The action genre, particularly open-world action-adventures, continues to dominate the gaming industry. Improved hardware has allowed developers to move gaming away from its days of linear stages full of invisible walls to an era of immersive games that can offer expansive maps with immersive action gameplay.
The PlayStation 4's cycle has come to an end following the release of the PlayStation 5, and a glance at the console's Metacritic page will exemplify just how dominant the action-adventure genre was on Sony's console. The following games are categorized in the review aggregator's action genre, and all provide fantastic campaigns that will likely be enjoyed for decades to come.
Updated March 24, 2023, by Megan Smith: Now that the PlayStation 5 is at a point where players can actually get their hands on the next generation of gaming, many action games have started to debut solely on that hardware. However, the PlayStation 4 continues to be a great option to try out many action games, including projects that tell deeper stories. Metacritic continues to showcase the last generation's most praised titles across plenty of genres, and that extends to the best action games for PS4.
If a game is labeled as "Action" on Metacritic, it will qualify for this discussion. The cutoff date for entries is March 20, 2023.
15 It Takes Two (89)
It Takes Two is not only one of the best action-adventure games on PS4 but also a great game that requires a player to partner with a friend if they hope to complete this amazing story. Controlling a couple that has been transformed into their daughter's dolls, they must work together in a hope of finding a way to break the spell, so they can continue getting a divorce.
Adventuring through their house has never been so difficult as horrendous obstacles face them at every level. Although it may not be the most conventional example of an action game, players are still expected to work together to defeat bosses in between solving fairly engaging puzzles.
14 Resident Evil 2 (91)
While not the first Resident Evil game from Capcom's franchise to be remade, Resident Evil 2 is by far one of the most praised games for not only modernizing the original project but also looking beautiful.
The Resident Evil franchise is also one of the best groups of games to be firmly placed in the action-horror genre. Fearing what modified creature might be lurking inside a building or the eventual meeting with Mr. X, Resident Evil 2 will have players constantly on edge as they experience a frightful and timeless story. This entry was such a success, it spawned two more remakes.
13 NieR Automata (91)
NieR: Automata is an action JRPG that packs a punch, especially due to the challenging battles that players are sure to face as they advance through the interestingly bizarre story. Developed by PlatinumGames, NieR: Automata showcases the company's hack and slash expertise; furthermore, Yoko Taro's involvement leads to a gripping narrative that is generally better than PlatinumGames' typical output.
While the original Metacritic score of NieR: Automata is just 88, the Game of the YoRHa Edition scored 91. Consequently, this is the version that has been selected due to it not only including the action-packed main game but also all the side content.
12 Inside (91)
Made by the creators of the eerie game known as Limbo, Inside is a platformer that amazed and intrigued players when it was released on the PlayStation 4. Although not "action" in the conventional sense, Inside still has its own suspense as players uncover the ominous story while platforming as their silent protagonist.
Stealthing their way through most sections of the campaign while being at the center of some sort of dark project, players will be on the edge of their seats as they try to survive within a stylish but terrifying world.
11 Shadow of the Colossus (91)
The PS4 saw plenty of remakes of past titles. A high-definition remake of the classic PlayStation 2 game, the Shadow of the Colossus PS4 was developed by Bluepoint Games and successfully recaptured the original's magic.
The game is remembered fondly for its deceivingly powerful story that centers around the playable character, Wander, as he attempts to defeat numerous colossi in hopes of reviving a girl named Mono. Making its placement on Metacritic well-deserved for an action-adventure title.
10 Journey (92)
Another unconventional action title that many players loved not only on the PlayStation 3 but also on the PlayStation 4 is the wondrous Journey. Through the power of music and brilliant visuals, Journey guides players on an adventure that has no peers.
While some sections are beautiful and relaxing, others force the Traveler to work against the wind. Although generally a subdued and atmospheric experience, Journey still produces its share of intense moments that will stick with people long after they complete their 2-hour trip.
9 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (92)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt likely would have received an even higher Metascore than 92 if it wasn't for the fact that CD Projekt's game was full of bugs on launch.
The Witcher 3 is the core reason why fans were so excited about Cyberpunk 2077 years before it was released, and why there was so much disappointment around the final product. The Witcher 3 offers one of the best role-playing packages on the eighth generation of consoles, with an incredible open-world that just begs to be explored. The combat system tends to be a bit divisive, especially until players grow familiar with its intricacies.
8 Bloodborne (92)
The joint highest-rated Soulsborne game on Metacritic alongside the PlayStation 5 remake of Demon's Souls, FromSoftware's Bloodborne took players to the Victorian-era inspired Yharnam.
Bloodborne offered fans of the critically acclaimed Dark Souls series a more aggressive style of combat; FromSoftware accomplished this by removing shields from the game and putting firearm weaponry in its place. Furthermore, the game rewarded players with aggressive play styles through its regenerating health mechanic, which would see the player regain lost health by successfully landing hits on enemies.
7 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (93)
Successfully following the critically acclaimed Uncharted trilogy on the PlayStation 3 was never going to be easy, but Naughty Dog managed to exceed expectations when they released Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.
The fourth entry into the series differentiated itself from its predecessors with an extra focus on stealth gameplay, likely inspired by the developer's The Last of Us franchise; as well as by giving the Indiana Jones-inspired Nathan Drake a grappling hook to increase the speed of his movement.
6 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (93)
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain was released in the midst of the very public breakup between Konami and Kojima Productions. The breakup sadly led to the game not reaching its full potential, and Hideo Kojima even suggested that the game was unfinished.
Despite the setback, Metal Gear Solid 5 is still a fantastic game, exemplified by its whopping 93 Metascore. The game differentiated itself from its predecessors with a huge, beautifully designed open-world and base-building mechanics that massively expanded on the base building in Peace Walker.
5 The Last of Us Part 2 (93)
Naughty Dog's follow-up to the critically acclaimed The Last of Us was a surprising source of controversy after the game's divisive story caused fans to review bomb the game on Metacritic. The scathing user reviews led to decisive action from the review aggregator, as they swiftly changed their site's user score policies.
Despite the backlash, The Last of Us Part 2 won an eye-watering amount of awards, including Game of the Year from The Game Awards, and Ultimate Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards.
4 God of War (2018) (94)
The eighth entry into the iconic God of War series saw the franchise make numerous gameplay and stylistic changes. As well as shifting focus from Greek to Norse mythology, God of War (2018) opened up the game's traditional linear level design to offer more free-roaming.
Much like The Last of Us Part 2, Santa Monica Studio's God of War picked up multiple Game of the Year awards. The Game Awards, D.I.C.E. Awards, and SXSW Gaming Awards all awarded the game with their top prize.
3 The Last of Us Remastered (95)
Released at a time when it felt like almost every new film, TV show, book, or video game had zombies or infected in it. It's safe to say that people weren't too excited when the Last of Us was first announced. Before The Last of Us had even released fans were dismissing the game, claiming that it was just an Uncharted clone looking to cash in on the zombie hype.
As is often the case in the gaming industry, people were too quick to jump to a conclusion about an unreleased game, and their criticisms were soon silenced when The Last of Us hit stores in 2013. As well as its excellent stealth-action gameplay, The Last of Us raised the bar for storytelling in video games, showing that mainstream audiences were ready for more mature and story-driven adventures.
Unsurprisingly, the success of The Last of Us led to a PlayStation 4 remaster a few years later.
2 Grand Theft Auto 5 (97)
Originally released at the very end of the PlayStation 3's cycle, Grand Theft Auto V was brought to the PlayStation 4 with improved visuals and an alternative first-person play style. The game offered one of the most beloved campaigns in the franchise's history, as players took control of anti-heroes Trevor, Franklin, and Michael.
Despite the game's status as one of modern gaming's best titles, it's safe to say that there were a few moans and groans when the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S iteration was announced. Grand Theft Auto 6 will immediately become one of gaming's most highly anticipated titles when it is eventually announced, but with the success of GTA V's online mode, it may still be a few years before that day comes.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2 (97)
There may not have been a new Grand Theft Auto game released during the eighth generation of home consoles, but there was a follow-up to Rockstar's critically acclaimed western Red Dead Redemption.
Red Dead Redemption 2 offered an incredible level of realism that was supplemented by one of Rockstar's most well-written and well-performed stories to date. The game made an eye-watering $725 million in its opening weekend, putting it close to Grand Theft Auto V's ridiculous opening weekend sum of $1 billion.