PlayStation 4 Essentials: The Games

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We've already looked at the PlayStation 4 from a hardware and launch perspective, and now it's time for the games to take centre stage. Here's what you'll be playing the months to come.

Launch First-Party

The first-party line-up of PlayStation 4 took a massive blow when it was announced that Evolution Studios' promising racer Driveclub had been delayed. Not only did it leave Sony with only two first-party retail releases for launch in Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack, but it also left the door open for Microsoft to snatch up fans with a need for next-gen speed (first-party speed that is).

With Driveclub pushed back to an undisclosed 2014 release date a lot of responsibility rests on Guerrilla Games and their fourth game in the Killzone series - Killzone: Shadow Fall. Moving away from the high-intensity linear action of previous titles, Shadow Fall adds more tactical elements to a game that is sure to be one of the visually most impressive titles at launch.

A game that perhaps hasn't gotten the attention it deserves is Knack. The long awaited return of Mark Cerny (this time as a game director) comes in the form of a platformer that showcases the immense computing power of the hardware as Knack absorbs relics and builds his frame adding new abilities - but he can also absorb various elements such as ice, wood and metal further adding to his repertoire. It appears a bit old school and should appeal to fans of Ratchet & Clank and Crash Bandicoot.

One of our most anticipated PS4 launch titles is Housemarque's spiritual successor to the brilliant Super Stardust. This time it's all voxel-based and the frenetic action is wrapped around a cylinder. Resogun comes free with the Instant Game Collection if you've got a PS Plus subscription, and it may very well be the only launch title you'll play in five years time.

All new PS4 owners will be able to enjoy the pack-in interactive experience that is Playroom. A great way to demo some of many features the console and PlayStation Camera has to offer.

In addition to these games there are four first-party titles at PS4 launch that you may have seen on PS3 and/or PS Vita - Escape Plan, Flow, Flower, and Sound Shapes. Since all four titles are cross-buy (meaning you own all versions of the game if you own one) you may even own some of these now. We'd recommend any new PS4 owner who hasn't played Flower to pick it up as soon as he or she has booted up.

Killzone: Shadow Fall

Knack

The Playroom

For more on the first party launch titles read up on A New Killzone for a New Generation, Killzone: Shadow Fall - Multiplayer Hands-On Impressions,

Launch Third-Party

There are a lot of similarities between the third-party line-up of Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Both platforms have strong support from the likes of Activision, EA and Ubisoft. If you include free-to-play and self-published indie titles, PlayStation 4 shows a little more diversity and ingenuity in its line up.

As far as blockbusters go things don't get much bigger than Call of Duty: Ghosts and the PS4 version sports crisp 1080p graphics at 60 frames per second. It may very well be the definitive version of the game (we're still awaiting the verdict on that), which would mark a massive pendulum swing as the series traditionally performs better on Xbox.

The competition from Battlefield 4 will be fierce and the PS4 version of the DICE combat sandbox will offer 64 player multiplayer for the first time on console (same as with Xbox One). The third major third-party blockbuster at launch is Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Once again it's a release that hits PC and current-gen as well as next-gen, and once again the visuals will be the main difference.

As you'd expect there will be a number of sports titles at launch headlined by EA Sports' FIFA 14. Basketball hoop simulators NBA 2K14 and NBA Live 14 will go at it, and there is the American variation of football to be had with Madden NFL 25. Ghost Games will look to fill the void left by Driveclub with Need for Speed: Rivals - an open-world racing experience that boasts seamless integration of single-player and multiplayer.

Warner Bros. and Netherrealm are bringing the "Ultimate Edition" of Injustice: Gods Among Us to PS4 at launch - good news for those craving a fighting game for day one, even if the game left our reviewer wanting last spring.

As for more family-oriented entertainment, there's Skylanders Swap Force and Lego Marvel Super Heroes as you'd expect. There's also Putty Squad from System-3, a throwback to the days of 16-bit platforming that father may appreciate more than son. If you're a fan of old school games that weren't necessarily digital from the beginning you'll also have FarSight Studios' The Pinball Arcade.

One of the major talking points with PlayStation 4 up until now has been indies and Sony's openness in allowing independent developers to self-publish on the platform. Games like the beautiful Contrast, the parodic Divekick, the classic Super Motherload, the co-operative Tiny Brains, and the record-breaking Minecraft are launch examples.

There will be a handful of free-to-play offerings available for download from day one on PlayStation 4 - some with the beta tag on, others without it. Three shooters: Blacklight: Retribution, Planetside 2 and Warframe each have a flavour of their own and DC Universe Online will fill the MMORPG void with its super hero antics. There's also Gaijin Entertainment's War Thunder for those inclined to take to the skies.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Battlefield 4

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

FIFA 14 Next-Gen

For more information you can read our reviews of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Battlefield 4, plus there's previews for Call of Duty: Ghosts, Next-gen FIFA 14, and you can see what we thought of the PC version of Planetside 2.

Within the first six months

One game that PlayStation fans will be particularly interested in getting their hands on will be Bungie's Destiny. As Halo games will always be Xbox exclusive titles, this will be the first chance for many to spend any meaningful time with a Bungie shooter. Another franchise that usually makes its home elsewhere is Diablo. The third entry in the series, Diablo III, was recently ported to current-gen consoles (both Xbox 360 and PS3), but next-gen options are narrowed down to one, as Blizzard's action-RPG is only heading to PS4.

We're not sure when it'll hit, but the aforementioned Driveclub is likely to wheel-spin onto the console sometime in the first half of next year. Hohokum dances on that fine line between being an actual game and more of an interactive experience. Either way, we're downloading this as soon as it hits.

There's a double dose of MMORPGs coming to the platform, and both sides of the planet are represented. In the JRPG corner there's the re-envisioned world of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. The Elder Scrolls Online will appeal to players who prefer their RPGs with a more western approach. A Realm Reborn goes into beta at the end of February, and while TESO might not be a PS4 exclusive, it will be going into beta on the platform first.

One first-party exclusive that'll be of interest to many long-time PlayStation fans will be Sucker Punch's Infamous: Second Son, which will be landing on the next-gen console in February. Another game that will also be PS4 exclusive (though more likely a timed-exclusivity deal in this case) is the next RPG from Super Giant Games, Transistor.

There's also two big hitters coming in the first part of next year in the form of Watch Dogs, which was originally intended to be a launch title, but alas no longer is. The other title is equally exciting, as the classic stealth series, Thief, is getting a reboot and will be sneaking onto next-gen platforms early next year.

Destiny

Driveclub

The Elder Scrolls Online

Transistor

Thief

Watch Dogs

We've got plenty more details on Destiny, previews on Driveclub, Transistor, Watch Dogs and Thief, as well as reviews for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and Diablo III Console.

Beyond the first six months

While we're still hoping that Dragon Age: Inquisition makes it out by the end of the year, recent comments from EA has it now pegged as "likely, possibly" coming out in 2014. RPG fans will surely be clinging to hope that it's more likely, less possibly. While we're on the subject of role-playing games, a new PlayStation wouldn't be complete without a new Final Fantasy game; Final Fantasy XV is set to take a bow later on in the year. Chuck in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Lords of the Fallen, and RPG fans are going to be spoilt for choice next year.

We're already looking forward to seeing what DICE's Frostbite 3 can do with next-gen hardware, and the two standout titles for next year are most certainly Mirror's Edge 2 and Star Wars: Battlefront. Another multi-platform title that's using a new graphics engine is Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Series fans will no doubt be interested to see how the transfer to an open-world works for the franchise, though our hopes remain high that Konami can pull it off. If open-worlds are your thing, no doubt you'll have already clocked The Division, the latest game that carries the name of the late Tom Clancy. Ubisoft Massive have been working on this MMO-shooter for a long time, and it'll be heading to PS4, Xbox One and PC sometime next year.

One first-party exclusive for PS4 owners to laud over their Xbox One owning counterparts might end up being The Order: 1886. This one's still shrouded in a fair amount of secrecy, but so far we've been able to gauge a few facts regarding the game. An alternative steampunk vision of Victorian London with futuristic weapons, and baddies that look distinctly werewolf-like.

Jonathan Blow, the developer who previously wowed gamers with Braid, is set to release The Witness first on PlayStation 4. It's an exploration-puzzle game with hints of Myst, as players will be scratching their heads as they move around an uninhabited island. The Chinese Room, the team who developed Dear Esther, are returning to action with Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, in what promises to be one of the more atmospheric titles on PS4.

The team behind Magicka and The Showdown Effect are bringing Helldivers to the platform. It's a shooter that promises to appeal to fans of movies like Starship Troopers. More shooting can be had in Switchblade Monkeys' Secret Ponchos. The classic Psygnosis title, Shadow of the Beast, is getting upgraded for a modern audience. Keiji Inafune and Comcept's Mighty No. 9 is also worth keeping an eye on if you fondly remember games from yesteryear. Basically, it's the spiritual successor to Megaman.

The masters of horror, Frictional Games, are set to return to the genre with Soma, a science fiction horror title that blends Lovecraftian ideas and Giger design. Tequila Works are working on a majestic looking title called Rime, that puts players in control of a boy who must escape a mysterious island.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

DICE at E3

The Division

The Order: 1886

Helldivers

Head this way for preview of Lords of Fallen, Helldivers, Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Outlook

One thing that Sony has most certainly managed to achieve with their PlayStation 4 line-up is a broad spectrum of titles. Indies are well represented, and the diversity of games that we'll be playing on the platform definitely acts as a strength. On the other hand, it's also hard to argue that it has the strongest of the two line-ups; for us Xbox One edges by whisker thanks to stronger first and third-party exclusives. One thing that we can be sure is that it's going to be a closely fought console war this time around. Both line-ups look good for different reasons, and both consoles are going to prosper in the year ahead.