What if you could relive high school, but do it much, much better? This is the promise of Persona 5 (now available in a slightly revised and expanded version called Persona 5 Royale), and Atlus’ killer social dungeon crawler more than delivers. You’re a high school student spending a year at a new school in Tokyo, but you’re not ordinary. You and your motley crew of friends have the ability to infiltrate the subconscious “palaces” of the various villains and tormentors who challenge you in the real world, changing their hearts and bringing them to justice. As the days progress, you’ll spend your afternoons deciding whether to go shopping, hang out with your friends, or head into a dungeon to kill some demons. The more you play, the more the cast expands, the story unfolds, and the mystery deepens. What is really going on? Where do these mystical powers come from? How will it all end? And will you finally be able to get Makoto to go out with you?
A good match for: Fans of the previous ones Persona games along with anyone who likes stylish art and killer music. Persona 5 overflows from both.
Not suitable for: People who hate turn-based JRPG combat, people who don’t like games with a lot of text to read, anyone looking for a game they can finish in a weekend.
Read it our review of Persona 5.
Research our game tips.
I’m watching it in action.
Buy from: Walmart | Best buy | GameStop | PS Store
How has this list changed? Read our update history again:
Update from 11/28/2022: We replaced the original 2018 God of War and the 2017 game Horizon Zero Dawn with their more recent and impressive sequels. Also updated Persona 5 to Persona 5 Royale.
Update as of 8/2/2021: We’ve completely revamped our list of the best PS4 games, breaking the 12 title limit. This means re-adding Insidebut also addition Uncharted: Lost Legacy, the pyreand Final Fantasy VII Remake. Unfortunately Tetris effect there are few quarterbacks on staff these days, so it’s gone.
Update as of 8/7/2020: It’s been a big year for Sony exclusives, as Ghost of Tsushima and The last of us part 2— the last two major PS4 releases before The PS5 is coming— I begin Return of the working dinner and Monster Hunter: World.
Update 12/20/2019: We added Outer Wilds and Return of the working dinner while finally saying goodbye to long-standing records Overwatch and The witness.
Update from 02/11/2019: We added Tetris effect, Yakuza 0and Red Dead Redemption 2 while removing Rocket League, Marvel Spider Manand Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
Update 11/14/2018: We added Marvel’s Spider-Man and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey upon take off Fortnite and XCOM 2.
Update 5/3/2018: We added God of War and Fortnite Battle Royale while removing The Last of Us Remastered and Hitman.
Update 3/9/2018: We added Monster Hunter: World and XCOM 2 while removing Inside and Resident Evil 7.
Update 6/2/2017: We removed Uncharted 4 to make room for Nier: Automata.
Update from 04/19/2017: We added Persona 5 and removed Fatewhich Bungie is shutting down in preparation for a sequel.
Update 3/8/2017: After much debate we added Resident Evil 7 and Horizon Zero Dawnwhile removing Diablo 3 and Grand Theft Auto V. These cuts just keep getting harder and harder, folks.
Update 12/09/2016: We added Hitman on the list and retired Metal Gear Solid V.
Update from 09/23/2016: Inside making its way down the list while Until sunset is leaving
Update from 07/27/2016: Overwatch joins the list; Assassin’s Creed Syndicate comes out
Update as of 05/26/2016: Welcome, Nathan Drake. Goodbye, Batman. We replaced Arkham Knight with Uncharted 4 this time.
Update from 02/11/2016: The witness enters and Negative impact 4 heads out. We’ve also added a video version of this post to the top!
Update 11/26/2015: Negative impact 4 and Assassin’s Creed Syndicate jump list delete Final Fantasy XIV and Assassin’s Creed IV.
Update from 09/18/2015: The list gets a new update: The Binding of Isaac, Transistorand Dragon Age: Inquisition clear to make room for Rocket League, Until sunsetand Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
Update from 07/16/2015: These exchanges are becoming increasingly difficult. After much deliberation, we cut Wolfenstein: The New Order, despite our fondness for the surprisingly good story-based first-person shooter. We also say goodbye to another successful person, Shadows of Mordor, whose best trick, the Nemesis System, isn’t enough to keep him in our increasingly competitive top 12.
Update 04/07/2015: Bloodborne making its way down the list while Pixeljunk Shooter Ultimate says goodbye
Update from 11/25/2014: Fall has arrived, and with it a bunch of great games. Dragon Age: Inquisition, GTA V, PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate and The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth end out Resogun, The LEGO Movie Video Game, Don’t starve and TowerFall Ascension.
Update 10/21/2014: We added Fate and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor to the list and removed Infamous: Second Son and Need for Speed: Rivals to make room
Update from 08/28/2014: Two games in, two games out. Survive and Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition make way for Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition and The Last of Us: Remastered.
Update from 06/18/2014: Change is in the air as well Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Fez, and Injustice gods among us clear to make room for Wolfenstein: The New Order, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Rebornand Transistor.
Update from 04/14/2014: Our PS4 roster has hit the 12-game ceiling, and we’ve added (and removed) more games than in any single update to date. Rayman: Legends, LEGO Marvel Superheroes, Doki Doki Universe and Strider all clear to make room for Infamous: Second Son, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Towerfall: Ascension, The LEGO Movie Videogame, and Fes.
Update 3/10/2014: Two more games make the list: Last year’s good Rayman Legends and the satisfying remake of the NES classic Strider. One more and we’ll be at 12, then we’ll have to start cutting games to make new additions.
Update from 02/14/2014: Our second update brings with it two games: The graphically enhanced Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and the horror of peeing Survive. Only three more additions before we hit our cap of 12 and start cutting games to make room for new ones.
Update from 01/27/2014: Our first addition to the list of the best for PlayStation 4 is the excellent survival game Klei Don’t starvewhich makes seven.
Want more of the best games for every system? Check out our full directory:
The best games for PS5 • The best computer games • The best games for Xbox Series X and S • The best games for Xbox One • The best Wii U games • The best games for Nintendo Switch • The best 3DS games • The best games for PS Vita • Best Xbox 360 Games • The best PS3 games • The best Wii games • The best games for iPhone • The best games for iPad • The best games for Android • The best PSP games • The best Facebook games • The best DS games • The best games for Mac • The best browser games • The best PC mods
Note: While some games on this list are download-only, they can all be purchased from the PlayStation 4 Online Store. If you purchase any of these games through the retail links in this post, our parent company may receive a small a share of the sale through the retailer’s affiliate program.