1. God of War™ Ragnarök

Game Details: From Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world.

Game Overview
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date: November 9, 2022
Genres: Action-adventure, Hack and Slash
Mode: Single-player

Plot:

The game is set a few years after the events of the previous title, with Fimbulwinter—the three-year winter preceding Ragnarök—affecting Midgard. Kratos and Atreus seek answers regarding Atreus’ identity as Loki while also preparing for the inevitable conflict between the gods.

The story introduces several iconic Norse figures, including:

• Thor (god of thunder)
• Odin (the All-Father)
• Týr (the Norse god of war)
• Freya (who seeks revenge for the death of her son, Baldur)

Gameplay Features:

Combat System:

• Retains the core combat mechanics from the 2018 game but with improvements.
• Kratos wields the Leviathan Axe, the Blades of Chaos, and a new weapon, the Draupnir Spear, adding variety to combat styles.
• Atreus has matured, with expanded combat abilities and new gear, using his bow and wolf transformations.

Realms Exploration:

• Players now have access to all nine realms, each offering distinct environments, enemies, and lore.
• Realms such as Svartalfheim, Vanaheim, and Asgard are now accessible for exploration.

Boss Battles:

• Epic boss fights return, featuring both gods and legendary creatures from Norse mythology.
• Fights are more varied, with complex multi-stage encounters.

Character Progression:

• A more refined RPG-style progression system, where players can upgrade Kratos and Atreus with new skills, gear, and abilities.
• Expanded skill trees and customizations allow for a more personalized playstyle.

Companion AI:

• Atreus and other companions’ AI have improved, making them more strategic in both combat and puzzle-solving scenarios.

Visuals & Audio:

• Stunning visuals optimized for PlayStation 5, with detailed character models, environments, and special effects.
• 3D audio support enhances the immersive experience with directional sound cues.
• A powerful, cinematic score by Bear McCreary reflects the epic scale of the story.

Critical Reception:

God of War Ragnarök received widespread acclaim for its storytelling, character development, combat system, and world-building. The game was praised for evolving the franchise while staying true to its roots.

2. Horizon Forbidden West™

Game Details: Explore distant lands, fight bigger and more awe-inspiring machines, and encounter astonishing new tribes as you return to the far-future, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon. 

Game Overview
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date: February 18, 2022
Genres: Action RPG, Open-world
Mode: Single-player

Plot:

The game takes place six months after the events of Horizon Zero Dawn. Aloy ventures into the Forbidden West, a dangerous and mysterious frontier, to uncover the source of a plague that is killing everything it infects. Along the way, she faces new challenges, including hostile factions and advanced, dangerous machines.

The Tenakth Tribe, Regalla, and a mysterious faction of humans with advanced technology play significant roles in the story. Aloy must also reunite with old allies, like Varl and Erend, and form new alliances to combat the growing threats.

Key Characters:

• Aloy: The protagonist, a skilled hunter and archer with extraordinary abilities.
• Sylens: A mysterious ally who holds crucial knowledge about the Old Ones and machines.
• Regalla: A rebel leader seeking to overthrow the Tenakth.
• Beta: A pivotal new character with ties to Aloy’s origins.

Gameplay Features:

Open World:

• The game features a massive open world with varied biomes, including forests, deserts, snowy mountains, and underwater environments.
• The Forbidden West is filled with tribes, machines, ruins, and ancient mysteries.
• Enhanced vertical exploration, climbing, and underwater exploration allow players to discover new secrets.

Machines and Combat:

• New and returning machines, such as the Tremortusk, Clawstrider, and Slitherfang, each with unique behaviors and weak points.
• Combat combines melee (with a new Spear system) and ranged attacks (with bows, slings, and tripcasters).
• Valor Surge abilities: Powerful special attacks that players can activate during combat, adding new layers of strategy.

Weapons & Gear:

• Expanded crafting system, with new weapons, armor, and upgrades.
• New elemental weapons and traps, including adhesive grenades, shock bombs, and plasma weapons.
• Weapon skills can be unlocked in skill trees that cater to different playstyles, such as hunter, warrior, or trapper.

Traversal:

• The Shieldwing (a glider) allows for safe and fast traversal from high places.
• Grappling hook mechanics make climbing and navigating steep terrain easier.
• Aloy can now swim and explore underwater, adding new layers to exploration and puzzle-solving.

Questing and Progression:

• A deep narrative-driven experience with engaging side quests that flesh out the world and its characters.
• NPCs provide rich dialogue and storylines, each tied to Aloy’s mission.
• A robust skill system with six distinct trees (Warrior, Hunter, Infiltrator, Survivor, Trapper, Machine Master), giving players more customization in their approach to combat and exploration.

Settlements & Factions:

• Larger, more vibrant settlements with better interactions, merchants, and mini-games.
• Factions with unique beliefs and technologies that affect Aloy’s journey. Each faction plays a role in the broader conflicts of the Forbidden West.

Visuals & Audio:

• Stunning graphics optimized for PS5 with detailed environments, character models, and dynamic weather systems.
• The world feels alive with intricate animations, day-night cycles, and visual storytelling.
• Rich, atmospheric soundscapes and an emotive soundtrack by Joris de Man, The Flight, Niels van der Leest, and Oleksa Lozowchuk.
• Full 3D audio support, immersing players in the world with realistic sound cues.

Critical Reception:

Horizon Forbidden West was praised for its expansive world, deep storylines, character development, and stunning visuals.
It was noted for improving upon the original game’s mechanics, adding more fluid combat and traversal systems.
The game was commended for delivering a compelling narrative with richer emotional stakes for Aloy and the people she meets.

3. Days Gone

Game Details: Days Gone is an open-world action-adventure survival horror game developed by Bend Studio. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, players take on the role of Deacon St. John, a former outlaw biker, as he navigates a world overrun by zombie-like creatures known as Freakers.

Game Overview
Developer: Bend Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date: April 26, 2019
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC (released May 18, 2021)
Genres: Action-adventure, Survival horror, Open-world
Mode: Single-player

Plot:

Days Gone is set in the Pacific Northwest, two years after a global pandemic wipes out most of humanity and turns millions into Freakers—zombie-like creatures. The story follows Deacon St. John, a drifter, bounty hunter, and former member of the Mongrels Motorcycle Club, as he searches for meaning in a world ravaged by death and chaos.

Deacon’s primary goal is to find out if his wife, Sarah, is still alive, while navigating a violent, lawless world filled with hostile human factions, Freaker hordes, and environmental hazards. Along the way, he forms alliances and uncovers the truth behind the outbreak.

Key Characters:

• Deacon St. John: The protagonist, a drifter and bounty hunter haunted by his past.
• Sarah Whitaker: Deacon’s wife, presumed dead but later revealed to be alive and working with a high-tech militia.
• Boozer: Deacon’s best friend and former biker gang member, struggling with his own trauma.
• Colonel Garret: Leader of the militaristic Deschutes County Militia, a key faction in the story.
• O’Brian: A mysterious figure linked to the government organization NERO, which plays a central role in the origins of the outbreak.

Gameplay Features:

Open-World Exploration:

• The game is set in an open-world environment featuring dense forests, mountains, and rural landscapes.
• Dynamic weather (rain, snow, fog) and a day-night cycle affect gameplay, as Freakers are more aggressive at night.
• The map is divided into different regions, each with unique environmental hazards, wildlife, and enemy encounters.

Freakers and Human Enemies:

• Freakers are the game’s primary threat and come in different types, such as:
• Swarmers: Basic zombie-like enemies that often hunt in packs.
• Hordes: Massive groups of Freakers that move together and require strategy to defeat.
• Screamers: Female Freakers that scream to summon other Freakers.
• Breakers: Large, mutated Freakers that are extremely tough and aggressive.
• Human enemies include marauders, bandits, and the Rippers, a violent cult that worships Freakers.

Motorcycle Mechanics:

• Deacon’s motorcycle is a key aspect of the game, used for transportation, exploration, and quick escapes.
• The bike requires fuel and maintenance, which adds a layer of survival strategy. Players can upgrade it with better parts, more fuel capacity, and improved speed or handling.
• Riding through hostile territory can attract Freakers, so players must plan their routes carefully.

Stealth and Combat:

• The game offers a mix of stealth and open combat. Deacon can use traps, distractions, and silenced weapons to avoid detection.
• A wide range of weapons is available, including melee weapons (bats, machetes), firearms (pistols, shotguns, rifles), and explosives.
• The crafting system allows players to create items like Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs, and healing supplies on the go.

Missions and Survival Elements:

• Missions include bounty hunting, clearing Freaker nests, rescuing hostages, and taking out enemy camps.
• Survival mechanics require players to manage health, stamina, and resources like ammo and fuel.
• Deacon can scavenge for supplies, which are essential for upgrading weapons and crafting.

Story Progression:

• The narrative is divided into multiple storylines that evolve as Deacon interacts with different factions and characters.
• The game features emotional moments of loss, survival, and redemption as Deacon grapples with the harsh reality of the world.
• Players have choices that affect interactions with other survivors and the overall outcome of certain events.

Factions and Camps:

• Various survivor camps provide quests, supplies, and upgrades. Camps have different goals and ideologies:
• Copeland’s Camp: Focuses on freedom and self-reliance.
• Tucker’s Camp: Operates more like a labor camp.
• Iron Mike’s Camp: Seeks to maintain peace between factions and avoid unnecessary conflict.

Visuals & Audio:

• Realistic environments: The Pacific Northwest setting is beautifully rendered with dense forests, abandoned towns, and diverse wildlife.
• Dynamic sound design: The game uses audio cues to signal threats, such as the distant growls of Freakers or approaching hordes.
• The soundtrack, composed by Nathan Whitehead, adds emotional depth to the game.

Critical Reception:

Days Gone received mixed reviews at launch, praised for its open-world design, engaging survival mechanics, and story, but criticized for some technical issues and pacing problems.
Over time, the game has gained a cult following, with many appreciating its emotional story and immersive post-apocalyptic world.

4. God of War

Game Details: “The 2018 God of War is a soft reboot of the series, developed by Santa Monica Studio. It shifts away from the Greek mythology setting and takes players into the realm of Norse mythology. The game follows a more mature Kratos, now living in a new land with his son, Atreus, as they embark on a deeply personal journey.”

Game Overview
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date: April 20, 2018
Genres: Action-adventure, Hack and Slash
Mode: Single-player

Plot:

The story is centered around Kratos and his young son, Atreus, as they embark on a journey to fulfill the dying wish of Kratos’ wife, Faye: to spread her ashes from the highest peak of the Nine Realms. Along the way, they encounter gods and creatures from Norse mythology, and Kratos must grapple with his past while teaching Atreus how to survive in this dangerous world.

Throughout their journey, Kratos tries to shield Atreus from his brutal past, but as they face gods like Baldur, Magni, and Modi, as well as other mythological creatures, Kratos is forced to confront his old self while nurturing Atreus’ growth as a warrior.

Key Characters:

• Kratos: The protagonist, now older and wiser, trying to leave behind his past as the Ghost of Sparta.
• Atreus: Kratos’ young son, eager to prove himself and learn more about his mysterious lineage.
• Baldur: The primary antagonist, a god with strange invulnerability who is sent to find Kratos and Atreus.
• Freya: A powerful witch and former queen of the Valkyries, she aids Kratos and Atreus but hides a tragic past.
• Mimir: The smartest man alive, who becomes an invaluable companion and source of knowledge for Kratos and Atreus.

Gameplay Features:

Combat System:

• The game introduces the Leviathan Axe, a magical weapon that Kratos can throw and recall, offering both ranged and melee combat options.
• Kratos eventually reclaims his iconic Blades of Chaos.
• Atreus assists Kratos in combat with his bow, stunning enemies and providing support, with his role evolving as a combat companion throughout the game.
• Combat is more strategic, using a third-person, over-the-shoulder camera, requiring players to be deliberate with attacks, dodges, and parries.

Exploration & Puzzles:

• The game is semi-open world, featuring interconnected environments inspired by Norse mythology, such as Midgard, Alfheim, Helheim, and Jötunheim.
• Players can explore different realms via the Lake of Nine, which serves as a hub world.
• Numerous puzzles and environmental challenges often require clever use of the Leviathan Axe and Atreus’ abilities to solve.

Character Development & RPG Elements:

• Skill trees for both Kratos and Atreus allow players to unlock new combat abilities, special attacks, and moves.
• Armor and weapons can be customized and upgraded with materials found throughout the world. Players can equip different types of armor that cater to specific playstyles, such as defensive, strength-focused, or balanced.
• Runic Attacks are powerful special moves that players can equip and upgrade for the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos, adding variety to combat.

Norse Mythology:

• The game is rich in Norse lore, with many references to gods, creatures, and events like Ragnarök.
• The world is inhabited by Draugr, Trolls, Revenants, and other mythological creatures.
• Mimir provides commentary on the lore and backstories of Norse mythology as Kratos and Atreus journey through the realms.

Emotional Depth:

• The game emphasizes the relationship between Kratos and Atreus, highlighting themes of fatherhood, legacy, and redemption.
• Kratos struggles to connect with his son while teaching him survival skills, and Atreus grows from an eager child into a confident warrior throughout the story.
• The dialogue between Kratos and Atreus adds layers to the narrative, with Kratos often holding back details of his violent past, and Atreus’ coming-of-age arc becoming a central theme.

Visuals & Audio:

• God of War (2018) is known for its stunning graphics, with richly detailed environments, characters, and smooth animations.
• The game is rendered with no camera cuts, providing a seamless, immersive cinematic experience.
• The game’s score, composed by Bear McCreary, enhances its emotional and epic moments, with themes that evoke both the grandeur and intimate emotional stakes of the story.

Critical Reception:

God of War received widespread critical acclaim and is often regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time.

• Praised for its reinvention of the series, mature storytelling, exceptional character development, and revamped combat system.
• It won numerous Game of the Year awards and was especially lauded for its balance of emotional narrative and action-packed gameplay.

Awards:

• Game of the Year (2018): The Game Awards, IGN, and several other publications.
• Best Game Direction and Best Action/Adventure Game at The Game Awards 2018.

5. The Last of US Part II

Game Details: “The Last of Us Part II is the sequel to the critically acclaimed The Last of Us (2013), developed by Naughty Dog. This highly anticipated game continues the story of Ellie in a post-apocalyptic world filled with human factions and infected creatures. It dives deep into themes of revenge, trauma, and loss while maintaining a strong focus on storytelling, emotional depth, and brutal combat mechanics.”

Game Overview:

Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date: June 19, 2020
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Genres: Action-adventure, Survival horror
Mode: Single-player

Plot:
The Last of Us Part II is set five years after the events of the first game. Ellie (now 19 years old) and Joel have settled in Jackson, Wyoming, but an event shatters Ellie’s sense of peace and sends her on a journey of vengeance against a mysterious militia group in Seattle. Throughout her journey, Ellie grapples with her emotions, morality, and the impact of violence as she uncovers the truth behind those she hunts.

In addition to playing as Ellie, players also control Abby, a new character whose motivations are closely tied to the events of the first game. This dual narrative explores both perspectives of the conflict, blurring the lines between hero and villain.

Key Characters:

• Ellie: The main protagonist, now a hardened survivor who embarks on a violent quest for revenge.
• Joel: Ellie’s father figure and protector from the first game. His actions in The Last of Us deeply impact the story of the sequel.
• Abby Anderson: A key antagonist and playable character whose story is central to the narrative.
• Dina: Ellie’s love interest and fellow survivor who accompanies her for part of the journey.
• Tommy: Joel’s brother and a prominent figure in the Jackson community.
• Jesse: A member of the Jackson community and one of Ellie’s friends.
• Owen: Abby’s ex-boyfriend and a member of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF).

Gameplay Features:

Stealth and Combat:

• The game emphasizes stealth mechanics, allowing players to approach combat scenarios quietly or engage in direct, brutal confrontations.
• Ellie has access to a variety of weapons, such as bows, firearms, and makeshift explosives. She can also craft new tools and weapons using scavenged materials.
• Abby features a slightly different combat style, relying more on strength and heavy weapons.
• Enemy AI is highly advanced, with human enemies working in coordinated teams and calling each other by name, making combat more tense and personal.
• Infected enemies return, including Clickers, Runners, and new variants like the Shamblers—large, bloated creatures that emit deadly gas.

Exploration & Open Areas:

• The game offers larger, more open environments than its predecessor. Players can explore semi-open world sections in places like Seattle, where they’ll encounter optional areas filled with supplies, stories, and additional challenges.
• The game encourages exploration to find crafting materials, weapons, and narrative insights via letters, audio logs, and environmental storytelling.

Crafting & Upgrades:

• A robust crafting system allows players to create health kits, ammunition, silencers, and traps from materials scavenged throughout the environment.
• Players can upgrade Ellie and Abby’s abilities through skill trees, specializing in stealth, combat efficiency, and crafting speed.
• Workbench stations allow players to upgrade weapons by improving fire rate, capacity, recoil control, and more. These changes are visually reflected on the weapons.

Dynamic Combat and Realism:

• The game introduces prone mechanics, allowing players to crawl through grass and hide under objects to avoid detection.
• Combat feels highly visceral, with realistic damage, detailed animations, and contextual interactions, such as dodging attacks or squeezing through narrow spaces during a chase.
• Human enemies use dogs to track Ellie by scent, adding a new layer of strategy to avoid detection or mislead pursuers.

Emotional Storytelling & Themes:

• The game is notable for its complex, emotionally charged narrative, exploring heavy themes such as grief, trauma, revenge, and the cyclical nature of violence.
• The dual narrative structure allows players to see both sides of the conflict, offering a nuanced exploration of morality.
• The relationship between Ellie and Joel remains central to the plot, but new relationships, especially between Ellie and Dina, are also a major focus.

Accessibility Options:

• The Last of Us Part II offers one of the most comprehensive suites of accessibility features in gaming. These include visual, auditory, and motor assistance tools, allowing players with various disabilities to fully experience the game.

Visuals & Audio:

• The game is a technical showcase, featuring stunningly detailed environments, lifelike character animations, and dynamic lighting. It fully utilizes the capabilities of the PS4 and runs smoothly on the PS5 with backward compatibility.
• Sound design plays a critical role in the game, with ambient sound cues helping players detect enemies or interact with the environment.
• The game’s original score, composed by Gustavo Santaolalla and Mac Quayle, provides emotional weight and tension throughout the game.

Critical Reception:
The Last of Us Part II received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its storytelling, technical achievements, and performances, especially those of Ashley Johnson (Ellie) and Laura Bailey (Abby). The game’s bold narrative choices and divisive plot twist regarding Joel were met with mixed reactions from the fanbase but were praised for pushing the boundaries of game storytelling. The game won several Game of the Year awards, including at The Game Awards 2020.

Awards:

• Game of the Year (2020): The Game Awards
• Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Audio Design, Best Performance (Laura Bailey as Abby), and more.