GamingBolt’s Game of the Year – Top 30 Games of 2024

We’re ready to bid farewell to another year, and once again, as is tradition, before we look to the horizons and what 2025 will bring, first, we’re going to pause, look back, and reassess. After what was an all-timer year in 2023, 2024 was relatively less densely packed, but though it definitely did feel like the industry was taking a collective breath after the insanity that was the preceding year, the last twelve months nonetheless managed to deliver an incredible mix of games.

Over the course of the year, we’ve been treated to a bevy of stellar games, each impressing in unique ways and to different degrees, yes, but making a solid mark nonetheless. In fact, so spoiled were we for choices in our efforts to narrow down our favourite games of the year to a collection of just 30, there were many that ended up missing that arguably may have deserved the spotlight as well. Even so, even with the usual yearly heartbreak of having to leave out excellent games deserving of recognition and shining the spotlight on what we feel are the best of the best, we’ve managed to shave our list down to thirty games once again, ranked from the bottom up, counting down to our Game of the Year for 2024.

Without further ado, then, let’s dive right in, because there’s a lot to talk about.

NOTE: All entries and rankings were decided by an internal vote held among the entire GamingBolt staff.

#30. SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: Sonic Team | Read Our Review

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An expanded remaster of one of Sonic’s most beloved 3D outings of all time? An elevator pitch that’s hard to turn down as is, but add to that an entirely new campaign focused on the notorious Shadow the Hedgehog, and you get a damn near unmissable package. Sonic X Shadow Generations is an absolute blast, with Shadow’s new half of the game possibly being even better than the classic Sonic Generations, which does admittedly feel somewhat aged, even with all the remastering. Nonetheless, it’s one of several notches on the belt for Sega in what’s been an excellent year for the company.

#29. SHOGUN SHOWDOWN

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: Roboatino

shogun showdown

Not a game that many may have heard of, but one that’s captured the fancy of those who have played it- including many of us here at GamingBolt. Pulling in elements from roguelikes and deckbuilders and infusing them with challenging yet strategic turn-based combat and gorgeous pixel art graphics, Roboatino’s underground hit delivers an incredibly rewarding and addictive experience. It’s brutal, challenging, mechanically dense, and utterly compelling. For anyone with a taste for roguelikes, it’s unmissable.

#28. SENUA’S SAGA: HELLBLADE 2

Available on: Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Ninja Theory | Read Our Review

senua's saga hellblade 2

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 was a long time coming, and whether or not it lived up to the years of anticipation is up for debate, as is whether it touches the heights of its predecessor. On its own merits, however, Ninja Theory’s sequel is an impressive accomplishment. Being too short and being “more of the same”, it certainly lacks the first Hellblade’s impact, but compelling storytelling, stunning visuals, exceptional performances, and industry-leading audio design make it a 6-hour jaunt through hell well worth undertaking nonetheless.

#27. LORELEI AND THE LASER EYES

Available on: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: Simogo | Read Our Review

lorelei and the laser eyes

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is one of several great indie games this year that subverted the traditional storytelling form and techniques we usually see in video games, and it was one of the more successful ones by far. With its striking art style, non-linear structure, and arresting premise, it’s a game that hooks players on a narrative level right away, and backs it up with solid puzzle design, too. For developer Simogo of Sayonara Wild Hearts fame, it’s yet another memorable release.

#26. THE PLUCKY SQUIRE

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: All Possible Futures | Read Our Review

The Plucky Squire

Many of us had had our eye on The Plucky Squire for some time, and it’s fair to say that for the most part, All Possible Futures’ debut title turned out to be worth the wait. Though not without its issues, it combines a charming Zelda-like action-adventure experience with a unique premise that sees players hopping in and out of different storybook landscapes, and swapping between 2D and 3D gameplay. The imaginative variety and gorgeous visuals that leads to is alone to elevate The Plucky Squire up to a place on this list.

#25. THE LEGEND OF HEROES: TRAILS THROUGH DAYBREAK

Available on: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: Nihon Falcom | Read Our Review

The Legend of Heroes - Trails through Daybreak_03

Nihon Falcom’s Legend of Heroes saga is almost frighteningly consistent in terms of its output and the quality it manages to hit with most of its games (even if it does have its dips as well), and this year, the long-awaited Western release of Trails through Daybreak delivered yet another excellent RPG adventure. Marking a new beginning for the long-running franchise, Trails through Daybreak is one of the series’ better outings in years, boasting addictive turn-based combat, a fun new cast of characters, typically strong storytelling, and an excellently realized setting.

#24. ONCE HUMAN

Available on: PC, iOS | Developer: Starry Studio | Read Our Review

Once Human_03

Given the stiff competition any new game faces in the survival genre, it takes a lot to stand out, and though Once Human launched with its fair share of issues, the post-apocalyptic open world survival title got its claws into us nonetheless. We’re certainly not blind to the fact that the game has its issues, but from its gunplay and its setting to the base building mechanics and more, there’s a lot to like about the bones of Once Human. If developer Starry Studio can keep building on the game the way it has done since its launch earlier in the year, it could easily become an even more engaging experience.

#23. CORE KEEPER

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: Pugstorm | Read Our Review

Core Keeper_02

Having spent close to two and a half years in early access, Core Keeper was obviously a known quantity to many, so its excellence didn’t necessarily come as a huge surprise for those who had kept up with the game. But perhaps Core Keeper should have far more eyes on it, because it is legitimately excellent. It delivers a ridiculously addictive survival sandbox experience in the Minecraft and Terraria mould, but does so in its own way, carving out a strong and unique identity of its own across a sprawling experience. It’s the sort of game you can lose days of sleep to.

#22. ARCO

Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch | Developer: Franek Nowotniak, Max Cahill, José Ramón “Bibiki” García, Antonio “Fayer” Uribe

arco

Developed by a small and multinational team of four people, Arco flew under the radar for the majority of people when it launched in August, but the game has developed a dedicated following since then, and playing it, it’s easy to understand why. Just as impressive with how lean yet well thought out and compelling its mechanics are as it is with how effectively it tells its charged story in the most minimalistic fashion possible, Arco is an absolute gem that deserves your attention. Add to all of its strengths its utterly gorgeous pixel art style, and you get an absolute winner of a game.

#21. FROSTPUNK 2

Available on: PC | Developer: 11 bit studios | Read Our Review

Frostpunk 2_02

The original Frostpunk is nothing short of a modern classic, so yeah, excitement surrounding its sequel has been pretty high- and boy oh boy does Frostpunk 2 deliver. 11 bit studios’ sequel is yet another frigid, brutal city-building survival classic. From constantly throwing impossible decisions at players to the unrelenting and uncompromising fashion in which it brings its dour post-apocayptic setting to life, Frostpunk 2 is brilliant game. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart (or for those who lack patience), but it’s a mechanically rich and rewarding game that builds on the stellar foundations of its predecessors in all the right ways.

#20. DRAGON BALL: SPARKING! ZERO

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Spike Chunsoft | Read Our Review

Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO_02

The wait for the Budokai Tenkaichi series to return stretched on for an almost unforgivably long time, but owing Spike Chunsoft and Bandai Namco finally gave the people what they want earlier this year. Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is exactly the sort of game it needed to be. Delivering that same explosive, crunching 3D arena fighting action, an ocean of content that touts a massive roster of playable characters as its crown jewel, and gorgeous visuals evoking the best of the IP, Sparking! ZERO is a dream come true for Dragon Ball fans around the world.

#19. DRAGON’S DOGMA 2

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Capcom | Read Our Review

dragon's dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 proving to be one of 2024’s more divisive games wasn’t a huge surprise, considering the legacy of its predecessors, though you can definitely count us in the camp that cannot get enough of Capcom’s open world fantasy epic. An utterly unique and fascinatingly eccentric experience unlike anything else in the modern AAA space, Dragon’s Dogma 2 deserves immense respect just for the audacity of its vision and the execution of its vision alone. Of course, on top of that, the action RPG also delivers stellar combat, a wonderfully realized systems-driven emergent open world sandbox that’s a constant joy to explore, a deep and engaging class system, and more. It has its rough edges, but Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a terrific game nonetheless.

#18. DESTINY 2: THE FINAL SHAPE

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC | Developer: Bungie | Read Our Review

Destiny 2 - The Final Shape_05

Bungie’s track record with Destiny expansions has been far from spotless, and Destiny 2 in particular had seen its stock dwindling of late, though it’s fair to say that The Final Shape blew any and all doubts out the water. Serving as a conclusion to Destiny’s massive first arc, The Final Shape was an epic and satisfying conclusion that delivered proper payoff in spade. On top of its excellent narrative strengths, meanwhile, it also delivered a bevy of engaging content that kept us hooked for hours on end. Whether the future of Destiny is going to ever be quite so bright again remains to be seen, but if not, at least The Final Shape is an excellent way to conclude the series’ decade-long arc.

#17. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: HEART OF CHORNOBYL

Available on: Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: GSC Game World | Read Our Review

s.t.a.l.k.e.r. 2

Given the inherent mass appeal of open world design, it’s rare that we get even a single open world game in a year that dares to defy genre conventions in any meaningful way, but somehow, in 2024, we got two major ones, and we fell in love with both. First, there was Dragon’s Dogma 2, which we shone a light on earlier, while later in the year, we also got S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, another long-awaited sequel to a cult classic. GSC Game World’s open world survival horror shooter is absolutely brutal, from how punishing it is and how hostile it can be to players, to the fact that it has admittedly launched in a technically rough state, there are certainly issues here that need fixing, but even in its current state, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a diamond in the rough- and we hope it only gets better from here.

#16. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: ECHOES OF WISDOM

Available on: Nintendo Switch | Developer: Nintendo | Read Our Review

the legend of zelda echoes of wisdom

The only thing that looked less likely to happen in 2024 than a new mainline 2D Zelda game was a game where Princess Zelda would finally be the lead, something that fans have been desperate to see for years. You can imagine our utter delight at the plain and simple existence of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom then, a new 2D Zelda game where the eponymous Princess finally takes centerstage as the protagonist. It helps, of course, that the game itself is excellent, crafting a brilliantly designed map that is a constant joy to explore and infusing it with sandbox gameplay that revolves around inventive new mechanics. Everything from combat and exploration to traversal and puzzles take on a completely different tone in Echoes of Wisdom, and we love the game that much more for how unique it feels while still managing to feel like a core Zelda experience.

#15. WARHAMMER 40,000: SPACE MARINE 2

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Saber Interactive | Read Our Review

warhammer 40000 space marine 2

Arriving close to a decade and a half after its cult hit predecessor, Saber Interactive’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was definitely a game that many had been keeping their eye on, especially if you were a fan of the Gears of War franchise, but even so, few could have predicted that it would turn out to be this good. Space Marine 2 is easily one of the best action games we’ve played in years. It delivers tense, adrenaline-fueled, challenging third-person combat that channels the best of Gears of War and brutal hack-and-slash experiences, and combines it with the staggering scale of the massive hordes of enemies you take on in combat. Across its meaty multiplayer, PvE, and campaign offerings, Space Marine 2 constantly delivers jaw-dropping action in a way that makes it feel like a nostalgia-infused throwback experience from a bygone era in the best way possible.

#14. ANIMAL WELL

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: Billy Basso

animal well

As Metroidvania fanatics, we’re always glad about how many Metroidvania games we always seem to have floating around now. Of course, that means that standing out in the genre has become increasingly more difficult- though Animal Well makes it look effortless. Developed by solo dev Billy Basso, Animal Well is a stunning game. A large, dense world, engaging exploration, gorgeous visuals, and pitch perfect traversal mechanics combine in a compact yet dense Metroidvania masterpiece. For fans of the genre, Animal Well is next to unmissable.

#13. HELLDIVERS 2

Available on: PS5, PC | Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios | Read Our Review

helldivers 2

Heading into 2024, not a soul believed Helldivers 2 would be anything more than a footnote at the end of the year, and even Sony or Arrowhead Game Studios wouldn’t have expected even a fraction of the success that the game has ended up seeing. With 2024 winding down, however, you can’t help but concede that Helldivers 2 is one of the biggest and most surprising stories of the year- and one of its best games. Its explosive co-op action and live service storytelling captured the hearts of the masses, and for large portions of the year, there was no game bigger than Helldivers 2. Admittedly, it hasn’t been immune to post-launch controversies (the whole PSN account linking fiasco being chief among them), but by and large, the game has received spectacular support, which has, unsurprisingly, been reflected in its consistently healthy and active player base. We can’t wait to see what the future brings for this co-op revelation.

#12. TEKKEN 8

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Bandai Namco | Read Our Review

tekken 8

The first new Tekken game in close to a decade, Tekken 8 arrived in the midst of a renaissance of AAA fighters, and it may very well be one of the best the genre has delivered in years. Crunching, weighty combat mechanics have been a series trademark for as long as anyone can remember, and Tekken 8 is in top form in this department, while boasting an even more aggressive suite of new mechanics that makes its fights feel that much more dynamic. On top of the bones of its stellar moment-to-moment gameplay, the game also boasts a bevy of content for players to dive into across both single player and multiplayer offerings, a vast and varied roster of characters, and gorgeous visuals. Like nearly all fighters that release these days, Tekken 8 has had some post-launch monetization-related missteps, but the game itself is hard not to love.

#11. NEVA

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: Nomada Studio | Read Our Review

Neva_03

Building on the foundations of Gris, Nomada Studio’s sophomore title Neva launched towards the tail end of 2024 and instantly earned itself a spot on many such lists. On top of one of the most emotionally charged stories of the year, Neva is also uplifted by an incredible soundtrack and breathtakingly gorgeous visuals, impressing in ways not dissimilar to what Gris did when it launched. On top of that, however, Neva is also a much stronger gameplay experience, touting meaningful improvements across the board, from the level design and traversal mechanics to even the combat. If an emotional rollercoaster is what you’re on the lookout for, look no further than Neva.

#10. METAPHOR: REFANTAZIO

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Studio Zero, Atlus

metaphor refantazio

There wasn’t nearly as much hype surrounding Metaphor: ReFantazio leading up to its release as there should have been, considering the fact that it was coming from the creative leads of some of the best RPGs in existence, and it proved that notion beyond doubt instantly upon release. In the weeks since its launch, Studio Zero and Atlus’ RPG has been called a modern genre classic, and yes, it earns every bit of that praise. Stellar turn-based combat, wonderfully deep and flexible progression and party composition mechanics, a spectacular fantasy setting with a unique sense of place, gorgeous art design and music, and of course, a gripping, thematically rich story with a strong cast of characters- that’s just scratching the surface with Metaphor: ReFantazio’s biggest strengths, a game that we’re going to be talking about for years to come.

#9. PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE LOST CROWN

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: Ubisoft | Read Our Review

prince of persia the lost crown

The first new Prince of Persia game in an eternity, The Lost Crown kicked 2024 off with a bang. Though the game faced plenty of skepticism in the lead-up to its release for everything from Ubisoft’s spotty track record to the company’s chosen tone for the game’s marketing, the game itself proved to be an instant classic. Going back to the series’ sidescrolling action-platforming roots while also reimagining it as a sprawling Metroidvania experience, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is nothing short of genius. From slick combat and tight traversal to satisfying platforming and excellent level design, it has everything that one could want in a Metroidvania masterpiece, and then some. Sadly, all signs point to Ubisoft not greenlighting a sequel to The Lost Crown thanks to its heartbreaking commercial failure, which is an absolute shame, because it’s not only one of the best Prince of Persia games of all time, it’s also one of the best Metroidvania games ever made.

#8. SATISFACTORY

Available on: PC | Developer: Coffee Stain Studios | Read Our Review

After spending well over five years in early access, Coffee Stain’s Satisfactory finally saw its 1.0 launch in 2024- and yes, all of that time spent tinkering, tweaking, and perfecting things in early access clearly paid off, because Satisfactory is easily one of the most dangerously addictive games of the year. With an immaculately perfected core gameplay loop, a large explorable world, eye-catching visuals and presentation, and a wonderful mix of sandbox fun and guided gameplay, Satisfactory emerges as a vast and scarily captivating factory building gameplay experience. Trust us when we say, we are more than satisfied with Satisfactory.

#7. ELDEN RING: SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC | Developer: FromSoftware | Read Our Review

Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree_07

A major new FromSoftware release being great should be the most predictable thing in the world, but we were perhaps not ready for just how good Shadow of the Erdtree turned out to be. Elden Ring was obviously one of 2022’s best games, and somehow, its expansion delivers an experience that’s almost on par with that. The massive, sprawling expansion is large enough and brimming with enough content to be significantly larger than the majority of full-fledged games out there, and in typical FromSoftware fashion, all of that content is backed up by equally impressive quality. Some of the best bosses in FromSoftware history, a spectacularly designed open world that’s littered with gruelingly difficult challenges, and that same sense of wonder and awesome exploration that Elden Ring’s base game delivered in spades- Shadow of the Erdtree touts all of this and more.

#6. INDIANA JONES AND THE GREAT CIRCLE

Available on: Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: MachineGames | Read Our Review

indiana jones and the great circle

Why isn’t it third-person? Why isn’t it just doing the Uncharted thing? Why isn’t it Wolfenstein 3 instead? Indiana Jones and the Great Circle had more than a few doubts levied against it in the months and years prior to its release, but MachineGames’ first-person adventure-action title has thoroughly proven doubters wrong. Not only is it a stellar Indiana Jones adaptation that captures the tone and vibe of the property perfectly – to the extent that it’s better even than at least half of the movies – it also stands tall as a brilliantly designed game. Combining stealth, social stealth, and immersive sim lite level design with organic exploration and wonderfully strange first-person combat that emphasizes humourous improvisation above all else, The Great Circle delivers a gameplay experience unlike any other. We’re not exaggerating in the slightest when we say it’s MachineGames’ best game to date and one of Microsoft’s biggest first-party wins in years.

#5. LIKE A DRAGON: INFINITE WEALTH

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC | Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio | Read Our Review

like a dragon infinite wealth

The Like a Dragon franchise’s popularity has grown exponentially over recent years, and earlier this year, it hit a fever pitch with Infinite Wealth- and it’s easy to see why. Taking the turn-based RPG bones of its predecessor, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth delivers an absolutely monstrous experience that offers a multitude of meaningful improvements. On top of key improvements to the turn-based combat, the job system, the social sim mechanics, and more, Infinite Wealth also boasts an excellent cast of characters that is a joy to be around throughout the lengthy experience, as well as, in typical Yakuza fashion, a wealth of incredible side content.

In fact, in this area in particular, Infinite Wealth absolutely knocks the ball out of the park, boasting a Crazy Taxi minigame, an Animal Crossing minigame, a Pokemon-inspired minigame, dozens upon dozens of substories, and so, so much more, all of it in a single game, and nearly all of it an absolute blast. Add to this an excellent new setting that is brought to life in typically strong fashion, as well as a riveting (yet admittedly divisive) story that brings together some of Yakuza’s most beloved characters in a single, epic journey, and what you get is an unabashed modern classic.

#4. BLACK MYTH: WUKONG

Available on: PS5, PC | Developer: Game Science | Read Our Review (PC | PS5)

black myth wukong

Black Myth: Wukong was on many a radar for several years, courtesy of a lengthy gameplay reveal trailer back in 2020 that turned more than a few heads, and it’s fair to say that the game lives up to expectations. A retelling of the famed Chinese novel Journey to the WestBlack Myth: Wukong is an outstanding action game with some of the best moment-to-moment combat in the genre, as well as some of the most jaw-dropping and unforgettable large-scale boss battles and set pieces we’ve experienced all year.

No, Black Myth: Wukong isn’t a spotless experience – few games are – but it’s particularly deserving of praise for being the first AAA console game by a studio that has had no track record in this area- something you wouldn’t be able to tell based on the game’s top notch production values and stellar graphics. It’ll be ending the year as one of its best-selling titles by quite a margin, and it’s not difficult to understand why it turned into such a major hit.

#3. ASTRO BOT

Available on: PS5 | Developer: Team Asobi | Read Our Review

astro bot

After having captured hearts and minds with Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Astro’s Playroom, Sony’s youngest mascot platforming franchise finally got its big break this year with Astro Bot, its first full-fledged console game, and we couldn’t be happier that it got its shot. Team Asobi’s 3D platformer is very much in the vein of modern masterpieces like Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 3D World, and incredibly enough, good enough to actually be widely considered on that same level of quality, which is really saying something.

As anyone who’s played it will tell you though, Astro Bot deserves all of that praise. The level of ingenious creativity and boundless inventiveness that the game exhibits across its large and varied collection of levels – each of which is designed to absolute perfection – is only matched by how inch perfect every single action feels, making its moment-to-moment gameplay feel like an absolute dream. Astro Bot is a wondrous joyride, a cheerful celebration of 30 years of PlayStation that’s brimming with easter eggs and secrets, and a platforming masterpiece that shows just how good this genre can get when it’s at its best, and what is truly important in a gaming experience when pure, unadulterated fun is what you’re trying to deliver.

#2. FINAL FANTASY 7 REBIRTH

Available on: PS5 | Developer: Square Enix | Read Our Review

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Final Fantasy 7 Remake was our Game of the Year back in 2020, so you can say we were pretty fully onboard with the ride that Square Enix’s remake trilogy is taking us on right out the gate- but even we couldn’t have dreamed that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth would be as good as it is. For years and years, it has felt like that dream of a AAA open world Final Fantasy epic that captures the unbridled ambition of the series’ earlier years has been growing increasingly distant and impossible, but along came Rebirth earlier this year and ended up delivering precisely that.

On top of improving upon Remake’s ingenious blend of real-time and command-based combat with more party members, Synergies, and a host of smaller improvements, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth also blew the doors wide open with its massive open world setting, boasting a collection of maps set across varied locations, and each bringing their own set of side activities, traversal mechanics, design philosophies, biomes, and more. Exploring every nook and cranny of Rebirth’s enormous world never quite loses its charm.

Just as much of a rollercoaster ride is its story, which continues to straddle the line between retelling a familiar and beloved story, and charting its own course with shocking and unexpected developments. A lovable cast of characters, a litany of unforgettable experiences dotting the entire game, a gameplay experience that just keeps on giving, and much more come together in the masterpiece that is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. It’s a wonderful celebration of everything that this series has ever been good at, and may even be one of its best outings to date- which is incredibly high praise that is definitely not lightly given.

GAMINGBOLT’S GAME OF THE YEAR 2024 – SILENT HILL 2

Available on: PS5, PC | Developer: Bloober Team | Read Our Review

Silent Hill 2 Remake_07

You can’t help but love a good comeback story. When Bloober Team and Konami’s remake of Silent Hill 2 faced the abundant skepticism that it did before release, it was easy to see why- hell, we were skeptics ourselves here at GamingBolt, and the situation certainly seemed to warrant it. But just as that skepticism was fair, so, too, is it equally fair to stand up and loudly sing the praises of the absolute masterpiece that is the Silent Hill 2 remake. In our estimation, it’s the best game of 2024- yes, it’s that good. Never have we been more glad to be wrong about something.

We obviously love a good survival horror game here at GamingBolt – for instance, Alan Wake 2 was our Game of the Year just last year – and we can confidently say that the Silent Hill 2 remake has shot right up to the tippy top of the genre’s all-time lists straight away, and even sits right up there alongside the likes of Resident Evil 2 and Dead Space as the greatest horror remakes of all time. The story of James Sunderland, his rocky marriage, and his tortured mind is one that has been haunting gaming audiences for decades, but with Bloober Team’s remake, it’s more potent, more impactful, and better realized than ever before.

The game also benefits from radical gameplay improvements. The over-the-shoulder perspective, the new and expanded locations, the new and redesigned bosses, and the many combat improvements elevate the experience significantly, as evidenced by the fact that, in spite of being nearly twice as long as the original, the Silent Hill 2 remake somehow still feels just as perfectly paced. And yes, the game is, of course, also a graphical powerhouse, an area where Bloober Team definitely does have a strong track record.

Where Silent Hill and Bloober Team will go from here is anyone’s guess, but for now, we can, at the very least, rest assured in the knowledge that the remake to one of the most respected survival horror games ever made is just as astounding of an achievement.


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