5 Games You Must Play In PlayStation

Although I have been gaming for almost 2.5 decades now, I am fairly new to console gaming. I used to be a PC gamer but shifted to PlayStation a few years ago. And I am really glad I did. The number of outstanding games I have played in the short span wouldn’t be possible on PC. I initially had inertia about moving from keyboard to a controller but that transition was smoother than I thought.

Over the last few years, I have played a few dozens of games. Some I loved, some I liked, some were ok, and some I couldn’t finish. Then there were some that I couldn’t put down. Let me share the top 5 games that I feel you must play.

Last of Us by Naughty Dog

Last of Us Remastered was the first full game I played on my PS4 pro. Before that, I was only playing Fifa on the console.

I never used to like zombie games. So, even though I heard a lot about this game, I was reluctant to start it. Eventually, I purchased the game at a discount. And what an experience it was.

It’s set in a world infested by zombies/undead/infected. Those infected minds and bodies have mutated to make them scary enemies lurking in all corners. But this game was more than fighting them. It was about human psychology, behavior, and relationships. It’s about how two strangers become close to each other to form a father-daughter dynamic. It’s about the villains human beings became when society collapsed.

Last of Us is one of the few games that can make you feel the full range of emotions. Fear, anger, loss, despair, happiness, relief, and love — you’ll feel them all! The game had a wonderful sequel. I believe the series should end on a high note with the next part.

Related: How Naughty Dog Should End Last of Us Game Series

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End by Naughty Dog

Nathan Drake! What a protagonist to carry a game.

In short, Nathan is a (retired) treasure hunter in this game. In Uncharted 1,2 and 3, he traveled the world to chase myths of El Dorado, Iram of the pillars, and Shambala. He stopped chasing dangerous treasures after he got married. In his missions, he is usually accompanied by his longtime partner in crime Sully. In this game, he had to get out of retirement as his seemingly dead brother Samuel Drake comes back into his life. The story takes us through different parts of the world in search of Henry Avery’s treasure. It has an amazing narrative and different types of missions including one iconic jeep chase mission.

Uncharted 4 is the 4th part of the series. I played them all and recommend that you do too. But the 4th one was miles above the rest due to storytelling, gameplay, and graphics improvement.

Red Dead Redemption 2 by Rockstar Games

If games could be considered as an art form, Red Dead Redemption 2 will be on top of that list. The game is a massive masterpiece that takes us through the wild west. It revolved around a gang and our protagonist Arthur Morgan is a key member of the gang. Arthur is one of the best male characters in gaming in my opinion.

Arthur grows into a tall figure throughout the game but it’s not only about him. RDR2 is an experience with a powerful storyline, unique gameplay, and interesting characters. The game moves from location to location and characters change as time goes. The connections between characters make the entire experience vividly real. Even the connection between Arthur and his horse was managed better than character dynamics in most games.

Ghost of Tsushima by Sucker Punch

Ghost of Tsushima is an underrated gem. The game was exclusively launched on PlayStation. I just recently finished the game and it was a masterful game. The game’s key characters, their growth, the story, gameplay, side missions, and all minor details pack such a strong punch that this has become one of my most favorite games ever.

Jin Sakai is one of the best-written characters in gaming in my opinion. The way he becomes a more nuanced character is what you’d expect from novels and acclaimed movies. On top of that, the game has one of the most exciting first scenes in gaming. Just have a look here —

Ghost of Tsushima has incredibly good content and action set pieces. I strongly recommend you get this game. If you end up playing, brace yourself for the mission titled Ghost of Yarikawa. That mission ended in such a high that’s hard to find in gaming. Unfortunately, replaying that didn’t reproduce the same emotions. So, it’s something only new users can experience.

Horizon Zero Dawn by Guerilla Games

Horizon Zero Dawn has such a unique setup. The game is set in the future, yet it feels like a game set in the past due to the circumstances. The game covers a post-apocalyptic world that was caused by some scientific inventions gone wrong. Our key character Aloy is born in that world. The world didn’t get any of the knowledge from the past so they are reinventing the wheel for most things. Aloy uncovers the reasons why the killer robots are after them and then fights the evil with the help of friends.

The main character, Aloy, is so likable from the get-go. She starts as a deprived young child and grows into a teenager (I think) who had to take on the responsibility of saving the world. The gameplay is pretty good. But it’s ultimately Aloy’s show.

However, you might not like the side missions that much because I feel they were not that detailed. Especially after playing games like RDR2 and Ghost of Tsushima, you might find the world to be quite empty.

Other great games

There are many other great games to play. I had a hard time choosing the 5th one so you can try the following games as well

• Detroit: Become Human: It’s less of a game and more of a story-driven movie where you play as androids that look like humans and help them gain independence.
• Witcher 3 is one of the first open-world games that deal with a powerful narrative, monsters, and excellent titular characters
• GTA 5 needs no introduction. The game is the first in the series to have 3 different playable characters. It’s a super fun experience throughout the modern
• Days Gone: Days Gone is another game set in a post-apocalyptic world. The game starts slow but has a good story. There is an excellent portion called the Horde Mechanism where hundreds of freakers (infected) attack the protagonist.
• God of War has become a story about father-son relationships along with a journey through a mythical world
• Marvel’s Spiderman is one of the best superhero games ever made
• Assassins’ Creed Odyssey is an open-world game set in the beautiful greek world. If you don’t like Assassins’ Creed, you might still like it as it’s quite detached from the rest of the series

A couple of the games on the list above might not be enjoyed by all. But I can guarantee that you’d like most of them.

This was first published on Medium