Uncharted 4 sees Naughty Dog push the bar for excellence to a new height, with stunning visuals, next-level character work, and one of the best games of this generation.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a staggeringly diverse open world video game that proves Rockstar Games is filled with skilled storytellers and engineering wizards.
Sony Santa Monica has evolved Kratos in God of War and in the process delivered a technical and narrative showpiece that any PS4 fan should be proud of.
Marvel's Spider-Man takes the best parts of the comic book superhero and brings them to life in interactive form courtesy of Ratchet and Clank developer Insomniac Games.
Developer Naughty Dog builds on its post-apocalyptic opus with The Last of Us Part 2, delivering incredible visuals and an emotional story.
The game is by no means perfect – its pacing is inconsistent and side quests can be hit or miss – but the combination of the combat and the story at large are strong enough to reduce any complaints to minor quibbles. Recently, Square Enix has come out to say that Final Fantasy can take on many different forms depending on the team behind it, and the folks at Creative Business Unit III have found a way to make this latest game their own. There is so much joy and care put into making sure that this experience feels epic and rewards its fan base, even though it’s doing a lot of new things. Final Fantasy 16 is proof that the unexpected can be just as enjoyable as the tried and true.
The tightly designed 'Axiom Verge' combines the best elements of the 'Metroidvania' genre with throwback visuals, a thumping soundtrack, and clever mechanics.
'DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition' is still a solid character action game with sharper visuals and a consistent frame rate that's worth picking up for those who missed out.
'Helldivers' is an isometric co-op shooter that favors challenge and strategy over all else, and despite a lack of variety is extremely satisfying when played with friends.
Batman: Arkham Knight is a fitting end to Rocksteady Studios' trilogy with a mature story and gorgeous visuals, but one flaw holds it back from being perfect
Mega Man Legacy Collection is an easy buy for fans of Capcom's blue bomber, featuring a faithful recreation of the 6 mainline games and some truly clever challenges.
Coldwood Interactive's Unravel is a moving puzzle platformer bolstered by strong level design, a creative mechanic, and an unbelievably endearing main character.
Batman: The Telltale Series offers up the true Dark Knight experience, letting players make tough choices and gather clues as both Batman and Bruce Wayne.
Inside builds on every strength of Playdead's Limbo, while also delivering a compelling yet haunting world filled with smart puzzles and inventive mechanics.
Horizon: Zero Dawn takes familiar open world elements and makes them its own, but it is the game's blend of nature and technology that help create a memorable PS4 exclusive.
Obsidian Entertainment seeks to build on its RPG pedigree with The Outer Worlds, a sci-fi space adventure that is brimming with options.
Sucker Punch Productions builds on its open-world expertise with Ghost of Tsushima, putting players in control of a deadly samurai.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an exceptional follow-up to Marvel's Spider-Man, even if a lot of the formula feels familiar. On PS5, though, it is a must-play just to see the potential of the new hardware and what it will offer from both a visual and a performance standpoint. For many console gamers, this will be their first taste of steady 4K 60FPS or Ray-Tracing that adds meaningful improvements to the presentation. Insomniac's work on the game is stunning.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart uses the power of the PS5 to put on a stunning display, highlighted by bombastic action, plenty of humor, and heart.
Horizon Zero Dawn is already an exceptional game in its own right, but on PC it is easily the better experience. Whether gamers weren't interested the first time around or they don't have a PS4 but do have a PC, this is still a must-play. Even those that enjoyed Horizon Zero Dawn will find that the PC version brings some new layers to the table thanks to the higher frame rate and improved visuals. The game still adheres to the open-world mold a little more than some might hope, but the environments, story, and gameplay help elevate it enough to be memorable.