With Christmas just around the corner and the newly-released PlayStation 4 Slim and Pro, there's going to be a lot of new PS4 gamers in the next few months. It's a great time to buy a PS4 anyway with lots of good games in the back catalog. To help new gamers get up to speed, here's a list of games worth playing on your brand new console.
1. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (UK/CA)
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is the final game in Naughty Dog's Uncharted series. The games follow the adventures of treasure hunter and reluctant hero, Nathan Drake. In A Thief's End he's on the hunt for the lost treasure of pirate Captain Henry Avery.
Earlier entries were among the the best PS3 games, in large part due to their awesome stories -- A Thief's End continues the trend. It was the best game I played this year.
Recommendation: This is the game that made my PS4 worth owning.
2. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (UK/CA)
The Metal Gear Solid series should need no introduction. The Phantom Pain is the latest entry (and most likely the final one with Hideo Kojima in control). Where earlier games took a relatively linear approach, The Phantom Pain gives you a massive open world to ply your "tactical espionage operations" in. How you approach any mission is entirely up to you.
Like any Metal Gear Solid game, The Phantom Pain's story is best described as... intense. There are constant references to events from other games and only truly dedicated fans will be able to follow every nuance, but the gameplay makes it worth it.
Recommendation: It's a Metal Gear Solid game. Fans will love it, non-fans should avoid.
3. Battlefield 1 (UK/CA)
Battlefield 1 is the first truly great multiplayer FPS on the PS4. Rather than churning out another WW2 game or a vaguely futuristic shooter, developer EA got creative and decided to set the game during WW1.
Although there are obviously some historical liberties, Battlefield 1 is a refreshing take on the multiplayer shooter. You can fight epic battles with up to 64 players using tanks, planes, horses, and all the guns you could want.
Recommendation: The multiplayer game of the year. A must for online fans.
4. Dishonored 2 (UK/CA)
Dishonored was a surprise hit back in 2012 when it was released. Dishonored 2, out this year, had a lot of hype behind it but has lived up to it.
Dishonored 2 is a first-person stealth action-adventure game. In each mission, you have to assassinate, or otherwise incapacitate, a target. You play as one of two characters -- Corvo or his daughter Emily -- each with their own powers.
The real fun in Dishonored 2 comes from combining the different powers with the environment, your weapons, and NPCs. If you get it right, you can sneak in completely unseen or kill every enemy in sight in just a few moments. It's completely up to you.
Recommendation: A crazy game that rewards experimentation and creatively. Best for gamers who prefer to avoid online multiplayer.
5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition) (UK/CA)
Although The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim started life as a PS3 game, the PS4 special edition released this year is worth revisiting. Not only did the original version of Skyrim have an insane amount of replay-ability, the special edition brings PC-like mods to the console for the first time.
Whether you missed Skyrim the first time around, or just want to go back and play some of your favorite quests again, the Special Edition is worth picking up.
Recommendation: Get Skyrim if you're feeling nostalgic for 2011, or who need something you can sink hundreds of hours into.
6. Hitman (UK/CA)
The Hitman series has been around since 2000. Over the past 16 years, the exact gameplay has changed but the premise has remained the same: you're Agent 47, a hitman tasked with taking out targets. In each mission you have to assassinate one or more victims. If you can sneak in without being noticed and make it look like an accident, so much the better.
The latest game in the series, simply titled Hitman has taken an unusual approach. Rather than being released as a single complete game, six episodes were released over the last year on the PlayStation Network. It's also been renewed for a second season so you can be sure there'll be plenty more life in the game.
Recommendation: The best Hitman game since Blood Money. Perfect for someone who wants something that requires thought and planning, rather than just button mashing.
7. Ratchet & Clank (UK/CA)
This year's Ratchet & Clank is a re-imagining and update of the 2002 version of the game. Rather than just give it a fresh coat of paint, new features from all the games in the series have been added. It's a total overhaul rather than just a HD re-release.
Although it looks cartoonish, Ratchet & Clank is a game for everyone. Unlike a lot of the titles on this list, it's totally accessible for gamers of all ages. The mechanics are tight enough that even hardcore gamers will feel at home. The original is one of the best platformers of all time and the latest game holds up the legacy well.
Recommendation: Grab Ratchet & Clank if you're looking for one game for everyone.
There's Plenty More
This is just a small handful of the awesome games out there for the PS4. If none of these take your fancy, there's also games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Far Cry 4, Fallout 4, Grand Theft Auto V, and The Last of Us: Remastered that didn't make this list but are all excellent.
What are your favorite PS4 games? Help new gamers and let them know in the comments.