Gaming’s Greatest Love Letters to PlayStation

Sony's greatest achievements can often be found on any virtual mural in the world, a fact that we're inclined to believe given the PlayStation 5's long arm of love letters to the media giant. And what's more, the PS5 alone has managed to rustle up more of said letters to celebrate its heritage than any other platform in the world. The fact here is, well, PlayStation clearly take pride in what they've not only accomplished, but are perfectly capable of showing off in its treasure trove of IPs.

Anyway, not to feed the ego train or anything, but there are definitely a number of games out there that depict PlayStation's greatest moments, clear as day. But if we had to weave together a tapestry with only the five finest materials, then we'd have to gravitate towards these.

5. Astro's Playroom

Astro's Playroom hasn't exactly flown beneath the radar these past two years, given the fact that it comes pre-installed as an introductory platformer on PlayStation 5 consoles. And it's a real treat, too, as it not only showcases all the core features of the sleekly designed DualSense controller, but also serves as the greatest love letter to the PlayStation brand and all thirty years of heritage. The fact that this all comes enveloped in a cutesy puzzle-platforming game with the cape-sporting bot as its hero truly is the cherry on the cake, and it is perhaps the most scrumptious serving ever baked in the history of gaming.

If you look past the DualSense features which, granted, are enough to keep you entertained regardless of your preference in genre, Astro's Playroom is also bursting with PlayStation-themed Easter eggs, including mock-up scenarios of some of the studio's most beloved IPs, memorabilia, collectibles, and even a mural of Playstation's thirty-year legacy. All of this sewn together creates one of the most thought-out tapestries in gaming, and it serves its purpose of being Sony's poster child, tenfold.

4. Sackboy: A Big Adventure

In a bid to shovel thirty long and fruitful year's worth of PlayStation down consumers' throats, the PS5 also launched with another platformer—Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Much like its original series—LittleBigPlanet—the loyal burlap sack rekindled a wick that bled mostly of platforming, customization, and Easter eggs galore. All of this came bundled in a painted jacket that drizzled droplets of red, yellow, blue, and green.

As far as sandbox-focused platformers go, Sackboy: A Big Adventure pretty much writes the book, and it does it so well that, no matter the material it's given, it always finds a way to translate it into well-orchestrated and family-friendly experiences. But what makes this title, in particular, truly pop, is its countless love letters to PlayStation; outfits that range from Jin Sakai to Aloy, Sam “Porter” Bridges to Ratchet. It's a hearty little gem, clean and simple, and it's definitely something Sony will continue to hoist with pride for the foreseeable future.

3. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

It makes sense that Insomniac Games, a subsidiary of PlayStation Studios, would want to any opportunity it was given to wheedle its other IPs into a platformer that bases its entire premise around alternate realities and portals. As a way to capitalize on this in the most tongue-in-cheek way imagineable, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart made it so players could spawn in characters from other franchises to help assist in battles.

Granted, the Easter eggs in Rift Apart were brief in comparison to other love letters to PlayStation, but they were nevertheless equally as memorable. From Jak & Daxter to Sly Cooper, Horizon Zero Dawn to Uncharted 4, Rift Apart made its contribution to the media giant's legacy in one of the best ways imaginable, and all the while it managed to develop one of the most entertaining action-adventure games on the PS5. Kudos.

2. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Naughty Dog has never been one to blow its own trumpet, though the countless Easter eggs in Uncharted 4: A Thief's End clearly suggest otherwise. It makes sense, though, given the fact that the PlayStation subsidiary boasts some of the most important and nostalgic IPs in video game history. And this doesn't just include The Last of Us and Uncharted, but genre-defining classics such as Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter, too.

Anyway, the fact that one of your very first objectives in A Thief's End is to power through Crash Bandicoot on a PlayStation One sort of says it all about Naughty Dog's love and appreciation for the all-father. On top of this, the lengthy adventure also comes clean with countless Easter eggs, many of which depict some of the brand's most iconic scenarios and characters. So, a love letter by Naughty Dog, for Naughty Dog. Well played.

1. PlayStation's All-Stars Battle Royale

What better way to celebrate the diversity of PlayStation's ever-expanding roster of heroes and villains than to formulate a battle royale game? It seems, at least in Sony's eyes, that this was the best way to scribble a self-prescribed love letter for its own amusement. Touche, to be fair, as it was actually a barrel of a fun for not only the countless subsidiaries that helped bring its characters to life, but fans of the genre, too.

Gameplay-wise, PlayStation's All-Stars Battle Royale isn't any different from the likes of Super Smash Bros.. And yet, in spite of its similarities, its huge roster of playable fighters is still considered to be one of the best ever conceived. From God of War to Infamous, Uncharted to Jak & Daxter, and all the IPs wedged between the crevices — the Vita favorite owned the right to be branded as a real powerhouse of a battle royale game—made twice as sturdy by its association with the poster children of PlayStation, no doubt.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.