15 Best PS4 Action-Adventure Games Still Worth Playing in 2026

Updated October 3, 2026. The best PS4 adventure games in 2026 are still the big story-driven action-adventures that defined the PlayStation 4: God of War, The Last of Us Part II, Uncharted 4, Ghost of Tsushima, Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3 lead our list of 15. Every pick below runs on a PS5 through backward compatibility, and for each game we note whether there is a free or paid PS5 upgrade, so you know which version to buy.

This page replaces our 2020 list. Some of the original picks (God of War, Uncharted 4, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Witcher 3, Sekiro) still belong here; others have been pushed out by games that arrived later in the console's life, such as Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part II, God of War Ragnarök and Horizon Forbidden West. We ranked games on how well they hold up today, not on how big they were at launch.

The 15 best PS4 action-adventure games at a glance

"Via BC" means there is no native PS5 version: you play the PS4 game through backward compatibility, and your PS4 disc or digital purchase works as is on a PS5 with a disc drive (or digitally on any PS5). Upgrade prices are as announced by Sony and the publishers and can change in regional stores.

PlayStation exclusives that still define the PS4

1. God of War (2018)

Santa Monica Studio's reboot moves Kratos to Norse mythology and pairs him with his son Atreus. The camera never cuts away during the story, combat is heavier and more deliberate than in the older games, and the semi-open hub around the Lake of Nine rewards exploration with side realms and optional bosses. It is still the first game we would hand to a new PS4 or PS5 owner.

On PS5: a free PS5 enhancement patch released in February 2021 adds a mode that targets checkerboard 4K at 60fps. There is also a PC version, which is where the screenshots below come from.

2. The Last of Us Part II

Naughty Dog's sequel is a grim revenge story told from two perspectives, and it is one of the most uncomfortable and well-made games on the console. Encounters mix stealth and desperate gunfights in larger, more open spaces than the first game, with tall grass, dogs that track your scent and enemies who call each other by name.

On PS5: a free patch from May 2021 lets the PS4 version run at 60fps on PS5. The separate Remastered edition (January 19, 2024) adds the No Return roguelike mode; PS4 owners can upgrade for $10, including disc owners who insert the PS4 disc into a PS5 with a disc drive.

3. Ghost of Tsushima

Sucker Punch's samurai epic follows Jin Sakai during the 1274 Mongol invasion of Tsushima. Instead of a minimap you follow the wind to your objective, stances matter when you face different enemy types, and the standoffs and duels look like a classic samurai film. The open world is beautiful but not overloaded with busywork.

On PS5: the PS4 version runs at up to 60fps on PS5. The Director's Cut adds the Iki Island expansion; at its 2021 launch, upgrading from the original PS4 game to the PS5 Director's Cut cost $30, or $10 from the PS4 Director's Cut.

4. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Nathan Drake's final adventure is the best-looking and best-paced Uncharted, with wider levels, a grappling rope and a story that is as much about Nate's marriage as about pirate treasure. If you like it, the standalone Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a shorter, excellent follow-up starring Chloe and Nadine.

On PS5: Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (January 28, 2022) bundles both games. Owners of either PS4 game can upgrade for $10, but copies claimed through PlayStation Plus are not eligible, and disc owners need the disc in the PS5 each time.

5. God of War Ragnarök

The sequel finishes the Norse saga, visits all nine realms and lets you play sections as Atreus. It was one of the last big Sony games released on PS4, and the PS4 version is a full, complete game, not a cut-down port.

On PS5: owners of the PS4 standard edition can upgrade to the PS5 version for $10.

6. Marvel's Spider-Man and 7. Miles Morales

Insomniac's Spider-Man is still the most fun way to move around a city on PS4: web-swinging is fast and simple to learn, and the combat borrows the rhythm of the Arkham games. Miles Morales is shorter and tighter, with new venom and camouflage powers, and works well as a weekend game after the original.

On PS5: buying Miles Morales on PS4 includes the PS5 version for free. There is no free upgrade for the original game; Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered is sold separately on PS5, and PS4 saves can be transferred to it.

8. Horizon Forbidden West

Aloy's second adventure is a big step up from Horizon Zero Dawn in traversal, side quests and facial animation, and machine fights are still about picking off components before a beast reaches you. If you have never played the series, start with Zero Dawn, which is also on PS4.

On PS5: after a public backlash in 2021, Sony confirmed that PS4 owners get the PS5 version for free. It was the last Sony first-party game with a free upgrade; later cross-gen games moved to the $10 model.

Open-world adventures you can lose months in

9. Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar's western is slow, detailed and unlike anything else on the list. Arthur Morgan's story with the Van der Linde gang is one of the best in the medium, and the world is full of small encounters that never repeat in quite the same way. Expect a long campaign and controls that favor realism over speed. If you are counting down to GTA 6, this is the game to play first.

On PS5: there is still no native PS5 version, so you play the PS4 game through backward compatibility. A current-gen port has been reported by insiders, but Rockstar has not announced one as of October 3, 2026.

10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

CD Projekt Red's RPG is more role-playing game than pure action-adventure, but its quest writing is still the benchmark for open worlds. Get the Complete Edition so you have both expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Our Witcher 3 hub collects our guides if you are starting fresh.

On PS5: PS4 owners received the PS5 version as a free next-gen update in December 2022. The bigger Witcher 3 Remastered update released on September 29, 2026 is free for owners on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PC, but it does not come to the PS4 version.

11. Hogwarts Legacy

The PS4 version arrived later than the PS5 one, but it is a full release of the open-world game set in the 1800s wizarding world. Exploring the castle and flying across the Highlands are the highlights; the combat and story are fine rather than great. Read our Hogwarts Legacy hub for more.

On PS5: the free cross-gen upgrade was only included with the Digital Deluxe Edition. Standard PS4 copies, including discs, do not include the PS5 version.

Tougher action-adventures for experienced players

12. Elden Ring

FromSoftware's open world is the most approachable of its hard games because you can always ride somewhere else when a boss blocks your way. It is closer to an action RPG than a classic adventure, but it belongs on any list of the best PS4 games. See our Elden Ring hub and our list of games like Elden Ring if it clicks with you.

On PS5: Bandai Namco confirmed before launch that PS4 owners get a free upgrade to the PS5 version.

13. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro drops character builds in favor of one katana, a prosthetic arm and a posture system that rewards deflecting attacks instead of dodging them. It is the hardest game on this list, and also the most satisfying once the parry timing clicks. Our Sekiro hub has more.

On PS5: there is no PS5 version; the PS4 game runs through backward compatibility.

14. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Respawn's Star Wars game mixes Uncharted-style climbing with Metroidvania backtracking and soulslike meditation points. It is a good bridge for players who want something tougher than Uncharted but gentler than Sekiro. The sequel, Jedi: Survivor, is PS5 only.

On PS5: a free next-gen upgrade went live in June 2021 for owners of the native edition, with higher-resolution assets, HDR and a 60fps performance option.

15. Batman: Arkham Knight

The Arkham series finale gives you all of Gotham, the Batmobile and the freeflow combat system that countless games have copied since. The Batmobile sections divide players, but the city, the gadgets and the Scarecrow story still hold up.

On PS5: there is no native PS5 version; it runs as the PS4 game through backward compatibility.

How to play PS4 adventure games on PS5

Sony says more than 99% of the PS4 library is playable on PS5, and games that are not compatible are labelled "PS4 only" on the PlayStation Store. None of the 15 games above is on the short list of incompatible titles. A few practical points:

• Discs need a disc drive. A PS5 without a disc drive only plays digital PS4 games.
• Upgrades are not always automatic. Free upgrades usually appear on the game's PlayStation Store page; paid upgrades such as Ragnarök, The Last of Us Part II Remastered and Legacy of Thieves are bought separately.
• Saves usually carry over. You can move PS4 saves to PS5 through cloud storage (with PlayStation Plus), Wi-Fi or a LAN cable, but importing saves into a PS5 version depends on each developer.
• Game Boost helps some PS4 games. PS4 titles with unlocked frame rates can run smoother on PS5 without any patch, which is how Ghost of Tsushima reaches 60fps.

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium rotate their game catalog every month, so several of these games come and go. We have not listed current availability because it changes; check the PlayStation Store before you buy, and see our Game Pass vs PlayStation Plus comparison for how the tiers work.

What changed from our 2020 list

The original version of this article listed 17 games. These titles are still worth playing on PS4 but dropped out of the top 15 to make room for newer releases:

• Death Stranding - a unique, slow delivery game; play it if you liked the idea of Red Dead's pace taken further.
• Resident Evil 2 - better classified as survival horror; still one of the best remakes on the console.
• Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Dishonored 2 - excellent stealth sandboxes.
• The Last Guardian, Journey and A Plague Tale: Innocence - shorter, gentler adventures for a change of pace.
• Rise of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and Grand Theft Auto V - all good, but less essential than the games above in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources checked on October 3, 2026 against the PlayStation Blog, PlayStation Store listings, Naughty Dog, Bandai Namco, CD Projekt Red and EA announcements, plus GameSpot, Game Informer and Push Square reporting.