PlayStation vs. Nintendo: the rivalry has been raging since the late 1990s. Before the birth of the PlayStation, Sony was poised to help Nintendo create a disc drive add-on to the Nintendo 64. The deal between the two companies never saw fruition, and it led to a new creation from Sony: the first PlayStation. The rest is history, as both gaming titans have made multiple waves on their respective sides.
But no matter how amazing each company is, it all comes down to the exclusive titles: games that only appear on a certain console that people would buy that console just to play. PlayStation and Nintendo are both heralded for their incredibly iconic and recognizable exclusives, but the question always remains: which has the better exclusives? Looking specifically at the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch, there are so many gems to choose from.
9 PlayStation: God Of War
The iconic Ghost of Sparta has been a PlayStation mainstay since the PS2, and while many thought his story was complete, the PS4 saw his epic return in God Of War. Winner of near countless awards, God of War saw a more understated look at a man who has seen (and killed) it all, and saw a more personal adventure following Kratos and his boy Atreus as they travel to a mountaintop to release Atreus’s mother’s ashes. It’s a very ambitious title with a gripping style and challenging gameplay, which are central mechanics of many PlayStation exclusives.
8 Nintendo: Super Mario Odyssey
The latest in the series featuring arguably the most recognizable video game character and franchise of all time, Super Mario Odyssey brought many players back to the days of their childhood with a purely joyous and inventive 3D platformer that took the mustachioed plumber to many new worlds. Nintendo consistently reinvents and reinvigorates the platforming genre, which means millions of players worldwide are always waiting for the next Mario title.
7 PlayStation: Ghost Of Tsushima
One of the final exclusives on the PlayStation 4, Ghost of Tsushima feels like it was made for its photo mode: the visuals are distinctly gorgeous and the brilliant music and voice-acting only accentuates it.
The story follows a plot straight out of an Akira Kurosawa film (the game includes a dedicated “Kurosawa Mode” that makes the game look as such), with players taking control of Jin Sakai as he wrestles with honor and fear in order to defend his home and kingdom. The combat was thought-provoking and high-octane action, and every PlayStation owner went absolutely head over heels about nearly every aspect of the game.
6 Nintendo: Splatoon 2
Even though it was nearly identical to the first game on the Wii U, Splatoon 2 was one of Nintendo’s newest IPs that certainly doesn’t disappoint when put on a more successful console in front of a wider audience. First and foremost a multiplayer experience, Splatoon 2 involves players having to cover more of the ground with their team’s color of paint than the opposing team, with players being able to move faster in their own paint and being slow in opposing paint. The genius of this game (and the genius of Nintendo in many aspects) is that even if you aren’t an “aim and shoot” kind of gamer, you can still contribute to the team by spraying the ground. There are multiple ways to have fun that not many other multiplayer games take the time to consider.
5 PlayStation: The Last Of Us Part 2
Naughty Dog have infamously partnered with Sony for many years to create classic games for PlayStation, but The Last Of Us series is potentially the most well-known of them all. The long-awaited sequel definitely had a lot to live up to, and while it was certainly controversial for many reasons, the game at its core was some of the most visceral and intense action gameplay one is able to experience.
The story of Ellie on her quest for revenge is immediately investing, and it takes many twists that only a PlayStation game could pull off so well. It’s hard to tell what Naughty Dog will work on next, but it’s bound to be an amazing piece of work.
4 Nintendo: Pokemon Sword & Shield
Beginning on the original Game Boy, there aren’t many people out there who aren’t aware of Pokemon. Being the classic monster collection/battling game that it is, the Nintendo Switch finally hosted the first traditional home console version of Pokemon, in the form of Sword & Shield. While certainly a polarizing entry in the series, Sword & Shield have garnered a great following with its new and fun additions, open-ended areas, and new Pokemon to capture and train. The game(s) only keeps growing with new DLC packs, and it has ultimately become the quintessential version of Pokemon for fans of all ages.
3 PlayStation: Horizon Zero Dawn
A new iconic series that began on the PS4, Horizon Zero Dawn blends an interesting duo of mythical and futuristic to create one of the newest and most beloved worlds on Sony’s console. Horizon Zero Dawn has players take control Aloy, who battles large and threatening machine creatures as she attempts to help the people around her while also trying to discover her past. The upgrade system and the gripping bow and arrow combat feel reminiscent of the Legend of Zelda series in some ways, but it becomes its own experience in so many different ways. With a sequel on the way in 2021, Horizon is poised to be the next legendary franchise in the PlayStation lineup.
2 Nintendo: Fire Emblem: Three Houses
While the Fire Emblem series was popular in Japan for many years, it wasn’t until the inclusion of Marth and Roy in Super Smash Brothers Melee that America was introduced to the iconic strategy RPG series. Fire Emblem Three Houses released on the Nintendo Switch and was the first home console entry in the series in over a decade, and released to critical acclaim. Taking control of the character of Byleth, the player must enroll and teach students and fight alongside them in the power struggle between three major superpowers. Nintendo created an absolutely gripping and infinitely replayable title, and Fire Emblem fans are begging for another home console release.
1 PlayStation Vs. Nintendo: Who Wins?
The comparison between PlayStation and Nintendo exclusives is like comparing apples and oranges. PlayStation exclusives like Marvel’s Spider-Man, Bloodborne, Days Gone, and Uncharted aim to boast cutting-edge graphics and in-depth gameplay with a cinematic edge. Nintendo exclusives like Mario Kart, The Legend Of Zelda, Arms, and Donkey Kong aim to create a very joyous and inviting experience, often focusing on multiplayer to bring people together, and innovating in gameplay over visuals.
Both PlayStation and Nintendo are home to many incredible exclusives, but looking specifically at the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch, the edge would have to go to the PlayStation 4. While offering many more cinematic experiences, the PlayStation exclusives of this past generation greatly innovated in both visuals and intuitive gameplay, and found mind-blowing ways to blend cinematic scenarios with functioning gameplay. At the end of the day, both PlayStation and Nintendo have done pretty incredibly things in their multi-decade careers, and have changed the way that the world looks at video games, and made people aware that games are a valid expression of art, interactivity, and togetherness. Both PlayStation and Nintendo have continued to provide quality titles, and there’s no sign of either stopping any time soon.
