Who doesn't love a good RPG? These titles are filled with a journey for players to embark on and they usually come with incredible storylines. Every year we've received new RPG titles to enjoy, so now that we're moving away from the PlayStation 4 console for the PlayStation 5, we're looking back at the catalog of titles that have been released on the platform. While there are no definitive lists and each is just an opinion, here are some of our personal picks for the best RPG titles for the PlayStation 4.
# 25 Remake de Final Fantasy VII
We don't need to tell you that Final Fantasy is a massive RPG series. It's been around for decades now and many gamers have grown up playing the various installments of the mainline along with the spin-off titles. One of the franchise's most iconic installments was Final Fantasy VII, a game released for the PlayStation that followed Cloud Strife and his attempts to stop the corrupt Shinra megacorporation.
The narrative was loved, and fans have been asking Square Enix for years to remake the game for current-gen platforms. Square Enix finally relented and decided to give Final Fantasy VII a remake for the PlayStation 4 which was released in the market in 2022. Overall, the narrative is mostly the same while the combat mechanics have been replaced by a turn-based RPG combat system. action RPG game style. Unfortunately, those who really wanted to dive into the game will find that the story isn't complete. Instead, this is a title that will be released in multiple parts, with players only having access to the first section of the game.
# 24 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Bethesda is known for two major franchises, Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. The latter has been lauded for years now as fans have thoroughly enjoyed the journey this studio has mapped out in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Like its predecessors, Skyrim takes place in an open environment full of exploration, wonder, and plenty of quests. You can easily spend countless hours in this fantasy world and we'd honestly be surprised to find a player who hasn't experienced this journey yet. If you haven't already, grab The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition as it comes with past DLC and start weaving your own story as someone who narrowly escapes a quick death and instead begins a story involving mysterious factions. , thieves, dragon slaying and massive war in this fantasy world.
#23 The Division 2
With the narrative set after the events of Tom Clancy's The Division, this sequel follows a storyline featuring agents from the Strategic Homeland Division working on a way to rebuild the nation after the smallpox incident. However, a new alert sends all remaining available agents to Washington DC, which is on the verge of total collapse with a new terrorist organization seeking to destroy the government. Similar to the last installment, this is a multiplayer-focused action RPG.
That said, it's a great title to explore because not only do you receive a large open-world map, but the map is based on a very detailed replication of the DC region. Similarly, you will find that there will be a ton of buildings to explore which can include a variety of decent supplies and caches. While this game was about to receive the last major update in 2022, Massive Entertainment chose to give more content to players this year, 2022, which means you will still find a pretty active community of players if you choose this game now. .
#22 The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds follows a protagonist who was originally trapped in a frozen state of hibernation when the space shuttle filled with inhabitants to colonize planets gets lost. Fortunately, the players are saved by an unusual scientist who explains that the players are in the future and he needs your help. While the scientist was only able to wake you from sleep before things went haywire, you are left to either help the scientist overthrow a government ruled by a tyranny or help that government organization find the scientist. Along the journey, players will visit multiple planets and meet interesting characters who all have their reasoning behind the society established by government control and those who wish to break the system in hopes of establishing something that offers a bit more. of democratic freedom.
While the main campaign will let you choose between the two paths, there are a ton of side quests, locations to explore, monsters to kill, and loot to find. There is even a skill tree that allows players to craft and tune the created protagonist to their desired play style. Currently, outside of the base game, there is a DLC expansion available known as Peril of Gorgon which has a mystery for players to solve. Additionally, a secondary and final expansion is on the way to give players even more content to play.
#21 Yakuza: Like a Dragon
There's a ton of love for Yakuza games as they've been around since the days of the PlayStation 2. However, there's been a big shift in the game's formula with the latest installment. For years, players have experienced this series as an action brawler while following a journey starring a protagonist named Kazuma Kiryu. Instead of keeping the same overall gameplay style, the developers opted to take players on a journey following Ichiban Kasuga.
In the game's narrative, Ichiban is a lowly member of a yakuza family who ends up falling for a crime he didn't commit. However, with unwavering loyalty to the yakuza family, Ichiban takes his prison sentence which keeps him behind bars for nearly two decades. Once free, our protagonist comes out to find that his yakuza family has been demolished. Now our hero goes to the city hoping to find out what happened. As mentioned, there's also a change to the style of gameplay with this game ditching brawler-style combat and will instead be a traditional turn-based RPG fighting title.
# 20 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Fans of the classic Assassin's Creed video game style may not have looked so fondly at Assassin's Creed Odyssey, as it picks up on the same new gameplay foundation created with Assassin's Creed Origins. By that I mean you will freely explore a massive open world, lots of horse riding, action RPG gameplay, and a host of different quests to undertake.
Overall with this installment players will be thrown into 431 BCE where players will have the choice of being a mercenary who fights for Athens and the Delian League or the Spartan led Peloponnesian League although which whoever is chosen will be a descendant of Spartan King. Leonidas I during the Peloponnesian War. Players are then essentially cast into exile as a small child who had to grow up in a harsh world leading our protagonist to be a mercenary. However, now as a young adult, our hero discovers the truth behind their upbringing, which ultimately leads players on a journey to rediscover their former home and what has become of their family.
# 19 Kingdom Hearts 3
Kingdom Hearts was a mega-hit because it took characters from Final Fantasy and mixed them with Disney. The result was a new series of action RPGs in which players traveled to different Disney worlds in hopes of ridding a new dark evil. The first two installments were released on PlayStation 2, but subsequently we saw the release of spin-off titles that added more storyline and backstory to certain characters. It took a while but we finally got the third installment.
Kingdom Hearts III is a single-player video game that follows Sora and his gang as he embarks on a journey that takes him to another wide array of Disney-themed worlds such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Toy Story, and Frozen. Overall, the game will allow players to collect keyblades and stop the heartless and bring back a peaceful state. Thankfully, as the game has a long history of releasing titles that add something to the storyline, the developers have offered a recap to help bring veterans and newcomers up to speed.
# 18 Nioh 2
If you enjoyed the first Nioh game, you have another installment to go. In fact, Nioh 2 is actually a prequel to the original installment in that it takes place fifty years before the events of the first game. Here, players take on the role of a half-human, half-demon mercenary. Even though our protagonist is pumping demon blood inside, he takes contacts to kill other demons that prove to be troublesome. If you know the first installment, you will feel comfortable with the sequel.
Similar to the Souls games that were designed by FromSoftware, players will engage in battles focusing on successful parry attacks and dodging fatal blows inflicted by their opponent. It would be ideal to play Nioh before jumping into this game as well because the game mechanics are easier to manage to have prior knowledge.
#17 Valkyria Chronicles 4
Those of you who enjoy tactical RPG titles may find interest in Valkyria Chronicles 4. This installment takes players back to the events of the first title, Valkyria Chronicles. However, players will experience another group of characters enduring the trials of war as they attempt to capture the Imperial Capital. It's a journey that has many ups and downs as you embark on a storyline that is expected to take players close to forty hours. So far, it is also the last installment available without it being known if we will see the series continue with the PlayStation 4.
# 16 Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
Ni no Kuni debuted in 2022, so it's been around for a good decade now and it's definitely earned a sequel. Of the few releases available, one of the most iconic title releases was Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, which was originally released for PlayStation 3 in 2022. Since then, a remastered edition has been available that allows gamers to enjoy the game with some visual improvements. Interestingly, when this game was released, it was eye-catching primarily due to collaborative development that included Level-5 with iconic Japanese animation production company, Studio Ghibli.
Meanwhile, the tale follows a young boy named Oliver who gains the ability to travel between two different worlds in an effort to heal broken hearts. The combat is also designed to be more of an action RPG experience. Players can freely roam the map in battle to attack or dodge. Likewise, since players can capture monsters in the fantasy world, players can summon these creatures to help fight any enemy in your path.
#15 Stardew Valley
Installation as a spiritual successor to the Harvest Moon franchise is coming to Stardew Valley. This game is a farming-style simulation title where players take on the role of a character who inherits his grandfather's dilapidated farmhouse. Again, much like Harvest Moon, players will tend to crops and their livestock while introducing crafts, mines, among other social activities. Since its release, the development team has continued to update the game, including adding multiplayer support. There's a reason so many players have spent countless hours in this game.
#14 Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
The Dragon Quest JRPG series has been around for years, as has the Final Fantasy franchise. However, it's a series that hasn't garnered as much attention in the West as Final Fantasy. That said, the series is still going strong, and more and more players are starting to get into IP. With the PlayStation 4 platform in particular, I would suggest watching Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age.
This particular episode follows a young boy tasked with climbing a giant mountain to perform a traditional ceremony. However, while climbing the mountain, our young protagonist discovers that he is the reincarnation of an ancient hero. Now, with this new information, our hero embarks on a new journey helping those in need while meeting new characters and slaying evil creatures that inhabit the land.
# 13 Fallout 4
As mentioned above, Bethesda is primarily known for two franchises, The Elder Scrolls along Fallout. Although we discussed the first above with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it's worth checking out Fallout 4. This time around, the game is set shortly before the nuclear fallout. Players take their family to the vault when the attack begins and narrowly escape a painful death. In this vault, players are then placed in cryogenic chambers where everyone would sleep for years and wake up in a new world. However, you wake up early to find kidnappers breaking into your family's bedroom, killing your spouse and stealing your child.
Returned to a frozen hibernation, our protagonist finally awakens to embark on a journey of discovery of what happened to their child. Every installment in the Fallout franchise manages to bring out an incredible wasteland to explore and Fallout 4 is no exception to this trend. You'll come across old ruins, new structures, and a fleshed-out cast of characters to encounter along your journey.
#12 Nier: Automata
Nier: Automata has become such a hit that you've probably played the game before. However, if you missed the title when it launched, do yourself a favor and give it a try. The game places players in a world where humanity has been forced to flee Earth due to a massive robotic attack. Now the only way to get their home back is to send in battle androids who are made to fight in this proxy war. Players take on the role of a combat android who can fight against these hostile enemies with hack and slash style mechanics.
That said, there are different RPG elements in this hack and slash title. If you didn't choose this game, I suggest the latest editions available. For example, there is even the Become as Gods edition which includes previously released DLC among other in-game content such as cosmetic skins.
# 11 Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn comes from the development team Guerrilla Games and it is actually the first game released in the market after their work on the Killzone franchise. It is an Action and Role-playing video game title that takes place a thousand years in the future. Humanity has mysteriously fallen with the cities which are only the shell of a once prosperous society. All that remains are small tribal groups with giant mechanical beasts that roam the world openly. The plot will revolve around a hunter named Aloy who embarks on a journey to explore the open world, meet other tribes, and potentially learn the reason why she was banished from the tribe when she was just a baby. It's full of exploration, characters to meet, and action-packed moments. There is even a sequel in the works that will continue on the storyline.
# 10 Bastion
Supergiant Games is now quite a well-known indie game studio as it has delivered some great successes in the market. However, their debut game is still a title worth revisiting and enjoying. Bastion puts players in the role of a hero known as The Kid. Set in a ruined world, players must traverse a barrage of enemies and dangerous obstacles to progress through this interesting narrative journey. All in all, it's a shorter RPG experience and if you haven't played Bastion yet, you're looking at around six hours of gameplay to set aside to complete the narrative.
# 9 Dragon Age: Inquisition
BioWare is a well-known video game development studio that has truly thrived on delivering iconic story-driven RPG titles. Their history includes iconic hits such as the Mass Effect franchise as well as the iconic high fantasy game series, Dragon Age. One installment of this particular series is Dragon Age: Inquisition, an action role-playing video game where players take on the role of an inquisitor on a grand journey to deal with civil unrest on the continent of Thedas.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is quite a big game to experience. There are quests to tackle and interesting characters to meet. Likewise, as this franchise has been around for quite a while now, the fan base has really picked up the game and are even waiting to embark on the next exciting adventure. So far, it looks like this title will remain the last installment available as we are still waiting for the release of the next title, Dragon Age 4, to make its way into the market. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we're going to see Dragon Age 4 coming to the PlayStation 4 when it launches, so when the time comes you might need to upgrade to a newer platform.
#8 Dark Souls III
What can I say about the iconic Souls series that you haven't heard a thousand times before? From the FromSoftware development team, the Souls franchise lets players experience an extremely challenging third-person adventure as you embark on a story full of ancient kingdoms and monstrous enemies looking to crush your character to dust. This is the last mainline installment that isn't a remake and it's such a well-loved episode that those remotely interested in a challenge will have gone through this game already. If by any chance it ended up not be on your radar, you can't go wrong with this game, especially if you're ready for a title that emphasizes dodging attacks and lining up a shot.
# 7 Borderlands 2
Borderlands was a brand new IP from Gearbox Software and its success as a popular first-person multiplayer shooter focused on loot-gathering has allowed the studio to continue with a sequel. Borderlands 2 originally released in 2022, but has since been ported to other consoles such as the PlayStation 4 under The Handsome Collection, which came with Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel.
This game opens after the events of the first Borderlands game where Handsome has begun to rule over Pandora. However, when it is learned that there is another vault, a group of new vault hunters have appeared hoping to find it and search for the riches it contains. Players were given another action-packed game full of enemies to shoot, gear to grab, and wacky characters to encounter.
#6 Monster Hunter: World
Capcom developed Monster Hunter: World in hopes of bringing new players into the fold with a variety of impressive changes that turn this fun, cooperative RPG into something much more palatable to Western audiences. The world has grown tremendously and you are free to jump in and explore whatever you want.
Either way, those of you looking to jump into this long-running video game franchise will find that Monster Hunter: World offers the best bang for your buck. It has the latest mechanics, great open layouts for adventures, and being the latest installment, there is an active community.
#5 Devil III
The Diablo franchise doesn't have a ton of video games readily available to players, but there are three main installments. Diablo III, for example, plays out much like its predecessors, players choose one of six possible character classes and begin their journey by undertaking quests and collecting valuable loot. This is an isometric hack and slash dungeon crawler. Players could even go through this game with multiplayer gameplay which has proven to be a popular option. That said, you'll want to go for Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition as it includes Diablo III along with the Reaper of Souls in one bundled collection.
# 4 Impact de Genshin
Genshin Impact was of huge interest to the gaming community as it was a free-to-play game that looked incredibly similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for visuals and combat. In this campaign, players take on the role of a traveler looking for your long-lost brother in this new and unusual world.
Of course, like any game that's free, there are in-game purchases that act like your standard loot boxes. Still, you can avoid paying anything and progress through the story. This is a new release at the time of writing this description and has many fans enjoying the game right now.
# 3 The Witcher 3
Players were able to complete The Witcher trilogy by returning to Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher. Players must face the threat of Wild Hunt and the invasion of the Northern Kingdom. Meanwhile, Geralt is also looking for Yennefer who is right ahead of Geralt's trail. Then of course you have Ciri who is on her own unique journey. With a barrage of interesting characters and a game that still holds up well today, it's no surprise how popular this series has become.
Fans will always find a high fantasy world filled with monsters, and as a witcher, players want to take down these beasts and collect big bounties in return. There are also expansions that only add hours on top of the content for players to enjoy. Unfortunately, this narrative relies on players knowing the last two installments, so if this is your first installment to The Witcher franchise, you'll want to take a moment to go back and watch some recaps of the events before. the beginning of The Witcher 3.
# 2 Bloodborne
Bloodborne was a hit when it was released on PlayStation 4. Players took control of a hunter as it traversed the gothic city of Yharnam, a place known for medical advancements. However, it becomes a mystery why the locals became cursed with a blood-borne disease. This action role-playing game received strong reviews from critics and gamers. It's similar to the Souls series where you take on tough enemies focusing on when to hit and dodge. There's even a DLC expansion worth jumping into, called The Old Hunters.
Overall, the DLC's story is a bit of a mystery as it involves ancient hunters trapped in a hellish world. This storyline event adds lore to Bloodborne and gives players a bit more background history of Yharnam, but more importantly, the developers have added all sorts of new weapons to the mix. There are over ten new weapons, all of which were carefully chosen during fan interaction with the developers.
#1 Person 5
Persona 5 is one of the best RPG titles available on the PlayStation 4. Set in modern Tokyo which follows our protagonist who transfers to an academy known as Shujin in a rather peculiar incident forcing him to attend school . Soon into the school year, the protagonist along with a number of other students awaken with unique powers and the ability to explore the metaverse. Forming what they call Phantom Thieves of Hearts, the group seeks to change the hearts of those who are corrupt.
Vividly colored visuals, an amazing and upbeat soundtrack, and gameplay mechanics that make it easy for everyone to enjoy, it's probably at the top of a ton of RPG gamers list for the PlayStation 4. There is only one major flaw that could put players off this game and that is the length of the campaign. Most will find that the campaign takes close to a hundred hours and that might be a little too much for some.
