Considering how long Sony has been operating in the gaming space, it’s not all that surprising that the company has been able to build up a broad and varied library full of popular IPs. However, not allbig PlayStation franchiseswere created equal, nor are they all held in the same high regard.
The best PlayStation franchises have sold countless copies between them and boast some ofthe most impressive Metacritic scores in the history of gaming. Even some of the weaker Sony series have shown flashes of brilliance at times, helping to cement the PlayStation’s place near the very top of the pile.
The (Naughty) Dog’s Bo****ks
The Last of Us
There aren’t many games that could bereleased across three consecutive console generationswithout drawing ire from players. However, such is the popularity of Naughty Dog’sThe Last of Usseries, most players were happy with the first game being remastered and then later remade for the PS4 and PS5 respectively. Though certainly divisive, the sequel built upon the narrative-driven survival horror experience that was on offer in the original to great effect, while also casting the morality of the series' main protagonists into the spotlight.
God of War
TheGod of Warfranchise was always great, but the 2018 reboot helped to elevate it to a whole other level. Not only was thisolder version of Kratosmuch more relatable than his younger, angrier self, but the quality of the storytelling improved dramatically; delving much more deeply into the primary characters than previous installments ever had. The combat in both it and its 2022 sequel could perhaps have been a little deeper but was still pretty enjoyable for what it was.
Uncharted
There’s a lot to love about theUnchartedfranchise, from its wonderful set-piece moments to itsflawed yet relatable main protagonist, Nathan Drake. Even without the latter though, the franchise still has a lot to offer, as evidenced by the success of 2017’sUncharted: The Lost Legacy. Some will perhaps feel that it’s time for Naughty Dog to move on for good, but there are plenty of players who’d be more than happy if a newUnchartedgame were to be announced; with or without Nathan Drake.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Naughty Dog was arguably Sony’s most productive first-part studio throughout the PS3 and PS4 eras, but it’s Insomniac that’s leading the charge in the current console generation. By taking a page from theYakuzaplaybook, the Burbank-based studio has been able to release three brand-new games in as many years, as well asa remastered edition of 2017’sMarvel’s Spider-Man. The latter and its sequels are arguably the team’s crowning achievement, in terms of both their critical and commercial success.
The Edge of Glory
Horizon
It could perhaps be argued thatHorizonhas done enough to earn its place among the best PlayStation franchises, but the general consensus seems to be that it’s not quite there yet. Sure, the Decima engine on which the games were built is incredible, allowing for one ofthe best-looking open worlds to date, and the narrative is pretty interesting too. However, many feel that it doesn’t quite do enough to set itself apart from other open-world adventure games, particularly when it comes to side content.
Ghost of Tsushima
Though it’s yet to be officially announced as of the time of writing, many industry insiders seem adamant that aGhost of Tsushimasequel is in the works at Sucker Punch. If it were somehow able to live up to the brilliance of the original game then that would almost certainly catapult the franchise into the S-tier. However, given that a big part of what made the first game so compelling was Jin’s transformation from noble samurai into the titular character (not to mention the game’s focus on the Mongol invasion of Tsushima and Iki), it’s difficult to imaginehow aGhost of Tsushimasequel could work.
Destiny
Destinyand its 2017 sequel are two of the very few real-world examples oflive-service games done right. Granted, not every decision made by Bungie has gone down well with players over the years, but the way that the developer has supported the two titles for as long as it has is admirable, as too is the team’s dedication to providing players with the most enjoyable experience possible. Whether or not the world really needs more Sony live service games is debatable, but if the planned titles are even half as good asDestiny, there shouldn’t be too many complaints.
Gran Turismo
There have been plenty ofgreat racing games on PlayStation consoles, but few, if any, can hold a candle to Polyphony Digital’sGran Turismogames. They’re incredibly realistic and typically include a ridiculously large collection of real-world cars and tracks. Sadly, the monetization found throughout the last few titles has been more than a little questionable and makes it impossible to put the series in the S-tier, but the overall driving experience remains highly enjoyable nonetheless.
Ratchet & Clank
Of all thelovable duos in gaming, Ratchet and Clank are definitely among the best. They’re able to evoke a wide range of emotions in players and almost all of their outings are an absolute blast. This is helped by the over-the-top weaponry that they’re typically armed with and the humorous writing found throughout each adventure they find themselves on, all of which helps to ensure that the tone never gets too heavy even when the narrative is dealing with more serious issues.
Cute and Creative
Jak and Daxter
Followingthe success ofBanjo-Kazooiein the late nineties, numerous developers decided to try their hands at story-based platformers with two main protagonists.Jak and Daxterwas one of numerous new franchises to come out of this period, and it was a pretty good one, for the most part. Sadly, however, with Sony now owning both it andRatchet & Clank, a newJak and Daxtergame seems somewhat unlikely, even with the demand from franchise fans.
LittleBigPlanet
Despite what their visuals might suggest, there’s actually a surprising amount of depth to theLittleBigPlanetgames. Over the years, players have spent countless hours creating new content for the titles, which is likelywhat inspired Media Molecule to createDreamsafter the studio’s time working on the franchise. TheSackboyspin-off games are also enjoyable, albeit, a little less memorable on account of their more traditional platforming focus.
Infamous
BeforeGhost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch Productions was best known for itsInfamousseries, which saw three mainline titles and numerous spin-offs and expansions released over the five-year period between 2009 and 2014. The games see players using parkour and the playable protagonists' powers to make their way through the main story, withmorality playing a big rolein the way that the narrative ultimately plays out.
Resistance
Sony is right to bemoan the potential loss ofCall of Dutyfollowing Microsoft’s acquisition of ABK. However, it’s not like PlayStation doesn’t have several dormant FPS franchises that could theoretically fill the void if push really came to shove.Resistanceis probably the main candidate for such a role, with Insomniac’s supernatural series having made quite an impression on players during the PS3 era.
Astro
Most of the best Sony franchises are renowned for their narratives, but theAstrogames take a very different approach. They instead focus on highlighting the technical capabilities of the hardware on which they are running, typically doing so in a fun and charming way that’s difficult not to enjoy. The fact that Astro’s most recent outing is free for all PS5 owners is a nice touch, though it would also be nice to seeAstro Bot Rescue Missionported to the PSVR 2; maybe even updated for the new tech.
MLB: The Show
Given that much of Sony’s success over the past few console generations has come as a direct result of its strong lineup of first-party exclusives, it came as a bit of a surprise whenMLB: The Showbecame a multiplatform series in 2022. It’s great news for baseball fans on other platforms though, as theMLBtitles are generally considered to be the best baseball games around.
Gone but not Forgotten
Sly Cooper
Sly Cooper is still remembered fondly in certain circles, with many holding out hope that the series will be rebooted at some point in the not-too-distant future. The way that it combined stealth mechanics with more traditional platforming was interesting, if nothing else, and the writing was a lot of fun as well. However, it’s difficult to see why Sony would ever throw money at a newSly Coopergame when the company has franchises likeJak and DaxterandRatchet & Clankon its books.
Twisted Metal
Vehicular combat games were all the rage back in the nineties and early two-thousands and theTwisted Metalfranchise was there to capitalize on this trend.The series was treated to numerous releases during that periodand peaked withTwisted Metal: Blackin 2001. However, the franchise was ultimately overshadowed by some of the genre’s many other offerings and largely forgotten about until the 2023 TV show.
Wipeout
Wipeoutmay not have been the first futuristic racing game to hit home consoles, but it was one of the most memorable. Many still considerWipeout 2097to be one ofthe best racing games ever made, and although not all of the series' installments were up to the same lofty standards, the series is generally remembered fondly by those who grew up playing it. Sadly, however, Sony seems to have no interest in reviving it, with the last properWipeoutgame having been released for the Vita more than a full decade ago.
Killzone
Once touted as a potentialHalokiller,theKillzonefranchise never quite lived up to its billing. The closest it came was withKillzone 2, though this was bookended by two largely forgettable titles. WithCall of Dutynow part of the Xbox family, Sony may well look to the Guerrilla Games franchise to fill the void should it ever become an exclusive, though rebootingResistancewould arguably make a lot more sense in this regard.
SingStar
SingStarwas very much a product of its era andsold incredibly well in the PAL region. Over time though, the novelty of being able to do karaoke through a video game console wore off, resulting in both dwindling sales and review scores. It definitely served a purpose and filled a gap in the market back in the early two-thousands, but there are much better options these days.
Syphon Filter
The first fewSyphon Filtergames were fantastic, delving much deeper into the stealth-based gameplay that was first popularized by the likes ofMetal Gear Solid. Sadly, however, each subsequent release that followed them felt like something of a backward step, resulting in the series being shelved back in 2007. WithMetal Gearnow seemingly deadthough, many are hoping that Sony will rebootSyphon Filterto fill the void.
