With the PS5 and Xbox Series X now out in the wild for those lucky few that managed to snag a pre-order, the PS4/Xbox One generation of games is coming to an end, which means it is time to look back on the best of the best of the last seven years. We’re excluding Nintendo here given they don’t conform to anyones rules and had two consoles release during this time, one of which we don’t really want to talk about (sorry Wii-U) and the other which hasn’t finished it’s life cycle just yet. No we’re sticking to the big boys here from Sony and Microsoft. Keep in mind we haven’t played everything and there may be some notable omissions to some (we didn’t get to The Last of Us Part II, don’t hurt us), but these are what we consider the cream of the crop and games that you absolutely should play before you switch over to the next-gen. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
10. Infamous: Second Son (2014)
One of the first exclusives for the PS4, Infamous: Second Son remains one of the best, an excellent super-hero (or super-villain) game beaten only by one other entry on this list. Players take control of Delsin Rowe, a Native American graffiti artist who discovers he has the powers of a Conduit (the game’s term for super-powered individuals); specifically he can absorb and utilize the powers of other Conduits, thus making him the perfect candidate for wild experimentation with different power-sets. When the villainous Brooke Augustine and her Department of Unified Protection slaughter Delsin’s tribe in an effort to find these Conduits, he begins a journey of revenge through Seattle, amassing different skills and abilities that give players a tremendous amount of choice in how to tackle the game’s multiple enemy types. Not only are all the powers extremely original and fun to fight with – ranging from Smoke and Neon to Video and Concrete – but they impact how Delsin traverses Seattle, whether that be a super-speed Neon dash or Smoke powered hover, making just getting around the city incredibly enjoyable in its own right, up there with Spider-Man‘s swinging mechanics. What elevates the story beyond typical superhero fare is the Infamous‘ series signature choice mechanic, presenting you with multiple scenarios where you are forced to decide between the good or evil path for Delsin, actively affecting the outcome of his story and the powers presented to him. It might be a bit hard to seek out this late in the console’s life but do yourself a favour and try; Infamous: Second Son is an immensely fun and replayable super-hero romp.
9. Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020)
In a generation full of remasters, remakes and long-awaited sequels, 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake is probably the most infamous. Releasing 23 years after the iconic Playstation One original, the game had a ridiculous amount of pressure from fans of the series who demanded that creators Square Enix do the classic game justice. Yet fears for the game’s quality were put to bed when Final Fantasy VII Remake released, quickly becoming one of the most successful entries the franchise has ever seen. Well-developed characters, action heavy combat and an unexpectedly fresh plot all drove it to the top of the charts at release, and it has maintained quite a reputation since. Cloud and his group were given a huge amount of additional character development compared to the original, which shines through in the emotionally impactful and genuine interactions between them It also looks downright fantastic, with even the most intense and chaotic action sections exploding to life with colour and polish. Yes it’s a somewhat shorter experience than other franchise entries and is only part of the full experience offered in the original, but its surprising changes to the plot and overhauled battle system set it apart from its legendary source material. If you’re even remotely interested in RPGs, then make sure you give this one a go before its sequel undoubtedly makes its mark on the next console generation.
8. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019)
EA had a lot to make up for with Jedi: Fallen Order. After two fairly lackluster attempts at revitalising the Battlefront series, the developers turned their eyes to a purely single-player, story-focused adventure featuring newly created Jedi Cal Kestis. The result is one of the best Star Wars games of all time, with ridiculously fluid, satisfying lightsaber combat that borrows elements of the Batman: Arkham games and the difficulty of the Dark Souls games to make you feel like an unstoppable Jedi. It isn’t always easy and some of the boss battles can be brutal but the feeling of accomplishment that encompasses you when you clear a room of enemies is easily worth it, making you feel like Obi-Wan Kenobi himself once you master the many intricacies of the combat system. Accompanying Cal is former Jedi Cere and pilot Greez and the bond the three develop really increases your care factor and provides some nice smaller, character-driven moments outside the epic fight against the Empire. It’s a sure sign that you’ve done your characters justice when the player cares more about the inner relationships and dark secrets between them than the generally vague (yet awesome) battle between the Empire and Rebellion. Add to that the name-drops and locations that will make fans squeal with delight (as well as one drop-dead awesome cameo) and you have yourself a top-tier Star Wars game that makes an extremely strong case for the best ever made. Hell it was even the best thing the franchise produced in a year that included one of the movies.
7. DOOM Eternal (2020)
2016’s DOOM was an incredible return to form for the seminal franchise. A rip-roaring, gory as hell (pun intended) trip across Mars that made the player feel like an absolute badass, a one-man army tearing through hordes of nightmarish ghouls and demons. While the main story was great, it did feel a bit rushed and the multiplayer underwhelmed for the most part, feeling like little more than a tacked-on extra. Those problems are more than made up for in the 2020 sequel DOOM: Eternal, with a meaty story mode that takes the Doom Slayer through Mars, Earth and Hell on an epic quest to prevent the destruction of Earth by the demon forces of the Khan Makyr. Right away that muscle memory from the first game comes back, with the same twitchy gunplay and parkour based movement system that will have you leaping around the multi-tiered arenas, switching between the myriad of ridiculously over-the-top weapons and laying waste to wave after wave of demons. It just might be the best shooter ever, with the verticality of the combat providing endless opportunities to experiment as you eliminate the increasingly aggressive forces of Hell. The guns all feel appropriately weighty and feature secondary fire modes that keep things fresh and each demonic foe the Doom Slayer comes up against requires a slightly different approach to defeat. Just don’t dig too deep into the story and you’ll be fine. It starts off simple enough but quickly descends into a completely incomprehensible mess; albeit one that takes you to some equally gorgeous and terrifying locales. The multiplayer modes also breathe new life into the classic team death-match formula with two demons taking on one slayer in thrilling fashion. Don’t skip on DOOM: Eternal; it is the best shooter of the generation and a hellishly good time.
6. Resident Evil VII: Biohazard (2017)
Many thought the Resident Evil franchise was over the hill after the messy, over-the-top sixth instalment in 2012. Capcom wisely took a step back and returned 5 years later with arguably the best entry in the long-running franchise. Eschewing the traditional third-person, over-the-shoulder camera proved to be a stroke of genius, placing you in the first-person shoes of new protagonist Ethan Winters, responding to his presumed-dead wife’s message at a derelict Louisiana mansion, home to the terrifying Baker family. This new perspective quite literally puts you into the scares, making all the terrible events that befall Ethan feel much more intense and personal in an effort to send you through the roof with some genuinely shocking jump scares. The hallmarks of Resident Evil remain, from the tight inventory management play style that will have you avoiding enemies to conserve ammunition for fierce battles against gruesome bosses. The Baker family, although not directly linked to the other mainline games by a typically silly tangent, are some of the series’ best villains, with each family member providing a plethora of scares and some extremely memorable boss fights. There’s something about a hulking Jack Baker charging at you, fully engulfed in flames and an uncontrollable temper, that will remain permanently emblazoned into your mind, a set-piece that stands up there with the best the series has to offer. Resident Evil VII: Biohazard offers plenty to love for old and new fans alike, and may just be the most complete and terrifying Resident Evil experience to have graced these systems
5. Outlast (2013)
Outlast is the scariest game ever made. Period. Don’t try and dispute that unless you can show me something scarier. I’ll wait. Set in an abandoned asylum, the game follows Miles, an investigative journalist tasked with uncovering the Murkoff corporation’s shadowy activities at the facility. Armed with only a video camera and an ever dwindling supply of batteries, the game hits you fast and hits you hard, with a mixture of jump-scares and chase scenes propelling you through the many nightmarish sections of the asylum. The lack of combat options adds to the overwhelming terror, providing you with only the option to run or hide. Run and you pretty much guarantee your demise unless you have thoroughly mapped your route with multiple escape exits. Hide and you’ll spend the next 20 something minutes carefully sneaking your way to your objective while your assailant prowls the corridors. It’s nerve shredding stuff and the atmosphere and design of the asylum – littered with mutilated corpses, blood soaked floors and bloody, deranged messages on the walls – makes it so you are never comfortable no matter where you are, even if no enemies are present. The enemies themselves are gruesome, abhorrent creatures for the most part, with the odd grunt enemy type reused, but the standouts are the main tormentors who track you across majority of the game: the hulking, almost pig-like Chris Walker whose lumbering gait belies a fearsome speed, and Richard Traeger, the deranged doctor hell-bent on torturing Miles and performing all sorts of awful experiments. If you can survive the anguish, do yourself a favour and tackle the Whistleblower DLC, an equally horrifying story that provides some interesting backstory to Miles’ main adventure as well as some unforgettably savage villains that rival the main game’s baddies.
4. Cuphead (2017)
Studio MDHR’s incredibly tough yet rewarding action platformer Cuphead is one of those games that is impossible to put down, while simultaneously making you want to hurl the controller through the TV. Lovingly crafted with hand-drawn animations and painted backgrounds, the game draws inspiration from classic 1930’s era cartoons of old, with surrealist enemies and old-school dialogue that underlies the incredibly challenging gameplay with a constant stream of charm. That gameplay is where Cuphead really shines, as the titular character and his brother Mugman take on boss fight after boss fight – with the odd platformer level thrown in for good measure – on their journey to reclaim lost souls for the Devil and clear their names from his bad books. Each boss is a multi-staged death-match, requiring players to attempt each fight multiple times in order to learn enemy patterns and identify the best strategy for victory. While there is a steady increase in challenge overall as the brothers traverse through each of the 3 overworlds, every boss is tough going at first, and some never seem to get any easier no matter how many tries you give it – one particular battle against a queen bee has given me permanent PTSD from the hundreds of times I heard her deranged battle cry. That feeling of exhilaration when you overcome a particularly challenging foe is almost euphoric, a worthy reward for a hard fought win that can sometimes leave you as soon as it arrives if you don’t give yourself a break before tackling the next boss. The anthropomorphic crockery handles extremely well with the old-school run and gun style of yesteryear feeling fresh and responsive in a world that sometimes overly complicates these simple game mechanics. The upgrades to your basic gun and dash moves all make a substantial difference in one way or another and choosing the correct loadout is a necessity if you want to make your way to the final bout against the Devil himself. Cuphead is a rewarding yet challenging indie that has deservedly gone mainstream and to other consoles beyond its initial Xbox exclusivity. This means that there has never been a better time to give it to go, just note we aren’t liable for any damage to your TV.
3. Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)
Many thought we’d reached the peak of superhero video games with Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham Knight. Yet along came a spider who managed to knock it from the top spot. Studio Insomniac took a break from their acclaimed Ratchet & Clank franchise to craft quite possibly the greatest superhero game of all time, as we find Peter Parker 8 years into his job as the web-slinger and in the middle of a war between various parties for New York. The love for Spidey is immediately apparent, with the story deftly weaving together multiple story points from the character’s rich history, throwing in mountains of secrets and references to uncover as well as power-ups, gadgets and suits from Spider-Man’s past that all have an impact on how you play and approach combat. That combat does indeed owe a lot to the Arkham formula, borrowing the standard strike and dodge mechanic, but it’s the movement that really catapults the game into top-tier. No other game, bar the admittedly now dated Spider-Man 2, has ever made web-swinging so fluid and precise that you actually feel like Spider-Man. It all works perfectly with the regular swinging, web zipping and launching off points coming together to make even the longest trips across New York exhilarating and unique, as you encounter side-missions, crimes to stop and challenges left by the villainous Taskmaster to complete. Throw in a bevy of classic villains from Rhino, Electro and Kingpin alongside newer enemies like Mister Negative and you have an absolutely insane game brimming with content. If you’re itching to try out Miles Morales on the PS5 and can’t get your hands on one, then head on back to the original. It’s never a bad time to take a swing through New York, just watch out for low-flying Vultures.
2. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016)
By this stage, most will be familiar with Naughty Dog’s Uncharted franchise. Something of a modern day Indiana Jones series, the first three entries followed treasure hunter Nathan Drake as he travelled through tombs and forests with nothing but a pistol and a quick wit. Featuring charming characters, well-designed exploration and adrenaline-pumping action, the trilogy remains as one of the greatest highlights of the Playstation 3 catalogue. So when it came time to close the book on the series with a fourth and final entry on PS4, Naughty Dog went all in. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is quite simply the closest you’ll get to Hollywood action with a controller, featuring a brilliantly deep plot, fantastic character work, outrageous action and amazing visuals. It’s a rollercoaster of intensity and emotion from the offset, with an attention to detail and graphic fidelity so impressive it’s often hard to believe you’re in control of it all. You’ll often find yourself engrossed in a gorgeous cutscene, watching characters with years of established relationships interact with cinema-like quality. Next, you’re riding through vast open plains and taking on a small army with flair as you zip between locations all over the globe. We could sit here all day showering it with praise, but when its an adventure of a high enough standard to define an entire generation, it’s one best experienced first-hand.
1. God of War (2018)
If you had asked us how we felt about the God of War franchise a few years ago, chances are we wouldn’t have much to say. The series was certainly good at what it did – hack and slash gameplay all about tearing enemies apart with as much blood and noise as possible – but nobody was coming to the table for an interesting plot, engaging world or developed characters. 2018’s ambitious sequel/reboot God of War sought to change all that with a shifted focus, new setting and series of refined mechanics that ultimately resulted in the current gen’s greatest achievement. Gone is the darkness and noise of Ancient Greece, replaced with a far more intimate yet expansive adventure through the lands of Norse mythology. We’re dropped into this new world as familiar anti-hero Kratos, who lives in quiet exile as a father and recent widower who must set out across these lands while pursued by both gods and demons. The action is just as tight as it was during previous entries, with the addition of a brutal axe that just may be one of the best weapons ever seen in a game. Yet where God of War really shines is in its incredibly deep plot and character building of the two main characters. We watch as Kratos evolves from a stoic, distant father into a wise protector and role model to his young son Atreus – who undergoes a huge and complex character arc himself. The entire game is shot from the shoulder of Kratos, ensuring that you’re deep in the middle of every conflict, victory, revelation and emotional moment from start to finish. It’s rare to find an experience as engrossing and memorable as this one, and it’s hard to imagine another game managing to do the same anytime soon. So when deciding on the greatest game of this generation, there really is no other choice as worthy as the outstanding God of War.
