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.
Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 does an outstanding job of making you feel like a proper Space Marine. Decked out in armour that would crush a normal man, cleaving your way through legions of grotesque alien freaks… It’s weighty, it’s hyperviolent, and it’s an absolute blast. A surprisingly involved melee combat system really sets Space Marine 2 apart, bringing blocks, parries, and combos to an already rock solid third-person shooter template. The Emperor himself would be proud.
Read our Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 PS5 review through the link.
Walking a line somewhere between Souls and pure action, Black Myth: Wukong is a brilliantly creative romp through Chinese legend. While the combat system does take a while to truly shine, it’s consistently carried by superbly crafted opponents — especially when it comes to boss battles. The protagonist himself is worthy of praise as well; our mischievous ape is an impressively unique action hero, equipped with an extendable staff and capable of changing his form mid-fight. Design-wise, Wukong deserves a lot of credit.
Read our Black Myth: Wukong PS5 review through the link.
Stellar Blade often feels like the kind of frantic and flashy action games that were so common on the PS2 — but sky-high production values and some surprisingly demanding combat mechanics elevate it above those often forgotten titles. When Stellar Blade clicks, it’s a gripping dance of combos, special moves, dodges, and all-important parries, resulting in a fast-paced and satisfyingly slick experience. We also need to give a special mention to Eve; the protagonist’s artful animations are often eye-popping in motion, and she really sells the action as a whole.
Read our Stellar Blade PS5 review through the link.
The storytelling is extremely hit and miss, the characters are wooden, and it’s in desperate need of a big expansion, but Capcom absolutely nails the action in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Just like in the first game, combat is really the crux of the experience, providing dynamic encounters against all manner of fantastical monster. It’s weighty, it’s crunchy, it’s supremely satisfying; whether you’re battering goblins or downing a colossal drake, Dragon’s Dogma 2 captures the thrill of sword-and-spell combat unlike anything else on the market.
Once again, Capcom proves that it’s the undisputed king of video game action.
Read our Dragon’s Dogma 2 PS5 review through the link.
Do you agree with our picks for the best PS5 action game of 2024? Put your thoughts in the comments below and check out more of our Game of the Year coverage through the link.