There’s something to be said about long single player games when the mood hits, especially in this modern multiplayer leaning era. Losing yourself to immersive story lines and worlds can eclipse time itself.
It’s these meaty single player experiences that show solitude in games doesn’t have to mean withering away in loneliness, instead opening us up to new perspectives and genuine experience.
They say single player games are a dying breed, but all it takes is some digging to find that the world’s brimming with excellent campaign experiences. Look below for some of the best long single player games for the PS4.
Consuming in the Best Way Possible
Single player games are dead in the same way Black Friday brings out communal kindness in all of us, and as a PS4 owner, the tide is on your side. Look below for some of the best hearty single player experiences on the PS4.
The Witcher 3
Image credit: flickr user steamXOA list for the best current generation single player games wouldn’t be complete without mentioning CD Projekt Red’s swan song of an RPG.
CD Projekt Red, developer of The Witcher series, is currently cooking up Cyberpunk 2077, an open world cyberpunk RPG that looks to be other worldly.
It most likely won’t be released before 2020, but we’re sure to get new info, gameplay, and screenshots over the coming years.
The Witcher 3 is gushing with content, and the content stays so damn good throughout the entire journey. From some of the best side quests in gaming, to the stellar main quest itself, the world of The Witcher is one that begs to be played in.
If you’re the type of person that likes to complete most content in games, you’re looking at well over 100 hours of content.
Pillars of Eternity
Image credit: Obsidian EntertainmentComputer role playing games, or CRPG’s, have historically been a PC centric genre as the name implies, but with the homogenization of consoles and PC’s this generation, it’s a genre that be enjoyed by the 10’s of millions playing on PS4 and Xbox One.
Pillars of Eternity is one such example, and a true RPG that is both ripe with the act of role playing and overall content itself.
Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the creators of Fallout: New Vegas, the game employs a top down isometric view, much like Diablo 3, and sets players on a path of immersive worldbuilding, tactful writing, and engaging combat.
Persona 5
Image credit: AtlusThe Persona series has always been known for its charm, style, and rich amounts of content, and Persona 5, the newest entry in the series, is no different.
Persona 5 is a JRPG, but all it takes is a quick glance to see that there’s something oddly unique about it. You’re not only getting traditional JRPG battles and progression, but also, and arguably what makes it such a pleasure to play, a dearth of slice of life scenarios.
Persona’s lean on slice of life is what makes the game such a joy to be a part of, and to immerse oneself fully. The ordinary becomes extraordinary, and you’ll find yourself experiencing a connection, both perceptual and emotional, you didn’t think possible.
You’ll also find that the game offers to the tune of 100 hours of gameplay.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Image credit: Guerilla GamesGuerilla Games created one of the most unique world’s when they let the world in on their first non-Killzone title in over 10 years.
Horizon Zero Dawn 2 is inevitable, most likely to be released for the PS5, and with Guerilla Games’ recent expansion, it would seem that the studio developing multiple games at once isn’t out of the question.
In Horizon Zero Dawn you play Aloy, a young woman in search of resolution, all the while playing the part in a tribalistic world of core early civilization tenants, juxtaposed against robotic dinosaurs.
Yes, robotic dinosaurs – it doesn’t get much cooler than that.
You can easily spend 35 or more hours completing the story and additional content. The story, by the way, is one of the strongest in recent years. Horizon Zero Dawn is simply one of the best reasons to own a PS4 over other systems.
Bloodborne
Image credit: FromSoftwareHidetaka Miyazaki, director of Bloodborne, attained cult status within the gaming community at large when he first laid bare his brutal creation of trial and error, Demon’s Souls.
There are a total of 5 From Software games of the Souls-eqsue variety. Demons Souls, Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2, Bloodborne, and Dark Souls 3.
Bloodborne, the fourth in the Souls series, is without a doubt one of the best PS4 exclusive games.
If you can deal with challenging gameplay and much less handholding than most modern games, then Bloodborne is a must.
There is oodles of replayability, incredible atmosphere, and the combat, oh the combat – it is some of the best, if not the best, combat of its type.
Also check out Dark Souls 1, 2, and 3 if this style of game interests you. A collection featuring all three Dark Souls titles was recently just announced, making this a perfect time to get your feet wet.
Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Remix
Image credit: Square EnixHailed as one of the best action RPG series, Kingdom Hearts throws players into a melding of Disney characters and Square Enix’s best offerings.
Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Remix offers PS4 players the best version of the first two games, and offers well over 100 hours of content when all is said and done (the amount of content is staggering for completionists).
If you’re looking for a genuinely pleasant aesthetic tied up with incredibly gameplay and a sprawling story, this is a collection to get. For newcomers to the series, the value is unbeatable.
And now is the perfect time to hop on the Kingdom Hearts train with the third installment releasing next year.
If you buy the collection and end up becoming enthralled, there’s also Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue which includes a remaster of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance,Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, and a brand new cinematic.
Stardew Valley
Image credit: stardewvalley.netThe premise of Stardew Valley is quite different than most of the shooters, sports games, and action games that blanket the market.
It combines elements of games like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, adds a bit of RPG flair, and essentially leaves the player to their own devices to choose how they would like to play.
This is a very simple game on paper – you can farm, socialize,mine, and so forth – but its simplicity is what makes it both welcoming and hopelessly addictive at times.
One of the coolest things about Stardew Valley is that it was developed by one person, and has received a constant stream of free updates since its inception. Give this a go if an intimately relaxing and near endless journey sounds appealing to you.
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Image credit: UbisoftThe Assassin’s Creed series has gotten a lot of flak over the years for highly derivative gameplay systems and overall stagnation, but the newest entry in the series, Origins, surprised many with its incredibly reimagining of Ancient Egypt.
Ubisoft improved the combat, injected more RPG elements, and crafted a fully realized world to help Assassin’s Creed Origin’s stand apart from entries past.
Ubisoft has recently stated that there will be no new Assassin’s Creed title in 2019. The company’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, has stated that the company wants to allow time for new entries to breathe, instead opting for extended support starting with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
While not a revelatory release, the latest in the line of many offers a solid and lengthy experience for those that can look past some tedium for the sake of a gorgeous, sprawling open world.
For those that value hearty experiences, Origins is there to satiate with not only a lengthy story, but tons of side content that will have you hitting around 100 hours of gameplay.
Divinity: Original Sin
Image credit: Larian StudiosFamiliar with the pen and paper role playing game that is dungeons and dragons?
Divinity: Original Sin, like Pillars of Eternity, is the video game equivalent of that type of experience. It brings true role playing to the table, something that until recently was largely absent from consoles, and it does so with unashamed vigor.
It can be challenging, it requires a bit of thought, and it is very much the opposite of modern games that tack on RPG elements. But it’s also a wonderful experience for those that become invested, and the story alone will net you over 50 hours of gameplay.
Nier: Automata
Image credit: PlatinumGamesDeveloper Platinum Games, a Japanese developer known for its signature frenetic action gameplay, released one of the best games of 2017 when it brought to light Nier: Automata.
If you’re not familiar with their past titles – Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising, and Vanquish to name a few – then you need to know that when it comes to fast paced action combat, Platinum Games is one of the best.
Nier: Automata cements itself with combat that is equal parts precise, bombastic, and satisfying. It’s also a game that needs to be completed multiple times to truly see the game through.
Each playthrough is different, but it’s because of this that you’ll be able to get dozens of hours out of the game. Nier is simply a landmark of the PS4 generation that will be reflected on as the resurgence and boom of Japanese games.
Monster Hunter: World
Image credit: CapcomThe first Monster Hunter game released over 10 years ago, and World, the newest entry, has officially taken the franchise to new heights.
Most recent reports peg Monster Hunter: World at over 10 million units sold, which also makes it the best selling game in Capcom’s history.
As you would expect, the main goal in the game is to hunt monsters, something that can be done entirely alone, but the hook of it all, the thing that can extend your playtime for 100’s of hours, is the progression system.
You’ll slay monsters, collect parts, farm materials, and ultimately work towards fighting bigger and more challenging monsters. With each conquest comes greater strength, and so on and so forth.
If you have any inclination towards Dark Souls style combat, loot, and RPG’s, then Monster Hunter World is your little slice of heaven.
Even More Lengthy Experiences for the PS4
None of the above games clicking with you? Here are some more long games for the PS4 to lose yourself in.
- Nioh – The makers of the most recent Ninja Gaiden series bring you a Dark Souls-esque experience during the Sengoku period of Japan.
- Yakuza 0 – Climb the ranks of the yakuza in this prequel that leaves even the most content hungry full.
- Dragon Age: Inquisition – The third installment in the Dragon Age series and a fantasy RPG that often gets overlooked during this current golden age of PS4 releases.
- Bioshock: The Collection – This one’s a bit of a cheat code, because there’s 3 games instead of one, but the entirety of the Bioshock universe is worth mentioning all the same. The Bioshock games were some of the defining moments of the last generation, and you’re getting all 3 of them…and all of the DLC.
- Fallout 4 – Post apocalyptic. Open world. Always on the hunt for what’s around the corner. Fallout 4, while not as RPG heavy as predecessors, never ceases to let up on some of the best exploration in the industry.
- Skyrim – If you are one of the 12 people to have never played The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, do yourself a favor and lose yourself to one of the defining open world fantasy RPG’s of the last decade.
Lover of games, tech, nature, and strange electronic music. Shaped by Sega, PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox – platform agnostic ever since. Currently overwhelmed by choice on my Xbox Series X thanks to Game Pass.