The Best PS4 Games To Play Right Now

Summary

• The PlayStation 4 has the strongest library of games compared to Xbox One and Wii U, and is still being supported and growing even alongside the next generation.
• From Red Dead Redemption 2 to The Witcher 3, there is a wide range of incredible games available on PlayStation 4 that cater to different preferences and provide immersive and unforgettable gaming experiences.

When compared to the Xbox One and the Wii U, it was clear that the PlayStation 4 had the strongest library of its generation. While the console launched in 2013, it is still being supported over a decade later, and has a library of games that is growing alongside the next generation.

When looking at the best games you can play on this console, it is hard to narrow it down with so many genre-defining and massively celebrated titles all housed on one console. However, this list narrows down some of the best experiences you can have on the PlayStation 4, no matter your preferences.

Updated on December 24, 2024 by Rebecca Phillips: There are still some fantastic games coming out on the PS4. We’ve added another great PS4 title you won’t want to miss.

Metaphor: ReFantazio sees Atlus’ winning Persona formula used in a fantasy setting, and it works like a charm. With the king’s assassination sending the kingdom of Euchronia into chaos, you and your party must compete for the throne, lest the tyrannical Count Louis take it for himself.

Metaphor has a turn-based combat system where you use the power of various Archetypes that determine your abilities in battle. There’s a lot of combinations you can use to steel your strategy and earn you the win, which keeps battles engaging all the way to the end. The game’s well-written narrative, memorable characters, and fun combat system all add up to a marvelous RPG you don’t want to miss.

Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is an excellent remake of the original 2006 game, with plenty for both new and old fans of the Persona series to enjoy. The remake weaves in new storylines to keep things fresh, and the graphics, combat, UI, and social sim side of the game all received improvements as well.

If you haven’t played the original game, the story follows high school student Makoto Yuki, who returns to his hometown ten years after his parents’ deaths. He soon gains the ability to summon a Persona and becomes a member of S.E.E.S, whose goal is to unravel the truth behind the Dark Hour. Like the rest of the Persona series, Reload has a fantastic story, characters, and gameplay, with the added bonus of quality-of-life improvements and additions that come with it being a remake.

Though you can name the protagonist anything you like, his canon name is Makoto Yuki.

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth follows Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu and takes the series to Hawaii for the first time, though you’ll also be revisiting locations in Japan from other games in the series as well. If you’re new to the series, you might expect Infinite Wealth to have action-oriented combat, but it’s actually turn-based. However, the ‘Live Command RPG Battle System’ allows your party members to move around and their positions on the battlefield impact the effectiveness of their moves.

The fresh spin on turn-based combat makes Infinite Wealth a blast to play and the character arcs throughout the story are memorable and touching. If you’re looking for an RPG with a modern twist, check out Infinite Wealth.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

The Ace Attorney Investigations Collections contains two games – Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit. As you might have guessed, they star prosecutor Miles Edgeworth rather than the face of the series, defense attorney Phoenix Wright.

This collection is the first time that Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit is available outside of Japan.

Instead of facing off in the courtroom, these games see Edgeworth using his logic to investigate crime scenes and grill witnesses right after the incident has occurred. You also get to play a case as Gregory Edgeworth, so if you’re interested in learning more about that family history, it’s definitely worth playing Investigations 2.

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

Developed by ZA/UM Disco Elysium sees you taking on the role of a detective who has lost their memory, hoping to solve the mystery of a murder. As you begin to investigate the case, your character learns more about their own past as well.

Disco Elysium is one of the most well-written games out there, which is no doubt thanks to it being written by Robert Kurvitz, an Estonian novelist. The game also has a stunning art style, inspired by classic oil paintings, which helps to contribute to the story’s atmosphere. You’ll soon be drawn into this intricate world, as there are plenty of secrets to discover and excellent characters to meet.

What Remains Of Edith Finch

What Remains of Edith Finch will only take you a few hours to complete, but those few hours will be some you remember forever. The game is a walking simulator and has you exploring the immense Finch family home, trying to figure out why you, Edith Finch, are the only surviving Finch family member.

What Remains of Edith Finch excels at storytelling. As you explore the house, you discover more about the mysterious happenings surrounding the Finch family members and why they died. The story is revealed bit by bit through abstract visuals, keeping you hooked all the way through.

Undertale

Undertale is one of those games you’re best to go into knowing as little as possible, but, with how popular it is, there’s a pretty big chance you know quite a lot about it already. Regardless, it’s still a fantastic game and one worth playing on your PS4.

This indie RPG challenges what it means to be an RPG. Whether or not you decide to fight the world’s monsters, like you would in any other RPG, has a huge impact on how the game unfolds. Undertale also has excellent music, memorable characters, and a charming pixel art style you’ll love.

Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2 is one of the most creative games on the PS4. Playing as psychic Raz who aims to join an organization known as the Psychonauts, the game takes you on a platforming adventure where you must use Raz’s powers to explore people’s minds, revealing hidden memories and baggage in the process.

Psychonauts 2 is an excellent sequel that polishes up everything the original aimed to do and offers even more. You’ll have endless fun exploring its levels and environments, as charm and creativity ooze out of every character, mission, and location.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is developed by FromSoftware, so you know you’re getting into tough territory when you boot up this game. Set during the Sengoku period in an ancient fictionalized Japan, the game follows Wolf, a shinobi who wants to avenge himself and his lord against a dangerous samurai clan.

Alongside its immersive world and characters that pull you in right away, Sekiro possesses the excellent combat that FromSoftware has become known for. You’ll be just as engrossed in exploring the world as you will be determined to defeat its difficult bosses, creating a satisfying and rewarding experience.

Journey

Journey launched to widespread critical acclaim and it’s easy to see why. Aiming to reach a mountain ever looming in the distance, you travel across the desert, exploring ancient ruins along the way. While journeying across the desert, you come across other players who will help you in your goal of reaching the mountain.

Journey is the perfect example of environmental storytelling. It has few cutscenes and no dialogue, but it captivates you in its world through its beautiful scene design and gorgeous music. Meeting other anonymous players, helping them, and having them help you, creates an experience found in very few other games. It’s simply a title you have to experience for yourself.

Okami HD

Originally launched in 2006, Okami received an HD remaster in 2017, bringing this beloved classic to modern consoles. Taking inspiration from Japanese folklore, the game follows Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess in the form of a white wolf, as she journeys to collect the Celestial Brush Techniques and defeat the demon Orochi.

Okami’s cel-shaded graphics are beautiful and bring many elements of Japanese folklore to life. While the gameplay is fairly simple, and you won’t find much of a challenge in terms of battles, the puzzles are fun and creative, and the characters and world are vibrant and full of life. It’s just an absolute pleasure to play.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was a return to form for the series. After a few lackluster, action-focused titles, RE7 brought back the horror the series was previously known for. There’s an overwhelming sense of dread and disgust as you explore the Baker’s family home, and it only increases as you continue through the game.

RE7: Biohazard has some of the most impressive graphics seen on the PS4, which only serves to amp up the horror you feel throughout. The new protagonist, Ethan Winters, and first-person gameplay breathe new life into the series, offering up a terrifying experience unlike anything else on the console.

Be warned: RE7 is gruesome. Make sure you have a strong stomach before diving into this game.

Celeste

In Celeste, you play as a young woman named Madeline, who aims to climb to the top of Celeste Mountain. As well as overcoming the harsh terrain of the area through platforming sections, Celeste faces her own personal demons on her journey. It’s a tough climb, but one that’s worth it in the end.

Celeste is much more than just a difficult platformer. Its heartfelt story and message will stay with you long after you’ve reached the peak of Celeste Mountain. If you’re up to the task, you can collect the B-Sides in each level and take on even more difficult platforming challenges.

Dark Souls 3

Being the third title in FromSoftware’s trilogy, Dark Souls 3 had plenty to live up to, and it certainly delivered. It polished the combat and experience of the previous two titles, providing a sensational experience steeped in dark fantasy, alongside all the tough boss encounters fans of the Souls games love.

Dark Souls 3 knows what made the first two games so great and only aims to heighten that experience. You’ll explore a densely filled world and take on dangerous foes with its improved combat system, and enjoy every single second of it — even when you’re gritting your teeth against the difficulty.

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight is one of those unexpectedly masterful indie gems that comes out once in a while. If you somehow haven’t heard of it yet, it’s a Metroidvania set in the desolate land of Hallownest. As the Knight, you must explore the ruined kingdom and discover the secrets its past.

The journey is far from easy, as the game is filled with famously punishing boss fights, but they’re extremely satisfying to beat. If you’re up for the challenge, Hollow Knight is a one-of-a-kind game, from its crisp battle mechanics to its beautiful hand-drawn world.

Full disclosure, I am terrible at Hollow Knight, but I still love it. Even if I’m getting beaten to a pulp on the way, the world of Hallownest is just too charming not explore it.

Night In The Woods

On the surface, Night in the Woods may look like a fun adventure game where you get to run around town as an anthropomorphic black cat. It is that, but it’s also so much more. When Mae returns to her hometown of Possum Springs after dropping out of college, she reconnects with old school friends and tries to solve the disappearance of Casey.

Night in the Woods handles a lot of mature themes — the difficulty of adolescence and poverty being some of the most prevalent — and it does so with care and intrigue. Speaking with the inhabitants of Possum Springs and learning their everyday plights, while uncovering the mystery of a cult who has taken root in the town, all makes for an engaging experience you won’t soon forget.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch Remastered

An RPG with animation and art direction from Studio Ghibli? You’d be a fool to pass this one up. Originally launched on the PS3, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was remastered for PS4 and is a one-of-a-kind RPG. A young boy named Oliver loses his mother and finds himself in a parallel world, where he believes there’s hope for changing her fate.

With enhanced graphics and DLC included, the PS4 version is the best way to play Ni No Kuni. The adventure is as heart-felt as any Ghibli movie, with Pokemon-like creature-catching mechanics to keep you entertained as you explore the gorgeous world.

Kingdom Hearts Series

Long gone are the days when you would need multiple consoles to play all the Kingdom Hearts games — now you can play every game (bar the mobile games) on your PS4. With the Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package, you can experience every game up to Kingdom Hearts 3, though you’ll need to purchase the ReMind DLC separately.

Kingdom Hearts has a story like no other. With original characters reminiscent of Final Fantasy, actual Final Fantasy characters, and familiar faces from Disney, there’s someone for everyone to love. The narrative is a ride that you won’t want to get off of, and there’s plenty of fun to be had with the series’ style of combat, too, which varies from game to game.

Kingdom Hearts is my favorite game series ever, so there’s heavy bias here. But, if Kingdom Hearts is for you, it’s really for you, so it’s worth dipping your toes in if you haven’t already.

Oh, and ignore the people who say it’s confusing: just play the games in order and you’ll be fine.

Final Fantasy 15

While Square Enix’s long-running fantasy RPG series is hardly easy to overlook, it’s 15th entry seems to be one of the more forgotten entries, which is a shame, since it created a beautiful open world with an enjoyable cast of characters to follow through with entertaining combat to boot

Final Fantasy 15 looks amazing on the PS4, and with the updated Royal Edition, it is a lot better than the state it launched in. There are masses of FF15 content to sink your teeth into, but just the core game itself is a fun adventure that is easy to get lost in.

It Takes Two

It is no secret that couch co-op has become rarer and rarer over the last couple of generations, but Hazelight Studios seems to be on a mission to reinvigorate the genre, with a standout being 2017 GOTY It Takes Two.

This game will need an extra controller and a partner you’re ready to be patient with, but this is one of the best platformers out there, made better by its focus on working together. It will constantly leave you guessing where it will go next, and it’s stylized look hasn’t aged a day either.

When you play It Takes Two, you can easily see why it won GOTY — most other co-op games pale in comparison. It’s got humor, great level design, and that one horrific scene with the toy elephant. If you know, you know.