Hidden Gems You Should Play on PlayStation Right Now

17 June 2025

Hey there, fellow gamer! 🎮 Are you bored of the same ol' mainstream PlayStation hits everyone talks about? Trust me, I’ve been there. There comes a point when you've played all the big names — your God of Wars, your Horizon Zero Dawns, and your Uncharteds — and you're itching for something fresh and unexpected. That’s exactly where hidden gems swoop in and steal the spotlight! 💎

Lucky for you, I’ve unearthed some truly awesome, underrated PlayStation games that you’ve probably overlooked. These are titles that didn’t get the hype they deserve but are an absolute blast to play. So grab that controller, sit back, and get ready to dive into some memorable, joy-packed adventures!

🧭 What Exactly Makes a Game a “Hidden Gem”?

You might be wondering — what even is a hidden gem? Think of it like finding a cool little coffee shop in a back alley that serves the best cappuccino ever. It’s not the trendy spot everyone Instagrams about, but once you try it, you can’t shut up about it. That’s what these games are like.

Hidden gems usually fly under the radar due to lack of marketing, overshadowing by triple-A titles, or simply bad timing. But don’t let that fool you — these games pack more charm, creativity, and fun than many big-budget titles. Let’s jump into the list, shall we?

🎨 1. Concrete Genie

Genre: Action-Adventure
Why You Should Play It: It’s like graffiti art meets emotional storytelling.

Concrete Genie is a heartwarming and visually stunning game where you bring your art to life. Literally. You play as Ash, a bullied teen who finds a magical paintbrush allowing him to paint vibrant creatures that help solve puzzles and transform a grim seaside town.

It’s short, sweet, and full of emotion. Plus, it’s got PSVR support if you really want to immerse yourself. If you love creativity, this one’s a must-play.

🧛 2. Vampyr

Genre: Action RPG
Why You Should Play It: A deep, choice-driven story with a dark, gothic vibe.

Set in post-WWI London, you play as Dr. Jonathan Reid — a newly-turned vampire who’s also a doctor. Talk about a moral dilemma! Do you save lives or drink blood to become stronger?

This game is dripping (pun intended) with atmosphere and tough choices that actually impact your story. It may not have the flashiest combat, but its depth and narrative make it a standout.

🏝️ 3. Subnautica

Genre: Survival Adventure
Why You Should Play It: It’s like Minecraft underwater… but with sea monsters.

Subnautica drops you on an alien ocean planet with nothing but a lifepod and your wits. From there, you explore coral reefs, build underwater bases, and try not to get eaten by terrifying deep-sea creatures.

It’s relaxing, exciting, scary, and beautiful all at once. If you love survival and exploration, you’re in for one heck of a ride.

👻 4. The Ghost of a Tale

Genre: Action RPG / Stealth
Why You Should Play It: Because you get to play as a tiny mouse bard on a massive, daring quest.

This one’s criminally underrated. You play as Tilo, a courageous mouse trying to find his love in a world filled with rats and danger. It’s like Redwall meets Dark Souls with a pinch of Disney magic.

Crafted largely by a single developer, this indie masterpiece oozes charm, has surprisingly deep lore, and provides just the right blend of stealth and puzzle-solving.

🤖 5. Nex Machina

Genre: Twin-stick Shooter
Why You Should Play It: Arcade chaos and neon explosions galore!

If you're a fan of fast, frantic gameplay, Nex Machina is your dream come true. Created by Housemarque (the folks behind Returnal), this twin-stick shooter is a love letter to the arcade era, modernized to perfection.

It’s lasers, robots, and reflex-testing madness — and it’s unbelievably addictive. Bonus: the soundtrack is an absolute banger.

🏜️ 6. Journey to the Savage Planet

Genre: First-person Adventure
Why You Should Play It: Humor meets exploration in the weirdest, most colorful world.

Imagine if No Man’s Sky had a baby with Portal and fed it Red Bull. That’s Jour­­ney to the Savage Planet. It's hilarious, packed with alien oddities, and has just the right amount of challenge to keep you exploring.

Perfect for players who love a bit of comedy with their chaos. It's also co-op friendly!

🧙 7. GreedFall

Genre: Action RPG
Why You Should Play It: It scratches that Mass Effect/Dragon Age itch.

GreedFall is what you get when you blend political intrigue, magic, monster hunting, and colonial-era aesthetics. You play as a diplomat exploring a mysterious island filled with magic and conflict.

While it’s not as polished as the big RPG titles, it totally makes up for it with great storytelling and meaningful choices. If BioWare-style games are your jam, this one’s a sleeper hit.

💀 8. Salt and Sanctuary

Genre: Action RPG (Souls-like)
Why You Should Play It: A 2D Dark Souls with brutal mechanics and beautiful hand-drawn art.

Salt and Sanctuary is what happens when you take the crushing difficulty and deep lore of Dark Souls and squish it into a gothic 2D platformer. It’s dark, eerie, and incredibly satisfying once you get the hang of it.

Don’t let the difficulty scare you away — if you’re into Souls-like games, this is an underappreciated gem that will test your patience and your reflexes (in the best way).

🧞 9. Shadow of the Beast (PS4 Remake)

Genre: Action-Platformer
Why You Should Play It: A bloody beautiful tribute to the Amiga classic.

This PS4 reboot of the cult classic Shadow of the Beast takes the haunting, surreal world of the original and turns it into a fast-paced combat adventure with jaw-dropping visuals and haunting music.

It’s short, striking, and stylish — perfect if you want a quick, visually intense experience that leaves a lasting impression.

🧠 10. The Sexy Brutale

Genre: Puzzle / Adventure
Why You Should Play It: Murder mystery meets time loop in the most stylish way possible.

Set in a bizarre mansion during a masquerade ball, this game is part Groundhog Day, part Clue. You repeat the same day over and over, trying to prevent a series of murders — all by observing and manipulating the timeline.

It’s clever, original, and the kind of game that sticks with you long after the credits roll. A true hidden gem if there ever was one.

🌪️ 11. Gravity Rush 2

Genre: Action-Adventure / Open World
Why You Should Play It: Defy gravity in a beautifully stylized anime world.

This sequel amps up everything that made the first Gravity Rush awesome: more powers, more world to explore, deeper story. You control Kat, a gravity-shifting heroine who can literally fly through cities by flipping gravity upside down.

It’s a bit niche, but once it clicks, the freedom of movement and unique mechanics make it unforgettable.

🎭 12. A Plague Tale: Innocence

Genre: Action-Adventure / Stealth
Why You Should Play It: An emotional ride through a rat-infested medieval nightmare.

Okay, this one has gained some traction recently, but it still flies under the radar for many. Set during the Black Plague, you follow Amicia and her little brother Hugo as they try to survive religious zealots and literal rivers of rats.

It’s gripping, emotional, and visually stunning. Story-driven gamers — add this to your must-play list.

🧩 13. Catherine: Full Body

Genre: Puzzle / Narrative Adventure
Why You Should Play It: A mature, mind-bending experience about love, commitment, and nightmares.

Catherine is unlike anything else on PlayStation. It’s part visual novel, part block-puzzler, and 100% weird — in a good way. You play as Vincent, a guy torn between two (wait, make that three) women while surviving nightly dreamscapes filled with sheep people and collapsing towers.

It’s as bizarre as it sounds, but also deep, stylish, and surprisingly emotional. If you want something truly different, this is it.

🎆 Final Thoughts: There’s Treasure Beyond the Triple-A Titles

There you have it — a treasure trove of PlayStation games that might not have made the headlines, but totally deserve a spot in your gaming library. Whether you're in the mood for artsy adventures, brain-bending puzzles, or heart-pounding action, there’s something on this list for every kind of player.

Gaming isn’t just about the blockbusters. Sometimes, the most magical moments lie buried beneath the surface, just waiting for someone like you to hit "Start" and let the story unfold. So dust off that digital shovel and start digging — your next favorite game might just be a hidden gem away!