There's no question about it: Sony's PS4 Pro is one of the best gaming consoles money can buy, maybe even the best. Well, until the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X later in the year. But when it comes to filling out new games, it pays to do your research. There are plenty of PS4 Pro games on offer, and some will take advantage of the console's 4K HDR technology more than others. Not all PS4 Pro games are the same. Point is, even calling them PS4 Pro games isn't entirely accurate. Sony required, within the lifecycle of the PS4 Pro, that all PlayStation 4 games be able to run on both older and newer PS4 consoles. This means that the developers had to get creative to make a great experience that fits both machines. This effort is something that some people seem to have managed better than others: some developers are simply using it to boost performance for titles that stutter on less powerful and older hardware. However, let's not focus on the missteps. Instead, if you want to harness the power of the PS4 Pro for resolutions as sharp as Nathan Drake's Rapier Spirit or frame rates as fast and smooth as Sypro's swipe, these are the games that will serve you best.
Stranded death
Death Stranding worried us a bit. When Kojima Productions' first title was announced at E3 2016, it was done in front of a confused and excited crowd. And the road to release hasn't seen those sentiments change much, just leaning more to the side of confusion. We saw bottled babies, sea otter costumes and even the appearance of Conan O & # 39; Brien, and each new trailer filled us with more fear than hype. But it was worth it. Death Stranding is an amazing title that is so beautiful and unique, especially when played on Pro. Without giving too much away, the premise is that you put yourself in the shoes of delivery guy Sam Bridges (played by Norman Reedus) who delivers a special cargo after the death stranding, a mysterious phenomenon that has wiped out many innocent lives But obviously, it's not that simple. The stranding of death is something to live for. It's definitely an essential PS4 Pro game, if not the essential PS4 Pro game. Check out our full Death Stranding review.
Red Dead Redemption 2
These are the most anticipated (and arguably the best) games of 2018. Show that Rockstar has pulled you out of the bag with Red Dead Redemption 2 again. A giant open world epic of the west, it lets you live the life of the cowboy, ride horses into the sunset, ride with a detachment and fight through all the saloons of the old west. It's got Rockstar's attention to detail, with the 4K capabilities of Sony's PS4 Pro console bringing the era to life. However, there's still work to be done on Red Dead 2's HDR offering, which appears to be using a system that doesn't utilize high dynamic range settings to their full potential. While its 4K detail is astonishing, an upgrade to improve the HDR technology would make it a truly exceptional showcase for all PS4 Pro owners. Either way, it's a monumental game not to be missed. Check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 Easter Egg guide.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is impressive as it is, but add PS4 Pro enhancements and it really is a magnificent game. Assassin's Creed Odyssey is the newest edition in the epic Assassin's Creed RPG franchise. Odyssey takes place during the Peloponnesian War and sees you stepping into the sandals of Alexios or Kassandra as they try to uncover the truth about their history while navigating the turbulent world of ancient Greece as a mercenary Odyssey is a graphically stunning PS4 game that takes you will take you to the heart of ancient Greece, easily securing a place in our collection of the best PlayStation 4 games. Just make sure you have time to play, as there are over 100 hours of content to enjoy here. Check out our Assassin's Creed Odyssey review magazine for more information.
Marvel spider-man
Spider-Man on PS4 Pro is absolutely gorgeous, even if it's not native 4K. When played on Sony's ultra-powerful console, Spider-Man is capable of a native 1440p resolution at a frame rate of 30 frames per second, which is then set to Scale to 4K. This impressive feat is made possible by dynamic resolution scaling that will increase or decrease the level of detail depending on the frenzy of the action. That being said, before you go and deplore the fact that it's 30 frames per second, the game is absolutely gorgeous and plays beautifully on console. In our time with the game, we barely noticed the lower frame rate and the risque visuals more than made up for it in the long run. If you need a colorful, HDR-compatible showcase for your system, this is it. Do you need more info? Don't miss our full Spider-Man review.
No man's heaven
No Man & # 39; s Sky is a game genre to love or hate. It serves up a near infinite, procedurally generated universe to explore, with unique biomes and aliens to discover. For some, it's ridiculously exciting. For others, it's a mock party. However, since its disappointing launch, Hello Games has created numerous updates for the game that have seen it expand far beyond what it was before. Many have found their opinions changing and the number of players has continued to increase. It's not a new game, but it now offers a lot more compared to its first release, including character customization, long-awaited multiplayer, VR support, and scheduled events that players can participate in. Read our guide to what's new in No Man & # 39; s Sky Next and why it's the perfect time to start your space odyssey.
God of War
Easily one of the most visually stunning games on the PlayStation 4 (or any console for that matter), the new God of War takes the series to epic new levels in terms of presentation. The game is amazing when played on a standard PS4 console, showing just how absurd SIE Santa Monica Studio's talent for optimization is. However, when played on a PS4 Pro, the game does get a boost. In the game settings, you will find two graphics modes: promote resolution and promote performance. Naturally, the former makes gameplay particularly crisp and sharp, bringing the frame resolution to 4K and sticking to around 30 frames per second, while the latter displays at 1080p and sticking to around 60 frames per second. most of the time. As cinematic as it is, we had no problem playing God of War at the favorable resolution settings, as we were able to take advantage of the incredible detail brought to us by the game, using the extra resolution to see the pores and lines on the characters' faces, and the insane level of artistry in their costumes and armor, makes the whole game even more impressive (if you ask us). It also helps make the game's HDR presentation even more vivid. Check out our full God of War review.
The shadow of the colossus
Considered one of the greatest video games of all time, Shadow of the Colossus is back and better than ever on PS4, with its Pro upgrade bringing huge visual and performance improvements to the game. . Shadow of the Colossus offers two graphic parameters: the `` Performance Mode & # 39; & # 39; offers smooth gameplay aimed at 60 FPS at 1080p, while `` Cinematic Mode & # 39; & # 39; play with a resolution of `` Dynamic 4K & # 39; & # 39; higher with improved textures while maintaining a solid 30 FPS. Whichever mode you choose, the team at Bluepoint have brought other delicious visual treats to their remake of the Japanese classic, including a gorgeous new lighting engine (which has the ; it looks amazing when combined with the game's HDR support). and some advanced rendering techniques, making things like the Colossi's fur particularly realistic. Simply put, the improvements offered by the PS4 Pro version make it the definitive introduction to Shadow of the Colossus, offering a visual experience like no other. Check out our full Shadow of the Colossus review.
Destiny 2
Although the first Destiny game didn't end up getting a PS4 Pro upgrade, much to the chagrin of its fanbase, its sequel came out the door with some great graphical improvements. Using checkerboard rendering to achieve 2160p resolution, Destiny 2 looks amazing on PS4 Pro. Admittedly, developer Bungie uses a few tricks to display its gameplay in 4K, including dynamically scaling resolution on the horizontal axis, which means the game will dynamically change your horizontal pixel count from 3840 to 3072 (but seriously, you won't even notice it). At launch, Destiny 2 took advantage of the high dynamic range (HDR) capabilities of the PS4 Pro, although this has since been fixed, the game sports a color palette that gives its predecessor a black and white appearance by comparison. One thing about Destiny 2 that doesn't improve when played on the PS4 Pro is its frame rate, with the game locked at 30 frames per second on all consoles. While we would have liked to see an optional high frame rate mode included, Destiny 2 remains a must-play title for those who want to push their PS4 Pro to its limits. Check out our guide to tips and tricks you should know for Destiny 2.
Ratchet and Clank
If you're looking for a PS4 Pro showtopper, Ratchet and Clank is a great place to start. It's like playing a Pixar movie, with its colorful visuals, lovable characters, and sci-fi plot that jumps out into the world. And, this really makes a great case for the merits of not-so-native 4K UHD on the PS4 Pro. Instead of pushing the number of resolutions all the way up, Ratchet and Clank cleverly uses a technique called temporal injection. It's essentially a very efficient and sophisticated upconverter, bringing image quality up to a 2160p standard and removing jitter without the pressure of native upsampling. At a maximum speed of 30 frames per second and with HDR support enabled, you end up with a stunningly beautiful shooter that looks out of this world.
Infinite earth
Sure, it's an old title getting a facelift on PS4, but Rez has always been designed for a silky visual setup. Running at native 4K/60fps on Sony's latest console, it's an amazing trance-inducing shooter like Tron that has never looked better than on the PS4 Pro. We'd guess this is one of the best music games of all. the times... And, if you're one of the lucky few to have this latest PS4 Pro/PS VR combo, then you'd do well with your eyes, your gear, and your endorphin levels by firing Rez Infinite on the headset. Sony's VR too, where it's a slightly smoother experience.
Diablo 3
Here is an interesting one. While it doesn't offer native 4K or HDR, Diablo 3 shows Blizzard cleverly leveraging the extra power of the PS4 Pro. It uses a dynamic resolution upscaler to allow the dungeon bot better fidelity on consoles and improved lighting techniques, while also which maintains a frame rate of 60 frames per second. When you're in simple indoor sections like New Tristram Tavern or Deckard Cain's house, you hit this native 4K resolution, but when you're more chaotic, it can be somewhere between 1080p and this high-end 3840 x 2160 stunner. . For the most part, it's clearly better than 1080p, seamlessly evolving in motion and maintaining a high refresh rate to boot. It's smooth and the advanced bloom effects and ambient occlusion seal the deal to be on this list. Here's everything we know about Diablo 4.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Sony's stunning conclusion to Nathan Drake's worldwide adventures makes good use of the PS4 Pro, but don't expect it to massively alter the already sumptuous feel of the original. The PS4 Pro update for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End pushes the resolution up to 1440p, which is a vast improvement over the original Full HD limits, even if the intense action makes it so that a target 30 frames per second is the norm. aim. What is appreciated, however, is the implementation of HDR: walking past old graves in the light of an incandescent lamp or seeing the sun filter through a dilapidated slum and jungle trees. amazing on PS4 Pro.
Deus Ex Humankind Divided
Another resolution upscaler and another great way to showcase the fidelity of your UHD display with its HDR features. Deus Ex Mankind Divided is somewhere between 1800p and 2160p, and uses checkerboard scaling to dynamically adjust the resolution based on what's happening on the screen. For the most part, it's a wonderful experience, with the stealthy cyborg looking gloriously futuristic, especially in its Blade Runner slums where the HDR lighting effects take effect. Some stuttering though and a recent return to V adaptive sync to ease the stutter into a smooth update.
Infamous second son
This was a poster designer for PS4 Pro hardware, and it's easy to see why: with First Light previously a PS Plus giveaway, many potential owners will already have a high-quality test subject to get their new machines up and running. through your steps. The infamous Second Son and First Light spin-off uses a checkerboard effect instead of native resolution jumping, but you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference in the way it's implemented here. Boosted at not quite UHD resolution, but around 1800p, the open-world superhero title shines with HDR lighting effects, bringing flame to the fingers and neon powers on premium Screens.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Rise of the Tomb Raider was a good game for PS4 Pro, but Shadow of the Tomb Raider 2018 is even better. In the latest installment of the reboot trilogy, PS4 Pro gamers have the option to prioritize resolution or frame rate. Choosing the former displays gameplay in 4K at 30FPS, while the latter drops the resolution down to a (still admirable) 1080p so you can get a smooth 60FPS. With its beautiful backgrounds and fast action, there really isn't a bad choice when it comes to Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Check out our full Shadow of the Tomb Raider review.
The outer worlds
The Outer Worlds is a space game from Obsidian Entertainment, creators of the Fallout series, which looks great on the PS4 Pro. Gathering rave reviews, this RPG is a fantasy adventure that steps out of the shadows of Fallout games. and stands on its own with distinctive humor and intrigue. And if you go to space, you might as well see it in its prime. Although it doesn't work in native 4K, the PS4 Pro is developing this title so that you can always see all the game worlds looking for their brightness and color on your console. Check out our tips for surviving your first days in The Outer Worlds.
Final Fantasy 15
A complete improvement on the most ambitious Final Fantasy game to date, Square-Enix isn't quite done playing with PS4 Pro performance here, but it still looks like a treat. As long as you can handle a slightly jittery frame rate (far from game-breaking, we assure you), Final Fantasy 15 uses high-end 1800p checkerboard as well as shadows and texture filtering. improved. It is a feast for the eyes. And, if you have access to an HDR TV, that's even better. Square-Enix takes full advantage of the high dynamic range offered by the PS4 Pro, creating extremely vivid desert sunlight and deep cavernous blacks.
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Think Jurassic Park, but with dinosaur robots, and you're on your way to the awesome action that Horizon: Zero Dawn has to offer. In the spirit of the Killzone series, the open-world action-adventure was a revelation when it released in early 2017, being one of the most sophisticated arena bac titles available to PS4 owners. From stealthy, stealthy sections to gigantic crinkles with huge mecha-rexes, it got your heart pumping. But perhaps most impressive were his images. It particularly shone on the PS4 Pro, where its 4K HDR visuals brought the flora and fauna of a post-human future to life. It's a PS4 Pro showtopper and a great way to showcase the machine's capabilities.