Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers and editors to share their own personal PS5 picks for 2024. Today, it's the turn of assistant editor Liam Croft.
5. Astro Bot
While it didn’t land with me quite as much as it did with the rest of the PlayStation audience, Astro Bot is still easily one of my favourite experiences of 2024. Every single level is simply phenomenal, a lesson in enjoyable and pristine platforming mixed with the memorable (and some not so obvious) faces of the brand’s past.
I loved seeing all the Special Bots gathering together in the main hub area, and then the franchise-specific stages made for more highlights. I’ve never even played LocoRoco before, but that level was excellent.
Sony’s output this year has felt lacklustre, but Astro Bot was for sure something special — and would still be remembered the same even surrounded by stronger releases.
4. Metaphor: ReFantazio
Atlus had an absolutely outstanding 2024, and Metaphor: ReFantazio was the cream of its crop. This for me was an experience so much more about the story, characters, and scenery than the combat, as the turn-based battles eventually became a little dull for me.
Fuelling me was the fight to be king, and all the narrative twists that came with it. I did it for Maria, who has to be the loveliest character Atlus has ever made. I also did it for all the stunning scenes Neuras would stop the gauntlet runner for.
This for me was all about the group you built across a 70-hour playthrough, and how your relationships with each member flourished. It’s an excellent JRPG, but an even better game about people.
3. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
The first game I reviewed this year stayed with me right until the very end; Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is utterly sublime. Easily the best the series has ever been, I was absolutely gripped by the storyline of Ichiban’s quest to find his mother, and all of the events happening around it.
The turn-based combat got better, the side stories got even funnier, and the frankly absurd amount of optional content on offer had me beating up dudes in sewers for more hours than I’d like to admit. RGG Studio knows how to start the year with a bang, and it certainly did so with Infinite Wealth.
I could play these games for an eternity; what a cracker.
2. Stellar Blade
I never, ever thought Stellar Blade would be making my top five list for the year, no less in second place, in the leadup to its launch. I had little interest in the game, and honestly wrote it off as something purely for pervs.
But then I played it. And then I kept playing it. And then I played it even more. I haven’t been addicted to any other game more than Stellar Blade this year, and that’s entirely down to its awesome combat system.
I loved the abilities you could equip, which combined with the Souls-like fights and fun platforming, made for a gameplay loop I could never put down.
I equipped Eve with a somewhat respectable outfit and went to town on Stellar Blade this year. A sequel immediately, please.
1. Silent Hill 2
I’m the resident survival horror freak here on Push Square, and while I was definitely looking forward to Silent Hill 2, even I had my reservations about Bloober Team handling a remake of one of the genre’s greatest entries.
To say it knocked it out of the park is an understatement, though, providing a masterclass in how to remake a PS2 classic. From top to bottom, this is a masterpiece.
The developer faithfully brings back everything that was already great about the original and then respectfully expands on it in minor but meaningful ways, like new places to explore and additional endings.
Where it has made small adjustments is referenced in new collectibles, and the general facelift to combat, exploration, and gameplay overall forms a significantly better playing game.
It was game over for absolutely anything else when I rolled credits on Silent Hill 2; I’ve never been prouder to call something my Game of the Year. You did it, Bloober Team.
What do you think of Liam's personal Game of the Year picks? Feel free to agree wholeheartedly, or disagree politely, in the comments section below.
Comments 25
That's a nice list we've had s many good games this year it's so hard to choose 😫
Great list! Really excited to see, if we will get more Silent Hill remakes.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Its funny Liam. I usually dont agree with you on anything but your top 5 is super solid and very similar to mine. Merry Xmas!
That's a surprisingly good list. Nice one.
Very good list. It's nice to see some surprises on there such as stellar blad. The worst part is this year I've not played as many games as normal and the only one on the list I've played is Astro. Will probably pick these up when they're on offer during the early part of next year
The Silent Hill 2 remake is utterly fantastic, and is my number one as well. Beautifully disturbing and filled with amazing detail and visceral combat, it is a must-play for horror fans. Bloober did it, indeed!
I played Infinite Wealth and while it's more brilliance from RGG, it was a weaker entry personally. There was so much bloat and I'd never pick Ichiban and Hawaii over Kiryu and Japan.
Playing Stellar Blade now and I'm having a hard time not dropping it. The combat and soundtrack are great, but Eve is a boring empty vessel devoid of personality, the world is uninteresting, and the platforming sections were just a mistake entirely.
@PorkChopExpress Yeah, I enjoyed Stella Blade. But let's be real. The platforming sections are straight up god awful. Combat wise though is (pun intended), Stella.
Very cool to see Silent Hill 2 get some love. It has become my favorite horror game ever. It's my second favorite game of 2024, behind only to Rebirth.
Great list! I have to agree, SH2 is my GOTY for sure
Great list, based and factual! 😁
Can’t agree more with the silent hill 2 remake. My 2024 GOTY. Even resident evil felt so tamed in terms of the horror element ,well except Resident Evil 7
I've been watching my mate playing silent hill 2 and whilst i will admit it's good I don't think it's the greatest remake ever. It does it's job well but it's just not as good as it's made out to be. Atmospheric most definitely but graphically it's just good and not great.
"I had little interest in the game, and honestly wrote it off as something purely for pervs."
Literally how I feel about all these gacha games.
Great list!
I didn’t play any of his other selections but Stellar Blade is my GOTY and Silent Hill 2 is definitely in my top 5 for sure.
I’ve been playing SH2 and am about an hour in now (never played the original) and I’m at the point where you’re wandering around the town hitting the creatures with a wooden plank and basically just walking around looking at buildings. It’s got a vaguely creepy feeling, but otherwise rather dull. This game strikes me as mostly a walking simulator with rare bouts of combat, and very boring combat at that. Does it get better? Am I to expect a lot more?
Great list, no argument here. I’d probably put dragon age in my top 5, personally.
@CVCubbington yes, keep going, it gets darker, more claustrophobic and filled with dread. It’s a bit of a slow burn.
@CVCubbington walking simulator and rare bout combat? Lol.Wait till you reach the Brookhaven hospital,Toluca prison and the labyrinth.
Always went by Liam's games. Ever since we had a little debate on a Crash Team Racing Nitro review, but then I played it and realized he was pretty much right lol
That’s a pretty weeby list, Liam. SH2 was absolutely fantastic!
This is my top 5 except for like a dragon, wukong is my number 3
Best list so far. All great picks, even if I'll probably never catch up with Yakuza.
I agree with these!
@Ralizah It's not as daunting as it seems. The biggest concern would be burnout, though I'm a massive fan of the series and have played even my least favourite, Yakuza 3, 3 times, so burnout of this doesn't necessarily apply to me. I really hope we get 3, 4 and 4 Kiwami'd.
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