We were pretty surprised when Sony pushed an update to the PlayStation 4 firmware that made Remote Play on mobile a thing outside of a very specific style of Sony mobile phone. Now the software has come to iOS, which is arguably the most popular brand of mobile phone out there. Android has a larger userbase, but that base is spread across a wider variety of phones, and that variety means a lot of disparity in technical power. It’ll come eventually, more than likely.
Anyway, while PS4 Remote Play is a generally awesome feature, it’s far from a perfect solution. There is definitely input latency, especially depending on the strength of your personal internet connection. But while it will always require a bit of mental patience to enjoy the feature, it helps to pick the right kinds of games.
If you’re trying to play an action game, you aren’t going to have a good time. That goes for pixel perfect fighting games and less aggressive action games, such as Marvel’s Spider-Man. Latency can be a total dealbreaker for those sorts of experiences, even if you’re expecting it. But while those sorts of games are hard to justify, there are a few spaces where latency doesn’t destroy the experience, assuming it’s still smooth and the latency isn’t too bad. This isn’t Google Stadia, which is still something that has to prove itself as well. But hey, it’s an option, and there are ways to take advantage of this option.
Before you check out the list, it’s also important to bring up controllers. Unless you do some funky user account finagling, you won’t be able to use your DualShock 4 with mobile Remote Play. iOS doesn’t support normal Bluetooth pads. You need a MFi pad, which is an unfortunate extra expense, but you can get some cool ones. Make sure when shopping you get one with L3/R3 support, and the best way to go is one that comes with a direct Lighting connection option. Hard-wiring the pad to your iOS device can eliminate extra latency issues beyond the internet stuff.
To preface this list, I tried to explore multiple genres. It would have been easy to try and load this thing up with RPGs, but instead I wanted to include some more diverse picks, including at least one AAA title I feel is a good fit for using Remote Play on your phone. Also, the Ace Attorney collection isn’t out yet as of this writing. But, like, it’s Ace Attorney. That trilogy has GOAT eligibility status.
PS4 Remote Play List
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Dragon Quest 11
Yes, the obvious answer is Japanese RPGs. But frankly, there aren't a ton of RPGs that would really shine in this specific context. Persona 5 is a little too active and wild to not play on more dedicated hardware, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is already on Vita. Then, you're largely left with more divisive titles.
Dragon Quest XI, however, is a masterpiece, and one you can relax and take your time with, soaking in all the finer points. It's perfect for something like checking in on remotely with your phone, and if you have a controller rig, you could easily lose hours to this format.
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Assassin's Creed Odyssey
There's a reason Google used Assasin's Creed Odyssey as the poster child for its Project Stream test and continued to use the game to introduce the final product in Stadia. It's the perfect combination of substance and atmosphere, and it has a more methodical pace that isn't reliant on timing and accuracy, making latency less of a big deal. You can vibe out with this game way more than most AAA experiences.
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Donut County
Smaller experiences that aren't demanding, but still have things that can pop on a modern iOS screen are perfect for the new Remote Play app. Donut County fits that bill to a T. It helps that Donut County is also as hilarious as it is breezy to play.
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Final Fantasies!
Not every Final Fantasy game is ideal for the mobile Remote Play app. I wouldn't recommend Final Fantasy XV, for example, unless you have totally boss internet. However, with games like Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy and World of Final Fantasy: Maxima, alongside the ports of older turn-based entries, there's plenty of latency-friendly fun to be had with this classic series.
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Gone Home
Naturally, narrative-oriented experiences that don't really deal with combat are a good fit here. While it would be hard to recommend playing The Last of Us or God of War via Remote Play, something like Gone Home will be perfect. While Gone Home already has a mobile port itself, does that version have trophies? Nah, fam.
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Grim Fandango and Other Point 'n' Clicks
There are tons of games on the PlayStation Store from all walks of genre and history. When it comes down to playing stuff remotely on your phone, there's no excuse not to go back and play those classic point and clicks. From Grim Fandango to Day of the Tentacle, there are plenty of absolute classics to be had.
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Journey
I mean, it's Journey. Come on.
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Labyrinth of Refrain
PlayStation is home to plenty of first-person dungeon crawlers in addition to the more showy Japanese RPGs. One of the better examples of the genre is Labyrinth of Refrain from Nippon Ichi Software. This one has the polish of a Disgaea game, with slick and distinct visuals, a weird soundtrack, and bizarre characters.
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The GO Series
Similarly to Gone Home, you can already play these games on your phone natively. But if you want that PlayStation infrastructure, you have that option now. Plus, these games are great in any format, so play them! Geez!
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Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
The Ace Attorney series finally coming to PlayStation is a huge deal. If you aren't aware of why they're a huge deal, then here's the perfect opportunity to find out. One of the best localization jobs in gaming history, combined with some of the best mystery storytelling in gaming makes for a trilogy that has managed to stay relevant in peoples' minds since the Game Boy Advance era.
