Assassin games are some of the most beloved types of games out there. Most have a premise that is easy to execute and hard to mess up. They’re endlessly fun and usually present a mix between challenging combat and puzzles. And what better than to talk about the best assassin games that can be found on one of the most beloved gaming consoles, the PlayStation 4?
The PS4 is personally my favorite console. I’ve had one since they first came out and still use it constantly to this day. I have many fond memories, and many of them were spent playing assassin games, which allowed me to fall in love with the genre. A few of my memories are of playing the very games on this list.
And for such a beloved console, it’s guaranteed to have some of the best assassin games out there. Every game on this list is great, but out of the 15 I have hand-picked, there is bound to be a winner. None of these games are bad, not one, but when it comes to personal opinion, there has to be one over the other. Although I can guarantee you will enjoy the games on this list.
15. Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
Released in 2012 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Linux, Nintendo Switch)
Mark of the Ninja was a game that was pretty well-known back in 2012. It was first released for Xbox solely, but a few years later it was given a remastered version for the PlayStation 4. And I’m glad this game was spread to other consoles, giving more players a chance to experience it.
In Mark of the Ninja, you play as an unnamed ninja who wakes up after his clan has been attacked. You now must hunt down the group responsible, traveling through various levels and taking out different enemies. Mark of the Ninja is a stealth game first and foremost, and it encourages the player to hide in the shadows in its 2-D plane. The art style is fun and cartoony, though that only makes it hard to take Mark of the Ninja as seriously when compared to the other games on this list.
Choose this game if you like:
- Stealthy and tactical gameplay
- Fun and interesting art styles
- Using different tools and techniques
Fun factor score: 50/100
14. Styx: Shards of Darkness
Released in 2017 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Styx: Shards of Darkness is a small franchise I was delighted to discover. It has a concept very different, and might I say refreshing, from the other games on this list. However, like all games, this one is not without its flaws.
Styx takes place in a world of mythical beings and monsters, and goblins are creatures thought to be dumb and greedy. However, in this game you play as Styx, an intelligent and resourceful goblin turned assassin for hire. Styx’s abilities have turned him into quite the master assassin, and you must use those skills to travel through different, well-designed levels and take out an array of enemies. Although, it has to be said that the story isn’t that memorable and the farther you make it into the game the more you find reused level concepts.
Choose this game if you like:
- Fantastical worlds and settings
- Sneaking your way past enemies
- A combat system centered around assassination and magic
Fun factor score: 53/100
13. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Released in 2017 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, Amazon Luna)
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun spins the original assassin game concept and presents it in its own unique style. It’s similar to Mark of the Ninja in that way, but this one is more comparable to an RPG set in futile Japan.
In Shadow Tactics, you must play as a variety of different characters, including samurais and thieves, to traverse through Japanese-styled campaigns and take out a variety of foes. Each playable character has their own set of interesting abilities, and the player has a lot of customization to their gameplay, not to mention the amazing story. Although that gameplay can be a little infuriating at times with difficulty spikes and weird camera movements, Shadow Tactics is a game worth checking out.
Choose this game if you like:
- Emotionally touching storylines
- Historical, Japanese settings
- Great cast of playable characters
Fun factor score: 57/100
12. Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Released in 2017 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Middle Earth: Shadow of War is not only a great assassin game but a game any Lord of the Rings fan would love. It has aspects from both the genre and the beloved book series, which all come together for something truly unique.
Shadow of War picks up with an archer named Talion who shares his body with the supernatural elf lord Celebrimbor. The story starts after they craft a new ring of power then lose it, causing them to travel the world of middle earth. Shadow of War is fun with a nice blend of traditional and supernatural combat and monsters like Orcs to interact with, fight, and sometimes befriend. There are five different zones to travel through which all look unique, yet those differences are only surface level. The story is also sometimes drawn out and mundane.
Choose this game if you like:
- Revisiting classic Lord of the Ring settings
- An interesting supernatural and physical combat system
- Interacting with many mythical creatures
Fun factor rating: 60/100
11. For Honor
Released in 2017 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
For Honor is a game I was only able to play a small amount of. It’s a complex game with many layers that center around an amazing fighting system that makes any mundane story worth it.
Like I said, what makes For Honor so great is its complex fighting system with many layers of attacks, blocks, parries, and so much more. Combat is very much engaging with its third-person perspective. And the player gets to customize their combat by being able to choose between different factions such as Samurais and Vikings, which all have their own unique fighting style. The story itself in For Honor is very bland, as you can tell the developers spent the brunt of their time on combat and worldbuilding. However, the combat system alone makes this game great.
Choose this game if you like:
- Customizing your game by choosing between a variety of warriors
- Learning the arts of many different styles of combat
- Engaging in truly amazing forms of fighting
Fun factor score: 63/100
10. Sniper Elite 4
Released in 2017 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Sniper Elite 4 is another game I was only able to play a little bit of, but I wish I could have seen more of this wonder. It’s a game that takes the known sniper concept but expands upon it, creating more of an open world, sandbox experience.
In this game, you play as an expert sniper who travels to eight different locations and maps to take down Nazi threats. If you hate Nazis, you’ll like this game. Each level is about an hour long, but they don’t drag on, as you’re kept on your toes the entire time. You must use your intelligence and tactical thinking to take down enemies, which means creativity is encouraged. There are also multiplayer modes so you can play with friends. The only miss is that there isn’t much variety with weapons to upgrade to.
Choose this game if you like:
- Exploring vast, expansive campaigns during every level
- Engaging in sniper combat that has never been seen before
- Playing with friends in co-op missions
Fun factor score: 65/100
9. Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
Released in 2017 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider is a sequel to the beloved Dishonored 2. Though not very anticipated, Death of the Outsider is a great ending to the story told throughout the first two games.
Death of the Outsider takes place after the events of Dishonored 2 and follows Billie Lurke, a fan-favorite character from the main game, who goes on a mission to find an item that can kill the Outsider. The story isn’t anything special, as some of the tropes are a bit cliché, but it’s a nice closing to the Dishonored franchise. The new supernatural abilities that Billie Lurke possess are fun with major differences from the characters in the game before it. This game also takes place in the beautiful Karnaca, which is a plus in my book.
Choose this game if you like:
- Engaging in supernatural assassin combat
- Facing a wide variety of targets to take down
- Finishing the Dishonored story
Fun factor score: 70/100
8. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Released in 2015 (PC, PlayStation 3, and 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
Metal Gear Solid is a very beloved franchise with many titles and iconic characters. And this game, The Phantom Pain is a great addition to this epic series.
You play as the iconic Mercenary Punished “Venom” Snake who ventures into Soviet-occupied Afghan territory in the year 1984. Although the story isn’t as good as the other games, its open world concept and vast array of abilities makes this game great. You’re free to travel anywhere and have an almost sandbox freedom to complete the levels. You have almost any type of tool or weapon you can think of at your disposal, but that can leave the player overwhelmed with so many things they are expected to master. However, this is one of the best Metal Gear Solid games out there.
Choose this game if you like:
- Open-world settings that are free to explore
- Innovative, photo-realistic graphics
- Using a wide variety of tools and weapons
Fun factor score: 73/100
7. Hitman 2016
Released in 2016 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux)
Hitman 2016 is a soft reboot to a beloved 20-year franchise, and the first entry of the “World of Assassination” trilogy. Hitman 2016 is a game I have a soft spot for, and I believe it is one of the best assassin games out there.
In Hitman, you play as the trained assassin Agent 47, a hitman who goes all around the world to complete various contracts and take out a variety of targets. In each mission, the player is left to their own devices in a sandbox setting. There are linear paths to follow to make the mission easier, yet those are merely suggestions. The best part of Hitman is truly how creative you can be and how you can replay a level repeatedly and get different results. But I don’t believe this game is as good as the rest on this list.
Choose this game if you like:
- Masterful assassination gameplay
- A sandbox experience open to interpretation
- Many individual stories to be told
Fun factor score: 75/100
6. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
Released in 2018 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia)
Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey is a worthy addition to the beloved and epic Assassin’s Creed franchise. And like all AC games, Odyssey is set in a beautifully vast world, this time in a rich Greek setting.
Odyssey is the first AC game to be released after the soft reboot of the series that was Origins. In this game, you play as either Alexios or Kassandra, two siblings who were Spartans turned mercenaries in a beautiful ancient-Greek setting during the horrors of the Peloponnesian War. Each character is flexible, and you can have them act however you want to, which makes way for some interesting side missions and story segments. There’s also a naval combat system like Black Flag, yet it’s never been this good.
Choose this game if you like:
- Engaging in long, epic battles
- Experience the beautiful world of Ancient Greece
- Customizing your game and story, resulting in multiple endings
Fun factor score: 77/100
5. Ghost of Tsushima
Released in 2020 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5)
Ghost of Tsushima is a game that was released pretty recently and takes many of the beloved elements from other franchises such as Assassin’s Creed. It takes the common concept of an assassin samurai but creates something truly unique and interesting.
With an Assassin’s Creed-esque premise and a huge, feudal Japan world to explore, Ghost of Tsushima is an amazing game. You play as Jinn Sakai, a samurai who is bent on breaking his uncle out of captivity, but by the time this touching story ends, you’re left wanting more. The world is beautiful, but combat is challenging but great. You will have to time the perfect attack or dodge and even small mistakes may cost you your life, but that only incentivizes the player to hone their skills.
Choose this game if you like:
- Meeting a variety of believable characters
- A fresh samurai assassin premise
- A challenging combat system
Fun factor score: 80/100
4. Dishonored 2
Released in 2016 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Dishonored 2 is a game loved by fans for its creativity and innovation. It’s something familiar yet new, with a wonderful assassin premise and a story that will leave you wanting more. Yet, if you do want more out of the story, that’s what Death of the Outsider is for.
Dishonored 2 starts 15 years after the first game during a remembrance ceremony for the empress. During the ceremony, a witch named Delilah Copperspoon shows up claiming she has a right to the throne and orders her men to attack, which forces the player to choose between playing as Emily Kaldwin or her father Corvo Attano. Now, the player must use their supernatural skills and abilities to take down the wicked witch. This game is great for its beautiful setting and engaging story, not to mention the awesome combat system.
Choose this game if you like:
- Playing with believable and highly skilled assassins
- Advanced supernatural powers
- Exploring a vast and creative world
Fun factor score: 85/100
3. Hitman 3
Released in 2021 (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia)
Hitman 3 is a game I feel I could go on forever about. It’s the latest addition to the Hitman franchise and the epic ending to the “World of Assassination” trilogy. I just adore this game and the franchise as a whole.
Hitman 3 is the culmination of a 20 year-long franchise that has more or less soared since the first installment back in 2000. Hitman 3 is one of the best assassin games out there, with a great story of assassins and deception, many characters to meet, and a true sandbox experience. You can be creative with this game, and more so than ever with advanced graphics and gameplay. I don’t think there’s such a free assassin experience out there like Hitman 3.
Choose this game if you like:
- Travelling the world by visiting a variety of real-world cities
- Become a master assassin by placing yourself in the shoes of Agent 47
- Playing through a true sandbox experience
Fun factor score: 90/100
2. Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag
Released in 2013 (PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Google Stadia)
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag is regarded as one of the best Assassin’s Creed games of all time, and I can wholeheartedly say that I agree. With believable characters, an amazing world, and an ever-fun ship to steer, Black Flag is one of the best assassin games out there.
You play as a pirate turned assassin named Edward Kenway as he traverses the Caribbean. You can visit many places in this game, mostly through the use of the new ship navigation and combat system. The story centers around Kenway as he is caught in the middle of the eternal struggle between assassins and templars, sprouting into an epic and emotional conflict. Black Flag has a great combat system and is all around an amazing game.
Choose this game if you like:
- Becoming a charismatic pirate assassin
- Exploring a beautiful open world
- Playing through a realistic pirate storyline
Fun factor score: 95/100
1. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Released in 2019 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia)
I can go on about how great I think this game is, but I don’t think Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice needs much of an introduction. It was titled IGN’s “best action game” of 2019 and for great reason, because Sekiro is an amazing game with many premises that feel very familiar yet new and inspired.
In Sekiro, you play as Wolf, a Shinobi traveling through a world of monstrous creatures and demons. The story is dark and touching, as Wolf travels to find the samurai clan that once kidnapped him, yet the combat system is what this game is known for. You must be strategic but also know how to act on your feet, with a challenging lock-on system. And the bosses are interesting and well designed, confronting the player with an unforgettable fight.
Choose this game if you like:
- An amazing and new combat system
- Battling a variety of monsters and demons
- Engaging in challenging fights
Fun factor score: 100/100
There are a lot of great assassin games out there to choose from. There are a lot more that cannot be found on the PlayStation 4, but I don’t think you can get much better than the games listed here.
