What is Backwards Compatible and what does it offer for PS4 and PS5 games?

Updated

Backwards Compatible (backwards-compatible.com) is a reference site for finding PS4 games that can be played on PlayStation 5. Its stated purpose is to help you look up backwards-compatible PS4 titles and see how they behave on PS5, including performance, resolution, and frame rate data. It is useful if you already own PS4 games, are considering replaying them on PS5, or want to check whether a specific title has PS5-specific improvements before starting it.

What the site covers

The site is organized around one core task: finding PlayStation 5 compatible games. Rather than acting as a store or a news outlet, it functions as a lookup and comparison resource. The data it presents centers on how a PS4 game runs when played on PS5, which is the practical question most players have when deciding whether to revisit an older title.

According to the site's own description, the information includes:

  • Performance — how the game runs on PS5 hardware
  • Resolution — the output resolution the game targets or reaches
  • Frame rate — the frame rate the game delivers on PS5

These three dimensions are the ones that most often differ between a game's original PS4 release and its behavior on PS5, so they are the natural things to check before playing.

Games shown on the site

The homepage highlights a set of well-known PS4 titles as examples, including:

  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • God of War (2018)
  • Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

These examples suggest the site focuses on major, widely owned PS4 games — the kind of titles players are most likely to already have in their library and want to replay on PS5. Seeing them listed also indicates the site covers both first-party Sony games and third-party releases.

Who it is for

This site is aimed at PS5 owners who want to play PS4 games and want to know what to expect before they do. Typical situations include:

  • You kept your PS4 disc or digital library and want to know how a game performs on PS5.
  • You are deciding whether a PS4 title is worth replaying on newer hardware.
  • You want to compare resolution or frame rate details before choosing what to play next.

If you only play native PS5 games, or you do not own any PS4 titles, the site's core value — backwards-compatibility data — is less relevant to you.

How to use it

The intended workflow is straightforward: go to backwards-compatible.com, search for or browse to a PS4 game, and read its PS5 performance, resolution, and frame rate details. The homepage's heading, "Find PlayStation 5 compatible games," reflects that lookup-first design.

One practical note: the site is a reference for compatibility and performance data, not a marketplace. The available information does not indicate any pricing, purchase, or account requirements, so treat it as a place to check how a game runs rather than where to buy it.