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The 10 best PS4 games of all time

The best PS4 games of all time are exercises in perfect execution above all else. While perhaps not as innovative as past console eras, they excel at giving gamers unforgettable, immersive experiences.

It’s a strange thing looking over this list of the best PS4 games of all time. Other than a few notable exceptions they are sequels, reboots, and spiritual successors to titles that came before them – much like the console itself, now that I think about it.

However, what these PS4 games lack in novelty they make up for in how flawlessly they are crafted. The PS4 generation was the golden era of AAA video games, a time when resources were given to developers in unprecedented quantities and the results speak for themselves.

best ps4 games
Image: Horizon Zero Dawn / Guerrilla Games

Cinematic was a term often used to describe video games before the PS4, but it wasn’t until that console’s release that it felt even remotely accurate. And in hindsight, it appears that many of these games were perhaps more focused on being ‘the new cinema’ than continuing the evolution of their actual artform.

Nonetheless, the best PS4 games stand tall amongst the pantheon of great games, and increasingly close to the great works of entertainment. So without further pause, let’s get down to business: here are the best PS4 games of all time.

the best ps4 games of all time
Image: God of War / Santa Monica Studio

God of War (2018)

If I had told you there would be a God of War game in 2018 that would take you on an adventure where emotion and characters were the primary driving forces, you probably would have laughed. I know I would have, but that is exactly what makes God of War such a phenomenal surprise.

We already knew from their past games that Santa Monica Studio could to dial up the action and adrenaline to 11. Painting characters with nuance and sensitivity though, well they’d not really shown too much interest in walking that path.

God of War proved they could do both at the same time, crafting a brutal action game with a tremendous amount of heart and artistry. God of War is a spectacle, and is undeniably one of the best PS4 games ever made.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn tells the story of Aloy, a charming young woman who just so happens to have been born at a time when the world is in a bit of a rough way. Still bearing the scars of what we assume was some sort of World War III event, nature has begun to patiently reclaim the planet.

It’s the perfect backdrop to set a game, especially one that focuses on exploration like Horizon Zero Dawn does. Trust me when I tell you it will take an extraordinarily long time before you tire of searching for giant giraffe machine-creatures to climb. It’s simply breathtaking.

The gorgeous open-world design also has a surprisingly engaging mystery at its core, meaning that by the time you finish the game’s remarkable campaign, you’ll be glad to hear that a sequel is imminent.

Bloodborne

This one right here is a personal favourite, a gothic adventure that’s even more rewarding than it is frustrating. Full disclosure though: it really can be really frustrating.

In typical FromSoftware style (read: opaque), the lore of the world is incredibly deep, yet the story is hidden just beneath the surface. Don’t worry though, its unique blend of horrifically inventive beasts, genius level design, and addictive combat will almost certainly get you hooked.

Currently, Bloodborne is only available on the PS4, which in my opinion further strengthens its claim to being one of the best PS4 games of all time.

Red Dead Redemption 2

If you are going to go open-world, then you may as well go Red Dead Redemption 2 open-world. Beautifully realised right down to the finest details, there’s something in this game for anyone who ever dreamed of being an outlaw cowboy.

The game follows Arthur Morgan and the ragtag crew of criminals he calls his family. There is a great deal of cinematic storytelling that nicely undercuts the huge amount of freedom you are afforded.

A groundbreaking achievement in terms of player immersion, and hard proof that almost anything is possible with AAA studio resources and time.

Resident Evil VII: Biohazard

If you want to be scared then look no further, Resident Evil VII: Biohazard isn’t only one of the best PS4 games of all time it is hands down the most terrifying. I shit you not, horror films and games make up a significant portion of my overall entertainment diet, yet there were times I couldn’t bring myself to continue playing this game.

I realise this choice may be a little controversial, but in my opinion a great game should ultimately be judged by how successfully it accomplishes what it set out to achieve. Resident Evil VII: Biohazard wants to scare its audience to death… and I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest to hear that it had.

The Last of Us Part 2

You know what I was saying before about the relationship between cinematic games and the PS4? The Last of Us Part 2 is essentially my case in point.

Continuing where the narrative of the first game left off, in a way some fans notoriously took exception to, the game plays out like a descent into the most brutal and unpleasant recesses of human nature. Characters you love will let you down, the violence you perform will disturb you, and ultimately, the game will leave you bruised and exhausted.

It isn’t always pleasant, but neither is it meant to be. The Last of Us Part 2 tells the story it wants to tell, and it tells it with such purpose and power that it will likely be remembered as the best PS4 game of the generation.

Dark Souls 3

The final instalment in one of the most influential and beloved video game series ever. The monsters are more horrifying than ever, the atmosphere is grim yet fascinating, and combat feels extraordinarily fast, flexible, and fair.

Essentially, Dark Souls 3 was the home run fans were praying for, and the reason Elden Ring is the most anticipated title of 2022.

Some fans were initially a little critical of the game’s level design, but I would argue that its more linear framework lends itself to the sense of inevitability and fate Miyazaki was going for to end his iconic trilogy – and end it does, in a fitting climax of tattered majesty that will haunt your dreams for the foreseeable future. Combined with the DLC, Dark Souls 3 is one of the best ps4 games available.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is the kind of blockbuster entertainment Steven Spielberg has been trying to recapture since India Jones lost his mojo in a batshit crazy theme park ride involving a crystal skull and aliens. Developer Naughty Dog doesn’t fall for the same pitfalls, instead imbuing its acclaimed action-adventure series with a surprising amount of emotional depth and poignancy.

The set pieces are incredible, the gameplay is rock solid, and the cast of characters are charming and likeable. If it turns out, as has widely been reported, that this truly is Nathan Drake’s final adventure, then there would be no shame in him bowing out on such a high.

How he and his friends fare in Hollywood could, unfortunately, be a different story altogether.

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima more than earns its place alongside the best PS4 games with its staggeringly beautiful open world and fascinating historical storytelling. You take on the role of Jin Sakai, an accomplished samurai who must rely on every ounce of his skill and willpower to defend the Japanese island of Tsushima against an invading Mongol army.

The game gives you a great deal of freedom, and the biggest compliment I can pay it is that it’s fun no matter how you choose to play. Ghost of Tsushima is so good in fact that the development team were appointed ambassadors to the real-life Tsushima. Now that’s what I call an endorsement.

DOOM Eternal

If like your games fast, brutal, addictive, and full to bursting with adrenaline, then DOOM Eternal is for you. With improvements across the board in comparison to its 2016 predecessor, DOOM Eternal looks like a big, dumb, and fun shooter. The surprising thing is that it isn’t.

Well it is fun, but it most certainly isn’t dumb. DOOM Eternal‘s gameplay mechanics are far deeper than you’d expect, tuned perfectly to create an endless cycle of beautiful chaos. You know what, now that I think about it, that might be why id Software decided on the Eternal moniker.

Either way, the sheer amount of fun it offers should guarantee it a place on any worthy list of the best PS4 games of all time.

That brings us to a close in terms of our list of the best PS4 games of all time. However, if you’re looking for something a little more recent, be sure to check out our list of best new games.

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