The 40 Best Console-Exclusive Games of This Generation (PS4, Xbox One, and Switch)
In the gallery above, we rank the 40 highest-scoring games that appeared on only one of the three current generation hardware platforms (Sony's PlayStation 4, Microsoft's Xbox One, and Nintendo's Switch). Titles are ranked by their Metascores, which reflect the consensus views of professional game critics.
Games with fewer than 15 reviews are excluded, and expansions, DLC packs, and multi-game compilations are excluded as well. (But games still qualify if they are also available on prior-generation hardware, PC, or handheld/mobile devices—just as long as they appear on no more than one of the three major current consoles.)
Set in a fantasy version of early 17th century Japan, Team Ninja's 2017 samurai action-RPG game was the result of over a decade of development. The result was worth the wait, and reminded many reviewers of Dark Souls while also staking out its own new territory. A sequel arrives in July.
“Hundreds of hours in and I was still getting excited at new aspects and discoveries within the game, finding constantly fresh and rewarding things to do and see. It’s a slick, fantastic hack and slash with a strong sense of charm and sincerity, accessible yet tough to master, and if there’s any justice, it’ll go down in history as an all-time classic.” —Telegraph