The video game industry has a level of inherent competition built into it. Even though there are many titles that get multi-platform releases, one of the biggest ways in which consoles can stand out from their competition is through console exclusives that can’t be found anywhere else.
The PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One have a number of fundamental differences, but they’re familiar similar when it comes to their hardware power. Sony and Microsoft have entered the next generation of gaming where console exclusives might prove to be even more important, but the previous era also resulted in some excellent exclusives for both consoles.
10 PS4: Astro Bot: Rescue Mission (Score: 90)
PlayStation’s adorable Astro Bot mascot has become increasingly popular in the past few years, with the PlayStation 5’s Astro’s Playroom being one of the biggest surprises of the next-gen console. Astro Bot: Rescue Mission is a PlayStation 4 title that depends on VR capabilities and it’s easily the best example of what this immersive technology can achieve.
The game is a simple platformer, but it makes beautiful use of VR technology and is like nothing else on the console. It’s the one PlayStation 4 VR title that deserves to be played by anyone who’s skeptical of virtual reality.
9 Xbox One: Halo 5: Guardians (Score: 84)
The original Halo is largely responsible for making Microsoft’s first foray into the console market a success. Halo has practically become synonymous with the Xbox and the amount of titles in the series has hit the double digits over the years.
A return to form for the series, Halo 5: Guardians is an entry worthy of the Xbox One’s hardware. While the Xbox Series X’s upcoming Halo Infinite has been delayed to 2021, fans can still turn to Halo 5: Guardians for a very satisfying FPS experience.
8 PS4: Shadow Of The Colossus (Score: 91)
Some video games are just so iconic and groundbreaking that new versions of them are turned out every generation in order to take advantage of the advancements in technology. The ambitious Shadow of the Colossus was initially released on the PlayStation 2 before being upgraded for the PS3 and then receiving another massive update years later for the PlayStation 4.
The PS4's Shadow of the Colossus captures the artistry of the original with more detail than ever before. It's a fitting tribute to the PS2 title.
7 Xbox One: Gears 5 (Score: 84)
The Gears of War franchise is another property that’s been around for a while and is one of the pillars of the Xbox brand. Even though Microsoft has branched into also catering towards the PC market with the last few releases, Gears remains a console exclusive for the Xbox and one of its best.
Gears 5 is an action-packed follow-up that course corrects a lot from Gears of War 4. The shift in perspective that the game takes works in its favor and Kait Diaz proves to be a magnetic hero. Chaotic alien locust annihilation has never been more fun.
6 PS4: Bloodborne (Score: 92)
The high fidelity and frame rate that video games now operate at has given audiences a higher capacity for punishingly difficult games that require precision timing and gameplay mechanics. The Dark Souls games have become some of the best and most grueling examples of these styles of games.
Bloodborne is reminiscent of the core Dark Souls series, but it provides an even more satisfying and exaggerated take on this dangerous world. It’s a title that’s guaranteed to challenge gamers well into the next generation.
5 Xbox One: Forza Motorsport 7 (Score: 86)
The Xbox One has a number of exceptional racing titles for fans of the genre. For people torn on which Forza entry to try out, Motorsport 7 should be the priority for those that prefer realistic racing physics and environments than the more arcade-style setup of Forza Horizon 4.
Forza Motorsport 7 is one of the most detailed and comprehensive racing games of all time and it's going to be extremely difficult to top whenever the next entry comes around. The game has also gradually revised and improved itself since its initial release.
4 PS4: Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (Score: 93)
Any series that runs for many titles that are spread across multiple generations runs the risk of diluting a property or hitting diminishing returns. It’s for this reason that Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End deserves so much credit for ending Nathan Drake’s story on a satisfying and fitting note.
A Thief’s End is a love letter to the whole franchise and it’s incredible to see just how epic these games have become since their debut on the PlayStation 3. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is how to go out on top and with class.
3 Xbox One: Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition (Score: 86)
Rare’s Killer Instinct fighting series started as an arcade title before it migrated over to the Super Nintendo, but it’s been doing excellent work on the Xbox for the past generation. Other fighting franchises like Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter get more attention, but Rare, Double Helix Games, and later Iron Galaxy managed to create something special with their reinvention of the Killer Instinct franchise.
Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition packs together all of the content that’s been released over the years and it’s an entertaining alternative to the more mainstream fighters. Killer Instinct is in hibernation, but the Xbox Series X would benefit from more Killer Instinct mayhem.
2 PS4: God Of War (Score: 95)
It’s encouraging to see how many of the PlayStation 4’s most celebrated exclusive titles are properties that have been on PlayStation consoles for years. Kratos has become an unofficial mascot for Sony and all of the God of War titles from the past generations seriously helped move hardware.
2018’s God of War is one of the more successful examples of a reboot that improves upon the themes of the original. The gigantic game rises to the occasion and partners Kratos with his son, Atreus, a development that works out brilliantly for the series.
1 Xbox One: Forza Horizon 4 (Score: 92)
The Forza series has become a mainstay for Xbox consoles and the different racing franchises have become so acclaimed that they're some of the best titles on Xbox consoles. Forza Horizon 4 is packed with an absurd amount of content.
The game prides itself on its ultra-realistic atmosphere, which includes dynamic seasons. Forza Horizon 4 has over 450 cars and so much customization available that most people will never make their way through all of the content that the game has to offer.
