Over the years the PlayStation 4 has seen a flood of quality titles, from both third-parties and first-party. Sony really found its groove this generation, reimagining classic series and introducing quite a few new IPs.
At nearly every point PS4 owners have had something to look forward to, and Sony's done a good job of stringing its exclusives out across the generation. PS4's biggest strength has clearly been exclusive experiences.
There are a lot of consoles exclusives from the last few years, but with the PS5 on the horizon, it's the perfect time to look back at the PS4's library.
15. The Last Guardian
The Last Guardian is the long-awaited third game from Fumito Ueda, the creator of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. Like with those games, The Last Guardian is a thoughtful puzzle-solving experience starring a young boy that befriends a creature named Trico. It's an emotional experience from start to end, and a huge emphasis is put on the relationship between the boy and Trico. The Last Guardian does have a few niggling issues with controls, but it's an engrossing experience nonetheless.
14. Concrete Genie
Concrete Genie is a gorgeous game with a lovely message about bullying and showing kindness toward others. The game takes place in the small town of Danska and follows a young boy named Ash who's constantly hounded by the town's bullies. After Ash's sketchbook has its pages torn out, he goes on a journey to recover them and discovers a magical paintbrush that lets him bring his creations to life. Most of Concrete Genie is a calming experience that lets players solve puzzles and paint gorgeous murals throughout the town. Later on, the game does introduce a combat system, but the joy of Concrete Genie lies in creation.
13. Gravity Rush 2
The original Gravity Rush was a wildly inventive game that literally let players mess with gravity, and the sequel improves on nearly everything. Gravity Rush 2 picks up right after the first game and starts with Kat, Raven, and Syd getting sucked into a different dimension. The scope of Gravity Rush 2's world is a massive upgrade over the first game, and the gravity-defying gameplay feels far tighter and more responsive. The game's gorgeous art style practically makes it look like a Studio Ghibli film in motion, and at every opportunity, Gravity Rush 2 exceeds player's expectations.
12. MLB The Show 20
MLB The Show is a tried-and-true franchise for Sony, and truthfully any entry on the PS4 could be put on a best-of list. However, MLB The Show 20 represents the most recent, most refined version of the series yet. MLB The Show 20 doesn't introduce any game-changing additions, but it does refine hitting and field mechanics, and add a host of other small changes that further polish the experience. In short, it's just about the best Baseball experience fans can get in games.
11. Dreams
Dreams is an utterly fascinating game that lets players really harness their creativity. Although there is an original experience, Dreams primarily works as a pseudo engine that lets players create their own video games. Media Molecule was already practiced in player-creation with Little Big Planet, but Dreams gives players an astronomical amount of options. Fans have created first-person shooters, turn-based RPGs, simulations, and more. If there's one thing for certain, Dreams is a wholly unique experience that simply can't be seen anywhere else and fully encourages its fans to be creative.
10. Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus is generally regarded as one of the most artistic games out there, and Fumito Ueda's magnum opus. Bluepoint Games gave Shadow of the Colossus a tremendous makeover on PS4, completely rebuilding the game's assets from the ground-up. The remake doesn't add any new content, but it does tighten up the camera controls and gameplay just a bit. It may not be a brand new experience, but the Shadow of the Colossus remake is easily the definitive way to play the game.
9. Ratchet & Clank
The dynamic duo of Ratchet & Clank didn't get a brand new game on PS4, but they did get a phenomenal remake of the first game. Coinciding with the release of the 2016 film, Ratchet & Clank retells the story of the very first game, along with a few new segments and worlds. The truly impressive thing about Ratchet & Clank is how the game uses gameplay elements from across the series to make for the best experience yet. Ratchet & Clank is easily one of the most visually impressive games on PS4, and a dream to play.
8. Until Dawn
Until Dawn was a breakaway success for Supermassive Games, even leading to Bandai Namco g the developer on for the Dark Pictures Anthology. Player choice is integral to Until Dawn, as player take control of eight young adults trying to survive supernatural events on Blackwood Mountain. At first glance Until Dawn looks like a stereotypical jump-scare horror game, but it actually brilliantly subverts those tropes later on.
7. Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima marks a massive change for Sucker Punch Studios, which previously worked on inFamous and Sly Cooper. Set on the scenic island of Tsushima, Japan, the game takes inspiration from countless other open-world titles. It doesn't necessarily do anything unique, but Ghost of Tsushima does everything very well. Players follow the story of Jin Sakai, a fallen samurai working to drive the Mongol invasion off of the island. Ghost of Tsushima features a fantastic combat system that gets even better in its one-on-one duels, and a story filled with tension and emotion. Post-launch, Sucker Punch has also added on a surprisingly robust co-op mode totally for free.
6. Horizon: Zero Dawn
Horizon: Zero Dawn presents a different post-apocalyptic world, where humanity has reformed into primitive civilizations. Deadly robotic creatures stalk the wilds, and fighting these creatures are the most exciting part of Horizon. The game's combat feels fantastic with the main character, Aloy, able to use a variety of different arrows, traps, and equipment. Outside of the fantastic combat, Aloy is a well-developed protagonist, and the world is filled with interesting lore and backstory. It's easily one of the most unique games available on the PS4.
