It’s hard to realize that the Sony PlayStation 4 is turning ten years old. Time is a nasty mistress, truly cruel. Since its release in 2013, it has climbed to the top of the console hill during the eighth console generation, in large part due to its extensive selection of out-of-the-box exclusives.
The PS4 received a boost in life from the mid-generation update, which also brought lots of player choice with the PS4 Pro and Slim. The former offered extra fidelity and performance while the latter was, well, thinner. The Pro has made some of the greatest PS4 titles even more noticeable, and 4K gaming is becoming more and more popular.
Furthermore, 2018 was a fantastic year for the system, with games like God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man being exceptionally good. The system concluded its life in grand fashion with games like Ghost of Tsushima and The Last Of Us Part II in the years that followed.
Even though the PlayStation 5 is currently available in the wild, the elderly woman still has a lot of life left in her. Not to mention how long it took for the PS4 to become the preferred console for all PlayStation gamers over the PS3—the PS4 will undoubtedly continue to receive support for a few years yet.
However, what if all you desire is to amass an enormous collection of fantastic games, regardless of their rarity? Because it makes financial sense, an increasing number of games are becoming available on several platforms. As a result, if your goal is to fill your PS4 with as many options as possible, you’ll have no trouble finding a great selection.
We promise that as you work through this book, you’ll want to pour yourself a large cup of tea. We’re attempting to be as broad as we can with our selections, but we have more than seven years’ worth of PS4 games to go through. Remember that these aren’t just PlayStation 4 exclusives as we get ready to suggest some of the top titles to you. For the purpose of diversity, we’re also leaving out ports and remasters from previous generations, so don’t be upset if The Last of Us Remastered and Grand Theft Auto V aren’t there. Otherwise, they would qualify. But remakes are acceptable. Remember that the PS5 is compatible with all of the titles listed here, too, because of backwards compatibility.
The Best PS4 Games You Should Own
In this article you can find out the best PS4 Games.
20. Hollow Knight
Developer: Team Cherry
Publisher: Team Cherry
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: Locked 60fps
Metacritic Rating: 85
Release Date: September 25th, 2018
For players accustomed to the high fidelity dramatics found in the majority of contemporary AAA games, Hollow Knight may be a bit of a sell. Without a doubt, if you persevere and give Hallownest a serious go, Team Cherry’s independent darling may end up becoming your next great obsession.
Hollow Knight is a difficult Metroidvania that packs an incredible lot of lore and material. It places you in the shoes of a modest, unassuming individual who has murky origins and intentions but eventually becomes extremely important to the crumbling world around him.
Although Hollow Knight has straightforward gameplay at first, its tight platforming, challenging monsters, and steadily growing powers make it a game full of surprises. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Souls-like. We will no longer pester you to play this game.
19. Dark Souls 3
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Both
PS4 Pro Enhanced: FPS boost
Metacritic Rating: 89
Release Date: April 12th, 2016
Even while Dark Souls 3 may have lost out to other FromSoft titles during the course of the generation, it nonetheless serves as a fantastic conclusion to the unique misanthropy that had captivated players.
Dark Souls 3 was the smoothest combat and overall gameplay of any of these games until more recent releases. It was also packed with the kind of detail that only FromSoftware games can deliver, mythology that is worth delving into, and sights that will make you shudder. Not many people can also forget the excruciating experience of facing the Nameless King, who is widely regarded as one of the most terrifying bosses in video games.
Few Souls fans can agree on whether or not the second game is better than the first, despite the fact that the majority of them think it is. Fortunately for you, Dark Souls Remastered is also available on PS4, and despite its many peculiarities, the second game stands alone as a worthwhile experience.
Play some amazing games before you buy.
18. Resident Evil 2
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 2880×1620, 60fps
Metacritic Rating: 91
Release Date: January 25th, 2019
Remakes are challenging to do well, particularly when they involve properties that are virtually impenetrable. Fortunately for us, Capcom maintained the qualities that made the original Resident Evil 2 game so unquestionably beloved while also treating the remake with the same care and attention as a brand-new title.
Resident Evil 2 has had a significant makeover, making it appear and feel like one of the most horrific games of its generation while also being much less vulnerable than its predecessor. In one of the scariest horror games you can afford, you have to make the most of your remaining time before Mr. X hoists up the helicopter and stomps his way toward you.
Purchase if: you’re looking for an accurate reimagining of an aging classic Resident Evil franchise.
Avoid if: Your affection for Resi depends on tank controls.
17. Marvel’s Spider-Man
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: SIE
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: upscaled 4K
Metacritic Rating: 87
Release Date: September 7th, 2018
Fans of Spider-Man have been waiting a long time for a game that comes close to replicating the sensation of web-swinging that they experienced in Spider-Man on the PS2‘s. That’s exactly what Marvel’s Spider-Man delivers, along with an abundance of web-based content to keep you occupied for many more hours after its fantastic tale ends.
The game quickly immerses you in the action as you take on the role of an experienced Spider-Man. Action that has the vibe of Arkham series cranked higher. Whether or not you own a PS4 Pro, Marvel’s Spider-Man is undoubtedly one of the greatest superhero games ever made, with several cameos from legendary Marvel characters and some of the most stunning graphics you’ll see this generation.
There’s a reason why it’s the best-selling PS4 exclusive.
16. The Last of Us Part II
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: SIE
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 1440p, HDR
Metacritic Rating: 93
Release Date: June 19th, 2020
To suggest that The Last of Us Part II was possibly the most contentious first-party game of the age would be an understatement. A portion of the game’s tempo and the lack of control over crucial moments didn’t help, nor were monumental leaks that were preceded by a lack of context.
But there’s no denying that The Last of Us Part II may have the most ambitious and difficult plot ever included in a video game while still staying grounded (pardon the pun). The Last of Us Part II is a much lengthier game than its predecessor, full of memorable surprises and some really bold decisions made about halfway through. It’s not a game that should be taken lightly.
It may not have been the greatest PS4 game ever made, but it is undoubtedly a worthwhile experience thanks to its amazing attention to detail and some of the most powerful acting performances in the business.
Purchase if: you’re feeling a sense. Bad things.
Stay away if: you require nice little bows and pleasant endings.
15. NieR: Automata
Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: Square Enix
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 60fps, HDR
Metacritic Rating: 88
Release Date: March 7th, 2017
NieR: Automata is a delightfully complex game with more layers than a winter-wrapped onion. It always seems to alter just when you think you have everything figured out, so you’re certain to encounter something unexpected. It’s essentially a video game chameleon.
Even if you haven’t played its beloved predecessor, Automata is a great suggestion because it combines a variety of genres and styles into one crazy experience. Even better, it keeps giving, so get ready for more after the closing credits have rolled. Next one, and yet another. And still another. Next, some DLC.
Automata is essentially the present that keeps on giving in all its strange and amazing forms.
Buy if: traditional AAA games bore you.
Avoid if: you aren’t capable of getting weird.
14. Persona 5
Developer: P-Studio
Publisher: Atlus
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: No
Metacritic Rating: 93
Release Date: April 4th, 2017
The anticipation paid off as Persona 5 was released early in 2017 to the sound of tearful celebration. Atlus’ enormously popular role-playing game strikes a mix of sheer oddity, an engrossing narrative, and extremely harsh gameplay, making it one of the most addictive titles available.
In Persona 5, which finally catapults the genre from its cult status and puts it as close to the mainstream as a barmy title can go, you take on the role of Joker, who awakens to find that he has extraordinary abilities supported by the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.
After spending more than 100 hours in his virtual second life, our reviewer Leon vanished and awarded it a 10/10. We’re concerned for him.
“Persona 5 will captivate you for its more than 100 hours of gameplay and leave you wishing you didn’t need to take a break with its captivating story, quirky characters, clever writing, and everything that makes a good game.”
Buy if: you want to get utterly lost in a game.
Avoid if: you have children to feed.
13. Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar Games
Publisher: Take-Two Interactive
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Both
PS4 Pro Enhanced: Enhanced graphics, HDR
Metacritic Rating: 97
Release Date: October 26th, 2018
Date of Release: October 26, 2018
Was Red Dead Redemption 2 able to live up to Rockstar’s vow that they weren’t going to rest on their success with Grand Theft Auto Online? Red Dead Redemption 2 might have the greatest open world to explore in all of gaming, save from a few controls that take some getting accustomed to and a few downright strange concepts.
Red Dead Redemption 2’s narrative is something you won’t want to miss once you’ve finished side missions and skinning everything. Arthur Morgan leads a haunting and shockingly poignant narrative of the end of outlaws. He is an amazing protagonist, and he is every inch the ideal replacement for John Marston.
Basically everything will end when you’re in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Buy if: you loved the original game and just want the next evolutionary step.
Avoid if: Rockstar controls deeply upset you.
12. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: SIE
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Both
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 2560×1440, HDR
Metacritic Rating: 93
Release Date: May 10th, 2016
Uncharted 4 is unquestionably a fantastic spectacle, even though it might rely too much on its cinematics rather than gameplay and may not provide anything new to advance the series’ gameplay.
Naughty Dog appears to take great pleasure in surprising players with breathtaking landscapes and grandiose set pieces every few minutes, which makes Uncharted 4 one of the best PS4 games in terms of showcasing the capabilities of the system.
It’s simple to become engrossed in the family drama of Uncharted 4, which has what may be the best story in the series to yet. In addition, there are the customary number of daring jumps and stunts to complete, but what makes this game stand out? Playing Crash Bandicoot is a must.
Here’s Kieran with the unusual 10/10 score:
“Uncharted 4 is a technical marvel, the culmination of the series, and one of the best games I’ve ever played—in every way.”
Buy if: you want a satisfying conclusion to Nathan Drake’s arc.
Avoid if: lengthy cutscenes aren’t your thing.
11. Dead Cells
Developer: Motion Twin
Publisher: Motion Twin
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: No
Metacritic Rating: 87
Release Date: August 7th, 2018
With a lovely design and appropriately ridiculous difficulty, Dead Cells is a love letter to games like Castlevania, combining old and new concepts in an uncompromising way. Those who have played Metroidvania games before will likely find it easy to adapt, but for others, it may be a steep learning curve.
But once you start to feel “good,” Dead Cells is hard to resist. Every inch of progress seems like it should be commemorated, like the moment you finally defeat a boss who will only seem like a beefier grunt in the future. Dead Cells is a PS4 single-player game that you will lose thousands of hours playing without ever realizing it, so there’s a tremendous sense of progress.
10. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Activision
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: unlocked frames
Metacritic Rating: 90
Release Date: March 22nd, 2019
Is this yet another game from FromSoftware? It would almost seem as though we were masochists. Without the blatant Soulsborne parallels, Sekiro is a very difficult stealth action hybrid game where quick reactions are essential.
In a retelling of the Sengoku era of ancient Japan, you assume the role of the meek protector of the Divine Heir. Equipped with the unique Shinobi Prosthetic to give you the upper hand (sorry) over adversaries, you can even raise the dead. However, you can bet your bottom dollar that it doesn’t make the game easy.
This is one PS4 game you shouldn’t let slip into the shadows, with a challenging learning curve due to the game’s delicate rhythms of battle and that classic From backstory that you can really dig into.
Buy if: you loved Tenchu.
Avoid if: multi-stage boss fights make you shriek. There’s a lot of them here.
9. Hades
Developer: Supermassive Games
Publisher: Supermassive Games
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: No
Metacritic Rating: 93 (for PS5 version)
Release Date: August 13th, 2021
It should come as no surprise that Hades and Dead Cells, two of the biggest independent games of the age, rank highly on our list because they were both made with pure love. Hades has been meticulously crafted, giving the impression that a team of one hundred individuals worked on it.
As Zagreus, you take on the role of Hades’ son, who is trying to get out of the Underworld. You’ll battle your way through difficult, shifting areas, improving as you go, and continuously chasing that high of surpassing your previous runs whether you’re using a traditional sword or an, hmm, archaic rifle.
But dying in Hades has its benefits as well; it allows you to delve into the rich, enticing backstory of the game and converse with some of the friendliest characters in all of gaming. Who would have thought that the embodiment of death could be such a charmer?
8. DOOM Eternal
Developer: id Software
Publisher: Bethesda
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Both
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 2160p, HDR
Metacritic Rating: 87
Release Date: March 20th, 2020
For the sole reason that DOOM Eternal makes DOOM 2016 so much harder to return to, we’ve replaced it on this list. While 2016 is still an amazing game, Eternal is just better in practically every way.
You even get to shoot a hole into the surface of Mars, and the action is faster and more experimental. The size is also somehow larger. Even better, the background of DOOM Slayer is developed without ever becoming a point of distraction—rather, it exists just to heighten your sense of metal.
Easily among the greatest first-person shooters ever created, this game demonstrates the enduring popularity of DOOM.
Buy if: you like stomping heads in while listening to a metal as hecking heck soundtrack.
Avoid if: you’re too used to modern FPS games to consider an alternative.
7. Titanfall 2
Developer: Respawn
Publisher: EA
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Both
PS4 Pro Enhanced: No
Metacritic Rating: 89
Release Date: October 28th, 2016
It’s difficult to view Titanfall 2 as anything other than a triumph, even though sales may not have met projections. With the aid of one of the best first-person shooter single-player campaigns in recent memory, Respawn’s sequel was able to regain much of the goodwill that its predecessor had lost, and as a result, it became one of the best PS4 First Person Shooting games
And it didn’t stop giving when the story’s credits rolled. Some of the cleanest, most addictive shooting we’ve ever had the pleasure of yelling with delight is available in its multiplayer mode. Flying through the skies and inflicting havoc inside a Titan always feels new and thrilling, and it does a fantastic job of making you feel like an absolute badass.
Buy if: you want to tuck into some supremely smooth shooting, inside a giant robot or out.
Avoid if: We genuinely can’t think of any reason why you would swerve this. Not an FPS fan, we guess?
6. Ghost of Tsushima
Developer: Sucker Punch
Publisher: SIE
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Both
PS4 Pro Enhanced: Dynamic 4K, HDR
Metacritic Rating: 83
Release Date: July 17th, 2020
Ghost of Tsushima is an oddly amazing game in that, despite selling millions and millions of copies, it doesn’t seem that enough people recognize its true brilliance. Although it shares many characteristics with previous open-world games, Sucker Punch’s clever combination of well-known components and innovative ideas makes this game stand out.
Ghost of Tsushima is very unique, whether it is because of the wind serving as a guide for where you are going, the satisfying showdowns that never get old, or the opportunity to befriend foxes. Chuck delivers much more content in a post-launch PVE multiplayer mode, making the game truly a deep cut.
You’ll see why Ghost of Tsushima is so deserving of affection once you’ve navigated through the trees and into the glade for one of the most amazing title cards in gaming history.
5. What Remains of Edith Finch
Developer: Giant Sparrow
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Multiplayer/Single-Player: SP
PS4 Pro Enhanced: Framerate
Metacritic Rating: 88
Release Date: April 25th, 2017
There will be readers who will not enjoy What Remains of Edith Finch. The game is brief and has very simple gameplay, but if you can get past that, it will have a profound effect on you. Even though we haven’t played it in a while,its still never far from our minds.. A narrative of family and sorrow, bittersweet in nature, Edith Finch is a modern fairytale.
Even while it’s simple to classify it as a “Walking Simulator,” it doesn’t really do it justice. It’s a poignant, very touching couple of hours filled with a ton of exquisitely narrated stories that feel as though they were written by the creators themselves.
Buy if: you want to lie down, try not to cry, cry a lot.
Avoid if: walking simulators just aren’t your thing.
4. Elden Ring
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Both
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 1800p
Metacritic Rating: 96 (for PS5 version)
Release Date: February 25th, 2022
Elden Ring, which may be best played on the PS5, nevertheless demonstrated that the PS4 has many amazing experiences to offer for those willing to put in the time (and unavoidably lose a billion runes). Few games dominated the gaming conversation quite like Elden Ring did in 2022.
Elden Ring, while not a big reimagining of the Soulsborne model, is an example of FromSoftware applying all they’ve learned and perfected to all their prior projects, while also modernizing and simplifying many of its more severe edges. It’s still clearly obscure, so you’ll need to work things out on your own, but this is their most approachable project—yet it’s also, in a strange way, their most complex.
The fighting in The Lands Between is the smoothest, most sophisticated we’ve seen yet from any game in this great tradition, and the open world is among the most captivating we’ve seen in a long time. Playing Elden Ring is a must.
3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Publisher: CD Projekt
Multiplayer/Single-Player: SP
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 4k
Metacritic Rating: 92
Release Date: May 19th, 2015
The Witcher 3 is an RPG that will keep you occupied for a very long time since it is so jam-packed with content (and sex).
We don’t have to say goodbye to Geralt anytime soon because we’ve already invested 100 hours into the original game and have yet to play Blood & Wine, its second expansion. Which is fortunate since we were able to achieve the most unfortunate conclusion. We’re still not over it, and we never will be, even after almost four years.
Take a look at CD Projekt Red’s fantasy epic and get ready to go goodbye to your family for a few months if you enjoy anything Bethesda has ever done but want it could be greater. The Family Matters sidequest is a gem, so make sure to check it out as soon as you can.
Not only is The Witcher 3 among the greatest PS4 games ever made, but it’s one of the best single-player games
Buy if: you just want to get lost in a fantasy world.
Avoid if: you have any kind of social obligations.
2. Bloodborne
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: SIE
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Both
PS4 Pro Enhanced: No
Metacritic Rating: 92
Release Date: March 24th, 2015
Bloodborne by FromSoftware was and continues to be one of the most important PS4 games; in fact, there are surprisingly high hopes for a rumored sequel. When you can punish people so severely in your game that they want to return for more, you know it’s good.
Bloodborne took the best aspects of the Dark Souls series and added a faster, more brutal edge, creating something that felt distinct but was still very much a part of the FromSoftware school of agony, even though it wasn’t too far from the experience we all know and love/hate. Get the Game of the Year edition if you haven’t already, as it includes DLC to make your agony even worse.
Keep an eye out for rumors that suggest a Bloodborne sequel—or perhaps just a remaster—for the PlayStation 5.
Buy if: you like Dark Souls.
Avoid if: you don’t like Dark Souls.
1. God of War
Developer: SIE Santa Monica
Publisher: SIE
Multiplayer/Single-Player: SP
PS4 Pro Enhanced: Dynamic 4K, HDR
Metacritic Rating: 94
Release Date: April 20th, 2018
With its battle system and so much more, the previous generation of games was all about bringing back beloved franchises, twisting well-worn tropes, and offering something wholly original. Perhaps the biggest and most accomplished example of it is God of War, a game that lives up to its name and surpasses all previous entries in the series.
God of War for the PS4 ought to be your first purchase as a new console owner because it has a compelling father/son interaction at its core, a storyline worth devoting time and energy to, and a vastly improved fighting system.
Without a doubt, one of the greatest titles on the system is God of War. God of War might end up being the greatest game of its generation, but that may be a bold statement to make. For the series, the following generation also got off to a great start.