30. Hades (PS4)

Hades (PS4)
Hades (PS4)
Publisher: Supergiant Games / Developer: Supergiant Games
Release Date: 13th Aug 2021 (USA) / 13th Aug 2021 (UK/EU)

PlayStation users had to wait a little while to play Hades, but it was certainly worth the patience. Supergiant Games' rogue-like dungeon crawler is every bit as good as you've heard. It effortlessly weaves an intriguing storyline into the looping structure, ingeniously building a character-driven plot that evolves as you delve deeper into the Underworld. Gameplay is responsive and fast, with each weapon and upgrade providing you with all kinds of fun opportunities. Rogue-like games aren't for everyone, but Hades is up there with the absolute best the genre has to offer.

29. Yakuza: Kiwami 2 (PS4)

Yakuza: Kiwami 2 (PS4)
Yakuza: Kiwami 2 (PS4)
Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Yakuza Studio
Release Date: 28th Aug 2018 (USA) / 28th Aug 2018 (UK/EU)
Available On: PS+ Extra

Yakuza: Kiwami 2 is one of the strongest instalments in SEGA's series — arguably the strongest, depending on how heavily you value certain elements of this action RPG package. Yakuza 2 on the PS2 was where the franchise truly found its footing, and Kiwami 2 is a straight remake in the stunning Dragon Engine. Crunching combat, expert storytelling, and an absolutely mad range of minigames and side activities make Kiwami 2 a near faultless Yakuza experience.

28. Divinity: Original Sin - Enhanced Edition (PS4)

Divinity: Original Sin - Enhanced Edition (PS4)
Divinity: Original Sin - Enhanced Edition (PS4)
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive / Developer: Larian Studios
Release Date: 27th Oct 2015 (USA) / 27th Oct 2015 (UK/EU)

Player choice is the defining trait of this ambitious RPG. Yes, the sequel to Divinity: Original Sin is the better game — both in terms of writing and gameplay design — but there's still so much enjoyment to pull from Larian's first outing. Some great questlines will have you questioning your moral compass, while playing alongside a friend is an option right from the start. Just try not to fall out with each other over differing opinions!

27. Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix (PS4)

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix (PS4)
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix (PS4)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 28th Mar 2017 (USA) / 31st Mar 2017 (UK/EU)
Available On: PS+ Extra

Stuffed with extra content, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix (try saying that three times fast) features not only two of the most beloved action RPGs in history, but also Re:Chain of Memories from the Game Boy Advance, and Birth By Sleep from the PSP. The game hasn’t aged as gracefully as others on this list, but there is undeniable magic here and, of course, a huge sequel to dive into.

26. NieR: Automata (PS4)

NieR: Automata (PS4)
NieR: Automata (PS4)
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: 7th Mar 2017 (USA) / 10th Mar 2017 (UK/EU)

NieR: Automata's complete and utter disregard for your time pays off in so many ways. Yoko Taro's android-based adaptation of Hamlet may seem like anime schlock for the first 20 hours or so, but stick with it and you'll be rewarded with one of the richest narratives in games today. This character action title revels in subverting your expectations, and it crescendos with a mind-blowing climax that will leave your jaw on the floor.

25. Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition (PS4)

Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition (PS4)
Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition (PS4)
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: Larian Studios
Release Date: 31st Aug 2018 (USA) / 31st Aug 2018 (UK/EU)

Refining the tone of its writing and delivering a much better paced story, Divinity: Original Sin II is a huge improvement on an already great role-playing experience. Character creation is meaningfully in-depth, and every action throughout your adventure further defines your hero. As far as player choice goes, Larian's sequel is one of the very best titles on PS4, and the many paths that you can take make it a brilliantly replayable package.

24. Dark Souls III (PS4)

Dark Souls III (PS4)
Dark Souls III (PS4)
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: FromSoftware
Release Date: 12th Apr 2016 (USA) / 12th Apr 2016 (UK/EU)

From Software's punishing format may have been old hat by the time Dark Souls III deployed, but even three entries in, the studio's stranglehold on great level design remains as strong as ever. The final part of the trilogy, this uber-polished action RPG possesses the same stunning art and deliberate combat as its predecessors, but it's the abundance of fanservice that will most please those who've prayed at the altar of the sun since the series' very start.

23. Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)

Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)
Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 10th Apr 2020 (USA) / 10th Apr 2020 (UK/EU)
Available On: PS+ Extra

Square Enix actually did it. It actually remade Final Fantasy VII, and the result isn't a complete disaster. In fact, Final Fantasy VII Remake is a fantastic action RPG. It may not cover the whole story of the original, but it greatly expands on characters, themes, and plot points included in the Midgar arc. Its crowing achievement is its outstanding combat, which blends real time movement and action with time-pausing command menus. It feels like the evolution of Final Fantasy's classic Active Time Battle system, and it's amazing. What a time to be alive.

22. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (PS4)

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (PS4)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (PS4)
Publisher: NIS America / Developer: Nihon Falcom
Release Date: 27th Oct 2020 (USA) / 27th Oct 2020 (UK/EU)

Bringing a bombastic end to the Cold Steel saga, Trails of Cold Steel IV attempts to tie four games' worth of stories up across an adventure that can last well over 100 hours. A daunting prospect, but developer Falcom somehow makes it work — and that's perhaps Cold Steel IV's most impressive achievement. This is as dense as Trails games get, both in terms of storytelling and gameplay. The series' turn-based combat has been adjusted for better balance, there's a greater sense of freedom to exploration, and a huge roster of playable party members allows for some serious tactical tinkering. A deeply engrossing, often brilliant finale.

21. Final Fantasy IX (PS4)

Final Fantasy IX (PS4)
Final Fantasy IX (PS4)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 19th Sep 2017 (USA) / 19th Sep 2017 (UK/EU)
Available On: PS+ Extra

Many a Final Fantasy fan would tell you that Square's series peaked with Final Fantasy IX. An indisputable PlayStation classic, it first released as an utterly outstanding swansong for Sony's first console. A masterfully crafted world is inhabited by excellent characters, and it's all placed alongside more traditional RPG mechanics, refined to near perfection. With superb story pacing that whisks you from one gripping scenario to the next, it's still incredibly hard to fault Final Fantasy IX.