The best PlayStation games have long transcended their role as simple forms of entertainment. Instead, they’ve emerged as artistic and cultural touchpoints—reflections of the times they were released slot in and statements about the human experience. This is part of what makes the PlayStation brand so respected in the gaming world: its willingness to back games that take risks and aim higher.

Take Journey, for instance—a minimalist game that tells its story without a single word. The emotional arc of the anonymous traveler, paired with stunning visuals and a moving soundtrack, touched players around the world. It’s a title that proved you don’t need complex controls or dialogue to create meaning in a game.

Similarly, Death Stranding challenged conventional gaming norms by centering gameplay around traversal, solitude, and rebuilding connections in a broken world. Many critics saw it as a metaphor for isolation and human connection—concepts that became even more relevant after its release during the global pandemic. Its gameplay was divisive, but its artistic ambition was undeniable.

These are the kinds of games that elevate PlayStation’s library beyond typical shooters or sports titles. They invite players to think, to feel, and to interpret, often sparking discussion in the same way that great books or films do. That is why many of the best PlayStation games are considered not just successful titles, but landmark achievements in the history of video games.