The 22 Best PS4 Games for Teens

Buying games for the teenagers in your life can be one of the more challenging tasks in your lifespan (getting them to wash the dishes is an even taller task, but that's a conversation for another time). Now if they happen to own a PS4 and have entrusted you with building out their games catalog for the holidays and beyond, we're here to offer you some much-needed assistance. Sony's fourth mainline home console plays host to some of the greatest action-adventure, RPGs, fighting, sports, etc. games on the planet, so there are plenty of quality titles to obtain and give to the game-fueled teenager in your life. Now join us as we recommended you guys and gals 22 of the best PS4 games for teens that'll make you and them both smile on Christmas morning.

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• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Action-Adventure

If the teenager in your life has quite the comic book addiction when it comes to the Marvel Universe, chances are they have a lot of love and respect for everyone's favorite neighborhood web crawler. Spider-Man got his greatest game to date thanks to this AAA Insomniac Games-developed adventure that lets players swing at the highest of heights through New York City. As Peter Parker's iconic alter-ego, players will be tasked with taking on his Rogues Gallery during fierce boss encounters, stopping in-progress crimes all over the city, and completing varied open-world tasks that will make anyone feel heroic.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Action-Adventure

After the teen in your life completes the first game on this list, make sure to steer them toward this spinoff expansion of sorts. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales shines the spotlight on the electricity-infused Miles Morales take on the "Web Crawler," who must defend parts of NYC while Peter Parker is off handling some international duties. This game is actually a bit more fun than Peter's journey since Miles' powers feel even better to use during combat and exploration - dashing through the air while pulling off boosted lightning leaps and tackling your foes with "shocking" precision feels amazing.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Action-Adventure

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy takes the ragtag team your teen probably knows most from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This third-person action-adventure gives players the opportunity to lead Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Drax the Destroyer as the charismatic captain Peter Quill aka "Star-Lord." This game delivers an equally emotional and hilarious space trek that breaks down the full intricacies of each Guardian. And once it's time to take down some alien menaces, you'll get to step into the leader position once again as you shoot off your laser pistols while commanding your crew members to pull off some flashy attacks of their own.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Action-Adventure

Kena: Bridge of Spirits will have your teen thinking they're literally playing a Pixar movie. The art style of this game is clearly inspired by those wonderfully animated films and features the type of storytelling that goes hand in hand with them as well. Players take control of Kena, who's a spirit guide that's looking to save an abandoned village full of wayward souls and locate the sacred Mountain Shrine. Kena will have to contend with all sorts of foes with her magical staff and also call on the assistance of those extra cute Rot guardians. Keep in mind this game is a tough one, so make sure the teen you're getting this game for is prepared for it.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Role-Playing Game

On the RPG genre front, this remake of one of the most memorable Final Fantasy series entries is most definitely one of the best PS4 games for teens. Final Fantasy VII Remake covers the first half of the epic crusade Cloud Strife, Barret Wallace, Tifa Lockhart, and Aerith Gainsborough embarks on against the evil corporation known as the Shinra Electric Power Company. And during that epic journey, you'll engage in action-packed battles that rely on the usage of weapons, elemental magic, powerful abilities, and Summons. The teen in your life that ends up playing this one will get sucked into the intriguing storyline and get locked in for the next parts of the remake series.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Skateboarding

Tony Hawk is skateboarding royalty. And if the teen you're buying PS4 games for is infatuated with that extreme sport, then make sure you gift them with this remastered compilation of the first two Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games. What's on offer here is an awesome time capsule into the late 90s and early 00s that features the type of music, famous shredders, and wild skate parks the Tony Hawk games are known for. Pulling off sick trick combos and completing all sorts of outlandish objectives all the while will definitely make it hard to pull your teen away from this classic skateboarding simulator.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Action Role-Playing Game

Horizon Zero Dawn throws players into a vast post-apocalyptic open world that's full of robotic dinosaurs, warring tribes, and different biomes to explore every nook & cranny of. As the young bow & arrow wielder known as Aloy, players get to navigate the wilds and engage in human vs. robotic animal encounters that will push them to their absolute limit. This game certainly gets the nod for one of the best PS4 games for teens thanks to its infinitely rewarding gameplay that's jam-packed with things to discover. We're sure most teens would love to see some robo-dinos.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Social Simulation

The Sims has been illustrious among the young and old crowd that adores them some life simulation games. The fourth main installment in the series offers the most diverse and enriching entry to date, which will definitely keep your teen busy for hours on end when you get it for them. The Sims 4's base content is strong enough as is - creating your own "Sims," tending to their many needs, completing all sorts of jobs to earn Simoleons, etc. are among the biggest pieces of content this game offers. But the constant updates that have arrived along the way, which include constructing one's own cottage, owning a few cats/dogs, and even attending high school, give players a whole lot more to stay busy with.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Fighting

Teens that prefer Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman over their Marvel Comics rivals can indulge in this dream DC Comics fighting game. Injustice 2 is much preferable by comic book and Mortal Kombat fanatics thanks to its roster full of DC and even non-DC characters going blow for blow during destructive encounters. This game got its spot here on this collection of the best PS4 games for teens thanks to its wide array of character customization options and astounding superpowered battles that feature Green Lantern, Mortal Kombat's Raiden, and all four members of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Fighting

Now if the teen you're looking to reward some PS4 games with is a huge manga/anime devotee, he or she probably has an affinity for Naruto. The Ultimate Ninja Storm games have produced the best interpretation of the ninjitsu-powered clashes the anime have been popularized by. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto is the final chapter in the anime fighting game franchise and it goes out with a bang. Teenage Naruto fans will have all the fun in the world as they play out the final saga of the show and the entirety of Boruto: Naruto the Movie. You might wanna hop in for some multiplayer battles with them too and give the game's huge roster a go. Prepare to have your mind blown by all those Ultimate Jutsu moves and Awakenings!

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Battle Royale, First-Person Shooter

So what's all the rage these days when it comes to first-person, battle royale shooters? It's clearly Apex Legends, the team-based competitive multiplayer experience that pits teams of three Legends against each other and has them do battle on a massive playspace that continues to expand over time. Each Legend comes with its own special abilities that can be used in conjunction with all the different firearms that players can dominate each enemy encounter with. Apex Legends is free-to-play, offers constant content updates, steadily improves its gameplay mechanics, and features welcome character balance adjustments to remain at its best.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: First-Person Shooter

The hero shooter sub-genre truly hit a high point when the first Overwatch took over the competitive multiplayer scene. Now a new and improved rendition of Blizard Entertainment's charismatic first-person shooter has arrived with new Heroes, new maps, and new modes to become addicted to. Overwatch 2 is free-to-play, so the teens you know that are enamored with team-based shooters can hop into this one without having to spend a single dime. 5v5 PvP gameplay erupts here across signature modes such as Push and Control, plus genre staples such as Capture The Flag and Team Deathmatch.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Battle Royale, Third-Person Shooter

Any recommendation list for the best PS4 games for teens will surely have to mention Epic Game's blockbuster battle royale staple. Fortnite has grown into the most recognizable game in the world thanks to major updates that have improved upon its clever battle royale mechanics, introduced skins tied to characters from all forms of media, and put on universe-wide events that bring players together for monumental occurrences. In its current state, Fortnite offers its traditional building mode and one without it that focuses on running & gunning. All the teens in the world are busy trying to earn new skins in this one. And one of those teens most likely includes the one you know.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Action-Adventure

Nathan Drake should be a name every teenage PS4 owner should know before they graduate to the PS5. Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection remasters the first three international treasure-hunting adventures Nathan embarks on and puts them all into a package worth delving into. All three games feature explosive moments, intense gunfights, and wild car/motorcycle chases that erupt into some of the most memorable setpieces in gaming history. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is held up as one of the greatest games of all time - thankfully, it's here in its best graphical presentation to date and is still worth playing today.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Fighting

If you've ever caught the teen in your life watching some fighting game tournament action and overheard them expressing their interest in playing that genre, we suggest this pick. Guilty Gear -Strive- is the latest entry in the long-running anime-stylized and rock & roll-infused fighting game series. Its roster consists of wild weapons wielders that pull off some of the flashiest specials and super moves you'll ever see. Sol Badguy burns his foes into oblivion, Ky Kiske strikes fast with lightning, Millia Rage stabs her foes with her sharp hair, etc. Guilty Gear -Strive- is the type of fighting game that's fun at a beginner level and even more engrossing when whoever's playing it fully masters its mechanics.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Game Creation

Dreams is such a unique case - it not only offers a traditional gameplay experience in the form of a memorable campaign, but it also offers a whole suite of creative tools that allow players to craft their very own gaming experiences. It stands out as one of the best PS4 games for teens thanks to its ability to let young players tap into their creative genes and allow them to run wild with clever concepts in playable form. There's an unlimited serving of games to enjoy online from Dreams' thriving creator community, which makes this pick the type of gaming gift that keeps on giving.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Fighting

The next fighter we have on our list of the best PS4 games for teens delves into the 3D arena. Tekken's seventh mainline entry is its biggest and best to date - the game's overall package is packed to the brim with awesome characters, a full-fledged story mode, swaggy character customization options, and the silly yet delightful Ultimate Tekken Bowl mode. Learning how to properly maneuver around the game's open 3D spaces and becoming a pro at landing air combos is just the start of how to get good at Tekken 7 - eventually, a well-trained teenage Kyu-ranked player will become a Tekken God Prime who just knows when to activate a Rage Art and Power Crush.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Fighting

In the case of this 3D fighter, the warriors don't throw hands here - they clash with their legendary weapon of choice. Soulcalibur VI retains the fast-paced duels of past series entries while adding new mechanics that make each battle a joy to play and watch. Reversal Edge gets players out of a bad situation and activates a cool rock-paper-scissors situation that plays out in slow motion, while Soul Charge enhances each character to its max potential. Locking into bladed skirmishes with the likes of The Witcher's Geralt of Rivia, Nier: Automata's 2B, and Samurai Shodown's Haohmaru never gets old.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Fighting

Now say the teen you're getting PS4 games for is an avid follower of the Super Saiyan adventures Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan embark on. If that's actually the case, go ahead and do them a favor by getting them the greatest Dragon Ball fighting game of all time. Dragon Ball FighterZ is a Marvel vs. Capcom-inspired team fighter that lets players build teams of three fighters for some ferocious battles. The massive energy beam attacks and sick air combos that erupt during this game's classes look, sound, and feel astonishing. This anime fighter is definitely one of the very best.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Action Role-Playing Game

Linking up with three fellow monster hunters that are equipped with massive weapons that seem implausible to wield in real life is so damn fun. That's the main premise of this next pick on this lineup of the best PS4 games for teens, especially those who enjoy online co-op. Monster Hunter: World is the most streamlined version of the series to date, which makes it more approachable for curious onlookers. Players will explore vast biomes and go on epic treks in search of enormous beasts that will definitely give them the fight of their lives. The base game and the Iceborne expansion offer a ton of weapons/armor to build, threatening creatures to take on, and so much fun to be had.

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Beat 'Em Up

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles might be a super old IP, but it still grabs the attention of today's young generation. And on the game front, this retro brawler is a must-play. TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is a natural evolution of the classic formula put forward by Turtles in Time as it focuses on fast-paced action and the most rewarding form of local/online co-op gameplay. Alongside the four famous turtles, the playable roster also showcases Master Splinter, April O'Neil, and even Casey Jones. The game's multitude of Easter Eggs and cameos from the original cartoon present it as a love letter to 80s & 90s babies that grew up with the "turtles in a half-shell." Get a bunch of 80s babies and teens together for some couch co-op on this one!

• Rated T for Teen
• Genre: Sports

Teens that indulge in watching and participating in extreme sports will get a kick out of Ubisoft's Riders Republic. The fun factor is extremely high here as players can have a go at mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, and wingsuit flying. Hopping online in this game means players will find themselves racing furiously during 64-player Mass Races that must be seen to be believed. And when it comes time to pull off the sickest tricks in your repertoire, players can have the time of their lives by hopping into 6v6 Tricks Battle Arena competitions. Riders Republic is extreme sports gaming bliss.

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