It's the end of a long day and you're looking to escape or maybe just zone out for a while. You want to play something, but you don't have it in you to jump into a deep RPG storyline or anything that requires you to pay too much attention.
Sometimes the best escape from the daily grind is, well, more grinding—but in video games!
Some games offer a grind that isn't fun or satisfying, but others make grinding a central part of the experience and aim to make it fun. If you're looking for that type of game for the PlayStation 4, let this article be your starting place.
9. Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness
While Star Ocean has never enjoyed Final Fantasy or even Tales levels of popularity, it has a loyal fan base. Much of this is because of the combat system and the series infamous post-game dungeons.
You can make it through the game on the default difficulty easily, but you'll need to grind gear and levels for the post-game, especially on higher difficulties.
8. The Elder Scrolls Online
Similar to Final Fantasy XIV, this game is an MMORPG, along with all the trappings of the genre. Yes, it still feels like an Elder Scrolls game, but there is plenty of grinding to be done.
It's also less reliant on groups than Final Fantasy XIV, so if you tend to be a loner, even in online games, this is the game for you.
7. Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance
The entire Disgaea series is known for grinding. Your party's levels are only the beginning.
Most of the items in the game contain their own randomly generated dungeons, and fighting through these levels up those items, making them even more powerful. You'll never level up every item all the way, but you'll have fun trying.
6. Final Fantasy XIV
Like any MMORPG, playing Final Fantasy XIV entails a lot of grinding. That said, the game's story, world building, and community make the grind much more fun.
Like many of the other games on this list, just when you think you're done, you'll find a new class added to the game to level up or some new type of item to grind out.
5. Borderlands 3
If you've never played the Borderlands games, imagine Diablo III but make it a first-person shooter. Now add tons of questionable humor and an absurd number of combinations to create weapons and that's the series in a nutshell.
4. Diablo III
Like some of the other games we've looked at already, Diablo III doesn't stop. Yes, you've beaten the game three times, but what about all those other difficulties and the gear you'll acquire along the way? This is one of the best "listen to a podcast and grind away" type of games out there.
3. Warframe
There are distinct similarities between Warframe and Destiny 2, but play the two games and you'll see how different they are.
Warframe focuses much more on the titular Frames, which are always growing in number, along with all the other gear you'll need to grind out over the weeks, months, and maybe even years.
2. Destiny 2
You'll probably hit a point where you think you've finished Destiny 2. You haven't. And if you haven't played before, it's time to give it a shot because the base game is free to try now!
There's always more, whether it's some sort of currency to grind, some new piece of gear to attain, or another piece of DLC added to raise the level cap.
1. Monster Hunter: World
Since the first installment on the PlayStation 2, the Monster Hunter franchise has always been about the grind.
Hunt monsters, use the parts you get to build better weapons and armor to hunt tougher monsters, repeat. It's a loop that gets addictive quickly and it can be tough to quit.
