At the time of writing, the PlayStation 4 is the fifth best-selling console of all time, managing to shift an astonishing 117.2 million units across its lifetime.
Technically, of course, the PS4 is still going strong; many games are still being produced for the console, and while support is arguably winding down now, the PS5 hasn’t quite supplanted the PS4 just yet.
Still, since Sony appears to be getting ready to sunset the little black monolith, we thought now would be a good time to look at the best the PS4 library has to offer.
Without further ado, here are the 30 best PS4 games of all time!
1. Bloodborne
- Release date: March 24, 2015
- Genre: Action RPG
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4
It really doesn’t get much better than From Software’s horror masterpiece.
If you’ve played Dark Souls or Elden Ring, you’ll know what to expect from Bloodborne; a high difficulty level, a focus on exploration, and tense third-person hack-and-slash combat against a range of enemies.
We don’t want to spoil Bloodborne’s surprises, but things very much don’t end up where they start out, and what begins as a straightforward descent into the city of Yharnam to slay beasts takes some strange and unsettling turns.
2. The Last of Us Part II
- Release date: June 19, 2020
- Genre: Action-adventure, survival horror
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (Remastered version)?
Like Bloodborne, The Last of Us Part II isn’t for everyone. Also like Bloodborne, it’s a horror game, although the horror here is very different.
Picking up where the last game left off, The Last of Us Part II offers more semi-linear explorations through post-apocalyptic America, complete with brutal, bone-crunching and highly unpleasant combat.
The story has proven divisive, but The Last of Us Part II is undeniably a milestone in gaming, and it deserves to be experienced and talked about, whether that’s in defence of its many plot twists or in criticism.
3. God of War Ragnarok
- Release date: November 9, 2022
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
It’s almost a miracle that Sony’s followup to the very well-received 2018 God of War (which may well appear on this list) was released for PS4, but thankfully, those of us without a PS5 still got to experience it.
Kratos’ journey through the Nine Realms in an attempt to prevent the titular Ragnarok is hugely compelling from a narrative perspective, and its combat is just as satisfying as ever.
The exploration and puzzle side of things might leave a little to be desired, but this is a mighty, monumental adventure full of wonderful things to see.
4. Persona 5 Royal
- Release date: October 31, 2019 (Japan), March 31, 2020 (Western release), October 21, 2022 (Expanded platforms release)
- Genre: JRPG
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S
It’s hard to make an argument that Persona 5 Royal isn’t the best JRPG the PS4 has to offer.
Across over a hundred hours of content, Persona 5 Royal tells the story of the Phantom Thieves, a group of youngsters who delve into a shadow realm in order to change the hearts of twisted adults around them.
It’s all told through an impossibly stylish visual aesthetic that pops and crackles with each battle, but the real heart is the characters themselves, who are endlessly endearing and likeable.
5. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Release date: May 19, 2015
- Genre: Action role-playing
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC?
There really is no substitute for excellent storytelling when it comes to crafting a satisfying open-world action-RPG experience, as CD Projekt Red can attest.
The Witcher 3 is the first of the series that feels truly essential. It follows Geralt of Rivia on his journey to find his adoptive daughter Ciri, who’s being tracked by a fae force known as the Wild Hunt.
The main story is pretty compelling, but it’s the side content where The Witcher 3 truly shines. You’ll get lost for hours upon hours just helping people with their problems.
6. Gran Turismo 7
- Release date: March 4, 2022
- Genre: Racing simulation
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5?
Just like God of War Ragnarok, it feels strange that Gran Turismo 7 graced the PS4 as well as the PS5, but we’re glad it did, because it means more people get to experience Polyphony’s excellent racer.
The emphasis here is very much on realistic simulation-style gameplay, but Gran Turismo 7 extends a hand to all kinds of racing fans, so it’s not just for gearheads.
The monetisation is a little excessive, but this is a beautiful, well-crafted racer that keeps on giving even after you think it’s done.
7. Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Release date: April 10, 2020
- Genre: Action role-playing
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (Intergrade version), PC (Windows)
Final Fantasy VII Remake is named thus for a reason. This isn’t just a reworking of the original game; it’s a reimagining, with everything that word brings as baggage.
As such, the original game’s story has been significantly expanded, complete with a new and very controversial ending that may sweep you up or completely lose you depending on your predilections.
Either way, Final Fantasy VII Remake’s excellent action-oriented combat, superb writing, and nostalgic affection for the original make it well worth a look.
8. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
- Release date: May 10, 2016
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (as part of the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection)
The Uncharted series is the byword for cinematic action on PlayStation (and now on PC). These aren’t highly interactive games, but they are hugely enjoyable.
Nathan Drake returns for what will probably turn out to be his final outing. Approached by his long-lost brother for one more heist, Drake is pulled into another globe-trotting adventure.
If you know Uncharted, you’ll know this one doesn’t really break new ground, instead opting to offer comfortable thrills that are perfect for a few evenings’ entertainment.
9. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Release date: March 22, 2019
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC (Windows), Stadia
This won’t be the last time From Software appears on this list, since pretty much everything the studio does is essential to experience.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice takes the by-now classic Souls formula and spruces it up with an immensely satisfying parry mechanic that’s very hard to learn, but impossibly rewarding to master.
Good thing, too, because this is easily the most challenging adventure in the From Software oeuvre. There’s no help for you if you don’t master its controls; perseverance and determination will be rewarded, but failure will be punished.
10. Resident Evil 2
- Release date: January 25, 2019
- Genre: Survival horror
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Amazon Luna, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch (cloud version)
This remake of the clunky PS1 original takes everything that was excellent about that game and removes pretty much everything that didn’t work.
What’s left is a smooth, satisfying survival horror experience that feels tense, claustrophobic, and frantic, balancing its resource allocation expertly to make you feel like you’re always just on the cusp of losing everything.
With two separate campaigns that diverge in significant and interesting ways, Resident Evil 2 is worth multiple playthroughs to see everything it has to offer.
11. Elden Ring
- Release date: February 25, 2022
- Genre: Action role-playing
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Windows)?
Elden Ring’s relatively low position on this list should absolutely not be taken as an indication that it’s somehow “worse” than the games listed above.
This open-world Soulslike RPG is packed to the brim with incredible things to see, most of which are going to try to murder you within seconds of finding them.
No open-world game nails the feeling of discovery and wonder quite like Elden Ring does, with the possible exception of Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
12. NieR: Automata
- Release date: February 23, 2017 (Japan), March 7, 2017 (North America and Europe)
- Genre: Action role-playing
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PC (Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
The NieR series is a very odd duck indeed. Pairing ambitious storytelling with often-clunky combat, the games are just as interesting to talk about as they are to play.
NieR: Automata sees series creator Yoko Taro teaming up with Bayonetta developer Platinum Games, bringing that studio’s signature frantic combat to a desolate world full of androids dreaming of humanity.
We don’t want to give away NieR: Automata’s many excellent surprises, but suffice it to say that like Bloodborne, this one very much doesn’t end up where it starts.
13. Resident Evil 4
- Release date: March 24, 2023
- Genre: Survival horror
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, macOS
Rather than the port of the original game, we’re talking strictly about the remake here, which modernises a classic in a fascinating way.
Dialling down the original game’s high camp aesthetic in favour of more overt horror theming, Resident Evil 4 tightens the combat, improves the visuals, and fixes some of what didn’t work about the original.
All of that makes for a highly compelling game that loses none of the original’s claustrophobic terror while still injecting some new and original scares of its own.
14. Undertale
- Release date: September 15, 2015
- Genre: Role-playing
- Platforms available: PC (Windows, OS X, Linux), PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Make no mistake: Undertale is, or should be, a watershed moment in video game history. It’s a real advancement of the medium, showing what can be done when game mechanics are considered integral to storytelling.
Frustratingly for a list like this, Undertale is another game that shouldn’t be talked about too extensively, because doing so would ruin its many and varied surprises.
Suffice it to say that if you love quirky RPGs like Earthbound and you have any interest whatsoever in the way video games can uniquely tell stories, then Undertale is a must-play.
15. Horizon Zero Dawn
- Release date: February 28, 2017 (North America), March 1, 2017 (Europe), March 2, 2017 (UK), February 28, 2017 (PlayStation 4), August 7, 2020 (Windows)
- Genre: Action role-playing
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PC (Windows)
Follow-up Horizon Forbidden West has much to recommend it, but for our money, Horizon Zero Dawn is the superior game thanks to its more urgent story and better characterisation.
Aloy’s journey throughout the post-apocalyptic United States isn’t anywhere near as dour or depressing as The Last of Us; rather, it’s a colourful (if somewhat emotionally muted) odyssey full of robot dinosaurs to slay.
While that might sound exciting, perhaps the real triumph of Zero Dawn is its excellent story, which manages to tie up pretty much every loose end it introduces over the course of its running time.
16. Dark Souls III
- Release date: March 24, 2016 (Japan), April 12, 2016 (Worldwide)
- Genre: Action role-playing
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC (Windows)?
Okay, we promise we’re done with From Software now. Dark Souls III is probably going to be the final entry in the Dark Souls series, and that’s very much what it feels like.
There’s a sense of hopeless desperation shot through the lands and creatures of Lothric; it feels like the world is trying to fight its inevitable end and failing at every turn.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re not still getting a brutally difficult, expertly-tuned action RPG full of varied enemies to fight and dungeons to explore, but don’t expect a happy ending from this one.
17. Titanfall 2
- Release date: October 28, 2016
- Genre: First-person shooter
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One?
In Titanfall 2, Respawn crafted an incredible single-player campaign that far too few people played, all but ensuring that Titanfall 3 is very unlikely.
That’s a real shame, because Titanfall 2 has one of the best shooter story modes we’ve played in a very long time thanks to its parkour mechanics, tight shooting, and affecting story.
The multiplayer is solid as well, of course, but if you play Titanfall 2, you’ll do so largely for the single-player mode, and rightfully so.
18. Red Dead Redemption 2
- Release date: October 26, 2018
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC (Windows)
While Grand Theft Auto V is a solid game in its own right, it falls flat when it comes to storytelling, which isn’t a criticism we’d level at Red Dead Redemption 2.
This Western epic takes place before Red Dead Redemption and follows Arthur Morgan, a member of an outlaw gang run by Dutch van der Linde.
This is very much a deconstructionist Western; the heroes of Sergio Leone’s movies are nowhere to be seen here, replaced by ordinary people just trying to live their lives in a world in which they’re not sure they belong. There is so much to do in RDR2; you can spend weeks and months playing, yet it still feels like there are more areas to explore.
19. God of War
- Release date: April 20, 2018
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PC (Windows port released in January 2022).
We’ll admit it: we’re less crazy about Sony’s 2018 God of War reboot than many others are, but we’re still including it on this list because its accomplishments deserve to be celebrated.
God of War took an inherently unlikeable character in Kratos and redeemed him, giving him emotional depth and weight by showing his painful journey to bond with his son Atreus.
The combat is a little unbalanced and the game has a tendency to patronise the player, but God of War is a great adventure that you’ll likely love all the more if you don’t already love the originals.
20. Ghost of Tsushima
- Release date: July 17, 2020
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (Director’s Cut).
Ghost of Tsushima’s open-world design feels a little tired and dated by 2020’s standards, but it’s held aloft by astonishing visuals and presentation, as well as a great story.
Jin Sakai is a samurai who has lived his life by a code of honour, but when Mongols invade, he must choose: will he uphold his philosophy or become the thing he hates to protect those he loves?
The gameplay reinforces the story’s themes expertly, presenting Jin with constant choices between going in all swords blazing or taking the dishonourable path by sneaking around instead.
21. Monster Hunter: World
- Release date: January 26, 2018 (Console), August 9, 2018 (PC)
- Genre: Action role-playing
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC (Windows)?83:4†source?.
For many, Monster Hunter: World served as an introduction to the long-running Monster Hunter franchise, and with good reason; it’s a more accessible and open take on the formula.
Monster Hunter: World sees players delving into massive semi-open environments and hunting down monsters by tracking them, entering into desperate struggles for survival once the creatures are found.
If you manage to fell a monster, you can then use its constituent parts to craft new weapons and armour for yourself, theoretically making the next fight just a little easier.
22. Wolfenstein: The New Order
- Release date: May 20, 2014
- Genre: Action-adventure, first-person shooter
- Platforms available: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One?87:0†source?.
Nobody expected Machine Games to inject real emotion and soul into the Wolfenstein franchise, but that’s exactly what The New Order represents.
It stars a tired and jaded B.J. Blazkowicz fighting off a Nazi force that never seems to diminish in zeal or numbers, but it’s also not above a little tongue-in-cheek spacebound exploration.
Whether you’ve never played a Wolfenstein game or you’re a devout fan of the franchise, this feels like an excellent reinvention of the classic formula.
23. Control
- Release date: August 27, 2019
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC (Windows).
Remedy has always struggled to balance gameplay with storytelling, but in Control, the studio finally manages to find the perfect mixture of addictive (if slightly unbalanced) gameplay and narrative prowess.
You are Jesse Faden, a young woman who has come to the Federal Bureau of Control in search of her missing brother. Once there, she somehow finds herself appointed the new director of the facility, so it’s up to her to deal with the encroaching Hiss, a monstrous force that takes over the bodies of its victims.
Control’s real strength is in its worldbuilding rather than its frenetic and wonky combat; the Bureau feels like a real place, and it’s full of fascinating things to see and do.
24. Ratchet and Clank
- Release date: April 12, 2016
- Genre: Third-person shooter, platform
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4?
While Ratchet and Clank lacks the teeth of its forebears, it makes up for this deficiency with some of the tightest and most satisfying platform-shooter combat we’ve seen.
The game loosely follows the events of the associated movie, which was released around the same time, but you don’t need to have seen the movie to enjoy the game.
That’s because this is also a loose remake of the PS2 original, so it serves as a great entry point for anyone who’s yet to discover the Ratchet and Clank franchise’s many joys.
25. Marvel’s Spider-Man
- Release date: September 7, 2018
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (Remastered version)
Just like Elden Ring, Marvel’s Spider-Man’s position on this list shouldn’t be taken as an indication that it’s not a superb game. Indeed, Spider-Man is excellent, even if it does play things a little safe.
Swinging through Manhattan feels superb thanks to a responsive and accurate web system, and combat is fast and fluid, meaning it’s always a joy to happen upon a random crime and foil it before it gets serious.
Spider-Man does sometimes feel the need to throw in extraneous gameplay systems (non-superpowered stealth, anyone?), but at its core, it’s a hugely enjoyable experience.
26. Batman: Arkham Knight
- Release date: June 23, 2015
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
Speaking of great-if-slightly-overstuffed superhero sandboxes, Batman: Arkham Knight is the culmination of the Arkham trilogy, which began in 2009 with Batman: Arkham Asylum.
Batman’s arsenal has significantly expanded since that game, and so has the size of his sandbox, which is why this game introduces the Batmobile as an additional traversal method.
Despite feeling a little baggy in places, Arkham Knight is as close to the definitive Batman experience as you’re likely to get, so if you haven’t played it yet, it’s well worth your time.
27. Yakuza 0
- Release date: March 12, 2015 (Japan, for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4), January 24, 2017 (North America and Europe, for PlayStation 4), August 1, 2018 (Windows), February 26, 2020 (Xbox One)
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Platforms available: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
No list of the best PS4 games would be complete without a visit to the Yakuza franchise, which changed its name in the West to Like a Dragon in 2023.
Yakuza 0 is a prequel that follows Kazuma Kiryu during his earliest adventure, which involves an empty plot of land in the neon-drenched district of Kamurocho.
The plot is convoluted and compelling at the same time, but it’s Yakuza 0’s bizarre range of side activities that make it memorable, including running a hostess club, helping a dominatrix become better at her job, and more.
28. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
- Release date: September 1, 2015
- Genre: Action-adventure, stealth
- Platforms available: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Oh, Metal Gear Solid V. Where did it all go wrong? We know that’s not an encouraging thing to hear on a list of the best games for the PS4, but trust us, we’re going somewhere with this.
Metal Gear Solid V is a hugely satisfying and playable stealth adventure with an incredible core gameplay loop and a huge range of activities to pursue across its open-world environments.
It’s also obviously desperately unfinished, with a story that doesn’t go anywhere and a number of plot elements that feel hopelessly unresolved. With a few more months in development, this could have been truly special, but it’s still well worth experiencing just for that excellent stealth gameplay.
29. Dreams
- Release date: February 2020
- Genre: Game creation system
- Platforms available: PlayStation 4
Media Molecule is a developer that’s well-known for creating experiences that revolve around user-generated content, but Dreams does away with pretty much everything except the UGC.
It’s essentially a game creation kit masquerading as a game, empowering its users to create everything from rhythm-action games to RPGs and whatever your mind can conjure in between.
Unfortunately, live support for Dreams ended in 2023, but Media Molecule is still planning to keep the servers alive, so now is still a good time to get into creating content in Dreams.
30. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
- Release date: July 29, 2017 (Japan for Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 4), September 2018 (Worldwide for PlayStation 4 and Windows), December 4, 2020 (Definitive Edition for additional platforms)
- Genre: Role-playing
- Platforms available: Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4, Windows (PC), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S (Definitive Edition)
You likely already know where you stand on the Dragon Quest franchise. Either you think they’re consistently addictive and charming adventures, or their repetition leaves you cold.
If you’re in the former camp, Dragon Quest XI will provide hours upon hours of entertainment. It’s a highly polished and beautiful JRPG with a few little twists on the formula to keep you entertained.
The story is more of a presence here than it often is in Dragon Quest, too, so if your beef with the franchise has been its casual relationship with narrative, then Dragon Quest XI might be a great place for you to start.
