The best PS4 games in 2024

The best PS4 games are like pizza toppings when you think about it – everyone thinks their choice is the correct one. Still, really it all comes down to a myriad of personal tastes and preferences that are different for each individual. And then there’s always someone who puts pineapple on theirs. Their pizza, that is, not their PS4.

Even though the PS5 is the current-generation gaming console, it has backward compatibility, so questions surrounding the best PS4 games will continue throughout 2024 and beyond. In fact, there are still new PS4 games coming out regularly as well – it’s not all about the new PS5 games quite yet. The PS4 has such a wide variety of games that there really is something for everyone, regardless of taste or preference.

The best PS4 games are:

1. Apex Legends

Its in-depth lore, range of character abilities, and stylized take on the battle royale genre make Apex Legends a clear pick for the best PS4 games and the best multiplayer games. For us, the movement mechanics and unique characters put it at the pinnacle of battle royale games. While it is available on other platforms, remapping the DualShock 4 allows you to seamlessly slide around the map to your heart’s content.

Whether you want to hang out with your mates with some quick-fire games or knuckle down and test your mettle in Apex Legends’ ranked playlists, you can get a wide range of experiences just by logging into this free-to-play game. The regular updates keep everything fresh, and PvE story elements introduce more of that glorious Titanfall lore every week. Now we’re just waiting for the Titans to appear…

2. God of War

It wouldn’t be a best PS4 games list without God of War, would it? In the 2018 reboot of the hit series, Kratos gets to unleash his fury in this open-world action game, together with his son, Boy… we mean Atreus. Featuring top-of-the-line combat, an enthralling narrative, and some pretty slick puzzles, all of the game’s offerings will challenge you.

God of War also looks gorgeous on the PS4 (and PS5, of course) and it’s the perfect game to pick up if you’re a fan of the series. The same goes for its sequel, God of War Ragnarok.

3. God of War Ragnarok

If you thought the original God of War from Sony’s Santa Monica studio bangs, then its sequel, God of War Ragnarok, is even better. Better biome variation, better battles with the God of War Ragnarok bosses, and an all-around tighter gameplay loop make Kratos and Atreus’s latest adventure their best yet.

In fact, we loved Ragnarok so much that we even marked it as a GOTY contender in the 2022 The Loadout Awards – it eventually took home the gold for best PlayStation exclusive. In our God of War Ragnarok review we felt it stood out from the crowd thanks to its “action-packed narrative, satisfying combat, a luscious Norse world, and some fantastic character development.”

4. Rocket League

Everyone’s favorite four-wheeled soccer game is a PS4 staple already. But after it became free-to-play a few years back, the game received a huge influx of players eager to get into the Rocket League ranks.

While Rocket League’s best cars are pretty much unquestioned at this point, the number of customization options can give your ride a unique, personal touch. Additionally, the Rocket League soundtrack is one of the best in gaming (depending on what genres you’re into). High-octane vehicular action aside, there’s plenty in here that makes Rocket League deserve a spot on our best PS4 games list.

5. Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Remakes often have a hard time living up to their predecessors. They have to overcome the nostalgia of the original, while simultaneously updating graphics and mechanics without losing touch with the soul of the game. That said, Final Fantasy 7 Remake navigates these tricky seas with ease, emerging glistening from the storm.

Although we’re not usually into single-player games, this is one of the few we deem worthy of making our list. If you value a single-player experience above anything else, Final Fantasy 7 is categorically one of the best PS4 games. Midgar has had a makeover, while Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, and Co. look better than ever, so there’s never been a better time to reminisce on your memories of the original or jump into the series for the first time.

6. Doom Eternal

Another of the PS4’s (mostly) single-player offerings, the fast-paced, metal-soundtracked journey through hell is big, brash, and unsubtle, but great fun. The campaign is up there as one of the finest from a first-person shooter, the high tempo never lets up for a second, yet somehow it never tires you out. Based on its campaign alone, Doom Eternal deserves a place among the best PS4 games.

The Battlemode multiplayer is fine, but the best moments are when you are left on your own in a room filled with vile hellspawn and you can remove limbs, explode heads, and generally mess up demons in more ways than you could possibly imagine.

7. Titanfall 2

Despite being released nearly five years ago, Titanfall 2 is one of the best PS4 games because it single-handedly revolutionized the way we see the FPS genre. The succinct campaign brought us wall-running, heart-wrenching story beats, and of course, inspired Apex Legends. The real standout features in Titanfall 2 are the blend of first-person shooter action and third-person Titan warfare. The large battles give you a sense of scale and the feeling that you are a small part of a much bigger war – as well as being a small pilot-shaped cog in the hulking automaton BT-7274.

Movement feels fast and natural, combining the sliding, wall-running, and titan action for a smooth experience all around. It’s safe to say Titanfall 2 is a genre-defining game, and worth picking up, whether that’s for the first time or to remind yourself of how good an FPS can be.

8. Marvel’s Spider-Man

It’s no wonder you’ll hear Spider-Man mentioned as one of the best PS4 games because it combines all the best parts of being a superhero into one near-perfect package. Swing through a stunningly detailed recreation of Manhattan to defeat a host of evil villains and bring some semblance of peace to the Big Apple. The sequel, starring Miles Morales, is available on the PS4 as well as on next-gen, so if you’re not upgrading your system, you can still get your superhero fix.

The best part of Spider-Man is the swinging, for sure, but it is equally satisfying to nail combat combos to disarm enemies, wrap them in web, or simply kick them into oblivion. Your spidey senses will help dodge and parry enemy blows, and the variety of opposing factions and villain types keeps things interesting. It’s also great fun to comb the streets for every collectible – most of which are references to the comics or movies. Upgrade your suit, unlock iconic outfits, and don’t let anything get in the way of justice.

9. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best open world games to have graced the PS4 store. With more duels, bounty hunters, and horses than you can shake a stick at, the game delivers a glorious epic that can be played time and time again.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most immersive experiences, requiring you to clean your guns in order to ensure they work properly, looking after your trusty horses so they know they’re cared for, all the while you take on bad guys and face the Wild West.

Since the next Grand Theft Auto game is skipping last-gen consoles when the GTA 6 release date finally comes around, now’s a great time to catch up on one of Rockstar’s best games to date.

10. The Last of Us Part 2

When the conversation regarding the best PS4 games of all time comes around, The Last of Us Part 2 is always mentioned – and for good reason seeing as it was crowned Game of the Year at the 2020 Game Awards. Widely considered one of the best games ever made – something we agree with – the third-person stealth shooter follows protagonist Ellie as she navigates life and love in a zombie apocalypse.

This isn’t a game that you can drop into for a little fun, but the gritty campaign is both graphically and narratively beautiful. Every level blends seamlessly into the next, and each offers an unthinkable variety of paths through – some violent, some stealth, and some a bit of both.

The combination of a gripping story and freedom to move through The Last of Us 2’s levels however you like made it a hit with streamers on Twitch when it launched. Over 300,000 people tuned into some of the platform’s biggest streamers on launch day, which is one of the highest peak audiences ever for a single-player title on Twitch.

Obviously, you should play through the first game before tackling this, but be ready to have everything you thought you knew about games blown completely out of the water. It’s also made our list of the best PS5 games, so if you’ve had the chance to upgrade make sure you play it there.

11. The Last Guardian

Another single-player game for our list, The Last Guardian is a testament to worldbuilding, narrative, and artificial intelligence. Trico, the giant mythical beast that accompanies you on your quest to escape the ancient pit you find yourself trapped in, behaves exactly like an animal should. Yes, there are a couple of glitches here and there, but generally, Team Ico nails Trico’s animal tendencies to create a beautiful creature in a mysterious world.

Make sure to give your feline-ish friend lots of pats and care to make sure he responds to your instructions as best as possible. Work together through innovative platforming puzzles to make your escape, battling against the crumbling city’s defenders as well as your own fears. Cooperation is key, and The Last Guardian is a wonderfully unique game you’ll remember for years.

12. Unchartered 4: A Thief’s End

While some would say Uncharted protagonist Nathan Drake is a thief, we’d call him a treasure hunter in the same vein as Lara Croft. In the fourth mainline outing for the franchise, Uncharted 4 follows a recently retired Nathan as he’s thrust back into the dangerous world of treasure hunting in order to save his thought-to-be-dead brother.

Similar to other Naughty Dog games, Uncharted 4 is a narrative-focused experience, but it has some solid third-person shooting in beautiful and well-designed levels that take you across the globe, from tropical environments to snowy landscapes.

Having previous knowledge of the Uncharted games isn’t required, as the game can be played as its own standalone story, but playing the previous three games definitely adds to the enjoyment.

13. Horizon Forbidden West

The sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West sees Aloy journey away from her home in search of more answers to questions the first game dredged up. But don’t worry if you haven’t played Zero Dawn, as Forbidden West offers a story recap of its predecessor (which is admittedly brief, but enough to get you started).

Horizon is a solid action-adventure series with a hint of role-playing within, allowing you to upgrade Aloy’s skills as she progresses her journey. There are plenty of human enemies out there, but the biggest threat are mechanical beasts similar to dinosaurs that inhabit the world. Yes, robot dinosaurs.

As the second game in the series, Forbidden West continues the narrative beats of the first outing, but it’s also packed full of new weapons and abilities, including new exploration tools to help you reach higher and more out-of-the-way places. If you liked the original, you’ll want to play Forbidden West as it improves in every way,

14. Gran Turismo 7

The long-running Gran Turismo series may need no introduction for most, but for those new to PlayStation, the GT series is Sony’s exclusive racing-sim line of games, similar to Xbox’s Forza series. In Gran Turismo 7, expect the same gameplay as usual but with a host of upgrades for the latest title, such as increased physics, incredible-looking tracks, and blood-pumping fast cars.

Save up for your favorite cars, tune them, and then take to the circuits to capture the best lap times possible. Polyphony has even implemented a super realistic weather system that dynamically affects different parts of the track.

15. Dying Light 2

Dying Light 2’s story isn’t much to talk about. The standard zombie cliches are here, such as a viral outbreak, splintered human factions in a post-apocalyptic city, nothing you haven’t seen before. But what makes Dying Light 2 and its predecessor special is how you deal with, or avoid your undead enemies.

Dying Light 2 allows you to craft and wield powerful melee weapons with different, and very powerful mods, such as electrifying or poisoning your enemies. But when things get tough, instead of running in a straight line, developer Techland has taken a page out of Mirror’s Edge’s book, allowing you to freely parkour across the open world.

It may not be a life-changing experience, but Dying Light 2 is exhilarating undead-killing fun that makes it one of the best zombie games available right now. For more of our thoughts on the game, you can check out our Dying Light 2 review.

16. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is one of the most magical simulation games out there, one of the best relaxing games you can get your mitts on, and one of the best PS4 games full-stop. Having taken over your deceased grandpa’s farm, your life in the titular region begins by trying to get things back into some semblance of order.

However, Stardew Valley isn’t just a simple, crunchy farming sim – it’s a farm life sim. Throughout the 100s of hours you can easily plow into the game you’ll get to know the valley’s inhabitants – some very intimately – and forge lasting friendships with them. There are also dungeon-crawling elements thanks to a vast underground that you can explore and loot – loot goblins, rejoice.

17. Infamous: Second Son

Despite being one of the first games built for the last generation, Infamous: Second Son is still one of the best-looking games on the PS4, and the gameplay fulfills that power-hungry lust that you might not know you’re missing out on.

While it is the third game in the series, Infamous: Second Son is somewhat of a soft reboot, following on from Infamous 2 while giving us a new main character. In it, you play as Delsin, a local delinquent who discovers he is a Conduit (the term for superpowered humans in the Infamous world), where he has the ability to absorb other Conduit’s abilities.

Unfortunately for Delsin, a government-backed organization called the D.U.P. is capturing Conduits, and in an attempt to save his home, Delsin must head to Seattle and confront the head of the organization.

Gameplay-wise, Second Son is an open world filled with small activities to complete as well as the main story, but Second Son’s combat is incredibly fluid, as you unlock four different types of powers and are able to switch them out on the fly so long as you’re near a power source. Each set of powers has its own skills, styles, and traversal to make getting around fun.

18. Ghost of Tsushima

After creating an incredible title with Infamous: Second Son, the team at Sucker Punch moved on from the superhero series to develop Ghost of Tsushima, which has gone on to receive critical acclaim for its gorgeous world, easy-to-know and hard-to-master combat, and an engaging story focused on the samurai clans of an island called Tsushima.

In Ghost of Tsushima, you play as Jin Sakai, one of the last remaining samurai on the island as he attempts to fight off a Mongol invasion led by Khotun Khan, the grandson of the evil Genghis Khan. While Jin has studied the Samurai code under his uncle, Lord Shimura, Jin must become the titular Ghost of Tsushima, breaking the code in order to save the island.

As Jin, you’ll have a variety of combat stances to switch between, all of which are able to damage certain enemies more specifically, meaning you need to quickly eliminate distinct enemy types before moving on to the next, as well as using Jin’s ghost tools to stealthily ambush and kill Mongols. When you’re not fighting off the invaders, you can roam a gorgeous open world that loads way too quickly even on the PS4, and upgrade your gear in order to finally defeat Khotun Khan.

19. Persona 5 Royal

PERSONA! While it may be the fifth mainline installment in the Persona series, Persona 5 Royal tells its own story, which means you don’t need to play the previous entries. In Persona 5, you play as a silent protagonist called Joker, and the story is told mostly in flashbacks as you form a group called the Phantom Thieves, which steals the corruption from the hearts of adults.

While some of Persona 5’s gameplay revolves around very stylish turn-based action, most of the gameplay is a standard role-playing affair, as you go to school, develop relationships with your cohort, and pursue other goals like part-time jobs.

Persona 5 Royal consists of the original game, as well as additional content like a new semester, quality of life features, and more, making it the best version of the game to play. If you’re someone who focuses on the story content, there’s still roughly 100 hours of content to enjoy here.

20. Elden Ring

If you haven’t played Elden Ring, stop reading and go and play it right now. Our Elden Ring Review gave the game a 10/10 – as did many other outlets across the world – and hailed it a masterpiece.

If you really need further explanation, Elden Ring is the latest Soulslike FromSoftware game. It continues the Dark Souls legacy by being tough as nails, but this is arguably the best time for new players to jump into the series. It’s everything Dark Souls was but in an open world, filled to the brim with adventure, wonder, and death. Unsurprisingly, it’s made our list of the best Soulslike games.

21. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

The first major Prince of Persia release in over a decade, Ubisoft Montpellier – the studio behind Rayman – reintroduced the beloved series in the best possible way with The Lost Crown.

An excellent addition to the list of best Metroidvania games, The Lost Crown takes elements of the genre and blends them with the classic Prince of Persia vibe. What’s more, its challenging combat and platforming can be tweaked to your liking thanks to the myriad settings available, making for one of the most approachable entry points into the realm of Metroidvanias yet.

The result of Ubi’s graft has merited a mighty Metacritic score of 86 – the best-scoring Prince of Persia game since the 2003 classic The Sands of Time (92).

22. Bloodborne

The best FromSoftware game of the PS4 generation, fans have been clamoring for a Bloodborne PC port for the best part of a decade – it really is that good. Don’t believe us? Try its whopping 92 Metacritic score on for size.

A soulslike in the same vein as Elden Ring, Bloodborne doesn’t quite have the sprawling open world of its more modern cousin. However, this stylish ARPG’s more linear town of Yharnam is every bit as charming – something which is helped by its Gothic, Victorian stylings. It’s the gentlefolk’s soulslike in every sense of the word (okay, it’s not exactly ‘gentle’), and one which you have to experience if you’re after a real challenge.

23. Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Ubisoft Bordeaux’s first crack at heading up an Assassin’s Creed installment was a major success considering its more condensed budget. Acting as a prequel of sorts to 2020’s Valhalla, Mirage focuses on Basim’s rise from common street thief to the assassin order.

Unlike Valhalla, Mirage ditches the massive open-world design that’s featured prominently in recent AC games, returning to something old-school fans will feel much more at home with. You can definitely feel the influence of the Ezio games here, though Mirage ensures there are some new bells and whistles to separate it from its predecessors.

In our Assassin’s Creed Mirage review we call it “a truly excellent experience,” with Ubi “wonderfully blending this series’ past and present to provide players with a compact, engaging story driven by captivating characters and secrets worth seeking.”

Whether you’re a single-player nut or a multiplayer master, the PS4 has plenty to offer. All you’ve got to do now is head to the pizzeria that is the PlayStation Store and gaze longingly up at the menu, wondering whether to go for a spicy pepperoni or a classic Neapolitan – a God of War or a Spider-Man. Given the full scale of all PS4 games, there’s something for everyone.

Be sure to pick up the free-to-play options on this list too just to try them for size, because there’s one thing that pizzerias don’t offer: free pizza. If you’re still rocking your PS4 and need some accessories, check out our pick of the best PS4 controllers and best PS4 headsets you can get right now. Have fun!