
Would have loved to see Indika on that list, such a gem!
I unfortunately haven’t played any from this list yet. With that said, Neva is far and away my favourite indie of the year. I found it deeply moving.
Apparently I don't play indie games. I didn't play one thing on that list.
Only indie I played this year was the Plucky Squire and that was not a great experience, after 7 hours of gameplay I logged in to carry on and my save was reverted a few chapters and many hours behind my last play session.
Great to see thank goodness you're here get some thoroughly deserved recognition.
Did you guys forget Balatro on the poll 💀
I was randomly eyeing Indika in a sale, but thought it a red flag I'd never heard of it (and figured it was old). Ever since I missed out on the opportunity the game has popped up again and again and I should have pulled the trigger.
Also, Thank Goodness You're Here seems like it has genuine funny bones, and Balatro seems to me like a Slay the Spire-game exploiting Texas Hold 'Em-poker - was always going to be a great idea.
Again, a great selection! I bought the physical version of Animal Well for Switch and was quite disappointed. Yes, a nice game, but not the revelation everyone was claiming it to be imo.
Balatro meanwhile 👍🏻
Nine Sols is the only correct answer. 😁
Animal Well not making the top four is a joke.
Balatro because its not another identikit metroidvania (more variety please devs) and its damn addictive.
For me personally it’s Plucky Squire. Just gorgeous to play in every way
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Vampire Survivors launch on PS5 this year? If it did, that’s comfortably my pick for my favourite indie of 2024. Man, I love that game.
With all the praise it gets, I guess I really should give Balatro a try at some point, but the fact that absolutely I detested Queens Blood (FFVII Rebirth) makes me think I might not like it. Plus I’ve never played poker.
No Pacific Drive?
Showing some non gamer family Thank Goodness You're Here.. and it's been a massive hit. Hope they have a mobile port incoming because it deserves to reach as many people as possible. Animal well was superb too and Balataro... I've just bought for my phone.. should I be worried?
The CAT QUEST 3 disrespect will NOT be tolerated 😒😤😠
@Sequel Haha yes prepare to charge your phone....often 😃
ANIMAL WELL DISRESPECT IS INSANE
Animal Well is my pick. Really must try Nine Sols soon. Do not get the Balatro hype.
Can't deny Balatro being the biggest indie game of the year, but Nine Sols is my indie game of the year.
Baltaro is brilliant deserves top spot. Did buy thank goodness your here yesterday with few gummies and did it in one sitting really enjoyed it short but brilliant
Dragons Dogma got robbed
@The_Pixel_King Balatro is nothing like queens blood. The similarities end at cards being involved.
Having a knowledge of Poker would help you pick it up quicker but I genuinely don’t think it is a prerequisite. The general rules of poker are very easy to understand and it’s mainly just knowing what the hands mean which the game does an excellent job of explaining anyway. It’s a brilliant game which has accounted for about 10% of my total game time in 2024 across three different platforms. Treat yo self it’s Christmas!
In recent years I pretty much lost interest in indie games. Out of this list I only played Nine Sols and found it lacking compared to PoP Lost Crown.
The only game on the list I played was indika, it was fine and the only other indie game I finished this year was Loretta which was good, so Loretta is the indie of the year for me I guess.
Gutted Animal Well should be there.
Balatro was okay didn't hook me the way I would have hoped for. I also feel the creator says he's anti-gambling creates a game that feels like it caters to those with elements of an addictive personality although no money is lost I find it a little ironic. Still glad for indie creators. I may try nine sols at some stage.
I’m honestly sort of surprised Crypt Custodian edged out Animal Well. Otherwise, I totally agree with this list.
Balatro is realistically so good, it’s GotY tier. It’s one of the best games this generation, potentially top 5. Quite possibly a top 5 indie games of all time for me as well. Certainly the biggest surprise I’ve had this year in gaming. If, last year around this time, you would’ve told me my cumulatively most played game this year would’ve been a game that I now own on PS, Switch, and mobile and it’s a Poker based roguelike, I’d have laughed at you. I bought the game for my Dad for Christmas too. This… has never happened where I’ve bought my Dad a game… and I’m sure my Mom will kill me for it in a few weeks.
Pacific drive is just a solid game, think I've done 120 odd hours, but balatro is just so moreish!!!!
No love for Animal Well? 🙄
Animal well was one of my favorite indies this year, as well as top 5 goty's as well
Balatro is easily one of the best games I've played, period. It seems so simple and one dimensional but then you look up at the clock and you've been playing for 8 hours. I loved it so much I even bought the iOS version. Pacific Drive and Animal Well absolutely deserve to be on this list though.
Vampire survivors for me.
Animal Well was amazing. So is Nine Sols. Even though Im not done with it yet. Its an incredible Metroidvania.
The Plucky Squire seemed good but lost me around 3 hours.
Ive got to take a look at the other games.
Not played any of the top 4.
May try Crypt Custodian and thank goodness you're here
Want to try Selfloss first though
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