Latest Features
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for January 2025?
Plus or minus?
The first batch of PS Plus Extra and Premium games for 2025 have been revealed, and as always, we want to know your thoughts. Extra, Sony's middle subscription tier, had some great months in 2024, dishing out loads of highly rated releases across the year. Some would argue that it's been the most consistent of the three PS Plus...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 564
And chill
With the launch of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, the 2025 release schedule has finally begun. There's lots to look forward to over the next 12 months, so get a move on with those backlogs and catch up to the present so that we can enjoy all of the promising titles ahead. This is what we're playing this weekend, either old or new. Aaron...
Poll Are You Playing Dynasty Warriors: Origins?
Return of the King(doms)
It's been close to seven years since Dynasty Warriors 9 came along and soured Koei Tecmo's cult hack and slash series. But with Dynasty Warriors: Origins, the Japanese publisher has breathed new life into the franchise — a fresh start that was so desperately needed. "In many ways, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the series...
Reaction Sony's Live Service Push Has Been a Disaster of Utterly Insane Proportions
A new low
Live service. The two words that every PlayStation fan seems to pop a blood vessel over. And you know what? That kind of visceral reaction now seems justified. Under former CEO Jim Ryan's leadership, PlayStation had announced its intent to blitz the live service market — to create PS5 mega hits that would rake in unprecedented dough. To...
Preview Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Is an Absurd, Great Twist on Like a Dragon
Hands on impressions after two hours of play
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the sort of video game name where the subtitle warrants a sentence all to itself. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. RGG Studio has always embraced the series' comical facets, but not until now has it ever been so blatant and — quite frankly — proud of them. After more...
Poll Will the Switch 2 Compete with PS5?
The Switch up
Yes, it finally happened: the Switch 2 has been officially revealed. After months of frankly obnoxious rumours and leaks, Nintendo's next console has been confirmed for a 2025 release. We'll hear more about it on the 2nd April, which gives us three months of additional speculation to endure. Yay! Snark aside, we're obviously looking...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 563
It's not for nothing
We're deep into January now, which means we can finally stop saying those three little words: Happy New Year. There. That's the last time you'll read it. Thank goodness! Aaron Bayne: After blitzing the first season of the show in a day, I'm now buckling down for my tenth playthrough of The Last of Us: Part 1. That's right,...
Feature 18 PS5 Predictions for 2025
Now or never
As has become tradition here on Push Square, we're starting the new year (admittedly more than a week late) with a slew of PlayStation-related predictions. We've gathered our esteemed editorial team so that they can share their hopes and dreams for the next 12 months. Unsurprisingly, our predictions range from educated guesswork to...
Let's Stars again
First announced back in September 2022, PS Stars is essentially Sony's PlayStation rewards scheme, with a few extra bells and whistles attached. At the time of writing, the service is still missing from the PS5 itself — despite the platform holder saying that there were plans to integrate it on console. Indeed, Stars has been...
Live Watch Sony's CES 2025 Press Conference Right Here
Can you AFEELA it?
If you’re watching Sony’s CES 2025 press conference, then don’t expect enormous PS5 news. The manufacturer’s already said it’ll be focusing on AFEELA, its electric vehicle project with Honda, during this presentation. It’ll likely have other news on camera sensors, televisions, and more. But the company does specialise...
Quiz How Well Do You Know Uncharted?
Chart this
How well do you know the Uncharted games? One of Sony's heaviest hitters of the PS3 and PS4 eras, Naughty Dog struck gold with this action adventure series. Given how important Uncharted has been to PlayStation over the years, the franchise makes for a perfect quiz topic. And so, we've put together 15 multiple choice questions for you to...
Talking Point Is PlayStation Right in Saying PC Isn't a 'Major Risk' to Console Business?
Does it compute?
Is the growing PC landscape a threat to PlayStation? Well, Sony doesn't seem fazed by it whatsoever, in new comments coming from a shareholders call. One shareholder asked whether Sony's increased reliance on externally-made exclusives (like Rise of the Ronin and Stellar Blade) is to help boost the user transition from PS4 to PS5,...
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for January 2025?
Plus or minus?
No, you read that headline right. It's now 2025. 2024 is over. Gone. Finished. Get used to it. And while you're at it, get used to these PS Plus polls — because we've got another 12 months of them coming up (unless Sony overhauls the entire subscription service, for some reason, in which case we'll just have to adapt). So, what's...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 562
Back to normal
That's the end of the holidays, we're afraid. Normality resumes. Of course, normality includes hours upon hours of gaming goodness, so here's what we're playing this weekend. Jamie O'Neill: I remember how a snow blanketed New York City was an ideal setting in Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales for the launch of the PS5 during the...
Feature 34 Under the Radar PS5 Games to Watch Out for in 2025
What's a GTA?
Every year brings us a treasure trove of games to enjoy — some would say too many — and 2025 will be no exception. While a lot of eager gamers will be patiently awaiting the arrival of some true juggernauts, like Grand Theft Auto 6, Ghost of Yotei, and Monster Hunter Wilds, countless more titles of all shapes and sizes are heading...
Round Up All of Push Square's Game of the Year 2024 Winners
That's a wrap
Well, we're now three days into 2025 — at the time of writing this article — and that can only mean one thing: Push Square's Game of the Year awards for 2024 are over. We had a great time putting all of our Game of the Year features together for the holidays, but if you missed out on the celebrations, don't worry — we've got...
Game of the Year Push Square Readers' 20 Most Anticipated PS5 Games of 2025
We go again
What are the most anticipated PS5 games of 2025? This was the all-important question that we asked the Push Square community a couple of weeks back, and now, the results are in. 2025 is already shaping up to be one heck of a strong year for Sony's current-gen console. Shockingly, our poll included 75 (seventy-five!) different games...
Game of the Year Push Square Readers' Top 10 PS5 Games of 2024
As voted by you
The time has come to reveal the top 10 PS5 games of 2024... according to readers of Push Square! Every year, we invite you (and everyone else) to vote for their favourite releases, which results in a top 10 list that both influences our own official Game of the Year rankings, and provides the basis for this very article. Here are...
Game of the Year #1 - Astro Bot
Astro-nomical
Since we began running Game of the Year awards on Push Square, we've rarely, if ever, had such a clear-cut winner as Astro Bot. With about two thirds more votes than second place in our top 10, PS5's delightful exclusive platformer has won the hearts of fans and critics alike to come out comfortably on top. It's easy to understand...
Feature Happy New Year from the Push Square Team
Our mission statement for the months ahead
And just like that, it’s 2025! Wait, what? Wasn’t it, like, 2009 a couple of weeks ago? Where does the time go, eh? Firstly, on this newest of new years we’d like to wish you and your loved ones a prosperous 2025 and beyond. It feels like we’re replaying an old record, but we indeed live in...
Feature Our PS5 Predictions for 2024 - Results Revealed
Can you predict who did best?
We've made it to the end of 2024, so now is a perfect time to reflect on the last 12 months. As always, we made some predictions way back in January, and so now we must look to see which of them came true, and which were a load of rubbish. Editor Sammy Barker and assistant editor Liam Croft came joint first for 2023,...
Game of the Year Best PS5 Developer of 2024
Industry leaders
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 developer of 2024. Bronze Trophy: Team Asobi (Astro Bot): After honing its already magnificent platforming craft in Astro Bot...
Game of the Year #2 - Metaphor: ReFantazio
From the heart
Making a game that feels genuinely unique only gets harder as time goes on. And while Metaphor: ReFantazio borrows a lot of ideas from Atlus' other properties, it provides a brilliantly unique fantasy adventure through its intriguing world, colorful characters, stellar art direction, and booming orchestral soundtrack. This is an...
Game of the Year Sammy's Top 5 PS5 Games of 2024
Would you Adam and Eve it
Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers and editors to share their own personal PS5 picks for 2024. Today, it's the turn of editor Sammy Barker. 5: Astro Bot: I was an extremely early advocate for Astro Bot, and I’m never going to let that lie. Regular readers will know I campaigned...
Game of the Year Best PS5 DLC of 2024
More, more, more
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 DLC of 2024. Bronze Trophy: Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred: Particularly on the live-service side of the games industry, expansions...
Game of the Year #3 - Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Double dragon
It’s no secret we’ve always had a soft spot for the Yakuza franchise here at Push Square; it’s a perennial favourite across our entire editorial team, with some of us even campaigning for the localisation of Yakuza 5 during that low-period, where SEGA relied on Sony to bring the PS3 game overseas. Fortunately, the franchise has...
Game of the Year Best PS5 Remake or Remaster of 2024
Nostalgia play
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 remake or remaster of 2024. Bronze Trophy: Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Nobody wanted it when the project was rumoured, but the...
Game of the Year #4 - Stellar Blade
Make bel-Eve
Those familiar with Shift Up’s work on the titillating but ultimately top-notch smartphone shooter NIKKE: Goddess of Victory would never have doubted Stellar Blade. The mobile game has sharp arcade gameplay, an earworm soundtrack, and an abundance of style – many of the qualities replicated in the Korean dev’s debut console...
Game of the Year Aaron's Top 5 PS5 Games of 2024
Spreading democracy with friends
Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers and editors to share their own personal PS5 picks for 2024. Today, it's the turn of video producer Aaron Bayne. 5: Metro Awakening: After forging some colourful zombie mayhem, VR developer Vertigo Games upped the ante with Metro Awakening,...
Game of the Year Best PS5 Story Game of 2024
Proper page-turners
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 story game of 2024. Bronze Trophy: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden: The original Life Is Strange developer DON'T NOD i
Aced it
Against all odds, a roguelike card game from a solo developer has made it into this year's Game of the Year conversation. Even securing a nomination for the top gong at The Game Awards, Balatro is holding its own among much larger scale projects, and for the millions who've played it, this will come as little surprise. At a base level,...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 561
Saturday, Sunday, funday
Christmas is over but the New Year is upon us, and we're crossing everything hoping 2025 is a much better one! Here's what we're playing on this final weekend of 2024. Echo Apsey: I'm currently wrapping up my backlog of games before I decide on my top 10 games of the year, specifically finishing the fascinating Ultros and...
Game of the Year Best PS5 RPG of 2024
Critical success
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 RPG of 2024. Bronze Trophy: Unicorn Overlord: Unicorn Overlord is another banger from the supremely talented developer that is...
Game of the Year #6 - Silent Hill 2
In my restless dream, I see that remake
The idea of a remake of PS2 all-timer Silent Hill 2 is one that we were admittedly a little nervous about. Bloober Team hadn’t quite managed to prove itself with its previous outings, so tackling a remake for what is widely regarded as one of the best horror games ever made wasn’t exactly a safe bet...
Game of the Year Robert's Top 5 PS5 Games of 2024
Life is just a ReFantasy
Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers and editors to share their own personal PS5 picks for 2024. Today, it's the turn of assistant editor Robert Ramsey. 5. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth: Look, I wasn't totally sold on Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The series' pivot to turn-based RPG-ing...
Game of the Year Best PSVR2 Game of 2024
Headset highlights
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PSVR2 game of 2024. Bronze Trophy: Trombone Champ: Unflattened: For anyone who didn't quite realise their ambitions of becoming a...
Game of the Year #7 - Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
VII Heaven
While we're still not massively keen on Square Enix's decision to split a once 40-hour classic into three relatively huge releases, we simply can't ignore how much effort was poured into Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Final Fantasy 7 Remake felt like it set the stage for a bigger and better sequel — and that's pretty much what we got. Away...
Game of the Year Khayl's Top 5 PS5 Games of 2024
Every Cloud
Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers and editors to share their own personal PS5 picks for 2024. Today, it's the turn of news reporter Khayl Adam. 5: Dragon's Dogma 2: I wanted to like the first Dragon's Dogma, but I came to it too late and struggled with its technical performance. With Dragon's...
Feature We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Compliments of the season to you
It’s been a difficult year for the games industry, but the software has been flowing as strongly as ever. At times, we’ve all struggled to keep up with the veritable array of titles available for the PS5, and we’re sure many of you feel much the same. The thing that makes running Push Square such a pleasure is...
Game of the Year Best PS5 Indie Game of 2024
Independent leaders
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 indie game of 2024. Bronze Trophy: Crypt Custodian: What if instead of going to heaven when you die, you're instead instructed...
Opinion Thank Goodness You're Here! Is Easily 2024's Funniest Game
Barnstormer
Amid all the Game of the Year conversations, we wanted to highlight a title that really managed to stand out in 2024 — a release so different to basically everything else that launched over the last 12 months. Thank Goodness You're Here! resonated with two of Push Square's editorial team in particular: assistant editors Robert Ramsey...
Game of the Year #8 - Dragon's Dogma 2
Top Dogma
When you think of adventure in video games — the immersion that comes with exploring unknown lands and locations — there are plenty of open world games that fit the bill. But we'd argue that very few of those games nail that sense of journey and subsequent discovery quite like Dragon's Dogma 2. This sequel was a long time coming, and...
Game of the Year Liam's Top 5 PS5 Games of 2024
Silent night
Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers and editors to share their own personal PS5 picks for 2024. Today, it's the turn of assistant editor Liam Croft. 5. Astro Bot: While it didn’t land with me quite as much as it did with the rest of the PlayStation audience, Astro Bot is still easily one of my...
Game of the Year Best PS5 Open World Game of 2024
One more quest marker
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 open world game of 2024. Bronze Trophy: Rise of the Ronin: Rise of the Ronin subscribes to the dated Ubisoft open world...
Game of the Year #9 - Helldivers 2
For Super Earth!
Helldivers 2 is one of the biggest surprises of 2024. Not one of us here at Push Square could have quite predicted how the game would take off, and even weeks before its launch, the buzz around it all seemed minimal. But once that now iconic, meme-able gameplay started to spread across the web, it was clear that Arrowhead Studios...
Game of the Year Best PS5 Art Direction of 2024
Picture perfect
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 art direction of 2024. Bronze Trophy: LEGO Horizon Adventures: It's rare to feel like you could reach into your TV screen and...
Game of the Year #10 - Persona 3 Reload
Locked and reloaded
High quality remakes of classic games have become quite commonplace over recent years, and for our money, Persona 3 Reload is one of the best around. This revival of the iconic 2006 PS2 RPG is, in a word, immaculate. From the refined art direction and visuals to the many mechanical improvements under the hood, Reload is both a...
Game of the Year Stephen's Top 5 PS5 Games of 2024
Joy to the world
Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers and editors to share their own personal PS5 picks for 2024. Today, it's the turn of assistant editor Stephen Tailby. 5: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth: I must admit, I didn't manage to finish this gargantuan game this year, but man, it's good. Improving on...
Game of the Year Best PS5 Action Game of 2024
And... Action!
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 action game of 2024. Bronze Trophy: Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2: Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 does an outstanding job of making...
Game of the Year Push Square Readers Write About Their Favourite PS5 Games of 2024
Your move
For the first time here on Push Square, we invited readers to reach out to us via email, in order to share their thoughts on the best PS5 games of 2024. We received way more 'letters' than we anticipated, and the result is this bumper edition of a feature, which contains our favourite replies. From The Game Awards winner Astro Bot to the...
