2024 has been quite the rollercoaster ride for gamers, and as someone who’s been navigating these digital landscapes since the days of Pong and Pac-Man, let me tell you – this year has been nothing short of exhilarating!
2024 may not have been as fast-paced for gaming as the turbulence experienced in 2023, but upon reflection, it’s hard to deny that there was an extensive lineup of exceptional new games throughout the entire year. Whether you preferred multiplayer sensations or solo adventures, innovative concepts or well-loved franchises, blockbuster hits or indie gems that left us in awe, 2024 offered a diverse assortment of games worthy of exploration. As we stand on the brink of a new year, we find ourselves taking a moment to look back and appreciate this impressive array of titles that graced our screens during the past 12 months.
We’re examining the two main gaming consoles currently available, focusing on their individual performance this year. Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S have had quite an eventful and engaging 2024, experiencing a mix of positive and negative events over the past few months. However, they’ve managed to provide their players with a steady stream of excellent games throughout the year, ensuring a consistent and uninterrupted gaming experience.
2024 has been quite peculiar from my standpoint as a gaming enthusiast. Nintendo seems to be strategically stepping back as the Nintendo Switch winds down towards its twilight, following an exceptionally successful journey through history. However, for Sony and Microsoft, this year marked the midpoint of the current console generation, typically when we witness consoles reaching their peak with their first-party games. Yet, 2024 felt like a transit lounge for both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, hinting at bigger and better things to come, but not without its own captivating moments to keep gamers engaged.
2024’s first-party offerings for the PS5 from Sony were unlike previous years. Unlike the usual lineup of high-end, story-rich games we’re accustomed to seeing annually, such as God of War, Horizon, Spider-Man, or The Last of Us, there was a shift in focus this year. Instead, Sony opted for several smaller releases spaced out throughout the year. These releases had varying degrees of success, so they weren’t all home runs, but it wouldn’t be accurate to say that the PS5 received no first-party support.
In a nutshell, we have games like Astro Bot. This exceptional 3D platformer is arguably among the finest first-party PlayStation titles ever made. Its quality is so high that it’s being compared to and even discussed alongside mainline 3D Mario games – it’s truly that impressive. Packed with creativity, a sense of childlike wonder, and pure, unadulterated fun, Astro Bot offers an enjoyable and concentrated dose of these qualities. To put it simply, it’s one of the best PS5 games available on the market today.
In 2024, PlayStation scored another significant victory with “Helldivers 2”. While it may not receive the same level of year-end accolades as “Astro Bot”, there’s no denying that it’s a stellar game and a clear triumph for PlayStation. Critics have praised it extensively, making it one of PlayStation’s most acclaimed games. On PC, it’s been their biggest success to date, setting new sales records as Sony’s fastest-selling first-party game ever. The success of “Helldivers 2” surpassed even the highest expectations, not just from fans, but also from Sony and Arrowhead Game Studios themselves.
2024 will likely be remembered as a somewhat inconsistent year for Sony’s first-party releases, with some highlights but overall quality that leaves room for improvement – a judgment not undeserved given the events of the year. One title, in particular, stood out as a significant setback for PlayStation: Concord. While it might have been an enjoyable or forgettable hero shooter on its own, a perfect combination of unfortunate circumstances led to what could be the biggest first-party flop in PlayStation history. Released following a lengthy and costly development period, Concord was active for only two weeks before being taken down due to lackluster reviews and poor sales. The game’s failure had such profound consequences that Sony provided full refunds to every purchaser, shut down the studio responsible, and closed it less than a year after acquiring and integrating it into PlayStation Studios.
2024 has been an unusual year for PlayStation, as demonstrated by the standout hits like Astro Bot and Helldivers 2, alongside disappointing releases such as Concord. Stellar Blade, an impressive debut title for developer Shift Up, was a highlight of the year, ranking among the best action games. However, around the same time came Rise of the Ronin, a game that left much to be desired. Later in the year, there was the Until Dawn remake, which faced criticism and didn’t seem to draw many players. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and LEGO Horizon Adventures also graced our screens, but it appears both games have failed to capture the attention of gamers.
2024 saw PlayStation Studios experiencing a mix of exceptional peaks and disappointing valleys in their performance. While first-party titles didn’t quite meet expectations, Sony still managed to profit from outstanding third-party exclusives. Kicking off the year was “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth,” a game that ranks among the best in the Final Fantasy series, followed by the remarkable remake of “Silent Hill 2” later in the year, and the awe-inspiring “Black Myth: Wukong.” Although PlayStation Studios struggled throughout the year, third-party developers helped fill the void with these three exceptional games, which are some of the best titles released this year, and currently exclusive to PlayStation.
2024 brought fewer exclusive games for Xbox Series X/S compared to 2023. Early in the year, Microsoft and Ninja Theory finally unveiled Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, a highly anticipated sequel that followed the original Hellblade’s hype. While our review at GamingBolt was positive, it didn’t receive as much acclaim as the first game. Unfortunately, the subsequent months saw very little exclusive content from Microsoft.
From a passionate fan’s perspective, it’s important to clarify that Microsoft didn’t go completely quiet. On the contrary, they rolled out numerous expansions and multiplatform titles. Additionally, some of their previously exclusive games made their way onto PlayStation and Switch, a move that sparked much debate (and success, as evidenced by their ongoing commitment to multiplatform releases). However, when it comes to exclusive Xbox Series X/S games, the notable release was Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in November. But let’s be honest, its launch wasn’t exactly smooth sailing – an understatement, really.
In conclusion, the Xbox Series X/S had a robust finish to the year, boosted by the arrival of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in December. This game, developed by MachineGames, could very well be their finest work yet. Although it’s set to arrive on PS5 soon, it’s undeniably a significant victory for Xbox, and it’s likely to rank among the year’s top games (though its late-year release might make it miss out on end-of-year awards, which is somewhat unfortunate). Prior to Indiana Jones, Xbox also welcomed S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, an exclusive third-party title that has sparked debate and attracted criticism (particularly due to its technical state at launch). Despite these issues, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 offers a one-of-a-kind, memorable experience, and with time, it could become a defining open-world game.
Apart from their own exclusive titles, both PlayStation and Xbox witnessed a variety of outstanding multiplatform games this year. Notable AAA releases included Dragon’s Dogma 2, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Marvel Rivals, Persona 3 Reload, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, EA Sports College Football, and Tekken 8. Among the indie scene, we found jewels like Animal Well, Balatro, Neva, Palworld, and Nine Sols. Games such as Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown were often overlooked but still delivered exceptional gameplay. Large-scale expansions like Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Destiny 2: The Final Shape, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree were also released.
2024 wasn’t all smooth sailing in the world of video games; there were quite a few disappointments like Skull and Bones, XDefiant, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Alone in the Dark, and Concord (which was previously mentioned). However, both gaming consoles managed to release a good number of strong new titles. If we were to compare the two and pick a favorite, it’s worth mentioning that PlayStation had more standout moments than Xbox, with some of those high points being even more noteworthy. But remember, personal preference might influence your decision since it often does in such comparisons.
2021 has seen some of the year’s standout games exclusively on the PlayStation 5 platform, such as Silent Hill 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, and Astro Bot. These titles have been shining beacons in the gaming world, but unfortunately, they are not playable on Xbox Series X/S. Despite a good showing from Xbox’s first-party games this year, the PlayStation 5 community has had access to more (and better) games overall compared to Microsoft’s console ecosystem in 2021.
As a dedicated gaming enthusiast, I’d like to express that the opinions shared in this piece are my own. They don’t necessarily reflect the collective viewpoint or official stance of GamingBolt as a platform.
Read More
- BCH PREDICTION. BCH cryptocurrency
- ENJ PREDICTION. ENJ cryptocurrency
- UNI PREDICTION. UNI cryptocurrency
- EUR RUB PREDICTION
- JASMY PREDICTION. JASMY cryptocurrency
- AVAX PREDICTION. AVAX cryptocurrency
- BADGER PREDICTION. BADGER cryptocurrency
- Sherlock: Not Making Season 5 “Madness” Creator Says (but Teases a Twist)
- PHB PREDICTION. PHB cryptocurrency
- HTR/USD
2024-12-16 04:42