The Best Action, RPG & Horror Games for PS4, PS5 & Switch in 2026
Original illustration by GameVexo
Trying to figure out what to play next on your PS4, PS5, or Switch? You are in the right place. We picked the best action-adventure, RPG, and horror games you can play right now, including modern classics and a few great picks for fans of God of War, The Last of Us, and Stray.
These genres often overlap more than people think. A lot of the best “action games” also have RPG-style leveling, and some of the best RPGs throw in horror moments you won’t see coming. So instead of splitting this into three separate lists, we put together one guide that covers all of it, sorted by platform and play style, so you can jump straight to what fits you. If you also want a peek at what’s coming later this year, our 2026 upcoming games guide rounds up new releases across Xbox Game Pass, PS5, and Switch.
We picked these games by actually playing them across PS4, PS5, and Switch, then judged each one on combat feel, story quality, how well it runs on its platform, and how it compares to genre favorites like God of War, The Last of Us, and Stray. This list is for anyone who wants a reliable next game to buy, whether you’re shopping for action, RPGs, horror, or all three.
God of War Ragnarök
Action-AdventureKratos and Atreus head into the Norse apocalypse in this huge follow-up to 2018’s God of War. It is one of the best action-adventure games on PS4, with brutal axe-and-blades combat, big boss fights, and a story that actually pays off the father-son relationship from the first game.
✓ Why We Love It
- Combat feels just as weighty and satisfying as the 2018 game, with new blades added to the mix
- Atreus is fully playable in several chapters, which changes up the pace nicely
- The Norse mythology story sticks the landing and gives most characters a real arc
✕ Keep In Mind
- If you played the 2018 reboot, some combat ideas will feel familiar rather than new
- The opening few hours move a bit slower before the story opens up
What really sets Ragnarök apart from other PS4 action games in 2026 is how it blends huge mythological set pieces with quiet, personal character moments. If you are the type of player who likes a nice physical copy for games like this, our guide to the best upcoming collector’s edition games is worth a look too.
Ghost of Tsushima (Director’s Cut)
Action-AdventureIf you searched for games similar to God of War on PS4, Ghost of Tsushima is one of the closest matches in feel, even though the setting is totally different. It is an open-world samurai action-adventure with fluid sword duels, stealth options, and one of the best-looking worlds on PS4.
✓ Why We Love It
- One-on-one sword duels feel cinematic and tense, almost like a boss fight every time
- “Kurosawa Mode” turns the whole game black and white for an old samurai-movie feel
- The open world rewards exploring, with hot springs, shrines, and fox dens scattered around
✕ Keep In Mind
- The story is calmer and more reflective than God of War’s, so don’t expect the same intensity
- Side activities can start to feel repetitive by the late game
Where God of War leans hard into spectacle, Ghost of Tsushima leans into atmosphere and precision combat, which makes it a great change of pace if you want something in the same genre with a different tone.
Horizon Forbidden West
Action RPGHorizon Forbidden West is one of the best role-playing games on PS4 if you want a huge skill tree, deep weapon customization, and giant robotic creatures to hunt. Aloy’s journey through a lush, overgrown America is packed with side quests, crafting, and exploration.
✓ Why We Love It
- A massive skill tree lets you build Aloy toward stealth, ranged combat, or melee
- Climbing, gliding, and diving traversal make exploring the world genuinely fun
- Machine enemies are varied enough that fights rarely feel repetitive
✕ Keep In Mind
- The open world is stuffed with side activities, which can feel padded if you try to do everything
- Performance can dip a little on base PS4 hardware in busy areas
For players asking about the best PS4 RPG games, Horizon Forbidden West stands out for how much it lets you customize your playstyle without ever forcing you down one path. If you want to see what’s next for the genre, check our upcoming RPG games guide for 2026.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Action RPGFinal Fantasy VII Remake reimagines the Midgar section of the 1997 classic with a hybrid combat system that mixes real-time action with strategic ability menus. It is a great pick if you want one of the best PS4 RPG games with a strong cast and a genuinely emotional story.
✓ Why We Love It
- Combat blends real-time action with tactical pauses, so it rewards both reflexes and planning
- Midgar is rebuilt in stunning detail, full of small character moments and side stories
- Materia and weapon customization give you real flexibility in how each character plays
✕ Keep In Mind
- This covers only the Midgar arc, so it’s the start of a longer trilogy rather than a complete story
- Pacing slows down a bit in the middle chapters with extra side content
Because Final Fantasy VII Remake comes from the same publisher behind several other big releases, it’s worth checking our roundup of upcoming Capcom and Square Enix games if you want to plan your next few purchases.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Narrative Action-AdventureIf you want PS5 games like The Last of Us, A Plague Tale: Requiem is one of the best matches around. It follows siblings Amicia and Hugo through medieval France, mixing close, personal storytelling with tense stealth sections and a genuinely massive swarm of rats.
✓ Why We Love It
- The bond between Amicia and Hugo carries the story in a way that feels close to Ellie and Joel
- Crafting and stealth tools give you real options for handling enemies and rat swarms
- Some set pieces with thousands of rats on screen are unlike anything else on PS5
✕ Keep In Mind
- Combat is built around stealth and tools rather than direct action, so don’t expect a shooter
- A few chapters are fairly linear with limited room to explore
The pacing here is the big similarity to The Last of Us: quiet character moments followed by sudden danger, with a world that always feels personal rather than generic.
Solar Ash
Adventure / PlatformerFor PS5 players who loved Stray’s quiet, atmospheric exploration, Solar Ash offers a similar mood in a very different package. You skate across a collapsing void hunting down giant remnants, with striking art direction and a soundtrack that does a lot of the storytelling.
✓ Why We Love It
- Skating-based movement makes traversal feel fast and fluid almost immediately
- The art style and color palette are some of the most distinct on PS5
- A short, focused campaign means it respects your time without overstaying its welcome
✕ Keep In Mind
- The campaign is on the short side compared to most other games on this list
- Combat is lighter and simpler than traditional action games
Like Stray, Solar Ash is more about mood, movement, and discovery than constant combat, which makes it a perfect palate cleanser between bigger action games. If slower-paced games are your thing, our best upcoming cozy games guide has more in that lane.
Resident Evil Village
Survival HorrorResident Evil Village is a strong answer to anyone searching for the best horror video games on PS4. Ethan Winters’ journey into a monster-filled village mixes classic survival horror tension with bigger, more varied locations than past entries in the series.
✓ Why We Love It
- Each major area (castle, lake house, village) has its own distinct horror identity
- Boss fights are memorable and visually striking, especially the castle section
- An optional VR mode on PS4 and PS5 ramps up the tension even further
✕ Keep In Mind
- The midgame leans more into action than pure survival horror, which won’t please every fan
- The shop and upgrade loop between chapters can feel a bit grindy
Resident Evil Village also pairs well with other genres on this list if you like switching things up, so check our upcoming Capcom and Square Enix games guide for what the studio has planned next.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Action RPGIf you’re after the best action RPGs on Switch, Tears of the Kingdom is the easy pick. It builds on Breath of the Wild with real-time combat, a huge open world split across sky, surface, and underground depths, and a building and fusing system that lets you create your own tools and weapons.
✓ Why We Love It
- The Fuse and Ultrahand abilities let you build vehicles, weapons, and contraptions on the fly
- Three layers of world (sky islands, Hyrule’s surface, and the Depths) triple the amount to explore
- Combat, puzzles, and exploration all reward creative thinking rather than one fixed solution
✕ Keep In Mind
- The amount of content can feel overwhelming if you try to 100% everything
- The physics-based building tools take a little time to fully click
Few games on Switch match the sheer freedom of Tears of the Kingdom, and it’s a great pick if you want an action RPG you can spend hundreds of hours in without running out of things to do.
Quick Comparison
| Game | Genre | Platform | Best For | Our Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| God of War Ragnarök | Action-Adventure | PS4, PS5 | Best overall pick | #1 Best |
| Ghost of Tsushima | Action-Adventure | PS4, PS5 | Fans of God of War | #2 Value |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Action RPG | PS4, PS5 | Best PS4 RPG | #3 New |
| Final Fantasy VII Remake | Action RPG | PS4, PS5, PC | Story-driven RPG fans | #4 |
| A Plague Tale: Requiem | Narrative Adventure | PS5 | Fans of The Last of Us | #5 |
| Solar Ash | Adventure | PS5 | Fans of Stray | #6 |
| Resident Evil Village | Survival Horror | PS4, PS5, PC | Best PS4 horror game | #7 |
| Tears of the Kingdom | Action RPG | Switch | Best Switch action RPG | #8 |