5 of the best PS4 games to play in 2024, and 9 honorable mentions

The PlayStation 4 is one of the most popular consoles ever made, with over 117 million sold as of August 2024. If you can’t or don’t want to upgrade to a PlayStation 5 (or the price of the PS5 Pro has just put you right off), there are still hundreds of incredible PS4 games you can play in 2024 to keep you occupied and enjoying yourself for many hours.

Here are a few of our picks for PlayStation 4 games to play in 2024.

Bloodborne

FromSoftware’s gothic horror masterpiece is a game everyone should try. It has a well-earned reputation for being really hard and really weird, but if you can get into the flow of the game, it’s exceptionally rewarding. The game’s design cleverly encourages specific playstyles. A great example is the rally mechanic, which allows players to recover lost health by attacking enemies quickly after taking damage. This simple feature leads to aggressive combat and shapes how players approach fights.

The story hasn’t been neglected in Bloodborne either, and there is a twisted tale to lead you from the highest heights to the lowest lows of Yharnam. That, combined with how satisfying the core combat loop is, makes Bloodborne’s notorious challenge worth pushing through.

You will die, die, and die again, but each time you’ll get a little stronger and a little better. Soon, ever so slowly, incrementally, you’ll experience the jubilation of slaughtering your first boss and the thrill of the hunt will be upon you. Snag The Old Hunters DLC for an even greater challenge and some of the best boss fights ever made.

Elden Ring might be FromSoftware’s most sprawling, epic, and accomplished game yet, but Bloodborne remains the favorite of many fans, and with good reason.

Key info

• Game: Bloodborne
• Developers: FromSoftware
• Publishers: Sony Computer Entertainment
• Price: On sale for $9.99 until 10/10/204 (usually $19.99) (included in PlayStation Plus Extra)

God of War (2018)

While there is a good PS5 upgrade for God of War, the PS4 version is still exceptional. The world design, characters, and gameplay tie together to make an intricate and beautifully crafted experience that will stay with you long after you put down the controller.

Branching out from God of War’s previous home in Greek myth, the 2018 installment takes us north to the land of Norse mythology. Kratos feels like the peak of action game character design, and his Leviathan Axe is one of gaming’s most fun weapons. The dynamic between Kratos and his son, Atreus, feels lived-in and genuine, which adds a surprising amount to the overall feel of the game, and the combat is really brought to life by their interactions.

The environments are superb too, ensuring that Midgard and the game’s other regions feel enjoyable and exciting to explore. The Norse inspiration is evident but not overbearing, and the game distinctly happens in a place of its own.

Key info

• Game: God of War (2018)
• Developers: Santa Monica Studio
• Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Price: $19.99 (included in PlayStation Plus Extra)

Horizon Zero Dawn

Despite its age, Horizon Zero Dawn is still one of the most exciting open-world games out there. The arrival and success of a brand new IP was an absolute breath of fresh air and the game stands the test of time without a doubt. A post-apocalypse that isn’t grey and brown and sepia is already an easy sell, but on top of that, the game is staggeringly beautiful to look at. Vast and full of wonder, exploration is a delight.

The story is engaging, exciting, and compelling from start to finish. Aloy is a fantastic protagonist, too. Smart, a little sarcastic, and blunt, she also has relatable flaws, making a well-rounded character. Ashly Burch’s vocal performance brings so much life into the game.

And of course, the gameplay itself is just an absolute hoot. Viable “stealth until you get spotted” strategies make the beginning of each combat encounter tactical, and then the combat itself is fast-paced, brutal, and downright fun. How could it not feel great to shoot a giant robot dinosaur in its big glowing eye?

Key info

• Game: Horizon Zero Dawn
• Developers: Guerilla Games
• Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Price: $39.99

Resident Evil Village

Reprise the role of Ethan from Resident Evil 7 in the most recent new installment in the long-loved franchise. A classic survival horror game, Resident Evil Village maintains the desperate sense of scavenging in every corner to maximize your chances that are integral to the Resident Evil series. It also keeps the epic boss showdowns, the distinctive puzzles, and the weird door keys.

There’s a much heavier lean towards combat over stealth in Village which did divide fans, but if you embrace the dabble in action gameplay, it’s extremely well done and continues the grand tradition of Resident Evil games never getting complacent and being willing to try new things time and again.

The eponymous village is the game’s hub, with several areas stemming from it. Each one is distinct and glorious fun to explore from top to bottom. The village also reintroduces a Resident Evil staple – the benevolent but threatening merchant. 

Key info

• Game: Resident Evil Village
• Developers: Capcom
• Publishers: Capcom
• Price: $39.99

Grand Theft Auto 5

Grand Theft Auto 5 is the fastest-selling piece of entertainment media of all time, earning $1 billion in its first three days. 11 years after its release it has sold over 195 million copies. It’s an all-time classic of the franchise and the genre.

In classic Grand Theft Auto style, players take control of three criminal protagonists with overlapping stories and guide them through a story comprised of sequential missions. The design of the missions manages to be relatively varied given how many of them there are, and the game doesn’t get in its own way, allowing its best parts (combat and driving, naturally) to shine through.

The city of Los Santos is huge and sprawling and for the first time in the franchise, players can jump into a plane or a boat to get around. On top of its impressive size, it also feels deeply alive and vibrant. In between missions, the game retains all the giddy, teenage joy of its predecessors, allowing you to plow through pedestrians, evade cops, and stay at the height of fashion.

The attention to detail Rockstar has put into the world, the gameplay, and the incredible soundtrack make Grand Theft Auto 5 a game with unparalleled staying power, and we cannot wait for Grand Theft Auto 6.

Key info

• Game: Grand Theft Auto 5
• Developers: Rockstar North
• Publishers: Rockstar Games
• Price $29.99

Honorable Mentions

The PS4 catalog is vast and deep, and there are far too many don’t-miss games to name them all. Here are just a few more that we love.

• Tetris Effect – take the most addictive game and add a killer soundtrack for a zenlike experience
• Ratchet & Clank – this remix of the PS2 classic is a joy to revisit
• Red Dead Redemption 2 – the PS4 is still the best way to experience this open-world cowboy classic
• The Witcher 3 – an all-time classic, this sprawling RPG has a gripping story and should not be missed
• Titanfall 2 – while mainly multiplayer, this game includes the best single-player FPS campaign ever made
• Dishonored 2 – the peak of modern stealth games and a triumphant immersive simulator, with one of the most fascinating levels in all of gaming
• The Outer Worlds – an unmissable space RPG with Obsidian’s classic sarcastic humor
• Control – a third-person shooter with fun combat and a weird story that gets its claws in and won’t let go
• Hitman 3 – plan and execute the perfect murder, then do it again and again, exploring all the many routes to assassination the game has

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