PlayStation Store is marking 20 years with developers reflecting on games that exceeded their expectations, rather than ranking their all-time favorites. The PlayStation Blog anniversary feature spans card games, story-driven adventures, and quieter experiences. A 20th-anniversary PlayStation Store Showcase will go live November 2 at 11:00 a.m. local time with deals and a curated selection of games.
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy VII Remake series at Square Enix, chose Balatro. Its poker rules were familiar, but the rising scores created by progression and card combinations made the game far more absorbing than he expected. Naughty Dog’s head of culture and communications, Arne Meyer, pointed to a different kind of depth in Inscryption, where card interactions meet a story that lets players piece together its mysteries.
Story also changed Ramone Russell’s expectations for God of War (2018). The San Diego Studio director of product development communications and brand strategy highlighted its themes of fatherhood, self-control, grief, and identity, which gave Kratos more emotional depth than Russell associated with the earlier games.
Insomniac Games creative director Marcus Smith selected Inside for its wordless, interface-free approach, which guides players through its world without explicit instructions. Santa Monica Studio game director Bruno Velazquez picked Sayonara Wild Hearts despite not usually seeking out rhythm games. Its story and soundtrack drew him into a style of play he might otherwise have passed over.
Which of these games would have caught you off guard most? The anniversary Showcase pairs its curated selection with deals, so stay connected through X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
