Best PS5 games 2025: 15 PlayStation 5 titles you need to play
We've ranked the best PS5 games you can play right now that make the most of Sony's console
New: Check out our list of best Switch 2 games!
It’s getting harder to whittle down the best PS5 games you should play in 2025 – and that’s a good thing, really. We’ve played hundreds of titles since Sony launched its console in November 2020 and thankfully there’s something that everyone can enjoy.
Our top PS5 games list is here to help you decide which video games are worthy of your time and hard-earned money. They cover a range of genres, including platformers, story-driven adventures, RPGs, and racing games.
Unlike most of the best Xbox games, most of the recommendations below are exclusive to PS5, developed specifically to take full advantage of the PlayStation 5’s unique feature set.
The good news is many of our favorite titles are available to download via Sony’s PlayStation Plus Premium and Extra service, though some first-party titles like Gran Turismo 7 are still missing.
Oh, and don’t forget to check out the best PS4 games to play on PS5, too. Thanks to the PlayStation 5 being backward compatible, there’s still a fantastic range of last-gen titles to enjoy, many of which have been enhanced.
The best PS5 games 👇
15. Hogwarts Legacy 🧙♀️
➕ A stunning representation of the Wizarding World
➕ Excellent voice acting and combat
➖ Too many challenges and menial tasks to complete
Hogwarts Legacy is not only one of the best Harry Potter games ever made by some margin, but it’s also a fantastic open-world RPG game in its own right.
The fantastical setting and attention to detail throughout is incredibly impressive, with famous locations from the series recreated with aplomb. Whether you’re running around Hogwarts or flying on your broom outside – the game brings all the places you know and love from the books and films to life in a new and exciting way.
While the game does suffer from the usual pitfalls of open-world games, specifically by giving you one too many things to do, the story and combat are engaging enough to keep you entertained during the mainline quests.
14. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 🔧
➕ Sumptuous graphics
➕ Great cast of characters
➖ Plays it a bit too safe
It may sound cliché, but Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is as close as you’ll get to an interactive Pixar film on the PS5. If you want a game that shows off just what the PlayStation 5 console is capable of from a graphical perspective, there’s no better candidate than Rift Apart. Thankfully, it’s not just beautiful to behold – it’s also a blast to play.
In typical Ratchet and Clank fashion, you have an arsenal of zany weapons at your disposal to unleash havoc with. From rocket launchers to firing off mechanical attack robots, taking down hordes of enemies never gets old, thanks to the game’s whacky weaponry.
Throw in some collectibles and some genuinely funny dialogue, and it’s easy to see why the duo of Ratchet & Clank remains a firm fan favorite with PlayStation players.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
13. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection 🪙
➕ Incredible 3D audio
➕ Two games for the price of one
➖ Can get a little repetitive
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is one of the best PS5 games because it remasters two of the greatest PS4 games of all time. Both Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy have been given a pleasing makeover, bringing 4K resolution, a silky-smooth performance mode, and a high frame rate mode for players to enjoy on Sony’s new console.
The games also benefit from amazing 3D audio support, which needs to be heard to be believed. Check out the best PS5 headsets if you want to get the most out of Uncharted’s spectacular audio.
If you’re a newcomer to the Uncharted series or simply want to relive the epic adventures again on PS5, The Legacy of Thieves Collection is a must.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
12. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade ☁️
➕ An ambitious remake of one of the best JRPGs of all time
➕ Reimagined for a new audience
➖ New changes won’t suit everyone
Final Fantasy 7 changed the fortunes of Japanese RPGs in the West and holds a special place in many gamers’ hearts. When Square Enix announced it would be remaking one of its most cherished games in 2015, few would have thought it would take over five years to arrive. However, it was worth the wait.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is one of the most ambitious remakes we’ve ever played and overhauls practically every aspect of the PS One classic. Remarkably, the game feels innately familiar yet completely new, which is quite an achievement.
Some diehard fans might be turned off by the game’s switch to real-time action combat, but it works wonderfully. Clever changes to the game’s missions and story are also welcome.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
11. Death Stranding: Director’s Cut 📦
➕ Unique concept
➕ Riveting story
➖ Gameplay is rather polarizing
From the genius mind of Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding is his most bizarre creation yet. The game sees you delivering supplies to various outposts and overcoming any obstacles that stand in your way. This can be as simple as hiking across some rough terrain or as tricky as avoiding the game’s supernatural enemies, the ‘BTs.’
That might sound as dull as dishwater to some, but it’s not the destination that’s important – it’s the journey. There’s something undeniably captivating about Death Stranding’s world and its characters that it’s easy to lose hours at a time as you trudge across the game’s beautiful landscapes.
Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
10. Demon’s Souls 🏰
➕ One of the best-looking games on PS5
➕ Punishingly difficult yet immensely rewarding
➖ Patience required
Sure, Demon’s Souls was a PS5 launch title released more than three years ago, but it’s still one of the most visually striking PlayStation 5 games on the system. Bluepoint Games has done an outstanding job of remaking the classic PS3 title from 2009, and the game stays true to the original design – warts and all.
Spectacular lighting, super-fast load times, and epic boss battles are some of the key highlights of the PS5 remake, but the tried-and-tested gameplay ensures Demon’s Souls is just as compelling today as it was all those years ago. Be warned, though — it’s a frequently brutal and punishing affair.
Demon’s Souls is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
9. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales 🕷️
➕ Swinging through Brooklyn feels incredible
➕ Blazing-fast load times
➖ Feels more like an expansion than a true sequel
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales for PS5 doesn’t quite surpass the web-slinger’s first entry on PS4, but it’s still comfortably one of the best superhero games ever made and many will prefer its heartfelt story to the rather scattergun plot of Spider-Man 2.
Thanks to the PS5’s super-fast SSD, Spider-Man: Miles Morales has practically no load times, and the game’s vast open-world launches in just a few seconds. The power of Sony’s new console also adds ray-traced reflections to the mix for some visual eye candy, making it one of the first PS5 games we recommend buying.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
8. Sifu 👊
➕ Makes you feel like a kung fu master
➕ Nothing else quite like it
➖ Some boss battles feel unfair
If you’ve ever watched any of the great kung fu movies and dreamed of a video game equivalent, Sifu is as close as it gets. As a martial arts master, you’ll take down enemies with a flurry of expertly placed punches, dodge their attacks, and counter with consummate ease.
What makes Sifu so unique is its aging mechanic. Your character gets older every time you die, giving you more power but less health overall. Once you reach the age of 71, it’s all over, so you’ll need to perfect each level if you’re to make it to the final boss while still in your prime. Challenging, addictive, and super satisfying to play, Sifu is an exceptional PlayStation 5 game.
7. Returnal 👩🚀
➕ Satisfying gameplay loop
➕ Free DLC adds co-op and new challenges
➖ Skill level could hamper your fun
A new twist on the roguelike genre, Returnal is another game that demands your attention. And that’s precisely why we’ve ranked it as one of the best PS5 games for 2022. It utilizes almost every aspect of the PlayStation 5’s unique feature set to great effect: such as its immersive 3D audio and smart use of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
You’ll need to survive against countless swarms of enemies in an ever-changing world and use alien weaponry and artifacts to give yourself a fighting chance of survival. However, if you die, you’ll have to start all over again. There’s a constant risk and reward element to the gameplay which will keep you coming back for more.
Returnal is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
6. Elden Ring 💍
➕ A triumph in open-world game design
➕ Staggering amount of replay value
➖ Can be overwhelming
Elden Ring sets a new bar for open-world game design. It brings the impeccable combat mechanics of the Dark Souls series to a sandbox full of the same terrifying foes that can end your progress with the swing of a weapon. It retains the series’ no-nonsense difficulty, but you’re free to tackle the game your way instead of being funneled into a potential dead end. That opens up so many more opportunities in a genre that has a habit of rewarding curious minds.
FromSoftware’s signature brand of fairly obtuse storytelling won’t be for everyone, mind you. Nor will the fact that the game can feel needlessly unfair. However, stick with it – what awaits is a fantastical adventure that critics universally adored. There’s a reason Elden Ring was so many people’s game of the year.
5. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut 🏯
➕ Expansive DLC island to explore
➕ Gorgeous from every angle
➖ Not a free upgrade for PS4 owners
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut makes one of the best games on PS4 even better on PS5. 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.
The Director’s Cut includes Iki Island, a brand-new area with new story content, engaging sidequests, and a slew of collectibles to discover. If you’ve yet to experience Jin’s courageous and perilous journey, there’s never been a better time than now.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
4. Gran Turismo 7 🚘
➕ A fantastic return to form for the racing sim series
➕ DualSense controller makes every car feel unique
➖ Some cars feel unobtainable without microtransactions
Gran Turismo 7 puts you in the driver’s seat of some of the world’s best cars but, thanks to the PS5, you feel like you’re there. The DualSense controller mimics every gear change and the roar of a car’s engine to great effect. You also feel resistance in the triggers when you press down on the throttle or brakes, and it’s an incredibly convincing sensation.
Unlike GT Sport, which was notably bereft of content at launch, Gran Turismo 7 has a litany of modes for players to dive into and free updates continue to add more content to the game post-launch. It’s one of the top PSVR 2 games you need to play, too.
3. Astro’s Playroom 🤖
➕ Completely free and a celebration of PlayStation’s history
➕ A showcase for the DualSense controller
➖ Lack of boss battles
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.
Astro’s Playroom shows off the potential of these two technologies in the most brilliant of ways, then, and it’s a must-play if you’re booting up your PS5 for the first time. The game uses the controller to replicate feelings and sensations, like wading through a sandstorm, jumping into the water, firing off a Gatling gun, or scampering across metal structures. I guarantee it will leave you grinning from ear to ear.
2. Astro Bot 🤖
➕ Astro Bot’s abilities are super satisfying
➕ Ingenious level design and epic boss battles
➖ Shorter than some would like
Like Astro’s Playroom before it, Astro Bot delivers innovative gameplay and is packed with grin-inducing ideas. The game builds upon everything we love about Astro’s Playroom but introduces epic boss battles, a generous variety of planets to explore, and some truly excellent 3D platforming.
It’s a game that makes you remember everything that makes PlayStation such a special brand, and will likely make older gamers feel particularly nostalgic as you discover all the tributes hidden inside. This is a game that rivals the very best Nintendo has to offer, which is the highest praise one can give.
Read our full Astro Bot review for more.
1. Stellar Blade 😍
➕ Sensational visuals and rock-solid performance
➕ Satisfying combat and a captivating story
➖ Cumbersome item selection
Stellar Blade is a showcase title for PlayStation 5, taking full advantage of the console’s hardware, unique DualSense controller, and super-fast load times. The game’s incredible graphics and extremely polished presentation are the best we’ve seen, and the satisfying combat makes every enemy encounter a joy to overcome.
It feels like a breath of fresh air in an industry that is overly focused on monetization, often launches games that are full of bugs or game-breaking issues, and has forgotten how to make a compelling video game. Stellar Blade will keep you hooked from start to finish as it’s the best PS5 game we’ve played this generation.
Read our full Stellar Blade review for more.
How we choose the best PS5 games 🎮
The Shortcut Team has played countless games on PlayStation 5 and has hands-on experience with every title on our best PS5 games list. That means you can trust our list, as these are all our personal recommendations.
We also play every PS5 game on the best setup possible, such as using an LG OLED which has HDMI 2.1, VRR, and HDR support. It means we can test every PS5 display feature, like playing PS5 120fps games.
We’ll continue to update our top PS5 games list in the future with new releases, so check back for more recommendations when you’re looking for something new to play.
Keep track of every new PlayStation 5 game on the way with our upcoming PS5 games 2025 list to see what’s coming in the months ahead. And if you still can’t decide between the PS5 Disc vs Digital console, we’re here to help you make the right call.
Has your PS Plus membership expired? Use our exclusive PlayStation Plus discount code for $10 off PS Plus Essential, which gives you access to three PS Plus free games per month.
Last updated: January 3, 2025
Went back for platinum in Astro's Playroom thanks to this article. What a joy!
Jin would probably give a brief, smoldering stare at the thought ... but Tsushima definitely earned its place.
Matt/Adam, regarding the FIFA 22 free to PSN subscribes, the game needs to be downloaded/ added to library before the deadline at 12pm? My PS5 didn’t arrive yet. Thank you.