There is no universal ranking of 2024’s best games: critics’ picks, player votes, platform availability and personal taste measure different things. This curated list brings together GameSpot’s ten selections with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as an additional pick. It spans solo adventures, multiplayer, role-playing games, puzzles and horror; it is not a sales chart or a definitive consensus. Deal prices and stock change by region and seller, so use the platform and edition details below to find a compatible offer and verify its current price before buying.
How this list was chosen
GameSpot’s December 9, 2024 list includes new releases alongside an expansion and a continuing live-service game, and presents its choices alphabetically rather than as a ranked top ten. This guide follows that approach, adding Final Fantasy VII Rebirth because it appears in GameSpot’s reviewed-games roundup and PlayStation Blog’s 2024 award results. Those sources offer useful but different perspectives: GameSpot is an editorial selection, PlayStation’s awards reflect votes from PlayStation players, and Metacritic’s PC list aggregates professional reviews under its own eligibility rules. None establishes a universal ranking.
Among the available cross-checks, PlayStation Blog reported more than 1.6 million votes globally across 19 categories in its 2024 awards. That is a platform-specific player vote, not a representative survey of all players or games. Metacritic’s PC list covers games released in calendar 2024 with at least seven professional critic reviews; its results are not directly comparable to player-voted awards or an editorial list. PlayStation Blog’s 2024 award results and Metacritic’s PC games list provide more context on those distinctions.
The 11 games to consider
1. Astro Bot
Best for: Colorful, approachable single-player platforming. Platform: PS5. GameSpot praised its imaginative platforming and use of the DualSense controller; PlayStation Blog’s player-voted Best PS5 Game award also went to Astro Bot. If shopping for a physical copy, check that the listing is specifically for PS5. GameSpot’s 2024 selections and PlayStation Blog’s award results cover the game.
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2. Balatro
Best for: A distinctive card-based roguelike and play sessions that can fit into short breaks. It is inspired by poker, but plays as a deck-building roguelike rather than a conventional poker game. GameSpot lists PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, iOS and Android; PlayStation Blog named it Best Independent Game. Check the storefront for the exact platform version before purchasing. GameSpot’s list and PlayStation Blog’s awards include it.
3. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Best for: Players looking for a substantial addition to Elden Ring. This is an expansion, not a standalone game: confirm that you own the base game and that both the expansion and your base-game edition match your platform before buying. GameSpot and Metacritic both gave it prominent placement in their 2024 coverage, but their editorial and review-aggregate methods differ. GameSpot’s selections and Metacritic’s PC list include it.
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4. Helldivers 2
Best for: Cooperative PvE shooting with friends. GameSpot lists PC and PS5 and describes it as an effective multiplayer game; TIME also included it among its 2024 picks. Before purchase, check the platform listing and whether the online features you want require a paid subscription on your chosen platform. GameSpot’s list and TIME’s 2024 selections feature the game.
5. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Best for: Exploration-focused action adventure. GameSpot highlights its immersive-sim approach. Its 2024 list identifies Xbox Series X|S and PC; check the current official store listing for the platform and edition you intend to buy. GameSpot’s 2024 list covers it.
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6. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Best for: Intricate puzzles, mystery and psychological-horror elements. GameSpot recommends it to players willing to take notes. The platforms listed are PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PS4. If you prefer to avoid horror themes, consider another pick on this list. GameSpot’s selections discuss the game.
7. Metaphor: ReFantazio
Best for: A turn-based fantasy RPG with social-simulation elements. GameSpot lists PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PS4, and features it in both its 2024 selections and reviewed-games roundup. When comparing offers, match the listing to your platform; a retailer link by itself does not establish a current price or stock status. GameSpot’s list and GameSpot’s reviewed-games roundup include it.
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8. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Best for: Metroidvania-style exploration, platforming and combat. GameSpot notes that navigation aids can help players keep track of where to go. Its list gives PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One as platforms. Nintendo’s year-in-review page once displayed it at $8.99 against a $29.99 regular price, but that retrospective figure is not a verified current deal. Check the relevant store for today’s regional price. GameSpot’s list and Nintendo’s Switch year-in-review provide the cited platform and retrospective details.
9. Silent Hill 2
Best for: Players seeking survival horror. This is a 2024 remake and reinterpretation of the 2001 horror game, not a light adventure; consider the genre before buying, and avoid story details if you want to go in unspoiled. GameSpot lists PC and PS5. GameSpot’s selections cover the remake.
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10. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Best for: Survival-focused first-person play in a fictionalized Chornobyl exclusion zone. GameSpot lists PC and Xbox Series X|S. Its development took place amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a relevant context for readers who want to understand the game’s background. GameSpot’s 2024 list discusses the game.
11. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Best for: A large-scale role-playing adventure, especially for players already following the remake project. It is the second installment in a planned three-part remake project, so newcomers should expect a continuing story rather than a complete retelling of the original in one game. GameSpot’s reviewed-games roundup lists PS5, and PlayStation Blog included it in its 2024 award results. GameSpot’s reviewed-games roundup and PlayStation Blog’s awards include it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to find a real deal for your platform
There is no verified live price, inventory or sale end date for these games in the available October 8, 2026 information. Retailer links on editorial and review pages identify places to look; they do not prove current availability, the lowest price, regional eligibility or a specific discount. Check the official digital store for your console, the PC storefront for your launcher, or a reputable retailer for a physical copy.
Quick Recap
- Start with compatibility. Confirm the platform, edition and region on the product page. For Shadow of the Erdtree, verify that you own the compatible base game; for other titles, compare the listing with the platform versions listed above.
- Compare like with like. Check whether an offer is digital or physical, which edition it covers, the seller, the region and the delivered price. A discount percentage is useful only when its comparison price is clear and applicable to that listing.
- Verify the offer at checkout. Look for any delivery charges, taxes, restrictions or sale end date shown by the seller. A past sale or retrospective price is not evidence that the same offer is available now.
- Check online requirements. If multiplayer matters, confirm what online service or subscription your platform requires. Nintendo notes that some multiplayer experiences require additional games, systems or accessories, and online features require Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo’s page states these qualifications.
Choose by play style, not just by a sale badge
- For approachable solo play: Astro Bot.
- For a card-based game suited to shorter sessions: Balatro.
- For cooperative action: Helldivers 2.
- For a long-form RPG: Metaphor: ReFantazio or Final Fantasy VII Rebirth; the latter continues a larger story.
- For platforming and exploration: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
- For puzzles and mystery: Lorelei and the Laser Eyes.
- For horror: Silent Hill 2, or the psychological-horror-tinged puzzle mystery Lorelei and the Laser Eyes.
- For survival-focused first-person play: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
- For more Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, if you have the compatible base game.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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