The PS4 had so many great games in 2016, like Uncharted 4: Among Thieves, The Last Guardian and Ratchet & Clank. Now it’s time to look at some of the PS4 games coming out in 2017. Find out when Resident Evil 7, Horizon: Zero Dawn and more release so you can make your most wanted list ahead of time.
Gravity Rush 2 (January 20)
Gravity Rush started out on the PlayStation Vita, allowing fans of Sony’s handheld to dive in and directly control the way that gravity works in the world. The second game, which is slated to release early next year, takes that initial idea and expands upon it. In Gravity Rush 2, players will be able to choose among three different gravity styles. The original style from the first game, and two new styles, Lunar and Jupiter. Each style will offer changes that help alter the way that Kat reacts to the world around her, with Lunar letting players move quicker, while Jupiter will add weight to the character, making punches and other attacks feel meatier.
Other improvements listed to come with the newest iteration of the series include a livelier city, more NPCs to interact with and even destructible environments that players can use to their advantage. If you loved the first game, Gravity Rush 2 is without question worth checking out on the PS4.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (January 24)
The New Year gets off to an incredible start with Capcom’s Resident Evil 7. The next entry in the survival horror franchise will also be available for Xbox One and PC, but what separates the PS4 version of RE7 from the rest is PlayStation VR support, which lets you enjoy this creepy adventure from start to finish while wearing Sony’s headset.
Beyond virtual reality, RE7 is playable from a first person perspective, and based on what we’ve seen, series’ mainstays Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and other famous heroes don’t appear in the adventure. Instead, you control a new protagonist named Ethan Winters, who goes in search of his wife through a run-down plantation house in Louisiana, home of the cannibalistic Baker family. With shades of Texas Chainsaw Massacre mixed with the jump scares these games are known for, Resident Evil 7 is the perfect way to kick off 2017.
Yakuza 0 (January 24)
There are so many different side activities in Sega’s Yakuza 0 that it’s easy to forget about the violence taking place in Japan’s criminal underworld. Take a break from bludgeoning enemies to enjoy classic Sega arcade games like Space Harrier, Outrun and Hang On. Don’t feel like playing video games? Hit the blackjack table, play some pool, take part in a dancing mini-game and watch two ladies wrestle; yes, we’re serious with that one. Plus, there’s a cool 80s vibe throughout the game, and since Yakuza 0 is the prequel to the franchise, this seems like the perfect way to jump into the series if you wish to track down the other games.
Nioh (February 9)
Responsible for games like Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive 3, Team Ninja took a different route for their next game, Nioh. Set within a fictional version of the Sengoku period, Nioh throws players into the role of a western Samurai named William, who arrives in Japan while pursuing an enemy. Featuring Dark Souls-like gameplay features, Nioh tasks players with defeating monsters and other enemies within self-contained missions. Nioh has been in development for over ten years at this point, with the original game sprouting up as far back as 2004. Team Ninja has a lot of experience with creating stellar combat systems, and Nioh promises to offer plenty of challenge to go with its unique hack and slash combat, giving players plenty of ways to take on the dark spirits that invade Japan.
Torment: Tides of Numenera (February 28)
Set within the world of Monte Cook’s newest tabletop RPG, Torment continues the thematic legacy of the classic RPG, Planescape: Torment. Built to feature a rich role-playing experience, Torment will feature a fantastical story set within a world where technologically advanced races have come and gone. Long ago, a human known as the Changing God found a way to cheat death by transferring his consciousness into the bodies of others. When the Changing God leaves these bodies, though, the previous person awakens, unaware of the things that the body stealer has done. Players are thrust into the role of the Last Castoff, who is forced to search for their previous master when The Sorrow, an enmity of great power, seeks to destroy the Changing God and his creations.
Players will have to explore a massive world, where choice and consequence fall hand in hand. During the adventure, they will meet other Castoffs and find special relics that let them take over the others, allowing them to see into different dimensions and worlds through the eyes of different Castoffs. Players will chart their course through the world, making friends and enemies along the way as they strive to answer one deeply personal question through the game’s story… what does one life matter?
Tekken 7 (Early 2017)
Tekken 7 was originally announced on July 13, 2014 at the Evolution Fighting Game Championships. It debuted in Japanese arcades in March 2015, with the follow-up, Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, arriving in arcades in July 2016. The home console version (based on Fated Retribution) was revealed on October 27, 2015 at Paris Games Week, and next month, we will finally have a release date for the long-awaited beat-em-up. At present, we know the game will release sometime in early 2017.
The latest installment in the Tekken series was developed using Unreal Engine 4, and adds several new characters and gameplay elements to the growing Tekken roster. While all of the returning characters have yet to be unveiled, Bandai Namco announces new characters at almost every event the game makes an appearance at, and already hosted two world tournaments despite offering a limited arcade release outside of Japan. Naturally, we’ll have in-depth strategies for all of the game’s characters, and tips to beat your opponents with ease.
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite (Late 2017)
The highly anticipated return of Marvel vs. Capcom will happen sometime in late 2017. Announced at PlayStation Experience 2016, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite will offer 2 vs. 2 combat, hailing back to the classic days of the Vs. Series. Instead of the more traditional assists mechanic, Infinite will utilize Infinity Stones that will power up characters in a variety of ways depending on which Stone you select. So far, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Mega Man X, Ryu and Morrigan have been confirmed for Infinite, with the promise of a large roster when all is said and done.
Unlike Marvel vs. Capcom 3, this new addition to the franchise is being developed by some of the mainstays at Capcom Japan who worked on many of the classic Vs. Series titles. The aim is to offer a game that appeals to the casual market, but also allows enough depth for tournament players to enjoy. For now, watch this cool Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite video that showcases the confirmed characters in the game.
Horizon: Zero Dawn (February 28)
Guerrilla Games took a break from its Killzone franchise to create this brand new adventure, built from the ground up to take advantage of the PS4’s 4K abilities. Horizon: Zero Dawn takes place within a jaw-dropping world where machines and nature collide. Playing as the heroine, Aloy, players rely on her speed and hunting skills to battle against these mechanical abominations. On that note, if you own or intend to buy a PS4 Pro, Horizon might be the game to show of to all of your friends.
God of War (TBD 2017)
The new God of War continues the story of Kratos, but adds a new dynamic with the introduction of his son. To change things up even more, the game will shift away from Greek to Norse mythology, with Kratos living in Scandinavia. In addition, the mother of Kratos’ child will have a significant impact on the story, although details are scarce at the moment.
The development team for the new game consists of several key members from the original God of War staff, but there will be some changes in store for fans of the series. First, the new God of War’s camera is much closer, and offers an over the shoulder viewpoint. Additionally, combat in the new God of War no longer features a combo counter, which was removed in order to make the gameplay feel more immersive. Kratos’ son will also help out in combat and other situations throughout the game. These gameplay changes, combined with the new setting, should make this new God of War one of the biggest PS4 games of 2017. For more, read our story and combat details for the new God of War adventure.
Detroit: Become Human (release TBD)
Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream returns with another intriguing PlayStation exclusive, this time casting you as different androids living amongst people in the future. One of these characters, Kara, struggles to find her place in the world, while Connor is a detective charged with chasing after rogue bots. Similar to Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, choices that you make influence the outcome of the story. The E3 2016 trailer, for example, features Connor attempting to prevent an android from plunging off a building and taking a girl with it. How you “negotiate” with this potentially homicidal robot will result in life or death for one or all parties involved. If you love experiences that blur the line between game and film, Detroit: Become Human is one to watch.
