It’s a marriage of PlayStation and the cloud, with PC gamers serving as best man or maid of honor or something. Sony’s PS Now’s biggest draw is exclusives, games you can’t play anywhere else.
PC gamers often tout having the best gaming platform around, but not having certain AAA console exclusives undermines that argument. But PS Now cordially invites PC gamers to this marriage of the best of both worlds: lightning-fast, custom hardware and some of the top exclusives released last generation.
Here’s five of our favorite PS Now exclusives for PC and cloud gamers — be sure to grab a slice of cake:
#1 – Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Hideo Kojima’s ground-breaking PS3 title concluded Solid Snake’s exploits – it’s one of those “one more ride” stories. You can try emulating this game on PC or purchase a PS3 in order to play it, but for PC players who want to get in on this elusive piece of the Metal Gear Solid puzzle, head to the cloud. PS Now makes for a fairly painless way to enjoy this unmissable experience.
There are a number of reasons why this entry hasn’t been ported onto other systems, from the game using the PS3’s super proprietary graphics architecture in weird ways to licensing issues for product placement within the game. But it’s one of Hideo Kojima’s best, from his use of technology and gameplay elements to how the narrative shapes our concepts of private military groups, geopolitics and nostalgia, and how they form our language and memory.
Review scores: Metacritic 94%, IGN 10/10
#2 – Red Dead Redemption
If you own an Xbox One you can technically play this heartfelt spaghetti western through Windows 10 using the backward compatibility program, but that’s a lot of hoops to jump through to play through one of the greatest open-world games ever released – especially when you can fire up this game in the cloud with just a few clicks. PS Now even has the expansion, Undead Nightmare available. It’s bursting with breathtaking sunsets and adrenaline-pumping showdowns, complete with Rockstar’s signature satire and storytelling. But it ain’t too big for its britches — yeehaw!
Review scores: Metacritic 95%, IGN 9.7/10
#3 – God of War (2018)
A complete reboot of the QTE-laden (e.g. press button to trigger scripted sequence) hyper-violent franchise rooted in Greek mythology, plenty has been said about this modern masterpiece, with many critics calling it one of the very best PS4 offerings.
There’s a chance this one might get released on PC via Steam or some other service, but for now, PS Now is the only place to play this one-of-a-kind adventure that shows a more sensitive and paternal Kratos.
Review scores: Metacritic 92%, IGN 9.8/10
#4 – Bloodborne
Another PS4 exclusive that has rumors of a PC release, but until then, the only way for PC gamers to experience this grueling, souls-like action RPG tempts you into a gothic adventure. It comes from the creators of the Dark Souls series, developer From Software, and it plays like it does. Bloodborne drops some of the customization options of Dark Souls and trades some melee weapons for firearms, but the challenge is still there and it’s no less rewarding.
If you’re completely new to the series, or didn’t make it past the first Dark Souls game, don’t be surprised if this one sucks you in and keeps calling you back.
Review scores: Metacritic 92%, IGN 9.1/10
#5 – The Last of Us
Although it’s a little dated, coming from the PS3-era, the game really gave audiences a taste of what developer Naughty Dog could do with storytelling and emotional appeal. After the Jak and Daxter and the Uncharted series, both of which are highly regarded in their rewarding gameplay and graphical prowess, it was a real treat that stands the test of time.
If you ever wished a game made hit with the Walking Dead series license, you’ll love this post-apocalyptic zombie thriller of a game. The characters are just waiting to steal your heart.
Now’s a great time to explore the series as Netflix prepares to tell stories from The Last of Us‘ universe through a live-action TV series.
Review scores: Metacritic 95%, IGN 10/10
So Is PS Now Worth It, Really?
PS Now has grown into quite the competitor over the last few years, partly by ditching the rental fees and by offering better exclusives. It might not match Xbox’s service which includes day one, simultaneous launches, but it does offer a diverse stable of games from one of the industry’s leaders in software development.
The price is right (at five dollars a month when you purchase the year subscription) and the service is solid when it comes to the actual technology of streaming and downloading a game.
The user interface is still a bit lacking on the PC side of things, most notably missing a search function, but the value of having hundreds of games a month available for five dollars a month is undeniable.
Let us know in the comments what your favorite PS Now games are and what features you think should be added to the service.
And be sure to check back for more on PS Now and our other beloved cloud gaming platforms. And get up to speed on the Valve’s handheld Steam Deck and the Top Ways It Could Impact Cloud Gaming.