Feedback from the title led to the latest release having more focus and clarity, especially when compared to the more ambitious second game. “The biggest lesson was clarity of focus and attention to details,” he said. “Dying Light 2 Stay Human was ambitious, maybe too ambitious in some areas, and while we are proud of what we achieved, we also learned that sometimes less is more.”

Further in the interview, Smektała spoke more about how Techland decided to trim down the fat from Dying Light: The Beast. The goal, he noted, was to deliver an overall tighter experience that would have the same level of grounded, intense and emotional gameplay and story that made the original Dying Light a fan favourite.

“For Dying Light: The Beast, we stripped away the noise to deliver a tighter, more purposeful experience,” he explained. “The game knows what it wants to be: intense, grounded, and emotional. We have also taken community feedback, every little detail of it, to heart in terms of combat feel, movement precision, and pacing.”

Smektała had spoken about Techland having learned quite a few lessons from Dying Light 2 Stay Human back in June. In an interview, he had spoken about how, for the second game in the franchise, the studio had ended up sacrificing “some of the Dying Light DNA”.

“Our fans were telling us ‘that’s not it, that’s not what made you so special,’” Smektala said, referring to the studio wanting to provide a more polished AAA experience with Dying Light 2 Stay Human.

“We want to deliver both,” he further explained, referring to Dying Light: The Beast. “We want to deliver the AAA quality, but at the same time, we want to deliver proof that our mojo is not gone, that our mojo is not there, and we know what makes Dying Light, Dying Light. And if players say ‘wow, this feels like Dying Light 1, and it looks so amazing, it’s such a polished game’, then I think we’ll be very, very happy.”

Since its release just last month, Dying Light: The Beast has proven to be quite a hit. While Techland hasn’t revealed any sales data for the title, it had released an infographic just last week, confirming that more than 25 million hours had been cumulatively been spent by players in the game.

“Every jump, every strike, every scream fuels Kyle’s quest for vengeance,” wrote Techland in its social media post. “You’ve pushed the limits cutting down countless foes and parkouring vast distances, and as a community you left a mark on Castor Woods.”

Dying Light: The Beast is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our review. The title is also slated to make its way to PS4 and Xbox one later on.

The major update for Dying Light 2 Stay Human, referred to by Techland as the Stamina Patch for the game, will bring with it changes to how players roam around the game’s city of Villedor. With the update, core parkour moves will no longer have stamina costs associated with them. This will allow players to parkour around Villedor in a much more fluid manner.

The effects of the update will only apply before the Pilgrim’s Path quest and after the end of the Markers of Plague quest, which involve the player getting bit by a Volatile, and ending with an inhibitor being used at the end of the quest chain. Even after this, stamina will continue to be a crucial resource for things like combat, underwater swimming, and using the paraglider.

The update will also bring with it a host of bug fixes, including unclear messages that showed up on the screen for players in co-op that were kicked out of the game session by the host. Some of the technical issues fixed by the update also include bugs that could make players fall under the map, as well as various crashes. Check out the full list of changes below.

Along with this, Dying Light 2 Stay Human is also getting the G.R.E. Mascot Bundle, which allows players to don an outfit that makes them look like former G.R.E. mascot Globby the Elephant. The bundle also includes new equipment blueprints for a weapon as well as a plush grenade.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human Version 1.24 patch notes:

Game Updates

Co-Op

• Fixed an unclear message that appeared on screen after being kicked by the host

Tower Raid

• Fixed the issue where the “Lower Body Workout” bounty would count kicks on dead enemies
• Fixed the issue with the DIY Grenade displaying the wrong item name
• Fixed Sola’s 25th reward that showed the wrong item name
• Fixed an issue where Breach’s starting weapon used a tip mod of a different rarity than shown on the blueprint
• Fixed the issue with the Craft Parts Bundle item using the chest icon
• Fixed the issues with skin clipping through the Bad Office Day Outfit

Gameplay

• Flashlight rework during the main quest cutscenes and dialogues
• Revised select dialogues and scenes for a more streamlined story
• Fixed an issue where the co-op menu displayed the incorrect online status for friends
• Fixed the inconsistency with stamina regeneration when set to Tactical mode
• Fixed the issue with polearm animation in the menu
• Updated the “Immunity drain” text to read, “Immunity drain when being hit by an enemy”
• Fixed the issue where the hatch in “The Only Way Out” quest sometimes wouldn’t open

Technical

• Fixed the issue causing the player to fall under the map upon arriving at the Carnage Hall
• Fixed the issue with the Fire Brigade Cap Charm not being visible after attaching it to weapons
• Fixed the issue with charms changing size
• Fixed the issue with player’s inventory slots being blocked by certain non-droppable items of unique rarity
• Fixed various crashes
• Fixed visible clipping on the paraglider backpack from the Friend of Aiden Bundle
• Fixed the Terminal Headache trophy not registering when using firearms

This console generation has given us gamers with certain experiences that adhere to this principles of best design, and with this feature – we will be discussing exactly that as we run down 10 of the best PS5 games where going off the beaten path is more fun than sticking to the main quest.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding was a novel idea that birthed an entirely new genre in the medium of gaming – the Strand genre. It wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but those who stuck around found a lot to love in Kojima’s post-apocalyptic adventure. With the sequel, however, Kojima Productions has taken what came before to new heights – making the core gameplay a lot better this time around with plenty of new tools and tricks.

Much like the predecessor, a lot of what makes Death Stranding 2 so fun and addictive isn’t nestled in its main quest, but rather what surrounds that central narrative pillar. The many side quests littered throughout the map are quite literally fetch requests, but Death Stranding 2 smartly introduces complexities and interesting situations onto these objectives that make them tick off your journal more than chore-like.

Doing deliveries and building structures strengthens your social strand level, gives you more information about this new world, and makes this rendition of the real world feel eerily alive.

]]> 625242 https://gamingbolt.com/dying-light-the-beast-will-focus-more-on-the-aftermath-of-the-original-dying-light-than-the-sequel Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:46:48 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=623233 While Dying Light: The Beast is being seen internally at Techland as a proper new entry to the franchise rather than just a spin-off, it looks like the game will be going back on some of the narrative decisions from Dying Light 2 Stay Human. In an interview with GamesRadar, franchise director Tymon Smektala spoke about these narrative decisions, and how Dying Light: The Beast will focus more on the fallout from the events of the original Dying Light.

“We wanted this to be a canon entry into the series,” said Smektala. “We’re looking back at what happened to Kyle Crane in the first game, and we want to tell the next chapter of the story.” He went on to say that Dying Light: The Beast is an attempt by the studio to “get back to what we know from Dying Light 1”.

A big part of this decision comes down to the ambiguity surrounding Dying Light protagonist Kyle Crane. Dying Light 2 Stay Human, for context, featured a completely new protagonist in a new setting. Crane’s fate, on the other hand, was left open to interpretation owing to choices in the final missions of the original game’s expansion, The Following.

Smektala revealed that the next game will give us a clearer idea of where the series goes next. A big part of this revolves around exploring the ultimate fate of Kyle Crane.

“One thing that Dying Light: The Beast does is hint at the future of the series,” he explained. “We really wanted to make sure that at the end of the game, Kyle Crane is where we want him to be, so that’s why we decided to back down from the narrative choices of Dying Light 2.”

Dying Light: The Beast seems like it’s shaping up to be an earnest attempt by Techland to undo some of the mistakes it believes to have made with Dying Light 2 Stay Human. In an earlier interview, Smektala spoke about how the title “sacrificed some of the Dying Light DNA” to appeal to a wider audience.

“Our fans were telling us ‘That’s not it, that’s not what made you so special,’” he said, referring to the studio wanting to provide a more polished AAA experience with Dying Light 2 Stay Human.

“We want to deliver both,” he said. “We want to deliver the AAA quality, but at the same time, we want to deliver proof that our mojo is not gone, that our mojo is not there, and we know what makes Dying Light, Dying Light. And if players say, ‘Wow, this feels like Dying Light 1, and it looks so amazing, it’s such a polished game’, then I think we’ll be very, very happy.”

Dying Light: The Beast is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 22 and later this year for Xbox One and PS4.

Smektala said that “when we were releasing Dying Light 1, we were this underdog studio that no one expected to do such a kickass game as Dying Light was.” Further in the interview, he also acknowledged once again that the studio had left behind some of the aspects that made Dying Light so beloved when it came to working on Dying Light 2 Stay Human.

While Dying Light 2 Stay Human “was a commercial success,” Smektala went on to talk about how “maybe we made some missteps.” One of these missteps, he noted, was trying to get a wider audience for the sequel by making the game more accessible, but he also admits that the studio “sacrificed some of the Dying Light DNA.”

“Our fans were telling us ‘that’s not it, that’s not what made you so special,'” Smektala said, referring to the studio wanting to provide a more polished AAA experience with Dying Light 2 Stay Human. Ultimately, however, he notes that the studio is now aiming to provide players with both aspects – polish as well as the core Dying Light DNA.

“We want to deliver both,” he said. “We want to deliver the AAA quality, but at the same time, we want to deliver proof that our mojo is not gone, that our mojo is not there, and we know what makes Dying Light, Dying Light. And if players say ‘wow, this feels like Dying Light 1, and it looks so amazing, it’s such a polished game’, then I think we’ll be very, very happy.”

These recent comments echo what Smektala had said earlier this month about some of the decisions the studio made when it came to making Dying Light 2 Stay Human. “With [Dying Light 1], we really managed to create a game where every piece fit together, and maybe we didn’t appreciate it enough,” Smektała said.

“Dying Light 1 was a game for our core community. It was a hardcore survival horror, open world, action adventure with very strong survival aspects. For Dying Light 2, we forgot about it. The game was a commercial success, but the players who should be closest to our hearts said we kind of lost the edge, we lost the threat, we lost the horror, we lost the tension.”

He also spoke about how the studio sees Dying Light: The Beast as more of a proper sequel rather than a spin-off, despite the title’s origins as an expansion for Dying Light 2 Stay Human.

“Maybe the project started with a slightly smaller ambition, but we got so excited about Kyle Crane returning,” he said. “We got so excited about, actually, what we can do with this new iteration of the engine, how confident we feel about the gameplay mechanics.”

Dying Light: The Beast is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on August 22.

To celebrate the series’ 10th anniversary, Techland has also announced that it is going to release new free updates for both the original Dying Light and Dying Light 2 Stay Human soon. The former will receive new rewards and enhancements (including visual improvements and a remastered soundtrack) and bring back familiar events. Meanwhile, Dying Light 2’s update will further tweak the prologue and also make the co-op roguelike mode Tower Raid a permanent part of the game.

Beyond that, Techland is also selling both games at discounted rates, with Dying Light 2 seeing a steep 67 percent discount, which is the highest discount it has seen from the publisher since its release.

Series fans also have another game to look forward to, with spinoff Dying Light: The Beast due out for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC this Summer.

Demon’s Souls

What better place to start your journey with some of the best single-player titles on the PS5 than with the remake of a classic that also happens to be a launch title for Sony’s current generation of consoles? Sure, the remake of Demon’s Souls, courtesy of Bluepoint, doesn’t quite nail the intense atmosphere of the original, but the game still happens to be an absolute treat when it comes to visuals, and more importantly, it’s still excellent evidence that FromSoftware – the studio behind the original Demon’s Souls – knew what it was doing when it came to gameplay, combat, and level design, even all the way back in 2009.

Evil West

While the current landscape of video game releases is largely populated by massive big-budget AAA games as well as indie titles made by smaller crews, Evil West manages to prove that there also exists a solid middle-ground. While not polished to a mirror sheen like a AAA title would have been, Evil West is an excellent third-person action-adventure game that, despite looking like it was ripped straight out of the PS3/Xbox 360 console generation, still happens to be a good time even today.

Returnal

Quite easily one of the more challenging games on the PS5, Returnal is a great example of some of the capabilities of the console. Alongside featuring excellent gunplay, Returnal also makes great use of some of the PS5’s core features, including near-instant load times, the use of haptic feedback on the DualSense controller, and even offering resistance through the controller’s triggers to offer up multiple firing modes for your weapons. The plot in Returnal is also quite interesting, playing into some classic tragedies through the lens of a sci-fi time-loop story.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

How does one follow up on what is widely regarded as one of the best superhero titles out there? Why, you make it bigger and better, of course. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 builds on both of its predecessors by featuring multiple protagonists, as well as a whole new set of antagonists Peter Parker and Miles Morales to fight against. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is essentially an improvement over the last couple of games in every way, complete with more content, as well as expanded gameplay features and new abilities. Playing as Venom was just an icing on the cake!

The Last of Us Part 1

While the fact that The Last of Us Part 1 is essentially the third time the same game is being re-released, there is a good reason for this: it’s just an all-round excellent game. Featuring intense gameplay that seamlessly switches between a variety of genres, from running-and-gunning, to stealthily taking out groups of human enemies, to even a fair bit of horror as you try and avoid the horrific cordyceps as you journey alongside Joel and Ellie across America. The story and characters of The Last of Us Part 1 are especially notable, with strong writing and character dynamics good enough that it inspired an HBO adaptation.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered follows up on what is considered by many to be one of the best games ever made by giving us a wide, sweeping story that tells us a story about vengeance, and the cycle of hatred that keeps getting perpetuated. Featuring multiple playable characters throughout the game, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered goes to great lengths in not only humanizing even the enemies you often end up fighting, but also allowing us to understand their actions, as heinous as they may have been. This is paired with some excellent gameplay that expertly blends melee and ranged combat, as well as a heavy dose of stealth.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade

Final Fantasy 7 Remake kicks off what is set to be a trilogy in retelling the story of the seminal Final Fantasy 7, complete with modern visuals, as well as gameplay that blends the original’s turn-based combat with real-time action in a way that not only feels satisfying thanks to the tactical options it opens up, but also allows for some great gameplay customization. The game is also notable since, rather than just being a 1:1 remake of the original, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is also trying to explore what the very concept of a remake can be, complete with a meta narrative that shifts the core themes and foundations of Final Fantasy 7 in meaningful and interesting ways.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Following up on Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth sets players loose in a vast, expansive open world. Picking up right after the events of the first game, Rebirth not only gives us a greater look at the world, but thanks to its many bits of side-content strewn throughout its world, also allows us to understand the various nations, civilizations, and even flora and fauna that dot the landscape. While zooming out for its grand tale, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth also zooms into its individual characters, giving us a much deeper look at various characters like Cloud, Aerith, and Barret.

Astro Bot

While 3D platformers are quite rare outside of the indie space and Nintendo’s platforms, Team Asobi knocked it out of the park with Astro Bot, giving us one of the most fun, endearing, and joyful games on the system. Astro Bot features levels and characters from all over PlayStation’s history, along with a great soundtrack that pays homage to many of these games, as well as fantastic platforming gameplay that, while accessible for just about anyone that might be interested in playing games, can also offer up a decent level of challenge in its later stages.

God of War Ragnarok

Following up on the story of the 2018 reboot, Fimbulwintr has arrived, and things are looking quite grim in all the realms. While Atreus has to figure out how he can deal with the coming apocalypse as well as the machinations of their foes, Kratos, on the other hand, has to figure out how to deal with a particularly vengeful mother, while also keeping his son safe. Ragnarok builds on the gameplay foundations laid by its predecessor, bringing with it a large variety in terms of not only combat options, but also enemy types, locations, and challenges that can be taken on.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

An excellent entry in the long-running franchise, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart brings with it quite a few new interesting gameplay twists that make full use of the PS5’s hardware. One of its biggest contributions to the franchise is the introduction of a new protagonist in Rivet, who, much like Ratchet, is a Lombax that has a knack for using improbable weapons to deal with problems at hand. The game also features excellent visuals, as well as frantic combat thanks to the rift mechanic that allows players to instantly transport themselves between various places during a fight.

Final Fantasy 16

While far from the most-loved game in the RPG genre, Final Fantasy 16 still proves itself to be an excellent entry thanks to its fantastic combat mechanics. Final Fantasy 16 tells the story of former slave Clive Rosfield, who has set out to rid the world of slavery, while also fighting to take on challenging encounters that threatens the existence of all humanity in the land of Valisthea. Along with its fast-paced action gameplay, Final Fantasy 16 players can also expect to enjoy epic boss fights where Eikons clash against each other in arenas of improbable scale and size.

Control Ultimate Edition

Control is quite easily one of the strangest modern games to have been released. Taking place in a mysterious building known as the Oldest House, which also happens to serve as the headquarters for an inter-dimensional government agency known as the Federal Bureau of Control, players take on the role of Jesse Faden, who is exploring the building in an effort to find her long-lost brother. Thanks to a series of strange events, Jesse finds herself becoming the new Director of the FBC, uncovering and using new powers as she continues her exploration. The gameplay in Control revolves around fast-paced shootouts, coupled with players making use of Jesse’s psychic abilities to throw things around and fly in the air.

The Nioh Collection

Two of the most unique takes on the Souls-like genre, both of the Nioh games have an emphasis on precise, fast-paced combat which serves a sharp contrast to the more slow-paced gameplay the genre is known for. Players also have an incredibly-vast arsenal of weapons, each with different movesets that also change depending on the stance the player takes. It’s also worth noting that both games also feature loot-based progression along with character-based mechanics, which encourages further replayability, thanks to the presence of ever more challenging encounters as the players experience their own rise in power.

Baldur’s Gate 3

One of the most celebrated titles of recent times, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an expansive RPG that is absolutely stunning. Playable characters tend to have their own stories, motivations, and goals. The game also features an in-depth turn-based combat system that gives players an immense level of freedom in taking on encounters, which can range from simple hack-and-slash tactics, to throwing your Halfling friend at an enemy Ogre to keep them distracted while you lay explosive traps all over the place.

Elden Ring

FromSoftware’s most recent Souls-like release has essentially become one of the definitive takes on the genre. The game features excellent combat that rewards players striking their enemies with efficiency, along with a large open world that players are completely free to explore, as long as they can survive. Elden Ring got a DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, which takes place in the Land of Shadows, where players take on a journey to discover why they decided to come to the Lands Between to begin with.

Resident Evil Village

While Resident Evil Village is more action-oriented than its predecessor, it still manages to maintain the classic horror vibes that the series is well-known for. The game puts players in the shoes of Ethan Winters, who has set off to a rural European city to find his daughter. The game features a number of different styles of horror, ranging from classic gothic horror in dealing with Lady Dimitrescu, to more stealth-based body horror when the player finds themselves trapped in that haunted house. Resident Evil Village also serves as an ending to the story of Ethan Winters, complete with an expansion that explores the physical and mental state of a grown up Rosemary Winters.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Following in the foundations of the new gameplay systems laid by Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth once again returns players into the shoes of Ichiban Kasuga, who finds himself traveling to Hawaii because of events that derail his life in Yokohama. The game sees the return of the turn-based combat system from the previous game, but with more gameplay features to make better use of environmental weapons, as well as an expanded list of Jobs that players can switch between for a larger variety of abilities to use in fights. And if that isn’t enough, there’s also an entire Pokemon-style game, complete with its own combat system and storyline.

Alan Wake 2

A sequel more than a decade in the making, Alan Wake 2 is one of the best horror experiences out there. The game features some downright fantastic gameplay, dual protagonists each with their own unique gameplay mechanics, and a story that, while also tying up the threads left dangling by the original Alan Wake, also manages to tell its own tale in a fun way. Alan Wake 2 puts players in the shoes of the titular Alan Wake, as well as FBI agent Saga Anderson, each of whom is trying to solve the mysteries surrounding Bright Falls. A big theme in Alan Wake 2 is light, and along with some great level design and fun combat, the game also features a fantastic two DLCs that are an absolute must play.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 puts players in the shoes of protagonist V and sets them loose in Night City where they aim to build up their own legend and become remembered like the mercenaries of old. The game features a fantastic story that has V grapple with their own mortality, as well as question the very nature of a person’s soul. Along with a fun cast of side characters, including Johnny Silverhand played by Keanu Reeves, the game also got a DLC release – Phantom Liberty – which features a whole new area, as well as a new story, and new characters. Cyberpunk 2077 is also a visual treat, pushing even modern console hardware to its limits in its gorgeous rendition of Night City.

Hi-Fi Rush

Developed by the studio behind The Evil Within and its sequel, Hi-Fi Rush is a bright, cheerful, colourful third-person hack-and-slash action game with a twist: it’s also a rhythm game. The protagonist, Chai, has a music player implanted into his heart, which not only ends up giving the game a rather fantastic soundtrack, but also encourages players to hack-and-slash their way through enemies to the rhythm of the music. The unique title features a fun cast of characters, as well as some rather fantastic boss fights, all with excellent gameplay mechanics.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers one of the most unique open-world RPGs out there. The game features a dynamic combat system that encourages players to come up with their own combinations of attacks and special ability, as well as a progression system that doesn’t limit the player to any single archetype, allowing them to freely switch between ranged combat as a Ranger, to melee combat as a Knight, and even spell-casting. While the game suffered from performance issues at launch, constant updates since then have made playing the title a much smoother experience.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

While Mass Effect 3 stumbled quite a bit in its storytelling, the original Mass Effect trilogy is still remembered fondly, and the Legendary Edition proves that nostalgia doesn’t have anything to do with it. Even when compared to modern contemporaries, the Mass Effect trilogy features a downright fantastic sci-fi story set in a believable galaxy where humanity finally achieved interstellar travel. The game also presents players with plenty of choices to make along the way, which further define not only how the world reacts to them, but how the story plays out as well.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut

Set during the Mongol invasion of the island of Tsushima, Ghost of Tsushima revolves around Jin Sakai, who takes up arms and rallies the survivors into driving the Mongols out. Throughout his time on the island, Sakai is forced to grapple with the duality of the Samurai code of honor, as well as the need to take out powerful enemies stealthily. The game features fast-paced combat, a fun stealth system, plenty of tools to use in and out of fights, and a drop-dead gorgeous island to explore in order to find better equipment and materials to upgrade your swords. It can also often be just as fun to relax in a hot spring, pet some foxes, or write a haiku every once in a while. Oh and don’t miss its fantasy expansion, Iki Island!

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown provides a platforming experience that would rival some of the best titles in the genre. The game puts players in the shoes of Sargon, who finds himself trapped in a temporal labyrinth. In his quest to discover the mysteries surrounding the kidnapping of a certain character, Sargon must fight his way out of the labyrinth as he explores the game’s intricate world and unlocks new powers to unleash on his enemies.

Stray

Far from a high-stakes action game like many other titles in this list, Stray is a more relaxing adventure title where players take on the role of a cat that is trying to get back to their family. The game focuses more on environmental storytelling than using traditional methods, and has players explore an intricately-made cyberpunk world where humans don’t seem to exist anymore, and the world is instead populated by robots.

Jusant

A unique title about self-discovery, Jusant is a game about climbing. Taking on the role of an unnamed boy, players will get to work, climbing up a gigantic rock tower. As they get higher and higher, players will discover just what happened to the world through environmental storytelling, as well as notes or pieces of art left behind. Interestingly, players can’t really die in Jusant, which acts as encouragement to continue exploring and discovering the secrets of the tower.

Horizon Forbidden West

A follow-up to Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West once again has players take on the role of Aloy who must respond to a new threat, since the Derangement hasn’t yet stopped. As its name might imply, the game takes place in the lawless land in the west, where Aloy is equipped with new abilities and tools at her disposal to explore, as well as take on new machines. Along the way, Aloy will also find new technologies, as well as secrets about her own past. Its expansion Burning Shores is a visual masterpiece and something you should not miss.

Lost Judgment

While protagonist Takayuki Yagami developed quite a bit thanks to the events of Judgment, Lost Judgment puts his convictions to the test with an intense story about schoolyard bullying gone too far, and resulting in a series of deaths. The game takes place in Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon’s setting of Yokohama, revolving around the local high school. When it comes to gameplay, Lost Judgment features a number of enhancements to its combat system, including new stances that Yagami can learn to help him better take on enemies through either counter-based gameplay, or straight-up boxing.

Lies of P

While most Souls-like games tend to be more inspired from titles like Dark Souls, Lies of P instead decided to take its lessons from Bloodborne. Taking on the role of a Pinocchio in a dark retelling of the classic tale, players will explore the city of Krat as they try and look for Mr. Geppetto. The game features an intense, fast-paced combat system that also has players mix-and-match between various weapon parts to violent results.

The Quarry

The first standalone game by developer Supermassive Games since it started its Dark Pictures Anthology, The Quarry is a throwback to classic horror movies of old. The game puts players in the shoes of a number of teenagers who manage to find themselves at the mercy of a mysterious, seemingly monstrous killer on their last day as camp counselors. As they play through the game’s story, players will find themselves making choices that not only affect the story in minor ways, but will also essentially decide who survives the whole ordeal. It’s worth noting that The Quarry has quite an impressive cast, played by actors like David Arquette, Ted Raimi, and Justice Smith.

Black Myth: Wukong

Set some time after the events of the Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong puts players in the shoes of the Destined One. His enemies launch an assault on the monkey people, which prompts the Wukong, into action. Along the way, players will have to take on several challenges, including combat against mysterious creatures. The graphics are outstanding, the gameplay is simply superb and there are a ton of secrets to be found. Quite easily, Black Myth Wukong is this year’s game of the year contender.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

Taking place in a distant future full of giant mechs, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon puts players in the shoes of a mercenary Armored Core pilot that is taking on missions from the highest bidder in order to carve out a place for themselves in a war scarred world. The game features fast-paced mech combat that not only rewards reflexes, but also strategy thanks to the in-depth mechanics of your mech’s loadouts. The game also features an intricate story that tells the grand story of an epic war through the lens of the various missions you take on.

System Shock Remake

While it doesn’t really deviate too much from what the original System Shock, the remake certainly manages to make itself the definitive way to experience the classic first-person horror title. Not only does it feature more modern gameplay, complete with a redesigned HUD, it also expertly simulates the original’s visual style in a modern way by making use of high-resolution visuals that somehow look retro in all the best ways. System Shock Remake is one of those rare remakes out there that manages to hang on to its roots, while also bringing in more accessible gameplay that would allow more players to experience the classic.

Nobody Wants to Die

A narrative adventure game, Nobody Wants to Die is a cyberpunk noir story that puts players in the shoes of James Karra, a detective with the NYPD’s Department of Morality. Karra is tasked with figuring out the secrets behind a murder of an important person in a world where dying – especially for the rich – isn’t really a problem anymore. As players uncover layers of conspiracies happening all around them, they will also find themselves making choices that affect the world, all while they’re hot in the trail of a serial killer that is targeting the elite of New York.

Dead Space Remake

Dead Space Remake manages to be more than just a fresh coat of paint. While it manages to hang on to the original’s core identity, the remake also brings with it a host of changes to various aspects, including a better-balanced arsenal that protagonist Isaac Clarke has more reason to use, as well as some impressive gory visuals thanks to how detailed the horrifying necromorphs can look at times. The Dead Space Remake is definitely well worth your time, especially if the thought of dismembering your enemies from a distance sound like an appealing prospect.

Sniper Elite 5

Taking place directly after the events of Sniper Elite 4’s Deathstorm DLC, Sniper Elite 5 once again puts players in the shoes of Karl Fairburne as he takes on Nazi forces. The game takes place before the events of the infamous Normandy’s landing on D-Day, with players tasked with taking out key targets and gathering intel that will allow the allied powers to take on the Nazis. While a third-person shooter, Sniper Elite 5 places a heavy emphasis on scouting and sniping enemies, as well as stealth–based gameplay. Much like other titles in the franchise, Sniper Elite 5 also features the special camera angles that allow players to see exactly how they’re killing enemies from a distance.

Sifu

An intense martial arts experience, Sifu tells the story of a student who sets out to avenge the murder of their master. The game features a unique mechanic where, the more the player dies, the older their character gets, allowing them to do more damage. On the other hand, being older also means that you have less health, and can’t take as many hits from enemies. The game’s fast-paced combat system allows players to live out their favourite martial arts movie fantasies, allowing players to take on enemies with quick hand-to-hand combos, intricate grapples, and even improvised weapons grabbed from all over the level.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has players taking on the role of Star-Lord, joined by other members of the eponymous Guardians, including Gamora, Draxx, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot. The game features a unique combat system that has players make use of all of their crew members’ various abilities, each with unique effects, along with a fun story that could just as easily be ripped right out of the pages of a comic book. The game is well-regarded for its excellent dialogue and writing, and the scoring system manages to keep the combat interesting throughout its runtime.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Developed by a studio known for its work in animation in the film industry, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is definitely a visual treat. The game features some downright wonderful art and animations that could just as easily be ripped out of a big-budget animated movie, while also featuring good action gameplay. The story revolves around the titular Kena, who is on a journey to uncover the secrets of an old abandoned village. Kena: Bridge of Spirits features fast-paced combat, adorable critters, and downright jaw-dropping visuals and animations.

Conscript

A unique take on the horror genre, Conscript throws players into the trenches of the World War as they take on not only enemy soldiers, but also try and scavenge for supplies. The game features pixel-art visuals that, despite their simplicity, do a great job of instilling a sense of dread and urgency in players. As they continue their journey of survival through the trenches, players will also find themselves trapped in an intricate web of trenches and bunkers that they must navigate if they want to have any hope of surviving. There is also quite a bit of replayability, thanks to additional difficulty options, as well as endings to unlock.

Stellar Blade

A stylish sci-fi action game Stellar Blade, the player is tasked with reclaiming Earth for humanity. The game features fast-paced combat, and players will take on a variety of different enemies with various weapons and abilities that they find throughout their time.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

A remaster of a game originally released on the Xbox 360, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has players take on the role of reporter Frank West, as he sets out to investigate the mysterious events surrounding a mall in Willamette, Colorado. The game features a unique gameplay structure where players are expected to make slow progress, often involving dying and restarting, and finding more powerful improvised weaponry, as they take on massive zombie hordes in a mall. The game also features a 72-hour time limit, giving players a sense of urgency in their hunt for answers and fight for survival.

Until Dawn Remake

While the original PS4 release is well-regarded in its own right, the remake for Until Dawn allows more players than ever before to experience the classic schlocky slasher horror story. Featuring a memorable cast and crew, the actions of whom lies in the player’s hands depending on the choices they make, Until Dawn also promotes replayability thanks to the fact that the story and endings can change in interesting ways depending on who lives and who dies throughout the harrowing encounters the game offers.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Developed by Bloober Team, the remake of Silent Hill 2 pays homage to the seminal PS2 horror game while still maintaining its own identity. While it focuses on retelling the story of protagonist James Sutherland who has reached the eponymous town in search of answers to mysterious questions, the remake features a number of new gameplay elements, including a new over-the-shoulder camera, as well as brand new visuals and voice acting that aim to give a new life to what is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror games ever made. And boy, it succeeded with a bang!

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

A follow-up to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Survivor once again puts players into the shoes of Jedi Knight Cal Kestis. The game takes place five years after the original, with Kestis taking the responsibility of rebuilding the Jedi order on his own shoulders. The title features the same gameplay as Fallen Order, along with new additions, including the ability to make use of different types of lightsabers, including the iconic dual-bladed lightsaber first introduced in the hands of Darth Maul in A Phantom Menace. The game also features new force abilities, as well as additional lightsaber stances that players can make use of to take on the various combat challenges the game throws their way.

Hitman: World of Assassination

Hitman: World of Assassination allows players to play through the entire storyline of the Hitman games, complete with new gameplay mechanics. Taking on the role of Agent 47, players will travel to various locations as they take on contracts to eliminate key characters in a vast criminal conspiracy. The game also features its own unique take on the roguelite genre in the form of the Freelancer mode, which gives players randomised targets and methods of assassination as they build up their arsenal of weapons, tools, and even disguises by making money.

Hogwarts Legacy

Widely accepted as one of the first great games set in the expansive Harry Potter universe, Hogwarts Legacy divorces itself from its source material by taking place in the past, well before the events of the original books take place. As a fresh transfer to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, players will have the chance to create their own character and live out their fantasies of learning magic among the school’s iconic teaching staff. Along the way, players will also take part in magical duels, as well as take on threats including a goblin uprising, as well as wizard criminals.

Dead Island 2

In Dead Island 2, players take on the role of one of six survivors who find themselves in Los Angeles. The world has moved on from being scared of the walking dead, and some people have even found themselves enjoying the carnage that results from fighting the shambling hordes. The game features crazy weapons, as well as a host of new tools and items which will allow you to pull off some crazy zombie kills.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

Taking place six years after the events of the original Oxenfree, Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals is a brand new coming-of-age story, this time around focusing on Riley Poverly, who is investigating a mysterious radio interference coming from Edwards Islands. Players have to explore the island while completing their mission of placing transmitters at key locations, and ultimately deal with a malevolent force that is threatening the world. Much like the original, gameplay in Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals once again revolves around the player interacting with the locals as they try and figure out what is happening on the island.

Viewfinder

A unique game that relies more on the player’s sense of perception and logical puzzle-solving than their twitch action reflexes, Viewfinder gives players a camera and sets them loose in a virtual reality world. The game features many themes, especially ones dealing with environmental issues, as players are forced to deal with the problems created by man-made structures, including a weather-control machine that might end up being the solution to the global problem of climate change.

Lords of the Fallen

Lords of the Fallen is a unique take on the Souls-like genre. Lords of the Fallen takes place in a Mournstead that is on the brink of collapse. The player, referred to in the game as the Lampbearer, has to travel between the material and Umbral world as they take on the hellish new challenges throughout the land. The game features an excellent combat system that gives players a greater level of freedom in how they tackle enemies.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

Featuring Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: Lost Legacy, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is a bundle that tells the story of the final adventure of series protagonist Nathan Drake, as well as a side adventure featuring characters that Drake has encountered throughout his different games – Chloe Frazer from Uncharted 2 and Nadine Ross from Uncharted 4. While featuring the same over the top action that the series is well-regarded for, the duo of Uncharted games in the bundle also feature their own unique twists in the series, including the addition of a small, open world in Uncharted: Lost Legacy where players have more freedom to take on objectives in a variety of different ways.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

Taking place in a time well after the zombie apocalypse has ravaged mankind, Dying Light 2: Stay Human puts players in the shoes of Aiden Caldwell, who finds himself in the city of Villedor in search of his missing sister. The game features a number of new gameplay mechanics over its predecessor, supplementing the melee combat and parkour-based movement with a variety of new abilities, including a glider and a grappling hook that greatly increases the mobility offered to players. The game also got a series of DLC releases, each of which added new gameplay elements as well as new story content for players to experience and earn epic loot in.

Ghostwire: Tokyo

A single-player action-horror title, Ghostwire: Tokyo is an interesting game thanks to the unique look it offers players with Tokyo’s famous Shibuya district. The city has been struck by a strange fog that has allowed spirits to roam its streets, and the protagonist, Akito, finds himself torn between the living and dead thanks to the machinations of the spirit KK. The game features a dense open-world where players can explore the various nooks and crannies of Shibuya to their heart’s content, while also taking on malicious spirits with a host of spiritual weapons. The game also got a DLC in the form of Spider’s Thread, which brought with it a new map, along with new abilities, and even a new roguelite game mode.

Grand Theft Auto V

Sure, the game might be more than a decade old at this point, but few other titles out there can provide players with the same experience as Grand Theft Auto 5. The single-player campaign of the game puts players in the shoes of Michael, Trevor and Franklin as they pull off a series of escalating heists, all of which ultimately pits them against more conspiratorial forces, while also making each one of the characters question their loyalty to each other. GTA 5 also features the multiplayer Grand Theft Auto Online mode, which allows players to become the ultimate crime boss in Los Santos, while also teaming up with, or fighting off other players with similar aspirations.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever

A unique take in the RPG genre that makes use of the developers’ East-Asian influences, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever sets players free in a world that mixes classical Asian aesthetics with ancient stories. The game features a whole party of unique characters, each with their own personalities, motivations, and abilities, as they take on the massive challenges that will ultimately decide the fate of the game’s world. Despite being the latest entry in a long-running franchise, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is meant to be a good point of entry for newcomers to the series, featuring a standalone story that doesn’t rely on a player’s knowledge of the previous titles.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is the first mainline entry in the classic platforming franchise since all the way back in the PSOne days. Featuring the return of classic mascot character in Crash Bandicoot and his friends, the game involves players trying to fix a hole in the space-time continuum that was caused due to the events of Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. The game features excellent platforming gameplay that players expect from the series, along with new gameplay mechanics, as well as incredibly trippy visuals.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A follow-up to A Plague Tale: Innocence, Requiem once again puts players in the shoes of Amicia and Hugo de Rune in their journey through hell. The game picks up right where its predecessor left off, with the two siblings trying to find the cure for the ailment Hugo is suffering from. A Plague Tale: Requiem will have players fight and sneak their way through plague-infested locations, while making use of Amicia’s new abilities thanks to her experience in dealing with fraught situations in the first game. And the rat hordes…those are hordes are absolutely massive this time around.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Although admittedly not Bioware’s best work, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a decent action role playing game that will give you dozens of hours of gameplay. Sure, the game has issues but it features excellent combat mechanics, beautiful graphics and great looking environments that are filled with details. If the developer had put in more work into the game, The Veilguard would have surely been a better game but as it stands right now, it’s a fine single player experience that is fun in more ways than one.

Those seeking even more frames can try Performance mode, which offers up to 120 frames per second with VRR. It renders at 1440p and upscales to 4K while improving the SSR, GI, contact shadows, spot shadows, fog quality, and sub-surface scattering quality. If fidelity is more important, there are Resolution and Quality modes.

The former offers native 4K and 30 FPS with improved contact shadows, GI, SSR and sub-surface scattering quality. The latter offers upscaled 4K (from 1440p) and 30 FPS alongside many of the same improvements but with ray tracing instead of better screen-space reflections.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human Reloaded Edition will be available on November 19th for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers. Check out our review of the base game.

Already got your hands on the new PlayStation 5 Pro? We’ve enhanced the graphics mode settings to optimize your gaming experience.

Find out more info here: https://t.co/MntVgIwzdQ#DyingLight2 pic.twitter.com/QjFuYxSlJB

— Dying Light (@DyingLightGame) November 14, 2024

For starters, there is, of course, the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, which is available to subscribers of both tiers. Among the many games that this library will add on November 19, some of the more notable ones of Grand Theft Auto 5, Dying Light 2 Stay Human, Like a Dragon: Ishin!, and Chivalry 2, among many others.

Meanwhile, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers also get access to legacy and VR titles every month, with this month’s offerings bringing Synapse for PS VR2, as well as classic PS1 and PS2 action-adventure titles Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Blood Omen 2, ahead of the December release of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered.

Finally, Insomniac Games’ beloved PS3 first-person shooters Resistance: Fall of Man and its sequel Resistance 2 will both also be available to PS Plus Premium subscribers, but only via streaming. You can check out the full list of upcoming additions across both tiers below.

PLAYSTATION PLUS GAME CATALOG

• Grand Theft Auto 5 (PS5, PS4)
• Dying Light 2 Stay Human (PS5, PS4)
• Like a Dragon: Ishin! (PS5, PS4)
• MotoGP 24 (PS5, PS4)
• The Sims 4 Island Living (PS4)
• Digimon Survive (PS4)
• Overcooked! All You Can Eat (PS5, PS4)
• Stick Fight: The Game (PS4)
• Clash: Artifacts of Chaos (PS5, PS4)
• Killer Frequency (PS5, PS4)
• Hungry Shark World (PS4)
• Chivalry 2 (PS5, PS4)

PLAYSTATION PLUS PREMIUM

• Synapse (PS VR2)
• Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain (PS5, PS40
• Blood Omen 2 (PS5, PS4)
• Resistance: Fall of Man
• Resistance 2

Take its map, for instance. Dying Light: The Beast will take players to a new setting in Castor Woods, but don’t expect it to be as large as Dying Light 2’s Villedor was. The same was confirmed by franchise director Tymon Smektala in a recent interview with GamingBolt, though he does also say that Castor Woods is going to be a “much more detailed” map, with a greater emphasis on more rewarding exploration, environmental storytelling, secrets, and what have you. 

“Castor Woods is an intense, atmospheric setting – a rural, forested valley with few diverse biomes, ranging from national park to industrial areas,” he said. “It’s smaller than the map of Dying Light 2 Stay Human, but it’s much more detailed, designed to make exploration rewarding at every turn. There’s a strong emphasis on environmental storytelling, with secrets, hidden paths, and lore woven into the landscape, each part of the map handcrafted by our artists. There are lots of mysteries hidden in this world, some going back in many many years, and we hope players will find themselves immersed in this eerie, desolate world and will have fun discovering it.”

Castor Woods is also going to deviate from what Dying Light has done in the past with its settings by being much less urban and instead putting players in the middle of a dense forest environment. How will that impact traversal and parkour throughout the map? According to Smektala, parkour will still be central, with Techland seemingly taking a more deliberate approach to designing parkour-focused environments within a new kind of biome. 

“Parkour is central to the Dying Light franchise, so we knew we had to keep it even if the environment is different,” he said. “The idea was that even if there are less structures, buildings to climb over and run through, we decided to make every one count – so there’s almost no buildings that you can just enter through the main door. To reach anywhere you need to use the agility of the main character. On top of that we’re also adding an opportunity to drive vehicles and this helps to travel between areas which have a bigger density of parkour obstacles and opportunities. But no matter the form of transportation – either it’s by foot or by car – it’s still the dynamic traversal our fans like a lot, just adapted for this unique environment.”

In the same interview, Smektala also spoke to us about the PS5 Pro’s PSSR, and how it can potentially impact development. Read more on that through here, and stay tuned for our full interview. 

Dying Light: The Beast is in development for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but doesn’t yet have a release date.