The PS4 is Sony’s most advanced gaming system, offering 4K HD visuals, impressive processing speed, in-depth multiplayer gaming and an unprecedented variety of control methods. Since its launch, the system has attracted hundreds of developers to create titles for gamers to choose from, resulting in a huge array of games. So how do you pick out classics from total failures? It’s not always easy, and with PS4 games costing quite a bit in most cases, buying a bad game can be an expensive mistake.
This hotukdeals buyer’s guide explains what type of games you’ll find on the PS4 and some of the system’s must-have titles. With our help, you can build a formidable PS4 collection without ruining your credit rating.
Sony’s PlayStation 4 debuted in February 2013 and since then, it hasn’t looked back. In the ensuing four years or so since the console was launched, some classic titles have come and gone, allowing new owners to build huge libraries of some of the most entertaining experiences in video gaming history.
All in all, there have been over 1,600 separate released for the PS4, including over 100 titles that are only available on the system (and not rivals like the Xbox One or PCs). It has to be admitted that not all of them have been world winners, but some are truly incredible games. This makes it tough to sift out the also-rans and focus on exceptional games, which is where this hotukdeals Buyer’s Guide comes in.
PS4 games are contained on Blu-ray discs that can be purchased in-store or online, and many can also be downloaded from digital platforms like the PlayStation Store. Downloads aren’t dependent upon particular consoles. They are linked to your account, so you can play some titles wherever you find a PS4 console (as long as you can remember your login details).
However, most games require installation onto the PS4’s hard disk, so remember to manage your capacity to avoid overloading. After that, developers may schedule updates to iron out bugs and add extra features. You won’t need to pay extra for these additions – they are simply downloaded while the console is on standby.
PS3 owners may be disappointed to learn that their older games won’t work directly on a PS4. However, you can play many old favourites via the PlayStation Now service, and there are some downloadable PS2 games to enjoy as well, with more retro-releases scheduled for the future.
It’s also worth noting that PlayStation Plus can enhance your PS4 gaming experience. This subscription services provides access to extra features for popular games, sneak peeks, beta trials, store discounts and more. If you are a hardcore PS4 fan, it’s a must.
Since the first titles were released, the range of PS4 games has expanded dramatically. Here’s a quick introduction to some of the most popular genres and what to expect when you play them:
Role Playing Games (RPGs) – Explore massive game worlds and take control of individuals or bands of heroes as you seek to save the world from an endless supply of dastardly villains. There are over 700 RPGs for the PS4 including seminal classics like Fallout 76, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Stardew Valley; nobody can hope to complete all of them.
Sport – Sports fans will be delighted by the selection on offer when they fire up their PS4. You can play football, cricket, rugby, athletics, Australian Rules Football, golf, snooker, try skateboarding, skiing or snowboarding. There’s lacrosse games, titles that simulate motorbike racing and even quirkier titles like Deer Hunter. Basically, if you can play it in the real world, there’s a PS4 equivalent.
Action – Probably the most popular sector of the PS4 games market, the console’s action game selection is second to none. If you need an adrenaline rush and love to test your military or shooting skills, titles like Rainbow Six, Dark Souls, Watch Dogs, or Hitman will sort you out for months.
Battle Royale – What begun as a sub-genre of action games has since developed into one of the largest gaming genres available for PS4. In battle royale games, players battle it out against each in an explorable online world to be the last player standing. Notable Battle Royale titles include PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Fortnite and Apex Legends.
Platform – One of the most surprising aspects of PS4 gaming has been the resurgence of platform gaming. Often featuring child-friendly gameplay, titles like Ratchet & Clank or Rayman Legends summon up the golden age of gaming in the early 1990s.
Simulations – The PS4 is powerful enough to simulate almost anything. Exceptional simulators for the system include the action racing game Dirt 4, F1 2018, and Kerbal Space Program, which recreates the achievement of getting people into space. Often with an educational slant, this type of game offers an unprecedented degree of realism on Sony’s flagship console.
Driving Games – We’ve touched on this above, but driving games are in a league of their own on the PS4. Some of the finest racers ever have appeared on the system, including Gran Turismo and Driveclub. There’s no cheaper way to get behind the wheel of the most powerful cars on the planet.
Puzzle – The PS4 is very well-served by puzzlers, including some genuinely original titles. For instance, Contrast sees you solving conundrums in 1920s Paris with the help of your own shadow, while Escape Plan sees you trying to escape from a series of rooms, often with humorous results.
Fighting – Beat 'em ups never seem to go out of fashion, and the PS4 has plenty of exceptional contenders. From Mortal Kombat and Tekken to Street Fighter, fighting games have come into their own on the PS4 and are some of the most exciting multiplayer experiences on the console.
This selection of the genres available on the PS4 is not exhaustive. For example, there are some great 2D adventure games to grapple with, some fun educational titles, sandbox-style building games, fitness themed titles as well as games that combine with peripherals to test your musical skills. With so much processing power to use, PS4 developers have let their imaginations run riot, providing plenty of choice for the console’s owners.
So we’ve had a look at the types of games you can buy for the PS4. But that doesn’t help much if you are looking for the very best games in particular genres. Here are some must-have PS4 titles that should be in everyone’s games collection:
Resident Evil – Resident Evil is one of gaming’s greatest franchises, chilling millions of players since the 1990s with its mixture of intense horror and action gaming. Biohazard is the latest incarnation (and one of the best), so if you like to blend gaming and horror, it’s the title for you.
Uncharted – Another PlayStation classic, the Uncharted series is one of the best. Developed by Naughty Dog, Uncharted lets you take control of Nathan Drake as he seeks the treasure of Captain Henry Avery.
Fallout – Once again a favourite gaming franchise. Bethesda drops players into a post-apocalyptic setting, taking the role of a lone survivor who is mastering different tasks and trying to survive the MMORPG-action.
Bloodborne – An exceptional RPG made by FromSoftware, Bloodborne has some of the most intuitive and satisfying combat ever seen in an adventure game. Sporting a cool cyberpunk graphical style and an engaging storyline, it provides days and days of immersive gameplay.
Overwatch – Coming from the legendary studio Blizzard (who created Warcraft), Overwatch took gamers by a storm in 2016. The game is classified as a multiplayer team shooter, and it’s one of the wildest online gaming experiences ever created. Basically a souped-up version of Capture the Flag, Overwatch will keep you playing for months and it’s great to play with friends.
GTA – You can’t run down the best PS4 titles without mentioning Grand Theft Auto. Rock Star allows players to roam at will around a massive gaming area, doing some classical drive-by shoots or motor vehicle thefts, meeting wacky characters and pursuing their criminal ends.
Battlefield– War games are common on the PS4, and Battlefield is one of the best among them. The gaming franchise developed by Electronic Arts puts players in the shoes of soldiers from all sides of war conflicts, creating an incredibly realistic atmosphere (as well as supplying some thrilling action sequences).
Call of Duty – Battlefield’s main competitor (although you can have both!), the Call of Duty series offers slick graphics and superb multiplayer action. Starting out in a classical war setting, it brought in later on a zombie mode which could be the most enjoyable FPS game mode ever.
Rocket League – Almost completely original, Rocket League has become a multiplayer legend. The game sees you take control of a vehicle which aims to knock a massive ball through a ring. That’s pretty much all there is too it, but when you start playing, you’ll find it very hard to stop.
The Witcher – A totally brilliant RPG in every way, the Witcher is one of the biggest games of all time. You could spend days simply exploring its forests and villages, battling medieval enemies – but that would be to miss out on one of gaming’s most complex and satisfying stories.
The Last of Us – A reboot of one of the PS3’s greatest games, the Last of Us transports players into a shocking end of the world scenario, fighting to survive against a seemingly unstoppable army of zombies.
Ratchet & Clank – On a lighter note (no zombies involved), Ratchet & Clank is a platform game that oozes charisma. Save the world as the title characters by battling all manner of galactic foes and solving fiendish puzzles in a game that is basically pure entertainment.
As we noted at the outset, the PS4 has over 1,700 games. The 15 listed above are among the elite, but there’s no shortage of exceptional games that are begging to be explored.
So far, we’ve covered games that feature violence and horror as well as sports titles that are pitched to an older audience. But what if you are buying for younger gamers? Here are some PS4 suggestions:
LEGO Dimensions – Featuring an imaginative mixture of real-world LEGO figures and in-game problem solving, LEGO Dimensions is great fun for all the family. Pick from a wide range of themed packs, including Doctor Who, Back to the Future and Ghostbusters.
Rayman Legends – A superb reboot of the SNES game Rayman, Rayman Legends is witty, colourful and great to play. It also has some of the finest music and sound effects on any console.
Little Big Planet – Another quirky puzzle platformer with a retro feel, Little Big Planet is perfectly pitched to kids, letting them explore and solve puzzles before graduating to more complex challenges.
Guitar Hero Live – If your kids love music, Guitar Hero is a must-have. Adults may not have embraced this new version of a classic game, but it’s ideal for families who love to get together over a tune or two.
What about multiplayer gaming? Playing against strangers or friends is one of gaming’s greatest pleasures and the PS4 lets you do both.
We’ve already mentioned some of the absolute must-have multiplayer PS4 games such as Rocket League, but some haven’t been touched upon. For instance, the Destiny series is a great FPS with a cooperative mode. The sandbox video game Minecraft lets you build up together with other players a whole new world out of a variety of different blocks in 3D. In Far Cry, you can drive or fly around, fish and kill monstrous animals and enemies in a fantastic wilderness setting.
Then there are classic online multiplayer titles that let you battle the whole world (well, those with PS4s). Among the best are the historically-themed first-person shooter For Honor and the another shooter taking place right in the middle of hell, DOOM.
There are a number of strategies for gamers who can’t or do not want to afford the face value price of PS4 titles.
First of all, be sure to check for sales. Every gaming retailer schedules annual sales. These sales might crop up unexpectedly, but they will definitely be covered by hotukdeals, so be sure to check the PS4 games listings regularly.
Many PS4 titles can also be purchased second hand (or “pre-owned”). There’s no reason to pay for original boxed titles when, in many cases, you can get pre-owned versions for half the price. Check out retailers like Cash Converters, CeX and Game Exchange before you think about buying a game first-hand.
PlayStation Plus offers plenty of gaming discounts, as well as free downloads. Some free PS4 games are beautifully made, so don’t miss out on titles like Super Mario Run, Powerstar Golf, Zen Pinball 2, AirMech Arena and Trove.
Another option is to rent your games instead of buying them. UK companies like Boomerang rent out recently released PS4 games for a fraction of the asking price. If you aren’t sure whether a game is for you, this can be a great way of trying before you buy, and it’s also ideal for shorter games that don’t offer months of gameplay.
The PS4 remains a state of the art console, even years after its release. But every month, gamers are confronted with a problem: how to keep their PS4 games collection fresh and filled with the best PS4 titles available?
Whenever you want to add to your PS4 games collection, the first place to look for cheap PS4 games in the UK is hotukdeals. Just type in the name of the game you’re after and you’ll find the latest offers from famous merchants like GAME, Amazon, Smyths, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's.
You’ll also see any current deals from the PlayStation Network and the PlayStation Store as well as deals for upgrades and gaming peripherals.
As noted above, timing your purchase to coincide with seasonal sales is also a great idea. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are standout times to make a purchase, but the January Sales are almost as good.
Whether you are into racing, RPGs or jumping around, there’s a PS4 title to satisfy everyone’s gaming tastes. However, PS4 games aren’t always cheap. If you need to stock your collection with must-have PS4 games, head to the hotukdeals PS4 games listings – the best place to find discounts from the UK’s largest gaming retailers.
