The new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles recently hit the market, bringing with them a slew of new games for early adopters to enjoy. Fortunately, those late to the next-gen party are not being left in the dust, thanks to a large handful of cross-generation games letting PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners still enjoy new games for the time being.
However, one should be aware of which games run fine on the older hardware and which ones gamers should stay away from until they nab a next-generation console. A couple of these are older games receiving beefy next-generation upgrades.
10 Runs Fine: Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
This year's entry in the storied Call of Duty franchise not only came out on both generations, but players on all consoles can jump into the multiplayer mayhem together. Some of the next-gen upgrades include 120 frames per second gameplay, but few can even enjoy this upgrade without first having the proper television. Save for the DualSense controller's features, both editions of the game are nearly identical.
9 Runs Poorly: Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
The newest entry in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series takes the action to the Viking homeland, presenting one of the most expansive open-world action games ever. On new consoles the game runs at a nearly rock-solid 60 frames per second. Older consoles only hit thirty. While many gamers may not know the difference, looking at the two versions side by side reveals the advantages of a smoother frame rate.
8 Runs Fine: Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Like several other games on this list, Yakuza: Like a Dragon runs at 30 frames per second on the older hardware compared to the 60 on new consoles. Load times are also significantly improved on the Xbox Series X. However, Sony fans who are wondering whether or not to wait until the game's March PS5 release should know nothing broken or jarring exists on the PS4 version. Lightning fast load times are nice, but the PS4 version is perfectly acceptable.
7 Runs Poorly: Bugsnax
Up until release, people did not know what to make of Young Horses' Bugsnax. Was it a Pokemon clone, or something else entirely? The truth was more of a puzzle-adventure game. Despite not looking like a technical powerhouse, the game has some significantly increased loading times and technical issues on the PS4. The game is free for PS5 owners as long as they buy the console this month, so try and get Sony's new system soon.
6 Runs Fine: Dirt 5
Dirt 5 runs on almost more consoles than any other game in recent memory. Surprisingly, it manages to be a solid experience on all fronts.
The optimal way to play is on new consoles with 120 frames per second, but even older consoles have several graphics options where one can favor performance over graphics. Arcade racing fans will have a good time regardless of the platform.
5 Runs Poorly: Days Gone
Released in 2019, the PlayStation 4 exclusive Days Gone received flak for poor performance on the PlayStation 4. It is visually stunning, so it is unfortunate to see it bogged down by such issues. Fortunately, the developer unleashed a big patch for the PS5 which makes the game run at a smooth 60 frames per second. Not only does it improve the visuals, but it has a notable impact on gameplay, proving a smoother experience all around.
4 Runs Fine: Spider-Man: Miles Morales
After the massively successful Marvel's Spider-Man from 2018, it only made sense for Insomniac games to create a follow-up. Miles Morales is a shorter experience, but equally as enjoyable. PS4 players will find a visual presentation on par with the debut Spider-Man game, which was perfectly acceptable. It is nice to play at 60 frames per second or with ray tracing, but missing out on these features is not the end of the world.
3 Runs Poorly: Watch Dogs: Legion
The Watch Dogs series ushered in the last generation with a cross-generation debut entry. Fortunately, Watch Dogs: Legion does not run as poorly on PS4 as the first game did on PS3, but it still has some notable downgrades when compared to the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
All versions run at 30 frames per second, but on the updated hardware the game simply looks better and more lifelike thanks to better lighting. Considering the time one will spend in this world, it is best to go for the higher fidelity.
2 Runs Fine: Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Media Molecule has since moved on from Little Big Planet, but Sumo Digital is continuing the franchise's life with Sackboy: A Big Adventure, a 3D platformer eschewing the creation aspect signature to the prior games. The art style has looked gorgeous since the first Little Big Planet, and this does not change even if someone plays the new game on the PS4. One hopes PS4 and PS5 players will be able to play online together once it is added.
1 Runs Poorly: Avengers
Those who have played the recently released Avengers game note how it feels like it is destroying their consoles from within based on how poorly it runs and how loud the PS4 roars in the living room. While delayed until next year, the developer has already promised a next-gen upgrade which should make the game look better than ever. For those who have yet to dive into this adventure, it is best to wait until the update comes out.