In 2022, Sony reshaped PlayStation Plus, combining the original subscription with PS Now. Ever since then, PS5 and PS4 owners have been able to commit to three subscription tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. While the former is required for most multiplayer experiences and provides a few free giveaways per month, the latter two feature game libraries that number in the hundreds. PS Plus Extra contains PS5 and PS4 games, while Premium adds classic PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSP titles to the mix, along with some PS4 remasters.

As the PS5 has been out for some years, that console's games tend to hog the spotlight when it comes to PS Plus; however, the service has a massive selection of PS4 titles, most of which hold up well. Due to the PS5's backward compatibility, owners of that system can also play the best PS4 games on PS Plus​​​​​​, granting them access to hundreds of games from the last decade. While most of these titles are not as exciting as new PS5 releases or nostalgic PS1 classics, they are generally quality.

Updated April 6, 2024: PS Plus Extra and Premium's March 2024 lineup did not include many PS4 exclusives, although Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is certainly worthy of a recommendation for visual novel fans. LEGO DC Supervillains is also another solid open-world kids' game, while Super Neptunia RPG could be fun if someone is really into Idea Factory and Compile Heart's franchise. The Essential tier's April 2024 lineup added some great PS4 PS Plus games as well.

If a game's PS5 version is also on PS Plus, its PS4 iteration will not be considered. The best PS5 games on PS Plus Premium and Extra can be found here.

For those who prefer physical copies, links to the games' Amazon pages are included, permitting they exist.

Skul: The Hero Slayer (PS Plus Essential – April 2024)

Metascore: 80

Nowadays, PS4-only games never headline PS Plus Essential's monthly lineups, but that does not mean they should be ignored by subscribers. The April 2024 games should all be decent additions to most libraries, and PS4 owners can pick up two of the three projects. Minecraft Legends is a fun real-time strategy spinoff that retains some of the mainline game's sandbox goodness. While perhaps not a stellar experience for strategy veterans, it is a great option for young players or people taking their first steps into the genre.

Secondly, there is Skul: The Hero Slayer, an indie roguelike with a cool head-based gimmick. Players must work their way through five stages, with death sending them back to the start. Along the way, they will discover skulls that contain unique abilities, and they are allowed to equip two of these heads simultaneously (from roughly 30 options). Basically, these skulls represent different classes and weapon types, and they are nearly all a blast to use and offer synergy with each other.

As popular as roguelikes are nowadays, they are still an acquired taste, and Skul: The Hero Slayer is no exception. The game can be overwhelmingly difficult at first, and players must have some patience for grinding as that will take up most of their early hours. However, the combat is generally great, and quite a few of the skulls even come with upgrade systems that allow them to evolve with further use. The stages are also quite decent, even if they are procedurally generated.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

Metascore: 87

PS Plus Extra subscribers can jump into two Dragon Ball games: Xenoverse 2 and FighterZ. While they might share a franchise, they are wildly different experiences. An arena fighter with light RPG elements, Xenoverse 2 is probably the better pick for Dragon Ball fans searching for a single-player title; however, FighterZ is overall the superior project.

Crafted by Arc System Works, FighterZ is a deep fighting game that does a fantastic job of bringing to life the source material's over-the-top battles. Arc's own properties have a reputation for being overwhelmingly complex, but Dragon Ball FighterZ is far more accessible than Guilty Gear or BlazBlue.

Kingdom Hearts 3

Metascore: 83

PS Plus Subscribers who have never dipped into Kingdom Hearts have more than 150 hours of gameplay at their fingertips, a figure that easily doubles if each game's side content is taken into consideration. Newcomers should start from the first game found in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix and steadily work their way through the story, especially since Kingdom Hearts 2 and Birth by Sleep are often cited as the franchise's highest points. As those titles debuted on the PS2 and PSP respectively, they cannot be classified as full-blown PS4 releases.

A long-time coming, Kingdom Hearts 3 finally debuted in 2019, garnering a generally positive reception. While not perfect, the action RPG delivers highly enjoyable fast-paced hack and slash combat and gorgeous visuals that bring to life a few of Disney and Pixar's recent movies. The story has pacing issues, but it does end on a high note.

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Metascore: 87

Several Wolfenstein games are part of PS Plus and they nearly all rank among the service's best first-person shooters. In the grand scheme of things, The New Colossus sticks very close to The New Order's blueprint; however, it opts to go down the "more is more route", a decision that pays off spectacularly.

MachineGames' reboot series offers corny but largely entertaining stories with awesome villains, tightly designed levels that allow for some player agency, and satisfying gunplay that comes with a side of stealth. None of these elements are particularly unique, but The New Colossus executes them to near perfection. The campaign is simply a fun and over-the-top romp that contains nothing resembling a dull moment. Forget the FPS genre, Wolfenstein 2 is simply among the best PS Plus PS4 games.

Two Point Hospital: Jumbo Edition

Metascore: 85 (Switch)

PS Plus Extra only has a couple of simulation games, and they cover quite a wide range of subgenres. Two Point Hospital is, at the bare minimum, a top contender for the service's best sim, and the title is a good pick for both beginners and veterans. While business sims have earned a reputation for being unapproachable and dense, quite a few modern projects have sought to ease the barrier of entry for casual players, and Two Point Studios' efforts rank among the most successful in this area. Two Point Hospital also runs well on PS4, which is hardly a given for a genre known for its micromanagement and data-heavy gameplay.

Inspired by Theme Hospital, Two Point Hospital is surprisingly funny and lighthearted, rarely taking itself too seriously. However, this mentality does not stretch to the gameplay itself, which offers players plenty of options and decisions. The game throws out quite a few sites and scenarios as players will have to build different hospitals to suit a location's needs. If someone prefers a more free-flowing approach, they can also try sandbox mode.

Tales Of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

Metascore: 81

PS Plus Subscribers have quite a few Tales games at their disposal, all of which are native to the PS4. Technically, Tales of Zestiria is the only proper "PS4" release on the service, with the other titles either being remasters of older generation projects or cross-gen PS5 titles; however, Zestiria is extremely polarizing and should not be somebody's first exposure to the franchise. Consequently, Vesperia is a far better candidate, especially since the Definitive Edition brought the game to Western PlayStation owners after the PS3 iteration was left as a Japanese exclusive. Also, Vesperia is a top contender for the best Tales game ever, and it has aged very well in nearly every area.

Due to utilizing gorgeous cel-shaded visuals, the original version of this game still looks fantastic, and the same can (obviously) be said for the remaster. More importantly, Vesperia tells a gripping story that features a fantastic all-around roster of characters, including perhaps the franchise's best protagonist. While not quite as complex as some other entries in the series, the JRPG's real-time battle system is generally fun and deep enough to remain interesting during the 30-hour campaign. Like the story, the combat starts fairly simple, but it gradually blossoms into a multi-layered and satisfying system. Vesperia also supports co-op, and that is the best way to experience this brilliant PS4 PS Plus game.

Dreams

Metascore: 89

Media Molecule's Dreams is unlike any other PS4 game on PS Plus Extra. Designed as an entry-level video game creator, the 2020 release gives users all the necessary tools to produce experiences of their own, a goal very few developers have tried to deliver for the console market. Dreams is fairly limited compared to other applications of this type, but it works brilliantly as a way to ease children or fledgling developers into the industry. Even if someone has no intention of pursuing a career in this field, they might still enjoy messing around with the project's features.

Dreams also allows players to surf experiences created by other users, along with a few games designed by Media Molecule. Most of these options are short novelties rather than fully fleshed-out titles, but they are still impressive considering they were conceived specifically using the PS4.

Horizon Zero Dawn – Complete Edition

Metascore: 84

As Aloy, players traverse a post-apocalyptic world overrun with robotic dinosaurs and featuring pockets of humanity who are less than welcoming to the protagonist. Horizon Zero Dawn is a gorgeous open-world game, a technical masterpiece that pushes the PS4 to its limits and seldom falters in the process.

The combat is exceptional, particularly when it involves Aloy taking on metallic behemoths that could rival quite a few towering beasts from the Monster Hunter franchise. The story takes a while to pick up steam, but once it gets going, Horizon Zero Dawn doesn't let up.

Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age

Metascore: 91

Dragon Quest 11 brought the series back to home consoles in the West after a long hiatus, and the wait was worth it. At its heart, this is a traditional turn-based JRPG, and that extends to both the gameplay and story. The latter is a straightforward but charming "good vs. evil" narrative, one that is elevated by a decent roster of characters.

The combat system should not hold too many surprises for anyone familiar with the franchise or JRPGs from the '90s and 2000s, and that is not a criticism. DQ11 wisely opts to stick to the formula that has proven successful for over three decades, all the while modernizing just enough elements to not come across as dated. The "S" version is the definitive way to experience this game, and it even comes with a 16-bit mode.

Life Is Strange Complete Season

Metascore: 85

Split into five episodes, Life is Strange is a character-driven game centering around Max, a woman who can rewind time. This power defines the gameplay, as many puzzles require players to use this ability to move forward. Throughout the campaign, Max will need to make decisions or pick dialogue options that can change the story's direction, potentially resulting in a good or bad ending.

In January 2023, Life is Strange and its prequel, Before the Storm, were added to PS Plus Extra. Regardless of its in-universe timeline, Before the Storm is better left for after the original Life is Strange; if nothing else, the latter is generally regarded as the better game.

Undertale

Metascore: 92

An argument could be made that Toby Fox’s Undertale was the most successful indie release of the 2010s, and not for a lack of stiff competition. Taking inspiration from classics like Mother, the isometric RPG pays homage to its ancestors through its antiquated but charming aesthetic, along with its mature and experimental storytelling. Undertale adapts to the player’s actions, all the while challenging them to think about their behavior and the in-world consequences they produce.

A child finds themselves in the Underground, and their main goal is to simply make their way back to the surface. Naturally, this journey is not a solitary one, and the child meets a wide range of colorful personalities along the way. While they do not always have a choice, more often than not, players get to decide how they would like to interact with the creatures that populate the Underground.

Dishonored 2

Metascore: 88

PS Plus has quite a few of Arkane's projects, including the full Dishonored series. While a Premium subscription is required to play the first game, the Extra tier provides access to its sequel and that title's standalone expansion. Subjective opinion dictates which entry is the strongest since they all present very convincing cases; however, Dishonored 2 gets the nod since it is native to the PS4 and, arguably, has the best gameplay range. That said, newcomers should start with Dishonored​​​​​​.

The sequel features two playable characters, Emily and Corvo, who come with their own abilities but generally follow the same storyline. Dishonored 2 emphasizes player choice, primarily in its gameplay. Players can decide whether they want to kill everyone who stands in their way or opt for no bloodshed whatsoever, resulting in two wildly different experiences. This freedom extends to the missions themselves, which largely take place in open areas and try to avoid railroading players into a specific approach.

Slay The Spire

Metascore: 88

Slay the Spire has firmly established itself as one of the best roguelikes on the market, and it is also among the genre's most mainstream additions. The game has enjoyed a successful run on most platforms, and it is an easy recommendation for anyone with a PS Plus subscription.

For the uninitiated, runs revolve around battling through floors while collecting cards to gradually build a stronger deck. While reasonably accessible, the gameplay has a lot of depth, particularly since each of the playable characters comes with their nuances. The combat system is turn-based, with players having to carefully pick their ideal cards since their hand is shuffled each turn.

The Evil Within 2

Metascore: 76

Both The Evil Within games are on PS Plus Extra, and they are definite recommendations for horror fans. Due to being more linear and structured than its successor, the first entry produced regular scares, although its gameplay tends to be divisive. Despite retaining many of its predecessor's elements, the sequel's decision to focus on open-world style setting results in an entirely different feeling experience. On the one hand, the scares are more spread out; however, they are also more unpredictable and, arguably, more intense.

The Evil Within 2 does a great job of balancing exploration with curated set pieces, and the game does not overstay its welcome since players are mainly encouraged to focus on the main missions.

Rise Of The Tomb Raider

Metascore: 88

PS Plus Extra has the full Tomb Raider Survivor trilogy, which covers Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Serving as a reboot for the franchise, these titles present a more "grounded," for the lack of a better word, take on Lara Croft's adventures. All three games are worth playing, to the point that newcomers should start with Tomb Raider to get the full story; however, the first sequel is the best of the bunch.

Rise of the Tomb Raider finds Lara heading to Siberia in search of a lost city, and the frozen landscape brings with it plenty of challenges for the legendary explorer. The game balances platforming, exploration, puzzles, and combat extremely well, crafting a well-rounded package filled with memorable set pieces and characters.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

Metascore: 80

While Ace Combat was a fixture of the 2000s, the license only produced one main entry during the last decade. 2019's Ace Combat 7 is a combat flight sim that is light on the "simulation" part of that equation. Just to be clear, the gameplay is nuanced and fairly complex, but the controls themselves lean into arcade-style accessibility rather than realism. Over the course of a reasonably lengthy campaign, players step into a range of cockpits as they head to the skies and engage in dog fights and complete bombardment missions.

Ace Combat 7 looks gorgeous and plays well. Although some mission types are more enjoyable than others, the campaign does try to regularly shake things up to stave off boredom. Ultimately, Skies Unknown is a niche title that will not appeal to everyone; however, if someone is specifically searching for a combat flight sim, this is the best PS4 game on PS Plus Extra.

Alien: Isolation

Metascore: 79

Alien has a surprisingly robust video game resume, although great adaptations are hard to come by. Most titles take inspiration from the action-oriented Aliens rather than 1979's sci-fi horror classic; however, Alien: Isolation is one of the exceptions. And, more importantly, it might be the franchise's best game, especially when it comes to horror.

Isolation acts as a sequel to Alien, and the story even features Ellen Ripley's daughter as its protagonist. Amanda finds herself trapped on a space station that happens to be home to a xenomorph. While not defenseless throughout the full campaign, Amanda is very much the prey in this relationship, and she plays that way.

A Hat In Time

Metascore: 79

While no longer in vogue, 3D platformers have not completely gone extinct either. Most years tend to produce a handful of throwbacks to the days when gaming was run by colorful jumping mascots, and some titles even release on non-Nintendo hardware. A Hat in Time is a prime contender for the best PS4 platformer, and the game should not only entertain die-hard fans of the genre's classics but also engage newcomers who did not grow up with Banjo-Kazooie, Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time, Super Mario 64, and Rayman 2: The Great Escape.

Needing to return home, Hat Girl has to travel through a few creative worlds in search of Time Pieces, which serve as A Hat in Time's main collectible. Rather than focus on linear and self-contained stages, the game centers around open and expansive zones that players are encouraged to thoroughly explore. Boasting a stylish aesthetic and fantastic controls, A Hat in Time looks and plays great, while also featuring an abundance of personality in its world and characters.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Metascore: 84

It has been too long since Square Enix released a Deus Ex game, but at least the available projects hold up well and promote repeat playthroughs. Mankind Divided builds on Human Revolution's strong foundations, crafting an experience that is just as rewarding as its predecessor. Adam Jensen finds himself going undercover, although his behavior and actions are largely determined by a user's preferred play style.

Even if the 2016 release is not quite as immersive as the original Deus Ex, Mankind Divided's gameplay is nevertheless flexible and designed around player choice. One person could find themselves playing a stealth game, while someone else enjoys a more classic first-person shooter; either way, they should have fun.

Hollow Knight Voidheart Edition

Metascore: 85

Team Cherry's Hollow Knight has firmly established itself as a modern classic, so much so that its sequel, Silksong, is one of the most highly anticipated projects currently in development. The 2D side-scroller takes place in Hallownest, a haunting underground world that is deceptively massive. As is custom with Metroidvanias, Hollow Knight emphasizes exploration and backtracking, and the game demands that players explore and immerse themselves within its world.

Packed to the brim with powerful enemies and boss fights, Hollow Knight can be very punishing for the ill-prepared. The hack and slash combat system controls like a dream, and it is complex enough to remain interesting throughout the lengthy campaign.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Metascore: 79

While turn-based RPGs are primarily associated with Japanese developers, the Western market has produced its share of awesome titles. Both of Ubisoft's South Park games are a blast, not only for fans of the legendary cartoon but also for people who are just looking for a well-written RPG with an irreverent sense of humor. Newcomers to these games should start with The Stick of Truth as it is short and sweet; however, The Fractured but Whole is one of the best PS Plus PS4 games.

The sequel improves on its predecessor in nearly every area, including the combat system. This time around, there is a bit more strategy involved in battles, even if the game is rarely all that difficult. The story directs its satire at the superhero movie explosion, and the humor's focus is on the production of these projects rather than the stories themselves.

Celeste

Metascore: 91

Celeste is a tough-as-nails platformer with a heart-wrenching story about perseverance and self-discovery. The game follows Madeline as she climbs Mount Celeste, a trip that will test even the most seasoned platformer players.

Celeste is a PS4 indie game that deserves to be played, however, its high difficulty means that the title will not be for everyone. A rewarding experience, Celeste seamlessly blends gameplay and story to produce a journey that refuses to be forgotten once it is endured.

DOOM

Metascore: 85

After something of a dry spell, DOOM returned in a big way in 2016. Frantic, challenging, and extremely satisfying, id Software's shooter is a tour-de-force of visceral brutality. Modernizing the run and gun approach of classic '90s shooters, DOOM uses the past to create an adventure that feels timeless.

When it comes to games that are just pure, unfiltered adrenaline, DOOM is the standard-bearer and practically no game comes close to matching it. So, pick up a shotgun and get ready to blast hundreds of demons in the face while moving at a million miles an hour.

Desperados 3

Metascore: 82

The great thing about PS Plus Premium is its variety. Action, racing, platforming, and every other type of genre are covered on Sony’s service, and that includes real-time tactics. Desperados 3 offers a polished revenge-fueled trip through the Wild West. Boasting a complete roster of outlaws who each bring a unique spin to combat, Desperados 3 blends complexity with accessibility through its allowance for a flexible approach to situations.

Stealth is the main focus of the game, but that doesn’t mean someone cannot blast their way through an army of enemies and become a legend in the process.

Shadow Tactics: Blades Of The Shogun

Metascore: 85

A very good entry in the real-time tactics genre, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun shakes things up by centering its gameplay around stealth. While not an unheard-of concept for these types of releases, stealth is primarily associated with traditional action-adventure games; however, Mimimi's project does a great job of translating the genre's appeal into a fairly fresh format. As suggested by the title, the campaign is set in Feudal Japan, and players take control of five characters as they go on a series of pretty hard missions.

With each character having their strengths, weaknesses, and abilities, Blades of the Shogun's challenge comes from finding a strategy that complements the team, ensuring they are all used to good effect. The game is difficult, though, especially for players who might not be that familiar with this genre.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Metascore: 78

Dragon's Dogma has been available in some form or another for more than a decade, and while not a smash hit, the game has managed to cultivate a positive reputation and a vocal audience. Eventually, their voices managed to reach Capcom, who responded with the announcement of a sequel that is slated for a 2024 release. Basically, it is an exciting time to be a fan of this RPG license, or more specifically for this discussion, its Dark Arisen iteration. The latter takes the base content and throws in an expansion for good measure, one that happens to be considerably harder than the vanilla campaign. While the 2012 original has its merits, Dark Arisen is really the only version anyone should seek out.

Dragon's Dogma's story is nothing too special, but it gets the job done and largely stays out of the way of the action. Following a slow opening few hours, the RPG begins to pick up steam as its versatile combat and class systems are allowed to shine, particularly the former. While rough-around-the-edges in places, the gameplay is generally quite satisfying and rewarding. Dragon's Dogma also uses Pawns, NPC partners created by players that can be loaned to other users. Although these creations have exactly no personality, they blend well with the combat and allow players to experiment with their party compositions.

Frostpunk

Metascore: 87

City-building sims are not synonymous with consoles, but the PS4 era did start to challenge this perception. While PC remains the main platform for these types of releases, Frostpunk and Cities Skylines show that the simulation genre can work using controllers. Frostpunk is a brutal survival game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland as players try to create something in a frozen hellscape.

Every decision matters in Frostpunk, and most of them are not without consequences. Like most sims, Frostpunk largely comes down to managing resources, although the game does emphasize the human element. Keeping people alive is difficult enough without taking into account their happiness, and the former often comes at the cost of the latter.

inFAMOUS: Second Son

Metascore: 80

In the grand scheme of PS4 exclusives, inFAMOUS: Second Son tends to be overshadowed by titles released later in the console's life. Sucker Punch's sequel is not a significant departure from the PS3 entries in the series, even if it introduces a new city and hero. That said, the game's fundamentals are incredibly strong.

Like many of the studio's releases, inFAMOUS: Second Son is simply fun. As players unlock more abilities, the gameplay blossoms into something special, and even just traveling from one place to the next is exciting. inFAMOUS: First Light is also on PS Plus and, in some ways, is even better than the main game.

Mega Man 11

Metascore: 82

PS Plus Premium subscribers have access to all the mainline Mega Man games thanks to the dual Legacy Collection containing the first 10 entries and Mega Man 11 being added as a standalone project. The latter is the only one available to Extra members, and while lacking the enduring legacy of Mega Man 2, it represents Capcom's franchise at its best. Unlike its two immediate predecessors that largely stuck to recreating the past, Mega Man 11 was a proper evolution of the formula, delivering a hard-as-nails but fair action platformer that modernized while respecting its ancestors.

Featuring a vibrant and attractive art style, the 2018 title looks pretty good, even if it cannot compare to high-budget AAA games. More importantly, Mega Man 11 plays like a dream, blending the Blue Bomber's standard mechanics with a few new ideas that slightly enhance the gameplay's accessibility. People who grew up with Mega Man but skipped the most recent entry can look forward to an experience reminiscent of their memories, while newcomers will find a polished and highly enjoyable romp that should be able to keep them entertained for a few weeks.

Lego City Undercover

Metascore: 77

Originally a Wii U exclusive, Lego City Undercover eventually made its way to other platforms, allowing this underrated open-world game to reach a wider audience. Lego's formula is well-established by this point, and Undercover does not deviate too far from the blueprint outlined in the franchise's licensed games.

Still, its original premise paves the way for a fun and over-the-top detective story that blends action and exploration quite well. Lego City serves as the perfect sandbox for a lighthearted romp, and it manages to offer plenty of variety while not being overly big.

Bloodborne

Metascore: 92

Bloodborne is a contender for the best PlayStation 4 game ever. Stepping into the shoes of a Hunter who must survive the Hunt and bring to an end a deadly plague, FromSoftware's gothic masterpiece takes players on an unrelenting and challenging journey through Yharnam's unforgiving streets.

Bloodborne's combat is fast, difficult, and incredibly smooth. Compared to Dark Souls, the weapon selection is limited; however, each item feels unique and comes with a transformation. Bloodborne is a masterpiece of environmental design, gameplay, and atmosphere. It is arguably FromSoftware's greatest game, which is not a statement that can be made lightly.

Untitled Goose Game

Metascore: 80

A charmingly chaotic indie project, Untitled Goose Game revolves around a feathery menace. Like a miniature kaiju, the titular waterfowl flaps its way into a village that is ill-prepared to handle such an intruder. While granted a few "goals" to work toward, players will generally spend most of their time annoying the locales, to the point of ruining the entire village's day. It is hilarious.

Gameplay-wise, Untitled Goose Game is effectively a puzzle title that challenges players to figure out how they can use the bird's "skills" to complete objectives. If someone is looking for a project that does not take itself too seriously, then House House's release is one of the best PS4 games on PS Plus.

XCOM 2

Metascore: 87

PS Plus Premium and Extra have a wide spectrum of genres when it comes to PS4 games, and XCOM 2 covers a couple on its own. Blending strategy and tactical elements, this sci-fi sequel provides complex, adaptive gameplay that puts players into challenging situations with dire consequences for failure.

Throughout the long campaign, players put together teams of soldiers who serve as humanity's last resistance against the alien invaders who have taken over Earth. If these soldiers die in battle, they are gone for good, a mechanic that turns every move in each encounter into a nail-biting decision. Great console strategy games used to be in short supply, but XCOM 2 helped change that.

Until Dawn

Metascore: 79

One of the earliest exclusives to put the PS4 on the map, Until Dawn drops a group of characters in the woods and then asks players to weave their way through a terrifying story to decide who lives and dies. An interactive drama, Until Dawn's gameplay generally amounts to making choices and some light exploration, so this is not a horror game in the vein of Resident Evil or Outlast. Basically, this title is a must-play for people who always wanted to get more hands-on with a slasher film.

Until Dawn would fall completely flat if it failed to craft interesting or likable characters that players genuinely care about; thankfully, the game more than manages to deliver in this area.

God Of War (2018)

Metascore: 94

What more needs to be said about 2018's God of War? With Olympus completely mined for gods to slay, Santa Monica opted to shift focus to Norse mythology. More importantly, this new setting coincided with a change in gameplay style, including an over-the-shoulder third-person camera and a visceral combat system with some well-implemented customization options.

The result is one of the best PS4 console exclusives and a great first entry into – hopefully – a new trilogy. This time around, Kratos has someone to protect, which adds depth to a character who had become defined by a single emotion.

Detroit: Become Human

Metascore: 78

Detroit: Become Human continues Quantic Dream's mission to combine movies with games, and this 2018 release is arguably the studio's strongest effort to date. Players take control of three androids who serve very different roles in society, and the choices made throughout the campaign will determine the fates of these (and other) characters.

Detroit: Become Human tackles some well-worn sci-fi themes like human agency and AI, and while it might not introduce anything particularly new to the genre, the game handles these elements well. The acting is also great throughout, making it very easy to become invested in the lives of Connor, Kara, and Markus. Detroit: Become Human's world and visuals are immersive, while its writing tells a captivating narrative.

Gravity Rush 2

Metascore: 80

Along with the PS4 remaster of the first game, Gravity Rush 2 is one of the most underappreciated PS4 games on PS Plus Extra and Premium, and it is awesome. While beloved by a select audience, these games never quite transcended their cult statuses, which makes them perfect fits for a subscription service. Gravity Rush 2 improves upon everything that worked in the original, delivering a larger and more diverse world, expanded gameplay, and a more interesting storyline.

Charming, stylish, and fun, both of these games are a delight and collectively should keep someone entertained for a good few weeks.

Batman: Arkham Knight

Metascore: 87

Rocksteady achieved superhero perfection with the Arkham trilogy. While Arkham Asylum and Arkham City are probably held in slightly higher esteem, Arkham Knight is comfortably among the best games on the PS4. Expanding its map to Gotham City, the 2015 game brings to life DC's legendary metropolis with style and depth. Even nearly a decade later, Arkham Knight still looks fantastic, to the point that it puts to shame many newer releases.

Combat-wise, this entry marks the franchise's peak. Batman has an impressive range of tools at his disposal, and they combine to create a seamless and satisfying rhythm. The Batmobile sections are divisive since an argument could be made that they overstay their welcome, but it is still cool to be able to step into the vehicle.