Summary
- PlayStation's first-party games constantly push boundaries, impressing fans with amazing graphics and stories.
- God of War reboot humanized Kratos, exceeding expectations and receiving rave reviews.
- Marvel's Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart showcase PS5 tech quality, captivating fans.
The PlayStation brand is home to some of the most notable gaming IPs of all time. Fans love the first-party games released on their major consoles and how much fun they are to play, constantly pushing the boundaries of the gaming industry with their amazing graphics and stories.
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Sometimes, even fans with high expectations will be absolutely flabbergasted by the quality of some of the games released on the PlayStation. These titles are in a class of their own and prove time and time again that Sony's first-party offerings seldom disappoint.
8 God Of War
A Re-imagined Kratos Became A Major Hit With Audiences
God of War
- Released
- April 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
The God of War reboot made a strong first impression with its previews, but fans still wondered if Kratos' character would be relevant in the modern gaming landscape. All of these complaints were shattered when the game came out to rave reviews.
Cory Balrog himself couldn't stop his tears from flowing as the reviews dropped for God of War. Humanizing Kratos' character was a risky move, and people were glad to see that this game's mature storytelling elevated its quality to new heights.
7 The Last Of Us
Joel And Ellie's Adventures Struck A Chord With A Ton Of Players
The Last of Us
- Released
- June 14, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
The Last of Us is one of the greatest video games ever made, elevating Naughty Dog to new heights. When this game came out, fans couldn't believe just how much of an improvement the game's emotional narrative was compared to the Uncharted games.
The end result is an unforgettable adventure where Joel and Ellie bond in a world full of enemies trying to take them down. The stealth combat was crunchy and satisfying, and fans were glad to see Naughty Dog hit it out of the park somehow after mainly focusing on full-on action for the Uncharted series.
6 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
A New Game In The Series That Showed Off The PS5's Amazing Hardware
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Released
- June 11, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Third-Person Shooter
When the news of a new Ratchet & Clank came out, fans had tempered expectations. Interest in the series had waned over time, and fans didn't know what to expect from this title.
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Thankfully, the PS5's tech managed to elevate the quality of this title to new heights, with Insomniac Studios showing how they were adjusting to the new SSD in no time. Fans loved the frenetic action and impressive load times of this title, allowing fans to experience some memorable set pieces where the environments could change in a flash.
5 Marvel's Spider-Man
Fans Were Finally Treated To A Spider-Man Game That Did Justice To This Popular Superhero
Marvel's Spider-Man
- Released
- September 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
The Spider-Man IP had been woefully mishandled for the longest. Sure, fans felt that Sony would finally give it the fair treatment it deserved, but some players still felt that the game wouldn't break new ground as a superhero title.
All of these worries faded into obscurity when Marvel's Spider-Man launched. From the very moment its cinematic intro dropped players into the action, it was clear that Peter Parker's adventures would be in a class of their own compared to the games that preceded Insomniac Games' foray into the franchise.
4 Astro Bot
A 3D Platformer That Had No Business Being So Charming And Riveting
Astro Bot
- Released
- September 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Astro Bot felt like a glorified ad campaign that was meant to bring more eyes to the PlayStation 5's mascot, and nothing else. What fans didn't expect was a genuinely charming 3D platformer with a bunch of imaginative gameplay loops to keep fans engaged.
Fans of PlayStation's history will love the many stellar references in this game as they overcome Astro Bot's many challenges. It's a genuinely excellent title that deserved its Game of the Year award, hammering in just how surprising the game's quality was.
3 PaRappa The Rapper
A Rhythm Game Elevated By This Game's Unexpectedly Intoxicating Charm
PaRappa the Rapper
- Released
- September 26, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Rhythm
Rhythm games are fun in their own right, but it took something special for PaRappa the Rapper to become a legendary title in this genre. As difficult as the game was, the charming presentation and catchy tunes did a lot to help this game stand out.
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While titles with an action-focused gameplay loop are great, PaRappa the Rapper's simple rhythm gameplay was overflowing with charm and turned it into one of the most notable games on the original PlayStation. It's a shame that later games in the series failed to capture the magic of this title.
2 Final Fantasy Tactics
A Spinoff Game That Is Arguably Better Than The Mainline PS1 Final Fantasy Games
Final Fantasy Tactics
- Released
- June 20, 1997
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
It takes something special for a video game spinoff to establish itself as one of the best titles in the franchise, especially in the case of Final Fantasy. The seventh and ninth mainline entries are hailed by many as some of the best games in the series, so it says something that fans still rate Final Fantasy Tactics above both titles in terms of both gameplay and story.
The world of Ivalice was rich and bursting with incredible lore, while the gameplay made for a tough and rewarding tactical experience courtesy of the director's expertise, who worked on games like Tactics Ogre before this title. It makes for a riveting package that any fan of tactical RPGs should try out.
1 Demon's Souls
Set The Foundation For FromSoftware's Revolutionary Action RPG Mechanics To Take Over The Mainstream
Demon's Souls
- Released
- October 6, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike, Action RPG
The fact that Demon's Souls set the foundation for Dark Souls to become one of the greatest action RPGs ever made is a testament to the game's surprising quality. In fact, one can argue that the only reason why Demon's Souls didn't become just as viral was because of its console exclusivity.
Sure, it lacked the groundbreaking interconnected world of Dark Souls, but Demon's Souls boasted a combat system that was way more intense and rewarding than players expected. People who resonated with the magic of this title loved what Demon's Souls brought to the table, with these fans finding it easy to jump into Dark Souls and marvel at the improvements this game brought to the table.