20 years of PlayStation Store: devs share the games that surprised them most
PlayStation Store is celebrating 20 years of connecting players with everything from massive blockbusters to indie gems. To mark the occasion, developers from PlayStation Studios and third-party studios shared stories about the games from the past two decades that truly caught them by surprise.
For Sony Interactive Entertainment, this milestone highlights two decades of bridging the gap between players and a vast array of content. Rather than just listing their all-time favorites, the developers selected games that surprised them through unexpected depth, mechanics, or storytelling.
The list spans from modern hits to legendary classics. Naoki Hamaguchi from Square Enix highlighted Balatro, noting how its simple poker-based rules create a compelling sense of progression and satisfaction that reminds him of the core joy of gaming.
In the realm of cinematic adventures, God of War (2018) stood out. Ramone Russell from San Diego Studio noted that while the technical feat on PS4 was impressive, it was the profound emotional evolution of Kratos—exploring themes of fatherhood and grief—that truly won him over.
Indie titles also received significant praise. Arne Meyer from Naughty Dog spoke about Inscryption, admiring how the game rewards persistence by revealing new layers of gameplay and narrative. Meanwhile, Marcus Smith from Insomniac Games called Inside a masterpiece, specifically praising its ability to teach players through visual and audio cues without any UI or dialogue.
Legacy titles were not forgotten either. Nicolas Doucet of Team Asobi described Shadow of the Colossus (2005) as a masterpiece that perfectly captures 'heroic loneliness' through its epic scale. Additionally, Gregory Louden from Housemarque recalled Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009), noting how it surpassed the hype to deliver a truly cinematic experience on PlayStation 3.
To celebrate the anniversary, a PlayStation Store Showcase is also going live, featuring curated hits and special deals on various titles.
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