PS5 plays the overwhelming majority of PS4 games, but it does not play PS3 discs. Compatible PS4 digital games can be downloaded from your library; compatible PS4 discs require a PS5 model with a disc drive. A short list of PS4 games is not playable, and individual games may have feature or performance differences.
Which PS4 games work on PS5?
Sony says the PS5 can play the overwhelming majority of more than 4,000 PS4 games. Its current support page does not give an exact count of compatible titles, and compatibility does not guarantee that every PS4 feature or behavior will be identical on PS5. Check the game’s current PlayStation Store listing or Sony’s PS4 game compatibility page if you need to confirm a specific title.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
God of War Hits - PlayStation 4 | $19.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare - PS4 Legacy Edition | $24.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Red Dead Redemption - PlayStation 4 | $24.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Days Gone - Playstation 4 | $28.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series - PlayStation 4 | $15.85 | Buy on Amazon |
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Sony’s current list identifies these PS4 games as playable only on PS4:
- Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Volume One
- Just Deal With It!
- Robinson: The Journey
- We Sing
- Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
- Shadwen
Sony says the list may change; it also excludes demos, media, and non-game applications.
#1 Best Overall
- Physical combat over the shoulder free camera brings the action closer than ever combat in God of war is up close frenetic and unflinching. Kratos' Axes powerful, magic and multi faceted is a brutal weapon as well as a versatile tool for exploration
- Midgard and beyond: Set within the untamed forests, mountains, and realms of Norse lore, God of war features a distinctly new setting with its own pantheon of creatures, monsters, and gods
- Vicious, physical combat with an over the shoulder free camera that brings the player closer to the action than ever before
Can PS5 play PS3 games or discs?
No. PS5 consoles do not support PS3 discs. A PS4 digital upgrade that still requires the original PS3 disc is not a workaround: Sony says it will not work on PS5 either. This compatibility feature concerns PS4 games, not a general ability to run games from every earlier PlayStation generation.
Sony’s US support index also states the PS3-disc limitation; check your region’s current PlayStation support pages for local account and storefront details: PlayStation Games Support. A PlayStation subscription does not make PS3 discs playable on PS5. Cloud streaming is a separate service, and Sony’s PS5 cloud streaming page concerns select cloud-streamable PS5 games; it does not establish PS3-disc compatibility.
Rank #2
- Legacy Edition Includes: Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare Remastered*;Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, drug reference, intense violence, strong language, suggestive themes
- Infinity Ward reaches new heights with Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, which returns to the roots of the franchise with large-scale war, epic battles, and cinematic, immersive military storytelling and takes players on a journey from Earth to beyond our atmosphere.
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare delivers something for every Call of Duty fan with three unique game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies.
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is back, remastered in true high-definition featuring improved textures, physically based rendering, high-dynamic range lighting and much more to bring a new generation experience to fans.
- Team up with your friends with 10 of the iconic multiplayer maps from the online multiplayer mode that redefined Call of Duty introducing killstreaks, XP, Prestige and more in customizable, classic multiplayer modes.
How to play a PS4 game on PS5
PS4 disc
- Use a PS5 model with a disc drive. PS4 discs cannot be used on a PS5 Digital Edition.
- Insert the compatible PS4 disc and install the game. An update may be required.
- Leave the disc inserted whenever you play; it serves as the license check.
Digital PS4 game
- Sign in to the account that owns the game.
- Open your game library on PS5, select the compatible PS4 title, and download it if needed.
Digital purchases can be accessed through the account library on either PS5 model, subject to the game’s compatibility. Buying a separate PS5 edition is not required just to play a compatible PS4 version.
Recommended Free Tools
Backward compatibility is not the same as a PS5 upgrade
A PS4 game running on PS5 remains the PS4 edition. Some titles also offer a separate native PS5 edition, but an upgrade is available only for certain games and may be free, paid, or time-limited. Sony’s 2020 FAQ describes those options; check the individual game’s current listing and upgrade terms rather than assuming an upgrade is included. Sony’s PS4 games on PS5 FAQ
Rank #3
- When federal agents threaten his family, former outlaw John Marston is forced to hunt down the gang of criminals he once called friends.
- Experience Marston’s journey across the sprawling expanses of the American West and Mexico as he fights to bury his blood-stained past in the critically acclaimed adventure.
- Also included is Undead Nightmare, the ground-breaking horror story expansion that transforms the world of Red Dead Redemption into an apocalyptic fight for survival against a zombie horde.
- Experience the epic western adventures that defined a generation
Save transfer between editions is also title-specific. Developers decide whether progress can move from a PS4 version to its separate PS5 version, so do not assume a save will carry over simply because both editions run on the same console.
Performance, controllers, saves, and PS VR
Performance and features
Selected PS4 games can benefit from Game Boost and run at higher or smoother frame rates on PS5. The result is not guaranteed for every title: some games may lack PS4 functions or show errors and unexpected behavior.
Rank #4
- Harsh Open World: Using the power of PlayStation 4 and unreal engine 4, days one offers an incredibly realistic and detailed open world experience. But be careful— day and night cycles, all affect gameplay and enemy behavior
- Brutal Sandbox Combat: Perfect your gameplay with an endless combination of strategy and play in every situation. Craft customized items using pieces and parts found in the field, from brutal melee weapons to traps and more
- Compelling Story: At its core, days gone is about survivors and what makes them human: desperation, loss, madness, betrayal, friendship, brotherhood, regret, love and hope. It’s about how hope never dies
- Play as Deacon St.John, a bounty hunter facing a brutal struggle for survival while searching for a reason to live
Controllers and saved data
DualSense and DUALSHOCK 4 controllers work with supported PS4 games. Sony describes transferring PS4 data over Wi-Fi or using compatible USB storage; its 2020 FAQ also covers LAN transfer and PS Plus cloud saves. Save-transfer options and requirements can vary, so use Sony’s current setup guidance for the method you plan to use.
PS VR
To use original PS VR games on PS5, Sony specifies the PS VR headset, PS4 Camera, and Camera adaptor. The PS5 HD Camera does not work for PS VR.
Best Value
- Play the series that revolutionized storytelling in games. The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series contains all 4 Seasons, 400 Days DLC, and The Walking Dead: Michonne.
- “Graphic black” art style brings Season 4's enhanced visual style to all previous seasons of the acclaimed series.
- Exclusive looks at the making of the game from the developers, VO artists, and other team members that brought Clementine’s story to life.
- Character performances, lip syncing, and other gameplay and UI enhancements make this the definitive Telltale’s The Walking Dead experience.
- Music player that includes 140+ tracks across all seasons, art gallery, 3D model viewer with playable voice lines, & new 3D front end.
What to check before you rely on a specific game
- Edition: Are you playing the PS4 version through compatibility, or expecting a separate PS5 edition?
- License: Do you own the digital version, or a disc that requires a disc-drive PS5?
- Compatibility: Is the title on Sony’s PS4-only list, or otherwise flagged in the current Store listing?
- Extras: Does the game need a particular controller, PS VR equipment, an upgrade, or a title-specific save-transfer process?
Sony’s October 2020 launch FAQ said more than 99 percent of the 4,000-plus PS4 games would be playable on PS5 at launch. That is a dated launch-period statement, not a current compatibility count; Sony’s present support page describes the compatible share as the overwhelming majority of more than 4,000 games.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
