Best of
The best PlayStation games
PlayStation has stood for big, lavishly staged single-player adventures for years, but the platform can do a lot more than that. This list takes both: the blockbusters you buy the console for, and the smaller titles you would otherwise miss.
This list in numbers
- 724 games in this category
- 94 average rating of the top 30
- 30 median playtime in hours
- 23 release years covered (2002 to 2025)
- 6 of 30 playable in co-op
- 10 of 30 are cheap or free
Why these three lead
Elden Ring takes the top spot with 97 out of 100, followed by God of War (2018) at 96 and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain at 96. All three clear the 94 point average of this list, and the gap to the rest of the field is small enough that your own taste matters more than the ranking.
How this list is put together
I start from every game in the database that fits this category, currently 724, and sort them by the aggregated critic rating. The 30 highest scoring titles make the list. No publisher can pay to appear here, and the affiliate links have no effect on the order. The full method is explained under how I pick.
- 1
- 2
God of War (2018) Profile
Kratos travels through Norse mythology with his son Atreus, striking an unusually personal, quieter tone. The camera stays in a single unbroken shot almost the entire time, making the presentation feel exceptionally intimate.
PCPlayStation - 3
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Profile
Described in detail under The best Xbox games
PCPlayStationXbox - 4
- 5
- 6
God of War Ragnarök Profile
The story of Kratos and Atreus reaches its epic conclusion against the backdrop of the approaching end of the world. All nine realms of Norse mythology can be visited this time.
PlayStationPC - 7
Resident Evil 4 (Remake 2023) Profile
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 8
Return of the Obra Dinn Profile
Described in detail under The best puzzle games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitch - 9
- 10
- 11
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Profile
Described in detail under The best mobile games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Profile
Described in detail under The best mobile games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
Resident Evil 2 (Remake 2019) Profile
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 29
Shadow of the Colossus Profile
The 2018 remake brings the melancholic masterpiece to the PS4 in full visual splendor. A lone rider scales sixteen gigantic colossi in an empty, open world to bring back a lost love.
PlayStation - 30
Worth reading on this
Common questions
- How many games of this kind are in the database?
- There are currently 724. This page shows the 30 with the highest critic rating, so nothing below that cut is missing by accident, it simply scored lower.
- What is the single best pick right now?
- Elden Ring, with 97 out of 100. That said, the top of this list sits within a few points, so the second or third entry may fit your evening better.
- How much time do these games ask for?
- The median across this list is about 30 hours. 9 of the 30 entries are finished in fifteen hours or less if you are short on time.
- Can I play these with friends?
- 6 of the 30 entries support co-op. The rest are built as single player experiences.
Prefer a recommendation tailored to tonight instead of a list? The finder takes three minutes.
Find your next game →