Sony’s console benefits from some of the most sought-after exclusives of this generation, and our top 10 PS4 games list champions some of the bigger experiences that make the greatest possible argument for curling up on the sofa in front of the best TV in the house. All of the games below are gobsmacking in their own right, with many unique to PlayStation 4.
1. The Last of Us Remastered
As exclusive PlayStation experiences go, this visual upgrade to the seminal PlayStation 3 title will always be essential in our books. Though it is possible to approach The Last of Us purely seeking the thrill of survival amid a zombie apocalypse, shooting at monsters, solving some puzzles, it is also impossible to ignore the hard-hitting narrative, almost from the beginning. That’s not to say that the action ever falls short of expectations; the Clickers are among the most terrifying enemies ever faced. Just brace yourself for an emotional ride too. That’s the memory that lingers longest.
2. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Naughty Dog raises the bar for believable human drama within a game while setting new standards for action-oriented sequences that are as gripping to watch as they are to play. Performances from Nolan North (Nathan), Troy Baker (Samuel), Emily Rose (Elena) and Richard McGonagle (Victor) are so natural that we find ourselves hanging off every word. Antagonists Rafe and Nadine (Warren Kole and Laura Bailey respectively) are complex too. We don’t want to ruin the stunning set-pieces for you, but expect to see the world around Drake behave every inch as explosively as the explorer himself.
3. Destiny 2
Bungie’s pioneering online looter-shooter takes a lot of flak from its biggest supporters, which tells you all you need to know about how important Destiny has become by now. How it came to matter so much is owing to teams of Guardians pulling together through some of the most breath-taking encounters in sci-fi FPS history, and by no means is this an understatement. True, Destiny 2 toys with a formula that has been in flux since 2014, and it’s this that has the loyalists up in arms. This doesn’t stop the core experience from being phenomenal.
4. Final Fantasy XV
Director Hajime Tabata and his team take a sideways look at traditional JRPG tropes, very aware of western perception, to present Final Fantasy XV as something new and compelling. It’s even fine that you make a rush to judgement regarding the main protagonists; a typical hero, his super-serious sidekicks plus that one guy who exists for comedy value, an idiot. That’s not who they really are, and Final Fantasy XV delights in not always panning out in ways we expect. Even during the occasions where XV isn’t perfect, its message is strong with moments that matter.
5. Life is Strange: Before the Storm
This interactive teen-angst drama from Deck Nine obviously benefits from the exceptional work of DONTNOD in Season One, but absolutely stands on its own merits. Before the Storm takes the brave step of casting aside all supernatural elements that we associated with Max, focusing instead on the troubled times of Chloe Price and unlikely partner in crime Rachel Amber. It’s a teenage tale, but only rarely are we conscious of the menial tasks that college students are dragged into, becoming increasingly aware of what’s happening in hearts and minds… and why. You should check it out.
6. Horizon Zero Dawn
It speaks to the charisma of lead protagonist Aloy that Guerrilla Games’ magnum opus can afford to stumble every now and then. Combat versus the machines can be repetitive, and the constant foraging for resources can be a bind; we need to mention these things to bring the credibility needed for our overall response to Horizon Zero Dawn. It’s a special, and very important in many ways, addition to the open-world Hall of Fame, that searches as deep as Assassin’s Creed for meaning without being tiresome, and takes on Lara Croft without ever becoming so corny.
7. Nier Automata
Hold that first thought you have upon seeing female-model android 2B. Remember it, and be ready to have it haunt you as your feelings toward humanity and what it means to be beautiful and worthy are chastised. Nier Automata is so self-aware, it becomes uncanny. You don’t need to worry about that too much, just enjoy the spectacular run-’n’-gun and report back with your completion time. If, however, Nier Automata impacts you the same way that it has stimulated conversations across the globe, one play-through will not be enough. Indeed, to return numerous times becomes essential.
8. Gravity Rush 2
Approximately 30 hours of breathless action await in this stylish sequel to a genre-defining classic. As Kat, the enigmatic heroine of the tale, we continue to master the unique, topsy-turvy acrobatic playstyle only this time in the new city of Jirga Para Lhao. It’s assumed that you’re already comfortable with spending a lot of the time figuring out which way is up, and therefore ready to explore. Gravity Rush 2 expands on the falling and flying appeal of the first game, allowing movement to feel more expressive, while daring us to scrutinise every glorious passing detail.
9. Gran Turismo Sport
The once-beloved single-player element of Gran Turismo takes a backseat to a new and deadly serious online structure that lures wannabe stars into the world of motorsport. While there are still license tests to take and hot laps to master in Campaign, our true measure of worth is reckoned in the GT Sport mode versus other humans. It’s almost MMO-like in presentation, with daily challenges and seasonal tournaments to keep drivers hungry for performance gains. Polyphony Digital has played this smart with sportsman-like conduct monitored to safeguard the serious competitors from any trolls and griefers.
10. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Among a surprising number of soul-searching gaming experiences throughout 2017, Senua's Sacrifice takes the crown for the most invested. On the surface, this is a glorious-to-observe hack-and-slash with an authentic Viking motif. Much, much deeper though is the psychosis theme, which studio Ninja Theory (Enslaved, DmC: Devil May Cry) consulted Cambridge professors and sufferers to sensitively realize. Lead protagonist Senua pursues a Kratos-like journey into the Norse underworld, but the monsters she faces are often the voices inside her own mind. Senua’s journey is short, under 10 hours, but the lessons are worth it.