Among the thousands of video games released since the 1980s, titles beginning with the letter P span a surprisingly wide range of genres. RPGs, FPS games, collectible card games, online action RPGs: the letter P brings together franchises that have redefined their categories. Which titles truly stand out for their longevity, influence, or business model, and which ones are worth exploring depending on your player profile?
Comparing P video games by genre and platform
| Title | Main genre | Platforms | Business model | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portal 2 | Puzzle / FPS | PC, PlayStation, Xbox | One-time purchase | Released (2011), still active |
| Pokémon Pocket | Collectible card game | Mobile | Free-to-play with microtransactions | Live service, regular expansions |
| Path of Exile 2 | Action RPG | PC, PlayStation, Xbox | Paid early access, free-to-play launch announced for December 11, 2026 | In early access since December 2024 |
| Persona 5 Royal | RPG / Social sim | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch | One-time purchase | Released, definitive edition available |
| Prey (2017) | FPS / Immersive sim | PC, PlayStation, Xbox | One-time purchase | Released (2017) |
This table highlights a point often overlooked in recommendation lists: business models vary enormously from one title to another. Two games as different as Portal 2 and Path of Exile 2 don’t require the same budget or time commitment.
Players browsing the available video games starting with P will notice that the letter brings together both short single-player titles and live-service games designed to last hundreds of hours.
Path of Exile 2: a business model in transition
Path of Exile 2 illustrates a trend shaping today’s video game market. In paid early access since December 2024, Grinding Gear Games’ title is set to go free-to-play when it fully launches, announced for December 11, 2026.
The Third Edict update, released in August 2025, added a complete story act, removed Cruel difficulty, and introduced new movement and trading mechanics. This update cadence makes Path of Exile 2 feel more like a game in continuous development than a finished product.
For players familiar with the first Path of Exile, the question isn’t whether the game is good, but when to jump in. Paying now gives you access to content that’s still incomplete, while waiting for the full release means you can enjoy the free-to-play version and a more settled experience. This distinction matters especially for players discovering the franchise for the first time.
Pokémon Pocket and the pace of expansions
Pokémon Pocket stands apart from other games in the franchise thanks to its mobile format and take on digital collectible card gaming. The game adjusts its expansion release schedule based on community feedback, a detail that conventional recommendation lists tend to overlook.
This has a direct impact on the experience: how quickly new cards arrive determines the game’s real cost for collectors. Too fast a release schedule encourages spending, while too slow a pace can dampen competitive interest.
What Pokémon Pocket changes for the franchise
Recent Pokémon games are no longer limited to classic RPGs on handheld consoles. Pokémon Pocket targets mobile and casual players, with short sessions and a gradual collection system. This broadens the franchise’s appeal, but it also means longtime Pokémon fans won’t find the familiar exploration or turn-based combat mechanics here.
Portal 2 and Persona 5 Royal: two takes on single-player gaming
Portal 2 and Persona 5 Royal share the same business model (one-time purchase, complete single-player experience), but their length and design philosophies differ radically.
- Portal 2 focuses on tightly designed puzzles, with a single-player campaign that takes around ten hours to complete and a co-op mode that extends the experience without diluting it
- Persona 5 Royal offers a dense narrative RPG in which players alternate between turn-based combat and social simulation over dozens of hours
- Prey (2017), often overlooked in lists like this, is an immersive sim where every room aboard the spaceship offers gameplay choices that shape your progress
These three games showcase the hidden diversity behind the letter P. Players looking for a compact, cerebral experience will gravitate toward Portal 2. Those who want to immerse themselves in a rich narrative world over the long term will choose Persona 5 Royal. Prey, meanwhile, is ideal for players who enjoy freedom of approach and methodical exploration.
Prey, the underrated title
Prey deserves a special mention. Developed by Arkane Studios, it draws on the conventions of System Shock and Deus Ex in a science-fiction setting. Its Talos I space station remains one of the genre’s best open environments, with interconnected spaces that reward curiosity. The game never achieved the same recognition as Portal 2 or Persona 5, but its design makes it one of the most accomplished immersive sims available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Choosing a P game to suit your player profile
Genre and platform aren’t enough to guide your choice. The time you have available and your budget matter just as much as your gaming preferences.
- Limited budget and patience: wait for Path of Exile 2 to go free-to-play in late 2026
- Short mobile sessions: Pokémon Pocket, as long as you keep microtransactions in check
- Co-op night with friends: Portal 2 and its two-player mode
- Long-term narrative immersion: Persona 5 Royal, which takes several weeks to complete
- Open-ended exploration and replayability: Prey, whose multiple approaches to each situation make it worth playing more than once
The deciding factor is how much time a player is willing to invest. Finishing Portal 2 in around ten hours can leave as lasting an impression as completing Persona 5 Royal after dozens of hours, but the commitment involved is nothing alike. Ultimately, the letter P offers an unexpected shortcut to exploring the diversity of video games, from minimalist puzzles to sprawling RPGs.
