2016 Holiday Season: The PlayStation Gamer’s Gift Guide

Software

There are many, many titles to choose from when it comes to PlayStation that aren’t necessarily exclusive to the platform, and of course, you should purchase games to your taste. What are listed below are the best games for the system that are not only great but show off the power of the PlayStation 4 and the PS4 Pro.

Uncharted 4 A Thief's End – $39.99 Best Buy

This of course only pertains to those that haven’t purchased the bundle with the PS4 Slim. If you pick up a system that doesn’t include this game, get this game; for all the reasons I stated above. 

Ratchet and Clank – $19.99 G ameStop

Ratchet and Clank is a game that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It pays homage to the original title whilst also being the launching off point to revamp the entire the series. The story is expertly written, and the platforming is first class. It includes PS4 Pro support as well with higher resolutions and HDR. The best-looking console game on the market now looks even better.

Bloodborne – $19.99 GameStop

 

Note to parents purchasing a system for their children: do not pick up this title. If the name wasn’t incredibly obvious, this is a mature game that features some of the most horrific designs in the medium. And I mean horrific in a good way. The twisted creatures you face in Bloodborne are awesome, and the skills required to slay them once mastered are the most gratifying in any game. If you have felt jaded by the Dark Souls series I implore you to give Bloodborne a try. I feel like Dark Souls, in a lot of ways, pushes the gamer away with its difficulty, Bloodborne entices you to keep pushing by rewarding you with playing fast and offensively. It’ll get you addicted if you let it.

The Last of Us – $19.99 GameStop

Like Bloodborne, The Last of Us is a mature game, so little tykes need not apply. It is however required reading for everyone else. Like Catcher in the Rye is to literature or Citizen Kane is to cinema, The Last of Us is the pinnacle of what gaming can be. An extraordinary post-apocalyptic world with full realized, deep characters, this game is in no objective way less than great. If you disagree, I’m sorry but you’re just wrong. If you have a PS4 Pro you can even run the game in 4K.

Overwatch – $39.99 Target

Ok, this may not be PlayStation-centric, but it’s some of the best multiplayer fun to have in 2016 and I’m sure tons of gamers will be picking it up for the first time this holiday season. I think everyone should give Overwatch a try, with a character for every player type. If you’re in a match with a few friends online, you will watch the hours fly by. It’s a beautifully designed game that Blizzard has continued to improve with awesome new content. Oh, and it won Game of the Year so there’s that.

PlayStation Network Gift Cards – Various Prices GameStop

 

Some of the best games this year, however, are only available digitally and to do that you’ll either need a credit card or a PSN Gift Card. The difficult yet rewarding puzzle game The Witness and the hauntingly evocative Inside are two of the best games of not just this year but the entire console generation. Rocket League, the soccer game with RC cars and the it’s-so-good-it-should-have-been-a-movie-oh-wait-they’re-making-a-movie Firewatch are also limited to digital. These titles are cheaper than your average retail game, so you might end up getting a lot more bang for your buck.

PlayStation Plus Subscri​ption – $47 CD Keys

PlayStation Plus is almost a requirement for the hardcore gamer, and at $60 a year is almost necessary for every PS4 owner. Firstly, if you plan to play multiplayer, you need PlayStation Plus. But the membership offers a ton of free games for PS4, PS3 and Vita if you are ingrained in Sony’s ecosystem. Some months are better than others in terms of what they offer, but you’ll always get your money’s worth.

Like I said, there are a ton of other games and accessories I could list, but these are the products that are hits and never misses. These prices may raise or lower since the time of posting so please update us if you spot a good deal!

If this year’s PSX didn’t make it perfectly clear, these next few years are going to be awesome for gaming on a Sony system. In addition to the release of powerful new hardware this past fall, we have even more titles to add to the incredible list of software that will be releasing with Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite and The Last of Us Part 2. In this article, I’m going to go over everything essential to new and old PlayStation gamers alike so you can be prepared for either yourself or a loved one this fall.

Hardware

PlayStation Slim + Uncharted 4 Bundle – $269 Walmart

If you don’t already own a PlayStation 4, this bundle is the recommended starter kit to pick up. If you’re a casual gamer, on a budget, or a parent purchasing for their pre-teen, the PlayStation 4 Slim is going to satisfy you in terms of gaming prowess. Games currently and will continue to look amazing on the vanilla PS4, and you have to look no further than the game bundled with it. Uncharted 4 is an incredible experience, garnering multiple Game of the Year nominations and wins. It is probably the PlayStation’s best exclusive and will delight on multiple levels. If you want to understand what the PlayStation is all about, this simple bundle will explain all.

PlayStation VR – $399 an d $499 GameStop

If you already meet the requirements of owning a PlayStation 4 or you are planning on getting the complete PlayStation experience this holiday season, the PlayStation VR is more than a neat accessory. It’s the future of technology. The implementations of Virtual Reality are nearly endless, and it’s not just gaming. Other forms of entertainment, education, social interaction, etc. At $400 it’s incredibly cost effective compared to other headsets yet still retains a premium quality feel and experience. Don’t be worried by the low sales forecast through 2016: there are awesome titles heading for the system like Resident Evil VII, Farpoint and Ace Combat 7. In addition, it’ll be a great gift to experience with family this holiday with games such as Tumble VR and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. If you’re looking for something new and only able to experience in person, PSVR is it. There are two SKUs for PSVR. If you already own a PlayStation 4 camera and a set of move controllers you can pick up the headset for $399. But if you don’t have any of those accessories, for $499 you can get the headset, the camera, the move controllers and a copy of PlayStation Worlds; a selection of VR gaming experiences that are surprisingly good.

PlayStation 4 Pro – $399 Amazon

Whilst I thoroughly enjoy my PS4 Pro, I recommend it with a few reservations. The only people who need to purchase this version of the PlayStation 4 are those with expendable incomes or hardcore gamers looking to future proof. Anyone else should definitely refer to the Slim bundle as the console to go with. I’m not even going to say if you already own a PS4 to skip the Pro; it is definitely a clear improvement. But only do so if you’re the kind of person that likes to dabble in PC gaming but doesn’t want to deal with the minutia of such a world. For those that don’t know, the Pro offers 4K output and video streaming on Netflix and YouTube in 4K. In gaming, some titles will get a native or quasi-4K bump, faster frame-rates or other technical improvements. If most of those words meant nothing to you, stick with the Slim and Uncharted Bundle. 

43” Sony 4K UHD TV – $598 Overstock

Now if you do pick up a Pro, you’re most likely going to want to maximize everything you can squeeze out of that system. You’ll want to find a television that doesn’t skimp on features but will also not break the bank. My best recommendation is this 43 inch Sony TV. It features not only 4K resolutions but also High Dynamic Range, something that both the PS4 and the Pro offer. Essentially, HDR expands the color gamut available to the system meaning on top of richer colors you’re going to see greater details in shadows and lights. Some people claim that this is this feature and not necessarily 4K resolutions which truly enhances the games. At $600 it’s on the cheaper end of the price range or 4K TV sets as well as being a nice size for most living rooms.

PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset – $67.62 Walmart

Starting next year, PlayStation will release a $160 Platinum Stereo Headset. Right now, you can pick up their Gold Stereo Headset for around $70. If you’re a gamer with especially thin walls or is living with parents still, you’ll probably want to pick these up. Full, booming sounds that you can experience without the fear of a neighbor filing a noise complaint with your landlord. They’re extremely cost effective compared to 3rd party headsets on the market and fit in aesthetically with the rest of your PlayStation gear. 

Power A DualShock 4 Charging Station – $24.99 Best Buy

If you’re like me and hate when a controller is out of a charge or can’t stand the sight of all the cables on your entertainment system, definitely pick up a DualShock 4 Charging Station by Power A. They are the closest to Sony in terms of 3rd party and accessory design, and this will clean up that already too cluttered entertainment space. When you’re done with your gaming session, simply slot your controllers onto the cradle and you won’t have to worry about them dying during your next online match. And if you pick up a second controller, it has space for that as well.