It’s been a grim year, hasn’t it? 2024’s best games are all about disgust, decay, and existential dread

2024 was an enormous 12 months for people with a unending affinity in the direction of all issues survival-horror, largely as a consequence of the truth that the Silent Hill 2 Remake lastly launched. A sport that, after its preliminary announcement, I used to be really dreading. I like Silent Hill 2, a lot, and for the longest time, all I ever actually needed was for the unique trio of video games to be ported to trendy platforms precisely as they’re. Nothing extra, and nothing much less. I, admittedly, did not trust Konami or Bloober Team to do it justice.

I couldn’t have been extra fallacious. After a preview occasion wherein we spent three hours with the sport, I used to be wholly obsessed. Transformed from the cussed, bitter Silent Hill fan I used to be at all times was (that is with because of the cancellation of Silent Hills, which I’ll by no means cease banging on about) into, properly, somebody who lastly felt hopeful concerning the sequence. Bloober Workforce alleviated me of all my Silent Hill woes in such a brief span of time, and continued to take action as soon as the sport was launched.

The remake was a unique sport to the unique Silent Hill 2, however Bloober Workforce managed to make one thing so particular; a completely new iteration of James’ journey that was simply as psychologically tormenting because the final. I’ll by no means doubt Bloober Workforce ever once more. As for my belief in Konami, we’ll must see how Metal Gear Solid Delta seems first.

Whereas the Silent Hill 2 Remake stands tall as my private sport of the 12 months in 2024, it was removed from the one sport to have impressed me. 2024 wasn’t fairly the 12 months for horror followers that 2023 was, — we bought the Dead Space remake, Resident Evil 4 remake, and the distinctive Alan Wake 2 final 12 months — however we did obtain a very good portion of indie horror video games making an attempt to make their mark, which some did with ease.

Mouthwashing, for instance. An acid-trip of a sport that, for 2 hours, is not possible to place down as you attempt to piece collectively its non-linear, grotesque story. Beneath all that, although, is a poignant dialogue of existential dread. Is there extra to life than, properly, capitalism? Working your means up the ranks in an more and more merciless world? Does any of it even matter? It isn’t the cheeriest option to spend your time, nevertheless it’s one sport that you just gained’t be forgetting in a rush.

My horror GOTY’s apart, there’s yet one more sport that — whereas it doesn’t fairly beat Silent Hill 2 for me, personally — I spent essentially the most time with this 12 months. A sport that some could argue isn’t actually a sport in any respect, and that’s Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree growth.

Part of me would argue that Shadow of the Erdtree, given its measurement and scope, is a sport inside its personal proper. There’s simply a lot to be achieved, however the people who argue that you need to battle the likes of Radahn and Mohg to even entry the DLC admittedly have a degree. Both means, I feel one factor many people can agree on is that Shadow of the Erdtree was an distinctive DLC. I anticipated one thing good from FromSoftware, as at all times, however I wasn’t fairly ready to be whisked right into a haunting world wherein most of my burning questions have been lastly answered.

Shadow of the Erdtree boasted numerous bosses in a way more compact area. An area that was nonetheless large, nonetheless, that means that exploration was nonetheless very a lot an enormous — and vital — factor in Erdtree, however the DLC felt one step nearer to a Dark Souls sport. Boss fights have been frequent, the world felt darkish and grim, and the characters you meet alongside the best way… oh, how they tug at your heartstrings (for essentially the most half). Moore and his mates will perpetually have my coronary heart.

I additionally owe a shout out to the likes of Persona 3 Reload and Balatro. These are two extra video games which have helped form my 12 months in gaming, although I’m not fairly achieved with them simply but. And I don’t assume I’ll ever be achieved with Balatro… that’s for certain.