A Decade of Delight

Ten years of Playstation 4

Earlier this week, PlayStation 4 celebrated its 10th anniversary. With over a hundred million consoles sold, it’s no secret that PS4 was a huge success for Sony and the eighth gaming generation. PS4 was my first PlayStation console and helped give me a greater appreciation for the medium. In honor of the system’s 10th birthday, I’ve decided to share my top five PS4 titles. The one guideline for this list is that all titles had to originate on PS4, so no remasters or remakes will be included.

#5 - Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Set in between the events of Episode III and Episode IV, Cal Kestis is a former Jedi who is forced to come out of hiding. With the help of some new friends, Cal takes on the Empire while uncovering secrets and mysteries about the Jedi Order. The main gameplay mechanics involve platforming and lightsaber combat with a healthy dose of puzzle solving. A game that relies on wish fulfillment and a licensed property has no right to be as good as this game ended up being. This title single handedly reignited my love of Star Wars.

#4 - Red Dead Redemption

Following up Red Dead Redemption was going to be no easy task, but Rockstar Games really put their best foot forward. Arthur Morgan is second in command in a struggling gang of outlaws. As their leader starts to lose what little morals he has as well as his sanity, Arthur finds himself confronted with the idea of being a good man despite all the terrible things he's done to survive in the Old West. It's the ultimate cowboy simulator involving everything from shootouts to bank robberies. A gorgeous game with an extensive open world, this title will keep players entertained long after the credits roll.

#3 - God of War

Bringing an older PlayStation series into the modern age, this reboot has enough staying power to stand on its own. On a journey to fulfill the last wishes of his wife, Kratos and his son Atreus are confronted with criticism past as the God of War. While Atreus does everything he can to make his father proud, Kratos learns how to be a better father while also learning to move on from his mistakes. With an addictive combat system and an emotional story, this game is a perfect example of how to grow with an audience.

#2 - Marvel's Spider-Man

Even with Spider-Man being a massively popular superhero, I don't think anyone expected this game to be as amazing as it became. After eight years of being Spider-Man, Peter Parker still doesn't have his life quite figured out. When six of his most powerful enemies team up to stop him, Spider-Man must push himself further than he's ever gone in order to save New York City. With a combat system similar to the Arkham series and a faithful recreation of New York to swing around in, gamers will not be disappointed.

#1 - Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

The first game I ever played on a PlayStation, Uncharted 4 holds a special place in my heart. After years of treasure hunting, Nathan Drake is finally ready to settle down. But when a face from Nathan's past comes to call, he is thrust back into the world of insane adventure and daring escapes. With plenty of puzzles to solve and over the top action, this game is what would happen if Indiana Jones were pushed to its absolute max. Even after several years, it's always a joy for me to play through.

Now there are plenty of amazing games that are not listed here. It was actually quite difficult to narrow down and I have to make it very clear that these opinions are my own. But when I think of how PS4 changed my mindset on gaming, these are the titles that come to mind. Even though Sony has moved on with the PlayStation 5, thanks to backwards compatibility these games are still available to be enjoyed for many years to come. If you are a new PlayStation owner or are just looking for some titles you might have missed in the last gaming generation, these five are a great place to start. Happy anniversary PS4- here's hoping that the next decade of games is just as incredible.