PS4 Software Drought

You can’t have a new hardware release without a drought. With publishers eager to prepare their wares in time for the lucrative launch period, there’s always a barren window that follows in close proximity. And while this author may still have a sizeable backlog to keep him occupied, we suspect that a handful of you will be wondering where your next PlayStation 4 purchase is going to come from. Don’t worry too much, though, for salvation is at hand – and it comes in the form of this upcoming software list. We should stress that not all of these games have firm dates attached, but we’ve tried to select content that we’re certain will deploy over the coming couple of months. It’s really not all that bad, as we’re about to prove.

Drought 2

Basement Crawl

Kicking off our countdown with a bang, Bloober Team’s nightmarish Basement Crawl is one of those nebulous titles without a specific release date. Still, the mysterious Bomberman meets Twisted Metal multiplayer mash-up was originally intended to arrive alongside the next generation system, so we’re going to assume that you’ll be dismantling microscopic clowns with crash test dummies any day now.

Drought 3

inFAMOUS: Second Son

As the gigantic PS4 system seller tasked to go up against Xbox One’s semi-exclusive Titanfall, the pressure is on superhero sequel inFAMOUS: Second Son to deliver. Fortunately, developer Sucker Punch is a studio that rarely disappoints – and it looks like it’s really stepped up its game since being purchased by the platform holder back in 2011. Boasting arguably the best visuals of any next-gen release, this is easily the biggest title on this entire list.

Drought 4

MLB 14: The Show

Since getting its backside bitten by unveiling Team ICO opus The Last Guardian way too early, Sony has started to keep a lot of its exclusives under wraps. That means that while we’re mere weeks away from the next-gen debut of MLB 14: The Show, we’ve still only seen a couple of high-resolution scoreboards. Still, with this property being a consistent performer for the Japanese giant in North America – and its competition caught out for the next twelve months – it’s highly unlikely that this will disappoint.

Drought 5

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

It’s due out on the PC later this month, but patient amphibians will be able to sink to the depths of Young Horse’s aquatic indie excursion Octodad: Dadliest Catch in March on the PS4. Boasting arguably the most bonkers premise in gaming history – which sees you attempting to deceive your family of your underwater origins – this title not only has a quirky art style and silly gameplay structure to its name, but also quite a poignant message at its cold-blooded core.

Drought 6

Outlast

You won’t even need to pay to play Outlast, as Sony has confirmed that the next-gen fright fest will be available for free as part of PlayStation Plus in a matter of weeks. Having already prompted plenty of increased laundry bills on Steam, this old-school survival horror sees you exploring an asylum from a terrifying first-person perspective. With the protagonist completely incapable of combat, you’ll need to use stealth and your senses to eschew the horrors that linger in the shadows. Just try not to play when you’re home alone.

Drought 7

Rayman Legends

How much prettier can Rayman Legends possibly look? A little bit, according to publisher Ubisoft. This may be a port of the platformer that you played last year, but Michel Ancel’s saccharine sweet escapade was arguably one of the most enjoyable adventures of 2013. And with refined visuals, reduced loading times, and promised support of the DualShock 4’s touchpad, this may just prove the perfect excuse to play a great game again.

Drought 8

Strider

An unexpected addition to the PS4’s early 2014 release window, Double Helix Games’ controversial Strider reboot is shaping up to be a striking reimagining of Capcom’s classic side-scrolling franchise. Industry legend Kouichi ‘Isuke’ Yotsui may not be involved with the project, but the publisher’s Osaka team is helping out. And with Metroid and Castlevania serving as the inspirations for the re-imagining’s structure, this could turn out really rather good.

Drought 9

The LEGO Movie Videogame

We rarely have confidence in a film franchise spin-off, but where Traveller’s Tales is concerned we may need to have a rethink. The studio has spent the past few years transposing various blockbuster properties to its unique brand of co-operative action, but now it has the opportunity to reapply that formula to Warner Bros’ upcoming brick filled flick. You probably already know exactly what to expect from The LEGO Movie Videogame, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not going to be a laugh.

Drought 10

Thief

For a franchise that’s remained dormant for almost a decade, we’re not sure that there’s as much hype surrounding Eidos Montreal’s imminent Thief reboot as publisher Square Enix would like. Set in a macabre steampunk setting, the upcoming re-imagining will see you experimenting with the title’s open levels in order to navigate dark environments and score plenty of swag. It’s been subject to a bit of a backlash by brand veterans since its reveal, but this could still end up proving a sneaky surprise when it steps out of the shadows next month.

Drought 11

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

It may have taken almost a year to reach Square Enix’s unreasonable sales expectations, but Crystal Dynamics’ reboot of buxom British archaeologist Lara Croft was a bit of hit with franchise fans and critics alike. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition may not be the next-gen expansion that budding grave robbers are itching for, but the revamped visuals and fancy hair physics should keep you occupied until the already announced sequel steps into the limelight.

See, we told you that it’s not all bad. Which of these upcoming PS4 escapades are you most looking forward to playing, and are there any that we’ve missed out? Populate our poll with your opinions, and then write some words in the comments section below.

Which of these upcoming PS4 titles are you most looking forward to? (90 votes)

  1. Basement Crawl  0%
  2. inFAMOUS: Second Son61%
  3. MLB 14: The Show6%
  4. Octodad: Dadliest Catch4%
  5. Outlast2%
  6. Rayman Legends2%
  7. Strider4%
  8. The LEGO Movie Videogame3%
  9. Thief9%
  10. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition8%

Please login to vote in this poll.