How to Compare PS4 Games' PS5 Performance on Backwards Compatible

Backwards Compatible (backwards-compatible.com) is a reference site for checking how PS4 games run on PS5, and it exposes the same set of data points for each title — resolution, frame rate, and performance-related notes — so you can compare games side by side. The catch is that the site is organized around individual game pages rather than a single sortable comparison table, so "comparing" here means opening two or more game entries and reading the same fields across them. This works well when you already have a shortlist (for example, deciding whether to start The Last of Us Part II or Ghost of Tsushima next) and less well when you want to rank dozens of games at once.

What data you can actually compare

Because every game entry is built from the same template, the comparable dimensions are consistent across titles:

• Resolution — the output resolution the game targets or runs at on PS5.
• Frame rate — the FPS the game delivers, which is the main differentiator between a "fine" and a "much better" experience.
• Performance mode / settings — whether the game offers a mode toggle and what each mode changes (for example, favoring frame rate over resolution).
• Overall compatibility status — whether the game runs normally, has known issues, or is flagged as problematic.

The site's own framing is "performance, resolution and frame rate data," so those three are the core axes. Anything beyond that (load times, specific patch notes) should be treated as a bonus if present, not a guaranteed field.

How to run a comparison

1. Pick your candidates first. Decide on 2–4 games you're actually choosing between. The site lists titles like The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War (2018), and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which are reasonable starting points for a shortlist.
2. Open each game's page. Use the site's search or browse to reach the individual entry for each title.
3. Record the same fields for each. Write down resolution, frame rate, and any mode options in a small table so you're not comparing from memory.
4. Compare like with like. Only compare frame rate to frame rate and resolution to resolution. A game with a 60 FPS performance mode isn't directly comparable to one that only lists a single 30 FPS target unless you note that difference.
5. Check the compatibility status last. A game with great numbers but a flagged issue may still be the wrong pick.

A simple comparison template

Fill this in from each game page; the act of filling it forces you to read the same fields rather than skimming.

Turning the data into a decision

The comparison only matters if it maps to what you care about:

• If smoothness matters most, prioritize the frame rate field and prefer games with a performance mode that raises FPS.
• If visual sharpness matters most, weight resolution, and accept a lower frame rate if the game only offers one mode.
• If you want the safest pick, favor games with a clean compatibility status and a clear mode description over ones with ambiguous or missing data.

A game that lists both a resolution and a frame rate with a mode toggle gives you the most information to decide with; a game with a single vague entry gives you the least.

Limits to keep in mind

• No built-in side-by-side view. The site presents per-game pages, so the comparison is something you assemble yourself, not something the site generates.
• Field completeness varies. Not every game will have every data point filled in; a blank field is not the same as a bad result.
• Data reflects what's documented, not your setup. Your TV, HDMI mode, and PS5 settings can change what you actually see, so treat the listed numbers as the game's target behavior rather than a guarantee for your room.
• Compatibility status is the tiebreaker, not the headline. Two games with similar numbers can differ sharply if one has a known issue.

If your goal is simply to decide which of two or three games to play next, reading their entries back to back and filling in the table above is enough. If you want a ranked list across many games, this site isn't built for that — you'll need to check titles one at a time.