The best 20 PS4 games you can play right now
Our list of the best PS4 games, from Bloodborne to Fortnite.
Narrowing down the best PS4 games is no mean feat, given there are over 3000 to choose from. However, we've taken on the task and selected 20 of the finest video game experiences you can find on the PlayStation 4, spanning a variety of genres. There are some obvious picks here, others a little less so, but we have played, finished, and reviewed all of these to ensure it is the definitive list. And now that the PS5 is well into its lifespan in the ninth generation of consoles, and the PS4 is almost at the end of its tenure, we can be fairly certain there aren't any more surprises to add to this list in the future.
So if you're looking to catch up on your backlog and play some outstanding video games you may have missed the first time around, this list is for you: here are the 20 best PS4 games of all time:
Bloodborne
A delicious nightmare of a game, Bloodborne sees FromSoft transpose its formula to a richly dark Lovecraftian world, full of horror and splendour in equal measure. It's a close cousin of the Dark Souls series, but with its own flavour; action is more aggressive, doing away with the turtling that many players relied on, while the story it spins is more explicit.
It's a heady mix, and arguably director Hidetaka Miyazaki's strongest game yet; come the end of the generation, it's really between this and Breath of the Wild as to which was the greatest game of the era. Our Bloodborne review from 2015 describes it as genius, and says "it will be a painfully long time until I play anything else that matches up to Bloodborne's breadth of vision and generosity of content".
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt may be the third game in the series, but don't let that put you off. This is the game that brought Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri to PlayStation for the first time, and did so via both CD Projekt Red's first open world and one of the best open world games of all time.
The beautiful, vast setting isn't the only thing to shout about though. The Witcher 3's story is expertly written and will make you laugh, love, and cry, with dozens upon dozens of some of the best side quests in video game history, each telling shorter, self-contained tales. There's a reason we called it "a majestic, earthy open-world adventure with great integrity and personality" in our Witcher 3 review. And when you're done, the two expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are both equally phenomenal.
The Last Guardian
So long in development and so rarely breaking cover, The Last Guardian became a mythical beast in its own right. In truth, though, this game turned out to be everything we might have hoped - and while it's filled with bright mysteries, there's something wonderfully familiar to the way the story unfolds. Our The Last Guardian review explains that while it's a part of an informal trilogy with Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, it also does more than enough to be a standalone game in its own right. It may have similar ingredients, but the recipe is entirely different.
A boy nurses an injured beast back to health, and then boy and beast make their way through a vast, almost deserted kingdom. From dank grottos to spindly peaks of sun-bleached stone, this is a journey as much as it's a game. And as much as it's a journey it's also a rumination - on companionship and complicity and the kindness we owe the living things around us.
Marvel's Spider-Man
Marvel's Spider-Man is also Insomniac's Spider-Man, and while players weren't suffering for luxuriously tooled action games in the summer of 2018, Peter Parker was the champion. The sheer freedom and sense of fun that this game conjures is palpable, in no short part thanks to the exhilarating traversal and web-slinging - our Marvel's Spider-Man review describes it as "energising".
Spidey's Manhattan is a wonderful playground, and also a site of some lovingly crafted fan-service. Cameos and collectibles abound, while the heart of the game blends combat and traversal - and characterisation - in a way that has never been better. What a glorious game, and what's even better is that we've since had two sequels, one in the form of Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and another in Spider-Man 2, which is a PS5 exclusive.
Yakuza 0
Thanks to Sega's more enthusiastic approach to localisation these past few years, there are now plenty of Yakuza games to choose from, and Zero emerges as the pick of the bunch. A prequel set across Tokyo and Osaka, it's the perfect introduction to this most brilliant of series - and as it's a prequel it excuses some of the excesses that Yakuza is known for, which are here exaggerated to great effect.
Showers of cash flutter across the screen when you successfully complete a fight, and there's an extra seediness to Yakuza's already tawdry world. Our Yakuza 0 review describes it as "a pulverising bombardment of bone-shuddering violence, overwrought melodrama, sentimentality and silliness, where everything is dialled up to 11." It's outstanding, and a welcome reminder that the Sega you once loved never really went away.
Red Dead Redemption 2
While GTA 6 is on the very distant horizon and GTA 5 is still alive thanks to its online counterpart, Rockstar's last true epic was Red Dead Redemption 2. There is a lot that can be said about this cowboy tale set in late 1800s America, but perhaps most impressive is the level of detail, which extends down to every single drawer in a house being searchable, as Arthur Morgan rummages to find loot, to wilderness survival such as setting traps and waiting for fauna to fall victim.
Some may consider it slightly too sluggish when everything is so realistic, but the pace works to draw you into its mysterious and emotional story. Surrender to it and you'll be as enthralled during its slow, quiet moments as during its gunfights. Our Red Dead Redemption 2 review reiterates this by saying it offers "a richness, detail and technical prowess that is breathtaking, and peerless", and "Rockstar's richest, most beautiful open world".
God of War
It's a shame to lose a little of the Harryhausen silliness with this much more sober instalment, but beneath the slightly threadbare father-and-son angst lies a game that hasn't forgotten how to yoke ancient spectacle together with smacking people around with nasty weapons.
One of Sony's flagship action-adventure games alongside The Last of Us, Uncharted, Horizon, Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima… phew there's a lot. God of War is truly one of the greatest though, thanks to the heart-wrenching story, combat we describe as a "shamefully violent, blood-rushing pleasure" in our God of War review, and expertly designed levels. The axe is a proper Thor-styled delight and Kratos himself is a marvel of this generation of games, all sinew and sorrow, dominating the screen and owning the adventure.
GTA 5
We may finally have a trailer and release window for GTA 6, but its predecessor with over a decade of continuous support still holds true and is worth playing at some point before 2025. Rockstar's open-worlds are made for the West Coast, with its range of terrain, its dangerously free spirits and its reality that is already several clicks past satire.
GTA 5 is an astonishing piece of work, offering an island that feels hand-crafted down to each metre of tarmac and three protagonists who are going to be very hard for the series to top or even move beyond. It's a deeply problematic masterpiece that is the pinnacle for just how over the top video games can be. There is just so much stuff - our GTA 5 review describes it as "the first game in the series where you can strike out in any direction and find something entertaining to do", which could even perhaps be considered an understatement. Los Santos is so full of mystery, intrigue, and wonder.
Tetris Effect
Can you improve upon the perfect game? Well, maybe not, but you can certainly push it in new and interesting directions, and that's an exercise that Enhance excelled at in Tetris Effect. Our Tetris Effect review describes the synchrony of levels and songs as akin to "a bat watching the swift midnight world around them appearing through the flighty neon shimmers of echolocation".
It's an easy enough proposition to grasp - on the one side you've got the classic puzzler in all its glory, and on the other there's the rhythm action chops of the people that brought you Rez, Child of Eden and Lumines. Yet in that mix Tetris Effect manages to become so much more; a meditation on life and love, or simply the ultimate chill-out experience, that becomes even more immersive when you try it in VR.
Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7 is to racing games what fine dining is to eating, which is to say this is a petrolhead's dream. It treats the history of automobiles and the sport of motor racing as an artform, with piano music accompanying the menus and nothing but the sound of engines while racing, and intermittent screensavers that detail the timeline of vehicles amidst other historic events.
All this is to say that if you just want to pick up the controller and race, Gran Turismo 7 certainly offers that, but you'll get the most out of this all-time racing great by tweaking and fine tuning every aspect of your car, switching out exhausts and driveshafts, air filters and suspension. There's a reason we call it the "most focused and finessed Gran Turismo to date" in our Gran Turismo 7 review.
What Remains of Edith Finch
Death in games is so commonplace that it's rarely much more than a nuisance - a blip on your journey, a small stumble on the way. How refreshing, then, to have a game that offers a playful, touching meditation on the ways death has touched the myriad branches of one comically unfortunate family in this "elegiac, memorable, and affecting tale", as per our What Remains of Edith Finch review.
What Remains of Edith Finch is at once fantastical and far-fetched but never anything other than utterly, winningly human - and it pushes at the boundaries of video game storytelling in a way that anyone with even a passing interest in the medium simply has to experience for themselves.
Elden Ring
Souls fans were sceptical when it was initially revealed FromSoftware planned on taking their almost perfect trademark formula and applying it to an open-world game, because every Souls game to date had been fairly linear, and most are classed as all-time greats. However, that scepticism quickly dissipated as they had the audacity to release arguably the greatest Souls game to date.
The Lands Between is an outrageously stunning video game landscape, full of grotesque, intricately designed enemies, seemingly infinite mysteries and secrets, and breathtaking views. As always with the genre, this isn't for the faint hearted as it is seriously difficult at times, but the open world formula means it is slightly more forgiving. Our Elden Ring review describes it as "a song of life, death, and a fading world of monstrous beings", however while that may be applicable to every tricky FromSoft release, Elden Ring offers more tools than ever to conquer what lies before you.
Fortnite
Once upon a time, Fortnite was simply a battle royale game that all the kids were playing. Before that, it existed as a zombie survival game with a focus on building bases. Now? Fortnite is a platform going toe-to-toe with Roblox for creativity, with the recent additions of the Minecraft-inspired Lego Fortnite mode, and the Rocket League-inspired Rocket Racing.
Don't get us wrong - battle royale and Save The World are still there - and the former is still the biggest draw for Fortnite, that most returning players will default to. It offers the perfect blend of competitiveness with accessibility, and while building is core to the game, it isn't for everyone, which is why the no-build playlist flourishes. Each season, the map changes, there's a storyline running through the entire game that takes wild twists constantly, and it's as much a social platform as it is a game. Last year we described Fortnite as "a phenomenon, an industry-leading showcase of engine mastery and live service development", and it has only gotten bigger since.
Alien: Isolation
It might have taken nearly 40 years, but one of sci-fi cinema's great texts finally got a game worthy of its legacy in this slow-burn horror from Creative Assembly and Sega. It's thick with atmosphere, conjuring a world of soft lights and whirring disk drives with a vivid authenticity. Often called one of the most terrifying games of all time, our Alien Isolation review describes it as an "inventive slice of deep space terror".
As a piece of digital tourism it's peerless - so what a bonus to have a well-crafted story thrown into the mix, alongside the constant threat of the lone xenomorph that hunts you down. Alien: Isolation sadly never got the success it deserved, but that doesn't stop it being an outstanding adventure and one of the PS4's very best.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
This wonderful remake took the iconic setting, characters and enemies of the PSone classic, threw in a terrifying stalker in Mr. X and created something truly special. As tense as it is gorgeous, the Resident Evil 2 remake leans on the horror of the series' early entries to bring the creepy Raccoon Police Station into the modern era - complete with hammy voice acting and over-the-top gore. But Mr. X really is the star here. This stompy, trenchcoat-wearing beefcake is up there with the best villains of this generation, and as our Resident Evil 2 Remake review explains, he never outstays his welcome. Just make sure you know where your nearest safe room is.
Death Stranding
Kojima takes the sparse Icelandic landscape and builds upon it the ultimate walking simulator - a game that literally simulates the pleasures and challenges of crossing huge tracts of land. The idea of reconnecting a shattered civilization with an Uber-job might not hold up to much scrutiny, but the pseudo-weirdness is perfectly matched with an atmosphere of glorious solitude.
And this game is really weird. Without too many spoilers, this is a supernatural tale about babies and Mads Mikkelsen. Our Death Stranding review calls it a "messy, indulgent vanity project", but at the same time, it's a truly beautiful, consistently original game. Even though you may bounce off it, for many it is one of the best games of all time, and for that reason alone it is unmissable.
The Last of Us Part 2
I think everyone who's played through Naughty Dog's lengthy opus, The Last of Us Part 2, is in agreement about one thing: blockbuster gaming doesn't come much bolder or braver than this. Given its relentless bleakness, its gut-wrenching plot turns and a no-holds-barred attitude to some truly beloved characters, it's small wonder The Last of Us Part 2 left players split on its merits, but the results are undeniably powerful, technically striking and often breathtaking.
While the first game was an emotional, gritty tale between two characters on a journey to almost certain death, the second takes that concept and runs away with it. Our The Last of Us Part 2 review explains how this is the epitome of the "special kind of empathy that develops between a player and a game protagonist that no other medium can reproduce". There are certainly more straight-up entertaining ways to spend 30 hours of your time, but if you want to see video game narratives being pushed to the boundaries and beyond then The Last of Us Part 2 is pretty much essential.
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is a rare example of a new game that seriously wows, right from the get-go. The title sequence is simply jaw-dropping as Jin, the protagonist, rides his horse through a seemingly endless field of pampas grass, which sets the tone for the rest of the game in how hauntingly beautiful it is. This is an open-world action game that has plenty of gore and murder, but it is a cinematic masterpiece in its portrayal.
Ghost of Tsushima takes inspiration from Kurosawa films, so much so that it has a Kurosawa picture mode toggle. The invading Mongolian army are trying to take Tsushima Island and, in true video game fashion, it is up to you to stop them against all odds. Combat is full of smooth katana swings and dramatic one-on-one duels, while exploration is both rewarding and intriguing, especially when you follow the many adorable foxes. Our Ghost of Tsushima review explains how the game "feels glorious in these moments of intimate violence with the music soaring, enemies cowering and crumpled, Jin clad in some imperious armour lashed with rain and soaked in mud".
Persona 5 Royal
Persona has long been the coolest JRPG series around, each one starring a new cast of fashionable teens who form friendships and fight monsters. Perona 5 is the most stylish yet, from its wonderful cast to its angular menus, but it also uses all that style to a greater purpose. As the Phantom Thieves, the players fight back against a world overrun by corruption and hypocrisy by stealing the hearts of adults - and aim to make the world a better place in the process. What's cooler than hope?
Persona 5 Royal expands and refines that story and is the definitive way to play, although our Persona 5 Royal review explains there isn't quite enough here to justify a new playthrough for existing fans. our original Persona 5 review still holds true, however: if you've ever had even a passing interest in Japanese media, then this is "everything you've ever wanted" from a game. It is "style and substance distilled into an experience worth waging cultural wars for".
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
The original Final Fantasy 7 is one of the most lauded Final Fantasy games of all time, but despite it being arguably the greatest in the series, it came out in 1997. Even the best games eventually feel dated 25 years on from their release. The remake is an absolute technological marvel that at first glance, is unidentifiable compared to the original thanks to how it has been completely rebuilt from the ground up.
Our Final Fantasy 7 Remake review describes it as having "characters you know and love are fizzing with new life and personality", and while some areas of the world are almost identical to the original, others have been completely redesigned. Combat is another area that has changed entirely to keep up with modern trends, and it's all the more better for it. As per our review, "the core essence and spirit of Final Fantasy 7 has been preserved brilliantly".