Looking Back at Sony 2016 PS4 Exclusives

2016 will be looked back upon as a very important year for Sony. The Japanese console maker managed to launch an enhanced system, the PS4 Pro, and entered the virtual reality realm with PlayStation VR. Both of these decisions will have a long-term impact, and it’s currently unclear if these gambles will ultimately pay off.

On top of exciting new hardware, Sony also published 20 new pieces of software. That certainly seems like a lot from first glance, but when the company has to support three separate platforms now (PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, and Vita) it starts to look less impressive. Before any judgment can be made, let’s take a look at what Sony put out in 2016.

The list below is divided alphabetically into three categories: PS4 releases, digital titles, and PlayStation VR games. If you noticed that the Vita wasn’t listed it’s because Sony didn’t publish a single PlayStation Vita game in 2016.

The list breaks down to just five retail releases, seven digital games, and eight PlayStation VR exclusive titles (six if you don’t count the Hustle Kings and Super Stardust updates, but we’re counting them for the purpose of this article). Furthermore, two of Sony’s retail releases were very familiar experiences that diehard Sony fans had likely played before (Ratchet & Clank for as gorgeous as it was is still a faithful remake, and Gravity Rush is a straightforward port from Vita). That leaves just three major retail releases that were new: the yearly MLB The Show installment, an Uncharted sequel, and The Last Guardian. All three games managed to resonate with their intended audiences, but can quality trump quantity to that degree?

I think it’s pretty clear that Sony has to up their output once again, as relying too much on third-party software makes it too easy for gamers to jump ship without losing much (it’s one of the main reasons why the PS4 succeeded initially and was able to get so many Xbox 360 owners to change platforms). It’s ultimately a business, and that third-party support will always go to whichever system is selling well. For a historical comparison, back in 2007 when Sony was also supposed to be supporting three gaming ecosystems (the PSP, PS3 and PS2) they managed to publish over 65 games. That’s a huge drop in less than 10 years, and the amount is jarring even if you remove the handhelds from the conversation.

Let us know in the comments what you thought of Sony’s 2016 output, and what your favorite Sony 2016 published games were!

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Sony Published 2016 Games

Sony Published 2016 Games
Gravity Rush Remastered

An upgraded port of the PlayStation Vita title, Gravity Rush Remastered was one of the earliest PS4 exclusives of 2016. Kat's debut adventure is still slightly rough around the edges, but plays a lot better with a DualShock 4. It did its job as both filling a slot on the calendar, and getting new players excited for Gravity Rush 2.
MLB The Show 16

While MLB The Show 16 doesn't garner as many headlines as other Sony titles do, it's consistently one of the publisher's best games. In fact, it's consistency is probably why it doesn't get more attention. The game is always great, so it rarely gets the attention it deserves. That said, it's a key title for Sony, and one that single-handedly makes the PS4 a must own title for baseball fans.
Ratchet & Clank

Ratchet & Clank is a shining example of a remake done right. While the game definitely shows its 2002 age in spots, it still managed to wow gamers with some beautiful visuals. Clearly Insomniac hasn't lost their technical abilities, and it was an exciting reboot for a series that had began to get stale.
The Last Guardian

After many years in development, The Last Guardian finally released in 2016. While it wasn't a universally beloved title, as enjoyment of Trico's AI tends to vary from person-to-person, it absolutely resonated with many gamers. The game manages to be both a technical feat, and a disappointment at times due to poor performance, but it's far from forgettable.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Like the title suggests, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End brought Nathan Drake's adventuring days to an end. It didn't always feel fresh, as it demonstrated how little the series had evolved over time, but the game featured the best narrative in the series by far. It was also a sight to behold from beginning to end. Naughty Dog gave the series a fitting ending, even if it's not actually going away.
Alienation

Considering Housemarque's previous work, it' makes sense why expectations were high for Alienation. The twin-stick shooter offered some top-notch shooting in a loot-driven package that expects players to play the same levels repeatedly. Whether or not it clicked with players came down to personal preference, but there's no denying how well made it is mechanically.
Bound

Plastic's Bound is arguably the best looking game of 2016. The game takes place inside a woman's mind who is thinking about her past, and features a dancing theme to the surreal action. It's really unlike anything else on PlayStation 4, and manages to stand out from the crowd despite its relatively simple gameplay.
Hardware: Rivals

A sequel to SCE's PlayStation 2 title Hardware: Online Arena, Hardware: Rivals brings car combat action to PS4. While that certainly sounds exciting in theory, Rivals is undoubtedly a disappointment. There just isn't enough depth to keep it fun over time, and the January release didn't kick off the year right for Sony.
Heavy Rain

The PS4 port of Heavy Rain is one of mixed quality. On one hand, the game has never looked better. A lot of work went into recreating textures, but sadly it added some bugs along the way. It's not good when an enhanced version of an older title plays worse, but that's the case here. It also doesn't include the excellent The Taxidermist DLC, which is an awfully strange exclusion.
Kill Strain

Sony San Diego's top-down competitive shooter has some really good ideas, but Kill Strain can't really capitalize on them. The free-to-play nature of the game led to it feeling like an excessive grind, and poor matchmaking options at launch really made it dead on arrival. Another digital miss for Sony.
Shadow of the Beast

Shadow of the Beast is a reboot of Psygnosis' beloved 1989 Amiga title of the same name. It translates the 2D action pretty faithfully, and layers top-notch graphics on top of it. Its stiff-by-design gameplay was divisive, but as a love letter to the original game it really succeeds.
The Tomorrow Children

The Tomorrow Children sports an intriguing theme of communism, and a gorgeous aesthetic to match. The crafting title also features some interesting ideas about forcing players to cooperate, but does a very poor job of teaching players what to do. There's a decent time to be had if you can get past the veneer, but it's disappointing that players have to put in so much work just to have fun.
Driveclub VR

Driveclub VR was basically a consolation prize after Gran Turismo Sport got delayed. That's not to say it's bad, as virtual reality actually adds a lot to the driving, but it wasn't exactly what fans were hoping for. This retooled version of the 2014 release features the many updates that eventually turned Driveclub into a good game, but sadly looks rather poor from a fidelity perspective.
Here They Lie

Here They Lie has players searching for their missing spouse, and having to go through various hellscapes to find her. It can be pretty creepy at times, but the execution just seems off. It's also one of the most notorious PlayStation VR games when it comes to inducing nasuea, which isn't exactly a great look when Sony is publishing the game.
Hustle Kings VR

Only a new release by a technicality, but Hustle Kings VR adapts VooFoo Studios' 2009 pool game (which originally released on PS3 and has been ported to Vita & PS4) to work with PlayStation VR. Virtual pool is pretty cool, and players can experience it with an already established title.
PlayStation VR Worlds

Considering that there were some stinkers in PlayStation VR's launch lineup, it's pretty telling that Sony had a bunch of games that couldn't be fleshed out into a full release. That's PlayStation VR Worlds in a nutshell. A collection of tech demos that weren't worthy of their own game for $39.99. Not quite Wii Sports in terms of pack-ins.
RIGS: Mechanized Combat League

One game that was fleshed out enough to earn its $39.99 price tag was RIGS: Mechanized Combat League. The multiplayer-focused mech shooter has a variety of modes, with the main one being a futuristic sport offering. There's also a deathmatch variant for those looking for more traditional gameplay, but either way, it's a good time as long as PlayStation VR cooperates.
Super Stardust Ultra VR

Another technicality, Super Stardust Ultra VR brings Housemarque's classic Asteroids inspired game to VR. It does add an entirely new mode, though, so it's not like work wasn't put into this update. The new mode isn't really what one would expect from Super Stardust, as it has players shooting enemies from within their ship. It's a cool visual, but it's not as good as the base game (which doesn't need VR to be played).
The Playroom VR

Despite being free, The Playroom VR is actually better than some of Sony's paid VR games. The party game features six different games, and is a great way to introduce virtual reality to friends. There are competitive and cooperative offerings, which makes it a great couch game.
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood

Released at the budget price of $19.99, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood offered up a fun shooting gallery. It might not be the Until Dawn sequel that people wanted in VR, but sometimes it's fun to just shoot at stuff and have a good time.