Choosing the best PS5 games is harder than you'd think as Sony's state-of-the-art console has a wealth of games to pick from. The top PS5 games make use of the hardware, including the fast SSD, 3D audio and the DualSense controller's haptics.
My PS5 review explains how Sony's console is a must-own even if it is hard to find, if you want one take a look at our PS5 restock tracker. We update it whenever news of a PlayStation 5 restock is happening. If you want the latest hardware, then take a look at my feature 'PSVR 2: everything you need to know'. If you're looking ahead, then read my guide to the best upcoming PS5 games. Also take a look at my feature on the best PSVR 2 games coming soon.
Ian is the former editor of the Official PlayStation Magazine and has been a video game journalist for more than 20 years. He's worked across many video games magazines, including PlayStation World and launched Play Magazine in 2020. He has owned and written about every PlayStation console since 1998 across print and web.
The best PS5 games
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The best PS5 game sequel yet
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Sony Santa Monica
Players: 1
+ Sequel to the PS4 hit
+ State of the art visuals
+ Optimised for PS5
Our God of War: Ragnarök review shows why this is one of the biggest PS5 games right now. This sequel has immersive haptic feedback and adaptive trigger gameplay as well as 3D enhanced audio and a solid and fast framerate.
The adventure takes place three years after the events of the 2018 game, with Kratos and his son Atreus battling through the nine realms to try and prevent Ragnarök.
God of War: Ragnarök is the game if you're looking to get into game development and art, it delivers an interesting UI and some of the best VFX, storytelling and animation on PS5. Epic.
Score: 5/5
The best PS5 game for complexity
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: FromSoftware
Players: 1-4
+ Breathtaking visuals
+ Complex role-playing
– Incredibly difficult
Elden Ring is the long-awaited partnership between legendary game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin.
Our Elden Ring review revealed how gameplay focuses on role-play and combat but is now set across a large open world, one littered with castles, fortresses, and catacombs.
It's Elden Ring's art direction that captures the imagination. All of Miyazaki's games have a distinctly gritty, gothic look and are now coupled with George R. R. Martin's descriptive lore there will be few games in 2022 that look this imaginative.
Score: 5/5
The best PS5 game for large worlds
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Players: 1
+ A vast open world
+ New skills to master
- Complex controls
Horizon Forbidden West, brings Aloy and her mechanical monster hunting antics to PS5. This open world adventure mixes role-player gameplay with swift action that enables you craft gadgets and tools to battle the massive machines.
Our Horizon Forbidden West review reveals a game that makes great use of PS5. The new game uses an updated version of Decima engine to deliver crisp, detailed and vibrant visuals. The PS5's SSD, Tempest 3D audio, and DualSense controller are all leveraged to make gameplay faster and more immersive than on older PS4 hardware.
Score: 4/5
The best PS5 game for large worlds
Publisher: EA
Developer: EA Motive
Players: 1
+ Beautiful visual design
+ Subtle revisions impress
- It's still a remake
Hindsight has been kind to Dead Space. When this sci-fi horror released in 2008 many cast it aside as Resident Evil 4 clone, but those who knew loved the atmosphere, brutal combat and progressive gameplay. This PS5 remake enhances everything and manages to iron-out some narrative missteps and develop side stories along the way.
The attention to detail impresses and Motive has done a fantastic job of updating the impressive art direction with today's lighting and VFX. Combat remains gritty – you can cut off 'zombies' arms and legs, nibbling at them and creating unique tactical choices. If you love horror games or simply want to play one of the PS3 era's greatest titles but improved upon, Dead Space comes highly recommended.
Score: 4/5
The best PS5 game for motor racing
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Players: 1-20
+ Photo real cars
+ Great use of haptics
- Too sim focused?
Gran Turismo 7 takes the classic PlayStation racing series back to its roots. This PS5 game sees the return of GT Simulation mode, a single-player campaign that enables players to collect and race a garage of the world's hottest cars. Special Events, Driving School, fan-favourite tracks from previous games.
On PS5 the game delivers realistic car physics. Likewise 3D audio enables you to hear cars approach, and the side they're on. The DualSense controller enables you 'feel' different track surfaces as well as sense gear changes and steering feedback.
Score: 4/5
The best PS5 for innovation
Publisher: Bethesda
Developer: Arkane Studios
Players: 1-2
+ Excellent multiplayer
+ Creative visual design
- Replaying levels
Deathloop is a game with a unique idea – replay the same day time again in order to assassinate a bunch of not-very-nice-people.
The depth of detail is wonderful, and the smartly designed levels change as you revisit areas at different times of day, with different goals, weapons and powers. Your aim is to nudge together the perfect time loop, winning your freedom from the bizarre, '60s inspired death-island.
The problem? Julianna has a bone to pick with Colt (you), and wants to put a stop to him. An inventive shooter that pulls together the best of PS5's tech in new and interesting ways.
Score: 5/5
The best PS5 game for SSD use
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Insomniac Games
Players: 1
+ Colourful visuals
+ Inventive weapons
- Could be longer
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart feels like you’re watching an animated movie. Frequently you'll be surprised that you can actually control the game, so seamless are the transitions between the gorgeous cutscenes and the in-game action.
Not-so-cuddly are the guns, as inventive and weird as Insomniac Games has ever designed, and they all feel unique when using the DualSense – they jiggle and rattle in new and unique ways in your hands.
The rift-hopping mechanics compliments Ratchet’s greater mobility and make the new SSD work hard.
Score: 5/5
The best PS5 game for DC fans
Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
Developer: Warner Bros. Montreal
Players: 1-2
+ Made for PS5
+ Fluid combat design
– Not very complex
Gotham Knights is set in a Gotham City post-Batman's death you play one of Batgirl, Red Hood, Robin or Nightwing in single or co-op. The open world is colourfully art directed and animated, with lots of side quests and challenges. Combat is fluid and engaging but not as rhythmic as the Arkham series.
Exploring Gotham as one of the Bat Family is fun, though some characters are more enjoyable than others – if you want an experience closer to the Arkham series, sick with Batgirl. Great fun.
Score: 4/5
The best PS5 game for completists
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Naughty Dog
Players: 1
+ Remade for PS5
+ A fantastic story
– Old game design
The Last Of Us Part 1 is a remake of the classic PS3 game, that was remastered on PS4. This PS5 edition is remade using the latest tech – and it's a visually stunning experience.
The story of TLOU is regarded as one of the best ever in video games, and it stands the test of time here (there's a TV series planned for 2023).
What lets this remake down is some old game design choices haven't been ironed out; so while the world you interact with looks photo real, you're still limited to how you move in these spaces. If you want a visual powerhouse, this is the game.
Score: 4/5
The best PS5 game for retro fans
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Bluepoint Games
Players: 1-3
+ Technically excellent
+ True to the PS3 hit
- Very, very difficult
Demon's Souls is a PS3 game remade for PS5. Taking From Software’s role-playing game and updating it to be something modern yet extremely true to the original is an art.
This dark fantasy world remains unmatched. The 60fps pace and game-changing design (if you did you return minus your XP, unless you make it to save point and bank the rewards), demands to be experienced. Again.
On PS5 you can feel the clash of swords on the DualSense controller and dying and restarting is a breeze thanks to the SSD.
Score: 5/5
The best PS5 game arcade shooters lovers
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Housemarque
Players: 1
+ Superb 3D audio
+ Classic arcade ideas
- Can get repetitive
Load Returnal, slip on some headphones and become immersed in Selene’s horror as you explore a strange and dangerous alien world. Having crashed in a spaceship, she begins to find bodies of other astronauts… except, it turns out these are actually her.
The design of the planet is wonderful and filled with an ecosystem that feels so unlike our own. The DualSense accesses alt fire modes by holding the trigger down to a mid-way stopping point that fights against you. It’s integral to the design, making it easily one of the best PS5 games for showcasing true next-gen technology.
Score: 4/5
The best PS5 game for Marvel fans
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Insomniac Games
Players: 1
+ Fantastic script
+ Excellent PS5 features
- It's more of the same
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a shorter adventure than its PS4 predecessor by design. It's tight and represents great video game storytelling
The story benefits from its seasonal focus. This Christmas-set story gains a sense of warm-hearted feels like it could go spider-limb-to-limb with the MCU’s greatest movies.
The web-swinging is back, and as great as ever with some new moves to boot. The same for the combat, which makes uses of Miles Morales’ unique powers like the ability to briefly turn invisible and zap enemies with a static charge.
Score: 5/5
The best PS5 game for horror fans
Publisher: Krafton
Developer: Striking Distance
Players: 1
+ Atmospheric gameplay
+ Plays like Dead Space
– Poor combat design
The Callisto Protocol is a spiritual successor to Dead Space. That game's director, Glen Schofield, returns to old stomping ground with this sci-fi, and for the most part it's a fun ride.
This is a visually stunning adventure made for PS5 that teases horrors around every shadowed corner as you explore a mining facility on Jupiter's 'Dead Moon'.
The UI design recalls Dead Space, as does the pacing and some combat – which works in one-on-one scenarios but gets frustrating when the horde arrives. Still, this is one of the best horror games on PS5.
Score: 4/5
