Next to ours Game of the year top 10 list and personal picks from Press square editorial, we are voting on the best games of 2024 on PS5 in selected categories. Today it’s the turn best role-playing game on PS5 in 2024.
The creator of the original Life Is Strange, DON’T NOD, is best known for his spectacular teen narratives, but in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden he has grown to create his most mature – and arguably best – story yet.
You play as a ghost hunting couple, Red and Antea, who travel to New Eden during the height of the haunting in 1695. When his partner is killed by a curse, Red faces a dilemma in trying to rid the city of the spirits that possess him: does he exploit their spirits to raise Antea from the dead, or does he complete his task and drive the spirits away? You can dictate this with your actions throughout the story, resulting in one of the best narrative campaigns on PS5.
Read ours Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden review on PS5 via link.
A faithful remake of the original on PS2, Bloober Team brought back the story of James Sunderland and his journey to find his dead wife somewhere in the town of Silent Hill. The storyline was one of the most striking in 2002, especially as it neared its conclusion and revealed the true dynamics of James’s relationship with his wife.
22 years later it still gives me chills. Bloober Team didn’t tamper with the immersive narrative at all, which means this is one of the best games of 2024 – just like it was many years ago. The Polish developer only supplemented the plot by creating two fresh endings that refer to fan theories created over the decades since the premiere of the original. It’s a great way to do a remake, and from a story standpoint, Silent Hill 2 is still one of the best in the survival horror genre.
Read ours Silent Hill 2 review on PS5 via link.
Taking a political break from Persona, developer Atlus created another memorable story, universe, and cast of characters in Metaphor: ReFantazio. After assassinating the king, you will begin a campaign to claim the throne for yourself, recruiting supporters and fending off evil that would exploit such power for personal gain. The main story easily rivals Atlus’ previous efforts, delivering twists, double-crosses, and all the intrigue and suspense you’d expect to keep your interest throughout an 80-hour story.
Surrounding the narrative is a close-knit group of friends that you recruit and develop friendships with, and deepening the bond you share opens up fresh scenarios and heartfelt situations. Watching characters like Maria develop is such a joy, and helping characters like Heismay and Eupha lead to some of the best scenes in the game.
Putting effort into both the main narrative and the side stories will lend a hand create one of the best storytelling experiences of 2024. Consistently excellent and forthright, Metaphor: ReFantazio is an indispensable playthrough for anyone who considers story central to their video game-playing experience.
Read ours Metaphor: ReFantazio PS5 review via link.
With two main characters at the same time, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth feels like two stories in one. While Ichiban Kasuga searches for his mother in Hawaii, veteran Kazuma Kiryu must deal with his own personal problems. The two regularly come together to create the same narrative, but this 70-plus-hour journey is so wealthy in story that nothing else released in 2024 can challenge it.
In addition to the lofty main narrative, there are the wild and wacky side stories you’d expect from a “Like a Dragon” entry, providing a lighthearted break from the solemn nature of Ichiban and Kiryu’s endeavors. This mix of contrasting tones gives Infinite Wealth a unique charm, creating an overall plot direction that is as emotional as it is solemn and comedic. Nothing else does this as well as Yakuza/Like a Dragon and that’s why it’s consistently one of the best.
Read ours Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review on PS5 via link.
Do you agree with our choices for best role-playing game on PS5 in 2024? Share your thoughts in the comments below and check out more of ours Game of the year reach via link.
