The 10 Best PlayStation Games of All Time, Ranked

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Joel and Ellie looking ahead in The Last of Us video game

Published Jul 25, 2026, 5:41 PM EDT

Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years.

PlayStation as a brand has amassed a largely celebrated status since its induction into the video game industry in 1994, as across five different console generations they have continued to delight and evolve the medium with a wide array of memorable gaming experiences. They've grown from humble beginnings into one of the juggernaut titans of the industry, with their massive legacy and staying power as a brand simply not being possible without the impact and overwhelming quality of the various exclusive titles released on PlayStation consoles over the years.

From first-party games created by in-house development teams owned by Sony and PlayStation to highly coveted exclusives brought to life by third parties, the history and scope of exceptional PlayStation games is vast and never-ending. There are enough amazing PlayStation games to fill up any number of lists, making it difficult to narrow it down to only 10. While everyone is going to have their own selection of the best PlayStation games, these continually come to mind as some of their best and most iconic exclusives over the years.

10 'Kingdom Hearts II' (2005)

Riku, Sora, and Mickey Mouse all pointing their keyblades to the left in Kingdom Hearts II.

The original Kingdom Hearts was already one of the standout RPG experiences of the early 2000s, with the magic of combining the worlds and styles of Disney and Final Fantasy making for an unlikely match made in heaven. However, Kingdom Hearts II managed to improve upon the original game in just about every possible way, becoming one of the PlayStation 2's best third-party exclusives in the process. Even as the franchise has largely grown beyond being a PlayStation exclusive franchise, this initial PS2 exclusive is still considered the high point of the franchise.

It continues on a lot of the same greatness that made the original game so great, only with a larger scale, more compelling worlds, and a dynamic story filled with memorable characters. While the PS2 as a whole had many great RPGs to choose from, there's an inherent whimsy and charm to Kingdom Hearts II that makes it a joy to play from beginning to end and massively replayable as far as RPGs are considered.

9 'Castlevania: Symphony of the Night' (1997)

Battle against winged monster in 'Castlevania Symphony of the Night'

While previous games in the Castlevania franchise were largely traditional 2D action sidescrollers with a traditional format of levels, PlayStation's first Castlevania game, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, completely revolutionized the franchise and helped create an entire genre in its success. The PS1 classic was pivotal in the popularization of the Metroidvania genre, with the "-vania" portion of the title literally coming from this game.

It utilizes the stylistic and gameplay strengths of the entire series and massively expands upon them to create what is easily the best 2D game in the entire franchise. Exploring the sprawling nature of Dracula's castle as one giant map is exciting and much more compelling than going level by level, especially with such a growing and ever-evolving gameplay kit as featured in the game. Even to this day, Metroidvania games are continuously influenced by the gameplay mastery on display in this all-time classic.

8 'Astro Bot' (2024)

A giant robot crushing things in Astro Bot

The clear standout masterpiece from PlayStation in the 2020s, Astro Bot continues to be one of the PlayStation 5's must-play titles as a beautifully crafted 3D platformer that pays tribute to the entire history of PlayStation as a brand. Continuing and building off of the strengths established with the PS5's built-in tech demo Astro's Playroom, each moment of Astro Bot exudes the creative brilliance and limitless possibility not just of 3D platformers, but video gaming as a whole.

It's a game that consistently delights and surprises the player with new gameplay mechanics that each manage to be more compelling and fun to experience than the last, making each level feel distinctly different and charming at every moment. All the while, the film is overwhelming with passionate Easter Eggs and references to PlayStation's entire history, not just the most popular games, but just about every notable PlayStation icon across the brand's then 30-year history. It's about as perfect a love-letter to PlayStation as a gamer could ask for.

7 'Shadow of the Colossus' (2005)

The silhouettes of a man on horseback and a colossus in Shadow of the Colossus

One of the earliest and clearest arguments for video games as being more than just exhilarating fun but being a medium capable of creating powerful works of art, Shadow of the Colossus is still one of the most powerful and singular experiences in videogame history. The legendary vision of Fumito Ueda sees the player embarking on a quest to slay 16 massive colossi, with the completion of his mission possibly resulting in the resurrection of a young girl.

From the somber, beautiful nature of the world itself to the compelling and striking gameplay of each of its distinct colossi boss battles, Shadow of the Colossus is a game defined by the scale and awe-factor of its execution. These elements are further amplified by one of the absolute greatest soundtracks in video game history, with tracks ranging from high-energy and heart-pounding to emotional and full of sorrow. The game continues to have a substantial legacy as one of the most beautiful games ever released on a PlayStation console, with its legacy only further growing after its 2018 remake on PS4.

6 'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves' (2009)

The gang in the jungle in 'Uncharted 2 Among Thieves'

Uncharted was the must-play action PlayStation franchise of the PS3 era, proving to be so impactful that it continued into the next generation and became one of the most recognizable and acclaimed PlayStation franchises of all time. The exceptional scale and feel of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves played a massive part in the popularity and growth of the series, cementing the status and legacy of the franchise as the equivalent of playing a blockbuster action adventure movie in real time.

Many people still consider Uncharted 2 to be the high point of the Uncharted franchise, thanks largely in part to its exceptional sense of scale as well as the massive improvements that it makes over the original game. It has the absolute perfect mixture of dynamic, well-crafted puzzles, moment-to-moment action setpieces, and compelling writing and characters to create the definitive Uncharted experience. It wound up becoming among the top five highest-selling games on the console and cemented the franchise's legacy in its success.

Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars

Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you'd actually make it out of alive.

💊The Matrix

🔥Mad Max

🌧️Blade Runner

🏜️Dune

🚀Star Wars

TEST YOUR SURVIVAL →

You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.

APull on every thread until I understand the system — then figure out how to break it. BStop asking questions and start stockpiling — food, fuel, weapons. Questions don't keep you alive. CKeep my head down, observe carefully, and trust no one until I know who's pulling the strings. DStudy the patterns. Every system has a rhythm — learn it, and you learn how to survive it. EFind the people fighting back and join them. You can't fix a broken galaxy alone.

NEXT QUESTION →

In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.

AKnowledge. If you understand the system, you don't need resources — you can generate them. BFuel. Everything else — movement, power, escape — runs on it. CTrust. In a world of fakes and informants, a truly reliable ally is rarer than any commodity. DWater. And after water, information — the two things empires are truly built on. EShips and credits. The galaxy is big — you survive it by being able to move through it freely.

NEXT QUESTION →

What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of.

AThat reality itself is a lie — that everything I experience has been constructed to keep me compliant. BA raid. No warning, no mercy — just the roar of engines and then nothing left. CBeing identified. Once someone with power decides you're a problem, you're already out of time. DBeing outmanoeuvred — losing a political game I didn't even know I was playing. EThe Empire tightening its grip until there's nowhere left to run.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you deal with authority you don't trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.

ASubvert it from the inside — learn its rules well enough to weaponise them against it. BIgnore it and stay out of its reach. The further from any power structure, the better. CAppear to comply while doing exactly what I need to do. Visibility is the enemy. DManoeuvre within it carefully. You can't beat a system you refuse to understand. EResist openly when I have to. Some things are worth the risk of being seen.

NEXT QUESTION →

Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn't just tactical — it's physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.

AUnderground bunkers and server rooms — cramped, artificial, but with access to everything that matters. BOpen wasteland — brutal sun, no shelter, constant movement. At least the threat is honest. CA dense, rain-soaked city where you can disappear into the crowd and nobody asks questions. DMerciless desert — extreme heat, no water, and something enormous living beneath the sand. EThe fringe — backwater planets and busy spaceports where the Empire's attention rarely reaches.

NEXT QUESTION →

Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.

AA tight crew of believers who've seen behind the curtain and have nothing left to lose. BOne or two people I'd trust with my life. Any more than that and someone talks. CNobody, ideally. Alliances are liabilities. I work alone unless I have no choice. DA community bound by shared hardship and mutual survival — people who need each other to last. EA ragtag team with wildly different skills and total commitment when it counts.

NEXT QUESTION →

Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they're actually made of.

AI won't harm the innocent — even the ones who'd report me without hesitation. BI do what I have to to protect the people I've chosen. Everything else is negotiable. CThe line shifts depending on who's asking and what's at stake. DI draw a long-term line — nothing that compromises my people's future, even if it'd help now. ESome lines, once crossed, can't be uncrossed. I know which ones they are.

NEXT QUESTION →

What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.

AWaking others up — dismantling the illusion so no one else has to live inside it. BFinding somewhere — or someone — worth protecting. A reason to keep moving. CAnswers. Understanding what I am, what any of this means, before time runs out. DLegacy — shaping the future in a way that outlasts me by generations. EFreedom — for myself, for others, for every world still living under someone else's boot.

REVEAL MY WORLD →

Your Fate Has Been Calculated You'd Survive In…

Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.

The Matrix

You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You're a systems thinker who can't help but notice the seams in things.

You're drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You'd find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines' worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You'd be the one probing the walls for the door.

Mad Max

The wasteland doesn't reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That's you.

You don't need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you're good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.

Blade Runner

You'd survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.

You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You're not a hero. But you're not lost, either.
In Blade Runner's world, that distinction is everything.

Dune

Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.

Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they're survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You'd learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn't just survive Arrakis — you'd begin to reshape it.

Star Wars

The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn't have it any other way.

You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You'd gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire's grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn't something you're capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

5 'God of War' (2018)

Kratos and Atreus standing together in God of War 2018

The God of War franchise was already massively acclaimed and prominent throughout PlayStation history, yet the massive leap forward and cinematic evolution that the franchise took with the PlayStation 4 reboot elevated the franchise to new heights. It combines the already exceptional action and hack-and-slash glory of the previous games with a layered story of emotion and a new approach to action gameplay. The game acted as a complete evolution of the franchise in the best ways possible, ushering in a new era of God of War greatness.

The game has also proven to be massively influential outside the scope of the God of War franchise as a whole, often being one of the faces for PlayStation's modern style of cinematic gaming experiences that blend top-notch gameplay with story. This Game of the Year-winning masterclass is often considered to be one of the most influential and important games of the 2010s, with a legacy far beyond any other game in the God of War franchise.

4 'Bloodborne' (2015)

The various Soulsborne games released by FromSoftware have been some of the most influential and impactful releases of their respective generations, with their iconic PS4 exclusive Bloodborne still being seen as the very best Soulsborne game by many die-hard fans. It combines the classic, ruthlessly difficult gameplay style that has made the subgenre of action games so captivating with an engrossing and still massively engaging dark fantasy that hooks players from the very first moments until its iconic finale.

The film pushed the technical prospects of the PS4 as a console to its absolute limits, being some of the best, most seamless gameplay that the console has to offer and still featuring some of the most striking visuals that the console has to offer. With the game having never been ported or remastered since its release, there are still many fans begging for a rerelease or a PC port so that more people can experience its overwhelming greatness.

3 'Final Fantasy VII' (1997)

Originally, the various standout RPGs in the Final Fantasy franchise were exclusives to the Nintendo consoles of the era. However, the franchise's first outing in 3D on PS1, Final Fantasy VII, proved to be so striking and groundbreaking for both the franchise and the genre that it transformed the series into a PlayStation staple. This absolute icon of the genre has largely stood the test of time as one of the greatest JRPGs ever made and one of the most important games in PlayStation history.

Even after the game has been ported and remade a multitude of times across the decades since its release, the weight and importance of the original game is still unmatched by any other Final Fantasy game or any other RPG in PlayStation history. The game was the 2nd best-selling game on the PS1 and ushered in a wave of other great RPGs on PlayStation, making it the go-to console for the genre following the jump to 3D.

2 'The Last of Us' (2013)

PlayStation hasn't particularly hidden its legacy in the modern age as the platform tailor-made for more cinematic and high-scale experiences within the medium of video games. While it took a multitude of games for them to amass this legacy and stature, The Last of Us is easily the quintessential cinematic game that forever set PlayStation apart as a platform for artistic, groundbreaking storytelling in gaming. This swan song for the PS3 was seen by the entire industry as a massive leap forward for visuals, storytelling, and emotion within the medium of video games.

This perfect video game has stood as the face of exceptional modern gaming ever since its release, paying tributes to classic games and thrillers of old in adding a heaping dose of emotion and power to a classic dystopian apocalypse concept. Even after a massively acclaimed sequel and an Emmy-nominated HBO series adaptation, the overwhelming staying power of this initial entry in the franchise still has a place in the hearts of PlayStation players worldwide.

The original Metal Gear Solid was one of the defining must-play experiences for the PS1, acting as the perfect mixture between top-notch stealth action gameplay and a compelling story complete with voice acting and real symbolic messaging. It lived up to all the expectations and weight upon the sequel to follow up on its greatness, and while players of the era initially liked the original game more, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has aged gracefully in the decades since its release to be one of the greatest games of all time.

Director Hideo Kojima is in full force with this striking piece of artistic storytelling, making perfect use of the distinct elements of gaming as an art form to tell a powerful story of social engineering, virtual reality, and the importance of freedom of thought. Its themes have only grown more powerful and invigorating in the years since its release, while the finesse and craft placed into its gameplay continue to make it a blast to play. It's one of the most ahead-of-its-time video games ever made and is a true feat of greatness that hasn't been matched in the 25 years since its release.

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