Best Backwards Compatible PS4 Games For Playstation 5
With the final hours of the Playstation 4 coming closer, it´s the perfect time to count down the best gaming experiences I had on this console and would love to experience once more on my the new Playstation 5.
With the PS5 out a few years, it´s time to think about which games to play after I finished my first run of Demon Souls and finally played Bloodborne in 60 FPS (*wishful thinking intensified*) nevertheless with 99% of PS4 library being backwards compatible, we have a huge pool of games to choose from. So I decided to make a Top 10 list of my favorite Playstation 4 hidden gems that you might have missed, that deserve a second playthrough on the PS5 or that could use the extra power to run a bit smoother on the Playstation 5.
Ghostrunner
“If you looking for the extra kick in gaming: look no further!”
I feel like this game got overlooked in the recent hype around the new console releases. Ghostrunner is a fast paced first person slasher set in a utopian cyberpunk city with a freaking pumping soundtrack, challenging gameplay and a story to keep you moving forward and we get all that on a budget price. Cutting goons was never more bloody fun. This game got me hooked and is one of my favorite games in 2020.
If you looking for the extra kick in gaming: look no further!
Another recent game that deserves a replay on next gen hardware is…
Destroy All Humans
“Cruise around in an UFO and causing chaos is an evergreen gaming concept.”
An Alien invasion in 2020 seems fitting. Playing as an Crypto, the lovable murderous alien and going on a reckless adventure, complete with dark humor, enhancement graphics and updated gameplay gives the original story a fresh new touch. The PS4 had some lengthy loading times which should be irradiated on the Playstation 5.
Cruise around in an UFO and causing chaos is an evergreen gaming concept.
Next up we have an Playstation classic. A game that still overlooked by many and was free a while ago on Playstation Plus…
Shadow Of The Colossus
“It´s a bit of a slow burner but an absoulute classic… Shadow of the Colossus”
One of the greatest stories ever told …
When life takes your girl away you could cry at her grave and become an alcoholic ex cop that takes bloody justices in his own hands or…. and hear me out on this one….you can travel to a mystical land and try to bring your waifu back from the dead by climbing up huge towering beasts and stabing them in the glowing parts.
Do I identify a little bit too much with the protagonists of my favorite video games?
Maybe…but Shadow Of The Colossus has this incredibly atmosphere. From the moment the game starts, from the first tunes of the opening cinematic, you feel that there is something truly special waiting for you. The story has this fairy tale-like atmosphere and I highly recommend going in this game as blind as possible and take your time with it.
Shadow of the Colossus is journey well worth taking and retaking. The visual overhaul is stunning, enhancing this excellent adventure. One of the few games where I really enjoy just riding through the lonely open world.
It´s always breathtaking…like laying your eyes on a monumental colossus is always humbling….after we caught a breather in the shadows of these gaints it´s time to go wild in with the…
Prototype Bundle (Prototype 1/Prototype 2)
“The ability to consume people and pretend to be them is also a fun and certainly unique stealth mechanic.”
Like seriously wild. We have some really messed up dark abilities to play around with in the Prototype games.
We play as Alex Mercer, a broke, hideously deformed and recently homeless person. As such there is no better time to explore the whole city of New York and make it our playground. To test our newly gained powers.
These abilities make us feel like a super powered legend, and also an infectious virus. Hey, that´s pretty fitting for 2020 aswell. The ability to consume people and pretend to be them is also a fun and certainly unique stealth mechanic. The story is very dark and gritty but does not take away from the overall presentation and the chaos you can wreak in these games.
The bundle allows us to experience both Prototype games with all DLCs included. On the Playstation 4 the frame rate was not up there all the time, so the Playstation 5 might be the best way to enjoy our nightmarish Superhero adventures.
If this sounds like mindless fun than your absolute right, but sometimes I need a challenge to spice things up a bit and then I play the most accessible Souls like out there….
The Surge 2
“The combat system and the satisfying “finisher” mechanic is one of the coolest ways to level up in a souls like.”
But challenge doesn´t mean that we can still have some cutting edge fun.
The Surge 2 makes an already fun combat systems even more enjoyable and that´s not an easy task. Jericho City is an interesting arena for death and exploration with its intricate paths and hidden bits.
The combat system and the satisfying “finisher” mechanic is one of the coolest ways to level up in a souls like.
You need an new leg armour? Ask the friendly guys from the neighborhood watch to help you out. The cyberpunk inspired world sure is a nice change to the medieval fantasy settings we normally see in a Souls-Like.
The gameplay true to it´s souls formula will push you to you limits, hurt and punish in all the right ways, but offers that sweet, sweet payoff when you finally emerge victorious.
Next up we have….
Metro Exodus
“Metro Exodus stands as a terrific post-apocalyptic shooter that expands the Metro series without ignoring its survival roots.”
From bloody violent Souls fun to having some open world fun in the light of the nuclear aftermath. Moving away from the dark tunnels of Moscow’s underground following the railroad into the unknown in this memorable adventure.
Metro Exodus stands as a terrific post-apocalyptic shooter that expands the Metro series without ignoring its survival roots.
This is an excellent narrative-focused shooters with huge open maps, that are fun to explore, and effort has been put into making even the side areas rewarding in both narrative expansion and bonus upgrades to your gear.
I have the feeling that Metro Exodus was overlooked and like the rest of the Metro series deserves being up there with the likes of Fallout and Stalker. This is one fun train ride with friends and talking about taking a ride….
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
“…these Orc nutcases make some of the best Vaas knockoffs in gaming history.”
As a huge Lord of the Rings fan I´m always down for an adventure, and when this adventure includes riding drakes and raiding Orc forts in the most violent way possible…than you can be sure that I leave my handkerchiefs at home and paint the orcish interior in a rosy high colored tones.
Also making a Nemesis is weirdly addictive and these Orc nutcases make some of the best Vaas knockoffs in gaming history.
Recently free with PS Plus this game is perfect, if the open world of the next game on this list is to tame for you and you just want to slaughter a ton of Orcs in this Lord of the Rings power fantasy.
If you need an more immersive adventure that doesn´t go as wild with it´s lore, but double as wild with it´s hunt, than the Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is your jam….
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
“A giant open world, filled with intriguing stories, enjoyable combat and a quest overload: that´s what I call a defining game of a generation.”
It´s not a secret that the Witcher 3 is one of my favorite games. I sunk a ton of hours into the main campaign and it´s truly amazing DLCs. And I can´t wait to dive into this amazing adventure once again. The amount of content we find in The Witcher 3 is outstanding. A giant open world, filled with intriguing stories, enjoyable combat and a quest overload: that´s what I call a defining game of a generation.
An Action RPG dream come true. CD Project Red has managed to build a huge world that is both interesting and entertaining to explore. One of the few games where every side quests had an interesting back story and the same can be set for the next game on this list. Maybe in a more condensed setting….
Yakuza 6: Song Of Life
“Refurnishing a Poppo Stores with the helping hands of a goon in the new game engine blew me away the first time I played through Yakuza 6”
Since I´m not a fan of turn based combat I skipped the recent Yakuza 7. But thank god a replay of Yakuza 6 offers one of the finest, most realized crime stories in gaming. It´s blend of gritty crime drama, hyper-explosive combat, and all the hilarious soap opera side quests are truly unique in gaming.
Refurnishing a Poppo Stores with the helping hands of a goon in the new game engine blew me away the first time I played through Yakuza 6. The game engine that just started it´s lifetime and hopefully flexes it´s muscle in another beat up up style Yakuza game on Playstation 5.
Yakuza 6 also marked the end the mainline story of my favorite protagonist in gaming: “Kiryu Kazuma”
Granting him an fitting end for the best dad in gaming, which we have seen grow as a character in so many adventures. Crazy how time flies, especially when you play the number one spot on this list. That´s what I call a smooth transition into….
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition
“The sheer range of the combat options coupled with the interesting and well written dialogues produces a vast and rewarding experience”
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the best round based RPG this gen…didn´t I just mention round based RPGs a second ago ….no….must imagine things.
You know you are in for one hell of an epic adventure when you first hear the intro music playing.
Divinity Original Sin 2 almost feels like it takes a Deus Ex approach when it comes to gameplay, where every mission has so freaking many ways to get to your goal that each playthrough and players experience feels totally different.
The sheer range of the combat options coupled with the interesting and well written dialogues produces a vast and rewarding experience.
Ironically, the only real negative aspect of Divinty 2: the sheer size of the game. It´s overwhelming. You can dunk a few hundred hours in to this game and there is still more to explore, but yeah there could be worse…
Final Words
These are the backwards compatible games I want to experience first on my Playstation 5. Some pretty big titles and some hidden gems you might have missed, but which games are you going to play first?
Let me know in the comments below and as always if you enjoyed this blog post kick the Rating button, sharing is caring and subscribe to my Youtube channel, but most importantly have a great day and get the kick out of gaming…