PlayStation Store is marking its 20th anniversary by looking back at the games that have made the strongest impression on developers. Rather than choosing only their favourite titles, contributors were asked to name games they did not expect to enjoy so much or that stood out for a particular reason.
The selection covers releases from the past two decades, ranging from major PlayStation productions to distinctive independent games. The anniversary celebration also includes a dedicated PlayStation Store showcase featuring game offers and a selection of notable hits.
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy VII Remake series at Square Enix, chose Balatro, available on PS4 and PS5 since 2024. He highlighted how the game transforms familiar poker rules into an addictive progression system, with increasingly satisfying scores and combinations.
Jonathan Burke, senior technology director at Santa Monica Studio, pointed to Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age on PS4. He praised its story, character design and world, as well as its distinctive charm and ability to introduce unexpected turns into what initially appears to be a traditional hero’s journey.
God of War, released for PS4 in 2018, was Ramone Russell’s choice. San Diego Studio’s director of product development and brand communications strategy was particularly impressed by the game’s emotional direction. He noted its focus on fatherhood, self-control, breaking toxic cycles, grief and identity, alongside its gameplay and technical achievement on PlayStation 4.
Naughty Dog’s head of culture and communications, Arne Meyer, selected Inscryption for PS4 and PS5. He described the card game’s interactions and modifiers as both complex and fascinating, while also praising the way it gradually reveals additional layers of its mechanics and story without explaining everything directly to the player.
Marcus Smith, creative director at Insomniac Games, named Inside by Playdead, which arrived on PS4 in 2016. He highlighted its lack of interface and dialogue, its carefully designed guidance system and its audiovisual presentation. For Smith, the game’s ambiguous story continues to invite reflection long after its conclusion.
Sayonara Wild Hearts was the surprise choice from Bruno Velázquez, game director at Santa Monica Studio. Although rhythm-focused games had not traditionally appealed to him, he was drawn in by the title’s colourful visual style, dynamic presentation, story and soundtrack. He ultimately described it as a memorable experience that he would recommend even to players who do not normally choose this genre.
Team Asobi studio director Nicolas Doucet chose Shadow of the Colossus, originally released for PlayStation 2 in 2005. He praised its simple premise, in which a character travels across vast plains with only a sword and a horse to confront enormous creatures, as well as its sense of heroic solitude, imposing battles, technical presentation and memorable music.
Finally, Gregory Louden, creative director at Housemarque, selected Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for PlayStation 3. He said the full game surpassed the expectations created by its presentation demo, with impressive environments, charismatic characters and the scale of a blockbuster adventure.
The anniversary feature invites players to share which game from the last 20 years surprised them most and explain what made the experience stand out.
Sources: PlayStation Blog España.