14.What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finchis the kind of game that makes others feel shallow by comparison. The deeply visceral feeling that comes from this small PS4 title makes for an unforgettable experience.
In essence, you explore a large house while 17-year-old Edith remembers the various ways that each member of her family died—memories that are triggered in their respective bedrooms.
The mystery of how each person passed and the unraveling of the elements results in some of the best storytelling in any game ever made.
13.Titanfall 2
The firstTitanfallgame was a launch title for the Xbox One, one that was met with some critical derision at the time. It had some glaring flaws that didn’t feel worthy of its day one release.
So whenTitanfall 2arrived, it was a clear upgrade in every way. The gameplay was better, the concepts were honed, and the sheer intensity was upped. Sadly, sales were underwhelming.
Much of that failure had to do with the fact thatTitanfall 2went wider with its release. Because the original was Xbox-exclusive, many potential PS4 players had never played the first game and weren’t too excited.
In retrospect,Titanfall 2is now somewhat of a cult classic, helped along by its Steam release back in 2020. It’s a shame that all future games in theTitanfallline were cancelled due to this one’s failure.
12.No Man’s Sky
Back when it first released in 2016,No Man’s Skyreached an unprecedented level of hype never before seen in gaming at the time. People were so excited for the game’s promised potential of advanced procedurally-generated content.
The map ofNo Man’s Skywas expected to be the size of a small galaxy, one where every planet was available for exploration, filled with unique creatures and plants to be discovered.
However, all of that hype was immediately dispelled at launch. The game failed to the deliver its promised experience, leaving many players soured and disappointed. At launch,No Man’s Skywas overly pointless.
But in the years since,No Man’s Skyhas continued to receive updates—and now that it has much more purpose,No Man’s Skyis one of the greatest modern gaming experiences. It has built a dedicated following as a niche gaming title that’s certainly worth checking out.
11.The Order: 1886
The Order: 1886was supposed to be one of the PS4’s core launch titles. It had detailed graphics, an interesting premise, and a steampunk feel that seemingly ensured it was going to be a smash hit.
However, when it was released, it received mixed reviews that really clawed into its flaws. Many potential players were driven away and others simply never heard of it, buried underneath bad press.
Even so,The Order: 1886sold well enough and today it’s remembered as a decent game that might’ve been a whole lot better with a few core tweaks and better marketing. It’s still worth a play, even if it’s primarily a glimpse into what could have been.
10.Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishmentsgave us the chance to dive into the mind of the greatest detective in literature. Unfortunately, it was almost unanimously ignored when it released in 2014 despite the weight of critical adulation that came its way.
At the time, gamers were too busy lapping up next-gen AAA titles and marveling at the impressive graphical prowess of the PS4. The quieter idea ofSherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishmentswasn’t a good fit for the zeitgeist and it pretty much faded into obscurity.
Looking back, it should have been a bigger hit. The game really made players work out each case, challenging them to put together clues and find evidence littered throughout a cleverly detailed map.
If you’ve never played—or even heard of—Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments, it’s still just as good now and it’s worth checking it out, especially if you like the idea of playing as Sherlock Holmes.
9.Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
WhenOdin Sphere Leifthrasirhit the PlayStation Store in 2016, it seemed that everyone would finally see how good the original game was. This was, after all, a much-needed remake with improvements.
Originally released for the PlayStation 2 to critically positive reception,Odin Sphere Leifthrasirsadly didn’t find the revival it sought. It’s still a hidden gem of sorts, but it’s not too late to check it out.
8.Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2
There’s more to fighting games on the PS4 than justStreet Fighter,Mortal Kombat, andTekken—if you know what you’re looking for. How do you like the idea of anime-style fighters?
If the thought interests you, check outGuilty Gear Xrd REV 2(the updated version ofGuilty Gear Xrd -Revelator-). It comes with a solid tutorial that’s helpful and effective, and it’s just gorgeous to play thanks to its 3D-powered, 2D-style engine.
Related:The Best PS4 Fighting Games
7.Toukiden: Kiwami
Love the idea ofMonster Hunterwhere you get to roam a fleshed-out world and hunt vast varieties of monsters, except instead of hunting monsters you’d rather hunt oni? Then check outToukiden: Kiwami!
Oni are creatures from Japanese folklore that resemble orcs, ogres, and trolls. InToukiden: Kiwami, they’re scattered across a fantasy world that’s heavily inspired by medieval Japanese themes.
The entireToukidenseries is based on this concept, butToukiden: Kiwamiin particular is a great place to start—and as a bonus, you can often catch it on sale for just a few bucks.
6.Transistor
Anyone who’s into indie games already knows and lovesBastionand its gravel-voiced narrator. Significantly fewer people knowTransistorand its gravel-voiced weapon that’s carried by the main character (and again voiced byBastion’s Logan Cunningham).
Transistoris one of the sleekest indie games of the last decade, where most of the gameplay centers on tactical battles that mix real-time gameplay with turn-based decisions.
Related:The Best Indie Game Soundtracks
5.The Deadly Tower of Monsters
The Deadly Tower of Monstershas you fighting through a fictional B-movie populated by monsters that look designed and animated by Ray Harryhausen. To make it even weirder, the director of this “film” offers commentary over the top as you play through it.
If you’re a fan of twin-stick action games and/or beat-em-up games,The Deadly Tower of Monsterswill be right up your alley. And if you like campy B-movie parodies, that’s a delicious cherry on top!
Related:The Best PS4 Horror Games
4.The Surge
Love the punishing gameplay of theDark Soulsfranchise but prefer settings that have more of a sci-fi flair? BothThe SurgeandThe Surge 2haveSouls-like combat with a twist involving mechanical upgrades that reward you for cutting weapons and armor off of enemies.
If you’ve played the even-lesser-knownLords of the Fallenand enjoyed it, know thatThe SurgeandThe Surge 2are considered spiritual successors to it!
3.Mad Max
Gameplay-wise,Mad Maxis a perfectly fine open-world action-adventure game in a genre that’s filled to the brim with plenty of other decent games of its ilk. What sets it apart? The setting!
Mad Maxputs you in the shoes of Max Rockatansky, one of the survivors in a post-apocalyptic wasteland who fights against raiders while trying to make his way to peace in the fabled Plains of Silence.
Once this game gets its hooks in you, it becomes increasingly difficult to put down and stop playing. There’s so much to explore here!
Related:The Best Open World Games on PS4, Ranked
2.Mutant Football League
If you miss the days ofNFL Blitz-style arcade football games and want a similar experience on modern consoles,Mutant Football Leagueis as close as you’re going to get on the PlayStation 4.
Mutant Football Leaguedoes a good job of scratching that itch, even if it can feel a little unfair at times. And despite “football” in the name, this is a fantastic sports game for people who normally dislike them.
1.Gravity Rush 2
This sequel to the original PlayStation Vita-onlyGravity Rushkeeps the same gravity-defying gameplay while adding a much-needed bump in graphical quality.
If you’re looking for a game with the charm of a JRPG but new—and slightly strange—gameplay, look no further thanGravity Rush 2.
Related:The Longest PS4 Games
