10. Kena: Bridge of Spirits (PS4, PS5, PC)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits - State of Play Trailer | PS5, PS4
Any indie game that manages to rival a triple A title like God of War definitely deserves commemoration. You play as Kena on a quest to aid spirits from moving on into the afterlife and save a forest village from an evil darkness.
While it may not have the polish of a triple A game, Kena’s smooth control scheme, wicked arsenal and swooning story is all you need to get lost in this whimsical adventure. Many games are rivaling Pixar studios and for an indie game to do that definitely puts it as one of the top indie games out there.
9. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5)
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time – Gameplay Launch Trailer | PS4
Toys for Bob were really put to the test on this one, too see how they can follow up from Naughty’s Dog’s master trilogy, and guess what, they succeeded. This is a direct sequel to Crash Bandicoot Warped where Crash and team have to save the world from a complete tear in time.
Crash Bandicoot 4 is as smooth and fun as the trilogy remake and Toys for Bob really knew how to keep the spirit of Naughty Dogs' vision from over two decades ago with both fresh and familiar features, a perfect follow up to veterans and newcomers alike.
8. Bugsnax (PS4, PC, PS5)
Bugsnax - Launch Trailer | PS4, PS5
Another colourful, childrens-looking adventure with heavy themes of mental health and… climate change? You are a critter traversing the island of Snathtooth on the hunt of various species of bugsnax while also searching for your lost friend.
There’s a variety of fun and creative ways of discovering over 100 species of bugnsax and laying out traps for them to bring back to your camp. But this isn’t just a run-of-the-mill, cartoony adventure, as there is so much care put into the writing and character voices, you can tell just how passionate the developers were when crafting this adorably weird world.
7. Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS4, PS5)
Sackboy: A Big Adventure - Story Trailer | PS5
In this endearing spin-off to Little Big Planet, Sackboy finds himself having to save his village from the evil Vex. This game puts a lot of focus on co-op level design and offers a fresh new take on the old formula.
The aesthetics pop for your eyes delight, and offer a rich variety of levels from ancient backdrops to futuristic spaceports. The music will make you want to groove with funk beats and epic scores and gameplay is fun, zany and cute and is sure to be loved by any fan of the original Little Big Planet.
6. Astro’s Playroom (PS5)
Astro's Playroom - Gameplay Trailer l PS5
The quintessential PS5 family and children's game. The game takes place inside the hub of a PS5, where you can explore, platform, and experience PS5’s new DualSense mechanics; all while playing as a cute robot a la Wall-E.
This game is a lot of fun if you’re a platforming fan, the controls are sharp, and yes, the dualsense controller is totally worth it as it puts you in a rich, immersive experience. The set design is outstanding, the characters are cute, and it is definitely fun for the whole family and a perfect introduction to the PS5 system. Oh yeah, and the game is free.
5. Spider-Man Miles Morales (PS4, PS5)
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Launch Trailer I PS5, PS4
If you’re a fan of 2018’s Spider-Man, this next chapter to quench our spidey-thirst before Spider-Man 2 is the perfect game for you. Peter Parker is on a well deserved vacation and now you get to swing as Miles as he finds his own identity.
The storytelling is fresh and does Miles justice without rehashing the first game and swinging is just as addictive as ever. Everything wraps up nicely and the stage is set perfectly for the next installment.
4. Chicory: A Colorful Tale (PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5)
Chicory: A Colorful Tale - Official Trailer | PS5, PS4
If our last entry was a storybook, then this is more like a colouring book come to life. Beloved artist, Chicory, has gone missing and it’s up to you to pick up her brush and fill in the colours of the world.
While it would have been fun just colouring in the world on its own, Chicory cleverly uses it’s paintbrush theme as a puzzle tool and fills you with charm and wonder as you name your character after your favorite food. If that wasn’t enough, there is a compelling story here with rich themes of tackling mental health issues and you’re own inner critic. Who knew a live-action colouring book could be so deep?
3. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC, PS5)
Alba: a Wildlife Adventure - Accolade Trailer
Not all kids games need to be high octane adventures. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a down-to-earth story about tweenager, Alba Singh, visiting her grandparents in Spain and forms a wildlife rescue league.
The game’s not very long, but it is a wholesome experience with wholesome characters. It is surprisingly fun to explore the fictional Secarral as you engage in meaningful sidequests and snap some animals for your nature journal. If you want a break from shooters, explosions, and beating up bad guys, take a vacation, why don’t you, in this calm and serene adventure?
2. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – Launch Trailer I PS5
It would seem its primetime for Insomniac Games as they’ve done it again with another installment of Ratchet & Clank. In Rift Apart we see our heroes having to hop interdimensional space after Dr. Nefarious literally “rifts” the universe apart.
To say the gameplay is fun and smooth would be an understatement. Given the timey-wimey tools at your disposal this game is an adrenaline rush of a shoot ‘em and beat ‘em ups but somehow still knows how to fill you with heart and feel good moments.
1. Spider-Man (PS4, PS5)
Marvel’s Spider-Man – SDCC 2018 Story Trailer | PS4
They did it! Spider-Man delivers on everything you’d expect from a post-Arkham, superhero IP. Here, Peter Parker is a veteran hero and must take on foes old and new to keep New York safe.
The best aspect of the game is the swinging mechanics, and being able to traverse the airways of the big apple has never been made more satisfying and addictive than it is here. Combat is as slick as Spider-Man himself, and the wise-cracking web-crawler is top notch as ever. And we can’t forget all of the gut wrenching character moments that take place throughout the narrative that provides a classic Spider-Man story for years to come.
