Gaming

The Best PS5 Games – IGN

ByNews Polite January 7, 2023

15. Hitman 3

Hitman 3 acts as the finale in IO Interactive’s phenomenal “World of Assassination” trilogy, turning Agent 47 loose on some of the biggest and most intricate levels yet, including the inspired Dartmoor Mansion. And it’s perhaps the finest example of IO’s formula: He can assassinate his victims with badass cold-blooded efficiency, or trigger some Rube Goldberg-style series of events that results in a much more comical death… or if something backfires, a Wile E. Coyote-grade failure.

When making a new Hitman game for next-gen consoles, IO Interactive could’ve shipped one game and called it a day, but they also remastered the first two games to the point that they’re visually indistinguishable from the latest installment (sold separately, unless you own them already, in which case it’s a free upgrade). In any case, the World of Assassination Trilogy was great on PS4, but it’s even better on PS5. Anyway, long story short, you can kill a guy by making him slip on a banana peel, which is funny anywhere, but on PS5 it’s also very pretty thanks to increased resolution, smooth 60fps, and an overall smoother experience over the last-gen version.

In addition to finishing up Hitman 3’s freelancer mode, IO is working on a new James Bond game codenamed Project 007 and an all-new IP.

14. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy is a nostalgia-fueled cosmic romp that creates a distinct, if clearly inspired, take on Marvel’s group of intergalactic a-holes. The gorgeous art and the genuinely endearing story are packed full of charm and humor, and it’s all elevated by a stellar voice cast that succeeds in evoking our favorite space heroes for hire but with their own unique, memorable takes. Whether you are blasting your way through a Nova Corps base or exploring Knowhere, there is never a dull moment thanks to various pieces of context-sensitive dialogue. In fact, Guardians might just have some of the best party banter ever.

Guardians also features a killer soundtrack that’s jam-packed with arguably some of the best songs from the ’80s, as well as an entire album by the fictional band Star-Lord. At the heart of its story, it deals with themes of loss, grief, and the power of a found family. While these themes may be the ones you’d expect in a Guardians of the Galaxy game, it’s the phenomenal execution that makes this one worth the trip.

13. Final Fantasy 7 Remake/Intergrade

Final Fantasy VII Remake/Intergrade was the pipe dream that many fans hoped would happen but didn’t believe would see the light of day. Seeing the first chapter of FFVII remake in crisp HD and fully voice-acted not only made the day for those who tout it as the best in the franchise but also for those who may have missed out in the PS1 era. It’s a shining example of how far gaming has come in the five generations of Playstation.

The game updated more than its visuals opting for faster real-time action that rewards skill and preparation while still allowing anyone who wants the traditional turn-based combat a way to choose that option as well. Because you never get to leave Midgar, Square-Enix improved and added to the side stories with the other members of Avalanche, your time in Wall Market, and added a few more areas to expand upon the original. The materia system is back and optimized with new materia for the updated gameplay style and introduces new ones to compliment it.

The Intermission expansion puts Yuffie front and center and gives her a chance to shine before the next release. It includes arguably the best and most engaging combat via her elemental ninjutsu, synergy attacks, and other ninja skills. Both the core game and the Intermission DLC add to the context of the world and give a sneak peek at what we can expect for the next installment of the FFVII Remake and is worth a try for the first time and longtime fans of Final Fantasy.

FF7R Part 2, officially titled Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, is due out “next winter.” Before that, Square Enix will release Final Fantasy 16 on June 22 as a timed exclusive on PS5.

12. Sifu

Martial arts beat-em-ups are one of the oldest genres in video games, and yet even within its vast history, there’s nothing quite like Sifu. In many ways it serves as a throwback to the days where games had to be beaten with a limited number of lives or continues, only in Sifu, instead of your lives decreasing every time you die, your age increases as you inch closer and closer to the end of your lifespan, forcing you to get through the early stages with enough of a lifespan left over to complete the rest of the game. This premise makes Sifu a uniquely punishing, but also immensely rewarding experience, one that would’ve fell flat if its combat wasn’t extraordinary. Fortunately, the combat is better than extraordinary, it’s absolutely exquisite, with some of the best motion captured martial arts you’ll find in video games, with seamless animation, incredible authenticity, and brutal impacts to every strike.

IGN named Sifu the Best Action Game of 2022. John Wick creator Derek Kolstad is adapting Sifu into a live-action movie.

11. Control Ultimate Edition

Control is a wonderfully weird game. On one hand, it’s very Remedy – the game’s tone, gameplay, and mixed-media previously used in games such as Alan Wake and Quantum Break feels familiar. On the other hand, it’s something wholly original. Control showcases more style in its full-screen title treatments than many games do in their entire aesthetics, and its suite of psychic abilities to inflict pain upon your foes is utterly bonkers.

Sometimes funny, sometimes scary, and always interesting, Control is a one-of-a-kind game that shouldn’t be missed. And the Ultimate Edition is worth playing for the new bells and whistles added on the PS5, especially if you’re interested in Remedy’s extended universe and if you would like to make use of PS5’s Activity Cards in a way few games had so far. Just be warned: you will never look at a refrigerator the same way again.

Remedy is officially working on Control 2 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The studio is also developing a Control multiplayer game, the long-awaited Alan Wake 2, a free-to-play co-op shooter codenamed Vanguard, and remakes of Max Payne 1 and 2.

10. Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut

When Ghost of Tsushima was released on the PlayStation 4, it already felt like a next-gen game thanks to its stunning visuals and impressive open world; it was clear Sucker Punch had learned a lot about creating an engaging open world since its (admittedly admirable for the time) efforts on the Infamous franchise. But the Director’s Cut is the definitive take on Ghost of Tsushima, and it’s all the better on the PS5.

This robust package, even as a refined PS4 game, makes great use of the DualSense in both exploration and combat. Add in new lip sync for Japanese voice over, and, somehow, visual and performance improvements, and you’ve got what is the must-play version of a must-play PlayStation game.

Sucker Punch’s next project is another open-world game with stealth and action elements — perhaps Ghost of Tsushima 2? What has been confirmed is a Ghost of Tsushima movie. Directed by Chad Stahleski (John Wick), the movie will be a retelling of the game’s story.

9. Astro’s Playroom

The DualSense Controller is one of the most defining characteristics of the PS5, as the nuanced haptic feedback and strategically used adaptive triggers create a level of immersion that feels genuinely special. Nowhere is that tech better showcased than in Astro’s Playroom which is – quite literally – designed to show off the capabilities of the Dualsense controller.

But this would-be tech demo is also a fantastic game in its own right, with a delightful set of worlds to explore that all celebrate a different facet of the PS5 and the different eras of PlayStation software and hardware. Astro’s Playroom reminds players why they’ve loved PlayStation while giving them a reason to fall in love all over again. Its solid platforming, fun environmental puzzles, and enticing set of collectibles will have you gunning for the platinum and getting it in no time.

Developer Team Asobi is now working on its “biggest” game to date. Studio director Nicolas Doucet said it will be a full commercial title that’s “not limited by any money or time.”

8. Deathloop

Arkane Studios’ Deathloop is undoubtedly one of the more unique experiences to grace the PS5 so far. Arkane builds on the immersive sim bones from its past to create an incredibly dense and playful world. Figuring out the right paths to take, weapons and powers to use, and even times of day to visit certain locations makes exploration its own puzzle, and Arkane’s beautiful, Saul Bass-inspired world is filled with peculiar oddities to pick up on and exploit to complete your objectives. In a time where timeloops are the feature du jour in gaming, Deathloop’s is one of the most unique and satisfying to navigate, making knowledge its own reward, on top of a suite of incredible powers. And don’t even get us started on its stunning soundtrack.

Developer Arkane’s next game is the co-op vampire shooter Redfall, due out in the first half of 2023.

7. Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil has never shied away from the mystical and supernatural, and Village leans into those themes more than any entry in the series to date. From severed hands that can just be simply reattached, to floating killer dolls, to nine foot tall lady vampires, Resident Evil Village feels like wandering through a demented circus. In one fell swoop, it gave us what will go on to become one of the most recognizable Resi villains ever: Lady Dimitrescu, while still respecting the main antagonist’s story that began in Resident Evil 7.

It brings the series back to its Metroidvania roots, requiring you to revisit areas seen several times throughout your playthrough, but with new tools at your disposal to explore them. It’s by far the most fantastical the series has ever gotten, and it remains to be seen whether or not Resident Evil will ever return to its more straightforward zombie roots, or at this point, if we’d even want it to.

Capcom has since released story DLC for Village called Shadows of Rose. Next up for the franchise is Resident Evil 4 Remake on March 24, 2023. For more, see where Village and RE 4 landed on our list of the best Resident Evil games.

6. Demon’s Souls

Bluepoint Games had some high expectations to meet with the PS5 remake of Demon’s Souls. Not only was it an anticipated remake of a beloved and landmark game, but also as the first major showcase of what a dedicated PS5 game of this scope could look like.

Fortunately, Bluepoint delivered, and Demon’s Souls is not only jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but it’s also incredibly faithful to the source material.It’s handily one of the deepest, richest, and most challenging experiences currently found on the console.

Developer Bluepoint Games was officially acquired by PlayStation in 2021. The studio’s next project will be an original game, rather than another remake.

5. Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart

As Insomniac’s first truly exclusive PS5 game, Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart is a stunning showcase for what Sony’s next-gen console can do, thanks to a series practically built to take advantage of all the new bells and whistles. Whether you’re a newcomer to the duo’s adventures or a longtime fan since the PS2 days, there’s charm a-plenty to be found in returning characters, and brand new ones like the incredible Rivet and Kit.

The delightful, and surprisingly emotional story, is at the core of a theme park ride-like adventure through a host of varied alien worlds, which are stunningly realized in both depth and clarity of detail while running so smoothly on the PS5. And Rift Apart includes one of the franchise’s best suite of weapons, from the wacky Topiary Sprinkler to the powerful Executor, all of which make great use of both the DualSense’s haptics and adaptive triggers. Ratchet and Clank may be one of the longest-running Sony franchises still seeing new entries, but if Rift Apart is any indication, there’s still so much life, humor, and dazzling action to left to experience.

4. Spider-Man: Miles Morales

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.

The improvements aren’t just cosmetic, however – the eponymous hero has a few more spider-powers at his disposal than Peter Parker, and these are cleverly adapted into new gameplay mechanics that, while they don’t reinvent the wheel, they put enough of a spin on it to make it feel fresh – sometimes literally, thanks to the DualSense controller. It doesn’t feature as robust of a campaign or as many colorful villains as 2018’s Spider-Man, but Miles Morales’ story has just as much charm and heart as its predecessor, possibly more. Its tagline of “Be Greater” set a high bar, but Miles Morales somersaults over it with ease.

And if you’re loving Miles Morales but somehow missed out on or want to replay its predecessor, there’s no reason not to get the ultimate edition and pick up Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered as well. We previously had MSMR as a standalone game on this list because it was such a great port, but considering the breadth of games we want to now highlight on the PS5, and its availability only as a part of Miles’ special edition, we decided to couple it with our recommendation here.

Insomniac is now working on two Marvel projects: Spider-Man 2 and a Wolverine game.

3. Returnal

Returnal is a trailblazer of sorts. Roguelikes have long been one of the most popular genres on the indie scene, with games like Spelunky 2, Dead Cells, Enter the Gungeon, and The Binding of Isaac leading the charge, but in the AAA space, we’ve never really seen anything quite like Returnal. Returnal combines Housemarque’s expertise in intense, bullet hell, arcadey shoot-em-ups, with deep roguelike mechanics and a dense, chilling atmosphere, resulting in unforgettable experiences. Returnal’s one issue on release was the inability to suspend its lengthy runs and save your progress, but since that’s been patched, it’s hard to find flaws in this incredibly bold and ambitious take on the AAA roguelike.

Returnal is officially coming to PC in the near future.

2. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West builds on the already impressive foundations of Horizon Zero Dawn to tell a deeper, more thrilling story that amps up the series’ explosive fights against complex robotic foes and blockbuster action sequences, while also adding lively settlements and thoughtful, intriguing sidequests to the world. The Forbidden West itself is absolutely gorgeous on PS5 – ranging from the incredibly detailed faces of the people you meet and costumes they wear to sweeping and frequently stunning landscapes. There’s a genuine sense of exploration, and loads of completely involving worldbuildingto uncover as well for those wanting to learn more. A triumphant combination of enthralling combat, top-tier creature and character design, and a captivating open world, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute blast and fantastic showcase for the power of the PS5.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores, the game’s first DLC, was revealed during The Game Awards. Coming exclusively to the PS5 version of Forbidden West, Burning Shores takes Aloy to the LA region in pursuit of a “sinister threat.”

1. Elden Ring

It’s hard to encapsulate everything that makes Elden Ring such a monumental game in a short blurb, but let’s try: 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.

The Lands Between is positively littered with branching paths that lead to catacombs, dungeons, caves, forts, castles, towers, even entire underground cities, and within each of them is some sort of unique challenge, from a trap filled crypt with insta-kill chariots racing down every slope, to one of Elden Ring’s many fantastic boss fights. The best part of it all is that every challenge comes with its own bountiful reward that may bend the difficulty curve in your favor, whether that’s a new spell, summon, weapon, or material that lets you upgrade your gear. Elden Ring can be an extraordinarily difficult game, sure, but the freedom it gives you to maneuver through or around that difficulty is absolutely liberating, and makes it the most universally recommendable From Software game yet.

Elden Ring is one of the best-reviewed games in modern history. It was crowned Game of the Year by IGN and The Game Awards.

Best PS5 Games FAQ

What PS5 Games Are Coming Out?

With the new year comes a new batch of game releases, and many of the big games of 2023 are coming to PS5. It’s going to be an especially busy Q1, so let’s take a look at what’s coming to Sony’s new-gen console in January.

First up is the One Piece JRPG One Piece Odyssey on January 12. That will be followed by the PS5 port of Monster Hunter Rise on January 20 and Square Enix’s PS5-exclusive action RPG Forspoken on January 24.

Later in the month, console owners can look forward to EA Motive’s promising Dead Space remake on January 27 and Season: A Letter to the Future on January 31. Season is a stylized “adventure bicycle road trip game,” according to developer Scavenger Studio.

What Is the Best Game on PS5?

It can really depend on what types of games you like to play, but if you are looking for recommendations on the for what to play on the PS5, we recommend picking up a copy of Elden Ring. If you’re looking specifically for a PlayStation Exclusive game, Horizon Forbidden West is also a very good option you can’t play anywhere else.

What are the Best Games on PS Plus?

If you happen to have PlayStation Plus Extra or PlayStation Premium than you have access to some of the best games on the console. A few of the best PS Plus games include Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Bloodborne, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Updates: On April 26, 2022, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Kena Bridge of Spirits, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla were removed from the list, while Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and Sifu were added. Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Returnal, Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart, Demon’s Souls, Resident Evil Village, Deathloop, Astro’s Playroom, Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut, Control Ultimate Edition, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Marvels Guardians of the Galaxy, and Hitman 3 also shifted positions on the list.