The PS4 library is closed and unusually deep, running from 2013 to the last releases of the early 2020s. It is best known for big, cinematic single-player adventures from Sony's first-party studios, which sit near the top alongside FromSoftware's demanding action games, Rockstar's and CD Projekt Red's open worlds and Japanese role-playing games from Atlus, Square Enix and Sega. Because most of the strongest multiplatform releases also ran on the console, the list mixes exclusives with games that can be played elsewhere, and indie standouts share space with the blockbusters. Each write-up notes where the PS4 version stands, including how it plays on a PS5 today, where nearly every game here runs through backward compatibility.
1. Grand Theft Auto V#
Rockstar North released Grand Theft Auto V in September 2013 on the previous generation, then in an enhanced PS4 edition in November 2014 with a first-person mode, denser traffic and foliage and improved visuals. Its three-protagonist structure lets the story swap between Michael, Franklin and Trevor, and the heists that anchor the campaign remain some of the best-staged missions in open-world design. Los Santos is packed with detail, and GTA Online has kept the game alive for years. Critics scored the PS4 version 97 on Metacritic. The caveat is that the tone, especially Trevor's, is deliberately crass and can grate, and the campaign's satire feels less sharp than that of Rockstar's later work. It also plays on PS5, where a dedicated enhanced edition exists.
2. Red Dead Redemption 2#
Rockstar Games released Red Dead Redemption 2 in October 2018, following Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang through the final years of the Old West. Rockstar's studios built a world where horses bond with their riders, camp conversations change as the story moves and wildlife reacts to weather and hunting, so the frontier feels lived in rather than merely large. Critics reached a Metacritic score of 97 on PlayStation 4, and the game appeared near the top of countless year-end lists. Arthur's arc, told across a slow-burning campaign that builds to a devastating final act, is the reason it leads this ranking. The caveat is pace: controls and animations are deliberately weighty, so simple actions such as looting or cooking take longer than in most open-world games. It plays on PS5 through backward compatibility.
3. God of War#
Santa Monica Studio and Sony released God of War in April 2018 as a reinvention of the series, moving Kratos from Greek myth to Norse lands and pairing him with his son Atreus. The game is staged as one continuous camera shot with no cuts, which gives its combat and its quieter moments a cohesive weight. The Leviathan Axe can be thrown and recalled like a boomerang, and that single mechanic makes every fight feel physical. Critics scored it 94 on Metacritic, and it took Game of the Year at The Game Awards. The emotional core of the story, a difficult father learning to be present, is what elevates it above the spectacle. The caveat is that some puzzle and traversal patterns repeat, and the optional Niflheim and Valkyrie content leans on backtracking.
4. Elden Ring#
FromSoftware and Bandai Namco released Elden Ring in February 2022, marrying the studio's combat and world design with a huge open map with worldbuilding contributed by author George R. R. Martin. The Lands Between rewards curiosity: a distant castle, a cave or a ruined tower is rarely a decoration, and players can leave a difficult boss and return stronger. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2022, and the PS5 version holds a Metacritic score of 96. It also launched on PS4, where it runs on last-generation hardware and is best played on PS5. The caveat is that difficulty and opaque systems can overwhelm newcomers, and late-game balance leans toward frustration in a few boss encounters.
5. Persona 5 Royal#
Atlus released Persona 5 Royal in 2019 in Japan and 2020 in the West, an expanded edition of the 2016 original. Players juggle a high school schedule with infiltrating the twisted Palaces of corrupt adults as the Phantom Thieves, and the loop of turn-based battles, dungeons and relationships is among the most addictive in the genre. Its style is a large part of the appeal: menus, transitions and the jazz-fusion soundtrack feel designed with rare confidence. The Royal edition adds a new semester, extra characters and quality-of-life changes, and it earned a Metacritic score of 95 on PS4. The caveat is length and pacing, since a full playthrough runs past a hundred hours and the opening hours are slow before the story picks up.
6. The Last of Us Remastered#
Naughty Dog and Sony released The Last of Us Remastered in July 2014, bringing the 2013 PS3 original to PS4 with a higher resolution, a smoother frame rate and every piece of DLC, including the Left Behind prequel. The story of Joel and Ellie crossing a collapsed America is still one of the most emotionally direct in the medium, and its scarcity-driven combat, where every bullet counts, holds up well. Critics scored the remaster 95 on Metacritic, one of the highest marks for any PS4 release. The caveat is its age: enemy AI and the linear, corridor-based structure show the game's PS3 roots, and it was later superseded by a full remake on PS5.
7. God of War Ragnarök#
Santa Monica Studio released God of War Ragnarök in November 2022 as a cross-generation game, with a PS4 version alongside the PS5 one. It continues the Norse saga with Kratos and Atreus facing Fimbulwinter and the approach of Ragnarök, and it widens the first game's scope to nine realms while deepening the father and son story. The combat adds more weapon variety and enemy types, and it was a Game of the Year nominee at The Game Awards in 2022. A PS4 version was released alongside the PS5 one, and the studio said its design goals were achieved on that version. The caveat is that it is long and occasionally padded, and the PS5 version is the better way to play it.
8. The Last of Us Part II#
Naughty Dog released The Last of Us Part II in June 2020, returning to Ellie in a story about revenge and its cost. The game pushes the studio's animation and environmental storytelling to a peak on PS4 hardware, with close-quarters combat that is brutal and tense, and enemy behavior that makes stealth feel unpredictable. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2020 and holds a Metacritic score of 93 on PS4. Its accessibility options were also unusually extensive for the time. The caveat is the story itself: its structure and its choices divided audiences sharply, and the unrelenting tone and graphic violence make it a heavy experience that does not suit everyone, especially across a campaign of considerable length.
9. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End#
Naughty Dog released Uncharted 4: A Thief's End in May 2016 as a PS4 exclusive at launch, wrapping up Nathan Drake's story with a hunt for the pirate Henry Avery's treasure. The series' cinematic set pieces reach their peak here: a vehicle chase through Madagascar mud, a climb through crumbling ruins and a rope-swing traversal system that gives its exploration more freedom than earlier entries. Critics scored it 93 on Metacritic, and it was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2016. The caveat is that the shooting, while competent, is repetitive across long combat arenas, and the campaign has stretches where pacing slows before the finale.
10. Hades#
Supergiant Games released Hades in full form in September 2020, with a PS4 version arriving in August 2021. The roguelike casts Zagreus, son of the god of the dead, as he fights his way out of the Underworld again and again, and each death feeds narrative progress rather than resetting it. Tight, fast combat with varied weapons and boons from Olympian gods makes every run different, while the writing and voice acting give even a failed attempt a reason to matter. It won Best Game at the 2021 BAFTA Games Awards. The caveat is structural: runs can feel repetitive early on, and players who dislike the roguelike loop will find the appeal limited despite its narrative hooks.
11. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain#
Kojima Productions and Konami released Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain in September 2015, sending Snake across Afghanistan and Africa in an open-world stealth sandbox. The freedom is the point: a mission can be approached from any direction, with buddies, gadgets and a growing Mother Base that the player builds up by extracting soldiers and resources. Critics scored it 93 on Metacritic on PS4, and it was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2015. The caveat is that the story feels unfinished, with a final act that many critics and fans found abrupt, and the mission structure repeats objectives in a way that wears thin over a long campaign.
12. Resident Evil 4#
Capcom released the remake of Resident Evil 4 in March 2023, rebuilding Leon Kennedy's mission to rescue the president's daughter in rural Spain. The remake keeps the original's tight pacing, with village sieges, the castle and the lake, while modernizing controls so that players can move and aim together, and adding a parry mechanic with the knife. Critics gave the PS5 version a Metacritic score of 93, and it often appears on lists of the best remakes ever made. It is also available on PS4. The caveat is that it shifts the tone toward a darker atmosphere at the expense of some of the original's camp, and inventory management still slows the action.
13. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt#
CD Projekt Red released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in May 2015, casting Geralt of Rivia as a monster hunter searching for his adopted daughter Ciri across war-torn kingdoms. Its strength lies in writing: even minor contracts and side quests present morally grey choices with consequences that surface hours later, and the Bloody Baron questline is often cited as a high point of role-playing storytelling. The expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine add dozens of hours of content and are often ranked among the best DLC ever made. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2015 and earned a Metacritic score of 92 on PS4. The caveat is that combat and movement feel stiff next to more modern action games.
14. Bloodborne#
FromSoftware and Sony released Bloodborne in March 2015 as a PS4 exclusive, transplanting the studio's punishing action formula into a Gothic, nightmarish city called Yharnam. Where Dark Souls rewards defensive play, Bloodborne pushes toward aggression: a Rally system lets players regain lost health by hitting enemies right after being struck, and firearms are used to stagger opponents rather than to shoot from range. The level design, with interlocking shortcuts and layered secrets, and its cosmic horror lore earned it a Metacritic score of 92 and a Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards in 2015. The caveat is technical: the game targets 30 frames per second with uneven frame pacing, and load times are long.
15. Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition#
Larian Studios released the Definitive Edition of Divinity: Original Sin II on PS4 in August 2018, after the game's PC launch a year earlier. The turn-based role-playing game gives players extraordinary freedom: environmental combat, where oil, poison and lightning interact, and quests that can be solved by talking, sneaking or brute force, all in a co-op-friendly package. Critics scored the PS4 version 92 on Metacritic, with some calling it the best console role-playing game since The Witcher 3. The caveat is the interface: controller support was rebuilt for the edition but managing inventories and abilities is still fiddlier than on PC, and the final act loses focus.
16. Undertale#
Toby Fox released Undertale on PC in September 2015 and on PS4 in 2017, a role-playing game in which no one ever has to be killed. Every encounter can be resolved by talking, dodging and showing mercy, and the game notices what the player chooses, from its bullet-hell battles to its running commentary. The music, also by Fox, was widely praised by critics for its use of recurring character themes. It holds a Metacritic score of 92 on PS4 from a small number of critics. The caveat is its retro look and short length, which can feel slight, and the best route is a matter of surprises that are spoiled by reading about them first.
17. Resident Evil 2#
Capcom released the Resident Evil 2 remake in January 2019, rebuilding the 1998 survival horror classic on the RE Engine with an over-the-shoulder camera. The Raccoon City police station is a masterclass in level design, a puzzle-box of locked doors and shortcuts, and the pursuing Mr. X is a constant, unscripted threat that forces players to change routes. Two campaigns, one for Leon and one for Claire, add replay value. It holds a Metacritic score of 91 on PS4 and performs well on the console. The caveat is that the second scenario reuses much of the first, and Mr. X can flip from terrifying to tedious once his behavior is understood.
18. Shadow of the Colossus#
Bluepoint Games and Sony released a ground-up remake of Shadow of the Colossus in February 2018, rebuilding the 2005 classic with new visuals while keeping its structure intact. A lone boy rides across a vast empty land to fell sixteen towering colossi, and each fight is a puzzle of climbing and clinging on that ends with quiet tragedy. Critics scored the remake 91 on Metacritic. Its art direction and its restraint remain remarkable. The caveat is that the camera and the controls, deliberately faithful to the original, can feel clumsy, and the empty world means long stretches of riding between encounters.
19. Celeste#
Maddy Makes Games, the team of Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry, released Celeste in January 2018, a precision platformer about climbing a mountain that also works as a story about anxiety. Movement is limited to a jump, a dash and a wall grab, yet each chapter introduces new ideas and mechanics that push those limits, and checkpoints are close enough that repeated failure never feels punishing. An Assist Mode lets players adjust game speed, invulnerability and other parameters without judgment. Critics scored the PS4 version 91 on Metacritic. The caveat is that it is short compared with other games on this list, and the optional B-side and C-side levels are severe and aimed at players who want a real test.
20. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut#
ZA/UM released Disco Elysium in 2019 for PC and brought The Final Cut to PS4 in March 2021 with full voice acting and additional content. It is a detective role-playing game with no combat, in which skills such as Logic, Empathy and Volition argue with the player inside the protagonist's head. Its writing, dense with politics, humor and melancholy, is unlike anything else on the console, and the original won several awards in 2019 and 2020, including at The Game Awards and the BAFTA Games Awards. The caveat is that the game is extremely text-heavy and rewards patience, which will put off players who want action, and the dice-roll skill checks can lock away content after failure.
21. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice#
FromSoftware released Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice in March 2019, trading the studio's role-playing structure for a focused action game about a one-armed shinobi in Sengoku-era Japan. Combat is built on posture and deflection rather than dodging: perfectly timed parries break an opponent's balance for a lethal strike, which makes duels feel like rhythm and reading. A grappling hook and stealth options make traversal more vertical than in earlier FromSoftware games. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2019 and scored 90 on Metacritic on PS4. The caveat is that there are no difficulty settings and no build variety to lean on, so some bosses form hard walls for anyone who struggles with parrying.
22. Monster Hunter: World#
Capcom released Monster Hunter: World in January 2018, redesigning the series to be far more accessible on consoles without giving up its depth. Players track enormous creatures across living ecosystems, study their patterns and craft gear from the parts they carve, and the loop of preparation, hunt and upgrade is satisfying with friends in co-op. Critics scored the PS4 version 90 on Metacritic. Movement and combat carry real weight, and each of the fourteen weapon types plays distinctly. The caveat is that the story is thin and its tutorial-heavy opening hours are slow, and much of the late-game content, such as repeated hunts for rare drops, is grind by design.
23. Horizon Zero Dawn#
Guerrilla Games and Sony released Horizon Zero Dawn in February 2017 as a PS4 exclusive at launch, dropping the hunter Aloy into a world where robotic animals roam overgrown ruins. The machines are the highlight: each has weak points, components that can be shot off and behaviors that reward preparation with traps, elemental arrows and tactical placement. The mystery behind how the world ended unfolds in a story that pays off across the campaign. Critics awarded it 89 on Metacritic. The caveat is that human enemies and melee combat are less engaging than the machine fights, and some dialogue scenes lack the polish of the world around them.
24. Dark Souls III#
FromSoftware and Bandai Namco released Dark Souls III in 2016, closing the trilogy with the studio's most polished and fast-paced take on the formula. Boss fights are the highlight, from the Abyss Watchers to the Nameless King, and the interconnected world rewards those who explore its dead ends and shortcuts. Critics gave the PS4 version a Metacritic score of 89. Weapon arts and a quicker pace borrowed from Bloodborne make combat feel more fluid than in earlier entries. The caveat is that it leans heavily on nostalgia for the earlier games, with recycled locations and characters, and the late-game areas are more linear than the interconnected world of the first game.
25. Titanfall 2#
Respawn Entertainment released Titanfall 2 in October 2016, adding a real single-player campaign to a multiplayer shooter built around wall-running pilots and giant mechs. The campaign is short but inventive, with a level built around time travel that ranks among the best set pieces of the generation, and the bond between the pilot and his Titan, BT, gives it an unexpected heart. Critics scored the PS4 version 89 on Metacritic, and it was a Game of the Year nominee at The Game Awards in 2016. The caveat is that it launched between two of the biggest shooters of the year and its online community faded quickly, so multiplayer matchmaking can be thin today.
26. Tetris Effect#
Enhance and Monstars released Tetris Effect in November 2018, with designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi turning the puzzle classic into an audiovisual experience where every rotation and line clear feeds a pulsing electronic soundtrack. Stages evolve from underwater scenes to fireworks and space, and the game is at its most immersive in PlayStation VR. Critics scored it 89 on Metacritic on PS4. Its Journey mode makes it approachable while Effect Mode lifts the pressure. The caveat is that the core game is still Tetris, so players who never liked the puzzle will not be converted by the spectacle, and the effect is diminished without headphones and a dark room.
27. NieR: Automata#
PlatinumGames and Square Enix released NieR: Automata in 2017, with Yoko Taro directing a story about androids fighting machines on a ruined Earth. The game combines fast, stylish action combat with bullet-hell shooting and side-scrolling segments, and its story unfolds across multiple playthroughs that recontextualize earlier events, culminating in a series of endings. Emotional beats are supported by a widely praised soundtrack by Keiichi Okabe. Critics scored it 88 on Metacritic on PS4. The caveat is that the first playthrough leaves some environments and quests feeling repetitive, and the game's depth only opens up for players who commit to replaying it, which not everyone will do.
28. Return of the Obra Dinn#
Lucas Pope released Return of the Obra Dinn on PC in October 2018, with a console version following in 2019. Playing an investigator, the player boards a ghost ship and uses a magic pocket watch to relive the moment of each crew member's death, then deduces each victim's name and fate from what is visible. Its 1-bit art style is striking, and its deduction system feels like real detective work. Critics scored the PC version 89 on Metacritic. The caveat is that it demands close attention, note-taking and patience, and some identifications rely on hard-to-see clues.
29. Marvel's Spider-Man#
Insomniac Games and Sony released Marvel's Spider-Man in September 2018 as a PS4 exclusive at launch, presenting an experienced Peter Parker rather than another origin story. Its web-swinging is the reason to play: momentum, timing and buildings all matter, so simply crossing Manhattan becomes a pleasure. Combat borrows from the Batman Arkham series, favoring fast, acrobatic combos and gadgets. The story balances superhero action with Peter's personal struggles, and critics awarded it a Metacritic score of 87 on PS4. The caveat is that side activities and collectibles across the open world become repetitive, and the stealth sections where players control Mary Jane or Miles Morales are among the most criticized parts of the game.
30. Doom Eternal#
id Software and Bethesda released Doom Eternal in March 2020, a faster, more complex sequel that turns the shooter into a resource puzzle: chainsaw kills for ammunition, flame belch for armor and glory kills for health. Players must swap weapons constantly, and the reward is combat that feels like a fast, brutal dance. Critics scored the PS4 version 87 on Metacritic. The caveat is that the platforming sections and lore interruptions slow a game whose combat is its greatest strength, and many players found the higher difficulty settings demanding in an unintuitive way.
31. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus#
MachineGames and Bethesda released Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus in October 2017, continuing B.J. Blazkowicz's fight against a Nazi-controlled America. The campaign mixes visceral gunplay with unusually strong character writing, including a memorable cast and a tone that swings from horror to farce. Critics scored the PS4 version 87 on Metacritic. Its set pieces are staged with confidence. The caveat is that the game asks for a tolerance for violence and abrupt tonal shifts, and its shooting, while fun, has less freedom than the arenas of Doom, with a stealth option that feels bolted on.
32. Batman: Arkham Knight#
Rocksteady Studios released Batman: Arkham Knight in June 2015, closing its trilogy with an open Gotham and the Batmobile. The Freeflow combat, gadgets and detective work are at their most refined, the story follows the Scarecrow's plan to destroy the city, and the game looks superb on PS4. Critics scored it 87 on Metacritic. The console versions avoided the PC launch problems that got the game pulled from sale on that platform for months. The caveat is the Batmobile itself: tank battles and chase sequences are used too often and pull the game away from the fantasy of being Batman, and the identity of the villain is easy to guess.
33. Final Fantasy VII Remake#
Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII Remake in April 2020 as a PS4 exclusive at launch, reimagining the first section of the 1997 classic, the escape from Midgar, as a full-length game. It blends real-time action with a tactical command menu, and its cast, from Cloud and Tifa to Aerith and Barret, is written and performed with real warmth. Critics scored it 87 on Metacritic on PS4. The caveat is that the middle of the game is padded with corridors and filler quests to stretch the scope, its story diverges in ways that divide fans, and it is only the first part of a longer project, with a PS5 version, Intergrade, as the definitive one.
34. Cuphead#
Studio MDHR released Cuphead in September 2017 on Xbox One and PC, with a PS4 version following in July 2020. The run-and-gun and boss-rush game is drawn and animated like a 1930s cartoon, with hand-painted backgrounds and a jazz big-band score. Its boss fights, each with multiple phases, are precise and unforgiving. Critics scored the PS4 version 86 on Metacritic. The caveat is that the difficulty is high and unforgiving, with a Simple mode that most boss fights offer but the final bosses omit, and the run-and-gun levels are less inventive than the bosses.
35. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard#
Capcom released Resident Evil 7: Biohazard in January 2017, resetting the series with a first-person perspective and a return to claustrophobic horror in the Baker family's Louisiana home. Resource management, locked doors and stalking enemies revive the tension of the early games, and the game was designed to work in PlayStation VR from start to finish. Critics scored the PS4 version 86 on Metacritic. The caveat is that the last third gives way to more conventional action and fewer scares, and the game is short. It plays on PS5 through backward compatibility, and a PS5 version was released later.
36. Stardew Valley#
ConcernedApe, the solo developer Eric Barone, released Stardew Valley on PC in February 2016 and on PS4 in December of that year, a farming and life simulation inspired by Harvest Moon. Players clear a neglected plot, grow crops, raise animals, mine, fish and befriend a village of neighbors across seasons, and every day is a small set of choices that adds up to something personal. Critics scored the PS4 version 86 on Metacritic. The caveat is that the first hours are slow and the game does little to explain itself, and some of its social and combat systems feel shallow next to the farming.
37. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age#
Square Enix released Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age on PS4 in 2018 in the West, and the Definitive Edition, with added story, orchestral music and a 2D mode, followed on PS4 in December 2020. It is a classic role-playing game in the best sense: a chosen hero, a warm party, turn-based battles and Akira Toriyama's character designs in a bright world. Critics scored the original PS4 release 86 on Metacritic. The caveat is that it follows convention so closely that few of its story turns will surprise players of the genre, and the length, past a hundred hours with the extras, asks for real commitment.
38. Doom#
id Software and Bethesda released Doom in May 2016, rebooting the series with a shooter that trusts speed over caution. Glory kills reward close-range aggression with health drops, chainsaw kills produce ammunition and the arena design encourages constant movement, all backed by Mick Gordon's heavy metal soundtrack. Critics scored the console version at 85 on Metacritic. It was a Game of the Year nominee at The Game Awards in 2016. The caveat is that the SnapMap editor and multiplayer never matched the campaign's quality, and some later encounters begin to repeat their patterns, though the pace stays exceptional throughout.
39. Yakuza 0#
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega released Yakuza 0 in Japan in 2015, with the PS4 version reaching the West in January 2017. Set in 1988 in the fictional districts of Kamurocho and Sotenbori, it follows Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in a crime drama that swings between melodrama and absurd comedy. Beat-'em-up combat with switchable styles is satisfying, and side activities such as karaoke, disco dancing and running a cabaret club are as memorable as the main story. It earned a Metacritic score of 85 on PS4. The caveat is that the combat can feel dated, menus and text are dense, and the pacing of the main plot is often interrupted by lengthy cutscenes.
40. Hollow Knight#
Team Cherry released Hollow Knight on PC in 2017, with a PS4 version following in 2018, an atmospheric side-scrolling Metroidvania set in the ruined insect kingdom of Hallownest. Its hand-drawn art, melancholic score and precise combat draw the player into a huge, interconnected map full of secrets and tough bosses. Critics scored it 85 on PS4, 87 on PC and 90 on Switch on Metacritic. The caveat is that the map is easy to get lost in until the mapping tools are found, some of its optional bosses are punishing, and the death penalty, which drops the player's currency, can sting.
41. Nioh 2#
Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo released Nioh 2 in March 2020, a punishing action role-playing game set in a demon-haunted Sengoku Japan. Its stance-based combat and Yokai Shift ability give more depth than most imitators of FromSoftware, and the loot and build system offers real variety. Critics scored the PS4 version 85 on Metacritic. The caveat is that it demands dozens of hours of mastery to see its best side, its mission-based structure feels less organic than an interconnected world, and the loot drops can bury the player in menus.
42. Ratchet & Clank#
Insomniac Games released Ratchet & Clank in April 2016, a reimagining of the 2002 PS2 original that arrived alongside an animated film. It is a colorful third-person shooter and platformer with a huge arsenal, and it looks like a playable cartoon on PS4. Critics scored it 85 on Metacritic, according to Wikipedia. The caveat is that it is relatively short and stays close to the structure of the original, so players of later entries such as Rift Apart on PS5 will find fewer surprises, and some of its platforming is basic.
43. Rocket League#
Psyonix released Rocket League in July 2015, a game of soccer played with rocket-powered cars that turned a simple idea into a lasting competitive favorite. Its physics are easy to grasp, hard to master, and matches are short and intense, both online and in local play. Critics scored the PS4 version 85 on Metacritic. It later moved to free-to-play. The caveat is that the skill ceiling is steep, online play against experienced players is punishing, and the game is now a live-service title with an item shop.
44. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales#
Insomniac Games released Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales in November 2020, a shorter, tighter standalone game that follows Miles in a snowbound Manhattan. His bioelectric Venom powers and camouflage add flair to the web-swinging, and the story is personal and warm. Critics scored the PS4 version 84 on Metacritic. It is also playable on the console at a lower fidelity than on PS5, where its ray-traced reflections are the best way to experience it. The caveat is that it reuses the first game's map and structure, and it is much shorter, so it is best treated as an extended chapter rather than a full sequel.
45. Yakuza: Like a Dragon#
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega released Yakuza: Like a Dragon in Japan in January 2020, with the PS4 version reaching the West in November of that year. It swaps the series' brawling for a turn-based role-playing system and a new lead, Ichiban Kasuga, who starts at the bottom of the underworld in Yokohama. Job classes, absurd attacks and heartfelt writing give it its identity, and critics scored the PS4 version 84 on Metacritic. The caveat is that the turn-based battles start slowly and grow repetitive without careful party management, and the story asks for patience before its big turns.
46. Ghost of Tsushima#
Sucker Punch Productions released Ghost of Tsushima in July 2020 for PS4, sending the samurai Jin Sakai across a 13th-century island facing the Mongol invasion. The game is built around beauty and duels: the wind guides the player to objectives instead of a mini-map, and standoffs and stance-based sword combat evoke classic samurai cinema. A Japanese language option and a black-and-white Kurosawa mode reinforce that inspiration. Critics scored it 83 on Metacritic, and the Director's Cut added the Iki Island expansion in 2021. The caveat is that the structure of clearing outposts and collecting items follows a familiar open-world template, and combat gets repetitive without the more challenging difficulty settings.
47. Assassin's Creed Odyssey#
Ubisoft Quebec released Assassin's Creed Odyssey in October 2018, sending a Spartan mercenary across a huge, sun-drenched ancient Greece with an RPG structure and dialogue choices. The map is enormous, naval battles are memorable and the world is dense with quests, from small stories to mythological encounters. Critics scored the PS4 version 83 on Metacritic. The caveat is its scale: the story overstays its welcome, levelling pushes players toward repetitive side content, and later paid extras add to a game that is already very long.
48. Death Stranding#
Kojima Productions released Death Stranding in November 2019 on PS4, a strange, quiet game about delivering packages across a ruined America to reconnect its cities. Traversal is the gameplay: reading terrain, planning routes and balancing cargo, with other players' structures appearing in the world. It won Best Game Direction, Best Performance and Best Score and Music at The Game Awards in 2019, and critics scored the PS4 version 82 on Metacritic. The caveat is that the pace is slow and the story delivery can be heavy-handed, so it divides players sharply. A Director's Cut was released for PS5 in 2021.
49. Outer Wilds#
Mobius Digital released Outer Wilds in May 2019, a mystery in which a small solar system is trapped in a 22-minute time loop. Players explore planets by hand, with no upgrades to collect, and the only progress is knowledge, which makes each discovery a genuine revelation. It won Best Game at the 2020 BAFTA Games Awards. On PS4 it holds a Metacritic score of 82, though from only a few reviews, against 85 on PC. The caveat is that the physics and the ship's controls can be frustrating, the loop repeats hours of travel, and the game asks players to figure out things without guidance.
50. Control#
Remedy Entertainment released Control in August 2019, a supernatural action game set in the shifting corridors of the Federal Bureau of Control. Players wield a shapeshifting weapon and telekinesis, throwing furniture and concrete at enemies in a hybrid of shooter and Metroidvania. Critics scored the PS4 version 82 on Metacritic, praising its art direction and mood. The caveat is that the map is confusing and side missions are uneven.