With the next generation of gaming slowly coming around the corner, it is time to frantically play all the PlayStation 4 games one may have skipped along the way.
While many are knee deep in The Last of Us Part II or anxiously awaiting Ghost of Tsushima, it is vital not to forget some of the underrated titles that have graced Sony's fourth console since 2013. Most of the titles below are exclusives while a few are multiplatform titles one must play before the PlayStation 5 hits this fall. Hopefully these remain playable on the next console due to backward compatibility.
10 Knack
Mark Cerny's creation for the PlayStation 4 became something of a punchline, but gamers should not ignore it. There is still plenty of platforming and combat goodness to be found in this fantasy adventure title. Even though it did not become the next big Sony mascot, Knack is a fun time. The two games in the series can also be played cooperatively.
9 The Order: 1886
Many lobbied complaints at Ready at Dawn's The Order: 1886 because of the short length and apparent priority of graphics over gameplay. One cannot be faulted for not wanting to spend sixty dollars on a five hour game, but one can pick up The Order: 1886 used or during a PSN store sale for a significant discount. The developer has since moved on to VR projects and was recently purchased by Oculus, so it is difficult to say if a sequel will ever see the light of day.
8 Titanfall 2
The original Titanfall was a purely multiplayer experience, which made it all the more surprising when Titanfall 2's single-player campaign turned out to be one of the finest first-person shooter story modes of the generation. It is short but sweet, with each level focusing on a new, innovative game mechanic. The game did not sell well immediately out of the gate, but word of mouth and continued presence on sales has lead to a slowly growing fan community.
7 A Plague Tale: Innocence
Asobo Studios has been around since 2002 porting other projects and helping out on large AAA titles. A Plague Tale: Innocence is their first original game in over a decade, and for their ambitious title they went for a stealth-action game inspired by titles like The Last of Us. A young girl must survive with her brother through a deadly plague ravaging Europe in the late fourteenth century. Human enemies are also out for her head.
6 Gravity Rush 2
This sequel to the PlayStation Vita Exclusive takes advantage of the extra horsepower from a home console to make the gravity manipulation more intriguing than ever. More objects in the environment toss about as Kat uses her powers during the story.
The only main issue is the sheer size of the city without much to do inside. However, this can be easily overlooked if one shoots through the story and enjoys the whimsical narrative filled with charming characters.
5 Mad Max
Avalanche Studios made a name for themselves with Just Cause. One lesser known game is their interpretation of Mad Max. While the game has no tie-in with the film series, it still came out the same year as Fury Road and director George Miller consulted on the project. The combat and world were objects of veneration, while critics were less kind to the story.
4 Tearaway Unfolded
The PlayStation Vita's small install base meant many missed out on Media Molecule's Tearaway. Fortunately, the company brought the cult classic onto the PlayStation 4, adapting some of the gameplay mechanics to work on the DualShock 4 instead of the handheld. Although the game offers little in the way of challenge, the experience of adventuring this unique world is enough to warrant a playthrough.
3 The Sinking City
The Sinking City takes all of developer Frogware's previous experience with the Sherlock Holmes games and puts it into an HP Lovecraft-inspired world. In addition to the investigation gameplay for which the Ukrainian developer is known, The Sinking City's world is more open and combat plays a bigger role in the campaign. Despite the technical issues and unrefined shooting mechanics, the game is still a captivating ride.
2 The Last Guardian
This game's development goes all the way back to the PlayStation 3 era. The Last Guardian simply could not run on Sony's last generation console, so the team waited for something more powerful to come along. Some thought the title did not live up to the hype, but time has been kind and the story is easy to appreciate when not reflecting on a decade long wait.
1 Killzone: Shadow Fall
While Guerrilla Games made their biggest splash with Horizon: Zero Dawn, one should not forget the PS4 launch title Killzone: Shadowfall. It continues the series' narrative in an interesting way and was an impressive showcase for the PlayStation 4's capabilities. The environments are also more varied and colorful than the prior Killzone games. Despite being almost seven years old, this launch title still holds up.