Top 15 Best PS4 Games of All Time

Even with the PlayStation5 taking over in 2020 and thriving amidst a global console shortage, the PlayStation 4, its predecessor, is still going strong—especially if you have a PS4 Pro. Most developers are still making games available on both PS4 and PS5, so if you are not ready to make the transition to the next-gen console, that’s ok. You still have loads of great new games to play.

In case you’re going through a gaming dry spell, though, with no idea of what to play next, we can help. This list compiles the 15 best PS4 games of all time, the ones that we think all gamers should try at least once. Let’s jump in!

15. Ratchet & Clank

The 15th installment in this long-standing series is the first Ratchet & Clank game reimagined, but it is also so much more—thanks to the power of the PS4. 2016’s Ratchet & Clank has a compelling plot, great humor, gorgeous visuals, and engaging gameplay mechanics. There is just something so satisfying in destroying everything in your path with a wrench and automatically collecting bolts or turning your enemies into sheep. Also, among the many open-world titles that dominate the gaming industry, it can be refreshing to explore a game in a more linear path while not feeling restricted.

This PS4 exclusive will take your breath away with stunning environments and undeniable charm, despite sometimes relying too heavily on standard gaming tropes.

14. Grand Theft Auto V

An oldie but a goodie, GTA V came out all the way back in 2013, but thanks to several reworks, it is still a great game to play on your PS4. If you love huge open worlds with more realistic settings, then Grand Theft Auto V is the right choice for you.

You can complete numerous missions that take you through the criminal world of Los Santos and its surrounding areas, or roam around and explore the city and the countryside as you please—just stay clear of the police.

GTA V is also available on:

• PC
• Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S
• PS3 and PS5
• Mobile devices via GeForce Experience

13. Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Imagined as the culmination of the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy that started in 2013, Shadow of the Tomb Raider features Lara Croft as a fully-developed explorer who can take on the toughest environments and challenges—for example, stopping a Mayan apocalypse triggered by herself.

Besides climbing and exploring lost cities and ancient temples of Central and South America, Lara needs to fight Trinity, a paramilitary organization that has its own agenda. While the game doesn’t bring any revolutionary elements, it is still one of the best that you can play on PS4 and one of the best of the whole Tomb Raider series, especially for those who prefer exploration to combat.

You can also play Shadow of the Tomb Raider on:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux
• Xbox One

12. Assassin’s Creed Origins

One could argue that the Assassin’s Creed series went off the rails a little bit before 2017 and that Origins was a much-needed reset. And what a reset it was! This installment finally brought us to the world of Ancient Egypt and gave us the chance to meet historical figures like Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.

A visual spectacle and a treat for every person who has ever had any interest in the fascinating mythology and culture of the Nile Valley (and who hasn’t?), Assassin’s Creed Origins also features excellent combat, exploration, and parkour, as well as a great range of weapons, painstakingly detailed environments, a deep and heartbreaking story that significantly expands the lore of the whole series, and so much more. While subsequent games like Odyssey and Valhalla can keep up on their own, Origins will always have a special place in our hearts.

Assassin’s Creed Origins is also available on:

• Xbox One
• PC

11. The Last of Us Remastered

The Last of Us received universal accolades in 2013, when it came out on PS3, and seeing the remastered version on the powerhouse that is the PS4 guarantees a true gaming delight. You follow Joel and Ellie as they make their way across a zombie-infested U.S. using open combat, tactical use of limited resources, and stealth.

The story is at the very top of what video games can offer, and it’s no surprise that HBO turned it into an equally successful TV show. If you own a PS5 or a gaming PC, you can play another upgraded version, The Last of Us Part I, which also features all the next-gen bells and whistles.

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10. Ghost of Tsushima

Fans of medieval Japan and samurai, rejoice! Ghost of Tsushima brings you all the elements of that world that you’re craving and more—with some of the best visuals that we got in video games recently, worthy of Akira Kurosawa’s movies.

The Mongols are wreaking havoc on Tsushima Island, and you as Jin Sakai must protect your home. You need to acquire and master different stances and rely on your katana and combat skills to defeat this powerful enemy. But Jin is more than a samurai: he is almost a ninja as well, which makes the game even more fun.

Ghost of Tsushima can be played only on PS4 and PS5 consoles at the moment.

9. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Uncharted 4 is what happens when you take an already great series and then bring it even further in every possible sense. For many lovers of action adventures, this game could have easily been the reason for choosing a PS4 over an Xbox. A Sony exclusive for a long time, Uncharted 4 brings you everything you need from this genre: amazing-looking locations that will have you switching to photo mode every other minute, puzzles and platforming that can satisfy even those with the highest expectations, challenging yet satisfying fighting sequences that emphasize stealth, and enough collectibles for all the completionists out there.

A Thief’s End doesn’t cut back on the famous charm of its protagonist, Nathan Drake, and the banter between him and his sidekicks makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable. And if you’re into pirates and hidden treasures, you will go nuts over the storyline. It takes you from a jail in Panama, over a cliffside villa in Italy and a mysterious cathedral in the Scottish Highlands, to Madagascar and the fabled pirate haven called Libertalia somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Besides PS4 and PS5, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is now available on PC as well.

8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Having a list of the best PS4 games of all time is practically impossible without mentioning The Witcher 3. Based on the fantasy novels of Andrzej Sapkowski and inspired by dark and mysterious Slavic mythology, this open-world game takes you on a journey as Geralt of Rivia, an experienced monster slayer who is looking for his adopted daughter Ciri.

The war-torn Continent, where the game takes place, is huge and teeming with different monsters to kill, side quests to complete, and iconic locations to explore. The Witcher 3 has so much for players to do, especially if you add the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine DLCs, that you won’t need another game for a long time.

You can also play The Witcher 3 on:

• PC
• Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
• Nintendo Switch

7. God of War

Kratos is back, and this time, it is the Norse gods that are shaking in their boots. This game is another sequel in a well-established series that is a veritable reset, as it brings new gameplay and combat mechanics based on the new weapon, the Leviathan Axe, while keeping the best of the best from previous games—the Blades of Chaos and Spartan Rage.

2018’s God of War is a beautiful exploration of the father-son relationship and dynamic, as you take Kratos and his son Atreus on an emotional journey through different realms of the Norse mythology that might set off an apocalypse. The game features no loading screens or camera cuts, which lends itself beautifully to full immersion, while the plot and satisfying hack-and-slash combat will keep you glued to your PS4 controller and TV screen. Besides the PlayStation, now you can play God of War on PC, too.

6. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West is an excellent sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, which—spoiler alert!—awaits you a bit later in this list. The robots are bigger and more dangerous, the visuals are more stunning, the locations are more beautiful and more iconic (think post-apocalyptic Las Vegas and San Francisco but much warmer), and yes, you can finally fly a machine in this PlayStation exclusive! Still, nothing beats the feeling of learning the sad story of the civilization’s demise that you get in the first part of the series.

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5. The Last of Us Part II

Cordyceps zombies, volatile humans, and cannibals are all still here in The Last of Us Part II, and your job is to…well, survive all that. This time, instead of Joel, you get to control Ellie, who is now all grown up and deadlier than ever, and a new character named Abby.

Improved combat and traversal mechanics, new characters, and a gripping storyline that deals with the consequences of the first part—all of that awaits in this PS-exclusive masterpiece sequel to an already iconic predecessor.

4. Red Dead Redemption 2

The game that took all the accolades when it was released in 2018 takes you to the fictional U.S. states at the end of the 19th century as you explore the wild frontier as Arthur Morgan. Red Dead Redemption 2 has been particularly praised for the detailed environment that shows the true rugged spirit of the American West, with special attention to the lighting and weather systems.

Pair that up with a narrative that is pushing the boundaries of video game storytelling, and you have yourself a true masterpiece that should be a part of everyone’s PS4 game library. You can also play it on:

• PC
• Xbox One

3. God of War Ragnarök

Sequels are a tricky territory in many ways, but it seems that PlayStation titles do them well. Ragnarök brought everything that we loved about the previous God of War and expanded its rich Norse mythology-inspired universe even further. Players get to explore the relationship between Kratos and Atreus/Loki even further and visit all nine realms as they prepare for the end of everything and face off against Thor and Odin.

In some sequences, you get to control Atreus, who has a unique set of skills and abilities and is no supporting character any longer. In Ragnarök, everything is bigger—the stakes, the bosses, and the world around you.

2. Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a huge game created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin, relying on the legacy of Miyazaki’s Dark Souls. You play as a Tarnished One, whose job is to take the remains of the Elden Ring, the physical manifestation of the powerful source of order, from several different demigods and become the Elden Lord.

The game is notorious for its difficulty and the depth of its lore, but it is also one of the best games that you can experience on PS4. That is due to its customization options, the eerie beauty of the Lands Between, and the amount of content to go through to complete everything.

Besides PS4, you can play Elden Ring on:

• Windows
• Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

1. Horizon Zero Dawn

This game has an amazing premise: you need to fight different robotic animals using different traps, a spear, or a bow and arrows in a huge post-apocalyptic open world. However, it soon becomes much more than that. Horizon Zero Dawn has one of the most amazing stories of all the games we have played, and it will have you rushing toward the next piece in the puzzle as you try to uncover what happened to civilization as we know it—and whether there’s hope for the future.

You have to go through the stunning landscapes of Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado as you rush to save the planet from another threat. As the story grows bigger and bigger, so do the skills of Aloy, who is one of the most likable video game protagonists out there. Your task is to help her explore ruins, eliminate or tame wild machines, and navigate the lands filled with different warring tribes who are unaware of an even bigger threat on the horizon.

If you haven’t played this game before, do yourself a favor and get it—it’s almost impossible to dislike Horizon Zero Dawn. Initially a PS4 exclusive, the game is now available on PC as well.

And that concludes our list of the top 15 best PS4 games of all time. We hope you found inspiration for what you’re going to play next!