Greatness has awaited many players who have played the best PlayStation games over the past 30 years. While there have been some unfortunate moments like the release of Concord or the Wonderbook, PlayStation has released many top-quality games in its lifespan.
Ape Escape
The first Ape Escape was revolutionary at the time as it utilized dual analog sticks in a revolutionary manner. In this game, you’re catching monkeys with a net, and you’re like a younger James Bond with all sorts of gadgets at your disposal. Spinning the right analog stick, you can net monkeys, spin a hula-hoop to gain speed, and use radar. The level design still holds up today.
Spyro: Year of the Dragon
The final Insomniac Games-developed Spyro, Year of the Dragon, is a masterclass of 3D platforming design. Gliding through the air as the tiny purple dragon is thrilling, and the level design still holds up to this day. Some cool missions had you play as different characters, each with their own abilities to offer. Year of the Dragon mixes the gameplay formula enough to keep it fresh throughout its storyline. Shoutout to the fun skateboarding levels by the way! I loved those as a kid.
Crash Bandicoot
This one might be the hardest of the trilogy, but it stands out the most. It has memorable levels and bosses that stick in my mind to this day. I played this with the N’Sane Trilogy for the first time (I was more of a Spyro kid) and loved the hard platforming and whacky art design that truly stands out among Crash’s contemporaries like Mario and Sonic. This game also changed up the platforming genre with its out-of-the-box hallway design that had Crash facing the camera during pivotal moments.
Wipeout
One of the best PlayStation games has us flying through a race course in futuristic vehicles. It’s basically PlayStation’s answer to the Mario Kart series. The racing’s intense, there are weapons at your disposal, and the controls feel fluid. I remember crashing my vehicle into the walls, but if you really master the movement, Wipeout‘s a thrill.
Ico
Ico is a special PS2 game that was way ahead of its time. It tells a riveting narrative with barely any speech as the environmental storytelling is spot on. The puzzles are well-designed, and the animations are great for this era. While escort missions are usually a huge turn-off in the gaming industry, Ico manages to make this mechanic thoroughly engaging and dramatic. “Puzzle-platforming, dragging a girl around and wimpy stick combat together sounds tedious, but it works really well, and we have Team Ico’s beautifully paced and designed levels to thank for that,” said our review of the PS3 remaster.
Shadow of the Colossus
The same developer, Team ICO, also made Shadow of the Colossus, a magnum opus, which has received a PS4 remake since its PS2 launch. That’s arguably the best way to play it. Shadow of the Colossus has you take on a bunch of bosses that act as brilliant platforming challenges in and of themselves. You’re exploring a dark, empty landscape that’s cursed and has been subject to time. You’re defeating these bosses to save your character’s love, and once again, without a word spoken, there’s drama and eerieness in your protagonist’s adventure. This is a masterpiece that must be played due to its story, incredible art, and sensational soundtrack to match with its groundbreaking gameplay.
Sly Cooper & The Thievius Raccoonus
This is a recent game I’ve been able to play, thanks to PlayStation Plus, and I wish I played it sooner. As a sneaky thief, you’re stealthily platforming through imaginative levels. Developed by Sucker Punch, this game has aged well with its cel-shaded art style and engaging animation. While the bosses do seem a bit half-baked at times, each level is packed with entertaining challenges and enemy designs. I hope to play the next two in the trilogy with PlayStation Plus Premium, but Sony’s sure taking its time to release them as of the time of writing.
Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
The original Jak & Daxter is one of the best 3D platformers PlayStation has ever released. It’s filled with charm, the script is funny, and the platforming still holds up to this day. Rather than the dark, depressing levels of the latter titles in the series with tacked-on gunplay, you get bright, colourful stages that test your platforming skills. It also has some fun vehicle segments as you go through the game’s delightful story.
Killzone 3
While the Killzone series has been long absent, the third entry still holds clout amongst fans. The campaign has blockbuster moments, the gunplay is heavy but makes you feel powerful, and the overall sci-fi look is gritty but stunning. The multiplayer, although taken down, was unique at the time as it played elements of the match in cinematic sequences, depending on how the objective was won or lost. It complimented the campaign well. Additionally, the PlayStation Move is utilized excellently within this FPS.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
One of the best PlayStation games that attracted many to the PS3 platform is Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. From having an intense level on top of a moving train to zipping through a Nepalese city, the stakes and the Hollywood action were unmatched at the time. Nolan North’s performance as Nathan Drake is phenomenal, with the best one-liners and emotional performances from the actor. The weapons feel great to control, and the action is top-notch, but the developer, Naughty Dog, knew how to calm down the action with engaging puzzles along the way. I hope an Uncharted revival is around the corner, either in the form of a sequel or a remake.
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
This entry is likely controversial for many, but it truly is an outstanding fighting game that suffered through many hardships. Despite Nintendo fans crying, “It’s a Smash clone!” and the terrible online play, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, at its core, is a thrilling platform fighter that deserves more acclaim. Linking combos into supers feels super satisfying, and the way the characters use moves from their original games is cool.
The stages also mashed two different games together, sometimes in unexpected ways. For example, you’re fighting in Ratchet & Clank‘s Metropolis while a hydra from God of War attacks Qwark. It was a creative way of integrating more PlayStation representation. It deserved more of a shot, and PlayStation should think about returning to this idea with its new games-as-a-service model.
LittleBigPlanet
LittleBigPlanet is part of the Play, Create, Share era of PlayStation. This game has a surprising amount of creative tools available to players to make their own levels and share them around the world. It was impressive what some creators made, and in some cases, the developer Media Molecule hired them for jobs at the studio. Sackboy is the adorable icon of the series, and it was cute to see him run through these creative levels in all manner of outfits.
“LittleBigPlanet‘s amazing level creation tools and the enormous amount of quality online user-created content [..] come together to offer a separate (and superior) experience: a genuine 10.0 purchase,” said our 2008 review. However, the reviewer found the offline content lacking.
Modnation Racers
One of PlayStation’s most under-appreciated games is Modnation Racers. The gameplay feels arguably better than Mario Kart, and the creation tools at your disposal are incredible. You could create your own tracks with all manner of obstacles, make characters (and base them off popular pop culture icons if you wanted to), or form your own kart with its custom designs. All of this was complimented by a fantastic online system, which lets you share your own creations and race with them online with other players. I miss this game, as it’s now offline.
inFAMOUS 2
Cole McGrath’s story wrapped up in inFAMOUS 2, and it was a fantastic resolution. The town of New Marais, inspired by New Orleans, is exciting to explore, and Cole’s new powers upped the ante. The graphics and art design were significantly improved over the rather generic original adventure, and the story features some intense narrative options that change the world around Cole. Unfortunately, this game is stuck on the PS3 and hasn’t received a remaster of any kind, which is a huge shame.
The Last of Us Part 1
Cinematic storytelling within games is a trend that really hit its high point with The Last of Us. This post-apocalyptic story tugs at the heartstrings of players as Joel and Ellie travel across the United States to help the Fireflies. It does a great job of building a kinship in the pseudo-father-daughter relationship and has us invested in what happens next. The combat is visceral as you try not to waste ammo and beat up your opponents by any means necessary. Additionally, the graphics are still striking today, especially if you play the remastered version of the game.
Journey
It’s not often I cry when I play a video game, but Journey is such an emotional experience that I couldn’t help myself. It tells the story of a soul traveling throughout its life, and along the way, you may meet a friend or two who help you on your journey. In the end, many realized their friends were played by strangers around the world. It’s an incredible use of online functionality. The game itself is wonderful, with some fantastic set pieces, epic music by Austin Wintory, and gorgeous visuals that will stay with you for many years. It was in the running to be our Game of the Year in 2012.
Resistance 3
Another PS3 FPS series that has seemingly faded to dust is Resistance, and the third is arguably the best. As you’d expect from developer Insomniac Games, there are intriguing weapons available in Resistance 3 as they’re mixed with alien technology. There is also an intriguing campaign that helped cap off the Resistance series with a mighty conclusion. “Its campaign is a thrill ride of rollercoaster-like set-pieces, huge boss battles, and consistently fast-paced action, and its multiplayer is a solid, enjoyable, anarchic complement,” said our review, and I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, the multiplayer has long been taken down.
Heavy Rain
The PS3 generation began a trend of cinematic games, and Heavy Rain was at the forefront of that. Quantic Dream created a captivating story for players to follow as they try to figure out who the Origami Killer is and save the young boys who have been taken from their families. It feels like your choices and gameplay skills really change the storyline, making it a gratifying experience, at least for my teenage self when I played it. The music by Normand Corbeil is sensational and really pull us into the drama of Heavy Rain.
rain
A smaller yet entertaining experience from PlayStation’s library is rain on the PS3. You played as a child who is formed from the raindrops in the environment, and then he becomes invisible when you’re in cover. It led to some creative sparks of puzzle gameplay within rain. The main objective is to find a lost girl within the Parisian landscape. “Calming and scary, amusing and sorrowful, rain is a game that jogs calmly through a gamut of emotions rather than sprints headlong into mood whiplash, and it’s incredibly difficult to ever dislike it, even during its twitchier moments,” said our review.
God of War (2018)
The God of War series never clicked with me until the 2018 reboot released on the PS4. The monotonous combat and dull protagonist were replaced with more in-depth combat and believable characters you get invested in. Similar to Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us, players feel attached to Kratos and Atreus as they try to figure each other out and bond over a common threat. The powerful score by Battlestar Galactica composer Bear McCreery is also a highlight.
Ghost of Tsushima
Another PS4 gem is Ghost of Tsushima. Jin Sakai’s internal struggle between becoming a ghost and sticking to his samurai beginnings is captivating. The open world is a pleasure to explore with gorgeous Japanese scenary. Additionally, the combat feels smooth and satisfying to pull off.
Until Dawn
One of the best horror games on PS4 is Until Dawn by Supermassive Games. The Butterfly Effect mechanic is brilliantly executed, giving you plenty of ways to experience the story. All of the playable characters could either live or die, making Until Dawn an exciting title to play through. It does have an overly long opening, but Until Dawn makes up for it with great set pieces and emotional moments between the characters.
Gravity Rush Remastered
Gravity Rush Remastered is an absolute gem every PlayStation fan should try. Flying through the air at a quick pace and running up walls are fantastic in this game. The storyline is intriguing as you explore the strange town of Hekseville. The art is also gorgeous with its anime/art-deco stylings.
Bloodborne
Initially, I was going to put Demon’s Souls on this list instead, but I feel like I’d be roasted if Bloodborne is ignored. And they would be correct. This gothic RPG set a new standard for action-RPGs when it came out in 2015. The bosses are tough as hell but are designed immaculately. The atmosphere is grim but gloriously beautiful with its gothic buildings and the creepy citizens that dwell within it. The soundtrack is also impactful. A sequel or a remaster needs to happen on PS5. It’s crazy it hasn’t happened yet.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon: Forbidden West may not have set the world on fire, but Horizon Zero Dawn is a must-play game from the PS4 generation. It’s one of the best PlayStation games because it has a unique post-apocalyptic premise. It takes place many years after civilization has fallen, and tribes have arisen in the aftermath. There’s plenty of environmental storytelling around Aloy, with subtle hints as to what happened to past generations and the robots that roam the earth. The combat is also exhilarating, with a focus on archery and traps rather than the typical sword. Taking down massive mechanical beasts is a thrill.
Gran Turismo 7
You can’t have a best PlayStation games list without mentioning the Gran Turismo series. It’s been massively successful as it has a wide list of realistically rendered cars, accurate tracks from around the world, and smooth simulation controls. Driving fans flock to this series every time a new game comes out, and Gran Turismo 7 is the most recent.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
It is difficult to come up with just one Ratchet & Clank game for this list, but Rift Apart just takes it. Insomniac’s weapon design in Rift Apart is phenomenal, and the game constantly wows audiences with its spectacular sci-fi worlds and set pieces. What helps the game is the use of the PS5’s SSD, letting you zip between worlds and universes in a matter of seconds. The addition of Rivet is also a plus, as she has a personality in spades.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is an absolute triumph. It melds Peter Parker and Miles Morales’ storylines perfectly, and each of these characters has unique powers at their disposal, making the campaign more gripping. It’s a rush to swing around New York, and in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, you can use the web-wings to roam the Big Apple even faster. The addition of Venom and other villains into the storyline is a delight, and it adds plenty of drama to the mix.
Astro Bot
The most recent game on this list is Astro Bot, but it certainly deserves a spot. The platforming is spot-on and has very creative levels throughout the game. The character references to past PlayStation games are incredible for fans, and there are even segments that pay homage to them, like catching monkeys with a net with an Ape Escape-themed level. Please play this game so we can get a sequel. Thanks!
Returnal
Returnal is bonkers hard, but man, is it a good game. The action is thick and fast as you explore a mysterious sci-fi world. You’re going through loops over and over again, trying to defeat bosses and other foes with the weapons you collect in each run. It’s challenging, but the stellar gameplay, matched with impressive visuals, make Returnal a game you should try on your PS5.
Published: Nov 21, 2024 08:08 am