This console generation started out as being somewhat lackluster but has come into its own over the last year. It took a while for developers to fully utilize new, powerful hardware, but they came through eventually. After a year or two of countless remakes and remasters, quality original content finally started to to be released on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. While 2016 was a great year for both consoles, the PlayStation 4 has had an amazing 2017, with three of their exclusives being among our top games of the year so far.
The Nintendo Switch had a decent launch line up which was defined by the highly-anticipated Zelda title Breath of the Wild, but Nintendo has also had a major release every month since then with the exception of May. June through December is also seeing a steady release schedule, with ARMS coming out in June, Splatoon 2 in July, Sonic Mania and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom in August, Pokken Tournament in September, Fire Emblem Warriors and Super Mario Odyssey in October, and finally Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in December. This doesn’t include some third-party titles like LA Noire or Skyrim, which are coming out in November. While there isn’t an over abundance of games, the quality is overwhelming, even with third-party re-releases. It’s already October and gamers are buying Switch games like wildfire.
I have been a critic of the PS4’s lineup prior to this year, but that is about to change. This isn’t the ’90s where one console is crowned king. To get a full gaming experience you ultimately need more than one console. Everyone needs to own a PS4 and Nintendo Switch this year.
The PlayStation 4 has an incredibly impressive lineup of games that have come out and are coming out this year. They’ve already had Resident Evil 7 in VR, which is a huge coup. While NieR: Automata is also technically on Windows, I do consider it an exclusive. Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the best games of this generation, as is Persona 5. There’s also Gravity Rush 2, Nioh, Yakuza 0, and Uncharted: Lost Legacy. To say that this lineup is amazing would be an understatement, and this feels like the tip of the iceberg.
The list can go on and Sony will continue to build their PlayStation VR brand, something Microsoft is behind the curve on. Both Skyrim and Doom are coming to the PSVR this November, and coupled with Resident Evil 7 in VR, Sony has an impressive lineup of AAA virtual reality games.
Nintendo’s lineup may seem slim, but all their content is quality. Breath of the Wild requires at least 200 hours to master to completion. Nintendo isn’t blowing all their games at once and have a solid release schedule throughout this year into the holiday season. This is a major mistake they’ve made previously and are finally rectifying. One also has to remember that the Wii U didn’t sell incredibly well when considering the release of games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It’s a smart move to release one of the highest-selling games on the Wii U on the Nintendo Switch, and Mario Kart is always a money maker. Super Mario Odyssey in October and Xenoblade 2 in December is just icing on the cake commiserating a wonderful year for Nintendo. The PlayStation 4’s exclusives and third-party support combined with Nintendo’s exclusives (and even their third-party support, to an extent) make the PS4 and Switch must-have consoles.
The Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 4 are awesome consoles, but limiting yourself to just one is missing out on so much more the gaming world has to offer. It’s no longer a one-console era. To get the full experience of the industry you have to own more than one console. The PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch offer the best exclusives and the best variety of games this generation has to offer. Breath of the Wild and Horizon Zero Dawn are enough alone to warrant owning both consoles; add everything else into the mix and and it becomes obvious why these systems are must-haves.