When discussing PlayStation’s best first party studio, Naughty Dog practically always finds itself at the very top. Given its track record, that’s hardly surprising; it delivered not just one, but two iconic mascot-driven platformers in Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter. Then, it combined stunning setpieces with memorable characters in Uncharted, taking things even further with the brilliantly written The Last of Us franchise. While Naughty Dog finds itself at the top of the mountain for many PlayStation fans, though, the runner-up is a bit more debatable.
Some fans may point to Insomniac Games’ incredible development speed prior to the massive leak from a few years ago, as in the PS4 and early PS5 days, the studio was dropping great games at a shocking pace. Others may point to Sucker Punch, which has mastered visually stunning, gameplay-driven experiences via its Infamous and Ghost franchises. However, due to the God of War series that dominated the PlayStation 2 and then became a critical darling with its reinvention for the PS4, Santa Monica is arguably the best pick for a top 2 PlayStation studio out of these names. And come 2027, it’s looking very likely for the two most consistent...
