The Sony PlayStation debuted in 1994 as one of the first disc media home game consoles. Released at a time when Nintendo’s Super Mario and the N64 were dominating sales, the PlayStation carved out a name for Sony in gaming. To celebrate PlayStation’s 30 years of game production, we’d like to take a closer look at the seven best video game titles for the PlayStation 5.
Arcades were the undisputed leader in high-performance video gaming from the 1970s through the late ’90s. This seemingly changed overnight with the 2000 release of The Sony PlayStation 2. Suddenly, the best video gaming was only available at home. The PS2 had the ability to match or surpass everything that had come before it. Amazing graphics, sophisticated original soundtracks, and full voice acting were presented in a way that had never been fully realized before the PS2. It was during this time that Sony began to develop first-party software with iconic intellectual properties. “Final Fantasy X,” “God of War,” and “Tekken Tag Tournament” are all examples of games that were Sony exclusives: if you wanted to play these games, you needed a PS2.
Sony also found great success by casting a wider net in terms of mature content; though Sony did offer plenty of family-friendly titles like fireworks simulator “Fantavision” and adventure title “Jak and Daxter.” Differing from Nintendo, Sony also presented games with mature themes like “Twisted Metal: Black” or “Devil May Cry.” Over the course of the next twenty years, Sony would continue to release iterations of the PlayStation that each grew in power and performance.
In the modern era of gaming, the PS5 is one of the most powerful consoles in terms of hardware. PS5 is now the proud home of Sony exclusives like “Spider-Man” and “The Last of Us” that generate millions of dollars in pre-sales alone. Sony’s current home console is only rivaled by Microsoft’s X-Box Series S/X and high-end gaming computers in terms of graphical output.
Covering many genres and playstyles, all of the games on our list are fun examples of how far video gaming has progressed. Once relegated to a niche hobby for children, video games are now a billion-dollar industry enjoyed by fans all over the world. So, what are the best PS5 games? We have compiled the top seven below. Let us know your favorite titles in the comments!
The List: Best PlayStation 5 Games, According to Experts
1. “God of War Ragnarök” (2022)
Lauded as an amazing combination of incredible action gameplay and storytelling, “God of War Ragnarök” is considered a masterpiece of software development. This title serves as the latest chapter in the saga of Kratos, the “Ghost of Sparta.” GameRant raves, “There really is very little to choose between ‘God of War Ragnarök’ and ‘Elden Ring,’ with the two titles going blow for blow across various 2022 game awards ceremonies. Kratos and Atreus have the edge when it comes to user-friendliness though, with the conclusion to the pair’s adventure through Norse mythology catering to a much broader demographic due to the game’s simpler combat system and its fantastic selection of accessibility options.”
Games Radar praises, ‘“God of War Ragnarök’ is such a fitting end of Kratos’ Norse arc, along with Atreus, Mimir, and other returning pals. The story has serious narrative punch, there are some brilliant puzzles, and the combat is a fantastic evolution of the extremely satisfying mechanics from the last game too. This is the one to beat.”
Push Square exclaims, “‘God of War Ragnarök’ improves on 2018’s already excellent ‘God of War’ in every possible way — which says it all, really. It’s a massive adventure spanning all nine realms of Norse mythology, and the game’s jaw-dropping scope is probably its greatest asset. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Ragnarök pops up with something completely new and exciting, time and time again. An immense experience, polished to near perfection. One of PlayStation Studios’ best works.”
2. “Elden Ring” (2022)
“Elden Ring’s” release was a global phenomenon that has sold more than 20.5 million copies since March 2022. It is a long-form adventure game that is satisfyingly difficult and richly detailed. IGN describes, “At the core of it all is ‘Elden Ring’s’ incredible sense of freedom and discovery. There are open world games that are bigger than ‘Elden Ring,’ prettier than ‘Elden Ring,’ and quite frankly run better than ‘Elden Ring,’ but few, if any, are as robust or as rewarding.”
“Developed by Japanese studio FromSoftware, this behemoth takes the formula established in ‘Dark Souls’ and expands it into a massive open-world setting. Of course, as with almost all FromSoftware games, ‘Elden Ring’s’ biggest draw is its challenging difficulty level that demands near perfection from players,” says tom’s guide.
The Gamer elaborates, “As a successor to the ‘Dark Souls’ series, and the Soulsborne games as a whole, FromSoftware’s ‘Elden Ring’ is a game that took the industry by storm. Essentially ‘Dark Souls 4’ x ‘Breath of the Wild,’ this game brought so many fans and newcomers alike to the genre, and people loved it.”
3. “Horizon Forbidden West” (2022)
“Horizon Forbidden West” is a game of post-apocalyptic techno-tribes in the American West. This game blends stealthy hunting, a thrilling plot, and amazing voice performances from Lance Riddick and Ashly Burch. The Gamer adds, “Following up on 2017’s ‘Horizon Zero Dawn,’ ‘Horizon Forbidden West’ sees Aloy travel to the western shores of America to face a rising threat amongst the machines that brought the world to ruin once before.”
Games Radar comments, “‘Horizon Forbidden West’ is such a confident sequel. It’s not reinventing the wheel – it’s another game about saving a world filled with giant robot dinosaurs – but it doesn’t have to. Aloy’s story is just as compelling as the first game, but with more human elements, interesting new character additions, and tons more personality.”
G details, “‘Horizon Forbidden West’ is an excellent demonstration of the power of the PS5. Arguably the most beautiful open-world game ever made, ‘Horizon Forbidden West’ is a visual triumph whether you’re playing in performance or graphics modes.”
4. “Ghost of Tsushima” (2021)
“Ghost of Tsushima” is perhaps the greatest samurai game ever made. The beautiful art direction and orchestration creates an immersive storytelling experience. GameSpot explains, “If you missed out on ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ at the end of the PS4’s lifecycle, the upgrade, which supports gameplay at 60fps and 4K resolution, makes it look and feel like a native PS5 game. You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai who barely staves off a violent death and sets off on an adventure to thwart the first Mongol invasion of Japan.”
Push Square offers, “‘Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut’ repackages one of the greatest open world games of the PS4 era on the PS5… With improved presentation and stunning DualSense support, allowing you to physically feel the clash of steel-on-steel in your fingertips, this is the definitive version of one of PlayStation Studios’ crowning achievements.”
The Shortcut states, “If you’ve been waiting years for a convincing samurai game that combines an emotional story with razor-sharp combat, you owe it to yourself to join Jin on his perilous journey to save Tsushima from a Mongol invasion.”
5. “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales” (2020)
“Spider-Man” games are unrivaled in the superhero genre. “Spider-Man: Miles Morales” follows the young web-head on his adventures in New York City. Tech Radar claims, “A sequel that’s most akin to ‘Uncharted: The Lost Legacy’ in terms of scale, ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ puts you in the Adidas-branded sneakers of the charismatic and rookie web-slinger, Miles.”
Games Radar relates, “Miles has some new powers this time around, like the bioelectric venom. ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ manages the tricky task of delivering a story that Venom punches you right in the heart but is also a place that you want to escape to after a long day in the real world.”
IGN reviews, “Though not a full-blown sequel, this standalone expansion sends Peter Parker on vacation and leaves his young spider-apprentice Miles Morales to look after New York. Building on the rock-solid foundations of Insomniac’s first game, New York has been gorgeously blanketed with snow, holiday cheer, and next-gen polish.”
6. “The Last of Us Part 1” (2022)
“The Last of Us Part 1” is the second remake/update of the best-selling 2013 post-apocalypse title. Graphical updates and subtle changes brought the title more-in-line narratively with its 2020 sequel. “Even though its presence marks the second time that Naughty Dog’s iconic title has been repackaged and served up to players, ‘The Last of Us Part 1’ still manages to be a must-have title for any PS5 owner by doing justice to the game’s original vision,” according to Trusted Reviews.
GameRant asserts, “Having already been remastered for the PS4 back in 2014, it could perhaps be argued that ‘The Last of Us Part 1’ was an unnecessary endeavor on Naughty Dog’s part. However, few would dare dispute the fact that the PS5 version of ‘The Last of Us Part 1’ offers a much better experience than the 2014 remaster, with the first act of Ellie and Joel’s journey having been lovingly remade from the ground up.”
IGN evaluates, “While there is a point of contention on whether this remake was necessary overall, the improvements and changes introduced are enough to warrant this as a great first way to experience this decade-old franchise. The improved character models and facial animation are the biggest praises for this remake, making the phenomenal acting done by the cast more meaningful and realistic.”
7. “Astro’s Playroom” (2020)
“Astro’s Playroom” is pure fun with bright colors and addictive gameplay. It is also charming and easy for all ages to enjoy. “If you didn’t know, ‘Astro’s Playroom’ comes pre-installed on every single PS5 console. And while you might be tempted to skip this freebie, you absolutely should play this nifty little game first because it’s so much more than a throwaway pack-in,” articulates tom’s guide.
The Shortcut compliments this game, “One of the best features of the PS5 console is the clever DualSense controller from Sony. Even after two years of using the PlayStation 5, it’s remarkable how much I still enjoy the features of the DualSense. The new haptic feedback and adaptive triggers add an extra level of immersion to games which I never knew I needed, and it’s hard to go back to a standard controller once you’ve experienced what the DualSense can provide.”
Tech Radar assures, “‘Astro’s Playroom’ is the best pack-in game since ‘Wii Sports,’ as it perfectly showcases what Sony’s new system can do. From the sumptuous, crystal clear 4K visuals, to the pleasing 3D audio, this is a gem of a platformer and it’s pre-installed on every PS5. It’s the way ‘Astro’s Playroom’ shows off the DualSense controller, though, that really steals the show.”
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Sources:
- GameRant
- Games Radar
- Push Square
- IGN
- tom’s guide
- The Gamer
- GameSpot
- Trusted Reviews
- The Shortcut
- Tech Radar
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.