2024 was a giant 12 months for folks with a endless affinity in direction of all issues survival-horror, largely as a result 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 wished 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 mistaken. 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 all the time 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 special 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 should 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 obtained the Dead Space remake, Resident Evil 4 remake, and the distinctive Alan Wake 2 final 12 months — however we did obtain a superb 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, ugly 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 technique to spend your time, however it’s one sport that you just received’t be forgetting in a rush.
My horror GOTY’s apart, there’s another sport that — whereas it doesn’t fairly beat Silent Hill 2 for me, personally — I spent probably the most time with this 12 months. A sport that some might 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 dimension and scope, is a sport inside its personal proper. There’s simply a lot to be completed, however the folks who argue that it’s a must to battle the likes of Radahn and Mohg to even entry the DLC admittedly have a degree. Both means, I believe 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 all the time, however I wasn’t fairly ready to be whisked right into a haunting world wherein most of my burning questions had been lastly answered.
Shadow of the Erdtree boasted numerous bosses in a way more compact house. An area that was nonetheless big, nonetheless, that means that exploration was nonetheless very a lot a giant — and necessary — factor in Erdtree, however the DLC felt one step nearer to a Dark Souls sport. Boss fights had 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 probably the most half). Moore and his buddies will ceaselessly 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 completed with them simply but. And I don’t assume I’ll ever be completed with Balatro… that’s for certain.