30. Until Dawn Remake

As good as the original? Well, no, especially when it comes to the soundtrack selection for certain scenes, specific lighting changes in the beginning, etc. However, Until Dawn’s remake does offer vastly superior performance and character models alongside new content and death animations. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll encourage someone to experience the original and see first-hand why it’s superior. For now, at least it’s better than the movie (not that that’s a high bar to clear).

29. Rise of the Rōnin

Unfairly compared to Ghost of Tsushima when it first launched, Team Ninja’s open-world action-adventure has its share of bright spots despite the story shortcomings. Combat is top-notch, as expected from the Nioh team, and hey, you can use a bayonet as a hybrid melee/ranged weapon, which is really cool. It may not quite have the budget, but you can’t deny Rise of the Rōnin’s ambition, especially with the sheer number of factions, branching paths, and combat depth.

28. Sackboy: A Big Adventure

LittleBigPlanet may be on ice for who knows how long, but Sackboy: A Big Adventure did help fill that void. The vaster movesets, coupled with returning tools like the grappling hook, made for an endearing adventure, especially when playing with a friend. While it didn’t necessarily break new ground in the genre, it was still a joyful romp through Craftworld.

27. The Nioh Collection

Two excellent titles in one package alongside all their paid DLC and updates for hundreds of hours of masocore action RPG fun – what more could you want? Well, maybe a reprieve from the difficulty. However, The Nioh Collection is a sheer testament to Team Ninja’s post-Ninja Gaiden design, blending that combo potential with Souls-like fundamentals and more grounded action, even if the loot chase isn’t for everyone.

26. Mafia: The Old Country

We never really got all our answers about how Mafia: The Old Country ties into the rest of the series (save for it being a prequel and containing a few cameos). Nevertheless, it was a strong return to everything that made the franchise so memorable, from the gripping narrative and strong characterization to the deeply involving themes. That Sicily looked so stunning to explore is also a plus.

25. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Jokes about remastering a title that wasn’t even a decade old aside, Guerrilla Games poured a significant amount of time and resources into revamping Horizon Zero Dawn for the remaster. Environments were changed, matching Forbidden West in terms of graphical quality, and entire cutscenes were overhauled and improved thanks to re-recorded dialogue. Otherwise, its gameplay fundamentals are as enjoyable as ever.

24. Demon’s Souls Remake

Aggravating as it is that Bluepoint was relegated to making a live-service title for all these years, at least we got the long-requested remake of Demon’s Souls. Purists may scoff at some of the visual choices and their effect on the atmosphere. And yet this remake brings the FromSoftware title into the contemporary age, idiosyncrasies and all, proving that some classics truly are timeless.

23. Sword of the Sea

Fancy hovering around some stunning environments on a hoversword, trying to piece together the sordid history of the place within three hours? Sword of the Sea may satisfy that urge…or leave you confused afterwards. Regardless, it’s a seamless blend of snowboarding, surfing, and platforming with deft pacing and more than a few surprises.

22. Returnal

From arcade shooters that it claimed wouldn’t sell to delivering one of the most pulse-pounding third-person action games of all time, Housemarque has had quite the journey. Returnal is a heck of a stop on the way, with Atropos presenting environments that are as brutalising as they are lovingly surreal. Its take on the rogue-like formula may not be for everyone, but when it comes to fast-paced action and bullet hell mechanics, few games can top it.

21. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

Showcasing the sheer speed of the PS5’s SSD, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s clever usage of rifts allowed for a dimension-hopping adventure the likes of which the series had never seen. But even if you ignore the technical wizardry, it’s just a stellar platformer all-around with its traversal mechanics, combat, and the sheer charm of its leading duo.

20. Helldivers 2

The sole success of Sony’s live-service initiative, and it’s easy to see why. Arriving almost out of nowhere to deliver explosive co-op action that’s easy to get into and impossible to put down, Helldivers 2 has grown into a behemoth of weapons, enemies, mission types, and whatnot. It’s almost detrimental in a way, given the technical issues, but when you can run around together in Killzone and Halo armor sets, it’s beyond worth it.

19. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Last year saw Microsoft finally release its first-party titles on PS5, but this year saw a once-iconic character returning to where it all began. We’re of course talking about Senua, whose first game debuted on PS4 before coming to Xbox. Suffice it to say that Senua’s Saga offers more of the same but with far more gorgeous visuals, and it works, despite the familiarity of it all.

18. Absolum

The very best in beat ’em up combat is mixed with deceptively simple upgrades and a branching world design that suits the genre as much as the storytelling. Saying it looks downright amazing would be an understatement, but it also packs in a surprisingly great soundtrack with a who’s who of composers on board. Suffice it to say that if you’re going in for more Streets of Rage 4-style goodness, Absolum will easily surpass those expectations.

17. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

After successfully reviving Silent Hill, it was the turn of Metal Gear Solid, that too where it all chronologically began. And while Delta: Snake Eater threw in some notable new features, from the over-the-shoulder camera to the revamped visuals and quality-of-life, it was, unabashedly, exactly like the original. Love it or hate it for that reason, it’s still a fantastic remake for one of the greatest of all time.

16. The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered

Yes, The Last of Us Part 2 isn’t technically a native PS5 title, and yes, the series’ re-releases are getting a little too excessive. On the other hand, it’s still a fantastic game with a story and twist that’s vehemently argued about to this day. The mix of survival mechanics and responsive gameplay, coupled with larger environments to explore and even more heart-pounding set pieces, all wrapped up in that signature post-apocalyptic atmosphere – it’s still a powerful combo to this day. Throw in the rogue-like No Return and other goodies, and you’ve got an even better deal.

15. Borderlands 4

It’s a good day when you can wake up, play a new Borderlands title and come away with “Not bad.” Featuring the gunplay of Borderlands 3 and none of the same narrative treatment, its main appeal is the vast world, laden with interesting activities, and more build-crafting opportunities than ever before. The looter shooter genre as a whole may seem tapped out, especially on this scale, but Borderlands 4 is still a fun time if you’re into the grind.

14. Forza Horizon 5

For years, PS5 players have heard about the brilliance of Forza Horizon 5. The extensive roster of cars (now at 900 and counting), the attention to detail of Mexico, its various jaw-dropping locations, and the sheer amount of content to experience. But for all its intricacies, systems, and realistic physics (if that’s what you’re into), Playground Games’ open-world racer is just the perfect fantasy for any car enthusiast to let loose.

13. Gran Turismo 7

The most drop-dead, stunning game in Polyphony Digital’s long, illustrious history and also the most controversial. But has that stopped Gran Turismo 7 from delivering the very best racing sim action this generation (especially after Forza Motorsport fumbled)? Not by a long shot, and the plethora of updates thus far, including the upcoming Spec 3 update, have made it even more worthwhile.

12. Silent Hill f

With the first hurdle of a competent remake surpassed, Konami faced its next big challenge: Delivering a new Silent Hill that was not only fun but downright terrifying. So naturally it went scorched earth by having Ryukishi07 pen the narrative and kera to design the creatures alongside a rural 1960s Japanese town as the setting. Even with complaints surrounding its combat, if there’s any horror title you need to experience this year, it’s Silent Hill f.

11. Days Gone Remastered

Even in the absence of a new game, you can’t keep ol’ Deacon St. John down. Finally arriving on the PS5, Days Gone Remastered offers everything that fans loved about the original with visual improvements and faster loading times. Permadeath and Speedrun modes provide fresh new challenges, while the brand new Horde Assault puts an arcade spin on surviving against an overwhelming amount of Freakers, complete with its own progression.

10. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Bigger, better and somehow offering the same runtime, Insomniac’s sequel puts a somewhat darker twist on Peter Parker’s journey as Spider-Man. In reality, it expands on the original in some truly spectacular ways, from the varied playstyles to the customization and plethora of suits. Plus, Manhattan, alongside Brooklyn and Queens, has never looked better or flowed as seamlessly as you web sling through them at breakneck speeds.

9. Astro Bot

A pitch-perfect platformer with a presentation that’s equal parts stunning and endearing, packed with the best that the genre has to offer in terms of levels and mechanics…all without any fluff, and paying tribute to PlayStation’s extensive history? That somewhat describes Team Asobi’s Astro Bot in a nutshell, but you could also just call it a masterpiece. It may not boast the same scale as many of Sony’s other heavy hitters, but its heart is unmatched, making for an exclusive that everyone should play. However, at the very top of the PS5 mountain sits…

8. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

That Sandfall Interactive’s first title could launch this year and catapult up the list of must-play games of all time is a testament to its brilliance. And make no mistake – Clair Obscur is brilliant in every single way that should matter in a role-playing game, full of wondrous locales to explore, an involving story with memorable characters, a fantastic combat system that mixes turn-based and real-time actions to excellent effect, and the music. Oh, the music. If you haven’t experienced it already, then what are you waiting for?

7. God of War Ragnarok

Sony’s Santa Monica Studio is no stranger to going all out when it’s time to end a story, and Ragnarok is no exception. Themes of family, betrayal, belonging, and more are tackled; vast lands teeming with dangerous new threats are revealed; and the sheer amount of combos that you can potentially pull off is even more insane than ever. Ragnarok is the studio’s magnum opus, and the fact that it added an entire rogue-lite expansion, Valhalla, on top as an epilogue for free only further sweetens the deal.

6. Black Myth: Wukong

It’s not often that something so unbelievably gorgeous delivers on its mountain of expectations, but Black Myth: Wukong made it look easy. The stunning art direction and presentation are backed by an equally involving combat system and some of the coolest boss battles in a video game. Wukong is more than just a great action RPG, though – it’s also a testament to the sheer game development talent in China.

5. Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition

Let it not be said that Guerrilla Games didn’t follow the rule of “more” with Horizon Forbidden West. More Machines, weapon types, armor sets, activities, side quests, fidelity, characters, locations – the list goes on (and Horizon Zero Dawn isn’t a small game). Amid all this, it even offered some shocking revelations, not to mention a much-requested boss fight in the expansion, Burning Shores. It’s been almost four years since its release, but Horizon Forbidden West remains an addictive open-world experience.

4. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Venturing beyond the confines of Midgar didn’t just mean experiencing the broader world of Final Fantasy 7 as a whole – it also meant a completely new approach to exploration. More mini-games and optional activities, not to mention side quests where key party members took the lead to go with additional challenging bosses, all wrapped up in an open world format. And that’s not even getting into all the improvements with the combat, summons, and the sheer insanity of the story. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gets some flak for certain sequences going too long, but for long-time fans and RPG enthusiasts alike, it’s simply breathtaking in almost every way.

3. Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erdtree

You probably saw this coming, but like a certain Scarlet Rotted Blade, Elden Ring and its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, simply won’t know defeat. Are there areas where it falters, especially in performance? Absolutely, but for us, it’s such a masterclass in open-world design and action RPG combat. That first moment where you step out and gaze upon Limgrave; that moment where Stormveil Castle is conquered and you look out upon the deeper world; the first nightmarish moments of Caelid; and who can forget wandering into the Land of Shadow and getting uppies from the Furnace Golem? Elden Ring wears its influences – from Breath of the Wild to Dark Souls – on its sleeve, and delivers a magical journey that few other games have managed to surpass.

2. Ghost of Yōtei

Plenty of revenge sagas ask how far you’d go, but Ghost of Yōtei offered a slightly different twist, which led to a more layered narrative. Of course, it also took everything about Ghost of Tsushima and elevated it to whole new levels, whether it was the natural flow of its open world, the sheer variety in activities, or the responsive combat. Overall, a fantastic title and more than a worthy follow-up to its 2020 predecessor.

1. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Much has been said about Hideo Kojima and his, let’s say, unique storytelling. However, Death Stranding 2 didn’t just up the emotional quotient while introducing various unforgettable new characters. It also made vast improvements to the original’s gameplay, accommodating those who favored stealth, going in guns blazing, or the familiar friction-filled hiking. The sheer visual fidelity is top-tier among games this generation, and it all ties together into a satisfying tear-jerker of an ending.

However, some titles have done that job better than others, and we’re bringing our top picks of games with the best graphics on the PS5 to you. Without further ado, let’s get started!

15. Silent Hill f

Konami and NeoBards fresh take on the familiar franchise might be better known for an outstanding take on psychological horror, but Hinako’s adventure must also be given its due for a very immersive take on Japan.

The studio’s attention to detail and outstanding enemy designs deserve credit, bringing the entire story to life in a way that’s both immersive and memorable. Its incredible visuals and art style are quite pivotal in bringing the studio’s intention to present an authentic take on Japanese horror for its players to enjoy. Silent Hill f earns its place on our list, although it does get outshined by the other games here..

14. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Although Forbidden West does present a stunning world for players to explore as Aloy in her second adventure, the remastered version of the tale that started it all is simply too good to be ignored. Bringing a fresh coat of paint to an already stunning game, this remake more than deserves its place among PS5 games with outstanding graphics.

Aloy’s debut adventure makes good use of the Decima engine to bring many useful changes to the table. Re-recorded lines and a level of visual fidelity that matched the second game in Guerilla’s brilliant take on a post-apocalyptic world make this a remaster worth diving into even if you’ve already played through Aloy’s rise to prominence in a world that once shunned her.

13. The Callisto Protocol

Striking Distance Studios’ futuristic survival horror adventure might not have been exclusive to current-gen consoles but earns its place on our list thanks to its outstanding visuals and terrifying enemy designs. The biophages were absolutely terrifying threats to Jacob and Dani’s attempts to navigate Black Iron, and the game’s visuals did a great job at making players feel their terrifying presence.

The Callisto Protocol is a survival horror title that greatly benefits from its excellent visuals, making players feel the terror and panic of their characters as they navigate a world in which they are both the predators and the prey.

12. Battlefield 6

Say what you like about the campaign on offer in this new addition to a long-standing genre, but there’s no denying that Battlefield 6’s visuals are just marvelous. It’s an outstanding level of detail that brings all of the game’s new additions to life, with the new Kinesthetic Combat System being a great example.

Stepping into the shoes of any of Dagger 1-3’s members is a visual treat, making the experience feel very immersive and delightfully engaging. This is a first-person shooter that really lets you feel like you’re on the battlefield, and it definitely belongs on this list.

11. Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater

Konami’s remake of Naked Snake’s origin story is a no-brainer for any list of PS5 titles with great graphics. It’s an absolute step up from the original game on the visual front, with the new level of detail working very well with the many additions that the studio brought over to Kojima’s classic.

Camouflaging Naked Snake is even more immersive than it was in the original release while each member of Cobra Unit was a sight to behold thanks to the new visuals. Delta: Snake Eater is a benchmark for remakes overall, and its visuals are a crucial part of how the game manages to make the title appealing to new players and veterans alike.

10. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Our first hour in ancient Japan with Naoe and Yasuke made us quite happy that Ubisoft wisely decided to take the time and polish the experience on offer in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The Anvil Engine worked very well with the dynamic weather systems, bringing a take on the Sengoku Era that made full use of the power of current-gen systems.

We found ourselves putting out a hunt for the Shinbakufu on the back burner just to stop, admire the sights, and click a few photos of the stunning vistas in front of us. This one’s visuals make it memorable and engaging in equal measures.

9. Gran Turismo 7

Taking to the tracks in this 2022 addition to the Gran Turismo franchise had us staring slack jawed at the astounding level of detail on offer. You might be convinced you’re actually at the track in the absence of a screen thanks to Polyphony Digital’s excellent work recreating them.

Dynamic time and weather effects make the overall experience so visually realistic and pleasing that you might be tempted to just stop at the side of the track and admire the sights, racing be damned!

8. God of War Ragnarök

With its grand scale and stunning visual fidelity, Ragnarök is quite an obvious contender among the most graphically powerful PS5 titles. With more of the realms open to our protagonist duo this time around, Santa Monica Studio did a stellar job of bringing in a variety of biomes to the table.

The enemy designs, bosses, and of course, epic battles were made even better by the brilliant use of color palettes and a level of visual fidelity that made this one a very memorable title indeed!

7. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Demetrian Titus’s return to the Ultramarines was an absolutely stunning game, bringing the noble warrior in contact with the Tyrnaids across a variety of locations that were beautiful to behold despite hordes of monstrous enemies coming at us with ferocious intensity.

Space Marine 2 did a great job at bringing the Warhammer 40k universe to life in ways that made the franchise feel familiar yet fresh, and this new chapter in Titus’ story was made even better thanks to its outstanding visual presentation.

6. Cyberpunk 2077

From being removed from the PlayStation Store to becoming an iconic presence among the ranks of visually brilliant PS5 titles, CD Projekt Red’s take on a dystopian future in which the apathy of corporate greed has permeated life on the streets is so immersive it’s almost unbelievable.

Night City may not be a happy place to live in but it certainly is a beautiful one. The immersion you can get from this title is owed in part to its excellent story but that’s backed up by the incredible graphics that bring it to life.

5. Alan Wake 2

The much-anticipated sequel to novelist Alan Wake’s alternate reality-spanning adventure really did a number on us with its visual fidelity and level of detail! Remedy’s fastest selling game takes its players to surprising corners of its protagonist’s mind, using its unique visual style to make it quite an unforgettable experience.

It’s surreal, bizarre, and riveting, and the excellent graphics on this one work very well with everything else that’s good about it. Alan Wake 2 is definitely among our favorite PS5 games with brilliant graphics.

4. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

From the very first encounter with SandMan with Peter Parker and Miles Morales working together in a fight that functioned as an incredible set piece, we knew that Insomniac’s take on New York city in the webslingers’ second adventure was going to be a stunner.

Things only got better from there, and the new story was a visual masterpiece, bringing ray-traced reflections, incredibly designed traversal mechanics, and a level of visual flair that made excellent use of the PS5’s power. You could be forgiven for just whipping out Peter’s camera and forgetting about the members of his rogue’s gallery several times during your adventure.

3. Ghost of Yōtei

Once again, this was an experience that had us spellbound from the very first moment we were introduced to its open world. Sucker Punch’s dedication to creating a visually resplendent and authentic take on ancient Japan is there for all to see.

The incredible draw distances, gorgeous vistas, fields, forests, and locations make Atsu’s time on Ezo a visual treat while also working well to bring an open world experience that encourages its players to just ride off into the distance and see what’s waiting for you along the way.

2. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Ninja Theory’s PS5 port of the cinematic presentation of Senua’s harrowing attempts to bring peace to her people, and herself, is nothing short of a masterpiece. Despite a few issues with its combat, this game did an amazing job at bringing Senua’s inner turmoil to life and had us fully invested in the adventure at every moment.

This is an experience that’s visually visceral, and makes you truly invested in its heroine’s inner turmoil.

1. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Just boot up this title and witness Kojima’s take on Sam Porter’s latest adventure, and you’re going to see exactly why On the Beach has taken the top spot among PS5 titles that boast incredible graphics.

This is hands down the best graphical experiences you can take on in 2025, and a brilliant showcase of what the Decima engine can really do.

And that wraps up our list of the best graphical experiences among PS5 games you can find. Are there titles you think deserve a spot on our list? Let us know in the comments.

Ghost of Yōtei

Everything about Sucker Punch’s sequel is a step up from Ghost of Tsushima. The exploration feels more organic as Ezo is brimming with interesting stories, Mythic Tales, and activities (with far fewer restrictions on where to go). Combat is more visceral than ever, with the different weapons mixing up the formula in fun ways. All in all, a fantastic sequel and a stellar open-world game in its own right, which brings us to…

]]> 629864 https://gamingbolt.com/60-single-player-ps5-games-you-absolutely-need-to-play Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:57:01 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=627255 The PS5 came out all the way back in 2020, and now that five years are close to having passed, the console has developed a tidy collection of single-player titles. While there are several games for fans of single-player titles to experience, we managed to narrow this list down to 60 of the best, must-play single-player experiences that the PS5 has to offer.

Atomfall

Atomfall represents an interesting experiment by Rebellion – a studio known for its World War 2-based series of games where you take control of an elite sniper taking down hundreds of Nazi soldiers. Instead of arming the player to the gills and taking them through a roaring adventure, Atomfall instead makes sure the player is constantly scavenging for resources just to survive as they slowly uncover an epic story through their own investigations. Atomfall offers a unique single-player experience that blends investigation, stealth, survival, and just a hint of intense combat to keep things spicy.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Picking up directly after the events of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth takes us deeper into an epic story about environmentalism and the evils that mega corporations are capable of when allowed an unchecked monopoly. This time around, however, we get a massive open world to explore, complete with its own set of secrets for players to discover, as well as a host of fun minigames that help further flesh the world out. Pair this with an evolution of the already-fantastic combat system from its predecessor, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth tends to make for dozens of hours of pure fun.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Trying to remake a game that is seen by many as one of, if not the best horror game ever made is no easy task, but Bloober Team managed to make it look almost effortless with its remake of Silent Hill 2. Much more than a remake, however, Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 gives us a look at how the seminal horror game would have been if it were made in the modern day – none of its feels even remotely dated, and the game makes use of the dense atmosphere and spookiness of its setting perfectly. Pair this with gorgeous visuals, incredible level design and wonderful creature design and you basically get one of the best horror experiences out there today.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

While it may have been a bit controversial when it first came out, The Last of Us Part 2 features some downright phenomenal storytelling thanks to strong writing and excellent voice work and facial capture, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered features some of the best third-person action combat in any game today. Add on top wonderful encounter design and clever, but tense, boss fights, and you get what essentially feels like a wild roller coaster ride of emotions along with high-octane third-person action.

Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erd Tree

What hasn’t already been said about the brilliance of FromSoftware’s single-player opus Elden Ring, as well as its critically-acclaimed DLC Shadow of the Erd Tree? The base game, on its own, is a culmination of over a decade’s worth of game design that FromSoftware had originated, improved, and ultimately mastered. Add on top some excellent and tense combat, plenty of character build options, and a wide-open world where only your own skill level can really block your path, and you have a title that deserves just about every accolade it has gotten since then. And once you’re done with the base game, Shadow of the Erd Tree offers an entirely new level of challenge, complete with a brand new landmass to explore, new bosses to fight, and even more of the intricate lore to uncover.

Astro Bot

Astro Bot is a game that proves that Nintendo isn’t the only major gaming company that can make a beloved 3D platformer. The title, essentially a love letter to just about every aspect of PlayStation, also manages to be a great game on its own thanks to its excellent level design, great visuals, fantastic soundtrack and tight gameplay. While the story is simple enough, with Captain Astro trying to reunite with the PlaySquadron after the PS5 mothership is wrecked by Nebulax, what really elevates Astro Bot along with its core gameplay is the reverence it has for all things PlayStation. The game is also filled with plenty of nods and references to the history of the console, including even references to niche titles like Loco Roco.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

While the 2017 release of Horizon Zero Dawn was no slouch when it came to visuals and gameplay, the whole game got massively upgraded thanks to the Remastered release, bringing it up to par with its sequel. Essentially an origin story, players are put into the shoes of Aloy who is trying to figure out how she can stop the wars between the neighbouring tribes. Along the way, plenty of mysteries are uncovered, including the very nature of the world and the mechanical beasts that roam its lands. Horizon Zero Dawn is an excellent open-world action-adventure game which offers a great mix of strong writing in its main campaign, as well as optional objectives through side quests as well as open-world collectibles.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

While Valhalla was met with mixed reception, especially with some of its gameplay elements, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is evidence that the genre is still capable of strong games with fun open worlds to explore. Besides Syndicate, we now get to play as two distinct protagonists in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, each with their own distinct playstyles – the combat-oriented Yasuke and the stealth-oriented Naoe. Through the two characters, we get a unique take on Sengoku-era Japan, with the duo trying to figure out the conspiracy behind not only the death of Oda Nobunaga, but also the death of Naoe’s family as well.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate feature incredibly strong writing full of interesting things to do, as well as by offering players an almost infinite amount of freedom when it comes to figure out solutions to problems. Baldur’s Gate 3 takes place during an invasion by mind flayers, with the player themselves being implanted with a tadpole that will at some point also turn them into a mind flayer. After escaping from the captivity of the mind flayers, the player finds themselves, along with other unlikely heroes, on an island, where they must work together to figure out a way to not only make it to the city of Baldur’s Gate, but also to get rid of the parasitic tadpoles that they have all been implanted with.

Days Gone Remastered

Days Gone offers a unique take on the open-world zombie survival game by giving the player one of the most important tools you can have in such a situation – a motorcycle. Along with his bike, protagonist Deacon must explore the world, deliver supplies, protect his friends, and in the process, figure out what led to the “Freaker” outbreak, and how he can save his wife. The game also has a unique system that allows for incredibly massive hordes of zombies to attack the player if Deacon accidentally trips an alarm that attracts them to his location. Coupled with fun combat courtesy of a mix of melee and ranged weapons, and Days Gone Remastered has all of the ingredients to make for a fun time.

Dead Space Remake

The original Dead Space was rightfully praised for its excellent atmosphere and strong gameplay paired with intense claustrophobia and incredible monster designs. The remake of Dead Space takes these elements and cranks it all the way up to eleven. While you’re still going to be stepping into the shoes of Isaac Clarke as he explores the USG Ishimura, several things have been redesigned, from the massive planet cracker class ship’s layout making more sense, to weapons getting rebalanced so that the Plasma Cutter isn’t the only good weapon you have access to. The story also gets some expansion thanks to Isaac no longer being a silent protagonist. The presence of a new kind of collectible also ends up adding a few more interesting wrinkles to an already-strong story.

Resident Evil Village

A few years after the series managed to reinvigorate itself thanks to Resident Evil 7, the franchise decided to take a more action oriented approach. Much like the transition from classic horror Resident Evil games to Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil Village ups the ante on not only the action, but also the scares and the story. Taking place after the events of RE7, Village involves protagonist Ethan Winters once more setting out against unimaginable horrors in a mysterious village to rescue his daughter. The title features plenty of boss fights, great combat encounters, and one of the most insane endings to a game out there. The Winters Expansion also brings with it new content, as well as a third-person mode for the main campaign.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 

The first title by studio Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition managed to set the world on fire in large part thanks to its deep and thoughtful story, imaginative and gorgeous visuals, and a clever combat. What sets Clair Obscur apart from others in the genre is how it makes use of not only parrying and dodging as active actions the player has to time with enemy attacks, but also the fact that each of its characters has unique mechanics of their own, be it Gustave’s Overcharge system, or Lune’s element juggling, or Maelle’s stance system.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

A remastered release of a classic open-world RPG that came out all the way back in 2006, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is not only a great game in its own right, but also acts as a fun history lesson to help us understand just how Bethesda got to its follow-up, Skyrim. Oblivion Remastered takes place in idyllic pastures of Cyrodiil in the midst of an invasion from the various Oblivion realms. The player will also get to explore several cities and villages, while also partaking in epic questlines for various activities, from stealing to assassination, and even gladiatorial combat. Despite the almost two decades since its original release, the level of freedom offered by Oblivion still manages to feel unparalleled.

Cyberpunk 2077 + Phantom Liberty

With Cyberpunk 2077 and its Phantom Liberty expansion CD Projekt RED ended up creating one of the most ambitious urban open-world games out there. Along with telling a deep and compelling story with themes about rebellion, mortality, and the sense of self, Cyberpunk 2077, along with its spy thriller expansion, also managed to offer plenty of fun side-activities for players to do as they drive around Night City and try out their fancy cybernetic implants against gang members, corrupt cops, and corporate mercenaries.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is one of the most unique open-world fantasy RPGs out there. Along with a unique class system where the player is encouraged to keep switching between different classes to mix and match abilities, the game also features some epic boss fights in the form of mythical monsters to kill. Oh, and there’s also the Pawn system, where a player can create a companion for themselves who can also be sent out to other players’ games to assist them and come back with experience and new items. Pair this with a mind-bending plot that involves the world also getting messed up because of the player’s own actions, in turn opening up even more epic boss fights for adventurous players to take on. And now that most of its technical issues have been ironed out, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has become an excellent way to spend a weekend or two.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

While several games have tried to put players in the shoes of characters inspired by Indiana Jones, few have done it as well as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The first-person action-adventure game melds puzzle solving with intense action sequences, some platforming courtesy of Indy’s whip, and plenty of stealth as players try to avoid crossing paths with hostile soldiers.

Lies of P + Overture

While we may not be getting ports or remasters for FromSoftware’s Bloodborne any time soon, we did get the next best thing in the form of Lies of P and its Overture DLC. The Soulslike action RPG puts players in the shoes of “puppet mechanoid” Pinocchio with a simple mission – find Mr. Geppetto. As he explores the city of Krat, however, he comes across deranged hostile puppets that he must deal with. Along the way, players get plenty of choices when it comes to what kind of weapon they’ll use thanks to the game’s unique weapon system where a player is free to mix-and-match different handles and edges to get unique weapons with their own movesets and special abilities. The Overture DLC expands things further by sending players into Krat’s past, where they get to see the city before its fall.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black

A remastered release of classic hack-and-slash action game Ninja Gaiden 2, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is by far one of the toughest games available these days. Putting players in the role of ninja Ryu Hayabusa, the story revolves around the machinations of the Black Spider Ninja Clan as they launch an assault against Hayabusa Village. As Ryu fights off these threats, players will have to learn how to effectively wield his various tools, from the straightforward katana to more advanced items. The game also allows players to dismember enemies, and while they can still attack after losing limbs, they can at least be killed off for good by using the Obliteration Technique.

Shadow Labyrinth

While Shadow Labyrinth might not look like much from the outset, it ends up being quite a clever platforming game that melds exploration with gameplay inspired by classic arcade titles. Players take on the role of Swordsman No. 8, who wakes up on a mysterious planet. As they spend time exploring this planet accompanied by Puck, players will have to discover secrets and get new abilities as they figure out how to take on many of the various challenges they will face throughout their time in Shadow Labyrinth.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

While the Ratchet & Clank franchise had gone mostly silent after the 2016 reboot, it came back with a bang on the PS5, not only acting as a great showcase for the hardware capabilities of the at-the-time new console, but also being a fantastic action/adventure game in its own right. Along with telling a fun story with everyone’s favorite Lombax, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart also introduces us to new character Rivet, who serves as a deuteragonist in the story. As the two desperately jump across different dimensions to stop the evil machinations of Dr. Nefarious, players will also find themselves making use of new, strange and funny weapons to take on the enemies they face.

RoboCop: Rogue City + Unfinished Business

RoboCop: Rogue City being such a fun experience with a surprising level of polish is the biggest example for the fact that the AA games scene still exists, and maybe even thriving. The game puts players in the shoes of RoboCop as he takes on a variety of different missions in crime-ridden Old Detroit. Along the way, players will get to make plenty of choices that further help define just how much humanity RoboCop still has within him. The standalone expansion Unfinished Business adds even more content to the game, bringing with it a host of new challenges for RoboCop to take on as he takes on mercenaries and new enemy types occupying OmniTower.

Sifu

While action games have always been incredibly popular, few have ever managed to nail the martial arts genre as well as Sloclap did with Sifu. With players taking on the role of a martial artist out for revenge for the murder of their mentor, Sifu features unique action mechanics where players can make use of their own Kung Fu-styled movesets, as well as the environment to take on groups of enemies. The title features 15 different locations, across which players will get to take on a wide variety of enemies. Along with this, the title also features a unique mechanic where a death leads to the protagonist aging, making their strikes deadlier but also making them more frail. Sifu has also gotten quite a bit more content thanks to extensive post-launch support by Sloclap.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins

While Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors franchise has seen its fair share of ups and downs, the company undoubtedly struck gold with the release of Dynasty Warriors: Origins. The game, introducing a brand new protagonist, also brings with it some of the grandest battles that the franchise has ever seen. The gameplay largely revolves around the player cutting down large swathes of enemy soldiers across various battlefields as they also try and complete objectives to further continue the campaign of the various factions warring for supremacy over Mainland China.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

After the success of Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the sequel served as a way for the studio to expand on every aspect of the game. With five years having passed since the events of Fallen Order, Survivor once more puts players in the shoes of Cal Kestis as he sets off on a battle against the Empire. While things start out well enough, a mission eventually goes badly enough to force Cal to get some allies for his struggle, including brand new characters as well as returning characters from Fallen Order. The gameplay offers considerably more options than its predecessor, with new stances that offer more chances for unique gameplay, as well as a more interesting skill tree this time around.

Suikoden 1 & 2 Remaster

A remastered release of seminal RPGs that were originally made for the original PlayStation, Suikoden 1 & 2 Remaster is a great way for a new generation of players to experience a pair of the most unique RPGs to have ever been made. Along with the player taking on the role of a protagonist, players will also have to find and recruit special characters known as the Stars of Destiny into their own army as they fight off the forces of evil. Both titles also feature heavily political storylines, with corruption playing a central role throughout their stories. What makes both titles even more fun to play back-to-back is the fact that they take place in the same world, so the sequel becomes a great way to see what has changed since the events of the first game.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

While the Uncharted series has been one of the most iconic franchises for PlayStation since the first game came out on the PS3, all good things must come to an end. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves features two titles – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: Lost Legacy. While A Thief’s End focuses on the final adventure of protagonist Nathan Drake, Lost Legacy is a smaller-scaled game with brand new protagonists in Chloe and Nadine, as they face off against a warlord named Asav can get it. When it comes to gameplay, both titles feature third-person action, plenty of areas to explore, puzzles to solve, and in the case of Legacy of Thieves, even one larger space where more experimental gameplay can be tried out.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

While many of the best games out there can be described as being subtle, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is not one of them. Every bit as loud, brutal, and exaggerated as the Warhammer 40,000 setting demands, Space Marine 2 puts players in the power armour of Ultramarine-turned-Deathwatch Soldier-turned-back-into-Ultramarine Demetrian Titus as he ends up on Imperial planets Avarax and Kadaku in the midst of the first Tyrannic War. Facing off against hordes of Tyrannids, players must make use of the game’s hybrid ranged and melee combat system to stop all opposition and complete various objectives. Once you’re done with the campaign, the game also features extra missions in the Operations mode which, while meant to be played in co-op, can also be enjoyed solo along with AI-controlled team mates.

God of War Ragnarok

Taking place a few years after the events of 2018’s reboot, Ragnarok kicks things off with the coming of Fimbulwintr, as the player figures out how to best keep their people safe from their enemies. Ragnarok features a blend of excellent level design and offers several enhancements to gameplay, with bigger worlds to explore, and plenty of more skills to make use of in the game’s frantic, high-impact combat.

System Shock Remake

A remake of a classic sci-fi shooter/RPG hybrid from 1994, System Shock Remake does a masterful job of recreating the feeling of playing the original thanks to its unique art style that melds modern graphical technologies with a low-fi look that maintains the vibrant color palette of the original. System Shock Remake is also one of the best ways to experience the origins of iconic evil AI SHODAN, who serves as the primary antagonist for the player as they explore Citadel Station and try to figure out how they can survive, and ultimately, escape. Along the way, players will have to fight, sneak, and shoot their way through enemies that were once the human inhabitants of Citadel station.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

While the indie game space has many 2D platforming titles, few have reached the quality that Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist manages to reach thanks to the title’s strong level design, well thought out upgrades, and interesting story. The game takes place in the Land of Fumes which, because of unchecked science, has started turning artificial beings, dubbed Homunculi, into feral monsters. Players take on the role of an Attuner named Lilac who can save the Homunculi from their gruesome fate. Players will get to explore a variety of zones, from abandoned laboratories to ancient caverns and vibrant fields, as they explore the Land of Fumes and unlock new abilities to further aid exploration and combat.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

The genre is no stranger to crafting compelling open-world games, and this quality is shown off quite well in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. While it might be easy to brush aside as a movie tie-in game, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora ends up being a fantastic way to explore the world first seen in James Cameron’s Avatar movies. In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, players must ultimately defend Pandora against the forces of the RDA. The game features a compelling main campaign, along with several side missions that help further flesh out the world.

Gran Turismo 7

Quite easily the standard bearer for the modern driving sim game, Gran Turismo 7 has just about everything that a fan of cars and the culture surrounding cars and driving could hope for. Along with franchise classic gameplay mechanics like license tests returning, Gran Turismo 7 also features a massive collection of cars for players to collect, as well as constant updates that further improves the car collection of the game, as well as bringing in new events across various vehicle classes that players can compete for.

Hitman World of Assassination

Essentially the most complete package in terms of the Hitman trilogy, Hitman World of Assassination features quite a bit of content for the intrepid single-player game fan. Along with an epic campaign spanning three games’ worth of locations and targets, the title also features the Freelancer mode, which combines the title’s free-form gameplay with a roguelite progression mechanic. Hitman World of Assassination offers players plenty of unique ways to take out their targets, alongside a wide variety of items and weapons that can be used to accomplish just about any task the game throws the player’s way throughout its levels, which span from the US, to South America, to India, and even Dubai.

Alan Wake 2

Quite easily one of the strangest games to have come out in recent times, Alan Wake 2 is a survival horror title that picks up more than a decade after the original Alan Wake. While the titular character serves as one of the protagonists, quite a few parts of the game have players take on the role of FBI agent Saga Anderson who is visiting Bright Falls to investigate the brutal, ritualistic murder of fellow FBI agent Robert Nightingale. Along the way, the paths of Saga and Alan intersect in interesting, fourth wall-breaking ways, and Alan Wake must ultimately figure out the best way to end the story of Saga Anderson.

Neva

Equal parts platforming game and atmospheric experience, Neva puts players in the shoes of a young woman, Alba, and a friendly wolf as they explore a world that is on the verge of dying. As is to be expected from a game by the developers of Gris, Neva features downright gorgeous art and a gripping soundtrack that adds several layers to the atmosphere as they explore a dying world. The gameplay revolves around Alba and her wolf companion slowly learning to work together as they complete platforming sections, combat encounters, and even a few puzzles along the way, all while the duo try and figure out how they can survive.

Little Nightmares 2

A low-key experience, Little Nightmares 2 explores the wider world outside of the first game’s setting of the Maw. With players in the shoes of a young boy named Mono, as he explores the Pale City. The game makes use of a more minimalistic style of storytelling, leaving it up to the player to figure out the secrets behind the Pale City, the signal tower, and the things that lurk within the tower.

Nobody Wants to Die

While narrative adventure games can often be quite fun, few match the level of polish and visual fidelity of Critical Hit Games’ Nobody Wants to Die. Taking place in the year 2329, the player takes on the role of NYPD detective in the Department of Mortality James Karra. With the gameplay largely revolving around puzzle solving and exploring the overall narrative, players will have to figure out the strange circumstances behind a mysterious death affecting a victim that wasn’t supposed to die – a member of the New York City elite. As the mystery unfurls, players will find themselves in the hunt for a serial killer, as they also explore concepts of morality, and what immortality truly means for a person that has more money than they could spend over several lifetimes.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A direct sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence, A Plague Tale: Requiem picks things up around six months after the events of its predecessor. The story revolves around siblings Amicia and Hugo de Rune, who decide to travel south in order to try and look for a cure for Hugo’s affliction. The gameplay is an iteration over the first title, with players taking control of Amicia and being helped out by Hugo from time to time. However, both characters also have plenty of new abilities to play around with in combat encounters. A Plague Tale: Requiem also acts as an absolute feast for the eyes considering its incredible level of visual fidelity and strong art direction.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

An RE Engine remake of a classic zombie game, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has players take on the role of intrepid photojournalist Frank West as he is exploring the circumstances surrounding a military-enforced lockdown in the sleepy town of Willamette, Colorado. In a series of events, West, along with a bunch of other survivors, find themselves trapped in a mall that also happens to house hordes of zombies, as well as a few psychotic lunatics lurking around. West only has three days of real-world time to figure out a way to escape from the mall with as many allies as he can. The original Dead Rising, and by extension the Deluxe Remaster, is famous for the immense level of customisation offered by the game when it comes to its weapon crafting system, focusing primarily on melee weapons.

Pacific Drive

A unique take on the roguelite formula, Pacific Drive combines the sense of adventure one might find in exploring randomly-generated levels, along with the joy that often comes from working on a beaten up car to gradually improve it with better parts over time. The player is put into the shoes of “The Driver” as they explore the Olympic Exclusion Zone after accidentally getting pulled into it through a vortex. The zone is full of strange activity, however, with even roads constantly shifting and moving about, and the player must find other survivors and eventually, a way out. To help the player accomplish this, they have a car known only as the Remnant, which can be improved with new loot that you find, as well as new parts that you can craft once you get the right materials.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

While the original Citizen Sleeper was a, pardon the pun, sleeper hit in its own right thanks to excellent writing and unique gameplay elements inspired by Disco Elysium, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is an improvement in just about every aspect. Carrying over its predecessor’s strong anti-capitalism slant with an interesting story, Citizen Sleeper 2 revolves around the player trying to figure out a way to escape the “ownership” of Laine, and in the process, ending up in a lawless portion of the Hellion star system, known only as the Belt.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

While Kojima Productions’ first outing as an independent studio after Konami – Death Stranding – was an interesting and unique game in its own right, the sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, takes things up a notch in every way possible. Along with broadening the core gameplay loop of making deliveries across long treks, Death Stranding 2 also features a more grand story of wider scope, with more interesting main villains. Along with this, the core combat has also seen massive improvements, giving players more tools to take on an even wider variety of enemies, ranging from well-armed humans to massive kaiju-sized BTs. This along with a jump in visual fidelity makes Death Stranding 2: On the Beach a journey well worth taking.

Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong features some downright fantastic boss fights and is further elevated by the fact that the game’s combat can be described as being nothing short of absolutely joyous in how well it controls, how responsive the game feels, and how well the encounters are set up to get players to use every tool they have in their kit. There’s a reason, after all, why Black Myth: Wukong would launch to immense success in terms of concurrent player counts as well as copies sold.

Hogwarts Legacy

It’s easy to describe Hogwarts Legacy as an open-world action/adventure game, but that would be ignoring how lovingly it recreates the world of Harry Potter that long-time fans of the book series could finally explore in depth. While the title doesn’t really do anything new, it is still a fantastic way to spend some time owing to the care with which the titular Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its surrounding areas have been recreated. Players can live out their dreams of being an aspiring wizard in the world of Harry Potter, attending classes, getting stronger at magic, and even helping quell a goblin rebellion in the process.

Star Wars Outlaws

While Star Wars Outlaws may have been released to middling reception and suffered from plenty of problems, several updates since its release have turned the game into a must-play adventure, especially for fans of Star Wars. Now that plenty of the game’s fundamental issues, like broken stealth mechanics, have been fixed, the story of Kay Vess is quite a bit of fun to experience, especially thanks to the open-world structure of the title, complete with different factions vying for your attention. The adventure also continues thanks to the release of two expansions for the game – Dead Man’s Hand and A Pirate’s Fortune – both of which add plenty more content to an already feature-rich title.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

A unique take on narrative games, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream has players exploring the city of Eriksholm in the shoes of Hanna. With an emphasis on stealth, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream gives players plenty of chances to figure out the story behind the world as Hanna slowly continues her quest to find her brother. The game also features gorgeous visuals, with the city of Eriksholm being one of the most interesting settings for a game in recent times. Along with this, players will also get to make use of an extensive arsenal of tools as they sneak around the guards of the industrializing city.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

While 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man was a fantastic return of the web-slinging superhero to video games, its sequel – appropriately titled Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – decided to expand on the original’s ideas in epic ways. Along with featuring two Spider-Men, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also gives us a deeper look into the stories and motivations behind both of the superheroes. Pair that with an incredible open-world that is an absolute joy to traverse through thanks to Spider-Man’s set of abilities, as well as a fun rogue’s gallery to take on throughout the story and side-content, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is in many ways one of the best superhero experiences currently available on the PS5.

Horizon Forbidden West

A follow-up to Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West once again puts players in the shoes of Aloy as she decides to explore parts of the western coast of the continent. Along with brand new visuals and a deeper look into the overall world and lore behind the Horizon franchise, Forbidden West also gives us improved combat that feels a lot more dynamic, along with more fun and intense boss fights that will have players make use of just about every tool they have at their disposal. Horizon Forbidden West, along with its Burning Shores expansion, can in many ways be described as the ideal sequel, where it builds on the foundations set by its predecessor in new and interesting ways.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

In a genre that is dominated by fantasy and sci-fi works, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 manages to stand out thanks to its use of a real-world historic setting. Along with exploring the lands of Trosky in the 1400s, players – who once more take on the role of Henry – not only get embroiled in a plot that can be best described as a political-thriller-meets-war-story, but they most also live in an interestingly simulationist game world. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 of will have you squint your eyes as you try and make out text in a book, depending on Henry’s level of literacy, and train with swordmasters to learn new ways to swing your sword, all while also trying to make sure that you don’t die of starvation or villagers don’t run away from because you haven’t had a bath in a while. These gameplay systems makes for a great way to kill a few dozen hours.

Hi-Fi Rush

The last hurrah – at least for the time being – for Tango Gameworks before the studio was shut down by Microsoft last year, Hi-Fi Rush is a unique hack-and-slash action game that rewards players that have good rhythm. The unique hook of the game is that players are encouraged to attack, jump, and dodge their way through fights to the beat of the background music. While you can still finish the game if you miss every beat, landing the beat with good timing rewards you with higher damaging moves. Pair that with a vibrant art style, hilarious writing, an excellent soundtrack, and some downright fantastic boss fights, and you get one of the most fun and unique action games out there.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

When it comes to third-person action RPGs that have a heavy emphasis on their narratives, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is one of the most interesting releases of the lot. Taking place in the unique setting in 1695, players take on the role of Banishers as they set out to explore the lands, figure out the origins of curses, and most importantly, unravel mysteries that could lead to some very uneasy answers to important questions.

The First Berserker: Khazan

In the over a decade and a half since the release of the first game that could be called a Soulslike – Demon’s Souls – we’ve seen plenty of studios take a stab at making their own. Few have gotten as close to the standards set out by FromSoftware as Neople with The First Berserker: Khazan. Alongside taking place in an interesting world based on the DNF franchise, The First Berserker: Khazan also offers some strong action RPG gameplay, complete with a wide variety of weapons and incredibly challenging boss fights. Pair this with a downright gorgeous art style and you are bound to end up with a good time.

Jusant

At the outset, Jusant looks like it will be an incredibly simple game. Its core gameplay mechanic revolves entirely around climbing, after all. However, while the gameplay mechanics themselves might feel simple enough, Jusant also uses those same mechanics to deliver an incredibly powerful story that is slowly unraveled as the player – in the shoes of a nameless boy climbing a gigantic rock tower – makes their climb. Sure, there might not be much in the way of stakes, especially since you can’t really die in the game. However, the strong, often emotional writing throughout Jusant more than makes up for any shortcomings that might be present in the gameplay department.

Mafia: The Old Country

While Mafia 3 might have served as a bit of a detour for Hangar 13 with its focus on open-world gameplay, with Mafia: The Old Country, the studio went back to the franchise’s roots in more ways than one. Not only is it a linear story-based game with set missions that players will take on, its story is also taking us all the way back to the eponymous Old Country, where the Sicilian Mafia first originated. The gritty early-1990s mob story features Enzo Favara as the new protagonist, as players live out his fight for survival in his attempts to get a better life for himself after living through a brutal life filled with forced labour. Mafia: The Old Country is an incredible return to form for Hangar 13.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

While the original Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was an interesting game anchored by strong performances, especially from lead actor Melina Juergens as the titular Senua, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 cranks just about everything up to eleven. Not only has the gameplay seen plenty of improvements, the story itself, along with the presentation have been upgraded so much, the word “cinematic” hardly does the title justice. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 once again takes us to Viking Iceland where Senua has to take on difficult battles against the forces of tyranny to save not only victims, but also save herself in the process.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

When it first came out, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was widely considered to be one of the best games for its home platform – the PlayStation 2. 21 years later, we now have a remake in the form of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Not only do we get upgraded visuals and improved gameplay with modern control schemes in the remake, we also get to re-experience a fantastic spy thriller set during the Cold War, the events of which end up having repercussions for the entire Metal Gear franchise as a whole. Snake Eater has players take on the role of Naked Snake as he sets off on Operation Snake Eater to take down The Boss, her elite squad known as the Cobra Unit, as well as commander of GRU Volgin.

Gears of War: Reloaded

It’s no secret that the original Gears of War was one of the most important games on the Xbox 360, helping spawn an entire franchise that is still going on to this day. Celebrating this history, developer The Coalition has bought back the Gears of War Ultimate Edition with a fresh coat of paint. Calling it “faithful remaster”, Gears of War: Reloaded features high-resolution assets, as well as full optimisation to run on all modern-day gaming platforms, including the PS5. Along with the excellent campaign that kicks off the saga of Marcus Fenix in his war against the Locust threat, Gears of War: Reloaded also includes plenty of multiplayer features, including co-op mode for the campaign, as well as competitive multiplayer.

Echoes of the End

While a debut outing for studio Myrkur Games, it could be easy to assume that the developers behind Echoes of the End have had quite a bit of experience with game design. The game may not feature complex customization options and deep puzzles. Rather, it features fun combat, a gorgeous world, and puzzles with just the right level of complexity to not get you too frustrated. Pair that with some excellent writing and characterisation for protagonist Ryn and her travelling companion Abram Finlay, and you have a great single-player campaign that doesn’t overstay its welcome thanks to its 14-hour runtime.

Animal Well

While at first glance, Animal Well might not look like much thanks to its art style making use of stark colour contrasts, often with black backgrounds in most of its scenes. Spending a little time with the tidal, however, reveals one of the most interesting platforming titles to have come out since maybe Hollow Knight. Animal Well puts players in the shoes of a small creature that has freshly hatched from a flower, and must now explore the world to figure out their own life. What sets the title apart is how well it makes use of its art style – which features wonderfully detailed environments all over the place – not only for the sake of gameplay, but for atmosphere as well. Along with its platforming trappings, Animal Well also serves as a horror title thanks to the player not having ways to fight back against creatures that might harm you; players must instead make clever use of the world around them to figure out ways around dangerous obstacles.

We’re talking about the Decima Engine, of course. A proprietary engine that was developed in-house at Guerilla, it has been at the heart of wildly successful video games from the studio, most notably Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel Horizon Forbidden West. That makes it a development platform that has worked across successive generations of hardware, and one that has evolved in response to the improvements they brought to the table.

But in a world where Unreal and Unity continue to dominate popular discourse, why should Decima be relegated to the background despite the stellar job it does there?

Honestly, it shouldn’t, given how it has allowed Guerilla and even Kojima Productions a way to push the envelope on several fronts that include visual fidelity, improved environments in massive open worlds, and also brought performance boosts to the experiences that it has powered.

It’s time to give Decima the spotlight it deserves.

A Performative Powerhouse

Decima made its debut back in 2013, powering the sixth instalment of the Killzone franchise named Killzone Shadow Fall. Bringing the title to the then newly launched PlayStation 4, the first-person shooter was quite a success despite it utilizing only a portion of what the new console was capable of thanks to Sony keeping its new console’s  improved RAM and graphical capabilities under wraps until its launch.

Guerilla’s attempts to breathe new life into the franchise paid off thanks to a version of Decima that was then referred to as “the engine”, with the studio not planning to take its powers public.

The engine was next seen working its magic in Supermassive’s Until Dawn and its 2016 PlayStation VR spinoff, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood. Thanks to Sony Interactive Entertainment’s ownership of Guerilla Games and its role as a publisher for Until Dawn, the Decima Engine began to make its presence felt in the gaming world.

Its prowess was enough to catch the attention of none other than Hideo Kojima, who chose the Decima Engine for Kojima Production’s first independent title Death Stranding. The eccentric director showcased what it could do in terms of accurate detailing and physical lighting effects by recreating his own meeting room to justify its choice. Quite the feat!

But Death Stranding was still a long way from its final release at the time. 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn was a feather in Guerilla’s cap, and a brilliant showcase of how the Decima Engine could bring a unique gaming experience to life in ways that its rivals could perhaps not achieve. It was a demonstration of all the capabilities Guerilla highlighted in 2016’s PlayStation Experience which included AI, logic tools, 4K support, HDR imaging, and exquisite physics.

It was at this time that the name Decima finally came into being as an acknowledgement of Kojima’s role in bringing the engine into the spotlight and Guerilla’s Dutch origins.

Decima has since made its presence felt in the sequel to Zero Dawn, with Forbidden West taking its capability even further – which was evident from the game’s PS5 version bringing advanced terrain rendering, a gorgeous and smooth underwater experience, and breathtaking cinematic set pieces to the table.

Those very capabilities have been honed even further in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, allowing Kojima to realize the vision he had for his explorations of life and legacy through the lens of Sam Porter’s adventures in Australia and Mexico. Decima has played a huge part in bringing some of modern gaming’s most impactful titles to life – and is among the more obscure reasons for their success.

But how – and why – is it better than the best? That’s quite easy to answer.

Bringing Milestones to Life

In many ways, the Decima Engine has been the biggest benefactor of a collaboration between Guerilla and Kojima Productions. On the PS4, it ensured that Aloy’s adventures in Horizon Zero Dawn came with a layer of realism that matched her world weary take on a post apocalyptic world.

Each machine she took on was as detailed and intricate as the Cauldrons she explored to learn more about them while the Nora’s and Carja’s villages, cities, and fields shone with a vibrance that other games simply could not match. But Decima’s capabilities went beyond its visual flair. The machines came at Aloy with deadly efficiency, and the engine’s true value was there for all to see.

Every leap, frantic dodge, and counterattack came together in an experience that continues to enthrall gamers to this day, while gentle breezes and cramped spaces felt alive in a players’ hands. It was clear that Decima could bridge impressive visuals and stellar graphical performance, tying them together into a cohesive whole.

Things only got better in Forbidden West with the addition of a larger, more ambitious open world, dynamic lighting, improved weather and a terrain that was the perfect way to show off the PS5’s improved draw distance. Buttery smooth framerates on the game’s Performance Mode made the experience work well with an improved melee combat system while taking to the skies in the game’s later sections was a visual and graphical treat that no other experience available for Sony’s latest powerhouse could hope to match at the time, let alone imitate.

The same evolution of Decima’s capabilities has been showcased in Death Stranding and On the Beach. Sam’s adventures benefitted greatly from Decima’s ability to bring a layer of ethereal realism to a landscape devastated by the Death Stranding while giving Kojima the ability to weave his thematic explorations into the environments he created for the game.

Norman Reedus excellent acting chops, alongside those of a very talented cast, were icing on the cake for Decima’s most influential titles, as it brought every bit of nuance in their performances to life in ways that elevated the experience its players were privy to, allowing both Strand titles from Kojima to shine in ways that directly impacted the quality they offered to those who decided to dive into their deadly worlds.

On the Beach’s recent release is almost certainly the epitome of what Kojima and Guerilla have built over the years with Decima, bringing a level of cinematics that makes incredible use of skin shaders, fluid simulations, and lighting effects that make its take on Mexico and Australia come alive in the hands of its players.

A common undercurrent that ties these four great games together is the way in which Decima has been a factor in making their worlds feel like characters on their own, responding to a player’s actions in ways that other engines have perhaps come close to but not quite matched in their efforts to bring new levels of visual and graphical fidelity to the games they have powered.

But can Decima continue to surpass its rivals, or hold its own against them in a future where gaming experiences are shaping up to be even better than what’s currently on offer?

Standing Out From the Crowd

The answer to that question requires a nuanced look at how Decima’s biggest rivals have managed to fare in the recent past.

Pitting Guerilla’s creation against Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) brings an important distinction to life. The collaboration between Guerilla and Kojima is sure to play its part, allowing the studio to future proof its creation in preparation for the inevitable launch of the PS6. While many UE5 experiences do bring a lot to like, its performance inconsistencies are a sore spot in any comparisons with Decima’s ability to deliver each and every time it powers a game.

The RE Engine is another valid contender, powering some of the studio’s best work and culminating (for now) with Monster Hunter Wilds. While the experience it has managed to deliver does come close to Decima in terms of how it presents the many biomes it takes its players to, the Japanese studio’s transition from the PS4 to PS5 could have been better.

However, Guerilla might want to pay close attention to any releases RE Engine brings out in the next few years while it gears up to bring the third instalment of its Horizon franchise to players. The studio is sure to take all of the lessons it has learned from creating Death Stranding and its sequel and apply them to a new generation of games that will undoubtedly allow Decima to bring further refinements and abilities to the table.

While its rivals are certainly catching up, Decima currently holds the crown for a video game engine that seamlessly blends unique visual signatures with graphical and technical capabilities that allow talented developers to create experiences that garner both critical and commercial success.

Whether that trend continues in the coming years is a matter of patient observation, but Guerilla is sure to bring its A-game to the table and continue to enthrall its players with aplomb. And that’s not even considering whatever Kojima has up his sleeve for his next game.

It’s going to be an interesting time for Decima and the games it powers. But modern gaming’s most silent success is certainly up to the task.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Sony has announced the removal of mandatory PSN account linking in select titles on the platform. Specifically, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, God of War Ragnarok, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the upcoming The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered (contrary to a recent confirmation) will no longer need PSN accounts for those who wish to play them on PC.

Instead, those who do link their accounts will get free bonus in-game rewards. In The Last of Us Part 2, that will include an in-game skin for Ellie based on Naughty Dog’s upcoming sci-fi title Intergalactic. You can view the full list of rewards for each game below.

Whether we can expect Sony to take a similar approach with all future releases remains to be seen. One would certainly hope that’s the case with how unpopular and controversial the PSN account linking requirements have been thus far.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launches for PC on January 30. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered will follow on April 3. Check out the former’s system requirements and platform-specific features.

While next year looks even more jam-packed with incredible adventures, what are some of the best role-playing games from 2024 that deserve your attention? Join us as we sift through the dozens of choices and present the 20 best RPGs of the year that must be experienced.

Path of Exile 2

For all the complaints against its rewards, end-game, map layouts, etc., Path of Exile 2 is still an incredible action RPG, even in early access. Each class and their Ascendancies presented multiple new options; the Skills are impressive while combat feels visceral; and the bosses present some of the best encounters in the genre. The fact that such a sizable end-game is available right now, complete with pinnacle bosses, is also incredible. Yes, there are plenty of things to improve, but Path of Exile 2 is proving just as addictive as its predecessor and will receive double the amount of content before early access ends.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Sony’s “Remastered” trend hasn’t received the warmest reception over the years, but Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered more than earns its flowers. It revamps and improves its environments with more foliage, better lighting and shadows, and over 10 hours of new motion capture animation. Character models are pretty much carried over from Forbidden West and look fantastic. For just $50 ($10 if you own the original), it’s a pretty good deal.

Originally released in 2017, it has been over 7 years since the game came out – but it still holds surprisingly well to this date. As such, the thought of a remastered version might sound like a cheap attempt at grabbing some quick cash from gullible consumers but Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is a lot more than this initial preconception. With this technical analysis, we will be taking a look at both versions of the game to try to understand exactly what has changed.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is essentially an attempt to bring the original up to spec with the visual splendor of the sequel Forbidden West, and the brains behind this operation are Nixxes Software. The team has solid experience of working on PlayStation ports and remasters, and the fact that the transition is happening across the same engine makes compatibility a whole lot easier.

Fans might remember that Horizon Forbidden West was also a cross-gen game, so the engine was already built to be scalable across both generation machines which would probably have helped the developer’s cause by a significant margin. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered brings both iterative changes and radical overhauls to the image quality which we will be discussing in detail in further sections.

Character Models

The original Horizon Zero Dawn had some pretty good-looking character models for its time, complete with a high polycount and brimming with detail. Physically based materials had been used for clothing, and hair physics was pretty rudimentary – but they were definitely an integral part of the presentation itself. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered doesn’t rewrite the story, but it does bring several improvements over the original in key areas.

Character models look much sharper with an even higher polycount budget, and skin meshes look a lot more detailed and realistic than before. These changes aren’t really visible during exploration, but when the camera juts in close during cinematics – you can easily see the differences. In a similar vein, one can also notice a bump in the quality of cloth materials which exude more detail than before.

Having that bump in material quality also gives the machines a fresh new look. Machines have more complex geometry, and it’s markedly easier to make out the individual parts that coalesce to create these goliaths of destruction. Having these higher-quality materials also helps with enhancing reflections on their bodies, which gives a more premium look to the machines this time around.

Moving on to the hair physics, they are quite a bit more sophisticated than before – and Aloy’s hair will appropriately sway to the tune of the winds and fly around as she waltzes through these environments. Hair textures are also finer this time around, and reflect light in a much more accurate fashion.

What’s Changed In The World?

Switching gears over to the world, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered brings plenty of changes that long-time fans will appreciate. Starting things with the textures, Nixxess has updated texture quality across the entire board of assets – no matter how big or small. Of course, these changes might not be instantly visible on a macro level – but if you stop and stare at the finer details, it all starts to make sense. Different kinds of plants and ferns now flaunt finer details than before, and it is almost on par with what Horizon Forbidden West offers. Another noticeable change occurs in how dense bushes of plants react to Aloy’s movements. Notice how blades of grass and edges of leaves can awkwardly cut through the character model while in the remaster – Aloy gracefully swerves without much of this clipping issue.

Another change in the environment is with regards to how clouds function. In the original, we had fairly static meshes that served the purpose but didn’t really stand out in terms of the quality itself. Forbidden West brought significant improvements with the Nubis system, delivering realistic cloud volumes that stand tall as one of the best in its class. That very Nubis system has been brought into the Remastered version, and the results are definitely noticeable for one. Clouds look more realistic than before with denser meshes and realistic movements that help elevate the look of the environment in the remaster.

Moving over to the lighting, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has updated the lighting system which results in a lot more accurate reflections this time around. The original majorly relied on precalculated lighting for different times of day, and while the implementation hasn’t changed, the extra processing power has been utilized for better and more accurate results this time. The settlements provide a great point of comparison for this change, notice how areas that should have been under the shadow are corrected this time around while the original had a lot of lighting data mistakes stemming from the rudimentary calculations.

These improvements also extend to the shadows department, where we get to see a more robust implementation this time around. Shadows are cast by a lot more light sources and are cast at further distances than before, so characters and enemies blend in well with the surrounding environment rather than awkwardly jutting out from the ground as seen in the original – giving the world a more uniform look this time around.

One should also check out the changes in the reflections departments. The original used a cube map implementation which worked for its time but suffered from poor accuracy and low-resolution artifacts, but the remastered version changes that up to the screen space reflections that are used in Forbidden West. What once seemed like muddy reflections have now been replaced by fairly accurate, high-resolution reflections which also update with the change in player perspective.

This is most notable in the water reflections, and on that topic – also notice how the water textures and meshes have been updated with the remaster. Caustics both look and behave a lot more realistically than before, and water looks quite a bit better as a result.

Then there’s the world streaming. Despite having a lot of micro-level detail, the Decima Engine didn’t really compromise much when it came to streaming all of these assets without showing signs of artifacting. Clever use of distant fog volumes and blocking geometry like huge mountains helped to ensure a smooth world streaming solution, and it works just as well as the original with little to no difference between the two versions.

Finally, there’s the post processing pipeline. Light shafts look a lot better than before, and beams of light emanating from machines and surroundings have better bloom effects. Other elements of the presentation such as anisotropic filtering, depth of field, and motion blur have also seen incremental upgrades – though not as pronounced as the previously discussed changes.

Performance

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on PC offers a plethora of graphical options to choose from ranging from texture quality to clouds quality and FOV sliders and much more. It’s a robust experience this time around, largely owing to the increased maturity of the team after handling so many projects of this ilk. Apart from the buffet of options that fans can choose from, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered also does away with the shader compilation issue that plagued the original PC release.

We tested the game on a PC consisting of AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, Nvidia RTX 3080Ti, 32 GB of RAM, and a PCI 3 4.0 SSD which is well over what the game recommends. We set the resolution to 4K with DLSS 3.0 turned on and maxed out the game. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered performed fairly well during our tests, constantly hovering between 60fps and 70fps with little to no major drops.

Loading times have also been improved in the Remastered version with fast-travel and loading from a fresh save being faster this time around. While it definitely helps that we are loading off of a PCI e 4.0 SSD, it’s also possible that Nixxess might be using Windows DirectStorage options to help speed up the process even further.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is a great attempt to breathe new life into one of the biggest games of the recent generation. It sits very comfortably between a by-the-numbers remaster and a full-fledged remake, and it makes for a great way to experience this classic in a new light.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered instead aims to do more than what its title might imply. Rather than just being some minor visual tweaks and some higher-resolution textures here and there, the game has essentially been brought up to a similar level of visual fidelity as its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. Even the PC release’s system requirements tell a similar tale, with the remastered release requiring a much beefier system than the 2020 PC release did.

Despite the massive visual upgrade, however, PlayStation Studios, Guerrilla Games, and Nixxes have kept to PlayStation PC release traditions and have released a wonderful port of the game. Running the title on an upper-mid-range PC with an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a Sapphire Radeon 7800XT GPU, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered defaulted to its High graphics preset, which gave me a stable framerate of 99 frames per second, with occasional dips down to 74. Turning the visuals up to Very High and making use of AMD FSR3, on the other hand, gave me 91 frames per second with dips down to 79.

"The game has essentially been brought up to a similar level of visual fidelity as its sequel"

Interestingly, the game seems to be bound more to the GPU than CPU, and players with higher-end graphics cards but slightly weaker processors will likely find higher frame rates with better visuals. It is still important, however, that the game does require a relatively modern CPU as well, with the studio indicating that an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 11700 or AMD’s Zen 3 Ryzen 7 5700X as the ideal processors for maxing out the game’s visuals on a 4K display with 60 frames per second.

Much like the original 2020 release, keyboard and mouse work well as a control scheme in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, with the minor (and curious) caveat that you might want to disable the double-tap directions to roll option, as I personally found it to be an excellent way to get myself killed while trying to climb mountains. Generally speaking, however, the game has otherwise excellent defaults when it comes to controls and graphics options, and for players that like to tinker around with settings, there is plenty to play around with.

As for the game itself, Horizon Zero Dawn’s original release has been considered by many to be one overshadowed by titles coming out around the same time. Time, however, has been kinder to Horizon Zero Dawn, and it even got a critically praised sequel that also received a PC release earlier this year.

"For players that like to tinker around with settings, there is plenty to play around with."

Horizon Zero Dawn has never been a game that tried to reinvent the wheel by any stretch; it was always simply an excellent open-world title with a few unique ideas of its own, wrapped up in an incredibly-interesting world that acted as a great backdrop to a fun story. The game definitely had its flaws back then, and revisiting the title through its remastered release, these same flaws tend to feel larger than they really were. For example, the game has an incredibly slow start. Miserable pacing in its opening sections set a really bad first impression, especially considering how much more interesting the game gets the moment you’re let loose in its open world.

The game also has a gearing and skill tree system that tends to feel superfluous. In fact, some of the earliest skills you unlock in the game can feel rather ridiculous, since they should just be baseline abilities. This includes skills like being able to do stealth attacks, or even filler skills that seem to be present just to pad out the tree a bit, like allowing you to salvage items for metal chips, or getting more items when you gather sticks. Thankfully, the game tends to be rather generous when it comes to giving you skill points, thanks in large part to its plethora of side quests that often reward you with a tonne of experience points. You will ultimately end up unlocking every skill anyway, so the skill tree feeling weird in the game’s early portions ends up not being that big of a deal in the long term.

The most unique thing about Horizon Zero Dawn has always been the battles the game pits you in against its giant robotic wildlife. These can often be the highlight of the game, and there is a sense of freedom thanks to how you will often have to track down specific machines for certain parts that can only be grabbed if you damage the right parts. These fights, especially against some of the bigger machines, can often feel like they were taken right out of Monster Hunter World, albeit with a much more simplistic combat system.

"Horizon Zero Dawn has never been a game that tried to reinvent the wheel by any stretch"

It’s a shame that the story of Horizon Zero Dawn often pits you against opposing humans, since these fights never feel as fun or engaging as when you’re taking on a machine. In fact, fights against humans are where some of the title’s most glaring weaknesses get the biggest spotlight; the melee combat system is laughably simplistic. Some humans tend to die in just a single headshot, which means the bow is the be-all-end-all of combat there, while machines can often have you weaving different weapons from throughout your arsenal, laying traps with the Tripcaster, or even getting in a few whacks with your staff.

Speaking of which, the story is rather excellent, telling the tale of not only protagonist Aloy, but of the world as a whole. There are several questions raised throughout the game’s runtime, ranging from why there are robot dinosaurs all over the place, what happened to humanity, and even about the mysteries surrounding Aloy. The world-building is especially well done, and there is a lot of extra details about the mysterious lands of Horizon Zero Dawn hidden away into collectibles that are up for grabs for players that might want to put in the extra effort.

Despite these weaknesses, however, Horizon Zero Dawn is still an incredibly fun game, thanks to its wonderful world and story that, while sometimes poorly paced, has a great payoff at the end, and sets things up wonderfully for a great sequel. It certainly helps the case for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, then, that it’s essentially the definitive way to experience the game thanks to its enhanced visuals.

This game was reviewed on PC.