Best games
Best PlayStation 4 games of 2009
The 18 best PlayStation 4 games released in 2009, ranked from 13,925 critic and player ratings.
The best PlayStation 4 game of 2009 is Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, with a critic score of 95/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2009.
- 18 games are listed on this page, carrying 13,925 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 18
01
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
In the sequel to Drake's Fortune, Nathan Drake comes across a map that showcases the location of Marco Polo's missing ships. It takes him on a journey to find the infamous Cintamani Stone, and uncover the truth behind it.
95
/100
02
Ticket to Ride
91
/100
03
Bayonetta
A member of an ancient witch clan and possessing powers beyond the comprehension of mere mortals, Bayonetta faces-off against countless angelic enemies, many reaching epic proportions, in a game of 100% pure, unadulterated all-out action. Outlandish finishing moves are performed with balletic grace as Bayonetta flows from one fight to another. With magnificent over-the-top action taking place in stages that are a veritable theme park of exciting attractions, Bayonetta pushes the limits of the action genre, bringing to life its fast-paced, dynamic climax combat.
90
/100
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
In the sequel to Drake's Fortune, Nathan Drake comes across a map that showcases the location of Marco Polo's missing ships. It takes him on a journey to find the infamous Cintamani Stone, and uncover the truth behind it.
95
/100
02
Ticket to Ride
91
/100
03
Bayonetta
A member of an ancient witch clan and possessing powers beyond the comprehension of mere mortals, Bayonetta faces-off against countless angelic enemies, many reaching epic proportions, in a game of 100% pure, unadulterated all-out action. Outlandish finishing moves are performed with balletic grace as Bayonetta flows from one fight to another. With magnificent over-the-top action taking place in stages that are a veritable theme park of exciting attractions, Bayonetta pushes the limits of the action genre, bringing to life its fast-paced, dynamic climax combat.
90
/100
04
A
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum is an action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Released in 2009, it follows Batman as he battles the Joker, who seizes control of Arkham Asylum and frees its inmates. The game features stealth, combat, and detective elements, with players using Batman's gadgets and skills to subdue enemies and solve puzzles. Set in a dark, immersive version of Gotham, the story explores Batman’s psychological battle with his foes, including Harley Quinn, Bane, and Scarecrow. The game received critical acclaim for its gameplay, atmosphere, and storytelling, becoming a defining title in superhero video games.
89
/100
05
Shadow Complex
Shadow Complex is a side-scrolling action-adventure game presented in a 2.5D style, where the world is rendered in three dimensions but movement stays on a two-dimensional plane. Drawing heavily on the Metroidvania tradition, players explore a large, interconnected underground complex, fighting enemies and gradually gaining new weapons and abilities that open up previously unreachable areas. An experience system lets the character grow stronger over time, rewarding exploration and combat with upgrades that carry forward into new playthroughs.
88
/100
06
Machinarium
Machinarium is award-winning independent adventure game developed by the makers of Samorost and Botanicula. A little robot who’s been thrown out to the scrap yard behind the city must return and confront the Black Cap Brotherhood and save his robot-girl friend.
88
/100
07
STEINS;GATE
Steins;Gate is a Japanese visual novel developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus. It is the second game in the Science Adventure series following Chaos;Head. The game is described by the development team as a "hypothetical science ADV" and explores time and time travel in 2010 Akihabara. The gameplay follows non-linear plot lines which offer branching scenarios with courses of interaction.
87
/100
08
Persona 3 Portable
Persona 3 Portable is an enhanced remake of Persona 3 for the PlayStation Portable. The game features an option to play as a female character, which alters some aspects of the story. In addition to the new playable character, there are two new difficulty levels to select from alongside the original game's three. The game also features some other story related changes regardless of the player character gender. The battle system is also updated to be closer that of Persona 4.
84
/100
09
Flower
ESCAPE TO A DREAMLIKE WORLD From the studio behind the genre-bending titles Journey and flOw comes Flower, a unique gaming experience that lets you soar through a dreamlike world of luscious fields and rolling hills. Control the wind to carry a stream of flower petals around each landscape and watch as it comes to life. Every level has its own unique aims and little mysteries – but you don’t have to worry about them if you don’t feel like it. Flower is about doing what you want, when you want. Freedom is everything.
83
/100
10
S
Minecraft
Minecraft focuses on allowing the player to explore, interact with, and modify a dynamically-generated map made of one-cubic-meter-sized blocks. In addition to blocks, the environment features plants, mobs, and items. Some activities in the game include mining for ore, fighting hostile mobs, and crafting new blocks and tools by gathering various resources found in the game. The game's open-ended model allows players to create structures, creations, and artwork on various multiplayer servers or their single-player maps. Other features include redstone circuits for logic computations and remote actions, minecarts and tracks, and a mysterious underworld called the Nether. A designated but completely optional goal of the game is to travel to a dimension called the End, and defeat the ender dragon.
83
/100
11
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
81
/100
12
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
80
/100
13
Trine Enchanted Edition
80
/100
14
Yakuza 3
79
/100
15
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
79
/100
16
B
Resident Evil 5
78
/100
17
S
Prototype
78
/100
18
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
75
/100
A
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum is an action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Released in 2009, it follows Batman as he battles the Joker, who seizes control of Arkham Asylum and frees its inmates. The game features stealth, combat, and detective elements, with players using Batman's gadgets and skills to subdue enemies and solve puzzles. Set in a dark, immersive version of Gotham, the story explores Batman’s psychological battle with his foes, including Harley Quinn, Bane, and Scarecrow. The game received critical acclaim for its gameplay, atmosphere, and storytelling, becoming a defining title in superhero video games.
89
/100
05
Shadow Complex
Shadow Complex is a side-scrolling action-adventure game presented in a 2.5D style, where the world is rendered in three dimensions but movement stays on a two-dimensional plane. Drawing heavily on the Metroidvania tradition, players explore a large, interconnected underground complex, fighting enemies and gradually gaining new weapons and abilities that open up previously unreachable areas. An experience system lets the character grow stronger over time, rewarding exploration and combat with upgrades that carry forward into new playthroughs.
88
/100
06
Machinarium
Machinarium is award-winning independent adventure game developed by the makers of Samorost and Botanicula. A little robot who’s been thrown out to the scrap yard behind the city must return and confront the Black Cap Brotherhood and save his robot-girl friend.
88
/100
07
STEINS;GATE
Steins;Gate is a Japanese visual novel developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus. It is the second game in the Science Adventure series following Chaos;Head. The game is described by the development team as a "hypothetical science ADV" and explores time and time travel in 2010 Akihabara. The gameplay follows non-linear plot lines which offer branching scenarios with courses of interaction.
87
/100
08
Persona 3 Portable
Persona 3 Portable is an enhanced remake of Persona 3 for the PlayStation Portable. The game features an option to play as a female character, which alters some aspects of the story. In addition to the new playable character, there are two new difficulty levels to select from alongside the original game's three. The game also features some other story related changes regardless of the player character gender. The battle system is also updated to be closer that of Persona 4.
84
/100
09
Flower
ESCAPE TO A DREAMLIKE WORLD From the studio behind the genre-bending titles Journey and flOw comes Flower, a unique gaming experience that lets you soar through a dreamlike world of luscious fields and rolling hills. Control the wind to carry a stream of flower petals around each landscape and watch as it comes to life. Every level has its own unique aims and little mysteries – but you don’t have to worry about them if you don’t feel like it. Flower is about doing what you want, when you want. Freedom is everything.
83
/100
10
S
Minecraft
Minecraft focuses on allowing the player to explore, interact with, and modify a dynamically-generated map made of one-cubic-meter-sized blocks. In addition to blocks, the environment features plants, mobs, and items. Some activities in the game include mining for ore, fighting hostile mobs, and crafting new blocks and tools by gathering various resources found in the game. The game's open-ended model allows players to create structures, creations, and artwork on various multiplayer servers or their single-player maps. Other features include redstone circuits for logic computations and remote actions, minecarts and tracks, and a mysterious underworld called the Nether. A designated but completely optional goal of the game is to travel to a dimension called the End, and defeat the ender dragon.
83
/100
11
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
81
/100
12
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
80
/100
13
Trine Enchanted Edition
80
/100
14
Yakuza 3
79
/100
15
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
79
/100
16
B
Resident Evil 5
78
/100
17
S
Prototype
78
/100
18
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
75
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best PlayStation 4 game of 2009?
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves currently tops the ranking with a score of 95/100 across 2,177 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.