Christmas is just around the corner and with games becoming more popular amongst children and adults alike, it can be difficult to know which games are good if you’re not a gamer yourself. If you’re a veteran gamer, it can also be a struggle to know just what to ask for if you’ve already got a lot of the most popular games of the year. Read on for our top ten PlayStation 4 games for this holiday season, including some lesser known gems.
Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2
Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is a light-hearted multiplayer shooter suitable for kids and adults alike. It improves on the original in every aspect; every mode can now be played solo, there’s a lot more gamemodes to play and the actual mechanics have been refined. It was well received by critics and users alike, with an 81/100 average on Metacritic and some sites gave it as high as a 9/10 score. It’s an enjoyable experience for gamers of any age; there’s no frustration, just fun for all the family.
DOOM
One for the older crowd, DOOM is a reboot of the original series of the same name that first launched in 1993. It stays true to the original games with nothing else mattering except for the demon slaying chaos and is a phenomenal shooter with rapid gameplay and a great story. It’s also worth noting the soundtrack is truly amazing, with a heavy rock score to accompany the brutal killing. DOOM is an excellent addition to any gamers’ library. Check out our full review here.
No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky released to a lot of controversy and disappointment given the amount of hype it generated, but the recent Foundation Update means it’s becoming a more fulfilling experience with features that were promised at the start. A lot more features are said to be coming with this first update being just the start, so it wouldn’t be foolish to get stuck in with No Man’s Sky during this festive period. You can read our full review, before the latest update, here.
FIFA 17
FIFA is undoubtedly the most popular football game on the planet right now and for good reason. FIFA 17 is the best entry to the series since 12; passing has improved tenfold, players make more intelligent runs and the graphics look better than ever. The Journey, the story of Alex Hunter as he breaks into the Premier League, is a nice addition to an already content rich game and Ultimate Team continues to be as popular as ever. It’s a must have for any football fan. Read our full review here.
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Following the success of the seventh Star Wars film, TT Games released their LEGO adaptation featuring a comedic take on the adventures of Finn, Rey, Han and Chewie. It’s the perfect way to get kids interested in the critically acclaimed series, especially if they’re too young to watch the actual movies but it’s also a fantastic game for adults too, with a considerable number of collectibles and replayability to unlock every character possible. Read our full review here.
Unravel
Unravel is a 2.5D puzzle platformer that follows the story of an adorable little fella called Yarny, who is quite literally made of yarn. In almost photo-realistic environments, you have to help him traverse dangerous terrain by using his yawn to swing from branches, climb rocks and solve puzzles to get him to his destination. Unravel is one of the most endearing and touching games ever made and is a relaxing experience for any gamer.
Overwatch
Blizzard’s first foray into the first-person shooter genre, Overwatch, has just won Game of the Year at The Game Awards for a good reason. It’s skilful, it’s a competitive shooter that is completely suitable for children and most importantly, it’s a lot of fun. With an art style lifted straight from a Pixar movie and numerous online short films to accompany the game, Overwatch is one of the best online experiences available this generation. Read our review here.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
A Thief’s End is the fourth instalment in the critically acclaimed Uncharted series and according to some, the best of them all too. Control series protagonist and professional treasure hunter Nathan Drake as he reunites with his long lost brother, to join forces with his long time best friend and his gutsy wife to search for Captain Henry Avery’s forgotten treasure. Uncharted 4 is one of the best looking games you can get on the PS4 with an incredible plot to boot. Read our full review here.
Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank is a fully fledged remaster of the PlayStation 2 classic of the same name. A 3D action platformer that follows Ratchet, a Lombax who often worked as a rocket mechanic but comes across his robot companion Clank, which changes his life forever. They team up to fight enemies and save the universe from Captain Drek by using an assortment of tools and weapons they find along the way. It’s a ton of fun for kids and adults and the likeness of the original game is captured perfectly for those looking for the nostalgic element.
GAME, £25.
Titanfall 2
Out of the three conventional multiplayer first-person shooters released this year, Titanfall 2 is by far the best. Fast paced wallrunning, twitch gunplay and enormous mechs fighting one another in a variety of environments makes the sequel to the 2014 debut my personal game of the year. It’s accompanied by a short but surprisingly deep and emotional single player story that takes more inspiration from Half Life than Call of Duty. Titanfall 2 is the biggest surprise of the year after it released with next to no fanfare and to make it even more tempting, all DLC for the game will be free. You can read our full review here.
There should be something for everyone with a PS4 in this list so hopefully something takes your fancy. If you’re looking for more than just PS4 games, take a look at our Holiday Gift Guide 2016 Hub for some more ideas.