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The PlayStation 4 was among Sony’s finest modern efforts. Sure, it wasn’t quite as good as the PS2 (depending on who you ask, anyway), but it did pretty well for itself, to the point that people are still playing it long after it reached the end of its life cycle. Loads of incredible games came out for this acclaimed console, which served as incentives for people to actually buy it in the first place.
Covering a multitude of genres, a ton of games were released from 2013 to 2020, when the PS4 was in its prime and an outright cultural phenomenon. Some of these games are exclusives to the console, and some aren’t. One thing they have in common, however, aside from the fact that they all came out for the same console, is that they all did very well, scoring high with fans and critics alike. Indeed, calling these PS4 games “perfect” is not an exaggeration.
‘SOMA’ (2015)
SOMA is an underrated little existential sci-fi/horror game from the makers of the critically-acclaimed Outlast. This stand-alone game has you playing as Simon, a Canadian man in the city of Toronto. Living with a brain injury due to a previous accident, Simon opts to participate in an experimental neurological treatment process. Instead of it fixing his problem, he wakes up centuries in the future, in an abandoned lab at the bottom of the sea, with a brand-new robot body.
Using his new body and a helpful guide, Simon must navigate his way out of the facility, all while avoiding corrupted robots prowling the shadowy corridors. This game became a smash hit in the horror community for its profound ending. No other game has inspired such a feeling of existential and philosophical dread. The ending is quite the payoff, and the game bears a truly singular atmosphere. If you’re a horror fan, this is something you absolutely have to check out.
‘Concrete Genie’ (2019)
Concrete Genie is an underrated PS4 exclusive set in the city of Denska, a fictional seaside down that has fallen under the shadow of an amalgamous force called the Darkness, which has emerged after a catastrophic oil spill. The protagonist is Ash, a bullied boy who finds a magic paintbrush in Denska’s lighthouse one night. With this paintbrush, he is able to create genies, magical creatures that aid him on his quest to restore colour to Denska.
The game isn’t super combat-heavy, instead relying on the player’s imagination to see them through to the end. Everything you paint comes to life, meaning your obstacles are limited only by your creativity. This family-friendly game is an exercise in how important art is to human society, and why it should always be cherished. It also happens to be an incredibly fun game from beginning to end.
‘Bloodborne’ (2015)
Bloodborne is a standalone entry in the Soulsborne saga, created by FromSoftware, which pioneered the formula. The game is set in the Gothic-inspired city of Yharnam, where a bloodborne is sweeping through the residents, turning them into monsters. To combat the threat, hunters have arisen, which is where the nameless protagonist comes in. You play as an unnamed hunter who has arrived seeking a blood transfusion, only to become wrapped up in Yharnam’s woes and the infighting of the upper echelons.
Like other Soulsborne games, Bloodborne is notoriously difficult. It’s functionally different from the others in terms of combat style, so it shakes up the formula a bit. Despite being a PS4 exclusive, the game received widespread critical acclaim for its atmosphere and tight combat. Players also loved the boss design, most of which are physically revolting to look at. The creators of this game have some imagination; that much is certain. If you like Gothic horror, RPGs, or challenging gameplay, Bloodborne is the game for you.
‘Until Dawn’ (2015)
Until Dawn is a PS4 exclusive visual novel game with a terrifying horror theme. The game stars eight young adults, most of whom are played by some pretty big names including Rami Malek and the late Hayden Panettiere. The friends travel to a ski lodge in Alberta, Canada, for their annual getaway following the disappearances of two of their group the year prior. When they get to the lodge, however, they soon find themselves stalked by a masked killer.
The game opens up as a slasher, but quickly delivers one of the most monumentally jaw-dropping plot twists in gaming history about halfway through. From there, it delves into Indigenous spirituality, featuring the cannibalistic Wendigo. Since it’s a visual novel, choices are super important here. There might not be much input from the player, but this means every single action counts. There are tons of different possibilities, so each playthrough will never be the same as the one before it.
‘God of War’ (2018)
2018’s God of War marked a great shift in the franchise. The series previously began in the PS2 era and was more of a fast-paced, high-octane hack-and-slash about Greek mythology. The reboot, however, switched its focus to Norse mythology, continuing the story where it left off. This time, main character Kratos is living a quiet life with his son, no longer on a quest to demolish the Greek pantheon.
The combat changed significantly, as did the story, tone, and overall direction of the game, offering more of an open-world experience rather than the linear angle the rest of the series had. Combat was also more focused and tight, centering more on smaller engagements than large, gore-filled encounters of dozens of enemies. The game was more heavy-handed and emotional, and it made for a brilliant revival of a beloved franchise. God of War is bound to become a classic—heck, it already is.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain comes from a long line of PlayStation exclusives, though this particular entry is not an exclusive at all. The game aimed to bridge the gap between the very first Metal Gear game and Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, which had come out the year prior. This also happened to be the final canon entry in the series, and the final entry to be directed by Hideo Kojima before Konami unwisely let him go.
The Phantom Pain is the longest of the entire series, spanning dozens of hours and multiple open-world environments. However, gameplay is much more open-ended and allows for more player freedom. The core stealth elements are still there, but Kojima also provides players with a few new toys to play around with. It might not have been the strongest entry in the series, especially when it comes to the opinions of die-hard fans, but it’s a phenomenal game that never gets boring.
‘Spyro Reignited Trilogy’ (2018)
Like Metal Gear, Spyro initially began as a PlayStation-exclusive series, though this particular entry was not exclusive whatsoever. It is, however, an incredible game. It’s actually a collection of the first three Spyro games that came out between 1998 and 2000, remade for modern systems. The 3D platformers starred the eponymous purple dragon as he travels across the realms to save other dragons, rescue fairies, and beat up some baddies.
Throughout the cleverly designed levels, Spyro can play minigames like ice hockey or whack-a-mole, collect gems, dragon eggs, and talismans, and discover secrets that have been added to the original levels. Gameplay is simple, yet so much fun. Not only is it nostalgic; it’s gorgeous and easy to get into. Family-friendly, innocent, and even a little comical, Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a modern triumph in the world of gaming remakes.
‘Ghost of Tsushima’ (2020)
Ghost of Tsushima is a historical RPG game that, unlike most of the other entries on this list, is completely grounded in reality. The story is set during the Mongol Invasions of Japan in the 13th Century, when they landed on the small northern island of Tsushima. There, a samurai named Jin Sakai is wounded in battle and left for dead. Recovering from his wounds to discover an occupied island, Jin abandons his samurai code to start taking on the invaders by himself, using guerrilla warfare at his disposal.
The island of Tsushima is vast and beautiful, even if it is small when compared to the Japanese mainland. Though some aspects are obviously embellished, the game presents a unique historical context that isn’t often spoken about. With tons of side quests to tackle, haikus to write, and loads of time to explore, Ghost of Tsushima is one of the best PS4 exclusives ever made. Sony really knocked it out of the park with this one.
‘Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End’ (2016)
Coming as the final mainline entry in the saga, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End stars an aging Nathan Drake as he is visited by Sam, his older brother, whom he presumed dead. Desperate for one last adventure, the Drake brothers embark on a journey across the sea to find the lost pirate colony of Libertalia, developed by the famous Golden Age pirate Henry Avery.
The visuals in this game truly couldn’t have been any better if they tried. It looks very realistic, which adds to the overall atmosphere. Levels are more open-ended, the combat and stealth systems have been completely overhauled (with the stealth system actually being a viable approach, unlike previous entries in the series), and the multiplayer was better than ever. It’s a grand old pirate adventure and a satisfying conclusion to a beloved PlayStation-exclusive saga.
‘Shadow of the Colossus’ (2018)
Shadow of the Colossus is a ground-up remake of the original PS2 exclusive of the same name. The story and setting have been kept exactly the same, but it has been updated with new graphics, more collectibles, and a new mode to increase replayability. The story of this classic game, as many know, concerns Wander, a young man who seeks the slumbering god Dormin in the Forbidden Land. Wander hopes Dormin will be able to resurrect his girlfriend, the Princess, from the dead. Dormin agrees to do it, but only if Wander kills 16 colossi that roam the Forbidden Land.
Each colossus functions as a boss fight, where the player must work out how to climb their back and plunge their sword into their weak points. Every colossus is completely different from the previous one: some fly, some swim, some burrow in the sand, some lumber across the earth. It’s all about adapting to the situation and using the environment to aid you on your quest. There are no standard enemies, giving the world an intentionally empty, melancholy feeling. With a bleak, depressing world, incredible gameplay, and a heartbreaking ending, this game is worth every penny.
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Dawson Nyffenegger
Almontather Rassoul
