Follow
GamingPlaystationPS4Playstation Games

What are the best walking simulator games on PS4?

12
Options 
Considered
13
User 
Recs.
Last 
Updated
Related Questions
Activity
Have feedback or ideas?
Discord logoJoin our community
on Discord
Find Awesome Games
Select the tags you're interested in to get a personalized feed of games and help others.

12 Games Considered

12 Options ConsideredPriceNative ResolutionSteam Rating
Journey
1080p60–
SOMA
–Overwhelmingly Positive
Firewatch
–Very Positive
Abzû
––
Life is Strange
––
See Full List

Journey

Add Video or Image
Kristaps
Top Pro

Simple but really enjoyable gameplay

•••
Journey doesn't have any difficult mechanics, any explicit story, or even an interface. You simply run, jump, and glide through the desert, trying to reach a snowy mountain in the distance. Along the way you'll find items, enemies, and even companions, but there never are any interruption...
Kristaps
Top Pro

Beautiful visuals

•••
Wherever you look you'll find something beautiful to look at. This can be the obstructed sun shining down on an endless desert, creating a very calming scene. It can be the very detailed and massive ruins that sometimes look mysterious and sometimes imposing. It can be the sand beautifully shif...
Kristaps
Top Pro

Emotional soundtrack

•••
You can really feel the effort and care that went into creating the soundtrack. From the relaxing flute as you trot along the desert. The heartfelt cello solo as you slide through the ruins of an ancient civilization. To the dramatic piece performed by an entire orchestra as you fall into an abyss....
Kristaps
Top Con

Incredibly short

•••
Journey is one of the shortest games ever made, clocking in just over two hours of gameplay. The ending credits will roll right as you're getting into it, leaving you unsatisfied. This may cause you to immediately replay it but it will never feel the same as your first playthrough.
See 2 more ProsSee 2 more Pros

SOMA

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Great atmosphere

•••
SOMA’s atmosphere is a combination of various things. It can be the feeling of loneliness when you’re exploring a rundown and desolate lab. The feeling of anxiety as you trek along the seafloor and you’re only surrounded by muffled sounds and the bubbling of the water. The feeling of fear as you di...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

A horror game for Sci-Fi enthusiasts

•••
SOMA is set in the future, so it has all that futuristic goodness. Things like robots, AIs, underwater laboratories, diving suits designed to endure immense water pressure, and much more. SOMA is a thoroughly enjoyable Sci-fi experience.
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Thought-provoking story

•••
Like many horror stories, it delves deep into uncovering the central mystery of what’s going on. There are many unsettling events and revelations along the way, bringing up philosophical questions about consciousness and identity. It’s the type of story that sticks with you long after you’ve finish...
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Not for mainstream horror enthusiasts

•••
SOMA focuses heavily on psychological horror by maintaining suspense and creating a very creepy atmosphere. If you’re looking for jump scares, gore, and other thrill-inducing horror aspects you might be sorely disappointed.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Very linear level design

•••
While other horror titles have branching paths and open areas you get to explore, SOMA is very linear even in its ocean exploration sections. This feels like a failed opportunity to create an even better game.
Specs
Steam Rating:Overwhelmingly Positive
See 4 more Pros & ConsSee 4 more Pros & Cons

Firewatch

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Based on exploration and storytelling

•••
Firewatch is basically a exploration game with a very strong focus on the main story. No need to kill enemies or compete with other games online.
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Excellent story

•••
Firewatch is an exploration game with a strong focus on its main story which makes you ask "what comes next?" like a good book or enthralling movie.
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Great atmosphere

•••
You get lost in the world playing as Henry, it even ends up getting a little spooky. It never shows how it's spooky but there's always that creepy vibe in the background.
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Fantastic voice acting

•••
There are two leads with each being voice acted in a believable way in how they interact. The relationship presented in the story is given credence due to how well it is acted.
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Beautiful graphics

•••
The game impresses with stunning graphics and a beautifully crafted world, overlaid with a neat canvas effect.
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Adds interaction to the "walking simulator" genre

•••
Unlike many walking simulator game the player is allowed to interact more with the environment than expected. User can repel down ropes, collect caches of items and even adopt a pet.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Heavy swearing

•••
Extremely frequent use of swear words.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

In some parts the game locks you from entering areas

•••
It might sound obvious but sometimes the invisible walls don't feel right, they are put in places you should be able to walk.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Short game

•••
It maxes out at 5 hours of play, which is a bit short, though it is priced fairly for the time one gets.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Tremendous build up in story, only to have a lackluster finale

•••
Once the player progresses far enough into the game there are plot thread wrap-ups that seem a bit too convenient and overly rushed.
Specs
Steam Rating:Very Positive
See 9 more Pros & ConsSee 9 more Pros & Cons

Abzû

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Soft and calming

•••
Diving through the ocean with an array of colorful fish is very soothing. Your character can even meditate, allowing you to gaze at the surrounding aquatic life. The orchestral music further adds to the soothing feeling, while also giving most locations a sense of wonder. Nothing quite like seeing...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Absolutely striking art style

•••
Abzû was made by Thatgamecompany, the makers of Journey and Flower. In each of their games, they emphasize taking a distinctive art style and Abzû is no exception. It uses a very bright and vivid color palette to bring out the allure and mystique of the ocean. Lots of colorful fish and underwater...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Educational

•••
Every time you encounter a new fish, you can learn what it's called. There is also the 'meditate' mode which cycles between all the different kinds of fish, naming them on screen.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Extremely short

•••
The first playthrough will take you only about 3 hours, which is way too short for a game of its price. You won't get much replay value out of it either, unless you want to get all the trophies.
See 2 more ProsSee 2 more Pros

Life is Strange

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Choice based gameplay with a twist

•••
Your character can rewind time, so you can undo any recent choice or action, allowing you to try out different ones. This feels really awesome since in most games you'd have to reload your save or replay through entire sections just to view the other choices.
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Great story

•••
Life is Strange expertly portrays a teenagers life during high school, capturing all the good and bad emotions, while also adding a supernatural twist. The main character and her issues are relatable, side characters are interesting, and the plot twists are very unexpected. The story as a whole is...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

A well-polished experience

•••
Excellent voice acting, great story, smooth lighting, detailed object/level design, extensive number of people and objects to interact with, and even amazing music. Everything about the game makes it very enjoyable to play.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Some audio sync issues

•••
In addition to poorly done lip syncing, character voice lines sometimes overlap as well. You might not understand what's being said unless you turn on the subtitles. It can be really annoying at times, even with subtitles.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Choices feel a little lacking

•••
While there are many choices in Life is Strange, most of them have no long term impact on the story. The only noticeable changes are the dialogue lines and what scenes you get. While this adds some nuances to your journey, the destination is ultimately the same.
Specs
Genre:Adventure
See 4 more Pros & ConsSee 4 more Pros & Cons

The Witness

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Vivid graphics make you want to explore

•••
Everything about this game leads you toward exploration, even the graphics. They're very vibrant and feel alive, invoking in you a sense of wonder. This is thanks to a great variety of colors, ranging from wild, hot pinks to more subdued ocean tones. The colors are also used contrast the envir...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Thought provoking world

•••
Even if some of the puzzles are rage-inducingly hard, the world of the Witness is really peaceful. It's an uninhabited island littered with stone statues and mismatched environments. Yet none of it feels out of place. It is really intriguing to explore each new area, especially because you can...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Cleverly designed puzzles

•••
All of the puzzles use a simple concept where you draw a line from point A to point B to solve them. This could get old really fast, but the developer has thought of many ways to keep it fresh. While the regular variants are just maze puzzles, they gradually get new layers added to them. It can be...
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Some puzzles might be impossible for the colorblind and hearing impaired

•••
Certain puzzles use colors to hint at the solution. If you're not able to tell them apart it may be impossible to solve the puzzles. There are also that puzzles require you to listen to the sounds in the environment and use them for the solution. Some of them are masked with sound effects such...
See 2 more ProsSee 2 more Pros

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Heavily exploration based

•••
Some people may describe the genre as a "walking simulator" due to the lack of many video game elements. But it is a great experience for those that like to explore and enjoy the scenery as much of the game requires the user to investigate all areas of the game.
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Challenging puzzles

•••
The puzzles in game require the player to use clues found throughout in order to solve a problem later on. Often the clues are discreet or require the use of writing things down on a physical notepad, much like point and click games of old. Not only does this make for a challenging experience but...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Runs at 1080p and 60fps

•••
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Pacing feels unbalanced

•••
There is one notable part of the game where the player spends an uneven amount of time in that the environment is lackluster as well as holds many frustrating puzzles. This makes for what feels like unbalanced pacing and is an aggravating section of the game.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Framerate drops from 60fps

•••
There are framerate drops in the game but they never go below 30fps and do not tear due to the progressive vsync.
See 3 more Pros & ConsSee 3 more Pros & Cons

Night in the Woods

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Great coming-of-age story

•••
The coming-of-age story in Night in the Woods is unconventional for a video game, making it more unique and intriguing. After dropping out of college, the main character, Mae, struggles with her own disillusionment in life and refusal to grow up, all the while her old friends find success and move...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Tragic, realistic setting and NPCs

•••
Night in the Woods is set in Possum Springs, once a booming mine town but now a forgotten speck on the map, rife with poverty and decay. Its history is based on several real Adirondack towns, and its portrayal of rural decline is painfully accurate. The townspeople you talk to lament about having...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Well-written side characters

•••
Every character feels like they have a history and realistic personal motivations, even when they're left unexplained. Mae's friends are all different yet interesting in their own ways, like Gregg who's always happy to see her and helps Mae feel like someone truly cares, and Bea with h...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

The simplistic gameplay is surprisingly fun

•••
Running around the side-scrolling town as Mae day in and day out is more enjoyable than it sounds at first. It's mundane, but there's a lot of meaning to find around the town if you're willing to look for it. You go wherever you want, finding out stories about the townspeople and the t...
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

The main character is insufferable at first

•••
It's hard to like Mae from the start for a few reasons. She's extremely self-centered, she likes to steal for the thrills, and she has no interest whatsoever in fixing her shortcomings. Her life seems to be one awkward moment after another where you can't help but cringe in embarrassmen...
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Some pacing issues with the story

•••
The story slogs through the premise of Mae's anxieties and disillusionment for a long time until it suddenly switches somewhere in the middle. There are a few hints here and there about how and why the plot becomes a murder mystery, but these things seem inconsequential and not as important as...
Specs
Steam Rating:Very Positive
Genre:Adventure, Narrative
See 5 more Pros & ConsSee 5 more Pros & Cons

Observer

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

In-depth environmental storytelling

•••
As you search around apartment buildings and office spaces with augmented vision, you'll come across emails, video sequences, and notes that flesh out the story. You can take your time to find out about now-extinct religions from the past, learn about the lives of the many people who died from...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Intriguing cyberpunk world

•••
The deserted, rain-slicked streets of the gritty city at night, filled with unsettling displays of government advertisements fits right in with the themes and media that inspired Observer's cyberpunk world. A dystopian future where augmented humans were killed off by a mysterious disease is a f...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Hacking into peoples' memories is an engaging way to investigate crimes

•••
While solving cases, you can hack into a subject's memories through their augmentations, creating a new reality as you physically explore their thoughts. You'll then proceed through the scenes of their memories, listening to conversations that reveal more about the story and the world. The...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Terrifying, mind-bending story presentation

•••
Observer's detective story sounds simple, with you tracking down protagonist Daniel Lazarski's missing son, but the way the game presents this narrative is what counts. As you follow leads on his son's whereabouts, you'll analyze crime scenes mostly by searching through horrifying,...
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Gameplay is limited to mostly walking around

•••
As a "walking simulator," Observer is appealing to players who enjoy taking their time to explore and take in the environment, but it may not have enough gameplay for those looking for a more involved experience. Hacking into minds, analyzing crime scenes and moving from place to place ma...
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Some frustrating, out-of-place chase sequences

•••
Some segments of Observer force you to stealthily avoid a menacing enemy lumbering through a dark workspace or a dilapidated set of hallways, but they don't quite fit with the game's overall freedom of discovery and exploration. If you're discovered, it's game over. These parts ruin...
Specs
Steam Rating:Very Positive
Genre:Cyberpunk Psychological Horror
See 5 more Pros & ConsSee 5 more Pros & Cons

What Remains Of Edith Finch

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Instills a sense of wonder

•••
From the opening scene to its final moments, What Remains of Edith Finch, seeks to instill a sense of wonder through it's detailed game world. The house itself is a mix of various unconventional architectural styles and flavors. From it's towering bedroom spires to it's dark, claustroph...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Amazing attention to detail

•••
Every room in the Finch house is unique in decor and style, and plays its part in telling the story. No two rooms in the game are alike and each is filled with it's own charm and personality. While exploring the hallways and rooms of the sprawling home, the player will find various notes, photo...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Expert pacing

•••
The game sets an excellent pace by never giving players a chance to become bored. While detailed and varied, each room only has a handful of objects that can be interacted with. This limited interaction ensures the player will never linger in a single room too long and acts as a gentle nudge to ke...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Mysterious story

•••
This award-winning story takes us step-by-step through the tragic and mysterious history of the Finch family. We learn of all the family members, the stories of their lives, and how they met an unfortunate and untimely end. By it's thrilling conclusion, the player has been led on a strange jour...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Every story features a new gameplay mechanic

•••
As Edith travels throughout the house and surrounding areas, she will encounter objects that tell the history of the various family members and how they met their demise. Upon inspecting the objects, an interactive story will be triggered and the player will take on the role of the family member po...
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Short playtime

•••
The game doesn't take very long to complete and can be comfortably completed within a few hours. This may be a turn off for some players who are hoping for a longer experience.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

No interactive puzzles

•••
There are no puzzles to solve in this game, which can be a dull experience for some. The narrative is told as the player goes room by room without any puzzles or roadblocks for the player to overcome.
Specs
Steam Rating:Very Positive
See 6 more Pros & ConsSee 6 more Pros & Cons

Life is Strange: Before the Storm

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Choices have consequences

•••
Much like in the first game, Before the Storm features several choices throughout the game that have an impact on future plot points across the three episodes. How these choices end up impacting the ending are debatable, but there are still a myriad of choices that change the outcome of a single pl...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Chloe is more likable this time

•••
In the first Life is Strange, many players complained that Chloe was insufferable and selfish as Max's best friend, complaining in order to have more of her time when she might not have deserved it. This time around, watching the events of Before the Storm unfold from Chloe's eyes is enjoya...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Great soundtrack

•••
Daughter, the indie folk band from England, worked on the tracks for Before the Storm, pulling together many of the game's great moments with thoughtful acoustic tunes and moody piano tracks. The more upbeat, hopeful tracks fit in incredibly well with Chloe's adventurous scenes with Rachel,...
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Improved writing over the first game

•••
The original Life is Strange suffered from some instances of awkward lines that sounded like a middle-aged adult trying to emulate how teenagers speak; thankfully, Before the Storm has a much clearer, down-to-earth script that helps the characters sound more authentic and real. Rachel's use of...
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Limited exploration

•••
With much of the focus on the storytelling, it's still unfortunate that Chloe can't leave the designated story areas without turning around and repeating the same line about how she's supposed to focus on her objective. The limited areas to walk around in are understandable, yet disappo...
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Third episode falls flat in some areas

•••
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is an all-around stand-out title, with the first and second episodes building up to an impactful third installment that feels lacking in certain aspects. Without getting into spoilers, there are a few plot holes that aren't wrapped up by the end, and much of t...
Specs
Steam Rating:Very Positive
Genre:Adventure, Narrative
See 5 more Pros & ConsSee 5 more Pros & Cons

Ether One

Add Video or Image
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Fragmented story the player must figure out

•••
The way the story is told matches it's overarching plot of dementia, so that the story is giving in pieces and not in order requiring the user to make the investment to piece it all together and come to their conclusion.
Yoshiyuki
Top Pro

Deeply layered

•••
While there is little in the way of interaction, what is presented to the player is a deeply layered town with many areas to explore. It gives a sense of "realness" that makes for an experience much in the way art or music does, sometimes visceral sometimes eliciting past memories.
Yoshiyuki
Top Con

Side quests are relatively hidden from the player

•••
For those that go into the game blind there is little in the way of explanation that there are side quests hidden in the game that relate to certain objs=ects as one explores. This means that many players will miss a large portion of the title.
Specs
Steam Rating:Mostly Positive
See 2 more Pros & ConsSee 2 more Pros & Cons

13 Community Recommendations

Yoshiyuki
Kristaps
Community Icon
Request recommendations from the community
No highlighted recommendations.
I Recommend...
Help millions of people find awesome games.
Each month, over 1.7 million people use Slant to find the best products and share their knowledge. Pick the tags you’re passionate about to get a personalized feed and begin contributing your knowledge.
undefined