The PlayStation 4 may be more than a decade old, but the system still lives on into the PlayStation 5 era and has an endless count of gems. But for every Persona 5 and Nier: Automata, there are a dozen lesser-known games lurking deep in the PS4 catalogue ready to be discovered.
Do you like a specific genre? There’s something waiting for you. Ready to roll and just play something new? This list has something for everyone. From the bizarre and the old-school to a blend of both, here are some truly outstanding games from Japanese developers to spend the weekend binging.
Astebreed
Ignore the anime-esque art style, and get ready for a super satisfying shoot ‘em up. Published by Playism back in 2015 on the PlayStation 4 after a successful PC release, players control a Swiss Army mech, capable of shooting, stabbing and special-attacks to bring down enemy projectiles and bring the hurt on the other squad.
Yes, it does have a story, but let’s be honest... a game like this is all about the gameplay, and Astebreed doesn’t disappoint. It’s frantic, it’s intense, the soundtrack is catchy, and it’s also fairly cheap. Warm up your thumbs and jump in.
Bokosuka Wars II
The name might sound familiar: the original Bokosuka Wars dropped in 1983 for the NES, but its legacy is far from over. This is the title responsible for all tactical RPGs to follow, and if you’re feeling a little nostalgic for the 80s, Bokosuka Wars II barely updates the original, instead opting to utilize the same abstract color scheme and style from the simpler days of gaming.
With new stages, added story, new characters and a co-op mode, it’s well worth the under $15 price tag. Control your chess-like units, rescue your soldiers, and defeat King Ogereth in style.
428: Shibuya Scramble
Spike Chunsoft doesn’t typically let us down. 428: Shibuya Scramble is a rather bizarre addition to their game library: a visual novel produced by Koichi Nakamura of Dragon Quest fame, it’s port to the Playstation 4 came in 2018, giving a new generation of players the chance to give it a try thirteen years after it’s initial release for the Wii.
The game received a perfect score from Famitsu, with western critics claiming that 428: Shibuya Scramble is the most persuasive argument ever made for the future of live-action video games. The writing is top-tier, the pacing is perfect, and if you’re looking for a crime story without having to crack a book, this is the title for you.
Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
Ignoring the usual nonsensical-sounding RPG title, Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is a bit of a miracle. A remake of Vanillaware’s 2007 title, this side scroller manages to bring everything lovable about the original to a newer-gen console, adding some gorgeous new animation and upping the frame rate to make the experience much more enjoyable.
It feels as smooth as butter, and gameplay like this will have you instantly addicted as you traverse beautifully colorful environments causing waves of utter destruction, leaping between physical attacks, magic and potion-throwing. Be warned: you won’t want to put this one down.
Gal*Gun: Double Peace
Stay with me. The image might make this look like just another stereotypical cutesy throwaway title, and while it may have rustled a few features, Gal Gun does a few things right. The story is silly and absolutely stupid: players fend off waves of cute female classmates using a ‘pheromone shot’ in true rail shooter fashion, in an effort to throw them into euphoria to keep them from confession their feelings to your main squeeze.
It's actually a good time from start to finish, if you don’t mind the M rating and the sexual implications. Fan service has its place, and if this is your guilty pleasure, don’t worry. We absolutely won’t judge.
The Silver Case
Originally released for the PlayStation in 1999, The Silver Case is a gripping and gritty visual novel developed by Grasshopper Manufacture (No More Heroes) and brought to the PlayStation 4 by Nippon Ichi Software. You’re put somewhere in Japan and asked to solve a series of increasingly strange murders through point-and-click mechanics and layers upon layers of text.
The writing is unreal, and as the story progresses, there’s an increased sense of panic which builds and builds, the atmosphere impressive for such a simple title. Director Goichi Suda (Moonlight Syndrome, Fatal Frame) certainly doesn’t disappoint with his terrifying vision.
Root Letter: Last Answer
Japanese studios know how to do visual novels well, and we won’t apologize for including another on this list. A revamp of a 2016 title, Root Letter: Last Answer asks players to discover what happened to the missing Aya, interrogating characters and partaking in past simulations with the lost girl.
The remake adds live-action sequences and additional content, including multiple endings, and amazingly, an American film adaptation is currently being shot and not just talked about. How that will end up we don’t know, but the story must be pretty damn interesting to lead to it. Give this one a shot.
