Hey everyone! 2024 was an absolutely thrilling year for indie games, and I’m really eager to share with you 11 of my top picks that graced the PlayStation this year.
Let’s start with Pacific Drive. This game offers a unique ‘road-lite’ survival experience as you find yourself navigating a stormy, mysterious forest with your trusty car by your side. Each journey you take introduces anomalies that gradually wear down your vehicle, and reaching back to your garage safely is essential. If you fail, you’ll need to start from scratch. You can repair and upgrade your car using resources you gather, making each adventure through the wilderness feel fresh and addictive.
Next up is the visually stunning Animal Well. This game takes you into a pixel-art world that evokes nostalgia while offering something completely new. Its surreal lighting breathes life into a mapping style that truly sticks with you. As a Metroidvania, it brims with endless surprises. Conquering its intricate puzzles and challenging platform sections bring a sense of satisfaction that’s both exhilarating and unique.
Another exciting update for PlayStation is the whirlwind success of this vampire survival game formerly exclusive to PC players. Starting as a weakened vampire, you need to hunt for the blood of enemies and animals to regain your strength. Gaining their powers is key to conquering the map, but remember, as a vampire, the daytime sun is your enemy, so staying hidden in shadows becomes crucial.
SCHiM dares you to hop from shadow to shadow across its intriguing landscape. It’s like playing as a frog-like creature who can only travel by leaping between shadows, reviving those imaginative childhood games. Its artistic vision is captivating, with a sharp color palette that accentuates its unique style.
Plucky Squire provides a delightful action-adventure, whisking you between 2D and 3D environments. At one moment, you’re leaping through a 2D tale within the pages of a book, and the next, you’re exploring a fully-fledged 3D world around you. Unravel the mysteries and puzzles before you hit the book’s pages again, delivering a treasure trove of fun for players of all ages.
From Japan, Palworld captivated the gaming community with its endearing creatures and expansive gameplay loop. As you journey to collect Pals and build your base, venturing further into the vibrant world becomes an addictive pursuit that is hard to resist.
The creators of GRIS have given us Neva, an emotionally touching adventure. Journey alongside a wolf cub named Neva as you transition through breathtaking seasons. Conveyed entirely through visuals rather than words, this story culminates in a poignant, tear-jerking ending.
Stepping into nostalgia’s shadow, Fear the Spotlight is a chilling horror adventure, capturing the retro low-polygon style of the original PlayStation era. You’ll guide two teenage girls navigating their school by dusk, dodging sinister paranormal phenomena and piecing together puzzles to find safety.
From the legendary Keiichiro Toyama comes a gripping experience set in ’90s Kowlong, Hong Kong. As a bodiless entity, you’re tasked with inhabiting NPCs to face eerie foes known as Slitterheads, notorious for feasting on human brains. Combatting them as ordinary townsfolk delivers excitement like no other.
Nine Sols emerges from Red Candle Games, inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, presenting hard-hitting action centered on deflection-based combat. Achieving a precise parry and counterattack feels profoundly rewarding, and the fusion of cyberpunk aesthetics with ancient Chinese myths intensifies its allure.
Last but not least, a surprising mix of poker and roguelike concepts has become a global phenomenon. This title, crafted by a single genius developer, is testament to the gripping nature of innovation and creativity combined.
These indie gems have truly made 2024 a standout year for gaming on the PlayStation. Each game offers its distinct charm and depth, inviting you to delve into realms of creativity and adventure.
