Top PS5 Must-Plays to Dive into in 2024!

It’s been somewhat of a challenging year for PlayStation exclusives and the developers behind them. While The Final Shape was broadly praised as a superb final chapter for Destiny 2’s ongoing narrative, Bungie encountered a variety of difficulties, including canceled ventures and workforce reductions. In another instance, Sony’s Firewalk Studios introduced Concord, retracted it, and then shut down entirely all within a matter of months after the hero shooter struggled to make an impact in a saturated market.

Nevertheless, PlayStation still delivered this year with a collection of remarkable games that will hopefully showcase that there’s demand for more than just live-service shooters.

XDefiant, Foamstars, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, Concord — 2024 has been strewn with the remnants of live-service shooters that appeared, disappeared, or are struggling along with minimal attention and even fewer participants. However, Helldivers 2 was something extraordinary. Whether it’s the game’s comical take on political propaganda, the developers at Arrowhead Game Studios fully embracing the theme, or the consistent content updates, including the new Omens of Tyranny expansion that debuted in early December, Helldivers 2 proved to be the one live-service multiplayer shooter this year (not named Call of Duty) capable of rivalling major perpetual games like Apex Legends and Fortnite.

FromSoftware has successfully maintained the Elden Ring excitement alive with the introduction of Shadow of the Erdtree. This DLC is expansive, filled with tough adversaries and abundant lore, all unfolding across a landscape that is significantly larger than what director Hidetaka Miyazaki referred to as “the size of Limgrave.” In fact, Erdtree feels more like a direct sequel to Elden Ring than simply an extension, which is likely what Elden Ring Nightreign will be.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard took a decade and considerable turmoil at BioWare to finally release. There was no certainty that it would meet the benchmark set by the series — but it did. Veilguard exemplifies the Dragon Age series’ strengths: characters you grow attached to and decisions that have profound impacts on both them and yourself. On top of that, it features an intricately detailed skill tree combined with a loot system that feels curiously reminiscent of a Diablo game. The combat in Veilguard allows you to tailor your class to an unprecedented level of detail I’ve never witnessed in a Dragon Age game before, making it a fascinating version of the traditional warrior, rogue, mage RPG framework. There were worries that Veilguard would be eclipsed by last year’s Baldur’s Gate 3, and while Veilguard may not enjoy similar massive success, I’m absolutely thrilled that, within two years, I received two remarkable, immersive RPGs.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth persists in Square Enix’s endeavor to reinterpret one of the most esteemed RPGs in history for contemporary consoles and gaming enthusiasts. This second installment in the remarkable FFVII trilogy project takes off as the crew flees Midgar into the broader realm, and what an expansive realm it was. Each element from the original Final Fantasy VII has been broadened and thoroughly developed, either through added narrative or by introducing an innovative minigame. Speaking of minigames, Rebirth shifts focus from the events of FFVII Disk 2 and instead acts as a Queen’s Blood delivery mechanism, illustrating that Square Enix is fundamentally a collectible card game creator in disguise.

Recreating a classic title is perpetually a complicated task. A developer must strive to encapsulate what rendered the original so cherished, while also modernizing it for newer audiences. This struggle is particularly intense when addressing a genre-defining title like Silent Hill 2. However, Bloober Team performed an unexpectedly commendable job with this remake, making certain that the unique survival horror experience both appeared and felt suitable on current platforms while largely maintaining the chills and atmosphere of the original. The remake is somewhat neater than the PS2 version it draws from, yet it’s also considerably more enjoyable to play. Most crucially, it still effectively captures those eerie, fog-laden vibes.

I have never experienced a game that I instantly connected with more than Astro Bot. Recalling my first interaction with the game at Summer Game Fest 2024, I recognized it had something extraordinary. Astro Bot is a beautifully structured platform adventure that has players journeying through the galaxy to collect the scattered components of a PS5 spacecraft and its marooned crew. Although it pays homage to the games in PlayStation’s 30-year legacy and includes really delightful nods to their gameplay, Astro Bot is also a heartfelt tribute to delight. Every element of its design — from its music to its sound effects to its vibrant and joyful visuals — reminds us that an abundance of affection in the world yearns to be uncovered. Astro Bot was my top game of the year from the moment I completed it, and its victory for GOTY at this year’s Game Awards was thoroughly deserved.