Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Crimson Desert
  • Pokopia
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Starfield
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Don't miss these
New games 2026: images of Saros, GTA 6, Beast of Reincarnation, and 007 First Light with a plus sign in the middle.
Games New games 2026 and beyond: The biggest video game release dates for PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, Switch, and more
The upcoming PS5 games banner image shows Wolverine from Marvel's Wolverine, a woman in a spacesuit from Directive 8020, a woman with long hair holding a stone in Phantom Blade 0, and dual protagonists Lucia and Jason in GTA 6
Adventure Games Upcoming PS5 games: New PS5 games for 2026 and beyond
GTA 5 new
Grand Theft Auto All GTA 5 cheat codes and phone numbers for PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC
Best Ps5 games
Games Best PS5 games: The 25 greatest PlayStation 5 games in 2026, ranked
Death Stranding 2 PS5 screenshot
PS5 PS5 exclusives: Every game released and confirmed so far
PS3 photo taken by Future Studios
Games The 25 best PS3 games of all time
A PS2 games console standing next to some of the best PS2 games and a black controller.
Games The 25 best PS2 games of all time
Best PS1 Games: a picture of a PS1 console next to a collection of games.
Games The 25 best PS1 games of all time
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless in white being held in front of a PS5
Headsets & Headphones The best PS5 headset 2026: SteelSeries holds onto the crown for another year
Best single player games: Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Games The 25 best single-player games to play in 2026
Games like God of War Ragnarok: Kratos fighting a giant monster on a mountain top.
God of War 10 Games like God of War Ragnarok you should play next
DualSense Edge review image showing the controller next to the original DualSense in Nova Pink
Gaming Controllers The best PS5 controller 2026: Find your Edge
The best PS Plus deals for 2020
PlayStation The cheapest PlayStation Plus deals and membership prices in April 2026
PS5 bundles on a blue background
PS5 The best PS5 bundles and deals in March 2026, get in quick before prices rise next month
WD_Black P40 in situ working with a pink PS5
Tech Best PS5 external hard drives 2026: excellent portable SSD and HDD options
  1. Platforms
  2. PlayStation
  3. PS5

PS5 backwards compatibility: Here's how it works

News
By Sam Loveridge, Hirun Cryer published 28 April 2021

PS5 backwards compatibility is a lot more straightforward than last gen

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

PS5 backwards compatibility - God of War
(Image credit: SIE Santa Monica Studio)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Unlike the last-generation, PS5 backwards compatibility is a lot easier to understand. Aside from a handful of games - which we'll get onto below - you can play any PS4 games on PS5 whether they're digital or disc-based. Not every game will be updated to offer extra features via PS5 backwards compatibility, but be safe in the knowledge that they're all there just waiting to be played if you so wished. 

We've updated the list of PS4 games not backwards compatible underneath, adding an asterisk to titles that are working on getting a title update.

  • DWVR*
  • Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One
  • TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 2*
  • Just Deal With It!
  • Shadow Complex Remastered
  • Robinson: The Journey
  • We Sing
  • Hitman Go: Definite Edition
  • Shadwen
  • Joe's Diner 

In all, PS5 backwards compatibility extends to well over 4,000 titles. There was some head-scratching when Sony revealed the list of games that wouldn’t be playable on the PS5 originally, as it was buried in a support page, but now that list is a little less mysterious. 

You may like
  • The Last of Us 2 PS5 Pro enhanced games list: all the confirmed PS5 Pro enhanced titles to play today
  • Death Stranding 2 PS5 screenshot PS5 exclusives: Every game released and confirmed so far
  • How to download free PS5 games How to download free PS5 games

Thankfully, PS5 backwards compatibility is very easy to take advantage of on Sony's latest console. It's as easy as inserting the PS4 disc, redownloading it on your new console, or transferring your game from your old PS4. 

Here's a full guide on how to play PS4 games on PS5 that walks you through each option. 

Of course, should you not fancy playing PS4 games, there's a lot of  upcoming PS5 games to get your teeth sunk into. 

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Social Links Navigation
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
The Last of Us 2
PS5 PS5 Pro enhanced games list: all the confirmed PS5 Pro enhanced titles to play today
 
 
Death Stranding 2 PS5 screenshot
PS5 PS5 exclusives: Every game released and confirmed so far
 
 
How to download free PS5 games
PlayStation How to download free PS5 games
 
 
Best Ps5 games
Games Best PS5 games: The 25 greatest PlayStation 5 games in 2026, ranked
 
 
Top section of a PS5 Pro console in front of a houseplant
Hardware Sony's new PSSR update has me wanting a PS5 Pro more than ever, so here's the deal I'm going for
 
 
PS5 Pro and PS5 original console on a wooden table
Peripherals Console gaming on a VPN: what works on PS5/Xbox Series X
 
 
Latest in PlayStation
Crimson Desert open world gameplay showing the dragon mount flying above Pywel
Open World Games Crimson Desert players are speed-gliding using this amazing hack that may or may not be a bug
 
 
The First Descendant female warrior Dia
Third Person Shooters 110,000 mixed Steam reviews later, Nexon bluntly files The First Descendant under "did not work"
 
 
Zayne rests his head on his fist
Resident Evil Resident Evil's Leon and Ada have a son, fans decide, and he's in Love and Deepspace
 
 
Macduff running from a monster during the upcoming PS5 game, Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert is "opposite" to most open-world games because the "magic kicks in" later, says Arkane Lyon boss
 
 
Arc Raiders character grimacing
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders boss promoted to Nexon chief backs AI push for "redesigning game development"
 
 
Bethesda
The Elder Scrolls From Arena to Skyrim, Elden Ring streamer beats Bethesda's entire RPG series "first try" with 0 damage
 
 
Latest in News
Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys in Weapons.
Horror Movies Weapons prequel Gladys adds Godzilla writer as we get one step closer to horror villain Aunt Gladys' return
 
 
Crimson Desert open world gameplay showing the dragon mount flying above Pywel
Open World Games Crimson Desert players are speed-gliding using this amazing hack that may or may not be a bug
 
 
Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Iron Man trying to tame the rampaging Red Hulk on the exclusive Magic: The Gathering card 'Warstorm Surge.'
Marvel Comics Marvel's next big comic gets a special release including an exclusive Magic: The Gathering card
 
 
A distressed Peak character
Co-op Games Peak co-developer Landfall reminds impatient fans it's not a live-service studio
 
 
Switch 2 with Donkey Kong Bananza art on screen on wood pattern table next to accessories.
Nintendo Switch 2 Switch 2 prices will go up, says ex-Nintendo sales lead: "It's inevitable"
 
 
Mario Kart World screenshot Switch 2
Games Nintendo's physical price split is "a pro-consumer move," says ex-sales lead
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys in Weapons.
    1
    Weapons prequel Gladys adds Godzilla writer as we get one step closer to horror villain Aunt Gladys' return
  2. 2
    Crimson Desert players are speed-gliding using this amazing hack that may or may not be a bug
  3. 3
    Marvel's next big comic gets a special release including an exclusive Magic: The Gathering card
  4. 4
    Peak co-developer Landfall reminds impatient fans it's not a live-service studio
  5. 5
    Switch 2 prices will go up, says ex-Nintendo sales lead: "It's inevitable"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...