Best PS4 Games 2024: All our best picks for the last-generation Sony console
The PS4 has been overtaken by the PS5 but that doesn’t mean that it’s lost its massive fanbase. But with such a humongous games library, which older games are actually worth picking up?
Thankfully, our expert team is brimming with gaming knowledge, especially when it comes to the PS4. That’s why we’re going to be running through some of our favourite games from the last-generation Sony console so you know exactly where to look.
Since every gamer will have their own specific tastes, we’ve ensured to pack this list with as much variety as possible. There are sprawling open-world games like Elden Ring all the way to quirky simulation games like Two Point Campus. The age of the PS4 doesn’t hold us back from adding to this list either, with the renowned God of War Ragnarök now featured thanks to its incredibly compelling storylines and near-faultless gameplay.
It’s important to note that every game on this list has been played to completion – where possible – so you know that you’re getting real-world advice. We take into consideration how well the storyline flows, how the game handles and how replayable each title is, so you can pick and choose the game that will work best for you.
If you want to take a look at some more recent titles, then make sure to take a look at our new best games of 2023 list, which we will continually update as the year goes on. Anyone who owns more than one console should also check out the best PS5 games, the best Xbox Series X/S games, the best Nintendo Switch games and even the best PC games, for a more specialised view of what’s on the market.
But without wasting any more time, keep reading for our top PS4 games list, which has all been thoroughly reviewed and tested by a member of our expert team to ensure that the next game you play will become a new favourite.
Best PS4 games at a glance
- Best action-adventure story game: God of War Ragnarök – check price
- Best RPG: Elden Ring – check price
- Best racing game: Gran Turismo 7 – check price
- Best action game: Bloodborne – check price
- Best horror game: Resident Evil Village – check price
- Best management simulator game: Two Point Campus – check price
- Best family game: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – check price
- Best open-world game: Horizon Forbidden West – check price
- Best superhero game: Miles Morales – Marvel’s Spider-Man – check price
- Best narrative game: The Quarry – check price
How we test
We play every game we review through to the end, outside of certain exceptions where getting 100% completion, like Skyrim, is close to impossible to do. When we don’t fully finish a game before reviewing it we will always alert the reader.
- Giant open world to explore, full of things to discover
- Rewarding and punishing combat
- More content than most players will ever need
- Open-class development tree that’s ripe for tweaking
- Some fights are very difficult
- Accessible and engaging campaign
- Wide range of features and customisation
- Excellent handling with PS5 DualSense controller
- Great visuals and sound
- Rolling starts feel outdated
- A.I drivers not the most competitive
- Some won’t like ‘pay-to-win’ aspect of in-game credits
- Creepy setting that oozes atmosphere
- Fun new survival mechanics
- Mercenaries mode is a nice addition for fans
- Not as scary as Resi 7
- Campaign is a little short
- Great variety of courses and personalities
- Hours of gameplay
- Great and distinctive art style
- Simple controls make designing easy
- Occasional technical glitches
- Enough content to last for weeks on end
- Massive levels to explore
- Revamped combat keeps you more engaged
- Co-op is an absolute blast
- Space battles are a bit mundane
- Camera sometimes gets in the way
- Huge number of machines to fight
- New upgrade system has rewarding gameplay loop
- Map is packed with a variety of biomes
- Story takes a fascinating new direction
- Platforming often feels clunky
- Multiple irksome technical issues
- Miles Morales is an excellent protagonist with a worthwhile story
- Meaningful expansion of the original gameplay formula with new powers
- Manhattan looks positively gorgeous with ray tracing on PS5
- Teases an exciting future for this vision of Spider-Man
- The campaign is a little short for the asking price
- A fairly pedestrian take on the open-world genre
- Engrossing story
- Well realised cast
- Stunning graphics and facial capture
- QTE are more forgiving
- Not quite as scary as Until Dawn
- A few cheap deaths
- Death Rewind needs fixing
- Smart level design
- Consistent, satisfying mechanics
- Thick, moody atmosphere
- Frequently frustrating
- Obscure style may annoy
- Epic story with a deeper dive into Norse mythology
- Combat is just as brutally fun as before
- Atreus as a playable character is a welcome addition
- Looks phenomenal on the PS5
- Frustrating difficulty spikes
- Lots of backtracking in game’s latter half
God of War Ragnarök
Pros
- Epic story with a deeper dive into Norse mythology
- Combat is just as brutally fun as before
- Atreus as a playable character is a welcome addition
- Looks phenomenal on the PS5
Cons
- Frustrating difficulty spikes
- Lots of backtracking in game’s latter half
We gave God of War Ragnarök an incredible 5-stars as well as a Trusted Reviews Recommended badge, cementing it as one of the best games available on the PS4. It sticks with the same ultra-satisfying combat from the original God of War, but delves much deeper into Norse mythology, giving players access to all nine realms for the first time.
We loved the main villains of this game, Thor and Odin. Each has a distinctive personality and brings a lot more nuance to the series, especially when compared to the hot-headed Balur of the first game. The storyline is fantastic, fleshing out Kratos and Atreus even more and giving players the ability to play as Kratos’ son, allowing for more sympathy and understanding of their dynamic.
Unfortunately, the PS4 internals does hinder this game a little, with developer Santa Monica having to sneakily hide loading screens within the game. Although the PS4 variation of this title won’t have the same 4K graphics as the PS5 allows, it still comes with the same fantastic gameplay and storyline, meaning that you won’t be missing out on anything more than a few graphical improvements.
If you were a fan of the first God of War and want to see how this story wraps up, we can’t recommend this title enough. With such an incredible story and over 70 hours of gameplay, this is a title that you can keep coming back to, and it’s the perfect ending to Kratos’ time in the Norse world.
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: God of War Ragnarök
Elden Ring
A fantastic but incredibly challenging open-world game
Pros
- Giant open world to explore, full of things to discover
- Rewarding and punishing combat
- More content than most players will ever need
- Open-class development tree that’s ripe for tweaking
Cons
- Some fights are very difficult
FromSoftware is known for its brutally punishing Dark Soul series, and its latest release blew us away. Elden Ring ditched the linear levels of Dark Souls in favour of an incredibly expansive open-world map that makes the game feel fuller, akin to Breath of the Wild and Skyrim.
You have the choice of crawling through optional dungeons to find more treasure or looking for monsters to slay that offer a bounty of experience points. The high difficulty may turn some people off of this title, though we found that it’s one of the most satisfying games to master and a must-play for RPG fans.
There are also multiple playstyles to choose from, so you can experiment by sneaking through bushes for a high damage backstab, or use magic to blast your foes from far away. With so much world to cover and so many ways to take down your enemies, this is an incredibly versatile game that’s packed with personality.
Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson
Full review: Elden Ring review
Gran Turismo 7
Beautiful looking and fast-paced racing game
Pros
- Accessible and engaging campaign
- Wide range of features and customisation
- Excellent handling with PS5 DualSense controller
- Great visuals and sound
Cons
- Rolling starts feel outdated
- A.I drivers not the most competitive
- Some won’t like ‘pay-to-win’ aspect of in-game credits
There are many racing games out there to choose from, but Gran Turismo 7 stood out to us thanks to its incredible visuals. Our reviewer noted how detailed the interior and exteriors of the car are, and how this game has clearly been made by car enthusiasts, with options to chat to characters in the café about the history of different vehicles.
We also thought that this game is one of the most accessible entries into racing similar titles; the handling feels natural and there is weight to each car you drive, and there is a massive breadth of features that creates a realistic experience for players.
And if you want to race online, Sportsmanship ratings ensure that you are pitted against people that are at a similar skillset, meaning that each race feels fair. If you’re into racing games and want to experience a hyper-realistic title, this is one of the best PS4 games out there.
Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Gran Turismo 7 review
Bloodborne
Challenging and gameplay focused role-playing game
Pros
- Smart level design
- Consistent, satisfying mechanics
- Thick, moody atmosphere
Cons
- Frequently frustrating
- Obscure style may annoy
Another incredible entry from FromSoftware, Bloodborne features intense combat and a ruthless difficulty that makes it so satisfying to beat, though we expect that you will die plenty of times along the way.
There isn’t much story here, though the rich world is brimming with creepy and dark artwork. Our reviewer notes how you gradually learn the combat amid plenty of failed attempts, meaning that you get more familiar with the world each time you die, building your skills so you’re better prepared for the next foe you encounter.
Unlike Dark Souls, you also are not granted a shield, with our reviewer claiming that you need to take on an aggressive combat style, which puts more focus on technique and timing. If you think you can handle the brutal world of Bloodborne and all of its eerie enemies, this is one of the most satisfying games to buy on the PS4.
Reviewer: Sam Loveridge
Full Review: Bloodborne review
Resident Evil Village
Eerily creepy and chilling horror game
Pros
- Creepy setting that oozes atmosphere
- Fun new survival mechanics
- Mercenaries mode is a nice addition for fans
Cons
- Not as scary as Resi 7
- Campaign is a little short
Resident Evil is one of the most popular horror series ever made, and Resident Evil Village is easily one of the best entries in the franchise, offering HDR graphics that allow you to see the gooey and disgusting monsters in so much detail.
You play as Ethan Winters and have to traverse Bram Stoker type environments, with skulking werewolves lurking in every corner and evil vampires that hide in gothic towers. There is less focus on stealth in this title, so you’re free to hack and slash through the world and tackle your enemies head-on, with multiple weapons to choose from.
Even if you’re not an avid Resident Evil fan, this is a fantastic horror game that boasts a spooky and compelling story that you can understand whether you’re a veteran or a newbie. If you only have one horror game in your PS4 library, we think it should be this one.
Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson
Full review: Resident Evil Village Review
Two Point Campus (2022)
Quirky and engaging management simulator
Pros
- Great variety of courses and personalities
- Hours of gameplay
- Great and distinctive art style
- Simple controls make designing easy
Cons
- Occasional technical glitches
Anyone who is a fan of The Sims, or management simulations in general, should definitely check out Two Point Campus; you are tasked with running a university and ensuring that your students and staff are happy, with a large portion of the game being dedicated to customising your campus to fit everyone’s needs.
Our reviewer notes how the game perfectly blends its quirky graphics and engaging audio to create a unique experience. You can check on your staff to ensure that all the facilities are up to snuff, and run parties in the Student Lounge to let your students blow off steam.
The students come in all shapes and sizes, from people studying cooking to those who are at Knight school, there is always something to be doing on Two Point Campus. If you want a simple but engaging game that you can spend hours on, this is the perfect game to pick.
Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full review: Two Point Campus Review
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
The best PS4 game for the whole family
Pros
- Enough content to last for weeks on end
- Massive levels to explore
- Revamped combat keeps you more engaged
- Co-op is an absolute blast
Cons
- Space battles are a bit mundane
- Camera sometimes gets in the way
If you’ve been looking through this list and wondering if there are any games that the whole family can enjoy, then Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga may be the perfect pick for you, especially since you can pair up with a second player and experience all the main Star Wars movies from a Lego perspective.
Not only is this game fantastic for Star Wars fans, as there are easter eggs hidden in every corner of the game, but the revamped combat system makes smashing up Lego enemies twice as fun as previous entries. Our review notes how the combat is still simple enough for young children to enjoy while giving adults a little more of a challenge, which can’t be said for every Lego game.
We recommend pairing up with a friend or family member and experiencing this game together, as this game is brimming with entertaining gags and stimulating puzzles that can bring the whole family together.
Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Review
Horizon Forbidden West
A fantastically paced open-world game
Pros
- Huge number of machines to fight
- New upgrade system has rewarding gameplay loop
- Map is packed with a variety of biomes
- Story takes a fascinating new direction
Cons
- Platforming often feels clunky
- Multiple irksome technical issues
The long-awaited sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West boasts a bigger and better upgrade system that brings in a highly satisfying gameplay loop, which reminded our reviewer of the Monster Hunter series, with even more machines to hunt down and loot.
This is the only game on this list that allows you to battle with a massive robot T-Rex, with our review also mentioning how immersive the open world is, with a myriad of different biomes that you can explore, rating from dense rainforests to sweeping deserts.
If you’re interested in progressing the story from the sequel and want to take down even more evil robots with just a quiver of arrows, then Horizon Forbidden West should be the next game you buy for the PS4.
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Horizon Forbidden West Review
Miles Morales – Marvel’s Spider-Man
A short but sweet Spider-Man adventure
Pros
- Miles Morales is an excellent protagonist with a worthwhile story
- Meaningful expansion of the original gameplay formula with new powers
- Manhattan looks positively gorgeous with ray tracing on PS5
- Teases an exciting future for this vision of Spider-Man
Cons
- The campaign is a little short for the asking price
- A fairly pedestrian take on the open-world genre
While everyone has likely played the original Marvel’s Spider-Man, many have missed out on the superb Miles Morales – Marvel’s Spider-Man. Not only will you feel at home if you’ve played the first game, but newbies will also be able to appreciate the compelling and tight gameplay that brings in new features that are exclusive to Miles.
This game takes time to develop Miles’s character, showing his passion for music, street fashion and science, which blends seamlessly into the overall aesthetic, creating a unique experience and a game that feels full of personality.
While this game won’t take a long time to beat, there are plenty of side quests and activities that you can sink your teeth into, and it helps develop the Insomniac Spider-Man universe further than the original game. If you’re looking to swing through the streets of New York and learn even more lore, Miles Morales should be the next game you buy on PS4.
Reviewer: Jade King
Full review: Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Review
The Quarry
A brilliant cast and a fascinating core mystery
Pros
- Engrossing story
- Well realised cast
- Stunning graphics and facial capture
- QTE are more forgiving
Cons
- Not quite as scary as Until Dawn
- A few cheap deaths
- Death Rewind needs fixing
The Quarry is the spiritual successor to Until Dawn in almost every way, offering up multiple endings depending on how you play. This also gives this game incredible replay value, as you can explore different avenues and treat the cast differently to see new outcomes.
This game also features some Hollywood actors, with performances from David Arquette, Ted Raimi, Justice Smith and Ariel Winter, just to name a few. We thought that the cast was very well fleshed out, as you get to know everyone very well as the game progresses, although you have to make sure that you’re trusting the right people.
This is the perfect choice for anyone after a narrative-driven game, as there are so many avenues to choose from, with the game offering you a ‘Death Rewind’ feature, allowing players to fix up to three mistakes during their playthrough. We recommend this to anyone looking for something new, and we can almost guarantee that you’ll be going back for more once the credits roll.
Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full Review: The Quarry Review
We also considered…
We’ve reviewed
See all reviewsFAQs
Some games are released for both the PS4 and the PS5, though some recent releases like The Last of Us Part 1 have been released exclusively on the PS5.
No, you cannot use PS5 disks on the PS4.
Yes, you can use PS4 disks on the PS5 thanks to backwards compatibility.