And we’ve come to the end of our list! While there will be some surprises, the top of this list is very good and showcases just how excellent the PS4 library is!
#8 Disco Elysium
Writeup by Aleks Franiczek
Disco Elysium is, first and foremost, a PC game, heralding back to the Infinity Engine classics and the dialogue-heavy Planescape: Torment in particular. But with its lack of mechanical complexity, it plays perfectly fine on the big screen with a gamepad. And with the outstanding additional voice acting the Final Cut version adds to the mix, the sharp, evocative, and sheer volume of writing the game contains was tailored for a more console-friendly experience. Disco Elysium‘s commercial appeal may not reach that of some of the more traditional RPGs on this list, but it opened a large set of developers and players to the potential of heady gameplay based primarily on swinging words rather than swords. It adapts a mind-and-body-bending tabletop character system to its own freely experimental and player-driven ends while immersing us in a world of lucid political analogies and intangible spiritual sensations. The NPCs are a delight to pick at with whichever schizoid persona you’ve cultivated for Harry DuBois, our starring tragic clown.
#7 The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
Writeup by Aleks Franiczek
The Witcher 3 was the first game I played on the PS4, and it still feels like the defining RPG of its generation. The scope and production level single-handedly proved the worth of the new consoles, with seamless massive environments and rich attention to visual detail. The first time I rode from the expansive, wasted plains of Velen into the vibrant streets of Novigrad without a second of loading time felt like a magic trick. Technical marvels aside, the game also has some of the strongest heart of any of its contemporariesāespecially other Western RPGs, which often trade dramatic character development for the promise of a more sandbox-like agency. The Witcher 3 effectively merged both. Geralt is a brilliant mix of pre-scripted and player-driven writing, and his dynamics with the supporting cast come off as nuanced and natural, even without any knowledge of the previous games or books the world is based on. The Witcher 3 set a new standard for RPG writing, quest design, and open-world aesthetics that we’re still basking in today.
#6 Horizon Zero Dawn
Writeup by Jimmy Turner
Prior to the E3 2015 reveal of Horizon Zero Dawn, hearing that Guerrilla Gamesāat that point known for the Killzone franchiseāwere developing an RPG left me skeptical. However, seeing the game’s direction and gameplay blew me away. I knew that Horizon was a must-play.
To say the game did not disappoint would be an understatement. It became a huge hit and one of the best PlayStation 4 exclusive titles. Horizon‘s protagonist, Aloy, quickly became a mainstay in Sony marketing and a fantastic case of a female protagonist done right. The story and lore of the post-post-apocalyptic world are incredibly deep and fascinating, making the oft-mundane task of exploration rewarding and alluring. Combat is a perfect balance of challenge, strategy, and variety. Horizon also excels in its visual design, especially in the variety of machine enemies Aloy encounters. Horizon Zero Dawn raised the bar for open-world action RPGs, and its influence can be seen in many games since then. It is a true gaming masterpiece.
#5 Final Fantasy VII Remake
Writeup by Tim Rattray
The magnitude of a release like Final Fantasy VII Remakeāboth as the culmination of two decades of fan expectations and the first entry in an ambitious trilogyāis unlike anything else in gaming history. That it managed to live up to this legacy is a true triumph. Its masterful intertwining of turn-based and action combat made even RPG traditionalists turn their heads, and orchestrated versions of classic tracks brought chills down our spines.
But where Remake shines most is its presentation of Final Fantasy VII‘s iconic ensemble cast, with a quality of writing and voice acting that puts past entries in the Compilation to shame. While there has been endless debate around its approach to storytelling, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t fall for these characters all over again. While Final Fantasy VII Rebirth would go on to improve upon every aspect of this game and then some, Remake remains a compelling first chapter that captures the essence of what made the original’s Midgar romp so enthralling.
#4 Bloodborne
Writeup by Des Miller
Bloodborne is the perfect blend of Victorian Gothic horror and Cosmic Horror, all housed within the beloved Souls framework. Stylish, brutal combat with increasingly creative weapons serves as the feather in the hunter’s cap, yet the strangely familiar streets of Yharnam and otherworldly monstrosities ensure Bloodborne remains unforgettable in all aspects. As if haunted by the ghosts of Robert W. Chambers and H.P. Lovecraft during development, FromSoftware brought shape and form to Cosmic Horrorāa testament to their creative mastery.
As the pinnacle of horror RPGs, Bloodborne stands as an enigma in gaming. Every battle, map, item, weapon, character, and gear are distinctly memorable, as if the players were cursed to never forget their nightmarish battles with the Cleric Beast, Father Gascoigne, and Lady Maria. The unsettling world of Bloodborne feels like a distant nightmare that continually entices us to return, but with no modern port in sight, the pilgrimage back to Yharnam becomes more difficult by the year.
#3 Persona 5 Royal
Writeup by Steph Sybydlo
Persona 5 Royal is an enhanced version of the acclaimed 2016 title that (meaningfully!) adds ~20 extra hours to a ~100-hour title. It’s a game so nice that many fans bought it twice.
In a nutshell, Persona 5 has you living a double life like Sailor Moon or Spider-Man, taking the role of an ordinary student by daylight and fighting evil by moonlight as elusive masked heroes called “The Phantom Thieves.” But more generally, it’s the Persona series’ ability to infuse RPG mechanics into a real-world setting that makes it immediately relatable in ways fantasy titles typically aren’t (with “monsters” from various Earth cultures and myths, and “magic” more carefully explained as psychological/metaphysical manifestations).
The game plays like a real-world daydream, where you and your friends can hang out at a coffee shop one minute and save the day the next, mixing the ordinary with the extraordinary. It takes me back to days of studying, working part-time, and coming out of my shell as a shy teenager. (The real fantasy is our hero fitting so much into their daily schedule.)
#2 Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age ā Definitive Edition
Writeup by Izzy Parsons
Dragon Quest means comfort to a lot of people. It is a series that knows when to stand firm as a metal slime but never rests on its mini medals. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a perfect example of this. Familiar monsters roam its expansive world that can be engooged in traditional yet thoughtful turn-based battles. An endearing cast of characters (we love Sylvando) and classic Dragon Quest-style vignettes make it impossible not to become invested. Despite being a massive, fully 3D RPG released in 2017, Dragon Quest XI even has an explorable world map.
There is no end to the joys and surprises you will find in Dragon Quest XI. It truly is the quintessential Dragon Quest experience and one of the best purchases you can make for the PlayStation 4.
#1 NieR: Automata
Writeup by Des Miller
Who knew a follow-up to 2010’s strange yet heartfelt jankfest NieR would become one of the most influential games of the PS4 era? Against all odds, NieR: Automata launched into the stratosphere as a masterpiece in every sense of the word. With dramatic setpiece battles, mind-bending genre shifts, and one of the most banger opening lines to grace the medium, NieR: Automata remains an unforgettable experience from minute one.
Thanks to PlatinumGames, NieR: Automata managed to dodge Yoko Taro’s gameplay curse and instead treated the world to a stylish and exciting character action RPG that looks, feels, and plays wonderfully. From the gorgeous and haunting soundtrack that tugs on the heartstrings to the bizarre, philosophical story laden with twists and turns, the game excels on every front to become a highly polished gem. NieR: Automata proves that sometimes madmen just need a little extra time and money to produce a generation-defining work of art.
