2016 is here, but not the games— not yet, anyway. Many games will be released this year, with over 20 exclusive titles for the PS4. Before all of these come out, we might as well have some fun and try to predict which ten PS4 games will perform the best in 2016.
10) Unravel
We see a lot of puzzle platform games these days, with everyone trying to capitalize on the success of classics like the Mario games and the more recent Little Big Planet series. While we shouldn’t expect anything groundbreaking in Unravel, the realistic backgrounds and likable main character could be the start of a great series. The absence of multiplayer holds this game back from climbing higher up the list, but I do expect Unravel to be the best puzzle platform game of 2016.
9) Firewatch
We also see a lot of first-person games these days, but most of them are first-person shooters rather than first-person adventure games. Developed by Campo Santo, founded by Jake Rodkin and Sean Vanaman, the creative leads of Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead, Firewatch shares the same unique graphics as The Walking Dead series. Dialog options are also similar, enhancing replay value. Expect Firewatch to take advantage of the lack of competition and deliver a fun adventure with a memorable story.
8) Horizon Zero Dawn
A PS4 exclusive developed by the makers of the Killzone series, Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game where you face robot dinosaurs with a bow and arrow—an interesting concept we don’t see much of these days. Horizon Zero Dawn looks like a lot of fun to play, and the open world could lead to some exciting giant hunting, similar to Shadow Of The Colossus. I also predict that Horizon Zero Dawn will be one of the best-selling games of 2016 due to a large marketing campaign by Sony, who wants to showcase the power of the PlayStation.
7) No Man’s Sky
No doubt about it, No Man’s Sky is this year’s Destiny—a first-person space adventure game. It looks and plays similarly to Destiny, and it’s also very ambitious with over 18 quintillion planets (which is quite hard to believe)! This means massive amounts of exploration and hours of gameplay. Developer and publisher Hello Games are taking a big step away from their Joe Danger series, but I expect it to be a big step in the right direction. I also predict No Man’s Sky to be the highest-selling new game of 2016.
6) Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
The first sequel on the list, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, cannot be ignored, given that Uncharted is one of the biggest series in today’s gaming and the face of PlayStation. Everything Naughty Dog makes at the moment is gold, especially The Last Of Us. Expect even more action and adventure than Uncharted Among Thieves and Drakes Deception, and the same likable cast, great gameplay, and fun multiplayer. The only reason I won’t rank Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End higher on the list is because of the departure of game director Justin Richmond and writer Amy Hennig, which is a bit worrying.
5) Dishonoured 2
The first Dishonored, released in 2012, received outstanding reviews, won awards, and sold very well on all platforms. Developers at Arcane Studios are under pressure to deliver again, but expectations are that they will exceed them with an even better sequel. Playing as either Kaldwin or Corvo Attano, and having the choice of playing stealthily or guns blazing, will lead to multiple and enjoyable playthroughs. The developers have also mentioned a third way of playing the game, but with no further details provided, Dishonored 2 could have a few surprises saved for release day.
4) Final Fantasy XV
The most anticipated game of 2016 by a country mile, Final Fantasy is one of the longest-running franchises in history. Final Fantasy XV seems set to be released in 2016 after 10 years in development. Expectations are always high when a Final Fantasy game is released, but Square Enix is poised to deliver this time. After the disappointment that was Final Fantasy 13 (all three of them), Square Enix has taken all the negative reviews on board. The game boasts a huge open world, approximately 780 square miles in size. Expect Final Fantasy XV to be the best in the series in terms of content, which is what Final Fantasy is known for.
3) Street Fighter V
Another long-awaited game, arguably the biggest fighting series in history, Street Fighter V is set for release on February 16th/18th and is this year’s biggest fighting game (sorry Tekken). Fighting games haven’t been anything special recently, with gamers more interested in shooter games and FIFA. However, expect Street Fighter V to change that and bring more focus to fighting games due to how serious and competitive Street Fighter fans are. I also expect the PlayStation Share features to be used in a big way because of the fans, which will benefit Sony greatly. Crossover play between PS4 and PC owners is also a big plus.
2) Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
Once again, a game that we’ve been waiting years and years for. The first Mirror’s Edge came out in 2008 and did really well. It has a dedicated fanbase who compete against each other for the fastest lap times. Expect Mirror’s Edge Catalyst to be the same, but this time with bigger and better free-running, thanks to the open-world map. The best thing about the first Mirror’s Edge was how easy it is to play. I can’t see Mirror’s Edge Catalyst being any harder, which is why I think it will attract a lot of casual players who only play games such as FIFA, GTA, and Call Of Duty, and be the most played game of 2016.
1) The Last Guardian
The best games always have a long wait. The Last Guardian is an action-adventure game that has been in development since 2007, and at times, people thought it would never be released. We haven’t seen much of The Last Guardian yet, but we already love Trico (the giant griffin/dragon/dog thing). The boy also resembles the lead characters in Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus, which were both likable and memorable. The gameplay looks great, the puzzles look tough, and the story looks emotional. It won’t be the biggest selling game of 2016, or the most played. But expect The Last Guardian to be the best-reviewed game of 2016 and the most emotional and memorable since Shadow Of The Colossus.
And there we go. My predicted top PS4 games of 2016. Thanks for reading. Please like, share, and comment with your own top 10 predictions. Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter X @rhysbritton.
