The PlayStation 4 became the home of big-budget single-player action, from Sony's own cinematic blockbusters to FromSoftware's punishing duels and Capcom's stylish brawlers. Its library covers almost every flavor of action, from open-world swordplay to tight arena combat, and most of it still plays well today.
1. God of War#
Santa Monica Studio rebooted its series in April 2018, moving Kratos to Norse myth and pairing him with his young son Atreus. The whole game plays out in one apparently unbroken camera shot, which gives combat with the Leviathan Axe a weight and intimacy the older games lacked. Returning the axe to your hand after every throw is endlessly satisfying, and the story has real emotional depth. The puzzle and exploration sections can feel repetitive, and some of the optional bosses recycle enemies. It is still the best-rounded action game on the console.
2. Marvel's Spider-Man#
Insomniac Games released Marvel's Spider-Man in September 2018, putting an experienced Peter Parker in a large, lively Manhattan. Web-swinging is the real star, fluid enough that simply crossing the city is a pleasure, and the combat mixes acrobatic dodges with gadgets in a way that recalls the Arkham games. The story is warm and well acted. Side content leans on repeated collectibles and map icons, and stealth sections with Mary Jane and Miles are the weakest stretches. Anyone who wants an accessible blockbuster should start here.
3. Bloodborne#
FromSoftware released Bloodborne as a PlayStation 4 exclusive in March 2015, trading the shields of Dark Souls for fast, aggressive combat in the gothic city of Yharnam. Its regain system rewards counterattacking right after a hit, and the transforming trick weapons are inventive. The atmosphere of Lovecraftian dread is unmatched in the genre. It is demanding and cryptic, loading screens are long, and the frame rate is uneven by modern standards. Players who want a slower, more forgiving experience should look elsewhere, but anyone who enjoys a steep challenge should not miss it.
4. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice#
FromSoftware's Sekiro arrived in March 2019 and dropped the role-playing formula for a focused, sword-driven action game set in a late-sixteenth-century Japan. Combat is a rhythm of deflecting attacks to break an enemy's posture, backed by a grappling hook and stealth that make movement far more vertical than in earlier games. Bosses are sharply designed and memorable. There is no character building to fall back on, so the difficulty is about skill alone, and the later bosses can be punishing. It rewards patience more than almost any other action title.
5. Devil May Cry 5#
Capcom's Devil May Cry 5 launched in March 2019 and brought the style-driven series back at full strength. Three playable heroes, Nero with his detachable Devil Breaker arms, the returning Dante and the newcomer V, each change the flow of combat completely. Dante's style switching and weapon variety give a deep combo system for those who want it, while the game still looks incredible. The story is forgettable and a few levels are visually repetitive. For fans of fast, flashy combat, nothing on the platform plays better.
6. NieR: Automata#
PlatinumGames developed NieR: Automata with director Yoko Taro, and it reached PlayStation 4 in early 2017. You play androids fighting machines on a ruined Earth, switching between fast hack-and-slash combat, bullet-hell shooting and even side-scrolling segments. The music is exceptional and the story asks bigger questions than most games in the genre. The open world is sparse, some side quests are dull, and the full story requires several playthroughs. Players who want only mechanics may find it uneven, but its ideas and style are unforgettable.
7. Ghost of Tsushima#
Sucker Punch released Ghost of Tsushima in July 2020, a samurai story set during the Mongol invasion of the island in 1274. Duels against swordsmen and groups shift depending on stance, and the game lets you choose between honorable combat and stealthy assassination. The island is gorgeous, with wind guiding you toward objectives instead of a cluttered map. Its open-world structure follows familiar patterns, and some side activities repeat, but the core combat is polished and the presentation is superb. A Director's Cut added a new island and extra content.
8. Hades#
Supergiant Games' Hades came to PlayStation 4 in August 2021 after its earlier release on PC and Switch. As Zagreus, prince of the underworld, you fight your way out through randomized rooms, choosing boons from Olympian gods that change how your weapon behaves. Combat is fast and responsive, and each failed escape advances the story, which makes repeated runs feel rewarding. Its roguelike structure will not suit players who want a single linear campaign, and later difficulty modes are a grind. It is still among the most polished action games of its generation.
9. Doom#
id Software revived its classic shooter in May 2016, and the result is a furious blend of fast movement and close-range violence. Glory kills reward you with health for ripping demons apart, which pushes players forward instead of behind cover, and the metal soundtrack keeps the pace high. Levels are well designed, with plenty of secrets. The multiplayer mode is forgettable compared with the campaign, and some platforming sections slow the flow. As a pure adrenaline experience, it stands among the best action shooters on the system.
10. God of War Ragnarok#
Santa Monica Studio released God of War Ragnarok in November 2022 for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, continuing Kratos and Atreus's journey through the Nine Realms as Fimbulwinter grips the world. Combat adds the Blades of Chaos alongside the axe and a new shield, and the larger cast brings more variety to fights. The story is emotional and ambitious. It runs at a lower frame rate and visual quality on PlayStation 4, and its length can feel padded. Fans of the 2018 game will find it a bigger, richer sequel.
11. Batman: Arkham Knight#
Rocksteady Studios closed its trilogy with Batman: Arkham Knight in June 2015, the first entry in the series built only for new hardware. Combat with its flowing counters and gadget takedowns is still superb, and the Gotham City it offers is dense and moody. The Batmobile is fun to drive but overused, including in tank-like battles, which many fans disliked. The story is uneven. Even so, the brawling and the stealth sequences remain some of the best superhero action ever made, and it runs well on PlayStation 4.
12. Yakuza 0#
Sega's Yakuza 0 is a prequel set in 1988 Japan, following Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima through the neon streets of Kamurocho and Sotenbori. It reached PlayStation 4 in the West in January 2017. Its brawling features three fighting styles per hero, brutal heat actions and a melodramatic crime story, and these are balanced by ridiculous side activities like karaoke and running a cabaret club. Combat has less depth than a dedicated character action game, and the pacing can drag in its middle. It is a brilliant place to start the series.
13. Dark Souls III#
FromSoftware finished the trilogy with Dark Souls III in 2016, and it combines the series' dark-fantasy world with noticeably quicker combat. Weapon skills and a wide range of builds give players freedom, and boss fights are among the best of the series. It is a more linear game than Dark Souls, which some fans considered less mysterious, and its difficulty curve can be uneven. The interconnected design of earlier games is simplified. Even so, it is an excellent entry point for players who want a challenge.
14. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor#
Monolith Productions released Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor in September 2014 for PlayStation 4, combining Arkham-style combat with an open world. Its Nemesis system generates orc captains with their own names, strengths and grudges, who remember when you killed or escaped them, and this produces memorable, personal rivalries. The story of Talion and the wraith Celebrimbor is serviceable at best, and the open world is fairly repetitive. The Nemesis system remains unusual and well worth experiencing for action fans.
15. Dragon Ball FighterZ#
Arc System Works launched Dragon Ball FighterZ in January 2018, and it turned the anime's battles into a fast three-on-three tag fighter. The hand-drawn art style is uncannily faithful to the show, and auto-combos make it easy to pick up while the system still offers depth to advanced players. Online play is strong. The story mode is repetitive, and the roster feels thin compared with some rivals. It is still among the most visually impressive fighting games on the platform and a good choice for newcomers to the genre.
16. Sifu#
Sloclap released Sifu in February 2022, a martial-arts action game in which you play a student seeking revenge across a series of tightly designed levels. You age every time you die, so mistakes carry a real cost, and the focus on kung fu with environmental weapons gives fights a cinematic feel. Reading enemies and learning their patterns is deeply satisfying. The difficulty is steep, and the camera struggles in tight spaces. The short length suits replays, but players who dislike punishing design should skip it.