Happy holidays PS4 owners and potential owners! 2014's best-selling next-gen console got a lot of fine multi-platform games that look amazing on the PlayStation 4's hardware. It just didn't see much in exclusive must-buys. The star of the show here is a game that already released on PlayStation 3 last year, The Last of Us Remastered, but there's plenty of games worthy of being on your list! If you have any gift buying questions, don't hesitate to comment, email me at [email protected] or tweet us at @Lance_GZ or @GameZoneOnline.
Make sure to check out our entire 2014 Holiday Gift Guide!
Consoles:
There's not much in the way of bundles for the PlayStation 4 (outside of Black Friday deals). The PlayStation 4 sits at $399.99 with a Destiny bundle that includes a Glacier White PS4 instead of the normal black for $449.99 (comes with Destiny). But if you're hoping to get a Black Friday bundle, Sony announced that PlayStation 4 bundle for $399.99 that includes Grand Theft Auto V and The Last of Us.
Games:
The Last of Us Remastered
If you haven’t played the PlayStation 3 game that won many Game of the Year awards, the Remastered version on the PS4 is the way to go. It’s a must-play for any PlayStation owner. Even if you did play it, the Remastered version improves upon what you already loved. And it has the previously released DLC already included on it. [Review]
Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition
This is the definitive version of Diablo 3. It's one of the best games on both the PS4 and Xbox One. The changes made have me hooked. If you own a next-gen console, you'd be doing yourself a huge disservice if you don't purchase Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition. [Review]
Child of Light
Child of Light is a mesmerizing fairytale where you’ll admire the gorgeous visuals and the thought-provoking story. The combat is organized chaos with the active battle system that is presented simplistically, but puts a twist on the turn-based combat you might be used to. [Review]
Transistor
Supergiant's follow-up to Bastion is nothing short of impressive. There's an amazing story at hand, really intuitive and deep combat, a gorgeous art style and the most impressive soundtrack of any game I've played this year. I highly recommend this game, as it is one of the PlayStation 4's best. [Review]
Minecraft
What might go down as the game of a generation, this is the console version of Minecraft for next-gen. It’s an awesome game that’s like virtual LEGOs, where you can build anything you can think of.
Hohokum
It’s definitely abstract, but Hohokum is a real game with puzzles and goals. It’s a delight from beginning to end, even as trippy and weird as it is. It’s also cross-buy and cross-save, so you’ll get it for all of your PlayStation consoles. [Review]
Destiny
Destiny is not perfect and many may feel it comes up short of what was promised from Bungie. Even so, it’s an incredibly addicting game that Bungie should hopefully build upon in the future. While the story is weak, the Raids and Strikes are a highlight, as are the shooting mechanics. [Review]
Madden NFL 15
It’s the only new football game you can get this year, so football and NFL fans can get their video game fill from Madden NFL 15. There are huge improvements in presentation and animations, and a mild improvement in gameplay. It’s not the Peyton Manning of video games, but not many are. [Review]
FIFA 15
This is the world’s sport. FIFA 15 is gorgeous on next-gen consoles, and still looks good on PS3 and Xbox 360. It remains one of the best sports simulation games around with improvements in AI, lively stadiums and tactical gameplay.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Fans of Lord of the Rings, Assassin’s Creed and/or Arkham City should give Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor a shot. The combat and the upgrades to it are very Batman-ish, the story is good, and the best part of the game is Nemesis system, where you alter the balance of power between orc chiefs and their lieutenants. [Review]
Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation isn’t a perfect game, but it’s one that finally does the Alien franchise justice. The fear of not being able to fight off the xenomorph is terrifying. If you want a tense survival horror game with awesome analog sci-fi, this is the way to go. [Review]
The Evil Within
It’s not easy for a game with the name Shinji Mikami attached to it to live up to the hype, but The Evil Within does a nice job of staying true to its roots. It’s more gory than scary, but that didn’t stop us from jumping a couple of times. A must for survival horror fans that want resource management and puzzles. [Review]
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition
This is a worthy purchase if you have yet to play this fantastic open-world title, otherwise wait for a price drop. Comes with every single DLC released, a fresh coat of paint, and keeps the story worth paying attention to and the city worth exploring. [Review]
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is the best Call of Duty game made in years. It has a fun, strong campaign headlined by Kevin Spacey and Troy Baker, and the multiplayer brings in the future of weaponry as you’ll be able to boost and double-jump around the map. [Review]
Dragon Age Inquisition
Want to see how the Dragon Age series plays out? Get Inquisition, the biggest game in the series with great combat, and a huge world filled with tons of quests to go with it. This is a must-buy for Dragon Age fans, and a good RPG if you’re looking for that. [Review]
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V has made its way to next-gen consoles with updated visuals and an awesome first-person mode. It's not just a gimmick mode; it's pretty legit. This should be purchased for adults only (and ones that don't mind vulgarity and violence). In conslusion, GTA V is a hell of a ride and one that will give you tons of entertainment value. [Review]
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