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
- 752 games in this category
- 94 average rating of the top 30
- 25 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 752, 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.
- 01 97/100
- 02 96/100
God of War (2018) Details
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 - 03 96/100
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Details
Described in detail under The best Xbox games
PCPlayStationXbox - 04 96/100
- 05 95/100
- 06 95/100
God of War Ragnarök Details
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 - 07 95/100
Resident Evil 4 (Remake 2023) Details
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxMobileSwitch - 08 95/100
Return of the Obra Dinn Details
Described in detail under The best puzzle games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitch - 09 94/100
- 10 94/100
- 11 94/100
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Details
Described in detail under The best mobile games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 12 94/100
- 13 94/100
- 14 94/100
- 15 94/100
- 16 94/100
- 17 93/100
- 18 93/100
- 19 93/100
- 20 93/100
Dave the Diver Details
Described in detail under The best simulation games
PCPlayStationSwitchXboxMobile - 21 93/100
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Details
Described in detail under The best mobile games
PCPlayStationXboxMobile - 22 93/100
- 23 93/100
- 24 93/100
- 25 93/100
- 26 93/100
Resident Evil 2 (Remake 2019) Details
Described in detail under The best horror games
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 27 93/100
Shadow of the Colossus Details
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 - 28 93/100
- 29 93/100
- 30 93/100
Worth reading on this
Common questions
- How many games of this kind are in the database?
- There are currently 752. 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 25 hours. 10 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.
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