The Top 10 PlayStation 5 Games
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Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Arkane Studios
Release: September 14, 2021
Rating: Mature
“What games should I get for my PlayStation 5?” This is the question we’ve been asked the most since Sony’s new generation of gaming arrived last November. People want to see what games are the best showpieces of PlayStation 5’s power, and also which ones take their beloved medium to new heights. Although the PlayStation 5 is still young, it has already amassed a nice library of games, including a few titles that you can’t play anywhere else.
The Game Informer staff has selected 10 games that we consider to be the PlayStation 5’s absolute best. Over time, this article will be updated with the latest releases that we think crack the top 10.
Please note that while the list below contains 10 entries, we aren’t ranking them. If a game has made it this far (and managed to stay here), it’s a must-play, period. As such, we’ll be listing entries in reverse chronological order. Also, with future updates, you’ll find a rundown of previous entries at the bottom of the list. While those titles have gotten bumped over time, they are still all great games in their own right and worth exploring if you’re already caught up on the latest hits.
Here are Game Informer’s picks for the top 10 games on PlayStation 5:
Horizon Forbidden West takes everything Horizon Zero Dawn does and makes it better. From the combat to the traversal to the side quests and more, if you enjoyed something in Zero Dawn, there’s a high chance you’ll enjoy it more in Forbidden West. Plus, the sequel brings even more sci-fi to the world, expanding further on its lore with new and exciting implications. Add in the new machines, weaponry, and characters, and Forbidden West delivers everything a sequel to Aloy’s first journey promises. | Our Review
Arkane Studios, the makers of Dishonored and 2017’s Prey, combined its immersive sim expertise with a groovy sci-fi 1970s aesthetic to create an engrossing time-looping adventure. As Colt Vahn, you’re stranded on an island trapped within a 24-hour time loop. To break the cycle, you must eliminate the island’s eight visionaries in one day while dodging the sniper fire of Julianna, a rival assassin that an anonymous human player can control. Deathloop is as much a puzzle game as it is action, as figuring out how to eliminate your targets before midnight requires uncovering and connecting clues about their behavior and movements to determine the time and place to strike. Deathloop presents several ways to commit your dirty deeds, and a suite of fun supernatural abilities complement your wacky firearms. | Our Review
This samurai epic wowed players on PlayStation 4, and the Director’s Cut leverages the PS5 to make the game look and perform better than ever. Cutting down invading Mongols as samurai Jin Sakai has never felt better, and riding across Tsushima’s scenic flower fields in dynamic 4K is a sight to behold. On top of welcomed additions like 3D audio and full Japanese lip sync, the Director’s Cut also includes the Iki Island story expansion. Set on a small neighboring island plagued by a supernatural threat, this addition almost feels big enough to be a standalone sequel. It’s a great bonus that perfectly complements the primary campaign, giving Ghost of Tsushima fans an excellent excuse to extend their island revenge quest. | Our Review
Ratchet & Clank is a pillar of the PlayStation brand, and the franchise’s latest entry, Rift Apart, offers a great reminder of why that’s the case. The topsy turvy story sees the duo battle Dr. Nefarious across a multiverse, specifically, a dimension where the villain has conquered the galaxy. Rivet, a female counterpart to Ratchet, joins as a welcome co-star in a story chock full of humor and heart. Meanwhile, the blend of platforming and gunplay is tighter and more dazzling than ever. Using the rift tether to warp between realities seamlessly offers a unique wrinkle to combat and exploration. It also helps that Rift Apart is a graphical showcase, giving you the perfect title to show off the PS5’s horsepower. | Our Review
2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake accomplished the impossible feat of recapturing the intangible essence that makes the 1997 game so beloved while reinventing the story and gameplay to make it feel like a new title. If you missed it the first time, FFVII Remake introduces a winning blend of fast-paced action and turn-based-style mechanics to please players on both sides of the coin. As the first chapter of an episodic journey, the story centers on Cloud and his friends as they try to take down the evil Shinra corporation, spanning the entire Midgar section of the original adventure. Intergrade, the enhanced PS5 edition, made the already stunning PS4 game look even better. Best of all, it includes the console-exclusive Intermission story chapter starring the charismatic ninja Yuffie along with an even better spin on the already stellar combat system. | Our Review
The Resident Evil series has struggled with balancing horror and action in the past, but Village hits the sweet spot, offering a series of tense atmospheric frights punctuated by sweat-inducing firefights. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard protagonist Ethan Winters returns for another round with everything that goes bump in the night. However, this time Ethan is on a mission to save his daughter from gangs of werewolves and vampires who have set up shop in a medieval castle and its surrounding village. Capcom’s first-person combat has been refined so the combat feels better than ever, and a whole host of ghastly monsters stalk Ethan from the shadows, so whether you’re in or out of combat Village generates a powerful sense of tension. Sure, these puzzles could use a little polish, but Resident Evil’s boss battles have never been better. | Our Review
As both a fast-paced third-person shooter and an atmospheric, mysterious journey through alien horror, Returnal succeeds at delivering an incredibly competent and cohesive experience. Returnal takes advantage of all that next-gen gaming has to offer, including comprehensive feedback from the DualSense controller. With adrenaline-fueled and creative boss fights, hundreds and hundreds of impressive “bullet-hell” projectiles to dodge, and an assortment of impressive weapons to experiment with, Returnal keeps you enthralled to the very end. | Our Review
One of the best cooperative games ever made, It Takes Two demands teamwork, communication, and a little bit of patience in every second of play. Both players have different abilities that must be combined to overcome challenges. Just when it seems like you and your partner have developed a good rhythm, the gameplay changes to challenge you in an entirely different way. The vast array of gameplay concepts that are explored is just part of what makes It Takes Two such a joy to play. It Takes Two also captivates with a heartfelt story that explores themes not often seen in games. | Our Review
The wait for From Software’s Elden Ring was made a little less painful thanks to the excellent Demon’s Souls remake. Returning to the roots of this series and seeing it come to life in such beautiful (and disturbing) ways was one of the highlights of PlayStation 5’s launch. The small changes that developer Bluepoint Games made help give this classic a modern touch, and helps it stand tall against the other great Souls games. If you already played this game to death on PS3, the new Fractured Mode changes up the dance just enough to make it feel new again. | Our Review
Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man universe is starting to look a little like Marvel’s Cinematic Universe with a story continuing through the eyes of different characters. Miles Morales’ debut game is shorter than the original game, but is every bit as enthralling. Miles’ coming-of-age story is excellently spun, and while he shares the same Spider-Man name as Peter, he emerges as a different type of hero, using invisibility and electricity to clean up the evildoers who are threatening New York City. Here’s hoping the next game puts both Peter and Miles in the spotlight equally. We can’t wait to see where this Spidey story goes next. | Our Review
For more lists about the best games on other platforms, check out our lists of the top 10 games on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch.
Previous Entries:
- Yakuza: Like A Dragon | Our Review
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War/Warzone | Our Review
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | Our Review
- Astro’s Playroom | Our Review
- Destiny 2: Beyond Light | Our Review
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