The best PS4 games are still well worth playing, even if you're the owner of a PS5. Given that we can all still enjoy the best of the PS4 library on a PS5 too, the selection of experiences the console provides is still as accessible as ever. From gripping adventures, beautiful visuals, and unforgettable stories, there's still plenty to get out of PS4 games.
And despite the PS5 being into its fourth year, don't discount the fact that PlayStation 4 games are still being released. This means that we're continuing to experience a PS4 game library that's bigger than ever, bursting at the seams, but also, if you do own a PS5, you can enjoy PS4 games with a performance boost thanks to backward compatibility. If you're looking for the best PS5 games, however, we do have you covered there too.
We have curated a list of games from different genres to show that no matter what you enjoy, the PS4 offers something that's right in your wheelhouse. From shooters and sports to action-adventures and RPGs, here are the best PS4 games you can play right now.
The best PS4 games 2024
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Yes, Ratchet and Clank for Playstation 4 is a game based on a movie that's based on the original 2002 game. But it's a re-imagining of the game rather than a remastering, so for all you fans who think you've been there and done that, fear not - there are plenty of reasons to visit again.
Ratchet & Clank (2016) reimagines the very first game, remaking it from the ground up, while completely retooling it in the process. It's accompanied by the movie, which means that the presentation is absolutely off the charts, especially in cutscenes. When it launched, it was easily one of the best looking games around, and even to this day still holds up very nicely indeed.
There's a reason why Ratchet and his mechanical pal have stood the test of time, with new entries still being released recently. They're excellent mascots, deeply rooted in PlayStation's history, great for kids and adults alike. The main reason to try out the game is its wide suite of wacky weapons. One makes enemies stop and dance, while another fires bolts like bullets. As you slowly upgrade your arsenal, you'll unlock new ways to shoot, glide and pummel. Definitely worth checking out before heading into the sequel on the PS5.
Horizon Zero Dawn marked the birth of a new PlayStation staple when it launched back in 2017. Now, the series has two games to enjoy, alongside some very good DLC indeed. Start with Zero Dawn to make sure you get the most of the story, and to get familiar with the world and the robotic beasts that call it home.
Horizon Zero Dawn wowed players when it launched, proving that the studio behind the Killzone series certainly aren't one-trick ponies. Much of the positive critical and fan reception can be attributed to the look and feel of the game, with it still being one of the best looking games you can pick up on PlayStation consoles. You'll get to explore a living, breathing world as Aloy, a new character who now sits as one of Sony's most recognizable mascots.
As you ride across lush plains and Rocky Mountains, you'll encounter robotic creatures, some of which can be battled for resources. Shoot off specific parts to dislodge weapons, which can then be picked up and turned back on your enemy. Each of these hulking monsters behaves differently, and there's a good deal of variety in the enemies you'll face while out adventuring. Give Horizon Zero Dawn a try if you're into fast action and expansive open worlds.
There's no denying that Death Stranding is one of a kind in terms of its play and story, but the setting, environment, and landscapes are some of the most beautiful and best-realised on PS4.
Hideo Kojima's first game as an independent designer is Death Stranding, an action-adventure many players also affectionately call the Postman Pat simulator. You play Sam Porter-Bridges, a courier brave enough to walk across a post-apocalyptic America to deliver goods to people.
Death Stranding is essentially a wayfinding simulation that may test your patience – rappelling down a mountain with a swaying stack of boxes on Sam's back is a genuine challenge, and it's unlike anything we've ever played before.
Not only is Death Stranding unique, it's also often very beautiful. Sam, played by The Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus, is rendered perfectly, the snow-capped mountains and grassy fields you travel through can exude an uncanny calm. But Death Stranding can be tense, too – you will have some run-ins with monsters, leading to some tense stealth. Add to this incredibly detailed worldbuilding in Kojima's signature style, and you've got yourself one of the best PS4 games, a game truly like no other. Read more in our Death Stranding review.
Picking up where Doom (2016) left off, Eternal's bombastic metal-infused action and soundtrack combo is one that will stay with you for a long time. A perfect blend of music and action in a game.
The latest game in the Doom series is a crunchy shooter that will excite old and new series fans alike – it's a speedy, loud shooter that feels like a real power trip. As Doom Guy, you're slashing and shooting your way through battle arenas filled with hordes of monsters, all set to a pumping heavy metal soundtrack.
With Doom Eternal, shooter fans get a smooth, stylish adventure that's still distinctively Doom, heavy metal attitude, and all – read our full Doom Eternal review for more details.
Doom Eternal renders its kills with a degree of gory detail that should excite any horror fan, pushing the PS4 hardware and producing some astounding visuals. The frantic gameplay is so smooth that you just want to keep going – this is a game that makes you feel powerful while still offering a decent challenge. You can enhance and adapt Doom Guy in several ways so that there is plenty of reason to keep playing Doom Eternal even when you have completed its story.
There really is nothing else quite like Disco Elysium, a detective-RPG that places its players into the buffoonish shoes of Harry Du Bois. There's a murder to solve, the mystery of where the heck Harry left his gun while drinking the night before, and plenty of colourful characters to meet along the way. Genuinely one of the best written games ever made, with an iconic art style to boot.
Disco Elysium wowed players when it originally released on PC, but found even more acclaim once it was ported to consoles. While it's definitely a game that caters to keyboard and mouse, the Final Cut streamlines its controls and UI wonderfully to those playing with a controller.
What makes Disco Elysium stand out is its painstakingly realised world. There's lore galore, different political factions, and even some TTRPG mechanics thrown in to spice everything up. As you explore the district of Martinaise, you'll interrogate union workers, pick up on clues, and work with your partner Kim to solve a murder case.
Disco Elysium is easily one of the best written games ever made, and with the Final Cut, all of its characters are fully voiced. There's multiple ways to approach its narrative, which unfolds over the course of several in-game days. If you're a fan of RPGs, particularly ones with a tabletop slant, you really can't do much better than Disco Elysium.
The creativity and freedom that Dreams grants you to bring to life, well, whatever you like really, is unparalleled. If you want to learn about game development in a game, then Dreams is brilliant for just that.
Dreams isn't really a game, it's more of a creation platform. As the currently only game development tools for consoles with this breadth of features, it shows that the best PS4 games aren't just there to be played, they also inspire you to get creative.
Dreams is a tool for you to create your own games. It teaches you game development with its toolset in a playful way, and you also get to play the games its large community of creators has made, a seemingly infinite pool of ideas and gameplay experiences for you to peruse. That's why Dreams is great if you're an artist, but it's even better if you're not.
Dreams' game development tools are powerful, intuitive and made for the PlayStation. It will take some time to learn, but if you've always wanted to make your own game, this is an option only the PS4 offers.
The web-slinging traversal in Marvel's Spider-Man is our favorite thing in the game, narrowly beating out the superb combo-tastic combat. Swinging through the streets of New York as the music swells while you do tricks and twists in mid-air is just fantastic.
As the name suggests, this game lets you journey through New York City as one of Marvel's most popular superheroes. This is Spider-Man's first outing since the PS2 era, and controlling Spider-Man just feels phenomenal. Whether you swing around buildings or whack enemies with an acrobatic attack, in this open-world action adventure you get to enjoy some of the tightest gameplay the genre has to offer.
Marvel's Spider-Man combines good storytelling and fun combat with an open world that doesn't overdo it with optional content, making it one of the best PS4 games to play if you enjoy open-world games but always get too busy to finish them.
Make sure to play Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS5 if you have one, too, alongside the newest release in the story: Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
Persona 5 is so stylish and well put together artistically that you can get lost in the menus. However, the way it also applies the style to a gripping story, and combat is superb.
Persona 5 follows Joker, a student who has transferred to a new school in modern-day Tokyo. Over the course of the school year, Joker and some of his fellow students begin to awaken special powers, resulting in those affected forming a vigilante group called the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. The group travels through the mysterious Metaverse (not the Facebook one), forcing adults to have a "change of heart", in an effort to reform the city. There's so much more to it than that, but we don't want to spoil it for you.
Persona 5 is considered one of the best JRPGS of all time and it's not hard to see why. It's a stylish game, packed with over 100 hours of content and a story that is sure to keep you invested, all while tugging on your heartstrings at the same time. While Persona 5 also released on the PS3, the PS4 is truly the Persona 5 console – more people played the game than ever before, and it even got a sequel called Persona 5 Strikers.
If you buy it now, make sure to buy Persona 5 Royal over the original version. If Western RPGs are more your thing, head over to our best RPGs list.
The way that Ragnarok build's on 2018's God of War in most ways means there's much to love here by default. But the evolution and development of Kratos' combat, and the new moves and weapons on offer is particularly brilliant.
Since God of War's 2018 reboot of the action-adventure series, the series has won over many new fans, thanks to satisfying combat, and an emotional story told completely without the camera cutting away even once, which is both a large technical achievement and fascinating to see.
As our God of War Ragnarok review will tell you, the sequel brings back all these elements, but it also comes with some choice improvements and new parts. For one, while the beloved Leviathan axe is certainly back to fight and solve puzzles with, Ragnarok also introduces a few new weapons and environmental puzzles. You get to experience the story from many other perspectives than Kratos', thanks to a much larger cast and plenty of side missions, and now that Atreus is older, he has an even more active role to play in events, too.
God of War Ragnarok is one of the best PS4 games and must-play for players who loved Kratos and Atreus' adventure and want to see it end, but it's also a game that draws you in with incredibly beautiful graphics both on PS4 and PS5, and a manageable amount of side content that will teach more Norse mythology if you're so inclined. God of War Ragnarok is currently still exclusive to PlayStation consoles, and its genuinely the kind of game you should get the console for.
The Last of Us Part 2 may not be for those who haven't played the original, but for those who've grown to love these characters, and this world, it's a more than worthy continuation of a beautifully told story, built upon in ways we didn't imagine, and with all the care we wanted.
The Last of Us Part 2 is not a particularly easy game to play. It's an extended look at the follies of revenge, the effect of grief on an individual, and is undoubtedly Naughty Dog's most divisive game yet. Beneath the surface, some of the best third-person action combat this side of the millennium combines with masterful storytelling to create something that's both beautiful and monstrous.
Ellie is older, and having grown up in a broken world filled with terror, she's been hardened to a point where she's barely recognizable as the little girl from the first game. Over its runtime, TLOU2 puts Ellie through the wringer, throwing absolutely everything it has at her.
Somehow, the game manages to compel you to keep playing, despite the doom, gloom and misery that punctuates each of the chapters that you'll play through. Part of this is down to the excellent game design, the way opponents feel like real people, and another part comes down to just how high the game swings. It's impressive, intoxicating, and deeply upsetting. A real modern classic.
It's more of a case of 'what's not to love' with The Witcher 3. It's greatest strength really is 'everything;' though as it offers the full Fantasy-adventure package with a wonderful story, some of the best lands and places in games, and superb writing and characters.
The Witcher roleplaying game series has been around for a long time, but the Witcher's 3's release during the PS4 era made Witcher Geralt and the world he lives in more popular than ever. As witcher Geralt, you make your way through the world in search of your adoptive daughter, a powerful magic user just like you, is being hunted by a group called The Wild Hunt. But the journey isn't straightforward, as you get involved in war, political intrigue, and plenty of personal problems, which will require your decision-making skills, your sword, and some magic.
For a long time, there was no game on the PS4 that looked better, but The Witcher 3 is one of the best PS4 games because Geralt's story will take you through a fascinating fantasy world free of the usual character tropes such as dwarves living underground and wizened magic users with long, white beards.
The Witcher 3 is huge, and it's one of the few open-world games where no task and no sidequest feels superfluous, it's simply all part of a large, interesting tapestry that you get to explore. This is a game stuffed with memorable moments, headed by one of gaming's most beloved protagonists – if you are a fan of RPGs, you'd do well not to miss it.
A thief's End's actual treasure hunt - following the legendary tale of Henry Avery and his treasure - is an absolute belter. It's probably my favourite actual treasure hunt of the series for its twists, revelations, and the pace at which Nate discovers key moments in brilliant.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is the last part in the saga of Nathan Drake, another enduringly popular PlayStation protagonist. When we meet him this time around, Nathan is married and has sworn off the treasure-hunting lifestyle, but when his long-lost brother asks him for help, Nathan can't turn him down. This action-adventure series combines third-person cover shooting with climbing sequences.
The Uncharted series is one of the best in games for cinematic presentation, and Uncharted 4 is no exception. Nowhere but on PlayStation do you get to enjoy an Indiana Jones-type game with a hero that quips with the best of them.
Uncharted is truly the game for anyone who enjoys large setpieces, whether that's a giant bell smashing through a clocktower Nathan has just climbed or a tense chase sequence. This is a great sendoff for Nathan Drake fans, and you can also pick up remastered versions of the previous four games for PS4. Check out our full Uncharted 4: A Thief's End review.
The switch from slow, deliberate, and cautious combat of Dark Souls to the aggression-encouraged, rewarding on-the-front-foot combat in Bloodborne results in some of the finest FromSoftware action we've known. Quick, agile, combat, while choosing your own approach is a winner.
FromSoftware's Bloodborne is an action-roleplaying game that sees you explore the Gothic world of Yharnam as a character simply called the Hunter. Your goal is to explore Yharnam, or, to put it more simply, survive it – its dark streets are full of powerful monsters that can't be taken down with a few simple button presses.
Bloodborne shares a lot of similarities with FromSoftware's Souls games as well as Elden Ring – you will face difficult combat, find your way around with no help, and connect the dots of the world's lore yourself. However, Bloodborne's combat is quick, monsters often attack in large hordes and the game's RPG elements give you enough freedom to customize your fighting style.
This is the perfect game for players who find Souls combat too slow and restrictive, and Bloodborne's visual design, music, and worldbuilding are highly distinct and memorable. Bloodborne is a Lovecraftian nightmare that will keep you coming back for more, thanks to a satisfying degree of mystery and player freedom, and you should experience it at least once.
Even years removed from its release, Red Dead Redemption 2 is still one of the best looking games ever made. It's a worthy follow up to a stone cold gaming icon, one that manages to push the medium forward, while offering fans a look at a brand new character in the series.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is absolutely a once in a generation game. Not only does it build upon the lofty legacy left by its predecessor, it manages to push the RPG genre forward, with a sprawling Western that places players into the road-worn boots of a great new protagonist. Despite having released nearly six years ago, Red Dead Redemption 2 is still one of the best looking games you can play in 2024. Its world is teeming with wildlife, from a diverse range of birds to large beasts like bears and bulls. There are few open worlds in gaming that can match Red Dead Redemption 2's attention to detail in this sense.
While RDR2 is indeed a prequel, there's plenty in its epic story to keep players guessing. For one, you play as an entirely new character: Arthur Morgan. He's part of John Marston's crew, and thanks to an excellent performance by actor Roger Clark, is a real standout. You'll grow to love the cast of rogues that cross paths with Morgan over the game's runtime, as the gang goes from good times to bad times, and everything in between.
Best PS4 games - FAQs
What games are worth buying on PS4?
Tastes vary, but former Sony exclusives, which are often still better on PS4 than their PC ports, tend to be popular and are still worth buying for the console. We recommend bangers such as Marvel's Spider-Man, God of War Ragnarok, and The Last of Us 2.
What PS4 game has the best story?
There are hundreds of exceptional stories to play on PS4 nowadays as our best PS4 games list demonstrates. However some still stand above the others. If you're looking for the most gripping of stories then we'd recommend the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, The Last of Us: Remastered, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and the Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
Is a PS4 still worth it in 2024?
This question has been repeatedly asked with every year since the PS5 launched and with growing intensity. Which is fair enough given it represents the last generation and is no longer the most up-to-date machine made by Sony. However, the PS4 player base is still enormous, active, and vibrant. Even in 2024 there are still games coming out for the console too so if you own a PS4 or are keen on a second hand one to see what all the fuss is about then a PS4 can absolutely prove enjoyable and worthwhile in 2024.
Are PS4 games worth collecting?
Every generation of gaming has produced games and editions of games that end up being super collectible and the PS4 generation is no different. There are super rare games from the generation and ones that can prove quite valuable too. Games such as Rez Infinite, Godzilla, and Blue Reflection are examples of PS4 games that are certainly worth snapping up if you see them going cheap. Heck, if you find a PS4 console with the short horror game P.T. installed on it, then that game makes the machine rocket up in value too.
From a more general perspective, and one that I share, there's nothing better than making a physical game collection. A shelf filled with the best memory-givers and experiences makes for a conversation point, a great feature in a room, and there's just nothing quite like media that you can tangibly touch. Well, that's what I think anyway...
What PS4 games are we're playing right now
The PS4 game library is still absolutely worth dipping into given its size, breadth, and quality, and given that I've got a pretty solid backlog of PS4 games to work my way through, I've usually got one or two PS4 games in my live 'play schedule'.
Currently, however, it's a multiplayer co-op PS4 game that I'm enjoying most from that generation's lexicon, as we've headed back into Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint to finish the Operation Motherland content that we missed when it was first added to the game.
How we made our best PS4 games list
We at TechRadar Gaming are an experienced team of gaming and tech experts, who have committed 100s and 1000s of hours into the best PS4 games to make, and continually curate, this list for you. We've played hundreds of PS4 games across loads of genres to be able to be in a position to recommend something for almost everyone with this list. What's more, we're always reviewing more games, and by extension, our recommendations on these lists too so you can be sure we take it seriously and only want to give you the best and our top picks for PS4.
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