Best PlayStation 4 Games of 2022, Ranked

As we sit idly by and wait for 2023 to usher in a new batch of video games, one question loiters at the back of our minds: which games actually made a solid impression this year? It seems to us, of course, that such a question can be answered through the power of Metacritic, or at least some other reputable source, for that matter. Needless to say, though, that we don't actually need such analytical data to determine which games stood their ground this year — especially PlayStation 4 titles.

2022 may be on the verge of phasing out, but the memories that the past eleven months have provided us will no doubt live on for decades. Question is, what games will we fondly remember ten years from now? Well, here's how we'd currently slate them. Behold, the five best PlayStation 4 games of 2022, ranked.

5. Stray

Post-apocalyptic cyberpunk worlds are the jet fuel for most modern triple-A releases, as made clear by BlueTwelve Studio's fish-out-of-water indie, Stray. Vibrant, yet surprisingly melancholic, the barren underground city that it brought to life coerced a palette of emotions that knew no boundaries. Little to our knowledge at the time of its announcement, it was its unlikely hero—a cat—who went on to pave the way for one of the most memorable journeys of 2022.

Stray casts its focus on a red-haired feline, a waylaid stray, in fact, who falls into a forsaken tomb powered by a lost civilization of machines. With the humans long gone and the bots gridlocked in limbo, the stray is put forth to unlock the secrets of the forgotten world and uncover a way to remove the barriers stopping those left behind from escaping to the surface. Puzzle-heavy and effortlessly hearty, Stray pioneers one of the best original concepts we've seen in years.

4. The Quarry

Supermassive Games has a long-standing history of producing quality choice-based horror games — a legacy that came to fruition shortly after the arrival of Until Dawn. Between The Dark Pictures' annual chapters came The Quarry, a standalone IP that brought all the same elements to the table, only with more story-driven components, and a far more immersive world to boot. As a result, The Quarry wound up becoming the go-to horror game of 2022, and rightfully so.

The Quarry follows a group of councillors in a children's camp known as Hackett's Quarry. With the summer over and the team's duties no longer in need, the squadron is sent on their way. However, when a sudden turn of events prevents them from leaving, they must endure one more night on campus. The problem is, hunting season has begun, and the gun-toting locals aren't the only ones hunkering for a kill, either.

3. Horizon Forbidden West

Guerrilla Games' Horizon Forbidden West earned its place on the list long before it came to light. A position well deserved, in my opinion, as its first game, Zero Dawn, also shared the same appealing qualities, a lot of which were rife with original storytelling components and open world exploration nodes. It made sense, then, that the sequel quickly went on to become one of the most sought after exclusives of 2022.

Horizon Forbidden West picks up with Aloy, the famed huntress who once prevented the world from collapsing. With a new threat on the nearby horizon and only a matter of time to solve it, the red-haired warrior is sent on an expedition to resurrect a powerful ally, one who bears the abilities to revitalize the world and return it to its former glory. The Forbidden West awaits, and it brings with it twice the amount of mysteries to unravel and comprehend.

2. Elden Ring

It comes as no surprise that a studio of such high caliber fosters a seat on the highest podium, to be fair. Even before Elden Ring entered the room, the universally celebrated developer had a history of conjuring some of the best action RPGs on the planet. And it made sense, of course, that its latest endeavour would go on to amass the same sky-high reputation.

Elden Ring transports you to The Lands Between, a troublesome realm that's overwhelmed by the presence of demigods, powerful beings who devote their existence to protecting the fragments of the Elden Ring. As one of the Tarnished, you must embark on an epic journey to gather the fragments and repair the Elden Ring, an artefact that has the ability to restore balance to the tattered world and, in turn, make its bearer the Elden Lord.

1. God of War Ragnarök

Fact: God of War Ragnarök was the sequel that convinced long-term Xbox users to purchase a PlayStation. Are we at all surprised by that? Not even in the slightest, no. But even then, the sequel to the Sony exclusive was always going to attract the vast majority of gamers' eyes, mostly down to the fact that it was one of the few major IPs that PlayStation poured millions into promoting.

God of War Ragnarök serves as a direct sequel to Kratos and Atreus' whirlwind adventure, in which the father-son duo return to try and prevent the prophesized tragedy known as ragnarök. With their existence on the line and a network of friends-turned-enemies on the prowl, the two embark on a new journey across the nine realms of Norse mythology to prevent the world's downfall.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Is there any particular PS4 game that won you over this year? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.