In what will likely be a singularly unique trait among the people on this website I have a bit of a game collection, one I actively seek to further. Most of such collection is not aiming at completion for a system, franchise or the like but games that will mean something in 10 years, either because they are still very playable or because they are a great example or early example of a given mechanic and evolutions thereof. I certainly play the annual shooting, driving, vaguely historical themed "action adventure" and otherwise popular bit of fluff but were they lost to my collection then 99 times of 100 I would not seek to replace it, or if I did I would likely pick the current shininess instead (or given the modern prevalence of recompiles remasters then said same on a newer system...).

This year will be the fifth anniversaries of both consoles, traditionally the final real years of such things, and where at this time in previous efforts my libraries were brimming with games I have nothing to show for myself here. Nobody really expects anything from the first year and a bit to stand the test of time but years two, three and four have invariably produced something before.
I have not moved on from games; I still very much play them and enjoy them. Games have seemingly not moved on from me; everything is still very recognisable and mechanically sound. Everything should be better -- controls are just fine, specs are such that high end devs can do amazing things and mid tier devs can happily do what was formerly amazing or impossible, and everybody else faces fewer restrictions then ever. While we are still pretty far from the same thing that allows nearly anybody to write a book or make a board game it is very much heading in that direction.
I am seemingly not the only one noting this, and for all we might be used to the occasional weak year the notion of a weak generation is something new.

To that end suggest some games that someone coming in cold to the PS4 or xbone should pick up, ones that will stand the test of time or at least be a nice example of something new or evolving.

General idea of this feature
This is the latest entry in GBAtemp's new series discussing game concepts, mechanics (the interesting mechanics thing being the tenuous justification for it being in this series today) and such like. Previous editions saw us discuss games that got better after launch, cancelled games and shuttered devs, and story canon in games.

 

[DinohScene]

I keep all games I purchase.
I never sell me games...

 

[leon315]

i bought ps3 for MGS3 AND ps4 for bloodborne! i won't sell them until i finish them 1st, but with this busy life of mine, i still haven't beat MGS3 probably i'll keep my ps3 hooked on tv for next 5 years lol.
I usually keep all my games but i traded Bloodborne to get Goty one.

 

[Daggot]

I keep every game I buy. I don't sell.

 

[Noctosphere]

I sold all my ps4 games to my sistra friend
there was like 6 AAA games and sold them for like 150$
it was a good deal for her. I later sold my ps4 for 200$

Ofc, I didnt get my money fully back, but still, buying this ps4 made me realise something
I was, am and will always be a Nintendo Fanboy

 

[BlueFox gui]

y pee ass 4 and eckiz boner one?
y nut other consoles >:^O

do not sell ur gaems kids

 

[FAST6191]

I am not talking about selling games. I too have done nothing more than trade a handful of games with friends since the dreamcast, and even then it was the 16 bit era where I last did trading in earnest. Buying those games others traded on the other hand...

I am talking about listing games that will stand the test of time, or indeed just have something notable that they did that it is worth hanging onto. Those that were released for the PS4 and xbone. Those that you might seek to find again if they get lost.

Like I don't give a damn about my copy of need for speed underground 2 (I am not sure what AAA really means but few would argue it was not) on the gamecube, should it be lost I would be more upset about the case that went with it. Should my copy of eternal darkness go walkabout then I will see about finding another.

I have nothing like that for the PS4 or xbone though and wanted lists from others.

 

[mightymuffy]

I keep all games I purchase.
I never sell me games...

I keep every game I buy. I don't sell.

I sold all my ps4 games to my sistra friend
there was like 6 AAA games and sold them for like 150$
it was a good deal for her. I later sold my ps4 for 200$

Ofc, I didnt get my money fully back, but still, buying this ps4 made me realise something
I was, am and will always be a Nintendo Fanboy

.....Has anyone actually read his post properly?
Actually it's a difficult one to answer anyway! I can rhyme off a decent collection of [predictable] games for both consoles myself, but thinking about that quick list I've got in my head, once completed I don't think there's much I'd go back to:
Bloodborne was wonderful, no I'd never sell it, but neither will I probably ever play it again.
Forza Horizon 2 or 3....3 in particular is in my opinion the greatest racer ever made, but now I've fully finished it, I don't see myself ever firing that up again either.
Is it just me or is this generations games, brilliant as they are, deliberately throwaway, as if, shock horror, the devs made them that way so you have to carry on buying more? Surely not!! /s
Or maybe it's just that, in my early 40s, 8/16bit games seemed to last longer because they were out at a more memorable time for me?

...Just realised I've skewed off from the point as well here, and am conveniently ignoring the 'new mechanics' question.....but........I'm hungover so don't care anyway (in fact me being somewhat philosophical a few sentences back made my headache worse anyway!)

 

[spotanjo3]

I only bought the games that I loved so much that I wont sell them at all. I dont buy lousy games or so-so games at all. I am very picky at what games I want to buy. Money wise spending.

 

[huma_dawii]

I don't trade or sale my games, nope, impossible

if you ask what games are worth keeping for future generations... i would say Mario Kart 8, Super Mario Maker... and Breath Of The Wild.

EDIT: Sorry for PS4 and Xbox One i would say.. well there is nothing i would keep but the exclusives.

 

[FAST6191]

.....Has anyone actually read his post properly?
Actually it's a difficult one to answer anyway! I can rhyme off a decent collection of [predictable] games for both consoles myself, but thinking about that quick list I've got in my head, once completed I don't think there's much I'd go back to:
Bloodborne was wonderful, no I'd never sell it, but neither will I probably ever play it again.
Forza Horizon 2 or 3....3 in particular is in my opinion the greatest racer ever made, but now I've fully finished it, I don't see myself ever firing that up again either.
Is it just me or is this generations games, brilliant as they are, deliberately throwaway, as if, shock horror, the devs made them that way so you have to carry on buying more? Surely not!! /s
Or maybe it's just that, in my early 40s, 8/16bit games seemed to last longer because they were out at a more memorable time for me?

...Just realised I've skewed off from the point as well here, and am conveniently ignoring the 'new mechanics' question.....but........I'm hungover so don't care anyway (in fact me being somewhat philosophical a few sentences back made my headache worse anyway!)

The new mechanics is something like Skies of Arcadia. Not a great game today but started to do things like change weapons in towns according to story, properly revisit places and start to make something almost distantly related to a living world. Compared to much of what came before that was new.

The throwaway games thing was something I was heading towards, particularly amusing to me given TV is enjoying a boost right now because they are designing for long form and replayability.

Your timeframe is slightly skewed compared to mine. At the same time though I was well past 19, the age at which one's tastes typically form for life, by the time of the PS360's golden years and I had a great time.

 

[RedoLane]

I don't own a PS4, nor a Xbox One, but if there's a game I want to sell, it must be exchanged for a different game in return.

 

[eriol33]

I sell all physical games that I have. I don't feel attached that much with video games anymore. there are just too many entertainment out there. there is a limit how much a collection can gratify you.

 

[The Frenchman]

I keep all the games that are noteworthy and all the series I love, all the unique games... I only buy indie games online. I sell back the games I don't value much and haven't played in more than two years, even if they lost most of their value, I enjoy having a game and having the option to replay it as much as I want. Though with consumerism it's harder and harder to come back to old games, you are burried with new releases all the time.

 

[Dr.Hacknik]

I have a ton of Wii and GameCube games. I have never sold them or given them away. Back in when the Wii was new, I bought every single one of those games with whatever money I had. I never want to sell them.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

I suppose it's still kind of tough to say. For me, Bloodborne probably hits the mark quite well, it's one of those games I'm sure will stand up 10+ years in the future, like other Souls games (IMO).

The Shadow of the Colossus remake, as well, since that's basically just a better version of a 13 year old game anyways that (IMO) still holds up well today.

For the XBoner, maybe the Master Chief Collection, but only because HD Halo 1 and 2 is nice (not counting PC versions with mods of course).

Other than that, I'm unsure. Obviously it'd be inaccurate to say the PS4/Xbone have no other worthwhile exclusives, but counting games that will still hold up 10+ years from now? It's tough to say.

 

[gnmmarechal]

Gravity Rush Remastered and Gravity Rush 2? Those are certainly the reason for me to even play PS4 at all, along with Project Diva Future Tone.

 

[phreaksho]

I have bought and sold and bought and sold the same games all over again and again. The only purchases that stay with me are my digital copies. Every time I try to keep a collection, I always have to end up getting rid of it whether it was for other games or just to keep up with bills. Thank (_________<insert name here) for the Internet that keeps archived games so that I may replay it just for that sense of nostalgia. It doesn't feel good to get rid of any of the games but I can't have collecting such a pricy hobby above other needs.

That said, if I could, I would keep them all..

 

[CeeDee]

I don't own either one (but I own a Switch)

I tend to buy physical for most games that I'm not sure about. If I like the game, I keep it. If I don't care for it, I sell it and get most of my money back. ARMS, Skyrim, Sonic Forces, etc, stuff I couldn't get into much. If it's digital only at the time I want it, or I know I'll like it a lot, I'll buy digital. I know buying digital is blasphemy to most of you, but I don't mind it.

Right now I only have a few physical games, Zelda BOTW and Cave Story+. Zelda has a pretty big file size, to where it's most advantageous to get the cart, and Cave Story+ is a game I couldn't justify paying $30 for a download. The bonuses that came with a launch GameStop copy (keychain, soundtrack, manual) were good enough, though.

I have a few bigger games digitally - Splatoon 2, SMO, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, games I knew I'd play a lot of, given how much I liked and played their predecessors.

There are a few games I'd have gotten physically if they were announced before the release of digital - Sonic Mania, Retro City Rampage DX, Rocket League, and probably others. Though I still plan on pick up Sonic Mania Plus physical, though I already bought digital Mania - Sega needs to know that we need more Classic Sonic from Whitehead and crew. Feeling a bit more cautious on newer indies, a lot more of them are getting physical prints. Undertale got a PS4/Vita physical release, and I can see the same happening for Switch, but it's nothing that's been announced yet. And like most, it'll probably be after the fact, when I already bought it digitally, which is fairly annoying.

 

[mightymuffy]

I think it's fair to say you might have posted with a bit too much English (UK) this time FAST!

A PS4 highlight for me has to be launch title Resogun: now that's a game I'll have no problems coming back to (as indeed I have since launch day - I still fire that one up!)
Bloodborne as I mentioned before, yeah I can actually see that getting a replay sometime, if only to revisit that gameworld...

Over on XO Cuphead has to get a mention, purely for its art style, which I'm not sure will ever be bettered (or even attempted, except for a sequel)
Forza Horizon 3? It doesn't have that quick 'fire up for 15 minutes' thing going for it, and with Horizon 4 this year, it's probably better to wait for the next game... certainly I will fire up XBLA classics like Outrun and Daytona first..

Multiplat: I'm a sucker for the Rogue-lites... played through Rogue Legacy on both PS4 and XO at least once, and don't get me started on Spelunky (though that's last gen)

I think the Indies are the place to look this gen mostly: the cost of game development being ever higher meaning big budget games will continue to play it safe (Horizon Zero Dawn anyone? Great game but just teeters above tedium due to being so copycat and safe). Also while I can confidently say neither console offers anything like the fun the 360 had, looking back, the 360 was at its most glorious at the end of its lifecycle...perhaps the same will happen here in a couple of years?