As the current console generation winds down with few games scheduled for release between now and November, it’s the perfect time to revisit, or even discover for the first time, the very best exclusive games of the PlayStation 4. WithGhost of Tsushimacapping off a long list of iconic games, Sony’s exclusive line-uparguably remains unrivaled.
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For the best part of a decade, Sony has introduced gamers to new and exciting heroes, resurrected the best antiheroes, and revealed some breathtaking worlds bound to the PlayStation 4. Without these visionary games, players would be left with nothing more than annual sports games and first-person shooters.
10Uncharted: Lost Legacy - 84
Uncharted: Lost Legacywas completely unexpected at the time it was announced, as it was right off the heels ofUncharted 4: A Thief’s End, which took over four years to make.Lost Legacydoesn’t feature any of the main characters ofUncharted, not even the charismatic protagonist Nathan Drake, and this time around it’s a much shorter adventure. However, it still received copious amounts of praise for allowing players more freedom and having a compelling story, despite the absence of the adorable Sully and stern Elena.
9Ratchet & Clank - 85
Though Ratchet & Clank is often unfairlymeasured against another child-friendly buddy platformer,Jak & Daxter, which is also a PlayStation exclusive series,R&Cstands on its own. The reason the onlyRatchet & Clankrelease of this generation is rated so highly isn’t just because of its use of platformer archetypes such as relentless puns and linear level designs, but because the game, a remake of the original, is full of whimsy and is a completely joyful experience.
8Marvel’s Spider-Man - 87
After a ton of multi-platform Spider-Man games that received tepid reviews, all imitating the now classicSpider-Man 2from the PlayStation 2 era, the web slinger was in dire need of something fresh. Though the game had a lot of help from the source material, as the hero’s villains are socolorful and spectacular,Marvel’s Spider-Manpulled of the impossible, becomingsuperior toSpider-Man 2and even the best ever Spider-Man game.
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Along with the villains, the game’s success is owed to the combat system (borrowed heavily fromBatman: Arkham Asylum) and it’s gripping narrative.
7Final Fantasy VII Remake - 88
Though Final Fantasy VII is often referred to as a perfect game, it didn’t stop fans from going crazy with excitement when the remake was announced. Looking back at the original, the game looks much worse than gamers remember, which spawned some of thefunniest comparison memesof the original and the remake. The remake turned out great as the characters no longer look like Lego, and it sold millions of copies within days.
6Horizon: Zero Dawn - 89
Horizon: Zero Dawnis the full package, it offers the best graphics and gameplay the PS4 has to offer, and though it might sound hyperbolic, the game is truly awe inspiring. The best thing aboutHorizon: Zero Dawn,and the primary reason why it has sold so many copies, is because it is both easy to digest and the world is incredibly dense without being overwhelming. The world ofZero Dawnis so vast that there are stillsecrets in the gamethat players have yet to find.
5Astro Bot: Rescue Mission - 90
What might be the most surprising game with such high critical acclaim isAstro Bot: Rescue Mission, a game that makes the best use out of PlayStation VR over any other game, and that includesIron Man VR. At face value, the gameplay and physics work just like any other platformer would, but what makesAstro Botdifferent to other platformers is that not only do players control Astro Bot, but they also play a role in the level themselves. The game takes the ingenuity ofLittle Big Planetand adapts it for Virtual Reality.
4Shadow Of The Colossus - 91
The PlayStation 4 remake ofShadow of the Colossusis undoubtedly one of the most critically acclaimed games of the PS4, Just as the PS3 remake was ten years ago, just like the original PS2 version was 15 years ago, and just like the inevitable PS5 remake will be in five years time. Yeah, there have been a lot of versions of this game, but there’s no question thatthe PS4 remake is the ultimate version of them all. Bluepoint Games lovingly rebuilt the game from scratch andthe gigantic colossi are now more detailed than ever, with each single strand of hair being as clear as each blade of grass.
3Bloodborne - 92
It’s extremely rare when a spin-off becomes more successful than the original source material. Super Mario was inDonkey Kongbefore the character became a billion dollar mascot for Nintendo, and Valve somehow pulled off a game better thanHalf-Lifewith it’s spin-off,Portal, and now Bloodborne joins the ranks, being the successor toDark Souls.Bloodborneis haunting, painstakingly beautiful, and horrifying. It’s so beloved that fans have beenawaiting a sequel for years.
2Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End - 93
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s Endwas exactly that, it was the end of Nathan Drake’s story that fans had been committed to for 10 years and four universally acclaimed games. Because the series is so close to so many PlayStation 4 gamers’ hearts, they may have felt sentimental about the franchise’s end, which led to being one of the highest rated video games of all-time.
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Butwhether the scores are inflated or not, there’s no denying thatA Thief’s Endfeatures the best gameplay of anyUnchartedand is better written than most Hollywood movies.
1God Of War - 95
God of War has outlasted three console generations, as his first outing dates back to the PS2 era, but though the basic themes remain the same, Kratos’ journey has come along way, as the franchise has developed in to a more cinematic event than the arcade-type slash-em up that the franchise began as. And now that Kratos is full of wisdom and compassion, the masculine and fearful god has become an unpredicted mascot of this generation andPlayStation’s best hero.
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