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.)
Link's Awakening was a much-loved monochrome action-adventure released in 1993 for the original Game Boy, centering on Link's journey through Koholint Island (rather than Hyrule) and featuring Nintendo characters like Yoshi and Kirby (but not, oddly enough, Princess Zelda). But this 2019 Switch remake is a considerable upgrade, adding HD graphics and an all-new Dungeon Editor mode.
“The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is everything a remake should be. It retains the nostalgia of the original game while celebrating it in an entirely new way. The map is small but dense, filled with side quests, interesting character designs, and a surprising moral dilemma. This charming, toy-like world is the perfect way to experience Koholint Island, regardless of it’s your first visit or your 50th time washing ashore.” —GamingTrend
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