2014 is almost over, and while you probably have a huge backlog of games to play on PS4 – Far Cry 4, Dragon Age: Inquisition and LittleBigPlanet 3 to name a few – there is a potential all-star lineup coming in 2015 that makes buying Sony’s console a smart investment.
Granted, much of 2015 is up in the air. Several high profile games, like Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and DOOM do not have official release dates. Other titles may get delayed to 2016, as horrible as that sounds. We also don’t know anything about the annual Skylanders and Call of Duty games that will debut in the fall.
At least on the positive side, there are several PS4 games coming out in the first half of next year, so get your trade-ins ready and hang onto those gift cards. We don’t know if these are the best PS4 games of 2015, but odds are good it’ll be an expensive year.Â
Saints Row 4: Re-Elected + Gat out of Hell comes out January 20, 2015
If you need a video game that doesn’t take itself seriously, put Saints Row 4 on your must have list. The over-the-top open world adventure was rebranded the Gat out of Hell edition. Aside from a slick visual upgrade, the game includes a ton of cool extras, starting with Remote Play on PlayStation Vita. From there, the action heats up with two DLC mission packs, 15 new rides, over 60 outfits, six all-new superpowers and more than 25 weapons. That’s over 60 hours of content on one disc, with a story that sees the president of the United States (leader of the 3rd Street Saints) battling an alien named Zinyak.Â
Motorcycle Club comes out January 20, 2015
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Although we’ve yet to see Motorcycle Club in action, the promise of being able to switch bikes during races and customize your own club sounds promising. The game features 20 races across the U.S. and Japan, with well-known manufacturers Honda, BMW and Suzuki leading the pack. At first glance it’s Drive Club for motorcycle aficionados. Now it’s up to publisher Maximum Games to deliver.
Dying Light comes out January 27, 2015
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We have extremely high hopes for this open world zombie fest. During the day, you’ll run around the city killing zombies with crafted weapons (like a bat wrapped in barbed wire) and saving what remains of the human race. At night, you’ll run for your virtual life from the infected, a more aggressive form of undead that’ll hunt you unmercifully. Lots of gore and cool parkour moves make Dying Light one of the best looking games of 2015.
Tropico 5 comes out February 3, 2015
Don’t succumb to winter. Instead, stay inside and soak up the virtual rays as El Presidente, leader of a Caribbean nation with white sandy beaches, dense jungles and a thriving economy that’ll succeed or fail based on your actions. Secure trade routes, renovate buildings and declare war on your friends. Will you be a benevolent dictator? Is that even a thing?
Evolve comes out February 10, 2015
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In most circumstances four versus one is unfair, but as you’ll soon discover, Evolve is no ordinary first person shooter. Four hunters join forces to battle the other player who controls a monster with unique abilities, be it the brutal Goliath or the slower moving but still deadly Kraken. The first side that gets wiped out loses. If you think the odds are tilted in the hunters’ favor, consider this: the alien planet contains a variety of dangerous plants and animals that could devour them without warning. Â
Rugby 15 comes out February 10, 2015
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After attempting to tackle the world of motorcycle racing, Maximum Games will set its sights on Rugby. Deliver up-and-unders and cross passes with teams from the most famous leagues in the world, including Pro 12, Pro D2 and Aviva Premiership. We know Rugby 15 has a local multiplayer mode for up to four, but it remains to be seen whether there’s online support.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse comes out February 17, 2015
It’s the first DBZ game on PS4, need we say more? Goku, Frieza, Vegeta and other iconic characters throw down in this fast paced brawler. Considering the huge number of characters in the DBZ universe, this could be a fan’s dream game.
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round comes out February 17, 2015
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The celebrated DOA franchise comes to PS4 with the biggest roster to date, featuring Leifang, Hitomi, Zack, Ayane and Hayabusa, along with Pai, Akira and Jacky from Sega’s Virtua Fighter series. You have over 300 costumes to put on the different characters, and you can transfer outfits from Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate.
The Order: 1886 comes out February 20, 2015
Last time we checked the history books, Victorian-era London didn’t look this cool. Sony’s PS4 exclusive shooter adds a steampunk vibe as you control the knight Galahad through dark environments filled with human enemies and creatures known as Half-breeds. Instead of using standard pistols to blast holes through your opponents, the game puts weapons with names like Thermite Rifle and Monocular into your hands. Add cinematic flair that we’ve seen in other Sony published games, most notably the Uncharted series and Beyond: Two Souls, and The Order is one of the more intriguing adventures slated to hit the console.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt comes out February 24, 2015
Geralt of Rivia picks up his sword and sets off to kick monster ass in this incredibly detailed open world adventure where each choice you make carries life-changing consequences. Master new Witcher Senses, hunt monsters and gain access to new items via the crafting systems while exploring the bloodied Northern Kingdoms.Â
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD comes out March 17, 2015
Two things set this Final Fantasy apart from all the rest: the fact that Square Enix bills it as mature, and the player’s ability to control 14 characters who form a group called Class Zero. The promise of a darker plot and real time battle system makes this one of the more anticipated Final Fantasy adventures in recent memory.
Battlefield Hardline comes out March 17, 2015
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Originally set to appear on PS4 and other platforms October 2014, Battlefield Hardline saw a delay into next year to ensure a higher level of quality. The wait will hopefully be worth it, as players step into the roles of cops and criminals in destructible environments featuring a bank vault, a grow-lab and LA car dealership. There is a single player campaign where gamers guide Miami detective Nick Mendoza on a revenge fuelled killing spree, but like past Battlefield games, it should be all about the multiplayer.
Project Cars comes out March 17, 2015
It seems like Slightly Mad Studios’ racing sim has been in development forever. While a slight exaggeration, it’ll be good to finally see this ambitious game in stores and available for digital download. Feature wise there’s a lot of similarities with the competition, and the visuals appear to be the biggest selling point. Make no mistake, Project Cars is one of the most gorgeous video games we’ve seen, and the concept of Project Morpheus VR support could make this an instant buy.
Bloodborne comes out March 24, 2015
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Dark Souls 2 developer From Software has a treat in store for PS4 owners with this exclusive hack-and-slash adventure set within a gothic world overrun with twisted adversaries. A mysterious illness befell the city of Yharnam, with gamers cutting through mobs of terrifying creatures with a cleaver and guns while searching for the cure. With a heavier emphasis on offense compared to Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls (and built from the ground up on PS4), Bloodborne has a crazy amount of potential.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 comes out March 31, 2015
Resident Evil 6 went in a questionable direction that left the fate of Capcom’s historic franchise in doubt. The original Revelations, however, was a bright spot in the world of survival horror, with players battling monsters aboard a creepy ship. The sequel sends them to a facility located on an island, where they switch between heroes Claire Redfield and Moira Burton (daughter of S.T.A.R.S. member Barry Burton) to solve puzzles and kill enemies.
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin comes out April 7, 2015
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With a handful of PS3 games receiving makeovers on PS4, we had a feeling Bandai Namco would bring its incredibly difficult hack-and-slash adventure to more powerful hardware. In addition to enhanced visuals, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin also comes with previously released downloadable content, namely Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King and Crown of the Ivory King. This is on top of balancing fixes and superior online matchmaking. If you missed Dark Souls 2 the first time around, this is a must, providing you’re OK with dying hundreds of times.
Mortal Kombat X comes out April 14, 2015
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Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Kano return in the best-looking Mortal Kombat yet. Familiar warriors square off against newcomers Kotal Kahn, Cassie Cage and others, all of which feature three variations with unique fighting styles. Seriously, though, we just want to see people get their hearts ripped out and their heads torn off, and we expect developer NetherRealm Studios to bring the gore.
Batman: Arkham Knight comes out June 2, 2015
WB Games and Rocksteady Studios end the acclaimed Arkham trilogy with this gorgeous romp through Gotham City. Yes, we can’t wait to play with the Dark Knight’s toys, but the biggest selling point is the ability to drive the Batmobile. You can basically glide through the air, call Batman’s supped up ride and it appears, waiting for you to slip behind the wheel and tear up streets and criminals in a super hero attempt to stop The Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, the Penguin and other DC Comics’ super villains. Providing the June 2 release date holds, Arkham Knight should be the perfect way to kick off the summer.
