So you got a brand new PS4 for Christmas and you’re looking to fill in your library. 2014 was considered by many to be a soft year for game releases, and while 2015 promises to be a great year in gaming there may have been some games you might have over looked.  If you’re new to the ecosystem welcome and if you’re a veteran feel free to chime in with your recommendations in the comments below.

First Person Shooters:

Call of Duty and Destiny were some of the biggest releases this past fall, but there was a gem of a shooter that came out earlier this year that they may have missed, Wolfenstein: The New Order. This game has gone largely underrated and it’s a shame. Wolfenstein combines masterful storytelling with solid game play mechanics, and enough collectibles to keep any completionist busy.

Racing Games:

Racing games can be slim pickings from year to year. Out this past year was Need for Speed, DriveClub, and most recently The Crew. While Need for Speed sticks to its “need for burnout” formula, DriveClub straddles the line between sim racer and arcade racer. Sadly DriveClub suffered from server issues since launch, however they have been rolling out updates on a regular basis. The Crew is described as a CARPG, and more MMO than a racing game. As for racing sims go, Moto GP 14 has been well received by critics.

Sports Games:

All the yearly staples are available this time around with NHL 15 making the leap from last gen to current gen consoles. NBA Live/2K 15, Madden, FIFA 15 and PES 15 as well as MLB The Show all made strong showings this year. When picking a sports game, however, knowing which version your friends play on is important.

Fighting Games:

Sadly Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter aren’t due out until later this year. Out in December was Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN. While we know very little about this game, it’s made by the same guys that made the Blazblue series – which warrants a recommendation.

Action Adventure/RPG:

This is a massive category. With games like Infamous: Second Son, GTA 5, Watch Dogs, Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and not to mention remastered editions like Diablo III and The Last of Us, games like Metro Redux may get lost in the mix. And let’s not forget some people’s game of the year contender, Dragon Age: Inquisition. Also included in this category are survival horror games like Alien Isolation, and Evil Within that are worthy of a look too.

Downloadable Games:

This is another big category with a treasure trove of small indie tittles and smaller publisher-supported games. Games like Child of Light, Strike Suite Zero: Directors Cut, and Valiant Hearts: The Great War were stand out games for me this past year. Of course, let’s not forget The Road Not Taken and First Light.

So there you have it: a quick look at some of 2014 hottest games, and some games worthy of a look. As always, remember to check ESRB ratings or your local equivalent before selecting a game. Honorable mentions should go to LittleBigPlanet, Terraria, and Minecraft, which are fun for the whole family!

Discuss:

What would you recommend to the uninitiated PS4 owner?