10. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Valhalla takes Assassin’s Creed to the world of Vikings and Norse Mythology. Playing as the warrior Eivor, it’s up to you to secure the realms of England and to unravel the mysteries of the Isu. Set in an absolutely massive open world with hundreds of hours of single-player content available, Valhalla is also receiving more DLC than any Assassin’s Creed before it - so there’s even more to come.
9. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 came to us after an incredibly long wait, and boy did that wait pay off. At its simplest, it’s Grand Theft Auto with Cowboys (which is a perfect concept anyway) but goes so much further than that. You’ll struggle to find games with a more beautiful and authentically populated open world - it’s so engaging, that you’ll spend hours of your time just running errands and bonding with your horse.
8. Lost Judgment
Lost Judgment puts players back in the sneakers of lawyer-turned-streetfighting detective Takayuki Yagami in this incredible sequel to Yakuza spin-off, Judgment. Taking place in the expansive cities Kamurocho and Isezaki Ijincho, Lost Judgment mixes immersive and visceral combat sequences with slower levels of stealth and investigation, with a result that feels like LA Noire and Street Fighter combined. A fantastic and compelling game.
7. Nier: Automata
Set in a world ravaged by war between alien machines and human-created androids, Nier: Automata is soaked in narrative and visual style. One thing to know heading into Nier: Automata is that this game has 26 different endings. That’s right, one for every letter of the alphabet! You’ll complete the epic story of this third-person hack and slash RPG through multiple playthroughs, unlocking new story elements each time.
6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Set in a huge and beautiful game world spilling with rich characters and story, The Witcher 3 will be talked about for years to come. It’s a masterpiece of game design. But be warned - combat is a lot more tactical than it seems. If you’re used to rushing in, you’ll find this game very difficult. There are also two huge DLCs that rival standalone games - making this an unmissable experience.
5. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Combining the entire trilogy, Legendary Edition has hundreds of hours of single-player content available. Mass Effect is a sci-fi adventure series where you take on the role of Commander Shepard, tasked with bringing the entire Milky Way galaxy together to fight the invading Reapers before they wipe the whole universe clean. Futuristic weaponry, epic romance, biotic space magic, and over 40 DLCs across 3 games - what more does a solo gamer need?
4. The Last Of Us Part 2
The Last of Us is a game that needs no introduction. Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic action-adventure title wowed both fans and critics with its compelling characters and nuanced storytelling. Set 7 years after its predecessor, The Last of Us Part 2 picks up Joel and Ellie’s story. With one of the most shocking stories ever told in gaming, more of the same competent gameplay and the best-looking visuals from this console generation, The Last of Us Part 2 is a piece of art that everyone should experience.
3. Uncharted 4
The conclusion of smart-mouthed treasure hunter Nathan Drake’s story (for now) was a fitting end for one of Sony’s biggest mascots and one of the console’s best exclusive series. Spilling with clever puzzles, detailed level design and clearly an insane amount of historical research, this game is clearly filled with all of the heart of a passionate team. Even if you haven’t played any of the previous games, you’re going to love it.
2. Spider-man
Nobody expected that a franchise tie-in game would become one of the best exclusives on the PS4, but Spider-man surpassed all expectations. This iteration of Peter Parker is already a fan favourite. The original storyline has incredible highs and lows, cinematic action and tear-jerking moments. Packaged with tight combat mechanics and ridiculously fun web-slinging through a near-perfect recreation of New York City, there’s nothing not to love.
1. God of War
This 2018 revamp of the classic Playstation exclusive series should technically be the sequel to 2010’s God Of War III, but the tone is so different you can’t blame them for naming it for a different generation. Gone are the orgies in exchange for Fatherhood. You’ll still find gore, but it’s no longer quite so self-indulgent. This perfectly woven story is told through almost faultless gameplay and creates one of the best games available right now - full stop.
