There’s nothing quite like an adventure. In gaming, adventures can take us to the absolute height of the experience. Whether you’re riding horseback across a sunlit meadow or battling through a gauntlet of demons in the bowels of hell, the thrill of the best PS4 adventure games makes you feel alive in a way that few other games can match.
So, if like Bilbo Baggins, you’re “quite ready for another adventure”, you’ve come to precisely the right place. Below we’ve broken down the best adventure games on PS4 for your perusal and, hopefully, your approval.
Among them you’ll find retro throwbacks, first person splatterfests, blistering challenges, and intense battles for survival. Most of all, though, what you’ll find is a hefty dose of adventure.
The Best PS4 Adventure Games
25. The Messenger
Developer: Sabotage Studio
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Some of the best games of the last couple of generations have come from the indie sector. The Messenger is one such effort.
Inspired by classic ninja games like Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi, The Messenger is filled to the brim with tight combat, challenging platforming sections, and a bevy of different environments to explore.
Tasking you as the only surviving ninja of your village to deliver a mysterious scroll, The Messenger sets you loose in a world that constantly changes. With plenty of referential humor to keep things light, and a difficulty curve that’s always on the rise, The Messenger is a blistering action adventure that will tax the skills of even the most ardent retro experts.
24. The Surge
Developer: Deck13
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
One of the coolest, and often grimmest, conceits in the world of science fiction is the notion of making yourself more machine than man. The Surge explores this dark concept, mining it for all it’s worth as it sets you loose to explore a declining world that has seen machines go rogue and cyborgs go mad.
Essentially a science fiction version of Dark Souls, The Surge still goes a long way to make its own stake in the genre, and weaves together a cool new universe in the process. A gritty, nasty, limb-slicing endeavor of a game, The Surge is a bloody sci-fi ass kicker and one hell of a journey.
23. The Witness
Developer: Thekla, Inc.
Publisher: Thekla, Inc.
Not all adventures are packed with epic set pieces and brutal battles against fate. The Witness sees players simply exploring an island and unpacking what the place is all about as they solve puzzles that unlock new areas.
From Jonathan Blow, creator of Braid, The Witness might not seem like much when you first pick it up, but as you slowly unravel the mysteries of the island and its puzzles, you’ll be in for a journey unlike any you’ve ever undertaken.
22. Sayonara Wild Hearts
Developer: Simogo
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Now, bear with me: yes, Sayonara Wild Hearts is basically a rhythm game, but it also happens to be one hell of an adventure. I mean what else do you call a game where you ride a motorcycle across a flaming pathway or battle a giant cybernetic wolf robot?
Truly, the sheer variety of Sayonara Wild Hearts’ rhythm based levels is what makes it an adventure. Sail across storm rattled oceans, tour retro worlds of virtual homage, and even fly on a dragon through the winds of battle. Sayonara Wild Hearts may be set to a beat, but that doesn’t mean it can’t send you on a one of a kind, memorable journey.
21. Blasphemous
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Publisher: Team17
A daring cross between a Metroidvania and a Souls-like, Blasphemous is one of the darkest, nastiest and most intense games you’re likely to play this generation. It’s also among the best of its respective genres.
A brutal journey through a landscape of torture, mythology and bloodshed, Blasphemous uses its Catholic inspiration for all of the dark ages intensity it can muster. If you can stomach it, you’ll find a game with a look and feel all its own, even if it does wear its influences proudly on its sleeve.
20. Death Stranding
Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: SIE
The post-apocalyptic open world adventure game has become one of the most ubiquitous staples of the AAA space. With this in mind, a game in this subgenre has to really do something different if it wants to stand out.
That’s what makes Death Stranding such a breath of fresh air. Setting the player as a courier in a fallen America, Death Stranding sees you trying to reunite a fractured country while battling the ghostly hordes seeping through the void.
It’s the kind of crazy game that could only come from the mind of Hideo Kojima, and while it might not be for everyone, it’s certainly a beast of a different color and one well worth wrestling with.
19. DOOM
Developer: id Software
Publisher: Bethesda
There are few things as exciting as battling back the beasts of hell as they seep into an intergalactic space fortress, and DOOM bloody well knows it. Essentially a grisly powder keg of demon guts and heavy metal imagery, few games have the unapologetically trashy disposition of DOOM.
The extent of ass-kicking action in DOOM cannot be overstated. Wanna rip off a demon’s own arm and smash them across the face with it or tear a monster in half with your bare hands? Then this is the adventure for you, provided this is the sort of thing you don’t take too seriously.
18. Celeste
Developer: Matt Makes Games
Publisher: Matt Makes Games
As mentioned above, there’s no lack of hardcore challenges in the indie space. Celeste is another hard as nails adventure which sees you, as Madeline, challenging the eponymous mountain while battling your own dark half along the way.
It makes for a game of melding tones, one minute grimly tragic and another whimsically humorous. Like life, Celeste is a challenge, but one well worth the stress of coming back to over and over again.
17. Devil May Cry 5
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
The long expected return of the Devil May Cry series did not disappoint when it reemerged in 2019. Allowing players to utilize three diverse protagonists across the entire demon-smashing journey, Devil May Cry 5 set a new benchmark for the series.
Expanding on the lore of the series while setting a thrilling new trajectory for its protagonists, Devil May Cry 5 is a total ass-kicking adventure of a game, with the best combat, story and level design that the franchise has ever seen.
16. DOOM Eternal
Developer: id Software
Publisher: Bethesda
Like the 2016 smash hit that brought this franchise back into the limelight, DOOM Eternal takes the basic framework of the DOOM franchise and turns it up to 11, this time with even more variety.
The campaign will take players to every corner of hell, offering plenty of beautiful new scenery to take in amid the carnage of viciously slaying hordes of demons. There are also new abilities and weapons to master that will take even the most ardent FPS players to their limit.
Even better than the shockingly good reboot that came before it, DOOM Eternal is one of the best games of 2020 and well worth the time of even those who don’t generally gel with the FPS genre.
15. Cuphead
Developer: Studio MDHR
Publisher: Studio MDHR
Wacky cartoon hijinks might not be your first thought when you conjure up your idea of an adventure but Cuphead and Mugman’s madcap journey to save their souls from the devil is as insane of an odyssey as you’ll ever come across.
Blisteringly hard and requiring deft skill to complete, Cuphead’s myriad rogue’s gallery of wonderfully animated rivals will thrill your senses while pushing your fingers and thumbs to their absolute limit.
Without a doubt one of the best and most original games of this generation, Cuphead is now available on all major platforms. If you’re up for a challenge, this one cannot be missed.
14. Dark Souls III
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco
The words “Dark Souls” and “adventure” ought to go hand in hand. FromSoftware’s dark horse series has emerged from the abyss to challenge gamers for years, and with Dark Souls III it may have finally outdone itself.
Essentially a swansong for this punishing series, Dark Souls III sends players across a decaying multiverse of collapsing destinies while challenging them to overcome deadly obstacles and enemies along the way.
Truly the unifying force of 5 games, Dark Souls III takes everything From has learned in 7 years and uses it to concoct one hell of a journey.
13. Control
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Publisher: 505 Games
There are few things as thrilling as being introduced to a secret world that exists on the boundaries of our own. This is the feeling that Control taps into with its tale of interdimensional invaders and a government bureau that battles them in secret.
Part X-Files and part Twin Peaks, Control is the ultimate fruit of experiments like Alan Wake and Quantum Break, a game that sees developer Remedy at the full height of their power and confidence. If you’re looking for something different, I promise you’ve never played anything like the telekinetically charged, total sensory overload of Control.
12. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Developer: ArtPlay
Publisher: 505 Games
The spiritual successor of one of the oldest adventures in gaming, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night sees legendary Castlevania developer Koji Igarashi returning to helm his ultimate gothic odyssey.
Rather than simply riding on the coat-tails of classics like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night though, Igarashi’s modern homage to his past works entices players with customizable characters, excellent voice acting, and more item and weapon customization than you can shake a stake at.
Truly among the cream of the crop for Metroidvanias, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is one of the best indies of this generation.
11. The Last of Us Part II
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: SIE
The Last of Us was one of the most legendary games of the previous console generation. Set in a world where plant spores have infected and destroyed much of humanity, the original game saw Joel, a grizzled smuggler, and Ellie, his young charge, bond as they cross a decimated American landscape.
The bold sequel focused more on Ellie this time around but, as a journey through the wasteland of the former United States, it still stacks up nicely with its progenitor. Though the material that fuels this adventure is as dark as it gets, Ellie’s quest for vengeance through a wonderfully realized alternate Seattle is jaw-dropping all the same.
With some of the best production values in gaming history, The Last of Us Part II is sure to leave a mark on every gamer who plays it, even if that mark is a little more darkly traumatic then they might have expected.
10. Final Fantasy XV
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
A game so long in development that it became a bit of a joke for a while, Final Fantasy XV had a lot to live up to when it was finally released in 2016. While the game did have its problems (like Noctis jumping relentlessly every time you tried to interact with a person or object) FFXV was ultimately a rewarding and successful adventure.
Seeing the protagonists of its flagship series ostensibly on a road trip to save the world, and help out dozens of NPCs along the way, Final Fantasy XV had a unique feeling to it which set it apart from its many predecessors.
Finally, the dark and hopeless tone of the game calls back to series classics like VI and VII, and the nostalgia that the game sneaks in every now and again makes it easy to forgive the occasional developmental misstep throughout the journey.
9. Resident Evil 2
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Another game with a vast legacy to live up to, Resident Evil 2 (the remake of the 1998 game of the same name) managed to overcome its lofty expectations in order to become what might be the definitive game of this series.
Keeping enough of the flair and camp that made the original RE2 what it was while beefing up the scares and jettisoning some of the sillier elements, Resident Evil 2 strikes the perfect balance between paying dues to its forebear while blazing its own trail along the way.
It’s also a total thrill to play, with action and dread around every corner. There’s a reason Mr. X, the baddie of the game, became such a ubiquitous force of meme-hood last year. This may be the best gaming remake we’ve ever seen in our still relatively young medium’s history, and even with this caveat in mind, that’s no mean feat.
9. Kingdom Hearts III
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
I promise I didn’t plan the list this way but it seems we’re really going down a legacy rabbit hole over these last few entries. Anyway, with that subtext out of the way, Kingdom Hearts III emerged last year with the sort of lofty expectations that few creators would envy.
Luckily, the latest Disney-Square Enix adventure didn’t disappoint. Seeing the combat of the series at its blistering best and opening up the worlds for more exploration than ever, Kingdom Hearts III paid off a dozen story arcs in one fell swoop, ending over a decade of storytelling in the process.
While the DLC that followed might not be worth the asking price, Kingdom Hearts III is still a triumphant and memorable send-off for many a beloved character.
7. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: SIE
When it was first announced that Naughty Dog was working on an Uncharted game without Nathan Drake, fans were understandably uneasy about the concept. The charming, roguish Drake was the face of the franchise after all. Could this series really work without him?
Well, the answer is an emphatic yes. Rivalling the best games of the series, this Uncharted spin-off sees Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross powering through an incredible globe-trotting adventure with just enough tribute to the previous games to pull it off.
A game that stands tall with the likes of Uncharted 2 and 4, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy may have begun life as a mere expansion, but the full game it developed into is an awe-inspiring experience all the same.
6. Final Fantasy VII Remake
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
The legendary JRPG pioneer Final Fantasy VII earned itself the upgrade of a lifetime with Final Fantasy VII Remake. With gorgeous new visuals, an astounding voice cast and a slick new battle system, Final Fantasy VII Remake is better than fans ever dreamed it would be.
It’s also the journey of a lifetime. Cloud’s journey to find himself while battling the Shinra Electric Power Company and his former mentor is one of the most iconic adventure tales in the medium of gaming.
Though we’ve only seen the first leg of this adventure thus far, if Final Fantasy VII Remake is any indication, this series could be one of the greatest creations that legendary RPG maker Square Enix has ever crafted.
5. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Activision
As mentioned above, FromSoftware has a knack for making wildly challenging games that are worth the effort of powering through. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is no exception to this pedigree, though it may be the most difficult game that From has yet to unleash on its adoring fans.
The tale of Wolf, a disgraced samurai tasked with safeguarding a young successor to the empire of Japan, Sekiro is a story of honor, heart, bravery and redemption.
It also happens to be one of the most memorable journeys gamers will find themselves going on this generation. With over a dozen bosses to battle, and over 40 mini-bosses to tangle with along the way, this eastern action-RPG makes for a memorable genre mash up that will take players to their absolute limits of skill.
4. Shadow of the Colossus
Developer: Bluepoint Games/Team Ico (original)
Publisher: SIE
Like Resident Evil 2, the Shadow of the Colossus remake is an endeavor so well done, with such attention to detail, that it manages to eclipse the original game in every conceivable way.
Following up on the trail blazed by one of the most beloved games on the PS2, Shadow of the Colossus brings the tale of one boy’s journey to best 16 massive monsters to a new generation, and it does so as a ringing success.
Easily one of the most epic games ever imagined, Shadow of the Colossus is the absolute height of adventure games on PS4.
3. Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: SIE
Another of the previously discussed post-apocalyptic open world games, Horizon Zero Dawn, again, manages to stand out from the onslaught of games in this genre by being wholly original and totally engaging.
Putting the player in the fur-trimmed boots of Aloy, Horizon Zero Dawn sets you against a world of battling tribes of humans and massive, hostile cybernetic creations.
With more optional tasks and side quests than most games of its ilk, Horizon Zero Dawn will also keep players enraptured in its unique setting for a great many hours, making the journey all the more rewarding along the way.
2. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: SIE
Few games are as synonymous with the word “adventure” as the Uncharted series. With that in mind, the series’ send-off for longtime protagonist Nathan Drake needed to really blow players away if it wanted to accomplish this task successfully.
Fortunately, Uncharted 4 gives Nathan Drake the swan song he deserves with an adventure that isn’t just thrilling but also surprisingly heartfelt and even touching along the way.
The ultimate Uncharted game, and a testament to the skill of developer Naughty Dog, Uncharted 4 is one of the finest games of its generation, and in a generation brimming with this many greats, that’s really saying something.
1. God of War
Developer: SIE Santa Monica
Publisher: SIE
Perhaps the most surprising game on this list, God of War set about taking a series that was about smashing heads in and looking at boobs and managed to turn it into a transcendent journey through a fantastical mythology and a truly heartfelt exploration of fatherhood.
Along the way, though, there’s plenty of high adventure to be had. Whether battling a massive wyvern atop a snowy peak or going toe to toe with an indestructible deity, God of War never lacks for memorable, stand-out set pieces.
The game also packs a hefty challenge, making the sweet success at the end of each of its roadblocks feel all the more well-earned. An absolute triumph of a game, God of War is the kind of franchise reinvention that we’d love to see more of in the future.
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