When the PS4 released in November of 2013, many gamers waited to make the jump to the next generation, instead holding on to their PS3s for another year and giving Sony a chance to build a library that justified the cost. Now that we’re knee deep in the holiday season of 2014, many video game fans are revisiting the idea of upgrading to the PlayStation 4, but are once again wondering if the console has the games to back up the hype. With that in mind, here are the best PS4 games currently available for purchase.
FIFA 15
Get ready for another fantastic year on the virtual pitch! The newest FIFA is without question the most realistic. Players like Messi and Ronaldo look incredibly lifelike, and the graphical advancements don’t stop there. Players pick up grass and mud stains when they slide, corner poles bend and the field degrades over time. When it comes to gameplay, goalies do a much better job defending and you can control two players while attempting corner kicks. Arguably the best sports game on the market.
Grand Theft Auto 5
The winner of all things winnable, Grand Theft Auto 5 ruled the previous generation consoles before making the jump to PS4 and Xbox One. Now in full 1080p and rocking an all-new first-person mode, the fictional city of Los Santos and the scenic Blaine County (in the made up state of San Andreas) is still the best place to find hours of fun and carnage on the PS4. There’s plenty to do in the huge single player campaign, as you switch between three anti-heroes (Michael, Franklin or Trevor) on the fly. Jump into a sub and dive beneath the waves, ride a jet ski, fly a jumbo jet and search for hidden UFO parts. This is in addition to over 100 new songs across the game’s 17 radio stations and increased draw distances and traffic. Then when you want even more mayhem, Grand Theft Auto Online now supports up to 30 players at once.
Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition
In what is perhaps the best bang for your buck on the PS4, Minecraft is a building game that just about anyone can enjoy, and is suitable for persons 10 years old and up. While it is a sandbox survival game, Minecraft is best known for the incredible creations that people have come up with, such as King’s Landing, the capitol city from Game of Thrones. The price may vary depending on your location, it will generally run you about $20 or less, and it’s as close to a must-own as any PlayStation 4 game on the market. Just beware of those irritating Creepers.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
When Sledgehammer Games announced Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, it was clear that this installment of the franchise would be the boldest gamers had seen in years. So far the reviews are solid, but regardless of scores, Advanced Warfare is the title to go with if you’re looking for a first-person shooter this holiday season. While it does take a giant leap forward by including Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey as the main antagonist for the campaign, the major overhaul is the inclusion of the Exo Skeleton, as well as introducing parkour to the multiplayer. Since Electronic Arts chose to push Battlefield Hardline back until early 2015, Advanced Warfare is clearly the top dog in the genre for now.
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Keeping with the first-person shooter theme, Wolfenstein offers an alternative to those who don’t enjoy the multiplayer side of things. From the perspective of William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, everything about this non-stop action shooter is masterfully crafted, especially the setting, which is an alternate history that takes place in the 1960′ and wonders what things would have been like if the Nazis won World War 2. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who’s played The New Order and ended up regretting it, as it might be Bethesda Softworks’ best release in 2014. Although the PlayStation Store lists this game with a full price tag, shop around at different online and physical retailers in search of a bargain.
Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare
Switching gears from first-person to third-person shooters, Garden Warfare is the game you’re looking for if you’re buying for someone slightly younger. It has all the action that any shooter would, but instead of blood and guts, you’re dealing with colorful flowers and hilarious zombies. Developed by PopCap Games and published by Electronic Arts, this multiplayer only title is definitely one of the more fun games this year. It may be intended for a younger audience, but don’t be the least bit surprised if you end up sinking more than a few hours into this one yourself.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
This action role-playing title comes loaded with enough main story missions and side quests to make the Official Strategy Guide almost mandatory, and it currently holds a Metacritic score of 89, putting it in very exclusive company. Developed by BioWare, Dragon Age: Inquisition is a title that players who enjoy the fantasy side of games will find high value in, with over 90 hours of play time. We just have one question. Will you choose Warrior, Rogue or Mage before setting off to slaughter enemies in Haven, the Hinterlands and other feature-packed areas?
Far Cry 4
Although Ubisoft proved once again this year it could pump out multiple titles that appealed to many different types of gamers, it seems that its biggest winner will be Far Cry 4. An action-adventure first-person shooter, it’s set in the fictional country of Kyrat, and pits protagonist Ajay Ghale against a fantastic villain named Pagan Min. When players aren’t busy battling it out with Min, they can expect to have their hands full trying to survive the brutal terrain, as well as a terrifying dose of unpredictable wildlife. Craft bigger wallets and ammo bags, enter the Arena to outlast waves of enemies and hunt for the mysterious Masks of Yalung and 150 Propaganda Posters. The best part? This barely scratches the surface of what Far Cry 4 has to offer.
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Although most ratings came in at about 7.5 out of 10, kids don’t read reviews. Even if they did, that’s definitely above average. Now the consider the game has Lego, not to mention Batman (and The Flash, Wonder Woman and Superman to go along with the Dark Knight), and that’s pretty much all you need to know about this action-adventure title from Traveller’s Tale. Because of its recent release and the fact every kid on the planet will want this, you might struggle to find it for a discounted price, but you can bet it’ll be a huge hit.
Destiny
Along with Titanfall and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Destiny was one of the most hyped games of 2014, and it was a major system seller for both the PS4 and Xbox One. It’s another first-person shooter, but this one takes aim at the MMO crowd, even if it isn’t a true MMO. Players take on the role of Guardians, and must do battle with foes from all over the solar system. It’s likely another game you’ll have to pick up for full price, but the upcoming release of the first DLC pack, The Dark Below, ensures that there is plenty to keep gamers busy for a long time to come, especially with a near endless amount of Engrams to decode and the extremely difficult Vault of Glass quest giving players nightmares.
The Last of Us Remastered
The Last of Us was originally released on the PS3 as a Sony exclusive, and it has been called one of the best games of all time. We’ve played it and completely agree with that statement. It was so good the developers at Naughty Dog released The Last of Us Remastered for the PS4 a few months back, allowing next generation gamers to take another post apocalyptic trip across the United States as Joel (Troy Baker) and Ellie (Ashley Johnson). If you’ve already played it on the PS3, you might opt for another one (or four) of our suggestions, but if you’ve never tried this masterpiece, it’s a must have.
Alien: Isolation
Diehard Alien fans begging Sega for a quality game had their voices heard with this outstanding survival horror effort from the developers at Creative Assembly. Using the original 1979 Ridley Scott film as inspiration, the team casts players as Ellen Ripley’s daughter Amanda as she attempts to outwit a single Alien and numerous homicidal androids aboard the doomed Sevastopol space station. With only a handful of weapons at their disposal, none of which damage the Alien, gamers must rely on their wits and lots of noise makers to distract the creature. While the main campaign is well over 15 hours long, downloadable content adds new Survival missions as well as levels featuring the cast from the movie, including Sigourney Weaver!
inFAMOUS: Second Son
There’s a good chance you’ve played one or several games featuring levels inspired by San Francisco and New York City. Now it’s time for a refreshing change of pace, as Sony takes you to the beautiful albeit rainy city of Seattle in this action packed inFAMOUS sequel. Playing as Conduit Delsin Rowe, you’ll utilize a variety of cool smoke and neon super powers to traverse the many buildings (even the Space Needle), while at the same time battling the evil Department of Unified Protection, or D.U.P. for short. Make good and bad decisions to affect Delsin’s Karma, thereby unlocking even more abilities based on your play style. A fun game no PS4 owner should be without.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
If you need an extra dose of Tolkien after watching Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, definitely give this third person slash fest serious consideration. You play as Talion, a Ranger who terrorizes nasty Uruks by cutting off their heads, stabbing them in all sorts of places and watching them get eaten vicious beasties. The game’s unique Nemesis System allows your foes to rise in power dynamically as you play, and if it’s a familiar face you long for, Gollum shows up just a couple hours into the adventure. An outstanding title for players who prefer to kill with stealth.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
The PlayStation 4 launch lineup contained a handful of PS3 ports, and none of these games impressed us more than AC 4: Black Flag. Ubisoft’s open world pirate adventure made great use of Sony’s hardware, with a Caribbean so detailed it left us daydreaming about one of those all-inclusive resorts. Tons of missions to complete on land (did you find the Templar Armor?), along with some of the most thrilling ship battles we’ve experienced; make sure you upgrade Edward Kenway’s Jackdaw. Rub elbows with Blackbeard, hunt whales and search for buried treasure. A pirate’s life indeed!
What are your favorite PS4 games?
Published: Dec 2, 2014 06:30 pm