Despite much of the PS4’s success coming from its fantastic selection of exclusive titles, Sony appears to have softened its stance on exclusivity a little in recent years. Plenty of once-exclusive titles have made their way over to Windows, with many more PC ports rumored to be coming soon.
10 Xbox Exclusives Fans Want To See Come To PC
With many Xbox games eventually coming to PCs thanks to Microsoft, there are some titles that are confusingly missing from that lineup.
Whispers of a Bloodborne PC release have been circulating for what feels like an eternity now. It remains to be seen whether these rumors will ever come to fruition, but, even if they don’t, there are plenty of other former PlayStation exclusives that can now be played on PC.
Updated February 13, 2024, by Tom Bowen: 2023 was a huge year for PC gamers, with some of the biggest gaming IPs around making their way over to the platform. Throughout the year, top-tier titles like The Last of Us Part 1, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Returnal all made the leap from console to home computer, with more big releases expected to follow before 2024 comes to an end. Horizon Forbidden West will be coming to Steam in March and The Last of Us Part 2 seems destined to follow at some point before the year is out. Even without these two heavy hitters, though, there are already plenty of former PlayStation exclusives that can now be played on PC.
1 Returnal
PC Metacritic Rating: 86 | PS5 Metacritic Rating: 86
Taking place on the hostile alien planet of Atropos, Returnal is a futuristic sci-fi game from the team over at Housemarque. It was released for the PlayStation 5 in April of 2021 and proved to be a huge hit with both players and critics alike; going on to beat off strong competition from the likes of Deathloop and It Takes Two to pick up the Best Game award at that year’s BAFTAs.
Interestingly, the completion rate for Returnal is actually pretty low when compared to some of the other big PlayStation exclusives, but this is more down to the game’s high difficulty and roguelike elements than anything else. The gameplay loop is rock solid, though, and should appeal to those who are fans of the genre as well as anybody who enjoys games that use horror elements and desolate settings to evoke feelings of fear and isolation within their players.
Returnal
- Released
- April 30, 2021
- Metascore
- 86
2 Helldivers
PC Metacritic Rating: 83 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 81
Both Helldivers and its 2024 sequel are PlayStation exclusives. However, while the latter was released simultaneously for PS5 and PC, the original game was only available on PlayStation consoles for the first nine months following its release, with the PC port of Helldivers not arriving until December of 2015.
Unlike its sequel, which takes the form of a third-person shooter, Helldivers uses a top-down camera angle, thus offering up a very different experience than most other shooters on the market. It also supports couch co-op, which is noticeably absent from Helldivers 2. They’re both great games in their own right though and can be a real blast when played with the right people.
Helldivers
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios AB
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Released
- March 3, 2015
- Metascore
- 83
3 The Last of Us
PC Metacritic Rating: 59 | PS5 Metacritic Rating: 89
When it comes to the best PlayStation exclusives, they really don’t come much bigger than The Last of Us. The Naughty Dog title is one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time. In addition to the hugely successful TV show adaptation from HBO, the game has also sold millions of copies and been released across three different console generations.
It was the last of these releases, The Last of Us Part 1, which was made available on Steam, ensuring that PC players got the definitive version of the game. The 2022 title was remade from the ground up, helping to bring the game’s fantastic story to a whole new generation of players. Many will now be wondering when The Last of Us Part 2 will make its way to PC.
The Last of Us Part I
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Released
- September 2, 2022
- Metascore
- 88
4 Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
PC Metacritic Rating: 86 | PS5 Metacritic Rating: 89
It took a surprisingly long time for Final Fantasy 7 Remake to make its way to PC, with the game eventually doing so some eighteen months on from its initial PS4 release. Given that just about every other Final Fantasy game is available on PC, a Windows port always did seem likely, but some had begun to wonder after the distinct lack of news in those first 12 months.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is the first of a trilogy of games reimagining the story of the 1997 classic for the original PlayStation. Though the characters and many of the main story beats remain the same, there are some key differences, with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and the last of the three games each promising to further diverge from the original narrative.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
- Released
- June 10, 2021
- Metascore
- 89
5 Marvel’s Spider-Man
PC Metacritic Rating: 87 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 87
Sony’s acquisition of the rights to Marvel’s Spider-Man IP has proven to be a stroke of genius, with the many movies and games released over the past decade or so having netted the company hundreds of millions of dollars. A significant portion of that can be attributed to Marvel’s Spider-Man, which many consider to be one of the best superhero games ever made.
The title started life as a PS4 exclusive, with a remastered version of the game later being made available with deluxe editions of Spider-Man: Miles Morales. It was this version of the game that was released for Windows in August of 2022, bringing with it incredible ray-tracing support and a host of other improvements.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Released
- November 12, 2020
- Metascore
- 87
6 Spider-Man: Miles Morales
PC Metacritic Rating: 88 | PS5 Metacritic Rating: 85
It didn’t take too long after the PC release of Marvel’s Spider-Man for Spider-Man: Miles Morales to follow suit. In fact, just three months separated the two releases, further emphasizing the noticeable shift in Sony’s strategy when it comes to the Japanese giant releasing PlayStation-exclusive titles on PC.
For those unaware, Spider-Man: Miles Morales effectively serves as a standalone expansion, introducing players to a brand-new hero without straying from the familiar streets of New York City. The game also features its own story as well as a wide range of collectibles, making it a great option for fans of the original title.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Released
- November 12, 2020
- Metascore
- 85
7 Persona 5 Royal
PC Metacritic Rating: 95 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 95
Following the Windows release of Persona 4 Golden in mid-2020, many felt that it was only a matter of time until the series’ fifth installment followed suit and made its way onto PC. That it took more than two years for this to happen was actually a little bit surprising, though there is that old saying about good things coming to those who wait.
Rather than the regular edition of the game, PC players were treated to Persona 5 Royal: an expended version with considerably more content for players to sink their teeth into. The game was also released on Xbox and Nintendo consoles at the same time, seemingly bringing an end to the long-running series’ long-standing PlayStation exclusivity once and for all.
Persona 5 Royal
- Developer(s)
- Atlus , P-Studio
- Released
- March 31, 2020
- Metascore
- 95
8 Sackboy: A Big Adventure
PC Metacritic Rating: 81 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 83
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a LittleBigPlanet spin-off game and was one of the launch titles for the PlayStation 5 in North America. Like most of its predecessors and the series from which it spun off of, the game was well-received by both players and critics and brought a touch of whimsy to an otherwise fairly serious launch lineup.
Though not quite on the same level as some of the other great former PlayStation exclusives that have found their way onto PC, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is still a lot of fun to play. The game features fantastic level design and even supports local co-op multiplayer, making it a great game to play both solo and with friends.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
- Released
- November 12, 2020
- Metascore
- 79
9 God of War
PC Metacritic Rating: 93 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 94
With more than 20 million sales throughout its lifetime, Kratos’ 2018 outing is not only the most successful God of War game to date but also the best-selling game on the PS4. With all this in mind, for the mighty Spartan to finally make his way to PC after more than a decade and a half of PlayStation exclusivity really is a massive deal and a huge win for PC gaming in general.
Though the game had already received a PS5 patch to bring it a little closer to modern standards, Sony’s latest console just cannot compete with a high-end gaming rig. Of course, this improved visual fidelity does come at a ridiculously high premium (particularly with the ongoing graphics card shortages), but, for those looking for the definitive way to experience the game, the PC port just cannot be beaten.
God of War (2018)
- Released
- April 20, 2018
- Metascore
- 94
10 Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
PC Metacritic Rating: 87 | PS5 Metacritic Rating: 87
God of War may be the best-selling PS4 game of all time, but Naughty Dog’s cinematic masterpiece Uncharted 4 really isn’t too far behind. It’s the second-highest seller on the platform and is one of two titles that make up the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, which was announced for PC just a few months after Kratos and Atreus’ Norse mythology-inspired adventure.
Though Uncharted 4 will quite rightly get the lion’s share of attention, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is far from just filler and undoubtedly adds to the collection’s value. Whether or not the first three Uncharted games will eventually follow remains to be seen, but, for fans of beautifully rendered action-adventure games with fantastic narratives, this collection should more than suffice for the time being.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
- Publisher(s)
- PlayStation Studios , Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Released
- January 28, 2022
- Metascore
- 87
11 Death Stranding
PC Metacritic Rating: 85 | PS5 Metacritic Rating: 85
It didn’t take long for Sony to swoop in following Hideo Kojima’s sudden and shocking split with Konami. The influential Japanese developer was given a huge budget and the creative freedom to create the singular and somewhat divisive experience that is Death Stranding.
13 Open-World Games As Desolate As Death Stranding
Fans of the desolate, quiet world of Death Stranding might enjoy other titles with similar worlds. Here are some of the best titles the game echoes.
Though the game started life as a PlayStation 4 exclusive, it took less than 12 months for the game to make its way to PC. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Death Stranding Director’s Cut later followed suit, with the updated version of the game coming to Windows in March of 2020.
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
- Metascore
- 85
12 Journey
PC Metacritic Rating: N/A | PS3 Metacritic Rating: 92
Journey is a charming little adventure game that came about following a collaboration between Thatgamecompany and Sony’s Santa Monica studio. The game was a big hit with critics despite its modest budget, with both the PS3 and PS4 versions boasting a 92 average rating on Metacritic.
The title was first released for the PlayStation 3 in early 2012 and was then ported to the console’s successor some three years later. It took another four years for the game to come to Windows, however, with PC players unable to get their hands on it until June of 2019.
Journey
- Released
- March 13, 2012
- Metascore
- 92
13 Heavy Rain
PC Metacritic Rating: 75 | PS3 Metacritic Rating: 87
David Cage games are a bit like Marmite, with some players really turned off by their narrative-heavy approach. Love them or hate them though, it’s difficult to argue that they don’t stand out. Heavy Rain was particularly eye-catching, thanks to its fantastic visuals and singular approach to storytelling.
Like many of Quantic Dream’s other post-Fahrenheit titles, the game started life as a PS3 exclusive in 2010 before later making its way to Sony’s fourth home console in 2016. Three years later, the game was ported to PC, although neither the Windows port nor the PS4 version was quite as well-received as the original release.
Heavy Rain
- Released
- February 23, 2010
- Metascore
- 87
14 Days Gone
PC Metacritic Rating: 76 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 71
That more than 130 thousand people took the time to sign a petition urging Sony to greenlight a Days Gone sequel should give a fairly decent idea of the game’s popularity. Bend Studio’s post-apocalyptic survival horror title was a big hit with both players and critics alike when it was released for the PS4 in 2019, with millions of copies sold.
8 PS4 Games That Deserve A Sequel
These PS4 games are so good that any gaming fan would be clambering to buy their sequels.
Despite the game’s impressive sales figures, however, a once-planned sequel is thought to have been canceled. This didn’t stop Sony from bringing the game to PC in 2021 though, where it once again performed strongly both critically and commercially.
Days Gone
- Released
- April 26, 2019
- Metascore
- 71
15 Persona 4 Golden
PC Metacritic Rating: 87 | PlayStation Vita Metacritic Rating: 93
Atlus’ Persona series has been synonymous with PlayStation consoles ever since its debut in 1996. Thanks to the hugely successful Persona 5 though, that’s slowly starting to change, as evidenced by the Windows release of Persona 4 Golden in June of 2020.
Having started life as a PS2 game in 2008, Persona 4, like many of the series’ mainline entries, was ported to the PlayStation Vita in 2012. Eight years later, the Golden edition made its way to PC and was followed by Persona 5 Strikers less than one year later.
Persona 4 Golden
- Released
- December 9, 2008
- Metascore
- 93
16 Disgaea
PC Metacritic Rating: N/A | PS4 Metacritic Rating: N/A
Like the Persona games, NIS’ long-running RPG franchise Disgaea has strong links to the PlayStation brand. The series’ first five mainline entries debuted exclusively on Sony’s machines, although the most recent one failed to be released on the PS4 out of Japan. It’s not on PC either yet, though history suggests that it will be at some point.
With the exception of Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice, all of the earlier Disgaea games leading up to Disgaea 6 have now been ported to PC. What’s more, these complete editions are often vastly superior to their console counterparts, thanks in no small part to their additional content and improved visuals.
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny
- Developer(s)
- Nippon Ichi Software
- Released
- June 29, 2021
- Metascore
- 68
17 Horizon Zero Dawn
PC Metacritic Rating: 84 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 89
Many consider Horizon Zero Dawn to be the very best of Sony’s PS4 exclusives and though Kratos and Peter Parker may have something to say about that, Aloy certainly makes a compelling argument throughout her debut outing. For a new IP, it’s an incredibly impressive title.
The 20 Best Post-Apocalyptic Games of All Time, Ranked
A post-apocalyptic setting adds a certain uniqueness to a game. These titles left an everlasting impression on gamers.
For this reason, it came as quite a big surprise when it was revealed that the game would be coming to PC in 2020. In September of 2023, it was announced that the game’s sequel, which was released for the PS5 in early 2022, will be making its way to Windows at the beginning of the following year. PC players will be able to pick up the complete edition, which includes the Burning Shores DLC expansion.
Horizon: Zero Dawn
- Released
- February 28, 2017
- Metascore
- 89
18 Nioh 2
PC Metacritic Rating: 86 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 85
Team Ninja’s Nioh games are up there with some of the very best Soulslikes around and provide a level of challenge that not every player will be able to rise to. This is perhaps a big part of what makes them so popular, as although difficult, they can also be incredibly rewarding as well.
Though exclusive to the PS4 on console, the first Nioh game actually received a PC port at launch. The sequel, however, didn’t become available on PC until just shy of one year after its PS4 release. On the same day that Nioh 2 came to Windows, both games received PS5 patches.
Nioh 2
- Publisher(s)
- Koei Tecmo , Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Released
- March 13, 2020
- Metascore
- 85
19 Beyond: Two Souls
PC Metacritic Rating: 76 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 72
There’s definitely a lot to love about Beyond: Two Souls, although it didn’t have quite as big an impact on the industry as some of Quantic Dream’s other interactive titles. It does feature some standout performances from actors Elliot Page and Willem Dafoe though as well as some of the best motion capture of the PS3 era.
The game was released for the system in late 2013 and came to the PS4 a little over two years later. It was available as a standalone title or as part of the Quantic Dream Collection together with Heavy Rain. It would not be until 2019 that the game got its PC release, however, arriving one month on from the Windows port of Heavy Rain.
Beyond: Two Souls
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Released
- October 8, 2013
- Metascore
- 70
20 Detroit: Become Human
PC Metacritic Rating: 80 | PS4 Metacritic Rating: 78
Building on the success of his earlier titles, Detroit: Become Human is arguably the best David Cage game released so far. It looks fantastic, features a gripping story, and offers a level of interactivity and choice that very few video games are able to match.
Like other recent Quantic Dream titles, the game started life as a PlayStation exclusive, releasing for the PS4 in May of 2018. It didn’t remain an exclusive for long though, with a PC port arriving just over 18 months later. Though reviews were mixed, the game has won numerous awards and, with over 6 million sales, is the best-selling David Cage game to date.
Detroit: Become Human
- Released
- May 25, 2018
- Metascore
- 78