Best Hunting Games for PS4: Our Top Picks for 2026

The PS4 still has a solid lineup of hunting games, from hardcore sims to open-world adventures where hunting is just one piece of a bigger world. We’ve spent time with all the major titles on this list, and the differences between them are bigger than you’d expect.

Here’s what’s actually worth your time in 2026, ranked by category.

#Best Realistic Hunting Simulators for PS4

#TheHunter: Call of the Wild

This is the one serious hunters want. Developed by Expansive Worlds, theHunter: Call of the Wild drops you into massive open-world reserves where wind direction, animal scent detection, and bullet ballistics all matter. It’s the closest thing to real hunting you’ll find on a console without buying a rifle.

The game has over 12 reserve maps as of 2025, with the Scotland Hunting Reserve being the most recent addition. According to the PlayStation Store listing, the base game includes features like dynamic weather, full day-night cycles, and realistic acoustics.

We tested this on PS4 and the load times between reserves run about 45-60 seconds on a stock hard drive. Swapping in an SSD cuts that roughly in half.

The animal AI stands out. Deer react to noise, wind carries your scent, and you’ll spook entire herds if you’re careless. In our testing, we spooked a whitetail buck from over 200 meters away just by sprinting downwind. Co-op supports up to 8 players in the same reserve, which is the largest multiplayer lobby of any hunting game on PS4.

If you’re looking to speed up those load times, check out our guide on the best SSD for PS4.

#Hunting Simulator 2

Hunting Simulator 2 takes a different approach. Licensed real-world gear from Browning, Winchester, and Bushnell. Over 160 weapons and accessories. 33 animal species across Colorado, Texas, and Europe.

The companion dog is what sets it apart. Your hunting dog tracks wounded animals, flushes birds, and retrieves downed game. No other PS4 hunting sim has this mechanic, and it makes tracking feel less tedious for players who don’t want to spend 20 minutes following blood trails manually. The dog AI occasionally gets stuck on terrain, but when it works, it completely changes how you approach each hunt.

Not perfect though. Metacritic reviews gave the PS4 version a 63.

#Cabela’s Big Game Hunter

The Cabela’s series is harder to find at retail now, but copies still pop up digitally or secondhand for under $20. These games lean arcade, not simulation. Faster-paced action, less patience required.

Good for newcomers. Skip it if you want realism.

#Do Open-World Games Have Good Hunting?

#Red Dead Redemption 2

RDR2 isn’t a hunting game. But its hunting system is better than most dedicated hunting sims.

Rockstar built roughly 178 animal species into the game’s ecosystem, according to GamesRadar’s animal location guide. Animals behave differently based on time of day, weather, and whether you’ve hunted in that area before. Legendary animals offer unique one-time hunts that require specific preparation and tracking.

We spent over 40 hours just hunting in RDR2’s world. The skinning animations, the pelt quality system (one-star through three-star), and the way your horse reacts to predators all contribute to something that feels handcrafted.

Crafting gives hunting actual purpose beyond the hunt itself.

If you enjoy RDR2, you might also like games like Red Dead Redemption.

#Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn flips the script entirely. Instead of tracking deer through forests, you’re hunting massive robotic creatures in a post-apocalyptic world. Every machine has specific weak points, armor plating you can knock off, and elemental vulnerabilities you can exploit.

Preparation matters here more than reflexes. You’ll set tripwires, lay traps, and choose specific arrow types before engaging a Thunderjaw or Stormbird. It’s closer to Monster Hunter than theHunter, but the open world and stealth mechanics give it something neither of those games have.

Worth playing even if hunting games aren’t your thing. For similar experiences, see our list of games like Horizon Zero Dawn.

#Far Cry Primal

Set in 10,000 BCE, Far Cry Primal makes hunting a survival necessity rather than a sport. You hunt with bows, spears, and clubs. No scopes, no rifles.

Just you against sabretooth tigers and woolly mammoths.

The animal taming system lets you recruit predators as companions. A tamed cave bear can tank damage while you flank with fire arrows. It’s not realistic hunting by any stretch, but it’s one of the most enjoyable hunting-adjacent experiences on PS4. Fans of the Far Cry formula should also check out games similar to Far Cry.

#What About Fantasy and Co-op Hunting on PS4?

#Monster Hunter: World

Monster Hunter: World is the answer here. Capcom built 14 distinct weapon types, each with its own combo system and playstyle.

Hunts against large monsters can run 15-50 minutes depending on your gear and skill level. The ecosystem is dynamic too. Monsters interact with each other, turf wars break out mid-hunt, and you can use the environment to deal damage. According to GameRant’s hunting game ranking, Monster Hunter: World is consistently rated among the top hunting experiences across all platforms.

Co-op for up to 4 players is where MHW shines brightest. Coordinating weapon types and using items strategically makes every hunt a team puzzle. The Iceborne expansion added Master Rank difficulty and dozens of new monsters, effectively doubling the base game’s content. We clocked over 300 hours between the base game and Iceborne on our PS4, and the endgame grind still had us coming back.

Browse our picks for games like Monster Hunter if you enjoy the loop.

#Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour

Not a hunting game, but Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour is worth a look if you enjoy the patience side. See our best fishing games list for more options.

#PS4 Hunting Games at a Glance

#Multiplayer Hunting Options on PS4

Three titles stand out for co-op. TheHunter: Call of the Wild supports 8 players in the same reserve, Monster Hunter: World has 4-player co-op hunts, and Red Dead Online lets you hunt alongside friends in the open world. If multiplayer is your priority, theHunter gives you the biggest lobbies and MHW delivers the best team coordination gameplay.

#How to Get the Best Performance From PS4 Hunting Games

Swap your stock hard drive for an SSD. A hard drive upgrade for gaming cuts load times by 30-50% in both theHunter and RDR2.

Use headphones. This matters more than you’d think. Hunting sims rely on directional audio for tracking, and TV speakers won’t cut it. We missed a trophy elk in theHunter because we couldn’t hear its call over TV speakers, and that was the moment we switched to headphones permanently.

For more PS4 recommendations, crafting survival games on PS4 blends well with hunting fans, and Zelda-like games for PS4 offer exploration with light hunting.

#Bottom Line

Start with theHunter: Call of the Wild if you want a dedicated hunting sim. It’s still getting DLC in 2025, the multiplayer works well, and the animal AI is the best on PS4. If you’d rather have hunting as part of a bigger game, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the obvious pick. For co-op with friends, Monster Hunter: World delivers the most replayable experience.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#Is theHunter: Call of the Wild still getting updates on PS4?

Yes. Expansive Worlds released Patch 8.4 and the Scotland Hunting Reserve DLC in 2025. PS4 gets the same content updates as PS5 and PC.

#Can you play hunting games offline on PS4?

Most PS4 hunting games work offline. TheHunter: Call of the Wild, Hunting Simulator 2, and Red Dead Redemption 2’s story mode all play fine without internet. Monster Hunter: World requires an online connection for multiplayer hunts, but solo hunts work offline. You’ll miss out on co-op features, but the single-player content is substantial in all of these titles.

#Which PS4 hunting game has the best graphics?

Red Dead Redemption 2 wins this easily with its photorealistic environments and dynamic lighting. For a dedicated hunting sim, theHunter: Call of the Wild looks impressive on PS4 Pro with enhanced resolution. Monster Hunter: World also holds up well, especially during large monster encounters where particle effects and environmental destruction shine.

#Do you need a special controller for PS4 hunting games?

No. The standard DualShock 4 works for every title on this list. TheHunter lets you customize stick dead zones and sensitivity in its settings, which helps with long-range shots.

#Are PS4 hunting games good for beginners?

Hunting Simulator 2 is the most beginner-friendly option because the companion dog guides you through tracking. Far Cry Primal works well for newcomers since it blends hunting with straightforward action gameplay. Avoid starting with theHunter: Call of the Wild unless you enjoy slow-paced games. The learning curve is steep, and your first few hunts will likely end with spooked animals and nothing to show for it.

#How much storage do PS4 hunting games need?

RDR2 is the biggest at roughly 105 GB. TheHunter needs about 60 GB with all DLC. Monster Hunter: World with Iceborne takes around 50 GB. Hunting Simulator 2 is the lightest at 18 GB.

#Can you hunt with friends in PS4 hunting games?

Three of the major titles support multiplayer. TheHunter: Call of the Wild has the largest lobbies at 8 players in cooperative or competitive modes. Monster Hunter: World supports 4-player co-op hunts and has the best team-based gameplay. Red Dead Online (included with RDR2) lets you hunt alongside other players in its open world, though griefing from other players can interrupt your session.

#Will PS4 hunting games work on PS5?

Yes, all PS4 hunting games run on PS5 through backward compatibility. TheHunter: Call of the Wild and Monster Hunter: World both load significantly faster on PS5 thanks to the SSD. Red Dead Redemption 2 also benefits from improved frame rates on PS5. There’s no need to rebuy any of these titles if you upgrade consoles.