Best PS4 games for sprogs?

[TordelBack]

So the eldest (11) is looking to spend some Crimbo tokens on a PS4 game.  Right now all we have is SW:BF2 and Lego Dimensions (more than enough for me for now, but I'm probably going to spring for Rogue Trooper soon).

Preferred elements for the Boy are Stealth, Exploration, RPG, FPS, Conquest; criteria for his censorious parent are Not Too Realistically Gory, No Sexual Violence/Prostitution, No Dodgy Adult Relationship Bollocks, No Modern Warfare/Serious Crime, Decent Amount of Solo Play.

I'm basically Victorian Dad now, how did it come to this.

I had been pondering Assassins Creed Origins, but it looks to be completely out by Criteria Set No. 2, so bah! to that.  No Man's Sky appeals too, as does Horizon: Zero Dawn.

Thoughts?   

[Trout]

Lego Dimensions, Lego Dimensions and Lego Dimensions.

Its scope and longevity have amazed me. We bought a PS4 for this game because my son, who just turned 8, is obsessed with Lego and he still plays Dimensions all the time. It helps that packs to unlock worlds, etc, are pretty cheap here, but still... great game for kids and I love it, too, especially the retro games in the Midway Arcade world. Nine months on and we've bought no new games at all, although he did get some as gifts. (Wrestling thing and Battlefront 2.)

[Smith]

Cant say Im up to date,so Rayman Legends,Knack,Little Big Planet 3,Ratchet and Clank,Crash Bandicoot N Sane...

[JamesC]

Shadow of Mordor was very good and there's a sequel (Shadow of War) which is also supposed to be good.
Gameplay is very Assassin's Creed-esque. There's plenty of stealth and exploration and the games are basically single player campaigns.
I'm surprised that they have 18 certificates. I haven't played the latest one but all I can remember from the first is that it's quite violent but it's basically orc-fighting. if you're happy with that i'm not sure there's much else to be concerned about (but may be worth checking some Youtube vids).

Far Cry Primal is also very good. Basically it's an FPS adventure (it's open world) but without any guns. You're a cave-man so you use clubs, spears and wild animals which you can tame and control a-la 'Beastmaster'.
Again, I think the violence is what gives it a higher certificate but check youtube vids to see if you're happy with it. Cavemen basing each other with clubs is about as extreme as it gets and I don't remember it as being particularly gruesome.

Edit - here are some useful links for you. Far Cry may be a bit more 'adult' than I'd remembered!

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/middle-earth-shadow-of-war#

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/far-cry-primal

[James Stacey]

you can turn off the blood in AC-Origins, and there isn't really any sex, other than one scene that fades up to the sky and doesn't show anything. Oh and a couple of scenes in brothels, which are implied rather than shown (other than dodgy frescos ) Its certainly an educational game, I've learnt loads about ancient Egypt.

[Professor Bear]

Horizon Zero Dawn is a great update on the Zelda game mechanics.  It's an open-world post-apocalyptic game where you play a ginger Native American girl who hunts Zoids.  Has stealth, RPG, and exploration elements at the fore, the lead is pretty much sexless, and there's no real gore to speak of.
Skyrim Special Edition is very basic by today's standards, but is still a reliable first person RPG with plenty to do and lots of different ways to play through and build your characters.
No Man's Sky is not a great example of that free-roaming universe genre of game where you trade, explore and build stuff, but it is easy to play and get into and you can probably find cheap copies knocking about because so many people gave up on it in the first few months when the developers failed to implement all the stuff they said they would (although they've since done that and more).
I know you said no Modern Warfare, but the loophole is Infinite Warfare, widely despised by Call Of Duty addicts because of the dual sins of having capable female characters and sci-fi elements - as a side-note, these guys are vocally outraged that a woman is in combat alongside your marine characters, one of which is a cute talking robot.  It's actually a really fun game that mixes FPS and spaceship dogfights, and did so poorly sales-wise that it shouldn't be expensive to buy - just don't get your hopes up for any more.

[James Stacey]

Horizon Zero Dawn really is a very good game.

[GrudgeJohnDeed]

Destiny 2 ticks all your parental boxes I think, and has the Exploration, RPG, FPS themes. They could also play it together online if they have their own consoles. You didn't say how you feel about online multiplayer though, D2 is an online co-op game with a secondary pvp mode, so the real fun is in matchmaking or teaming up with friends. I think an internet connection is mandatory.

[Professor Bear]

Destiny 2 requires a paid subscription to PS+ to be fully playable.  There's some content that can be played offline, but not enough to justify purchase.

Although a PS+ subscription is actually a good investment, as it comes with an impressive library of free games with more added each month - you may have to implement parental controls on the PS4 as some of the games (especially the refurbished PS2 games) are for over-18s.

[TordelBack]

That's great stuff, thanks a million everyone! Been researching and discussing with the sprog in parallel with the suggestions here, and I think Horizon ZD is the clear winner here.

Lego Dimensions has been a blast so far, but it's appealing for to my youngest (8) and her parents, rather than the jaded sybarite in question (who in former days played Lego Clone Wars until his eyes fell out of his head).

We have a 14 day trial of PS+, and it may be continuing in the future, but I feel the need to supervise online co-op unless it's with friends a la Minecraft Realms, hence the need for a decent solo side to hold the fort.

Personally I'm gagging to try Red Dead Redemotion and Skyrim, but have troubling finding time to sleep these days, so long grind-times may take a backseat to quick blasts of BF2 for now.

[JamesC]

Hope he enjoys Horizon. It's been on my list for a while but I have to get through AC:Origins and Nioh first.

[GrudgeJohnDeed]

Destiny 2 requires a paid subscription to PS+ to be fully playable.  There's some content that can be played offline, but not enough to justify purchase.

Although a PS+ subscription is actually a good investment, as it comes with an impressive library of free games with more added each month - you may have to implement parental controls on the PS4 as some of the games (especially the refurbished PS2 games) are for over-18s.

Good call I should've mentioned that. Yeah with the free stuff PS+ kinda pays for itself, and you get full functionality from all your games so I definitely recommend it too.

[Mister Pops]

Have they played Skyrim? It fits all your criteria, there's a bit of dismemberment, but nothing worse than in yer average Star Wars movie

[lewism109]

Some games I'd suggest are: LA NOIRE, NIER: Automata, and Final Fantasy XV.

Going with 2000AD/Rebellion games, Rogue Trooper Redux and Sniper Elite 4 are great games. I am currently playing both and I think Sniper Elite 4 is better than the previous installment. Plus both games are relatively cheap: Rogue Trooper Redux at £19.99 and Sniper Elite 4 at £24.99. Also Sniper Elite 4's season pass is on sale at the PlayStation Store for £9.99 but might be back up to the original price by now.

[TordelBack]

More goodies there, cheers - as a good squaxx I did consider Sniper Elite 4, but the claim of 'shrapnel view!' on the back put me off a tad.

So the Boy went for Horizon, and holey sheet that is a lovely looking game. I think coming to PS4 straight from the Wii may increase the wow factor a bit, but even on our steam-powered telly the apparently in-engine cinematics make for compelling stuff. Never have I enjoyed watching someone else's cut scenes more, or indeed more fervently wished a game was called Metalzoic.

I know I post a lot of this sort of query, but you peeps never disappoint with your advice and suggestions. Thanks all!