10 Best PS4 Games of 2026

God of War is our pick for the best PS4 game for most owners. Sony's game page describes a reboot in which Kratos, his feud with the gods of Olympus behind him, lives among Norse gods and monsters and has to teach his son Atreus to survive without repeating his own mistakes. The camera now sits over the shoulder, close to the action, and Sony says a new main weapon and new abilities keep the series' brutal combat and epic boss fights while adding a more personal story. It launched at $59.99 on April 20, 2018, and a used disc now lists at $19.99 at DKOldies, which is the main reason it edges out The Last of Us Part II on value. Limits are clear: the store page lists no online or co-op modes, and its content descriptors include blood and gore, intense violence and strong language. If you buy one PS4 game, start here.

The Last of Us Part II is the strongest pure story game on the PS4 and comes second only because God of War costs less. Sony's page picks up five years after the first game, with Ellie and Joel settled in Jackson, Wyoming, until a violent event sends Ellie after those responsible, from the mountains around Jackson to the overgrown ruins of Seattle. Play builds on the first game with high-intensity melee combat, fluid movement and dynamic stealth, plus weapons, crafting items, skills and upgrades that let you shape Ellie around your style. Sony lists 30 accessibility features, and a free PS5 patch adds a toggle between 30 and 60 fps. The costs are real: the used disc lists at $34.99 at DKOldies, there is no multiplayer, and its content descriptors include intense violence, nudity, sexual content and drug use. Play it after the first game for the full effect.

Marvel's Spider-Man is the easiest game to enjoy on this list and the best pick for players who want something lighter. Sony's page describes a collaboration between Sony Interactive Entertainment, Insomniac Games and Marvel that stars a Peter Parker who has spent eight years behind the mask and is already a crime-fighting expert. Combat is improvisational, with dynamic acrobatics, fluid urban traversal and environmental takedowns, and Sony calls Marvel's New York Insomniac's most expansive and interactive world yet. The store page lists PS4 Pro Enhanced and Game Help support, and its content descriptors are milder than the M-rated games above: blood, drug reference, language, mild suggestive themes and violence. A used disc lists at $29.99 at DKOldies, which is $10 more than God of War. The open-world side content can repeat, and the store page does not publish a player count. For quick sessions and a fun city to move through, it is hard to beat.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the deepest open world on the PS4 and scores highest on capabilities in this list. Rockstar sets it in America in 1899: after a robbery goes wrong in Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang flee federal agents and bounty hunters while internal divisions threaten to break the gang apart. The PlayStation Store page lists one player offline and up to 32 online players with PS Plus in Red Dead Online, which has its own roles such as Bounty Hunter, Trader, Collector, Naturalist and Moonshiner. It launched at $59.99 on October 26, 2018, and a used disc lists at $28.99 at DKOldies. Ease of setup scores lower because online play needs PS Plus and the story starts slowly, and its content descriptors include intense violence, nudity, sexual content and drug and alcohol use. Pick it if you want one game to live in for months.

Ghost of Tsushima is the best open world on the PS4 after Red Dead Redemption 2, and the better choice if you want sword fights over gunfights. Sony describes an open-world action adventure from Sucker Punch Productions and PlayStation Studios in which you wage an unconventional war for Tsushima, using a katana, a bow for distant threats and stealth tactics to ambush enemies. The store page lists one player offline and up to four players online with PS Plus through the Legends co-op mode, and 30 accessibility features. The Director's Cut edition adds the Iki Island expansion, and PS4 owners can pay to upgrade to it. A used disc of the standard PS4 game lists at $34.99 at DKOldies, tied for the highest price on this list, which pulls its value score down. Online play needs PS Plus. For an open world you can explore for the scenery alone, it is a strong pick.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is the best value pick here and still one of the most polished adventures on the PS4. Sony's page sets it three years after Uncharted 3: Nathan Drake has left treasure hunting until his brother Sam, long thought dead, returns and pulls him into a search for Captain Henry Avery's treasure and the pirate utopia of Libertalia in Madagascar. Beyond the story, team multiplayer lets you hire Sidekicks and buy Mystical items, and Survival is a wave-based mode for you and up to two friends. Sony also points new players to the Light and Moderate difficulty levels and lists many control options, which keeps it easy to start. A used disc lists at $14.99 at DKOldies, tied for the lowest price on this list. Online modes need PS Plus, and the linear design gives less freedom than Red Dead or Ghost of Tsushima. For a weekend adventure at a low price, it is the safest buy.

Horizon Zero Dawn is the most distinctive open world here and a good pick for players who want something less grim than the top three. Sony calls it a multi-award-winning action role-playing game set in a far future where colossal machines rule the Earth and humanity survives in tribes among the ruins of an old civilization. You play Aloy, an outcast machine hunter, taking up bow and spear to learn her origins and save her world. Sony now sells a Remastered edition for PS5, released October 31, 2024, and owners of the PS4 game can upgrade to it, though PS4 disc owners must keep the disc in a PS5 with a disc drive. A used PS4 disc lists at $17.99 at DKOldies. It is single-player only, and the store page now leads with the PS5 version rather than the PS4 original. For a sci-fi action RPG at a low price, it is still a strong buy.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the deepest role-playing game on the PS4. CD Projekt Red casts you as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter for hire, as an invading army called the Wild Hunt razes the towns of the Northern Kingdoms. The store page promises a morally gray open world where choices carry far-reaching consequences, plus upgradeable weapons and armor and side activities such as the Gwent card game, horse racing and bare-knuckle fights. Owners who move to a PS5 get the Remastered version as a free upgrade, though CD Projekt Red notes the Remastered improvements do not apply to the PS4 version. A used PS4 disc lists at $24.99 at DKOldies. It scores lower on ease of setup because the menus and combat take time to learn, and the content descriptors include intense violence, nudity and strong sexual content. If you want one game that lasts all winter, this is it.

Bloodborne is the most demanding game on this list and the store page quotes critics calling it the best PS4 exclusive. The PlayStation Store page sends you to Yharnam, a gothic city cursed by an illness spreading through its streets, where deranged mobs and nightmarish creatures guard its secrets. Combat asks for wits, strategy and reflexes, and your arsenal mixes guns with trick weapons such as saw cleavers. Chalice Dungeons add procedurally generated underground ruins that you can explore alone or with others and share with friends. It released on March 24, 2015, is included with PlayStation Plus Extra, and costs $19.99 to buy digitally on the US store, with the Complete Edition Bundle at $34.99. Used discs were out of stock at DKOldies when we checked. It ranks lower on ease of setup because it is very hard and lists no difficulty settings, so newer players should start elsewhere. For players who like a challenge, it is essential.

Persona 5 is the best Japanese RPG on this list and one of the best value buys. The PlayStation Store page describes a young team of phantom thieves: by day you live high school life in the big city and spend your time however you like, and the bonds you form become power you use in battle. After school, a Metaverse Navigator smartphone app takes you into Palaces, surreal worlds built from people's desires. A used disc lists at $14.99 at DKOldies, tied with Uncharted 4 for the lowest price here. The catch is that Persona 5 Royal expands the 2017 game with new characters, confidants, story and locations and a grappling hook, so many players will prefer it if they can find it. Its length and many systems also make it slower to get into, and the content descriptors include sexual themes and strong language. For RPG fans on a budget, it is a strong pick.