With the PlayStation 4 just days away from launch, we’re eagerly anticipating the arrival of next-generation gaming. Though there are a lot of good games coming out this weekend – including Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack and Assassin’s Creed IV – there are a number of games in the months ahead that will truly define what this system can do.
So, without further ado, we’ve gathered a list of ten games we can’t wait to play on the PlayStation 4. Sadly, we’ll have to, but a number of talented development teams will assure that they’re worth the wait.
Let’s get started!
10. Kingdom Hearts III
It’s a ways off, but Square Enix’s long-awaited follow-up in its Disney crossover series is finally on its way. Featuring the return of Sora, along with his dedicated pals Donald Duck and Goofy, Kingdom Hearts III will pit them against even more challenging enemies, as well as familiar locales from the Disney universe. While they all haven’t been revealed yet, the gameplay trailer above gives you an idea of what to expect, with a fierce battle against a shadow boss while riding in an electric train. Clearly, this is going to be a ride well worth waiting for.
9. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
We’ve been waiting quite a while for the return of Solid Snake, but we’re not quite sure where he fits into the Phantom Pain story thus yet. Still, consider us intrigued, as we’ll get our first taste of this new chapter in early 2014, when Konami releases the side tale Ground Zeroes for download on PlayStation Network. In it, players will infiltrate an enemy camp with long-time series favorite Big Boss, looking for a key asset while trying to avoid detection. With its amazing new Fox technology at work – and the vocal power of newly hired Kiefer Sutherland – Metal Gear Solid V should be nothing short of stunning when it releases next year in its entirety.
We’ve fought in a number of great UFC-licensed games over the years – mainly THQ’s Undisputed trilogy – but EA Sports promises to take the fighting league to the next level in 2014 for PlayStation 4. EA Sports UFC will not only feature a number of stunningly modeled players, but it will also introduce a new control scheme that brings the most out of each fight, from the knockout blows to the calculative submission maneuvers. For good measure, the ladies get to join the brawl this time around, with two UFC female superstars signed on – with a few more to come. Bring on the brawl!
Over the years, Bethesda has transformed its Elder Scrolls series into a real role-playing powerhouse, culminating with the release of Skyrim a couple of years ago. Now, the publisher really wants to get players involved, as Elder Scrolls Online will allow players to team up and/or battle against one another, using a variety of created characters and options. Though it will require a monthly fee, Online includes a number of quests, regular and side, to take on, as well as hidden secrets galore. We know you’re just counting down the days to the beta – heck, so are we.
6. Star Wars: Battlefront
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, LucasArts blew us away with the action-packed Battlefront multiplayer games. The series has been dormant for a few years now, but Electronic Arts has sent it roaring back to the scene with a fun teaser trailer. First revealed at E3 earlier this year, the brief teaser trailer doesn’t contain any gameplay footage, but it does promise a next-gen battle like you’ve never seen before. Plus, with DICE – the developers of the Battlefield franchise – at the helm, you just know it’s being built with multiplayer in mind. Dibs on the AT-AT!
5. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red did fantastic with The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360, presenting an epic-scale adventure with solid controls and hours’ worth of quests – some of which players are still completing two and a half years after the game’s release. With The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the team is stretching even further, with more quests, more tactical battle options, more armor and weapon types, and, most importantly, spellbinding graphics that present an even bigger world to explore. Consider us signed on for this Hunt.Â
4. The Order: 1886
Ready At Dawn Studios is no stranger to grandeur adventures. After all, they’re the team responsible for those sweet God of War games on the PlayStation Portable. So it shouldn’t be any surprise that its first next-generation effort for PlayStation 4 looks nothing short of stunning. The Order: 1886 focuses on a quartet of medieval heroes, carrying surprisingly conventional weapons that really come in handy for fighting off hordes of demons and monsters. Though no actual gameplay footage was shown in the trailer above, it’s all in-engine, which goes to show just how serious Ready At Dawn is with this next-gen effort. We can’t wait to give it a shot.
Cole McGrath may be nothing but a memory in this latest entry in Sucker Punch’s action series, but that doesn’t mean the newbie can’t hold his ground. In Second Son, you play Delsin Rowe, a kid with breathtakingly explosive capabilities, such as generating fire or disappearing in a cloud of smoke. He’ll need every ounce of his energy, as he’s fighting an evil oppressive force that has taken over most of Seattle, Washington. With photo-realistic graphics, exciting situations to battle your way through, and special abilities that really take advantage of the PlayStation 4 Dual Shock 4 controller, Second Son will definitely feel like a second coming for the series.
2. Watch Dogs
Originally scheduled for release on November 19th, Ubisoft chose to delay the release of this high-tech adventure until spring 2014. While the delay will be painful for some – us included – a better game will emerge as a result. As Aiden Pearce, you’ll fight your way through corrupted Chicago suburbs, hunting targets and turning the system upside down with your technical savvy. As you control stop signs, phones and other electronics, you literally make the city your open playground. Just watch the trailer above and you’ll get an idea of just what kind of fun you’re in for. It’ll definitely have you thinking twice about living “off the grid,” that’s for sure.
1. Destiny
Bungie is no stranger to large-scale game design, as it’s proven for years with the Halo series. However, no one had any idea how much it would pour into its next project, Destiny. This sci-fi tale promises to make a legacy of its own, between a vast collection of weapons, beautiful locales spread across the universe, and a stunning mixture of single-player exploration and real-time multiplayer events, integrated into the same universe. What’s more, this is just the beginning of a series, which will span across this generation with even more to discover and demolish. We haven’t gotten hands-on with it just yet, but the prospect sounds amazing. Sign us up.
The PlayStation 4 hits store shelves on November 15th
Published: Nov 12, 2013 05:12 pm