Here’s our list of the best upcoming exclusives coming to the PS4 in the next year. Triple Town was an addictive little puzzler for mobile devices, and if this PS4 release features a similar level of taxing gameplay, then it could become quite the time sink.
19. Pavilion
A Sony exclusive heading to both the PS4 and PS Vita, Pavilion is an isometric adventure with a beautiful art style. The interesting thing here is the approach Visiontrick Media is taking with the game’s challenge. Instead of the usual instructions or training, the game will simply drop you into the world. To progress, you’ll simply have to examine your surroundings and test the waters, figuring things out for yourself.
18. Magicka 2
An action adventure sequel, Magicka 2 continues the isometric, co-op spell-slinging started by its predecessor, and sees up to four players take the role of wizards on an epic quest. The series is loosely based on Norse mythology, and it does away with the usual limited magic spells and abilities, instead letting you spam spells as much as you like. The original game played with the traditional RPG setting, even including machine guns and a jaunt to Vietnam, so we expect the sequel to follow suit, presenting us with a quirky take on the RPG genre. On the PC the game can host battles with 2000 players taking part, and the developers have stated that the PS4 version will be the same as the PC, with only a few graphical upgrades. If so, we can expect some truly mammoth online battles when the game lands later this year.
16. Galak-Z
Galak-Z will be a very challenging, roguelike shooter that’ll feature randomly generated worlds, meaning you’ll always be in for a different challenge with very play. It’s being designed to offer a retro-style appeal, featuring various elements of old-school shooters, but will also implement more up to date features, including open levels and even stealth. Control is absolute, with a ship that’s superbly manoeuvrable, which will be important when navigating and fighting in the complex environments. There’ll also be various factions in the game, and you’ll even be able to play these off against each other to make things easier for yourself. This is a promising one.
15. Velocity 2X Alpha
The sequel to Velocity Ultra, Velocity 2X Alpha fuses together the two genres of platform-puzzler, and fast-paced shooter. It’s a good-looking title with some frantic top-down shoot ’em up sections, and some equally fast-paced on-foot outings where you’ll need to be as good with your grey matter as you are with your trigger finger. The original game was great, and this sequel looks like it’ll amp everything up to the next level. It’s also going to grace the PS Vita alongside the PS4. The same core gameplay from the original game will remain, and Abe will be able to use mind control and his other abilities to rescue his fellow Mudokons, and survive his quest to avoid becoming lunch, courtesy of Molluck the Glukkon.
13. Let It Die
The PS4 exclusive title from Suda 51 is the free-to-play Let It Die, and as always with Suda’s games, it looks like it’s going to be a little odd.
12. Ratchet And Clank Remastered
Now ten years old, Ratchet And Clank is one of Sony’s most enduring and beloved series, and the 3D platformer has been through many iterations, demonstrating Insomniac’s skill in creating crazy weapons and colourful worlds. If you missed the excellent original on PS2 you’ll now have the chance to play it as it’s being remastered for PS4. Serving as the foundation for the various sequels, Ratchet And Clank‘s first outing was a pure platformer, and was a wonderfully smooth and visually-stunning experience at the time. It’ll release on the console to coincide with the Ratchet And Clank movie in 2015. In absence of game footage, the above trailer is for the upcoming movie instead. Battlestar Galactica‘s Katee Sackhoff is lending her vocal talents to the game, which should bring us as close to her role of Starbuck as possible, and as you win battles, you’ll earn experience with which you can unlock new ships and equipment.
10. Deep Down
Capcom’s Deep Down is only this low on the list as we’re not even sure if the game is coming to the west yet, but with luck, we’ll get this Dark Souls-esque action RPG.
9. The Last Of Us: Remastered
Naughty Dog’s award grabbing adventure needs no introduction really, and the PS3 hit is coming to the PS4 in a remastered form. It’ll feature improved visuals, and will also pack in the DLC, including Ellie’s separate adventure, Left Behind. Some consider this to be far too early for a re-release of such a recent title, but if you didn’t have a PS3 when it arrived, and have migrated to the PS4 from other platforms, which Sony claims a third of PS4 owners have done, then this is the perfect way to experience this genuinely brilliant game. E3 saw more of the game, including some impressive weather effects and night time driving, and in terms of next gen racers, it’s looking like this is certainly going to fit the bill. What’s more, we have a release date, which will be October 7.
7. Grim Fandango
What can we say? As long time fans of both the point-and-click adventure and Tim Shafer’s releases, we’re stoked at the news of Grim Fandango‘s return. The brilliant adventure of afterlife ‘travel agent’, Manuel ‘Manny’ Calavera, through a typically off-the-wall world is just sublime, and one of the best examples of the genre this side of Monkey Island.
6. Abzu
One fact should explain why this title is causing quite a stir – it’s being made by a studio formed by Journey‘s art director, Matt Nava, along with composer, Austin Wintory. It’s an underwater adventure in which you play a diver, and you’ll interact with various creatures, including whales and and sharks. The trailer demonstrates a peaceful and relaxing style, and some impressive underwater environments. Exact gameplay is still to be revealed, but given the pedigree it’s following, this is one to watch. No Man’s Sky looks stunning, not just in terms of its striking visuals, but in the sheer scope of the game. It’ll not only feature procedurally generated worlds, but infinite ones, in an infinite universe where players will discover new planets and even new lifeforms. You can explore a planet on-foot, jump in your space ship and then launch into the big black to find another world to land on, all seamlessly with no loading. We’ve seen space battles with large capital ships going at it, destructible asteroids and all sorts of lifeforms on land, sea and air. How the actual gameplay will flow, and what mechanics will be implemented remains to be seen, but this is one of our most highly anticipated releases. Visually impressive, an with a very interesting setting, this could be a winner, although the implementation of QTE events, no matter how unique, is a cause for concern.
3. LittleBigPlanet 3
The return of Sackboy was one of the highlights of the Sony conference for many, and this time he’s bringing some new friends along for the ride, with even more power at players’ disposal to create almost anything they can imagine.
2. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
It was pretty much a certainty that the PS4 would get an Uncharted game, but that didn’t make the reveal any less exciting, and at E3 we got a cheeky teaser in the form of this CG trailer. Nathan Drake looks as if he’s seen better days, and the overall darker tone of this adventure would seem to be one of finality, which is strengthened by the title, A Thief’s End, and Drake’s voice actor, Nolan North, saying he believes this might be the last Uncharted game, or at least one starring Nathan Drake as the hero.
1. BloodBorne
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of the Souls series, so the reveal of Bloodborne from Hidetaka Miyazaki made for a title that instantly topped our most wanted list. We thought it might have been Demon’s Souls 2 initially, but instead this will be a totally new IP set in a 19th century city called Yharnham, which is ravaged by a plague. The game will feature a lot of similarities to the Souls games, with some familiar combat and adventuring mechanics, but it’ll also sport plenty of new additions, including faster paced, less defensive combat, unpredictable enemy AI and environments, and more flexible, muti-form weapons. What we’ve seen of the game and the gameplay so far looks great, and this is our most anticipated PS4 exclusive.
