2024 already has many potential Game of the Year candidates dominating the conversion and if you were worried about your backlog, the second week of October is set to be the busiest of the year so far with three highly rated games releasing: Silent Hill 2 Remake, Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero, and Metaphor: ReFantazio.
The first of the trio is releasing on October 8, and contrary to what initial impressions from trailers and showcases left on fans, it seems Silent Hill 2 Remake is a faithful recreation of the original experience enhanced by modern-day technology, with the PS5 version of the game coming up with some neat and immersive ways of utilizing the Dualsense.
The game is scoring impressively high, currently sitting at an 87 on Metacritic, which is significantly higher than what even hardcore fans had predicted. This just goes to show how crucial it is to effectively showcase the strengths of your game.
If a trip to an eerie seemingly abandoned village in the middle of nowhere is not something you fancy during this spooky season, perhaps high-octane anime action is right up your alley, with Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero looking like a fantastic option.
A direct successor to the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi series of games, Sparking! Zero seems like a love letter to Dragon Ball fans, with over 180 characters in the base roster, multiple story chapters with branching paths that deviate from the canon, and even local split-screen co-op available (even if the only stage available for it is the Hyperbolic Time Chamber).
Releasing on October 11, Sparking! Zero is getting excellent reviews as well, similar to Silent Hill 2, exceeding initial expectations as many expected a serviceable cash grab to capitalize on the hype created by Dragon Ball Daima, one of the last projects the late Akira Toriyama worked on.
Finally, if you're trying to scratch that Persona itch left by Persona 3 Reloaded, Atlus has cooked up a fantastic new stylish RPG with Metaphor: ReFantazio, also releasing on October 11.
Described as more than just a Persona re-skin, with more intense storytelling, and a refined combat system that maintains the eye-popping visuals the developers have been known for in recent years, ReFantazio is not only getting rave reviews, but it's quickly becoming one of the most critically acclaimed games of 2024, with a 94 on Metacritic, beating the likes of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
If you're having trouble deciding which games to pick up, ReFantazio does have a lengthy free demo that you can try up. The best part? Progress you make carries over to the full game.
So, if you're looking for something new to spend your time during October and the rest of the year, there's definitely not a shortage of new experiences for you to try out.