Game of the Year: Best PS5 Art Direction of 2024

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.

It’s rare to feel like you could reach into your TV screen and physically touch a video game, but that’s definitely part of LEGO Horizon Adventures’ appeal. Where most LEGO titles simply place the iconic bricks upon existing environments, this adaptation goes one step further, recreating Aloy’s adventure almost exclusively through bits and pieces of LEGO. It’s an impressive — and perhaps overlooked — achievement, and results in a spectacularly pretty release.

Read our LEGO Horizon Adventures PS5 review through the link.

Much of Silent Hill 2’s imposing atmosphere is drawn from the game’s art direction: the fleshy creatures, the oppressive interiors, and the fog-coated streets of the town itself. Bloober Team had one heck of a job on its hands in remaking such an iconic release without stripping Silent Hill of its nightmarish tone, but the developer shattered most expectations — ours included. Silent Hill 2 is a deranged feast for the eyes, dripping with tension at every turn.

Read our Silent Hill 2 PS5 review through the link.

In pivoting to an entirely original fantasy setting with Metaphor: ReFantazio, it feels like Atlus’ art team was able to break free of some creative shackles, and deliver an RPG that looks brilliantly unique from beginning to end. Granted, Metaphor is a little rough in a graphical sense, but the foundational artistry is still plain to see. From the immaculate character designs and portraits, to the stunning menus and visual overlays, this is just about as rich and evocative as modern role-playing titles get. Artistically, it’s a borderline masterpiece.

Read our Metaphor: ReFantazio PS5 review through the link.

Having incredible art direction is one thing, but marrying that sublime sense of style to excellent in-game graphics is what sets Persona 3 Reload apart. This remake takes the tone of the original Persona 3 and refines it to a seriously impressive degree. Reload is a ridiculously good-looking game across all areas, whether you’re exploring high school corridors or blasting shadows with magical abilities — and in typical Atlus fashion, the menus, 2D assets, and combat overlays are obsessively crafted.

We’d go as far to say that this is one of the best-looking RPGs ever released.

Read our Persona 3 Reload PS5 review through the link.

Do you agree with our picks for the best PS5 art direction of 2024? Put your thoughts in the comments below and check out more of our Game of the Year coverage through the link.