2020 has been a fantastic year for PS4 games, with some brilliant exclusives for Sony’s machine. We’ve also seen some big PlayStation franchises revisited or remastered, as well as a few new titles making a big impact.
As we barrel towards Christmas, you’ll probably be thinking of treating a loved one to a nice new game to open on December 25, or you might just be keen to browse the festive sales for yourself and pick up an adventure that you might have missed out on from earlier in the year.
If you’re looking for inspiration, here’s a selection of some of the biggest and best games released for the PlayStation 4 in 2020.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
(Image: Call of Duty)
This year’s instalment of Activision’s behemoth FPS franchise is another dose of explosive action, and is a direct follow up to the story of 2010’s Call of Duty: Black Ops. Set during the 1980s at the height of the Cold War, the game follows some returning characters as they fight to foil a Soviet plot to devastate a number of European cities and frame the United States.
The thrilling globetrotting campaign is accompanied by COD’s typically extensive multiplayer modes, which include a brand new match type called Fireteam that supports up to 40 players. Call of Duty’s beloved Zombies mode is back, pitting you against relentless hordes of the undead in a desperate battle for survival.
Buy Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War from Amazon, here.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
(Image: Activision)
These days he’s popping up on all manner of different platforms, but for many gamers Crash Bandicoot will forever be remembered for his roots as a PlayStation mascot. The marsupial’s latest platforming adventure is a time-hopping escapade, with our hero and his friends tasked with hunting down some powerful masks in order to stop a cadre of classic Crash villains from wreaking havoc on the fourth dimension.
There’s some great replay value as each level had a regular version and a version set in an alternate timeline. For old school puritists, there’s a Retro mode with limited lives for each stage, but if you fancy an easier ride, Modern mode simply has a death counter, with the only punishment being the shame of seeing a running tally of your failures.
Buy Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time from Amazon, here.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
This follow-up to the 2018 smash hit Spider-Man game switches the focus to Peter Parker’s web slinging protege Miles Morales, and is every bit as thrilling as the previous adventure. With Peter on an assignment abroad, Miles is left to defend New York – and his neighbourhood of Harlem in particular – from both an evil corporation and a violent criminal gang wielding hi-tech weapons. It’s a shorter, more concise adventure than the last one, but the superhero action is as polished and amazing as ever. Our review called it “a fantastic superhero experience that does enough to feel like a worthy follow-up.”
Buy Spider-Man: Miles Morales from Amazon, here.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2
(Image: Activision)
The king of skateboarding is back in this remastered double bill of his first two outings from the original PlayStation 20-odd years ago. To help with the whiplash of nostalgia, a lot of familiar elements are still in place, with level design remaining the same and a large chunk of the original soundtrack returning. The gameplay is as addictive as ever, but now features HD graphics and a host of other updates. A new roster of current skateboarding stars has been added alongside the original line-up, and a swathe of new tricks and combos are now in the moves list. For fans of the classic Tony Hawk games, this is a no-brainer.
Buy Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from Argos, here.
The Last of Us Part 2
(Image: Naughty Dog / Sony)
This eagerly awaited follow-up to Naughty Dog’s acclaimed 2013 PlayStation 3 opus was one of 2020’s biggest hits, wowing gamers and critics alike. Picking up a few years after the events of the first game, we return to a post-apocalyptic world plagued by ‘zombies’ for another gut-wrenching, emotionally arresting third person action adventure.
Protagonists Ellie and Joel return, living in relative peace and safety until events unfold that turn their world upside and force them to make some tough choices. Sneak, fight and craft your way out of trouble in a cinematic experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Our review said “it’s likely to be the best thing you’ll play all year.”
Buy The Last of Us Part 2 from Amazon, here.
Ghost of Tsushima
(Image: Sucker Punch)
Live out your samurai fantasies in this epic open world action title. Set in 13th century Japan, you play as samurai warrior Jin Sakai who must defend the island of Tsushima from invasion by Mongol conquerors. Players can roam the island freely on horseback, exploring its gorgeous forests, fields and villages to take on story missions, hunt for collectables or pick up side missions from other characters.
Combat involves nail biting sword fights, but you can also use stealth to get the drop on enemies, with various evasion and distraction tactics at your disposal. Our review said the game was full of “the kind of panache that would make Kurosawa proud.”
Buy Ghost of Tsushima from Amazon, here.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
PlayStation mascot Sackboy is back in this charming platformer from the makers of the Little Big Planet franchise. Our knitted hero embarks on a quest to save his world from the villainous Vex and his evil Topsy Turver machine. This is a game that’s perfect for younger gamers – or those young at heart – and is a great choice for family fun thanks to its cooperative play mode, which lets up to four people team up to tackle the game’s lovingly-crafted levels, either online or locally.
There’s plenty of fun to be had playing solo, but the game really shines when you’ve got a buddy or three along for the ride, with some neat opportunities for teamwork. Our review said it had “bags of charm that will appeal to kids and the parents who’ll end up joining them for co-op. ”
Buy Sackboy: A Big Adventure from Amazon, here.
Resident Evil 3
(Image: Capcom)
After the success of their Resident Evil 2 Remake last year, Capcom turned their attention to the third entry in the classic survival horror series. Everything that was great about the 1999 original remains, but now it features up-to-date graphics, a modern save scheme and enhanced controls. Revisit the zombie infested streets of Racoon City and plot your escape while contending with the relentless terror of being hunted by the seemingly indestructible Nemesis monster. This masterclass in suspense is definitely one to be played in the dark. Our review called it “an extraordinarily fun and nail biting game that will please longtime fans.”
Buy Resident Evil 3 from Amazon, here.
Doom Eternal
(Image: Bethesda)
The 2016 reboot of iconic shooter franchise Doom breathed fiery new life into both the series and the whole genre, so it was inevitable that a sequel would follow. Once again, you step into the armour of the Doom Slayer who must put a stop to an invasion of Earth by the forces of Hell. This entry ramps up the demon-slaying action to insane levels, with fast and frantic gunplay, powerful new weapons and outrageously OTT combat moves. Our review said it “deserves to be considered among some of the greatest sequels in gaming.”
Buy Doom Eternal from Amazon, here.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Ubisoft’s action adventure franchise has visited a host of different time periods, from Ancient Greece to Victorian London, stopping off at Renaissance-era Italy and the American Civil War along the way. This new instalment takes players back to the days of the Vikings, complete with pillaging, big beards and fur-covered armour.
You play as Eivor, who leads a clan of Norse warriors from Norway to England in order to establish a new kingdom. Along the way, you become involved in the latest plot involving early incarnations of the series’ rival factions, the Templars and the Assassins. It all takes place in a highly detailed open world, featuring gory combat, big battles and, of course, some stealthy assassination missions. Our review called it “a huge and ambitious game, with a great story and characters.”
Buy Assassin’s Creed Valhalla from Amazon, here.
