If you can believe it, Sony’s PlayStation 4 is now a decade old. Time is a cruel, cruel mistress. Since its launch in 2013, it climbed to the top of the console hill during the eighth console generation, helped in no small part thanks to its wide variety of out-and-out exclusives.
The mid-gen update for the PS4 also gave the console an extra lease of life, the PS4 Pro and Slim offering plenty of player choice, the former bringing extra fidelity and performance with the latter being, well, slimmer. 4K gaming is on the rise, and the Pro has brought some of the best PS4 games into even clearer focus.
Adding to that, 2018 was a banner year for the console with titles like God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man being bloody excellent, and the console signed off in style with the likes of Ghost of Tsushima and The Last Of Us Part II in the years following.
The PlayStation 5 is out now in the wild, but that doesn’t mean for one second that the old girl doesn’t still have a lot of life left in her. Let’s not forget how long it took for the PS4 to overtake the PS3 as every PlayStation player’s favoured console, either — the PS4 will definitely be supported for a few years yet.
But what if you just want to collect a whole bunch of great games, no matter the exclusivity? More and more games are available on multiple platforms (just because it makes financial sense), so if you’re looking to amass quite the haul of possibilities for your PS4, you’re in for quite the fine selection to choose from.
Trust us when we say that you will want to make yourself a big cup of tea as you make your way through this guide. We have over seven years of PS4 games to wade through, and we’re trying to be as diverse as possible with our picks.
As we gear up to recommend some of the best PlayStation 4 games to you, bear in mind that these aren’t solely exclusives. We’re also excluding remasters and ports from older generations for the sake of variety, so don’t be sad when you notice that The Last of Us Remastered and GTA V aren’t included. They would otherwise make the cut. Remakes are fine, though. Also, don’t forget that all of the games below will also work on PS5 thanks to backwards compatibility.
The Best PS4 Games You Should Own
25. Dying Light
Developer: Techland
Publisher: WB Games
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Both
PS4 Pro Enhanced: No
Metacritic Rating: 74
Release Date: January 27th, 2015
Dying Light is a game that just won’t die. Despite releasing right at the start of 2015, it’s had a constant stream of updates pouring into it in the years since with developers Techland only just recently revealing that more was yet to come. If you’re looking for the complete zombie game package, look no further.
Exhilarating, fun and nail-bitingly tense at the same time, Dying Light mixes an open-world, the undead, and parkour into something quite unique and a game that not enough people appreciate. Sure, its story isn’t amazing and its conclusion leaves a lot to be desired, but for the sheer amount of content and different ways to dispatch of zombies, it’s hard to beat.
A sequel is due out sometime down the line, so here’s hoping it’s a smash hit out of the gate rather than a slow grower like its predecessor.
We reviewed The Following edition of the game and fell in love:
“If you’re yet to check out the original Dying Light, this Enhanced Edition is the perfect way to introduce yourself to what could be the start of a phenomenal franchise.”
Buy if: you want to dropkick zombies off of a bridge.
Avoid if: zombies aren’t your thing.
24. Final Fantasy VII Remake
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 1620p
Metacritic Rating: 87
Release Date: April 10th, 2020
A game that was announced possibly a little too early, Final Fantasy VII Remake began to feel like a game that would never come out. It’s surreal that it’s actually now out, even more so that it turned out to be damn good.
More of a remix of the original game than a straight remake, Final Fantasy VII Remake changes things up a lot, whether that’s the combat, storyline, or, most noticeably, visuals. It nails almost everything new it tries.
Ostensibly focusing on just the first disc of the original game, the extra detail poured into FFVIIR makes it one of the PS4’s best love letters to the RPG genre as a whole and has left many excited for the chapters still to come.
From our Final Fantasy VII Remake review:
“Better than players could have ever hoped for, Final Fantasy VII Remake strikes a fantastic, resonant chord that will leave long time fans and newbies alike wholly satisfied.”
Buy if: you want the original but also something completely different.
Avoid if: the original game is completely sacred to you.
23. Devil May Cry 5
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 4K, 60fps
Metacritic Rating: 88
Release Date: March 8th, 2019
While no two people will probably ever be able to agree on DmC, the return to the original narrative really pays off for Devil May Cry 5: the most explosive and possibly most fun game in the franchise to date. And, let’s not forget, most insane.
With three protagonists to play as, and one who is just a SSS factory, Devil May Cry offers a glorious cacophony of violence and metal that will transport you all the way back to your teenage years. If you’re a dedicated Devil May Cry fan, you will be totally in your element here — it’s like 3 met 4 and then turned the dial up to eleven on all fronts.
From our Devil May Cry 5 review:
“Multiplayer and loading screens aside, Devil May Cry 5 is exactly what it was meant to be and more. With a great plot, beautiful visuals, and near perfect gameplay, Capcom delivers possibly the best Devil May Cry to date.”
Buy if: you need to beat the heck out of demons.
Avoid if: you hate Michael Jackson.
22. Astro Bot Rescue Mission (PSVR)
Developer: SIE JAPAN Studio
Publisher: SIE
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: Yes
Metacritic Rating: 90
Release Date: October 2nd, 2018
Hands up if you thought that a VR platformer featuring the PlayStation 4’s forgotten mascot would be not only one of the best virtual reality games ever made, but also one of the console’s best? Our hands are firmly down on this one, which made Astro Bot Rescue Mission even more of a joy.
Appealing to anyone who’s ever played a collectathon platformer, Astro Bot Rescue Mission tasks you with tracking down a tonne of missing robots after an alien wreaks havoc. You’ll visit many different locales with plenty of secrets to find and cuteness overloads that will make you want to vomit, but in the best way possible.
A true shot of optimism straight to the heart of our all too cynical modern world.
From our Astro Bot Rescue Mission review:
“In a sea of dark and gritty games that take themselves far too seriously, it’s nice to have the respite provided by kicking little robots up the backside and then flossing in celebration at the end of the level. Astro Bot Rescue Mission is silly and eccentric, and sometimes that’s all you need from a video game.”
Buy if: you want Mario to come to PlayStation.
Avoid if: you have neck problems.
21. Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: SIE
Multiplayer/Single-Player: Single-player
PS4 Pro Enhanced: 4K, HDR
Metacritic Rating: 89
Release Date: February 28th, 2017
A game so good it could get away with having a terrible name, Horizon Zero Dawn looked like it could at least be pretty interesting, but it wasn’t expected to be this beloved. It feels and sometimes plays like Breath of the Wild’s cousin, which isn’t meant as an insult. Horizon wears its influences proudly.
If you want to know what Horizon is all about, here’s the simple version: you hunt dinosaur robots in a post-apocalyptic setting as a warrior with great hair. If you’re searching for one of the most fun PS4 games that lets you climb up a robot giraffe, check out Horizon, which is quite simply one of the best open world games.
If that hasn’t sold you enough, here’s what Nick thought in his glowing review:
“Horizon Zero Dawn boasts a stunningly realized vision of the post-post-apocalypse, accompanied by a fascinating and chilling mystery surrounding the fall of civilization and surprisingly deep and strategic combat which combine to create one of the best new IP’s in years.”
Buy if: hunting robots even sounds remotely cool to you.
Avoid if: open-world fatigue has set in.
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
Hollow Knight can be a bit of a hard sell for those used to the high fidelity dramatics of most modern AAA games. Make no mistake: stick with it and allow yourself to really dive down deep into Hallownest and Team Cherry’s indie darling might become your next big obsession.
A challenging Metroidvania with an absolutely staggering amount of content and lore to pack, Hollow Knight sets you as a small, unassuming character with unclear motivations and background who comes to take on massive importance to the decaying world around him.
Often billed as Souls-like (perhaps erroneously), Hollow Knight may feature simple gameplay on the surface, but its tight platforming, tough bosses, and gradually expanding powers make it a game of constant surprises. We’ll stop bugging you to play this game now.
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
It’s true that Dark Souls 3 may have been overshadowed by other FromSoft games over the course of the generation, but it still represents an excellent culmination of the special brand of misanthropy that had kept fans hooked.
Packed with the detail that comes as standard with FromSoftware games, lore that deserves to be dived into, and the kind of sights that haunt your nightmares, Dark Souls 3 also represented the sleekest combat and general gameplay in any of these games up until more recent releases. Few can forget the agonising spectacle of taking on the Nameless King, either, who still ranks as one of gaming’s most intimidating bosses.
While most Souls fans feel it’s a big improvement on the second game, few can agree on whether it surpasses the original or not. Luckily for you, Dark Souls Remastered is also on PS4, and even though it does a lot of weird things, the second game is also an experience all its own that’s worth getting through.
Great games ahead, try buying.
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
It’s hard to get remakes right, especially those for properties that are basically untouchable. Luckily for us, Capcom approached the Resident Evil 2 remake with as much care and attention as a brand new game while also staying close to what made the original game such an undoubted favourite.
A major overhaul sees Resident Evil 2 looking every inch the modern game while also playing like one of the most frightening games of its generation — no easy feat considering you’re a lot less vulnerable this time out. Treasure the time you have before Mr. X lifts up that helicopter and stomps his way towards you in one of the scariest horror games your money can buy.
From our Resident Evil 2 review:
“Resident Evil 2 is, quite simply, one of the best remakes of all-time. Capcom have nailed their new vision of a classic just like they did back in 2002 by modernising a decades old game to feel like something completely fresh. Whether you want to take a trip down memory lane or are just experiencing the disconcerting decadence of the police station for the first time, Resident Evil 2 is the first essential purchase of 2019.”
Buy if: you want a faithful refresh of a Resident Evil classic series that’s showing age.
Avoid if: tank controls are vital to your love of Resi.
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
It’s been a long time for Spider-Man fans to wait to see a game that gets at least close to emulating the feeling of web-swinging found in the PS2‘s Spider-Man. Marvel’s Spider-Man provides exactly that, as well as a whole host of web-based content to keep you entertained for many more hours after its excellent story concludes.
Playing as a Spider-Man who’s been around the block for a while, the game wastes no time in throwing you into the action. Action which feels like a sped-up version of the Arkham series. With plenty of appearances from Marvel legends and some of the most beautiful visuals you’re likely to see in this generation (regardless of if you have a PS4 Pro or not), Marvel’s Spider-Man is simply one of the best superhero games there is.
It’s the best-selling PS4 exclusive for a reason.
From our Spider-Man review:
“With all the freedom it gives you to web-sling through New York City and stick goons to walls, Spider-Man for PS4 is the best Spider-Story I’ve had the pleasure to experience, and even on its own is a brilliant game.”
Buy if: you want to swing and swing and swing.
Avoid if: you won’t accept any Spidey game but the Spider-Man 2 adaptation.
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
It’s no stretch to say that The Last of Us Part II was perhaps the most controversial first-party game of the entire generation. Monumental leaks beforehand that lacked some context didn’t help, neither did some of the game’s pacing and the lack of control over key moments.
However, it’s undeniable that The Last of Us Part II represents quite possibly the most ambitious, challenging storyline ever put into a game while still remaining grounded (pun somewhat intended). Significantly longer than its predecessor with unforgettable twists and some very brave choices made at around the halfway mark, The Last of Us Part II isn’t a game that can just be shrugged off.
With an incredible eye for detail and some of the industry’s best dramatic performances, we may not have listed it as the best PS4 game there is, but we still think it’s maybe the game here that’s worth experiencing at least once.
Buy if: you want to feel things. Bad things.
Avoid if: you need happy endings and neat little bows.
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
A bewilderingly dense game with more layers than an onion wrapped up for winter, NieR: Automata is a real joy. You’re always bound to come across something unexpected as once you think you’ve got it all figured out, it changes itself. It’s basically a chameleon of a video game.
Blending several genres and styles into one wild experience, Automata is an easy recommendation, even if you haven’t played its cult predecessor. Better yet, it keeps on giving, so once those end credits roll, be prepared to for another go-around. And then another. And another. And then some DLC.
Basically, Automata is the gift that just keeps on giving in its weird and wonderful ways.
Our own WB Mason was smitten with it in his review:
“Nier: Automata is an incredibly well made, beautiful and challenging Japanese action-adventure RPG.”
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 wait was worth it: Persona 5 dropped early in 2017 to the sound of jubilant tears. A massive success, Atlus’ massive RPG balances outright weirdness, a gripping story, and some seriously unforgiving gameplay to make it one of the most addictive games on the market.
Finally breaking the franchise out of its cult status and into as close to the mainstream as such a barmy franchise can be, Persona 5 sees you playing as Joker, who wakes up and discovers he has special powers, backed up by the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.
Our reviewer, Leon, who sunk over 100 hours into his simulated second life, hasn’t been seen since awarding it a 10/10. We’re worried about him.
“With a gripping story, quirky characters, witty writing, and everything that you need to make a good game, Persona 5 will take hold of you for its 100+ hours of gameplay and have you wishing you didn’t need to take a break.”
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
Red Dead Redemption 2 promised to show that Rockstar were no longer content to sit around on their laurels with GTA Online, but did it deliver? Apart from some controls that take some getting used to and a couple of straight up bizarre mechanics, Red Dead Redemption 2 may well just provide the best open world to explore in all of gaming.
When you’re done skinning everything or completing the side quests, the story of Red Dead Redemption 2 is also something that you won’t want to miss. Arthur Morgan is an exceptional protagonist and every inch the perfect stand-in for John Marston as he anchors a haunting tale of the end of outlaws that is surprisingly emotive.
Once Red Dead Redemption 2 has you, say goodbye to pretty much everything else.
From our Red Dead Redemption 2 review:
“Despite it having some wrinkles, Red Dead Redemption 2 introduces more than enough innovations to provide one of the most immersive and captivating open world games ever made.”
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
Perhaps it leans too heavily on its cinematics over gameplay, and maybe it doesn’t do anything new to further the gameplay of the series, but there’s no denying that Uncharted 4 is an awesome spectacle.
Naughty Dog seem to revel in throwing gorgeous vistas and extravagant set-pieces at players every few minutes, making Uncharted 4 one of the best PS4 games at showing off the console’s potential.
With perhaps the strongest story in the franchise to date, it’s easy to get sucked into the family drama of Uncharted 4. There’s also the traditional amount of death-defying stunts and jumps to make, but the game’s highlight? Definitely playing Crash Bandicoot.
Here’s Kieran with the verdict, a rare 10/10:
“From every single standpoint, Uncharted 4 is the pinnacle of the series, a technical masterpiece, and one of the best games that I’ve ever played.”
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
An uncompromising blend of old and new conventions, Dead Cells is a love letter to the likes of Castlevania with a gorgeous aesthetic and suitably bastardy difficulty. While those with previous experience in the Metroidvania subgenre will come to grips with it pretty quickly, everyone else may find the climb to be an uphill one.
Once you feel “good” at Dead Cells, however, it’s irresistible. Every inch of progress feels like it should be celebrated, or when you finally overcome a boss that you will later grow to view as nothing other than a slightly beefier grunt. There’s a great sense of progress in Dead Cells as it’s a PS4 single-player game that you will sink dozens of hours into without even realising it.
From our Dead Cells review:
“An utterly compelling and challenging ride, Dead Cells is a dense and consistently evolving game that is what every budding Early Access game should aspire to become.”
Buy if: you want to lose yourself on an island.
Avoid if: you need a deep story.
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
What, it’s another FromSoftware game? You’d almost think we were masochists or something. Even without the obvious similarities to Soulsborne, Sekiro stands on its own merits, a deeply challenging stealth action hybrid where your reflexes are vital.
Playing as the quiet guardian to the Divine Heir during a re-imagining of the Sengoku period of ancient Japan, you are armed with the special Shinobi Prosthetic to give you an upper hand (sorry) on enemies, as well as the ability to resurrect. You better believe it doesn’t make the game a cakewalk, though.
Featuring a tough learning curve thanks to the game’s subtle rhythms of combat and that classic From lore that you can really dig into, this is one PS4 game you shouldn’t let slink into the shadows.
From our Sekiro review:
“Sekiro is a tremendously fun and difficult game — everything from the combat to the world itself is crafted in a masterful way.”
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’s no surprise that two of the generation’s biggest indie games make their way into the upper echelons of our list, as both Hades and Dead Cells represent two games created with nothing but love. Hades feels like it was made by a team of 100 people, that’s how much care and attention has been poured into it.
You play as Zagreus, the son of the titular Hades who is looking to escape the Underworld. Whether you’re using a conventional sword or a, um, ancient gun, you’ll battle your way through challenging, shifting rooms, upgrading as you go and constantly chasing that high of besting your previous runs.
But dying isn’t all bad in Hades, as it gives you a chance to dive into the game’s deep, incredibly inviting lore and chat to some of the most affable characters across all of gaming. Who knew the personification 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
We’ve swapped out DOOM 2016 for DOOM Eternal on this list, just because the latter makes the former so difficult to go back to. 2016 is still a magnificent game, yet Eternal is simply a step above in almost every regard.
The action is faster and more experimental, the scale is somehow even bigger, and you even get to shoot a hole into the surface of Mars. Better yet, DOOM Slayer’s backstory is fleshed out without ever being a distracting focus; it’s just there to make you feel even more metal.
Undoubtedly one of the best FPS titles ever made, this game proves that DOOM is eternal.
From our DOOM Eternal review:
“DOOM Eternal is a bloody masterpiece of glorious violence that may well be the best the series has ever been.”
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
Even if it might not have hit sales expectations, it’s hard not to look at Titanfall 2 as anything but a success. Respawn’s follow-up managed to win back a lot of goodwill that its predecessor squandered, helped in no small part by one of the best FPS single-player campaigns seen in years, making it one of the best PS4 FPS games in the process.
And it kept on giving once the credits rolled on the story, too. Its multiplayer offers some of the purest, most addictive shooting we’ve ever had the pleasure of hollering with joy through. It does a wonderful job of making you feel like an utter badass – zipping through the air and wreaking destruction inside a Titan always feels fresh and exhilarating.
We gave it a positive review at launch:
“A passionately produced FPS that shows 99% of the opposition how it should be done, Titanfall 2 deserves to rank alongside the year’s very best.”
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 a curiously brilliant game, just in the sense that while it sold millions and millions of copies, it seems that not enough people appreciate just how brilliant it is. Yes, it bears the hallmarks of a lot of open world games over the years, but the way Sucker Punch mix familiar elements with frankly brilliant innovations cannot be overlooked.
Whether it’s the wind being the marker for your destination, the always satisfying showdowns, or the ability to make friends with foxes, Ghost of Tsushima really is special. Chuck in a post-launch PVE multiplayer mode that offers even more content and the game becomes a deep cut indeed.
Once you’ve made your way through the trees and into the glade for one of the most astounding title cards in gaming history, you’ll understand why Ghost of Tsushima is so deserving of love.
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
What Remains of Edith Finch isn’t going to be for everyone. It’s short and fairly basic in the gameplay department, but if you can allow it, the game will leave a lasting impact on you. It’s been a long time since we played it, and yet it’s never far from our minds. Edith Finch is a modern fable, a bittersweet tale of family and loss.
While you could easily pigeonhole it into the “Walking Simulator” genre, that doesn’t really do it justice. It’s a moving, deeply affecting few hours with so many stories -all beautifully told- that seem like they come from a personal place of the developers.
It isn’t technically without fault on PS4, but we could look past that in our review:
“…it’s easy to call Giant Sparrow’s game the new standard-bearer for interactive storytelling, even if it stumbles along the way. Just like the tall tales passed through generations of the Finch family, What Remains of Edith Finch will stay with you for a long time.”
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
Few games dominated the gaming conversation quite like Elden Ring did in 2022, and while it may be best played on PS5, Elden Ring still proved that the PS4 has plenty of unforgettable experiences to offer for those willing to put the time in (and inevitably lose a billion runes).
While not a grand reinvention of the Soulsborne formula, Elden Ring represents FromSoftware putting everything they’ve learned and mastered on all their other projects while also contemporising and streamlining a lot of their harsher edges. That unmistakably obtuse side is still there, meaning that you’re going to have to figure out a lot of things for yourself, but this is their most accessible project yet that’s also somehow their deepest.
The Lands Between is one of the most compelling open worlds in quite some years, the breadth of role-playing options is simply hard to match, and the combat is the slickest, most advanced we’ve seen yet from any games in this fine lineage. Elden Ring is an absolute must-play.
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
As a game so densely packed with content (and sex), The Witcher 3 is a role playing game that’s going to tide you over for a long, long time.
Having sunk 100 hours into the main game with Blood and Wine – its second expansion – still to tuck into, we don’t have to say goodbye to Geralt anytime soon. Which is good, because we managed to get the worst possible ending. It’s nearly four years later and we’re still not over it.We will never be over it.
If you like anything Bethesda have ever done but just wanted it to be better, take a look at CD Projekt Red’s fantasy epic and prepare to say goodbye to your family for a couple of months. Be sure to check out the Family Matters sidequest as soon as you can – that thing is a masterpiece.
The Witcher 3 is not just one of the best games on PS4, nor is it just one of the best single-player games — it’s also one of the best of all time.
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
FromSoftware’s Bloodborne was one of the first essential PS4 games and it still is, so much so that expectations for a rumoured sequel are astonishingly high. You know your game is good when you punish your players so much that they want to come back for seconds.
Although not a million miles away from the Dark Souls experience we know and love/hate, Bloodborne took what made the series so great, gave it a quicker, more ruthless edge and made something that felt different but absolutely still belonging to the FromSoftware school of pain. If you haven’t played it yet, be sure to pick up its GOTY edition, which comes with DLC to extend your suffering.
Rumours persist that we might see a Bloodborne sequel (or even just a remaster) for the PlayStation 5, so watch this space.
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
The previous generation of gaming was all about revitalising old franchises, putting a spin on well-worn conventions and delivering something completely different with its combat system and so much. God of War is possibly the most successful and accomplished example of that, a game that not only does its name justice but also stands above as the best entry in the series to date.
Featuring a storyline worth investing your time and heart into, a massive overhaul of combat, and a father/son dynamic at its center that’s completely captivating, God of War on PS4 should be your first buy as a new console owner.
God of War is certainly one of the best games on the console. Hell, it might be a ballsy call, but God of War could go down as the best game of its generation. The next generation certainly got off on the right foot for the franchise too.
From our God of War review:
“It’s not the God of War you once knew, but Kratos’ debut on PS4 brings the franchise back into the limelight in a big way as one of the best games of its generation.”
Buy if: you love Kratos and his fatherly ways.
Avoid if: you work for social services.
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