In the modern gaming landscape, most games either focus heavily on a multiplayer component or else playing alone while still requiring some sort of internet activity. Sony's dedication to beefy single-player campaigns shows in their large catalog of quality titles where one doesn't need to connect to a network for enjoyment.
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The following list will present the ten best PlayStation 4 games where one can unplug from the world and still get the complete package. Of course, beforehand, an update may be necessary, but after that, it is smooth disconnected sailing. Not all of these are exclusive to the console, but the IP at least has a strong link to the PlayStation brand.
Updated on May 21, 2023 by Amy Cowley: Gaming has become the most common hobbies to enjoy outside of peoples work and school lives, as technology has become something so deeply ingrained in our culture. Whereas ten or twenty years ago, gaming was considered something of a niche hobby, now it is a very common pastime.
With the summer holidays looming closer, parents might feel pressured to splurge on outdoor activities to take their children to, our even spring for a more up-to-date games consoles, which would no doubt empty many peoples wallets. But here, we have a lengthy list of the best offline PS4 games to make entertaining children easier.
25 Yakuza: Like A Dragon
It is not easy keeping fans excited about a game series after six main entries and numerous spin-offs. The Yakuza franchise was doing alright for itself all these years as an open-world brawler utilizing RPG elements. The seventh entry in the series dropped the numbering and completely switched gameplay gears.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a turn-based RPG. Though it still utilizes a modern-day setting, players can expect everything they have come to adore about traditional RPGs in this title. Genre shifts are not always well-received, but Like a Dragon managed to please longtime fans and attract a whole new legion of players.
Konami's fifth release for the long-running Metal Gear Solid franchise brought more of the same--but that's exactly what fans want. Players will suit up as Big Boss as he infiltrates the searing sands of Afghanistan on a quest for vengeance against the Soviet forces that were responsible for almost killing him in the stand-alone prequel title Ground Zeroes.
Along with stealth missions, Big Boss will have to overcome many strong bosses that will challenge him, recruit new forces and companions to aid him in quests, and even capture animals to add to the zoo on Mother Base. All in all, MGSV provides many hours of fun content, all without the need of an internet connection.
23 Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Square Enix made dreams come true in 2020 after Final Fantasy 7 Remake surpassed even the highest of expectations. The next chapter in this remake saga is long off and is set to release exclusively on the PS5. This should give PS4 owners plenty of time to play through the remake and save up and find a PS5.
The DLC episode starring Yuffie Kisaragi, INTERmission, is not available on PS4 at the moment, but the main game is massive enough to occupy dozens upon dozens of hours. While it runs better on PS5, players are still getting a comprehensive and technically impressive experience on PS4.
22 Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
Remasters and re-releases have a habit of stripping out the multiplayer portion of a video game. Even though people might have enjoyed the PS3 Uncharted games with their online modes, the main attraction was the impressive single-player campaigns.
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They are short and linear, but the writing, setpieces, and shooting make them easily replayable. Going through the three games once takes between 20 and 25 hours. Interestingly enough, the PS5 re-release of Uncharted 4 also removes the multiplayer mode.
21 Red Dead Redemption 2
A sequel in name only, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the first game, meaning gamers can jump in to the franchise on this title without any risk of spoilers. They will play cowboy Arthur Morgan at the end days of the cowboy culture in America, with him and his posse making the enemies of historical mercenary gang the Pinkertons.
Though Red Dead 2 does have a fun online multiplayer mode, the single player campaign is undoubtedly the star of this show, with a story that takes many twists, turns and will tug at even the most stoic gamers hearts, and ties in perfectly with the story of the first game. This title is a must-have for gamers who appreciate a game that knows how to tell an intricate and heartfelt plot.
20 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
Though there is online functionality and leaderboards for this majestic remake, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is fully enjoyable offline. It perfectly recreates the levels from the first two entries of the franchise while including the best gameplay enhancements from the later entries, such as reverts, spine transfers, and wallplants.
Split-screen multiplayer works excellently in this version as well, letting fans recreate those same memories from the late 90s and early noughties when the originals came out. It is rare to find a PS4 game with such extensive offline options, but this remake has it. Even though the game was so critically and commercially successful, it appears that publisher Activision has no plans to continue the legendary series.
19 Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Media Molecule has moved on from Little Big Planet to Dreams. Sumo Digital picked up the series' torch and created Sackboy: A Big Adventure. The 3D platformer removes the creation aspects of the series in favor of a more fleshed-out, creative campaign.
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It came out on the PS5 as well, but the PS4 version runs smoothly. The entire campaign is playable with up to four players cooperatively offline, making the game a great choice for a get-together with some friends who are experienced in the platforming genre.
18 Ratchet And Clank
When the movie adaptation of Insomniac's long-running Ratchet and Clank franchise hit theaters, a remake of the first game came to PS4. It also serves as a companion piece to the film, using scenes from it during cinematics. The game saw far better reception than the film, which came and went at the box office. The series dabbled with multiplayer in the past, but it is noted for its jolly single-player experience. Few mascots from the early 2000s persist today, and the two characters deserve praise for that fact alone.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is one of the few PS5 exclusives, and it truly feels like a next-generation title. All the same, the 2016 remake for the PS4 is still worth playing. It received a PS5 patch letting it run at 60 frames per second on the new console. Once the patch is downloaded, it can still be played offline on the PS5.
17 Bloodborne
Another entry into FromSoft's infamous Soulsborne series, Bloodborne delves into the gothic fictional world of Yharnham that is plagued by all manner of fell beasts, creatures, and the series staple of punishingly hard bosses that will see players die again and again. Learning new tactics and gathering the scant resources made available to players is the essential key to success.
Still stubbornly remaining a PS4 exclusive, Bloodborne is a must-have title for PS4 gamers, and best of all--its an offline game. While it does have some internet-required features such as summoning another hunter or invading another's realm, players can still enjoy the brooding and gothic world of Yharnham without connecting to Wi-Fi.
16 Spider-Man
Insomniac is the only developer with two games on this list, and it is a well-deserved achievement. Along with the recent Batman games, Marvel's Spider-Man stands as one of the best comic book video games ever released, and it is only on PS4. Dealing with such a revered character was no small feat, but the developer managed to knock it out of the park in every way. Movement is perfect, combat is engaging, and the story is a surprisingly heartfelt tale.
A remaster for the PS5 came out alongside the semi-sequel, Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The upgrades it makes to the graphics almost make it look like the game was made for the PS5 in the first place. Some took issue with the new face for Peter Parker, however. With no multiplayer to speak of, all the Insomniac Spider-Man games are wonderful offline options for the PS4 or PS5.
15 Yakuza 6
The Yakuza series has only recently started gaining recognition in the west. The recent remakes and sequels have helped newcomers catch up on Kazuma Kiryu's saga. Yakuza 6 wraps up his story with a bang on a new graphics engine, taking full advantage of the PS4's capabilities. Beating up thugs on the Kamurocho streets never looked so pretty or felt so brutal.
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The game's impressive length is also its biggest drawback. Not everybody wants to jump into such a long adventure, especially in a relatively niche genre. Those who do take the plunge, however, find their effort rewarded handsomely.
14 Persona 5 Royal
In typical Persona fashion, years following the release and success of Persona 5, Atlus released Persona 5 Royal, which is an extended and improved version of the base game offering new content, quality of life changes, new characters and an entire extra semester at school and a Palace. Palace's act as the dungeons of this games world, where they enter the consciousness of a corrupt adult in order to change their heart, so they can better their ways.
Persona 5 Royale is undoubtedly one of the best offline games with hours of content to enjoy. The balance of school, part-time work, socializing, studying and infiltrating dungeons sounds daunting and not a lot of fun, but Atlus nails the formula when it comes to their flagship franchise, and is what Persona ultimately owes its success to.
13 Until Dawn
Supermassive Games' narrative-driven horror experience, Until Dawn, sends chills through players from start to finish. One playthrough alone sits between eight to ten hours, but the myriad of possible outcomes and twists throughout the story beg for multiple replays.
One time the player will try to get everyone out alive, and other times they will do their best to send them all to the grave. The company recently split from Sony and is working on an anthology series, The Dark Pictures. This new series is on multiple consoles, giving more people the opportunity to experience the developer's unique games.
12 Horizon: Zero Dawn
Guerrilla Games made a name for themselves with the Killzone series. While the franchise never reached the same heights as its FPS competitors like Halo, they are great in their own right. After leaving it behind, they went on to make Horizon: Zero Dawn, a massive open-world single-player game set in a beautifully unique landscape.
The enigma surrounding the mixture of stone-aged aesthetic and robotic dinosaurs was more than enough to get people on board, and the experience delivered in full. Now fans are anxiously awaiting a sequel, which will surely come out on the PS5. The sequel, Horizon: Forbidden West, came out on both PS4 and PS5 in 2022. Even though many might want to play it on the updated hardware, the PS4 version still feels complete.
11 The Order: 1886
Some decry this title's short length, but quality over quantity applies in this situation. The Order: 1886 is gorgeous, looking better than most games today, more than four years after release. Its unique steampunk setting and gripping plot are more than enough to get its hooks into players for the dense five-hour campaign.
One can also play with the photo mode settings to create some unique visuals. If a short campaign is good enough, people will have no problem going through it two or three times. While complaints were lobbied about paying 60 dollars for a four-hour game, it is easy to find this title for a lower price these days.
10 Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
Besides the controversy surrounding much of the content not actually being on disc, one can eschew the internet after the initial installation. These remakes of the classic 3D platformers bring all the charm from the originals while adding some subtle quality of life changes.
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Instead of controlling the camera with the shoulder buttons, the right analog stick now takes that responsibility. The old games were exclusive to the PS1, and while the new versions are available on a myriad of platforms, the purple dragon still feels more at home on a PlayStation console.
9 Shadow Of The Colossus
Looking back at the original PS2 Shadow of the Colossus, it is clearly a mere shell of what the creators wanted the game to look like. Thankfully, Bluepoint games remade the classic from the ground up, taking full advantage of the PS4 hardware. It is a faithful recreation, instilling the same feeling of wonder and loneliness while traveling the barren earth hunting these gargantuan beasts. Riding Agro throughout the adventure creates a wordless bond between the player and their equine companion, making for one of the most memorable relationships in gaming.
Bluepoint Games outdoes itself with each of their remakes. For the launch of the PS5, it was at the ready with Demon's Souls. Even though it is a remake, it managed to be one of the most beautiful games of 2020 and a great reason to own a PS5 from day one.
8 Resident Evil 4 (2023)
The remake of Resident Evil 4 took the beloved title, shaved of all the cheese and added a truly unsettling and eerie atmosphere. With Capcom returning to their survival horror roots, it only made sense that RE4 was given a grim-dark makeover, but the game benefits from these changes. With alterations made to certain scenarios and characters such as Ashley and Luis, the game is much more serious than the original, which only intensifies the horror factor.
Though players will not be able to indulge in the Mercenaries mode without an online connection, the phenomenal single-player campaign will remain unaltered, allowing players to enter the survival horror unhindered.
7 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Like Spyro, this trilogy is on multiple consoles, but the originals were PS1 exclusives, making the character a part of the PlayStation lineage. These remakes take the gameplay almost exactly as it was more than twenty years ago and simply remade the levels with a new coat of paint. The jumping mechanic sees slight alteration, putting the movement from Crash Bandicoot 3 into the whole trilogy, but their faithfulness to the level design shows just how well the series holds up.
In October 2020, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time came out to rave reviews. It was billed as the first proper sequel to the original Naughty Dog trilogy. Crash 4 feels different in some ways but is a worthy successor to the original classics that is also a joy to play while unplugged from the internet.
6 God Of War
No one was sure how anybody could ever top the original God of War games, but Cory Barlog and the team at Santa Monica Studios managed to bring an already legendary franchise to new heights. The new camera and weapons changed everything fans thought they knew about the games while also retaining the same spirit.
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The plot and relationship between Kratos and Atreus shine a new light on the character, who was admittedly unlikable in the old games. After God of War: Ascension's mediocre reception, people were unsure about the series' status in modern gaming, but the 2018 title re-established Kratos' relevance and made the brand stronger than ever. God of War: Ragnarok is set to come out on November 9th for both PS4 and PS5. All trailers indicate an even bigger adventure than before with huge implications for Kratos' future and his relationship with Atreus. Considering the 2018 title's massive success, following it up is going to be a huge challenge.