he Very Best - Rated 5 Stars
Flower: The previous generation's definitive chill-out game gets a lovely visual makeover for the next. And it's still as cool as ever.Need for Speed: Rivals: Need for Speed: Rivals takes some of the best features from prior franchise entries and combines them with a seamless single-multiplayer mode to create an absolutely terrific, utterly bonkers race-and-chase game that looks and sounds as good as it drives.
Highly Recommended - Rated 4.5 Stars
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: It's still not perfect because it carries the same gameplay and story missteps as its predecessor, but the graphics are much better and Vita Remote Play is a great feature for certain people. If you have to stream one excellent pirate game on your PlayStation Vita while in bed, make it Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Still trying to get someone into the Marvel Universe? If they have an open mind and a PlayStation 4, Traveller's Tales Lego Marvel Superheroes is the perfect introduction. For families or individuals that love Marvel comics, movies, or cartoons, Lego Marvel Superheroes is the perfect pick-up for this holiday. And Vita Remote Play co-op is a great addition to a great game.
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is an excellent port for PS4 and Xbox One, with some great graphical improvements. You can tell Crystal Dynamics pulled out all of the stops to make this the best version of Tomb Raider. If you've played it before, it may worth a rent. If you haven't, the Definitive Edition is great purchase that outclasses the PC edition. Unfortunately, the potential price gulf between this version and the PC version can make it a hard sell.
NBA 2K14: PS4 launched with not one, but two basketball games. The choice between the two was made very easy thanks to the fact that there's absolutely no contest between the excellent NBA 2K14 and its comparatively weak arch-rival, NBA Live. From graphics to gameplay, NBA 2K14 comprehensively trounces it on almost every level.
Recommended - Rated 4 Stars
Call of Duty: Ghosts: If you can't get enough of Call of Duty's multiplayer action, Ghosts certainly delivers the goods. The more casual players might be disappointed at its incremental refinement and spectacular, but all-too-short single-player campaign. Squads and Extinction, however, are a breath of fresh air offer a tantalizing taste of where the series may go.Infamous: Second Son: Infamous: Second Son is the first real reason to jump completely into the next-generation of consoles. If you wanted to show someone what next-gen can do, this is the game to show them, with great image quality and amazing lighting/particle effects on display. A magnificently-realized Seattle is your playground and players have a host of abilities to run, fly, and fight across it. Delsin Rowe is a charismatic protagonist and the Sucker Punch has pulled out all the stops on PlayStation 4 to make his first adventure a fun one. It's not perfect, but hopefully we see him again.
FIFA 14: This represents what feels like a placeholder entry into the FIFA series. It does everything you want it to, and offers plenty of high-quality footballing action. The problem, however, is that it's a no-frills port of the prior generation version, not a made-for-next-gen game. So that means most soccer fans will have already sampled its delights on their PS3 or Xbox 360, and paying a hefty sum just to play the same game on a new system seems somewhat pointless. So unless you haven't already played it, we recommend waiting for the next version.
Pinball Arcade: Packing 22 classic pin tables from Williams, Stern, Gottlieb and Bally, Pinball Arcade is without doubt the best silverball simulation available. For anyone who grew up playing pinball, this delivers as good a trip down memory lane as you'll get.
The Rest - Rated 3.5 Stars or Less
Battlefield 4: Battlefield 4 is a beautiful game and if you want something to show off that next-generation power to your family, this is up there with Killzone. It's not up to the PC's level, but it's close enough. The campaign is very impressive at times, but mostly it's the same boring cover shooting you've come to expect from AAA FPS games. Multiplayer is the game's big draw, but it doesn't stand on its own until the battles get real big on the larger levels. Using server filters should keep your multiplayer game exciting.Blacklight: Retribution: A fun shooter that's definitely worth a download just to see whether you like it or not - because it won't cost you anything but your time.
DC Universe Online: If the idea of playing a Superhero-themed MMO takes your fancy, DCUO will let you sample its delights for free. It does lack a little bit of oomph in the gameplay department, but nevertheless, DCUO's solid fan base shows that while its appeal might not be universal, some players do love it.
Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition: Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition is a Game of the Year-style version of the DC Universe fighter released earlier this year. The DLC now included in this release costs nearly $60, so the new release is a great bargain for new players. The PlayStation 4 version kicks the game up to 1080p and improves the graphics a bit, but it's not a big enough change to justify buying a PS4 on its own.
Just Dance 2014: An entertaining party dance game that nobody ever admits to playing, yet millions do. If you want it, buy it. We promise not to tell anyone that you did.
Knack: Colorful visuals can't save Knack from its absolutely tiresome gameplay. But don't despair, PlayStation 4 owners: After this and Killzone: Shadow Fall, things can only get better.
Lego Movie Video Game: The Lego Movie Videogame is the latest title in TT Games' long line of great family-friendly games. The developer has turned out another rock-solid gaming experience here, but how much you love it depends on how much you love the source material. I thought The Lego Movie was a great film, so I like the game, but your mileage may vary. (Link is to Xbox One review, but the PS4 version is the same)
NBA Live 14: The weaker of the two Xbox One basketball launch games, Electronic Arts' effort simply isn't as polished or rewarding to play as NBA 2K14. Buy that one instead.
Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes: Ground Zeroes is definitely fun while it lasts, and it offers an interesting taste of what is to come in Phantom Pain. As appetizers go, it's terrific. Just don't expect a full meal.
Skylanders: Swap Force: This is very much a kid's game. While you'd doubtlessly find it absolutely super if you haven't yet celebrated your 12th birthday, if you have passed that milestone, you really should be looking elsewhere for your gaming kicks.
Super Motherload: Combining digging, puzzles and strategy, this offbeat indie game is loved by many - but loathed by some. It's one of those quirky games that'll leave you hot or cold. That's not particularly helpful information, but just trust your gut. Check it out, and if you like the sound of it, you're probably good to go.
Tiny Brains: While its content is a little light, this 3D action puzzle game is fun while it lasts. It's at its best when you play its co-op mode. As a single-player game, it's decent, but you won't remember it a year from now.
War Thunder: If you like flight combat, you should download this pronto. It won't cost you a dime, and actually offers some really solid aerial WWII-themed dogfighting.
Warframe: This free-to-play FPS is one of the most popular downloads on PSN. There's a reason for that: it's actually not bad at all. And if you do eventually find its action becomes repetitive, who cares. It didn't cost you anything!
Bound By Flame: Bound By Flame is a number of good ideas poorly crafted into a final product. The story itself is rather generic, with poor dialog and voice acting preventing you from getting emotionally invested in the world. The core combat is good, but once it meets with the larger game, it begins to break down. Even an excellent crafting system can't save Bound By Flame from being a budget RPG. If you can find it for $15-20, it might be worth a go for action-RPG fanatics. (Link is to PC review, but the PS4 version is the same)
Lego The Hobbit: Lego The Hobbit brings the first two Hobbit films to life in TT Games' great, family-friendly style. On PlayStation 4, the game looks absolutely amazing, especially in the cutscenes and major battles when it matters most. Unfortunately, the source material lets down TT Games here; the dwarves just aren't very distinct when compared to the cast of Lego Marvel and The Lego Movie. All told, Lego The Hobbit is very good, but it doesn't reach the best of those previous titles.
