Top 20 BEST PS4 Games of All Time

Just because we’re putting “Days Gone” at the bottom does not make it the worst of the PS4 exclusives. Much like the rest of our list, “Days Gone” manages to tell a solid story while immersing us in a captivating albeit morbid zombie apocalypse–*ahem* I mean, “freaker” apocalypse (ugh…). On top of that, the gunplay and swarms of zomb–EXCUSE ME, “FREAKERS” makes every combat encounter tense and thrilling. So, why so low? Well, it’s a bit hard to recommend to anyone who is mildly annoyed by all the zombie movies and TV shows that crop as frequently as they do. It comes off as unoriginal, but this is also why we have the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Regardless of whether you like or loathe developer Quantic Dream for its “emotional” stories, “Detroit: Become Human” is by far their best work. Set in a future where humanoid robots are mankind’s servants, players follow Kara, an android on the run with her owner’s daughter, Markus, a caretaker android who soon discovers his free will, and Connor, an android of the police who assists a discriminating, alcholic investigator. Every character is well-written, fully fleshed out in their personality and storyline, and with all of the different choices to choose from, you’ll want to see every possible ending after your initial playthrough.

Poor “Concrete Genie” got overshadowed by the PlayStation 5 as Sony talked about their new console on the game’s launch day. But we saw you, “Concrete Genie”. Developer Pixelopus brought us a beautiful tale about a lonesome boy who discovers a magical paintbrush, allowing him to create monsters and restore color back to his home. Whereas most art-themed games resort to giving you a sketchbook and saying “draw something”, “Concrete Genie” gives you enough freedom to make its world your own, and its charming monsters, wondrous story, and chill atmosphere serve as an excellent game to play for an evening from start to finish.

Another title overshadowed by news of the PS5, “MediEvil” was a remake that stayed true to the original for better and worse. Even though it retains the clunky controls and combat, venturing out as Sir Daniel Fortesque [“Fort-ess-cue”] felt just as exciting as it did back in 1998. The world of Gallowmere has new life breathed into its dark and dismal landmarks thanks to the power of the PS4, and the character animation perfectly compliments the top-notch sound design. Oh, and the fact that you can unlock the original game by achieving a 100% completion? Truly, this is one of the best remakes ever, even with its flaws.

It isn’t often that we get a truly exceptional golf game, and rarely did the “Everybody’s Golf” series (or “Hot Shots”, as North Americans know it) underdeliver. “Everybody’s Golf” was essentially the ultimate golfing experience. Along with a handful of cleverly designed courses, the game came with a vast assortment of cosmetics in character customization while celebrating the king’s game. Not only did it test your skills on the course, it also tested your knowledge of the sport and terminology and even allowed you to participate in some fun golf kart racing! Regardless if you’re a casual or hardcore golf fan, this was worth the price of admission.

Admittedly, the “LittleBigPlanet” series was growing a bit tiresome at this point, but that doesn’t make its third main entry any less spectacular. LBP3 came with its own slew of creative ideas, its main focus being the different playable characters. Swoop, Toggle, and OddSock each brought new mechanics and concepts to the franchise with their different abilities, paving the way for players to come up with fresh ideas for their own levels and games to upload. Basically, it was another charming adventure with Sackboy and friends and another good excuse to exercise our imagination for an afternoon.

Now, we can be honest and say that “Until Dawn” isn’t exactly a perfect candidate compared to most other horror games, specifically when it comes to character animation. However, we would argue that its uncanny looks add to the discomfort it carries with its campy tone. Despite its occasional cheesiness, “Until Dawn” still managed to bring the scares, and they came hard. From quick-time events to collecting totems to telling your therapist what terrifies you most, the game invites you to participate in its TV-like narrative while throwing a few curveballs. Even if you’re only remotely into horror, this is well worth your time.

There was much debate over whether or not we should include “Shadow of the Colossus” on this list. Honestly, how many times can you “remake” or “remaster” the same game? Even with that question, this is ultimately the definitive version of the PS2 classic. We could go on about the visual fidelity all day with the improved draw distance, highly detailed textures and environments, and everything. The real improvements here are in the controls; certain movements and mechanics have been more streamlined, making them easier to understand for new players. In other words, it’s a remake that far surpasses the original in more ways than just having a fresh coat of paint.

First-party UK-based studio Media Molecule didn’t have a strong presence during the PS4 era (“LittleBigPlanet 3” was mostly developed by Tencent-owned studio Sumo Digital). That isn’t to say they didn’t put out a banger of their own with “Tearaway Unfolded”. An enhanced remake of their 2013 PlayStation Vita game, “Tearaway Unfolded” added a plethora of new levels and ideas that weren’t possible on the Vita and even went so far as to design concepts around the PS4’s hardware and the DualShock controller. Brimming with cleverness and personality, this was a game that could turn any frown upside-down.

We are very well aware of just how contentious “The Last of Us” has become within not just the PlayStation community, but gaming in general. We can understand how many would perceive the game as shocking for the sake of being shocking, and the dozen or so hours spent with Abby were not exactly what gamers were expecting. However, it would be an injustice to neglect the technical achievements in “The Last of Us: Part II”, specifically in its complex AI and massive wealth of accessibility features. Companies looking to reach more people with their games should take note of the latter.

Considering the PlayStation 4 was just barely a year old, “Second Son” was a promising start to a new era of the platform. Yes, some of us were disappointed about Delsin Rowe replacing Cole MacGrath. To each their own, but you cannot ignore the creativity and marvel behind this game. Developer Sucker Punch Productions got crazy with the smoke, neon, concrete, and…video powers? Neat and unconventional ideas, and it may not be the best game in the franchise, but it’s still worthy of being called one of the PS4’s greatest titles.

We were debating whether to leave off PSVR games, but since they require a PS4 in order to run, we couldn’t leave off our adorable Astro! “Astro Bot Rescue Mission” was exactly what the PSVR needed to get PS4 owners to jump into the world of VR (not mentioning the fact we already had PS4’s, you know?). It isn’t enough to just move Astro around; every level requires some degree of interaction in order to progress, and you’ll find so many cleverly hidden secrets as you venture forth. “Astro Bot Rescue Mission” is a miraculous joy ride, and it’s some of the most fun three hours you’ll ever have.

How do you remake a game as magnificent and expansive as “Final Fantasy VII”? A tall order for most studios. For Square Enix, though, it was worth every nickel and dime. “Final Fantasy VII Remake” was a pure passion project as it expanded upon every character’s backstory (including ones who were only supporting cast members), and the reworked combat system managed to incorporate new and modern ideas without sacrificing those featured in the original. But if you haven’t played the original, we highly recommend you go play that first before jumping into this one. You’ll realize why this was such a big deal to so many players.

We all know that “Uncharted 2” will probably be the best game in the franchise until the day it dies. However, “Uncharted 4” came super close to overthrowing it. Its only stumble? Being just a little bit slower in its pacing. Even so, this was the perfect send-off for Nathan Drake. The semi-open world approach was pulled off surprisingly well. The story was cleverly written and compelling from start to finish. And it perfectly closes Nathan Drake’s story. It’s easily one of the best games to come from Naughty Dog in recent years, and it’s a must-play…assuming you’ve already played the first three games.

Don’t worry - this is the last time we’ll be talking about remakes on this list, and of them all, “Ratchet & Clank” was the best of the batch. Though it has some problems with how it severs aspects of what made the original game so great (like the scrappy attitude), it still manages to bring some major improvements. For example, the weapon wheel functions more closely with the later games, giving players pause to assess their situation and carefully select from their arsenal. Hardcore fans might not appreciate the ultra “G-rated” tone, but this was a great way to keep fans satisfied until “Rift Apart” launched on PS5.

New IPs come and go. Sony struck gold here, though. “Horizon Zero Dawn” managed to surpass its ultra-generic name and bring us an experience unlike any other. We could spend hours dissecting the puzzles, lore, and characters, but the stars of the show here are the combat and enemy design. The way the dinosaur-like machines are constructed helps you recognize where potential weak points are and gives you an idea which tools are right for the job. Sure, the animation can seem uncanny at times, but it’s easy to look past when the game plays this well!

With the “Batman Arkham” games having ended, it was only a matter of time before Marvel got a “Batman Arkham” of their own. In comes Insomniac Games with “Marvel’s Spider-Man”, promising a new age of not just superhero games, but licensed games as a whole. Breathtaking visuals, thrilling combat, satisfying webswinging, and a compelling story are wrapped up in one webby package here, and none of it is marred in exaggerated swagger. We would happily put it up higher if only it didn’t have those dull stealth missions with MJ and Miles. Sorry, Spidey!

Despite what other outlets might try to say, the older “God of War” games are still fantastic games today, bloodthirsty rage and all. As for “God of War” 2018, it manages to fit that same combo-fueled action while also hitting different in several ways. The epic and booming soundtrack, the unique environments, the way you can mix your axe and blades with Atreus’s archery, the impact you feel visually and audibly when you recall the Leviathan Axe… It all makes you feel like a powerhouse, and even on the easiest difficulty, “God of War” does its damn hardest to kick you down and help you hone your skills. Our only complaint? Man, Midgard houses A LOT of trolls.

Oh, “Bloodborne”... You have been done a tremendous disservice. With your splendidly morbid atmosphere, your depressing and dark characters, your relentless boss fights, and harsh embrace of death, you deserve so much more. As fans of PlayStation and FromSoftware games, it’s incredibly hard to say a game is better–nay, superior than you. So, why must we do this? Why must we betray our good graces towards you and put you at number two? Four words: thirty frames per second. An unfair judgement upon you considering modern times, yes, but a judgement nonetheless. So, Sony, put this game on PS5 already and make it sixty, dammit!!

We’d like to take a moment to say that every game featured on this list is fantastic in their own ways. Every game on this list is one hundred percent a must-own for anyone who has a PS4. But when discussing games that are on the cusp of perfection, “Ghost of Tsushima” was the closest to achieve that. A well-written story, exceptional combat that enforces patience and skill, a wealth of exciting adventures to live out your samurai and/or ninja fantasy, a free expansion that allowed us to play with friends - it ticked EVERY box. The only complaint we had was the sheer number of Inari shrines, and even that is a trivial criticism. Every PS4 owner needs to play the games we mentioned here, but if there is one that defined the generation, it was “Ghost of Tsushima”.