19 best PS4 games to rediscover, from Bloodborne to Spider-Man

Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

• Developer: FromSoftware
• Release date: 24 March 2015
• Included in the PS Plus collection: Yes

FromSoftware doesn’t mess around. Based on games like Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, its reputation for making difficult games certainly precedes it, but what really defines the company’s games is its ability to craft beautiful and haunting worlds that are easy to get lost in.

Originally released in 2015, players are still finding new details within the world of Yharnam and it still has a very active player base. Bloodborne’s influence on gameplay and world design can still be felt in FromSoftware’s newer titles, such as Elden Ring.

Incredibly, the only version of Bloodborne that is currently available is on the Playstation 4, with a fixed framerate at 30FPS. FromSoftware fans have been desperately hoping for some kind of port for PC, or even a PS5 remaster in a similar vein to Bluepoint Games’ Demon’s Souls, but until that happens, this remains one of the PS4’s most brilliant masterpieces.

Read our full review of Bloodborne

Best: Action

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Santa Monica Studio
• Release date: 20 April 2018
• Included in the PS Plus collection: Yes

Sort-of sequel, sort-of reboot. God of War is the latest continuation of Kratos’s saga as he takes a break from destroying the entire pantheon of Greek mythology to…destroy the entire pantheon of Norse mythology.

Far from the loud, arrogant anti-hero we’ve seen on the PS2 and PS3, Kratos’s age has mellowed him somewhat, having raised a son, Atreus, and mourning the recent loss of his wife. It’s only at the challenge of god Baldur that forces Kratos to take up his arms and defend his new home.

God of War is a good example of how to bring a beloved series back and modernise it for a fresh audience. The game has since seen optimisation for the PS5 and a port to PC but the original PS4 game is among the best of Sony’s titles.

Read our full review of God of War

Best: For kids

Rating: 8/10

• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Release date: 12 April 2016
• Included in the PS Plus collection: Yes

“The game based on the movie based on the game”, Ratchet and Clank was a retelling of how the Lombax and robot companion met. Originally a tie-in for the ill-fated film adaptation, the new game turned out to be a hit with fans of the original 2002 classic and helped lead the way for a continuation of the series on the PS5 exclusive Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.

It’s a strong enough entry into the series on its own and while slightly shorter than you would expect, has a tremendous amount of replay value thanks to its large arsenal of upgradable weapons and secrets hidden within each level.

Read our full review of Ratchet and Clank

Best: Horror

Rating: 8/10

• Developer: Capcom
• Release date: 24 January 2017
• Included in the PS Plus collection: Yes

While Resident Evil: Village, is the most recent entry into the longstanding horror series, Resident Evil 7 definitely leans more heavily into its survival elements and is arguably better for it.

There’s no ten-foot vampires or goofy fish people here, just a ramshackle old house in the middle of a swamp and nowhere else to run. The early portion of the game leaves hero Ethan Winters with little to no defence against the Baker family in a true house of horrors that is genuinely quite terrifying.

The PS4 version of the game also has support for the PS VR headset which is, without question, the scariest way to experience this Capcom classic.

Best: Open world

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Sucker Punch
• Release date: 17 July 2020
• Included in the PS Plus collection: No

Borrowing heavily from the cinematic masterpieces of Akira Kurosawa, Ghosts of Tsushima is a modern retelling of a Samurai’s journey. The Mongol invasion of Japan in the 13th century leads warrior Jin to forge a new path to face the overwhelming threat, challenging his ideals of honour for the sake of preservation. The island of Tsushima is filled with nods to the samurai genre and Jin can follow his chosen path by following the direction of the wind. Rather than using waypoints or mini-maps, it’s a simple mechanic but makes Tsushima worth exploring just for the sake of uncovering more of the island’s tales.

Read our full review of Ghosts of Tsushima

Best: Survival game

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Rockstar Games
• Release Date: 26 October 2018
• Included in the PS Plus collection: No

While Ghosts of Tsushima (£54.99, Argos.co.uk) captures the spirit of Samurai cinema, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a vast homage to the spaghetti western. With grand frontiers of the late Nineteenth-century United States with the usual tongue-in-cheek satire Rockstar Games is known for. What sets RDR2 apart however is the characters and their comradery. Technically a prequel, the events take place before the first Red Dead Redemption and follow gang enforcer Arthur Morgan as he comes to terms with a life of freedom and violence.

Red Dead Redemption 2 really shines outside the bar fights and bank robberies, where Arthur is left to his own devices to explore the wilderness where seemingly anything can happen. Whether that’s watching an eagle catch a salmon as you fish by the river or encounter poachers biting off more than they can chew against a brown bear, the rich world is stunning and chaotic in equal measure.

Read our full review of Red Dead Redemption 2

Best: Remaster

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Bluepoint Games
• Release date: 7 February 2018
• Included in the PS Plus collection: Included in Extra

Originally released in 2005, Shadow of the Colossus might easily be considered one of the best games ever made for its solemn world and tragic depictions of the madness of grief. The remaster from Bluepoint Games captures that same sense of scale and awe in its opening moments and each of the encounters with the eponymous colossi are truly breathtaking experiences.

Read our full review of Shadow of the Colossus

Best: Story

Rating: 10/10

• Developer: Naughty Dog
• Release date: 19 June 2020
• Included in the PS Plus collection: No

If Uncharted is Naughty Dog’s popcorn blockbuster then The Last of Us games are its awards-season fodder. The tale of a world in ruin at the hands of a fungal infection may sound like standard fare for a video game, but The Last of Us Part II starts off strong by immediately subverting expectations, refusing to let go before pulling the rug yet again at the peak of its second act.

It’s an unforgettable experience and though many fans of the original have been divided over its new direction, it’s a worthy follow up that exceeds expectations.

Read our full review of The Last of Us Part II

Best: JRPG

Rating: 10/10

• Developer: Atlus
• Release date: 31 October 2019
• Included in the PS Plus collection: No

Not only is Persona 5 Royal incredibly stylish and packed to the brim with hundreds of hours of gameplay, it’s also surprisingly relaxing. Players take control of a young Japanese high school student as he invades the mind palaces of corrupted adults at night with the help of his friends. Think of it as a slice-of-life simulator with a sprinkle of Inception thrown in for good measure.

While the original game is available on the PS Plus collection for PS5 owners, it was recently re-released as Persona 5 Royal, which adds new characters and areas to discover. However, a post on the Playstation Blog, which announced the upcoming PS Plus games, confirmed that Persona 5 would be removed from the PS Plus collection on 11 May.

Read our full review of Persona 5

Best: VR game

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Team ASOBI
• Release date: 2 October 2018
• Included in the PS Plus collection: No

Astro Bot has become something of a mascot for the Playstation brand. Before he appeared on the brilliant Astro Bot’s Playroom, the game that came free with every PS5, he appeared in a PS VR exclusive title that combined old-school platforming with the novelty of virtual reality.

Each level follows the titular Astro Bot as he platforms his way through cities, beaches and caves with the player acting as its guide. Rescue Mission makes good use of the VR headset by being able to peek around hidden corners or even headbutting enemies to clear the way, it’s a creative use of the Playstation’s hardware. No doubt we’ll be seeing more of Astro Botin the future but Rescue Mission remains his most creative outing so far.

Best: Superhero game

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Release date: 7 September 2018
• Included in the PS Plus collection: No

Ever since the movie tie-in for Spider-Man 2 on the Playstation 2, plenty of games have tried to recreate the well-loved web-swinging mechanics with little success. That is until Insomniac Games’s take on Spider-Man arrived on the PS4 and blew every other superhero game out of the water.

Moving away from the many, many movie appearances Spider-Man has made to date, this new take on the superhero sees a confident Peter Parker who has been Spider-Man for many years and he’s made plenty more enemies in that time. It’s one of the best depictions of the web-swinger we’ve seen on screen, big or small, that perfectly captures the duality of Peter Parker and his hero counterpart.

Read our full review of Spider-Man

Best: Co-op game

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Hazelight
• Release Date: 26 March 2021
• Included in the PS Plus collection: No

A game about a married couple trying to navigate through a divorce as anthropomorphic dolls doesn’t sound like a good time, it sounds like a great time. Players must work together as either Cody or May to navigate through a series of different mechanics that tie into the themes of their marriage woes. In one instance players will be changing the flow of time or cloning themselves before finding themselves navigating a boat down dangerous rapids.

The amount of different genres It Takes Two throws at you is as expansive as the story is endearing. Just don’t get attached to the elephant.

Best: Indie game

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Supergiant Games
• Release Date: 6 December 2018
• Included in the PS Plus collection: No

If at first you don’t succeed, die, die again. That’s the mantra of Supergiant Games’s critically acclaimed roguelike Hades.

You play as Zagreus, the son of Hades who wants nothing more than to escape his father’s realm. With assistance from the gods of Olympus, players navigate through the ever-changing halls of the underworld as they journey to the world’s surface.

If Zagreus fails in his attempts, he is sent back to the start and must make his escape again. The game’s excellent writing, gameplay loops and soundtrack all amalgamate into a beautifully realised depiction of Greek mythology and its denizens with modern sensibilities. It’s a masterpiece.

Best: Racing game

Rating: 8/10

• Developer: Polyphony Digital
• Release Date: 4 March 2022
• Included in the PS Plus collection: No

The most recent entry into the Gran Turismo series is a celebration of the game’s 25 year history with hundreds of cars to choose from over some of the most iconic locations featured in the series. In our review of the game, we said: “Gran Turismo 7 is a vast racing game. It might lack the instant sparkle of an arcade racing game, but it’s an experience that lasts much longer and feels more rewarding.”

Read the full Gran Turismo 7 review

Best: Sidescroller

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Team Cherry
• Release Date: 24 February 2017
• Included in the PS Plus collection: Included in Extra

Hollow Knight is a 2D Metroidvania action-adventure game that puts players in the shoes of a nameless knight to explore the kingdom of Hallownest, defeat its bug-themed bosses and uncover its mysteries. It can be unrelentingly difficult but it’s never unfair, giving players ample opportunity to return to the site of their demise and reclaim their progress before its lost.

The sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, has long been in development and fans of the original have been anticipating its release since it was first revealed in 2019. Until then, see what all the hype is about in this quietly foreboding indie darling.

Best: Adventure

Rating: 9/10

• Developer: Naughty Dog
• Release date: 10 May 2016
• Included in the PS Plus collection: Yes

Uncharted 4 is a prime example of a game that wants to be a movie. The final chapter of Nathan Drake’s story takes him across the world to hunt for more treasure with a mystical backstory, not unlike Indiana Jones but that comparison is not necessarily a bad thing.

The series is known for its larger-than-life set pieces and impressive visuals as well as its large cast of colourful characters. While it certainly doesn’t break the mould of the adventure genre, running through crumbling temples and performing death-defying leaps is all part of the bombastic, over-the-top fun.

Read our full review of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Best: Fighting game

• Developer: Arc System Works
• Release date: 11 June 2021
• Age rating: 12+

Guilty Gear Strive is the 25th entry in the long running fighting game genre. But outside of Japan it has had a relatively small yet loyal following when compared to other franchises such as Street Fighter.

As far as fighting games go, it’s an incredibly sophisticated system of interlocking mechanics that give each of Strive’s fighters a careful balance of manoeuverability and intensity. Increasingly complex combos and build ups can create “wall breaks” that launch opponents into new areas and “psych breaks” can also be used to throw opponents off their rhythm, giving players a chance to catch their breath and create some much needed distance.

That’s not to mention its immaculate presentation. Developed by Arc System Works, also known for Dragonball FighterZ, the cel-shaded visuals give each stage the appearance of a tightly choreographed anime showdown, only elevated by the relentless heavy metal soundtrack accompanying it. After 25 games, the story and characters may be convoluted enough to warrant a four hour cinematic (yes, you read that right) but by putting its gameplay first, Guilty Gear Strive gives players enough cause to go another bout.

Best: Football game

• Developer: EA Sports
• Release date: 27 September 2021
• Age rating: 3+

With each new iteration of FIFA, EA Sports packs new features with each yearly installment and the most recent is no different. Boasting new “Hypermotion” technology for more realistic movement, FIFA 22 is one of the most visually impressive football titles yet. The overhaul to its career mode is also a welcome addition to the longstanding franchise and if you’re still eagerly awaiting FIFA 23, it’s an excellent time to pick up this title.

Best: Card game

• Developer: Daniel Mullins Games
• Release date: 30 August 2022
• Age rating: 16+

One of the best games to be released on PC last year, Inscryption is a psychological horror, card-builder and escape room all rolled into one that sees players attempt to break out of Leshy’s cabin. It’s a deeply disturbing, unforgettable game.

If you’ve never played it before, then go in with zero expectations. The less said about it the better.