The PlayStation 4 is now entering the final phase of its lifecycle, that much we know, but who’s to say that Sony’s flagship hardware doesn’t have one or two heavy-hitters still waiting in the wings?
Games like Spider-Man, Days Gone, and the genre oddity that is Death Stranding are all coming down the pike sooner rather than later, which will no doubt ensure that the PS4 goes out with one final (and brilliant?) burst of light, as opposed to fading away like its handheld brethren.
And so, after highlighting the console’s biggest ever releases thus far, it’s time for the pendulum to swing the other way so we can draw attention to those PS4 exclusives still to come.
Because after five years of Nordic highs and cross-play lows, not to mention a mid-generation upgrade in the PS4 Pro, it’s fair to say that the PlayStation 4 has hooked gamers with its vast software library and rich first-party exclusives—80 million units sold is a testimony to that. Yet there are still many more experiences to come.
Besides, God of War II (PS2) and The Last of Us (PS3) are living proof that a console can still churn out top-tier titles even in its twilight years. As a matter of fact, one could argue that the PlayStation 4’s core games roster will only grow and evolve as developers begin to harness the full capabilities of Sony’s hardware.
That creates a swirl of palpable excitement around the PS4’s upcoming exclusives, so let’s take a moment to see what’s cramming up the pipeline.
best ps4 games still to come
-
A Tantalizing Preview of What's to Come
Shall we?
-
Days Gone
We begin with Sony Bend’s long-in-development PS4 exclusive, Days Gone. If one was to whittle Bend's apocalyptic actioner down to an elevator pitch, it'd be a cross between The Last of Us and Sons of Anarchy.
But to compare Days Gone to its genre contemporaries would only be a disservice to the intense survival experience that Sony Bend has crafted. You take up the role of Deacon St. John, a former outlaw who spends his days chasing the nearest horizon. The only problem is, Days Gone takes place in a world ravaged by some mysterious pandemic, one which has brought humanity to its knees and crowned "Freakers" as Earth’s new apex predator.
They come in all shapes and sizes, too, and Sony Bend’s day-night cycles allow the world of Days Gone to groan and change as though it were our own. Oh, and just like Dying Light, those "Freakers" are said to be much more aggressive come nightfall, which ought to crank up the tension.
If nothing else, as Days Gone marks Sony Bend’s first console game since Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow, we’re more than willing to get behind the wheel as Deacon St. John.
-
Death Stranding
Far and away the most mysterious PS4 exclusive on this list, Death Stranding is practically in a league of its own when it comes to intrigue and mind-bending concepts. But this being Kojima, we’re quietly confident that there’s method behind the madness, particularly after the game’s most recent trailer revealed Norman Reedus’ character to be Sam Bridges, a porter caught up in some multi-dimensional (?) universe of invisible kaiju, ghost babies and cetacean strandings.
Hell, after three trailers, Death Stranding continues to boggle the mind, but with top-tier talent on board—namely Reedus, Guillermo Del Toro, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, and Lindsay Wagner—and an autonomous Kojima behind the wheel, we're absolutely along for the ride.
Even if you're not particularly fond of the dev's track record, or Death Stranding is yet to tickle your fancy with its surreal imagery and otherworldly themes, Hideo Kojima's PS4 debut warrants your curiosity, if not your attention.
-
Dreams
It's been a long time coming—too long, perhaps—but Media Molecule's Dreams, a PS4 exclusive that was initially shown to the masses back in 2013, appears to be taking shape.
Such is the mystery surrounding Dreams that it's become difficult to pinpoint exactly what kind of gameplay we can expect from what is undoubtedly Media Molecule's most ambitious title since LittleBigPlanet.
It is, in essence, an interactive sandbox in which players can, ahem, dream up all sorts of weird and wonderful experiences to share with family and friends. If that sounds a little overwhelming, you'll be pleased to hear that Dreams also includes a Story Mode, but again, firm details remain under lock and key.
-
Erica
Cut from the same cloth as Her Story, Flavourworks' Erica is billed as an edge-of-your-seat thriller capable of blurring the line between game and interactive movie.
It's a PlayLink exclusive, too, meaning users will be able to call upon their friends and family to help solve the mystery at hand.
Still no word of a release date for this one, but based on the premise alone—that being a live-action thriller with top-tier production values—Erica is a PS4 title we'll be keeping an eye on.
-
Ghost of Tsushima
Sucker Punch is a long way from the neon streets of Seattle.
The inFamous dev has journeyed to 1274, where it hopes to retell the first Mongol invasion of Japan. Early gameplay footage has wowed the masses, and the attention to detail on display here is quite simply stunning.
Rendering intense samurai fights is one thing, but setting those duels against a Japanese sunset, with blood-red foliage rustling overhead, was enough to bring audiences to their feet during E3 2018.
Make no mistake, Ghost of Tsushima, with its vast open world and historical roots, has all the makings of a special, special PS4 exclusive.
-
MediEvil
Following in the footsteps of Spyro and Crash Bandicoot, Sir Daniel Fortesque is headed to PS4 in the form of MediEvil Remastered (tentative title).
First unveiled at PSX 2017, the re-release promises a full overhaul of the cult classic from '98, and while Sony is yet to commit to an actual release date, there have been rumblings that Sir Daniel will grace PS4 in time for his 20th anniversary. Let the countdown begin!
-
The Last of Us Part II
The Big One. 'Nuff said.
-
Honorary Mention: Spider-Man
The only reason Spider-Man has slipped into the "honorary mention" is that Insomniac's open-world adventure is right around the corner. And what an adventure it's shaping up to be.
