Released at the tail end of 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic, thePlayStation 5got off to a bit of a slow start. In the years that have followed, though,the PS5’s library has expanded quite a bitand now boasts an excellent selection of titles that can cater to the wants and needs of most gamers.
The bestPlayStation 5games span multiple genres and offer unparalleled experiences when compared to many of their peers. Some of them are exclusive to the console, but there also are one or two third-party titles that are available on other platforms amidst the system’s top titles.
7Gran Turismo 7
87 Metacritic Rating (PS5)
There are plenty ofgreat PS5 racing games, both when it comes to realistic driving simulations and fun-filled arcade-style experiences.Gran Turismo 7is arguably the pick of the bunch through, providing players with a ridiculous amount of cars and tracks and unparalleled levels of authenticity.
After receiving heavy criticism for its aggressive monetization at launch, the game really came into its own in the months and years that followed. Regular updates have helped to keep the experience from growing stale, whilethe game’s VR support is incredibly immersive, providing yet another reason to check it out.
6Horizon Forbidden West
88 Metacritic Rating (PS5)
Horizon Forbidden Westis one ofthe best-looking games on the PlayStation 5. Its story and setting wouldn’t feel out of place in a best-selling sci-fi novel, and it boasts a fantastic cast of supporting characters who are a joy to spend time with. Also, players get to ride robotic animals, which is pretty cool.
Anybody who enjoyedHorizon Zero Dawnshould love Aloy’s second outing; even if the protagonist herself can sometimes be a bit of a wet blanket. Learning more about society’s collapse and exploring the ruins of the old ones is a lot of fun, and combat is surprisingly good for astory-heavy ARPG.
5Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
92 Metacritic Rating (PS5)
Much like its predecessor,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthdoes an excellent job of further fleshing out the world of Gaia, while also consolidating story beats and characters fromtheCompilation of Final Fantasy 7collection. Combat is fast-paced and exciting too, and the story is masterfully told.
Although it could perhaps be argued that the devs went a little over the top when it came to mini-games (particularly with players needing to engage with so many of them as part of the main story), thechanges made from the original gameare mostly for the better. Even the ones that aren’t are pretty easy to overlook.
4Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
90 Metacritic Rating (PS5)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2can be challenging if players crank up the difficulty, although this arguably makes things a lot less fun. The whole point of a superhero game is to make players feel as though they’re unstoppable, and the 2023 title definitely does this when played onthe default difficulty setting.
Swinging through the streets of New York has never felt so liberating, and although the story falls a little short of the ones found in some of the manygreatSpider-Mangamesof yesteryear, it’s far from a bad one. It’s the bestMarvel’s Spider-Manto date and a must-play for fans of the previous two games.
3Elden Ring
96 Metacritic Rating (PS5)
For those who enjoy agood Soulsborne game,Elden Ringjust might be the best PlayStation 5 game on the market. The only thing holding it back is its challenging difficulty, although, for a lot of people, this is actually a huge positive and one of many things that makes this game so great.
Elden Ringoffers all of the same gameplay goodness that players have come to expect from Soulsborne titles and combines it with an incredible story and a world drenched in rich lore. This isn’t to say thatother FromSoftware gamesdon’t also have these things, butElden Ringarguably leads the way.
2Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3can seem a little daunting at first, particularly for those who don’t have a lot of experience withgames likeDungeons and Dragons. However, once players start to get into the swing of things, they’ll find an incredible RPG experience that’s unlike anything else on the market.
WhereBaldur’s Gate 3shines the brightest is through the unparalleled level of agency that it gives to players.Choices actually matter, and there are usually multiple ways to get things done, allowing players to approach the game however they see fit. The writing and voice acting are fantastic as well.
1God of War Ragnarok
94 Metacritic Rating (PS5)
There’s very little to choose between the best PS5 games, particularly when it comes to the top three. All of them provide players with excellent narratives andunforgettable gameplay experiences, although when it comes to accessibility, there can only be one real winner.
God of War Ragnarok’s combat is far from simple, butthe game’s various difficulty settingsallow it to cater to players of every skill level. Switching between two different protagonists helps to keep things feeling fresh, while also offering a new perspective from which to experience the epic main story.
