First launching back in 2013, the PlayStation 4 quickly went on to become one of the most successful home gaming consoles of all time and that was in no part thanks to the games that helped define it.
Despite its successor, the PlayStation 5 being released back in 2020, many stuck with the PlayStation 4 with the Sony console offering multiple best-selling exclusives and access to titles which many consider the best of all time.
To celebrate the days of the PlayStation 4, we have put together a list of ten games that helped define the console, both exclusive and otherwise. So, in no particular order, let’s take a trip down memory lane, with all of these games still worth your time if you - for some reason - missed the boat entirely.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Due to a timely sale on the PlayStation Store, Uncharted 4 was my first Uncharted game and what a way to start.
Released back in 2016, Uncharted 4 saw players take on the role of Nathan Drake once more after he is dragged out of retirement by his presumed-dead brother Sam.
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Praised for its gameplay, narrative, performances, and platforming elements, Uncharted 4 is widely regarded as one of the best video games of all time and became one of the best-selling PlayStation 4 titles. It is especially bittersweet as with Naughty Dog not announcing an Uncharted 5, this was the last Uncharted entry that we received.
The Last of Us Part II
On the subject of Naughty Dog, this list would not be complete without The Last of Us Part II which arrived back in 2020 as a direct sequel to 2013’s The Last of Us.
With its prequel releasing on the PlayStation 3, its sequel launched to instant success on the PlayStation 4 and has remained one of the console’s best-selling games ever since.
The story follows the intertwining stories of Ellie and Abby as Ellie hunts down Abby after the murder of Joel and we gradually uncover why Abby did what she did.
Since its release, The Last of Us has been adapted for television on HBO and rumours of The Last of Us Part III have been swirling.
God of War
Released in 2018 as a reboot of the original God of War franchise, God of War brought back the Santa Monica Studio title from the dead, allowing players both old and new to see a much more paternal Kratos for the first time.
Despite being the eighth instalment in the God of War franchise, 2018’s God of War was many fan’s introduction to the series as we follow Kratos and his son Atreus through a land full to the brim with Norse Mythology-inspired creatures and heroes following the death of Atreus’ mother.
Due to its success, its sequel God of War: Ragnarök was released on both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 back in 2022 and with both receiving critical acclaim, there is no doubt that the series will continue to prosper in the future.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Another 2018 release and this time it was the return of Peter Parker in Marvel’s Spider-Man.
Featuring an original narrative inspired by the long-running comic book series, the story follows Peter Park in his alter ego of Spider-Man as he goes head-to-head with Mister Negative who threatens to release a deadly virus across New York.
Taking around four years to develop, it is clear that Marvel’s Spider-Man really pushed the boundaries of the PS4’s technology as Spider-Man gets to swing through the streets of New York, slipping between the cracks of towering skyscrapers and taking part in combo-encouraged combat to take down enemies non-lethally.
Officially the best-selling game of the PlayStation 4 era, Marvel’s Spider-Man was quickly followed by Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 in 2020 and 2023 respectively.
Until Dawn
Released for the PS4 in 2015, Until Dawn has become something of a cultural phenomenon, especially with it going on to inspire a movie with the same name.
In the interactive survival horror game, Until Dawn tasks players with keeping a group of eight adults alive when their lives are threatened within the plains of Blackwood Mountain.
With the game implementing the Butterfly Effect, your choices make a huge impact on the game, resulting in the possible deaths of some characters and so replayability is a major factor in the Supermassive Games title.
Somehow, by some massive fluke, I managed to keep everybody alive in my first run which is still one of my greatest gaming achievements to this day.
inFAMOUS: Second Son
As the fastest-selling Infamous titles and one of the best-selling PS4 games, inFAMOUS: Second Son is usually forgotten about, which isn’t surprising considering that it was first released way back in 2014.
However, thanks to it being one of the first games to implement Sony’s DualSense technology, it is a gaming experience that I remember fondly, especially when it comes to the spray painting mini-games.
With Troy Baker at the helm, the story follows Delsin Rowe fighting against the Department of Unified Protection (D.U.P.) in a fictionalised Seattle.
Over the course of the game, Delsin will gradually unlock new and powerful abilities, with players able to choose between using them for good or taking him down a dark path.
Bloodborne
This list would not be complete without including what many consider to be one of the best video games of all time, not even just for the PS4.
However, it is also a painful reminder that we are yet to receive a remake, remaster, or PC port but nonetheless, Bloodborne went on to become one of FromSoftware’s most beloved titles when it launched back in 2015.
Set in a Victorian-era inspired city known as Yharnam, players would take on the role of a Hunter who must navigate an environment plagued by a blood-borne disease which is turning its inhabitants into monstrous creatures.
Combining the iconic soulslike combat with incredible storytelling, Bloodborne is one of my favourite games of all time and there is no doubt that many agree.
Red Dead Redemption 2
The next few games may not be PlayStation 4 exclusives but they definitely helped push those sales with millions of fans around the world wanting to dive into games such as Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2.
As the third instalment in the Red Dead series, Red Dead Redemption 2 pushed the boundaries of technology, storytelling, gameplay, and graphics by allowing players to take on the role of outlaw Arthur Morgan and his journeys across 19th century America.
To this day, Red Dead Redemption 2 is widely regarded as one of the best video games of all time and is considered Rockstar’s magnum opus.
If you are anything like myself, it is a game that you will keep returning to with the sounds of a bustling camp, a trotting horse, and Arthur’s gruff tones feeling like home.
Batman: Arkham Knight
This is one that I am yet to play myself but my colleagues would have killed me if I didn’t add it to this list.
Another non-exclusive but no less crucial to the PlayStation 4 era is Batman: Arkham Knight which launched across multiple platforms back in 2015.
Based on the DC comic books, Arkham marked the successor to 2013’s Batman: Arkham Origins and the direct sequel to 2011’s Batman: Arkham City, and is widely regarded as the best in the Rocksteady Studios series.
This entry sees Batman go up against long-term enemy the Scarecrow who threatens to unite all of Gotham City’s criminals to destroy the Caped Crusader once and for all.
Overwatch
Last but not least is Overwatch, the multiplayer first-person shooter which arrived in 2019 across all platforms.
This may be the only multiplayer title on this list but there is no denying that it has made a lasting impact despite the fact that Blizzard has now turned its attention to Overwatch 2 which followed in 2023.
Despite its downfalls, Overwatch revolutionised the multiplayer gaming sphere with games of the same genre trying to reach the numbers that the Blizzard title reached between 2016-2020.
As an avid player myself, I may have a love-hate relationship with this game but it is a constant that I will always return to.
Offering fast-paced, team-based gameplay, multiple heroes to choose from, game modes and maps, Overwatch will definitely go down in history as one of the PlayStation 4’s most successful multiplayer titles.
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 4, Sony, Features, Bloodborne, The Last Of Us, God Of War, Marvels Spider Man