PS Store’s “Essential Picks” Sale Finally Discounts Some Of My Favorite AAAs

The PlayStation Store has been fairly generous lately, slapping on one discounted promotion after the other in an attempt to let players enjoy some good ‘ol savings. Last weekend, the official storefront put on some wild discounts on titles like both A Plague Tale games, Dying Light 2, and others. Now, however, it appears that the industry giant has returned for more AAA titles, including some recently released ones. 

Officially coined as the “Essential Picks” promo, this particular event puts games like Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Returnal in the spotlight, so best believe it that the time is nigh to stretch your wallet loose. I’ll be walking you through some personal recommendations of titles that you should be checking out right now. Make sure to sift through each listing diligently for the best results.  

Great Games, Even Better Discounts 

The following entries are all subjective to my own opinion, though you’re free to add to the listicle by posting a comment down below. 

1. Dragon’s Dogma 2

Kicking the write-up is the genre-defining JRPG Dragon’s Dogma 2 by Capcom, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Dragon’s Dogma from 2012. The game’s currently 20% off its MSRP, making the price come down to $55.99 instead of the full $69.99. Any discounted price on this 2024 release is good, and a 20% cut makes the deal even better.  

So, what can you expect from a title of this stature? Let’s see. Terrific visuals? Check. Top-notch gameplay with admirable build variety? Check. An unpredictable world where your actions shape how the consequences play out? Absolutely. Dragon’s Dogma 2 has sold more than 3 million units in 2 months, and that’s certainly not without good reason.

It certainly got off to a bad start, but recent updates, changes, and improvements have made the title astronomically better, though even at launch, it was nothing short of a diamond in the rough. 

Oh, and eXputer rated the RPG 4.5/5.0 in its review, with author Huzaifah Durrani remarking,

Its performance may be disappointing, but don’t let that detract from the fact that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is still one of the best RPGs ever made.” 

• Buy from the PlayStation Store.

2. Returnal 

There’s quite like no other PlayStation 5 exclusive like Returnal … well, except for Astro’s Bot, perhaps. Anyhow, the third-person shooter is a solid proponent of the bullet-hell genre, coming across as a fast-paced game with a ton of impressive mechanics that make it super addictive. The game’s price is enjoying a whopping 58% off on the PlayStation Store at the moment, which I’d say is one heck of a price to own Returnal.

eXputer reviewer Usama Mehmood reviewed the PC port of the game, holding it in high regard with the following words: 

Now that Returnal is out in all its glory for the PC, a plethora of new players can experience this masterpiece, albeit with some minor hiccups along the way.”

• Buy from the PlayStation Store. 

3. Lords Of The Fallen

Hexworks’ debut project, Lords of the Fallen, is one of the better Soulslikes we’ve seen in a while. The game, outside of its other positives, boasts a highly distinct dual-realm mechanic, where dying once is not the end for our Crusader. Upon death, the protagonist is instead teleported to another dimension, where he has to fend for his life to come back to the land of the living. It’s pretty mental. 

eXputer wrote a review on Lords of the Fallen, rating it 3.5/5.0, and praising its weapon variety, intricate levels, unique enemy designs, and fantastic art direction.

• Buy from the PlayStation Store.  

4. System Shock 

A remake of the popular release from 1994, System Shock is a survival horror first-person shooter with a lot of mystery surrounding its plotline. The game’s hard to describe, but I like to call it an immersive sim. I’m glad that despite troubled development, the title turned out well. Many call it a spiritual successor to the epic BioShock series, but the former goes way deeper and has an intricate design whereas BioShock is much more accessible. 

Anyhow, it’s certainly worth dropping $28 on this one, especially if you’re a fan of the genre.

• Buy from the PlayStation Store.

5. Batman: Arkham Collection

Now, here’s one video game franchise — the best superhero video game franchise, mind you — that I’ll never get tired of recommending ever. Batman: Arkham Collection comprises Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, “with fully remastered and updated visuals,” with Batman: Arkham Knight serving as the cherry on top. 

This is when Rocksteady was at the peak of its career, making the best Batman games on the planet without breaking a sweat. It’s a shame that this series has turned in the way of a live service shooter in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, with WB backing that up and stating that it wants to turn its biggest franchises into games of that saturated genre. A huge tragedy bar none.  

• Buy from the PlayStation Store.