“Space… the final frontier.” Ah yes… These are the rankings of the starship RetroDodo. And this is our list of the best PS4 space games of 2023.
There was a time where I would say I was absolutely obsessed with outer space.
I used to watch space documentary videos on Youtube for hours every single night.
Everything about space fascinates me and scares me. It’s literally the biggest unknown in our existence: A seemingly infinite space with endless possibility of life, form, riches, dangers.
And there are a large number of video game developers who have focused their creativity in the space genre… creating games of exploration and terror.
There’s actually a giant pool of games to choose from when creating this list, and most of them are quite enjoyable.
But somebody has to rank ’em. “To boldly go where no man has gone before!”
So I’m here to save the galaxy. Or at least.. to rank the best PS4 space games. An equally important task.
Jeez. I’m really stretching this space themed intro out, huh? Okay guys, for reals; here’s our list of the best PS4 space games!
Table of Contents
10. Observation (2019)
A mysterious space station, a missing crew, and a lone AI left to figure out what happened. Sounds about right.
Where the game’s premise may not necessarily be entirely new, the presentation is something unlike any other game on this list.
Observation is a sci-fi thriller at its core, and presents elements of puzzle solving and unique story telling.
The game’s director Jon McKellan had previously worked on another game to make an appearance on this list: Alien Isolation.
And he also said that he was inspired to make a space themed video game that explored alternative perspectives (like what it would be like to be the xenomorph in Alien Isolation).
Because the team had a smaller budget, they found creative ways to present a wonderful story in less conventional ways.
All of this lead to an experience that is quite intriguing from the beginning; the story and unique game play blends perfectly.
Observation is a small but powerful gaming experience that is not to be missed by fans of lo-fi sci-fi and of course… SPACE!
9. Elite Dangerous (2017)
Elite Dangerous is an absolutely massive game that takes place in an ultra realistic universe dictated by advanced systems. Really.. it’s just a pretty advanced game.
The initial release was on PC in 2014, and the subsequent Playstation 4 port came to us in 2017.
At it’s core, Elite Dangerous is an open world MMO with a persistent universe that is equally gigantic as it is beautiful and full of possibility.
The initial game focused on flight simulation. And the Elite Dangerous Odyssey expansion introduced “on foot” exploration of planets and first-person shooter like experiences.
There are 400 billion star systems to explore, each living in real time on the persistent server… meaning each planet and moon are in real time orbit, day and night cycles, and all events take place in real time for all players.
With ambitious and advanced space simulation and role playing type experiences like Star Citizen and Starfield on the horizon, it’s hard to believe that a game like Elite Dangerous has been around for over 8 years.
That is eight years of cultivation of a community and of the universe in the game living and breathing and changing.
Elite Dangerous is only getting bigger, better, more detailed, and more lived in. It’s one of those games that is best to get into as soon as possible.
It was on our list of the Best PS4 Flying Games, and it’s a game that’s been on our radars for a while now.
So if you are into gigantic space sim games and want to be a part of a massive online community of space explorers… you don’t have to wait… Elite Dangerous is a game that exists RIGHT NOW.
8. Outer Wilds (2019)
Outer Wilds, not to be confused with The Outer Worlds (appears later on this list) is a beautiful game that explores the concepts of space and time.
You are an unnamed explorer who is stuck in a 22 minute time loop, and you must spend your time exploring and uncovering secrets about what exactly is happening.
The game was started as a thesis project for developer Alex Beachum’s master’s degree in game development.
The project developed so well that it gained the support of Annapurna Interactive and became a full commercial release.
The final game has been praised by many, and it has won several awards since its release.
I have had this game recommended by many friends, and a few have even described it as one of their favorite games.
Which is always a good sign for a game that you must play.
Outer Wilds is full of mystery and beauty, and is a one of a kind gaming experience not to be missed.
Absolutely one of the best space games to make its appearance on the Playstation 4.
7. The Outer Worlds (2019)
The next game on our list of the best PS4 space games includes a little of everything that the rest of the games on this list include.
Great storytelling, great graphics, great game play; The Outer Worlds really is the full package.
The game was developed by Obsidian Entertainment, who previously brought us a game you would be familiar with: Fallout New Vegas.
That game was on our list of the 25 Best PS3 Games Of All Time, and The Outer Worlds is basically Obsidian’s next logical step when branching out and taking on their own IP.
Like Fallout, The Outer Worlds is a first-person shooter with an emphases on character development, interacting with the many residents of the world (or in this case, six planets and one moon), and diverse combat.
The game won several awards, has been highly praised by fans and critics, and far outsold the developer’s expectations. All of this resulting in a sequel getting the greenlight.
So we only have more Outer World goodness to come in the future, and we are ready for it!
The Outer Worlds is a very entertaining experience and has lots of fun dialogue and twists throughout. Perfect for fans of the game play of Fallout and the humor of Borderlands. Highly recommend.
6. No Man’s Sky (2016)
No Man’s Sky was once one of my most anticipated video games of all time.
But like another of my most anticipated video games, Cyberpunk 2077, No Man’s Sky suffered from overpromising and the launch day delivery was quite underwhelming.
We were promised an infinite space to explore, with procedurally generated planets, lifeforms, resources. So basically an endless todo list and a potentially infinite variety of planets to explore.
That all sounded like one of the best video game experiences of all time!
However, what we got was a pretty simple game with some resource management mechanics and a variety of planets that did not feel all that diverse.
And besides repairing your ship and collecting minerals.. it felt like there wasn’t a lot to do.
The main saving grace here is that No Man’s Sky has had over six years to make improvements on the original package.
It is widely considered one of the greatest come back stories in video game history. And we did include it on our list of the Best Open World PS4 Games.
Hello Games, the team behind No Man’s Sky, has introduced a ton of fixes and new features, making it feel much more like the game promised back in 2016.
No Man’s Sky now features true online multiplayer, full home base building, more advanced combat scenarios, diverse alien lifeforms and settlements, and just a ton of other small additions.
I think it is safe to say that if your feelings for the game were not spoiled by the first impressions, then No Man’s Sky could be considered one of the best space games to come to the PS4.
Therefore, I am objectively giving it a spot on this list.
5. Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)
Look, I don’t care what anybody says… Star Wars Battlefront II is one of the coolest space games to come to the PS4.
I know a lot of people hate on the game, and it’s definitely easy to see why they were not a fan of the first game (with its lack of story mode).
But the improvements made in the second game, including the awesome story experience make it one of my favorite games on the Playstation 4.
Admittedly, they hit some controversy by having micro-transactions present on launch.
But due to fan backlash, they quickly removed those features, and this became one of the prime examples of why micro-transactions are thought of as a “no-no” in the paid AAA game world.
(They will always be present for free-to-play games… that’s how they make their money back!)
I purchased Battlefront II on launch day, and had an absolute blast playing through it. Pun intended.
The game introduces a new original character, presents a fun story to experience, and the mechanics just feel incredible.
All that, and you also have a ton of our favorite Star Wars characters making their cameos, whether it’s a part of the main storyline or just a playable character in the multiplayer.
The game has mixed reviews, and has a score of 68 on Metacritic. But I’m gonna dare to say that a lot of people got it wrong with Battlefront II.
I think it’s a great game, and I’m giving it a high spot on our list of the best space games on the PlayStation 4.
4. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2021)
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy by Eidos-Montréal (Deus Ex, Thief, Shadow of the Tomb Raider) was a pleasant surprise, and a welcome addition to amazing space themed video games for the Playstation 4.
Rather than recycling character designs, story elements and voice acting from the existing film franchise, the team opted to create their own version of the familiar Marvel characters.
This felt like a smart choice when creating a new video game IP…
We’ve see a Marvel superhero game, and we’ve seen the Guardians of the Galaxy characters (in film). But we have never seen a Guardians of the Galaxy video game.
To take things in their own direction was a smart move.
This resulted in an enjoyable action video game packed full of twists and turns and of course… a bunch of aliens and outer space stuff.
What makes Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy so special on this list is the amount of beautiful and unique space environments you will encounter throughout the 20-ish hours of game play.
There’s a ton of details throughout, the characters are really well developed, the humor is on point, the performances are well acted, the music is great, the game looks great, mechanics are smooth…
Really, this is a great game in every aspect.
With the big miss that was the Avengers game in 2020, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy feels like an absolute slam dunk in comparison.
We highly recommend this game if you’re a fan of third person action type games or wanna see a bunch of beautiful space environments.
3. Doom (2016)
Doom is a 2016 reboot of the classic first person shooter from 1993.
Like that game, the setting of the reboot is a nightmarish blend of Mars and Hell.
And you are pitted against a horde of demons in fast paced action. It’s bullets and blood everywhere you look.. exactly what you might hope for in any good game.
The game was originally intended to be “Doom 4”. But with the direction of development, the team opted to consider it a full reset of the franchise.
It’s one of the most fast paced shooters out there, and it has a frenetic soundtrack to match the mood.
Everything is just chaos and insanity and always being on the edge of survival. It’s a heck of a good time.
Gunplay is perfect, graphics are top notch, level design diverse and interesting, sound design incredible. Insert any positive quality here. It’s got it all.
The followup, Doom Eternal, introduced a lot of new mechanics and characters to blast. But it doesn’t quite live up to the bar that the first entry in the reboot set. Still a good time. But the 2016 “Doom” is tough to beat.
So for that reason, we are giving Doom (2016) a spot on our list of the best space games on PS4.
It even appeared on our list of the Best Doom Games Of All Time (spoiler alert: it was number one!)
2. Destiny 2 (2017)
There’s clearly a lot of great shooters on the PS4, and a lot of good space shooters.
But one space shooter in particular is just phenomenal. And that game is Destiny 2.
Destiny 2 is the followup to the 2014 game featuring the same name (minus the “2” of course).
If you have played both games, it is probably safe to say that Destiny 2 is more like Destiny 1.2, as it feels like a continuation of the original game and does not necessarily bring anything new to the table.
Not that that is a bad thing, the original Destiny game is one of the most enjoyable first person shooter experiences on the Playstation.
The game’s developer, Bungie, was able to acquire the publishing rights back from Activision in 2018, and opted to go with a free-to-play model in 2019.
Game play mixes elements of first-person shooting, role playing, looting, story-based challenges, online events, and shared multiplayer environments.
So you may see yourself completing part of your story mode, and then running across a battle taking place between gigantic machines and other human players. Or you might go into town to purchase new weapons and see a group of online players having a dance party (really).
Subsequent updates give players new events and storylines to follow. The initial launch game (as well as content from Destiny #1), and the first two expansions are 100% free. There are additional expansions available to purchase, if you wish to experience all that Destiny 2 has to offer.
It’s a game that has a lot to offer players who crave content from their favorite video games. And with more expansions on the horizon, Destiny 2 will surely remain one of the best space games on the Playstation 4 (and 5) for a while!
1. Alien Isolation (2014)
The results are in, and Alien Isolation is officially the best PS4 space game of all time!
Space is scary. There’s literally nothing scarier in our existence.
So it’s no surprise that a lot of space video games focus on that particular quality of space.
It was on our list of the Best PS4 Horror Games AND Best PS3 Horror Games. And now it’s on our list of the best PS4 space games too!
Alien Isolation introduces Amanda Ripley, who is the daughter of the original Alien films lead, Ellen Ripley.
Your task is to investigate your mothers disappearance on a space station that clearly has a bunch of crazy stuff happening.
The game’s design focuses on a more retro space aesthetic, much like the original Alien film, and everything about it’s game play is about atmosphere and tension.
Lighting and sound design are all intended to get under your skin and make you feel icky.
And like another horror classic, Outlast, your primary offense and defense is stealth. You’re better off trying to hide in a locker than trying to fight an angry xenomorph head on.
The game has won a ton of awards, including many Game Of The Year nods, and is thought of as one of the best horror games of all time.
I tend to agree, and it’s clearly one of the best space games to come to the Playstation 4.
Equally as terrifying as it is just a well made video game. So I’m giving it the number one spot on our best PS4 space games list.
Anthony has been a video game lover ever since he can remember. He became a fulltime nomad in 2018, living throughout most of Asia. He focused his passion in retro gaming and began creating a game for the Game Boy Color while living in Nara, Japan during the 2020 pandemic. He is now in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where he spends most of his time gaming, going on long walks and meeting as many stray dogs as possible.
