Best PS5 Games: Top 20 Games On PS5 In 2022
We've got a line-up of the best PS5 games you should be playing right now.
After just one year there are plenty of titles that can be considered among the best PS5 games to choose from, making the ninth generation of consoles all the more worth it. Whether you are here for stunning graphics, insanely fast load times, or ridiculously massive games we've got a definitive list of the top 20 best PS5 games that have to be added to your library. Let's get into it, but note that this list is in no particular order.
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Best PS5 Games: Miles Morales (PS4/PS5)
Upon the launch of the PlayStation 5, Miles Morales was your quintessential day one purchase, and was quickly considered one of the best PS5 games. While the first game was a fantastic looking game on PS4, Miles Morales took it to the next level on PS5, with a sprinkling of festive fever. With snow and Christmas lighting leaving a beautiful coat over New York, webbing around the city was made all the more scenic. While Miles Morales is a little on the short side, it was a fun showcase of what the new generation of consoles could do.
Best PS5 Games: Demon's Souls (PS5)
It was easily one of the best PS3 games, so is it any surprise that the revamped and frankly gorgeous looking remake is one of the best PS5 games? Demon's Souls takes the Souls-like formula it established and doesn't really touch it. Keeping the feel of the original, Demon's Souls PS5 really just enhances what everyone loved about the original with a staggering level of detail, blink and you'll miss it loading screens, and the best use of HD Rumble so far. It is the perfect game to get yourself lost in with gruelling monster designs, a cracker of a score, and some of the best environmental storytelling we've ever seen.
Best PS5 Games: Returnal (PS5)
Returnal is the darkest and moodiest of the best PS5 games, entrancing its players with a kaleidoscopic and visceral combat experience. With the dark aesthetic countered by colourful enemy attacks, Returnal not only has a controller-gripping approach to combat that only the creators of Resogun could create, but it has a nice layer of sci-fi mystery played to perfection by Jane Perry as Selene. It's a real looker, and what's a load screen? We sure don't remember.
Best PS5 Games: Deathloop (PS5)
Deathloop didn't have much chance to fail, as a title developed by the team behind the insanely fantastic Dishonored franchise. This time the folks at Arkane secured their place among the best PS5 games, by taking that signature first-person supernatural combat cocktail and merged it with a time-looping mystery narrative, as well as adding in the little bit of spice that was its multiplayer. While this is a far more linear experience than many Arkane fans may be used to, it still wraps you up in its world and characters in what is also has to be the funniest game of 2021.
We've got our full Deathloop review for you to check out.
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Best PS5 Games: Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart (PS5)
A returning PlayStation icon makes it into this best PS5 games list by being nothing short of utterly astounding. It seems odd that a cartoony game like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart could showcase the PS5 so well, but here we are. This is a drop-dead gorgeous game that frankly shows off at points with its dimension hopping load times, and you'll spend half of your time just wondering how it is all possible. This is a classic Ratchet and Clank adventure made all the better by punchy gameplay, snappy pacing and some truly dynamic settings.
Best PS5 Games: Hitman 3 (PS4/PS5)
Hitman 3 kicked off 2021 with a bang in what had to be the biggest, most varied, and dynamic Hitman game yet. It also easily secured itself among the best PS5 games for its never-ending replayability. Learning the alleys, locked doors, and secret passageways of each of its massive maps is an absolute delight, made all the better when you start to fine tune your perfect assassination run. On the PS5, Hitman 3 also benefited from a fresher lick of paint with popping neon signs and impressive levels of detail.
Best PS5 Games: Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (PS4/PS5)
It wouldn't be much of a surprise if you were still chipping away at this behemoth, but Assassin's Creed Valhalla felt like it truly benefited from new-gen when it arrived on PS5. With 4K and 60fps support Valhalla was a real looker, but also the culmination of Ubisoft's shift for the franchise into more RPG leanings. This is an utterly enormous open-world adventure, and while that may put some off, it also featured some of the best writing the franchise has ever seen, alongside some fun, crunchy combat.
Best PS5 Games: Spider-Man Remastered (PS5)
Launching alongside Miles Morales, Spider-Man Remastered gave this PS4 classic a fresh face (literally). Despite the controversial redesign to Peter Parker, Spider-Man Remastered only managed to amplify the PS4 experience, and boost it into the best PS5 games. With higher frame rates, richer definition, and the bonus of haptic feedback, Spider-Man Remastered reminded us that this game is one of the greatest pieces of Spider-Man material, period.
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Best PS5 Games: Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut (PS4/PS5)
Ghost of Tsushima was the Assassin's Creed game everyone wanted. Instead, Sucker Punch Productions made one themselves, but even better. The Director's Cut took that one step further, easily supplanting itself as one of the best PS5 games over PS4. With additional features such as haptic feedback, higher frame rates, and even a Japanese lip sync there are plenty of excuses for old fans to revisit this classic. For the new fans however, the Director's Cut comes with the Iki Island Expansion and the Legends co-op mode, meaning this is a pretty stacked package.
Best PS5 Games: It Takes Two (PS4/PS5)
It Takes Two was one of the more charming delights of 2021, delivering a fun and funny co-op experience that somehow manages to keep the variety of gameplay across its duration. There aren't many co-op experiences out there like It Takes Two, and thanks to either couch co-op or online play, you can play with a friend even if they don't own the game themselves. All of this with an affordable price tag and It Takes Two leaps into the best PS5 games list.
Best PS5 Games: Resident Evil Village (PS4/PS5)
After the fantastically horrifying experience that was Resident Evil Biohazard, Capcom knew it was on to a winner. Following on from Biohazard we got Resident Evil Village, which didn't so much reinvent the franchise like its predecessor, but maintained that visceral first-person horror experience, in what must be one of the best looking games ever - although you might not want to look at what it is showing you. With various villains, a bunch of atrocities, and some spine-tingling sound design, Village was made for PS5, and remains to this day one of the most terrifying experiences you can get on the console.
Best PS5 Games: Riders Republic (PS4/PS5)
Riders Republic looked to be another tired take on the Ubisoft open-world formula. Instead, it turned out to be one of the best PS5 games. With a variety of extreme sports options, ranging from skiing to road racing to jet-pack racing, there seems to be a never-ending collection of content. However, unlike a lot of open world games that bog down their players with too much stuff, Riders Republic is plain and simple fun that doesn't punish its players for only taking to certain sections of the game. There is the grind there for those that want it, but Riders Republic finds the balance for those brief session types.
Read our full thoughts in our Riders Republic review.
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Best PS5 Games: Guardians of the Galaxy (PS4/PS5)
Guardians of the Galaxy surprised many of us with a genuinely heartfelt story that found that perfect tone for the Guardians. It will easily go under the radar for a lot of people, but as its place on the best PS5 games list infers, it deserves every bit of credit it gets. Players shouldn't be confused by the continuing dullness of Marvel's Avengers, as Guardians of the Galaxy is far more akin to Uncharted, as a fun, snappy, gorgeous looking sci-fi adventure.
Sound like your cup of tea? Check our our full Guardians of the Galaxy review.
Best PS5 Games: Chivalry 2 (PS4/PS5)
If you are looking for a hilariously violent time on PS5, then look no further than Chivalry 2. This first-person medieval sword-fighting game is an absolute delight that will have you agonising over the perfect parries and laughing as you lob another player's head that you've been holding onto for half the match. PS5 sports 64 player matches, ensuring that there is plenty going on in these chaotic battlefields, and there is a genuine depth to gameplay that will leave you eager to learn.
Best PS5 Games: No Man's Sky (PS4/PS5)
One of the greatest comebacks of all time, No Man's Sky has continued to expand and improve ever since its lacklustre launch back in 2016. With nearly 20 updates ranging from new gameplay features to general improvements, No Man's Sky is a sci-fi fans delight as well as one of the best PS5 games. From base building to planet discovery, you can craft your own journey with friends in an infinite universe that runs incredibly smoothly on PS5, and even supports PSVR in a surprisingly great port.
Best PS5 Games: FIFA 22 (PS4/PS5)
This yearly football sim makes it into the best PS5 games for making some meaningful changes to the FIFA formula. FIFA 22 dons the new Hypermotion technology which means that animation in players is even more accurate, along with a host of gameplay improvements from true ball physics to a rewrite for goalkeepers to ensure the goalie ups their game. There is a lot to dig into from Ultimate Team to Career Mode to ensure you can play kick about for 10 minutes or five hours.
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Best PS5 Games: God of War/ The Last of Us Part 2 (PS4/PS5)
Two of the best games ever, let alone best PS5 games, God of War and The Last of Us Part 2 are vastly different experiences, but both are must-tries among the extensive PlayStation catalogue. Both games received free updates to the PS4 version, boosting frame rates, which makes all the difference to the fast-paced combat in each. While this makes for an easy excuse to replay for fans, it is also the perfect excuse for anyone picking up a PS5 to finally dive into some of the most emotionally impactful stories in gaming.
Best PS5 Games: Control: Ultimate Edition (PS4/PS5)
Looking for intrigue, mystery, and haunting settings amongst your best PS5 games? Control is the one for you, as the developers of Alan Wake draw you into The Oldest House, home to a covert government organisation titled the Federal Bureau of Control. Playing as Jesse you'll experience some proper headscratchers, supernaturally-fused combat, and fantastic set design. Since the Ultimate Edition is the only way to bag the PS5 version of the game, which comes with options of 4K, ray tracing, and 60fps, you can also get your hands on The Foundation and the Alan Wake tie-in AWE DLC.
Best PS5 Games: Bugsnax (PS4, PS5)
Kinda bug, kinda snax. Bugsnax took the world by storm just by being so damn weird. Yet this odd-ball PS exclusive rightly stands among some of the best PS5 games for its off-the-cuff mix of Animal Crossing and Pokemon, where a journalist arrives on a mysterious island filled with Bugsnax which consists of Strabbies, Fryders, and Bungers. Trace down the origin of the Bugsnax in what is a truly wild ride.
Best PS5 Games: Astro's Playroom (PS5)
The unexpected gem of the PlayStation 5 launch, remains to be one of the best PS5 games just for dialling up the charm and the nostalgia. While essentially just a tech-demo for the Dualsense controllers, Astro's Playroom turned out to be a heartwarming trip through memory lane, revisiting some of the great characters and products of PlayStation's past. While it will initially have you fawning over the precise nature of haptic feedback, you'll want to stay for this cosy celebration of all you love about gaming.
That's it for our best PS5 games list. Fancy something handheld? Take a look at our best Switch games list.
About The Author
Aaron Bayne
Aaron Bayne was a Guides Writer at GGRecon. His previous experience includes BBC and Fraghero.