The Best PS4 Games for April 2024

We’re well into 2024 now, and the PS4 has yet to give up the ghost, so resilient is Sony’s previous-generation machine.

Sony has had plenty of opportunities to declare that it was ending support for the PS4 in recent times, but it hasn’t seized any of those opportunities, so we can only assume that PS4 support will continue into the indefinite future.

Of course, there’s always a chance that Sony will pull the plug at some point this year, but for now, if you still haven’t made the jump to PS5, there are lots of games you can still check out on your PS4.

Here are the best PS4 games heading to the console in April 2024.

Freedom Planet 2 (April 4th)

• Genre: Action, Adventure, Indie

Sonic the Hedgehog fans have been eating well for the past few years, thanks to the debut of games like Sonic Mania and the underrated Sonic Frontiers (we know it has its fans, but we think it deserves more love).

Freedom Planet 2 is another 2D sidescroller in the vein of classic Sonic games, and you know what that means: multi-layered level design, fast-paced gameplay, and vaguely unsettling character art.

It goes without saying that if you love classic Sonic, then you’re going to adore this, and if you do enjoy what you play, make sure to head back and check out the first game as well. It’s well worth your time.

Planet of Lana (April 16th)

• Genre: Puzzle-platformer

This cinematic platformer was released on Xbox and PC last May, but it’s finally making its long-awaited debut on PlayStation 4 in April this year, so you’ll get a chance to check it out if you’re a Sony loyalist.

If you love cinematic platformers like Limbo, the Oddworld series, and Heart of Darkness, then you’ll get a lot out of Planet of Lana, which marries the deliberate and purposeful gameplay of those titles with clear and minimalist aesthetics seemingly inspired by Japanese anime.

There’s not much new happening here, but if you’re in the market for a brief, heartwarming experience that won’t take up too much of your weekend, Planet of Lana is the game for you.

Grounded (April 16th)

• Genre: Action, Adventure

Also arriving on April 16th is Grounded, Obsidian Entertainment’s entry into the survival genre. This one’s notable mostly by the fact that it’s one of the first wave of Xbox games to land on PlayStation.

In Grounded, you have been shrunk down to the size of a pin, and you must navigate terrors that were once nothing but ordinary garden creatures and features.

Bushes become dense forests, burrows become insurmountable obstacles, and harmless insects become massive predators that could gobble you up if you’re not careful.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (April 23rd)

• Genre: JRPG, including elements of Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG, and Strategy

The Suikoden series is the best JRPG franchise you (probably) haven’t played, and so it stands to reason that this spiritual successor, which involves many of the same creative personnel behind Suikoden, will be a worthy follow-up.

Unfortunately, Eiyuden Chronicle and Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama passed away earlier this year, so he won’t be alive to see his creation come to fruition.

You can honour his memory, however, by checking out this promising-looking RPG, which features many of the same conventions that made Suikoden a hit: many characters to recruit, tactical turn-based combat, and a focus on politics and war over grand fantasy adventure.

SaGa Emerald Beyond (April 25th)

• Genre: Role-playing

This colourful JRPG promises a diverse and varied cast of characters to meet, as well as a sprawling world to explore. If you’ve played any of the SaGa games before, you’ll know roughly what sort of ballpark you’re in.

Characters include a witch who’s trying to retrieve her lost magic, a human who must defend his city, and a vampire who wants to cement his reign as the lord of his kind.

Square Enix promises the largest number of branching narrative pathways you’ve ever seen in the SaGa games, as well as a highly strategic combat system that lets you spontaneously gain skills.

Sand Land (April 26th)

• Genre: Action, Adventure

There’s a pleasingly PS3 feel to Sand Land, and we don’t say that as an insult. Having checked out the demo, we’re excited to get stuck into some old-school, straightforward open-world RPG action.

When we say “straightforward”, though, we’re not necessarily referring to the complexity of the game mechanics. Sand Land will offer a massive world to explore, as well as a ton of vehicles with which to explore it.

The game will also offer a bittersweet chance to revisit the wonderful art of Akira Toriyama, another gaming luminary we lost this year. Hopefully, this game does his memory justice.

Top Spin 2K25 (April 26th)

• Genre: Tennis?

If you’re not feeling the mischievous open-world antics of Sand Land, then April 26th brings another, more serious game for you to get stuck into in the form of Top Spin 2K25.

This is a realistic tennis sim, so you know what to expect: tons of licensed pros, an immersive gameplay system to get to grips with, and a career mode that lets you create your very own tennis legend.

Obviously, if you’re not much of a tennis fan or you actively dislike the sport, then this isn’t going to do anything to convince you otherwise, but if you’re an aficionado, you’ve probably already got this one on your wishlist.

Braid: Anniversary Edition (April 30th)

• Genre: Puzzle Platformer

Braid is one of the most legendary indie games of all time, helping to kickstart the notion that video games could represent art and didn’t just have to be aimed at high score chasers.

The Anniversary Edition celebrates Braid’s, uh, 16th anniversary (hmm), but let’s face facts: this is essentially an excuse to remind everyone how great Braid was the first time around and how good it remains today.

The new version of the game will feature improved visuals and performance, as well as some brand new levels created specifically for this edition. You can also enjoy more than 15 hours of developer commentary if you want to know how this time-bending sausage was made.