25 Best PS4 Exclusive Games of All Time

The best PS4-only games are the ones that have made Sony’s gaming device what it is for the past 10 years. With the PS5 exclusives we’ve seen so far, this tradition is still going strong.

It’s great to see how many of them started on the PS4, like Horizon: Zero Dawn, Bloodborne, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and the God of War update.

Even though some of these games are now available on PC, they are still PS5 exclusives as far as platforms go.

Most of them can also be played on the PS5, thanks to the PS5’s “backwards compatibility” feature, so their legendary position remains.

Also, a lot of these games will now be free to play as part of the new mid-tier and upper-tier PS Plus Premium games libraries.

But before we start, here are the rules we’ve set up: Some of the games on this list of the best PS4 exclusives are also available for PC.

Since exclusivity can’t be time-based, we had to take Nier: Automata off the list when it came out on Xbox One.

Plus, the games have to be full-price releases and not DLC or add-on material. If we’re lucky, they’ll show up on the list of free PS Plus games at some point, and if you want to save money, you can always play the best free PS4 games.

25. Final Fantasy VII Remake

Final Fantasy VII Remake is without a doubt one of the best PS4-only games. It’s a remake of the 1997 version, as the name suggests, but it’s also a new take on the story.

Without giving anything away, the story of the remake is mostly the same as the famous PS One game, but there are a lot of twists and turns.

It has an interesting new way to fight that combines real-time action with a new menu-based system that gives you different and interesting ways to kill enemies.

As with most PS4-only games, it looks great, has an interesting story, and is fun to play. Some people were unhappy that the game was linear, but others loved it because it made it easier to focus on the story and characters.

This game only covers a small part of the original, so at least one more game (and maybe even more) will be needed to finish the story.

24. inFAMOUS: First Light

The neon-wielding Fetch was one of the more interesting side characters in Infamous: Second Son, but we didn’t learn enough about her past during that game.

Instead, Sucker Punch gave her a separate game called Infamous: First Light. This game is about her family and how the government has treated her badly.

In First Light, you can only use Fetch’s neon powers instead of the different kinds that Delsin can use in Second Son. It’s still a fun ride, though, and if you’ve been a PlayStation Plus member for a while, you probably already have First Light on your account.

23. Knack 2

Put aside the memes and jokes you’ve heard about the first Knack for a moment, and you’ll see that Knack 2 is a well-designed action game that’s good for the whole family.

The sequel adds to the simple gameplay of the first game by letting you briefly make the main character smaller to get through a puzzle.

When it’s time to beat up a particularly tough enemy, you can make the main character grow to a huge size.

Even though the story isn’t as good as something from Pixar, Knack 2 is funny enough for both kids and their parents to enjoy, and the level of difficulty is just right so that older kids can play for hours without their younger peers getting bored. Knack is definitely back, and he’s a lot better than before.

22. Alienation

Alienation by Housemarque is one of the best action games on the PlayStation 4 that is like Diablo and has a lot of loot.

In the alien invasion game, you and maybe your friends fight through cities and the countryside against dangerous enemies. Your high-powered guns and armor suits give you the tools you need to take them out.

Alienation is very hard, especially toward the end, and you almost have to play with a friend to enjoy it.

However, it has the same loot system as Diablo III or Path of Exile, and its science-fiction setting is a nice change of pace from those games’ fantasy and magic.

21. Nioh 

You’ve finished Bloodborne, but you still want more monster-killing, Souls-like action? At first glance, Team Ninja’s Nioh might look like a simple copycat, but the game builds on FromSoftware’s framework with a ton of customization choices, optional abilities, and creative monsters to fight.

Nioh takes place in feudal Japan and stars an outsider named William. It mixes historical events and settings with Yokai monsters that test every skill you’ve learned along the way.

Nioh is a very hard game, but it always feels fair because enemies use predictable moves that you can learn to avoid if you’re paying attention.

As you get better and more used to fighting, you’ll be able to do some amazing things, and even the biggest, meanest monsters will be no match for your sword. Its sequel, Nioh 2, is also a great choice.

20. Ghost of Tsushima

You’ll be glad for every second you spend in Ghost of Tsushima’s world, which is beautiful, full, and surprisingly calm.

Sucker Punch’s latest game takes a Japan like Assassin’s Creed, adds a world like Red Dead Redemption 2, and mixes in all of Akira Kurosawa’s movies to make this ode to Japanese culture.

This is a great way for the PS4 to go out.

19. Detroit: Become Human

Detroit: Become Human, the newest game to join this exclusive club, is a masterwork of storytelling. In the year 2038, it tells the story of three Androids who all break their training to become “free.”

This game looks beautiful and does some interesting things with player choice. Not only do you feel like you’re in charge of what happens to each character, but at the end of each level, you’re shown the different story paths you could have taken. It’s mostly talking and not much else, but that’s the point.

Once you care about the different people and their problems, you’ll be hooked, and you’ll worry about some of the game’s harder moral decisions.

18. Persona 5

Playing Persona 5 is almost too exciting because of how stylish it is. Everything from the bright graphics and cool music to the lively settings and lively voice acting is trying to get your full attention.

This easy-to-play but deep JRPG is like a playable anime. It’s about a group of Japanese high school students who become the Phantom Thieves and make the world a better place by stealing the valuable things that make adults crazy.

Persona 5 has more than 100 hours of fun for anyone who likes JRPG experiences, whether you’re infiltrating the psychological palaces of your chosen target or just hanging out and making friends through a wide range of after-school activities.

And yes, you can play it on PS3, but then you wouldn’t be able to enjoy the 1080p quality.

17. The Last Guardian 

Fumito Ueda’s games are known for how they make the player feel and how they make them think.

The Last Guardian lives up to the same high standards as Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, even though it took years for it to come out.

You play as a young boy who is stuck in old ruins. Along the way to freedom, you make friends with a huge bird-dog hybrid named Trico.

Trico’s unique and sometimes disobedient AI makes him feel like a real, living creature that you need to coax and work with to solve a variety of third-person tasks.

This creates a bond between the player and the animal that is similar to having a real pet.

16. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End 

Like the best action movies, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End knows when to mix big explosions and thrilling car chases with quieter times of drama and warmth between the characters.

Nathan Drake is still a likeable modern-day Indiana Jones who hunts for treasure and avoids armed bad guys with style.

However, it’s more fun to watch him interact with his loved ones, like Elena, Sully, and even his newly introduced brother Sam, who are all brought to life by fantastic mocapped performances, than to find an ancient secret.

Uncharted 4 is a good ending to Nathan’s story, and playing it is like finishing the last part of a favorite adventure book that has left a lasting impression on your heart.

15. Bloodborne

The night is dark and full of scary things, most of which will kill you in an instant if you aren’t careful.

But you’ll have to take that risk if you want to explore and experience Bloodborne’s beautiful gothic city of Yharnam.

Yharnam is the setting for From Software’s brilliant spin-off that tries out Dark Souls ideas.

This beautiful third-person action RPG moves at a faster pace than the original Souls, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be careful and on the lookout at all times, because there are all kinds of horrible monsters hiding in the Victorian-era environments.

When you combine the two ways each melee weapon can be used with the careful timing of pistol-enabled parries, you have even more room to fight the way you want to as you make your way from one memorable boss fight or beautiful view to the next, guided (or attacked) by the ghosts of other players.

14. Marvel’s Spider-Man

Spider-Man is a storming exclusive for PS4 and is easily the best character game in the last few years. It looks amazing, has a ton of things to see and do, and is a joy to play.

From the first time you swing around New York City to the later parts of the game where you combine movement, fighting, and powers, it’s a joy to just sit down and play.

The story is interesting, funny, and sometimes really shocking, and the way it is told is as smooth as hell. It’s very true to both the books and the new Marvel movies about Spider-Man.

This is the game for you if you want something brand new that will impress your friends and keep you playing for weeks and weeks.

13. Horizon Zero Dawn

We’ve seen too many empty, lifeless, post-apocalyptic wastelands in games, to the point where they’ve become as boring as the falling world they show.

But Horizon Zero Dawn goes way past the fall of modern society to show us a glimpse of a new era for humanity, where primitive tribes have slowly started to rebuild among unique species of intelligent, robotic wildlife that roam and own the now-green ruins of cities.

In Horizon, you play as Aloy, a hunter in a far-future region who is both skilled and brave. She has a big, beautiful open world to explore.

Horizon Zero Dawn is an amazing game, no matter what you set out to do. Whether it’s making peace with other human tribes, exploring the beautiful environment (and capturing Kodak moments with the fun photo mode), hunting down every secret hidden in the vast landscape, or trying to catch a huge dinosaur-like Thunderjaw, whatever you set out to do will be amazing.

12. God of War

It really is that good. The new God of War is almost the best game you can play on PS4. It is a reboot of the series that takes place in a whole new world.

The first games had a linear action format, but this one doesn’t. Instead, you can explore a fully realized and gorgeous Norse world, fighting and solving puzzles as you go.

The story is well written and has a good pace, and Kratos is no longer just a one-dimensional killing machine.

The enemies are also well made, and fighting is just as smooth and exciting as it has always been. There is a lot to find, and each new place is more amazing and full of things to do than the last.

Only Horizon comes close to showing how powerful and flexible the PlayStation is in the same way. This makes God of War a must-buy for anyone who has a DualShock and wants to try something new.

11. Last of Us Part 2

The last game Naughty Dog made for the PS4 was its most complex one to date. This exclusive not only proves that we didn’t need the sequel we thought we didn’t need, but it’s also a great achievement on its own.

The Last of Us Part 2 is a game that will stay with you for a very long time. It’s beautiful to look at, incredibly bold, and on a grand scale.

10. Tearaway Unfolded

Tearaway Unfolded is one of the few games that is fun from the beginning to the end. Its beautiful paper craft world pulls you in right away, and you can use the joystick on the DualShock 4 to draw and make your own things that you can then put into the game.

And the more you play, the more Tearaway Unfolded’s world changes to represent your artistic skills. Trust me, you don’t need many, and thank the PlayStation Gods for that, but even a jumbled up star gives this already beautiful world a little something extra.

There’s also a story here, so it’s not just scissors and glue, and it’s up to you to help get rid of the bad Scraps and put the world back in order.

In this unique PS4-only journey, you can meet some cute creatures, make friends, earn some sticks, poke and prod the world using the power of the DualShock 4, and more.

9. Ratchet and Clank

If you played Ratchet and Clank on the PS2 back when it came out, you know how great their experiences are.

This strange space adventure will make you laugh at how silly the guns are, groan at how bad the jokes are, and stare in awe at the beautiful world that Insomniac Games has made, with a color palette that would make any galaxy happy.

This is the magic of the original game brought to the PS4 in a beautiful remaster that shows games don’t have to be completely redone to work on current-gen platforms. This is fun, creative, and really great.

8. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Since the first Uncharted game came out on the PS3 in 2007, Nathan Drake has been the main character. However, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is all about giving someone else a chance to shine.

Drake moves out of the way to make room for Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross, two female characters from the show who were both once bad guys/double-crossers.

The two women make an interesting duo. They still have the sassy, tongue-in-cheek antics that are typical of the Uncharted series, but they have a new take on Sully and Drake’s loud bromance.

This is a spin-off of Uncharted that could be the start of a new Uncharted story. It has great set pieces, great puzzles, and a touch of the strange.

7. Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games that has been on everyone’s wish list for years and years. Then it took place.

This kind of game, which was announced at E3 2017 but didn’t come out until February 2018, makes a big splash in the gaming world because it’s still as thought-provoking and beautiful as it was when it came out 13 years ago on the PS2.

This is a real piece of video game history, and you owe it to yourself to check it out.

6. The Last of Us Remastered

Okay, The Last of Us was one of the best PS3 games, but it’s hard to make a list of the best PS4 exclusives without at least mentioning this great remaster.

If you have a PS4 Pro, you not only get the original The Last of Us game in beautiful 4K, but you also get a ton of extra stuff for free.

The post-apocalyptic story by Naughty Dog is still one of the best ever told in a video game.

So, if you haven’t heard Ellie and Joel’s story yet, sit back (but not too far, because there are monsters in the game) and get lost in one of the best games ever made.

5. inFamous: Second Son

Even though it was one of the first games for the PS4, inFamous: Second Son is a great example of how technology changes for the PS4 Pro release can make a huge difference in how good a game is.

Even though it came out four years ago, Sucker Punch’s great smoke-filled superhero story still looks great, and its story of origins, family, and friendship is still one of my favorite PS4 games to date.

It turns Seattle into your playground, and nothing feels better than chaining together attacks with your new skills to stop the big bad who is threatening your town and family. Brilliant in every way.

4. Street Fighter 5

It might have been a little rough when it first came out, but after more content, new characters, and a lot of tweaks over the past year, Street Fighter 5 has become the great fighting game it was always meant to be.

It has a growing list of unique characters that can fit any play style, and the new V-Skill and V-Trigger systems add another layer of excitement and strategic depth to each intense match.

Whether you choose an old favorite like Ryu or an oddball newcomer like Necalli, Street Fighter 5 gives you more of what you’ve come to expect from Capcom’s fan-favorite fighting game series: endless replayability and a limitless skill cap.

3. Yakuza 6

What the hell have you been doing with your game life if you haven’t played the PS4-only Yakuza series? With the newest Yakuza, it’s time to make up for that mistake.

No, really, the sixth core game in the series is one of the best places to start because it does a great job of telling the story so far and combines the best action and features from the other games into one meaty adventure.

It’s mostly an action-RPG set in Japan. You play as Kazuma Kiryu, a former Yakuza boss who has turned good and is now fighting for his adopted children and the people of his town.

There are a lot of minigames to keep you busy, a lot of great side stories to read, and a gripping main story.

2. Concrete Genie 

Using the DualShock 4’s motion sensor controls to paint in Concrete Genie is both charming and creatively unique. Yes, tilting your controller in different ways lets you make beautiful art.

Even though it seems like an unusual way to make art, it actually works very well. Pixelopus is a very heartwarming story that looks at how an environmental disaster changed a seaside town that is now deserted.

You play the part of Ash, a bullied teenager who finds a magical pen that can fix the town and make his art come to life.

The story also talks about bullying in a sensitive way, and it shows you a side of the bullies you might not expect to see.

1. GT Sport

If you want to drive on PS4, there’s only one game to choose from. DriveClub was the most popular game before GT Sport, but it has everything that game had and a lot more.

There are the standard number of high-end sports cars to choose from, as well as a number of high-performance cars made by real companies.

Many of the best tracks in the world have also been faithfully recreated in the game.

But what makes this different is the online choices, which include tournaments, special events, and a lot more.

You can basically live the life of the most exciting, well-traveled professional racing driver… without the risk of crashing or the millions of dollars they’d probably make.