If that’s appealing to you, you’re probably as much of a sucker for punishment as we are, and are going to love the ones that are on this list. Each one of them is going to test you in its own way, but the journey is certainly worth it as they are experiences you’d not want to miss.

Let’s dive in, and let the battles begin.

1. Bionic Bay

If you’re raising your eyebrows at the thought of a 2D platformer being among the hardest games of the year, allow us to warn you that this one comes with a lot of moments where you’re going to be feeling despair at the seemingly impossible challenge in front of you. That’s a sentiment that never fully leaves you as you try to navigate the complex pathways to your character’s ultimate escape that serves as the narrative framing for this adventure.

It takes a determined player to get to the end of this one, and if that’s you, strap in for a hell of a good time.

2. Elden Ring: Nightreign

Although I’d personally recommend you bring a couple of friends along to Limveld, playing with complete strangers might just be a natural part of the challenge on offer in this roguelike debut from FromSoftware. From planning the perfect route and being as efficient as possible when you take on the many threats you’re going to find along the way, this one is a rush through risky lands that can get quite addictive.

Of course, the bosses at the end of each run are going to be absolute walls that require multiple runs before you can even begin to formulate a strategy to take them down that can work with different combinations of weapons. We could go on, but you get the point.

3. Haste

While its premise, gameplay loop, and control scheme are deceptively simple, Haste is so unpredictable and reliant on precision for the best rewards that it becomes quite challenging to play it the way it wants you to. For a game that’s about running as fast as you can before you try to stick a perfect landing to preserve your momentum, it sure brings a myriad of ways to bring you to a sudden halt.

But if you’re the type to keep getting back up and trying again, you’re going to have a lot of fun (and digital concussions) with this one.

4. Escape From Tarkov

No matter the mode you pick on this extraction shooter, things are going to be challenging as you begin to trade damage with enemies and pick up a few injuries along the way. That’s thanks to the game’s emphasis on being a realistic tactical shooter, requiring you to be very cognizant of your presence in the world, and ever on the lookout for signs of life from your enemies, too.

Things can get tense with this one, especially against players who know what they’re doing with it. Approach it with caution and pay attention to its mechanics, as they could mean the difference between life and death.

5. Wuchang Fallen Feathers

This fantasy, based on the end of the Ming Dynasty, is a great example of a game that encourages you to try different approaches to insurmountable challenges until you find one that works. Its combat mechanics are sublime, with each of its weapon types coming with distinct mechanics that make them very special.

Its enemies and bosses are all excellent adversaries, while some of its harder enemies had us grinding our teeth in frustration at the errors they forced us to make. For a visually stunning world teeming with difficult fights to pick, this one is a no-brainer.

6. AI Limit

Life as a Blader isn’t easy, and Arissa is no stranger to the challenges that come her way in this sci-fi ARPG. But she’s only as good as the player guiding her actions, and the combat loop on offer makes things quite challenging to stay on top of. This game’s Soulslike trappings are proudly on display, and its enemy types make it quite hard to predict potential attacks and form strategies.

The result is an experience that needs you to think on your feet, and comes off all the more rewarding as a result.

7. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Henry’s adventure in this sequel can get quite challenging if you don’t make good use of its excellent combat mechanics. While you can make things easy for yourself by exploring as much as you can, things are designed to remain a challenge throughout the experience in this title.

Its Hardcore mode takes the realism it presents to a whole other level, removing a lot of important assists that you might otherwise rely on. You’re going to want to master the basics of this game’s combat system and practice as much as you can to make the most of it.

8. Hollow Knight Silksong

As a worthy sequel to the original game, this one’s expanded size and scope make both exploration and combat work very well together to present a gameplay loop that constantly has you on the back foot if you’re prone to making errors in combat. Hornet’s improved agility and new moveset are a valuable addition to a game that brings a very troublesome rogues’ gallery to its levels.

You’re going to want to be precise and attack with intent if you want to survive this one’s toughest battles. To hesitate is to die, and this game does not let you forget that.

9. Blue Prince

This one is a great test of your wits for those among you who prefer that kind of a challenge. Finding the hidden 46th room in a mansion whose layout is ever-changing is going to have you thinking about potential solutions even while you’re at work. It’s maddeningly simple and yet quite hard to nail down.

When considered alongside a gameplay loop that’s designed to keep you bamboozled, this is a game that can send you in circles before you find that a solution was right in front of you all along.

10. The First Berserker: Khazan

For an exhilarating combat system backed up by a great story and some very unique visuals, Khazan’s battle is going to hit all the right notes and then some. The combat system gives you all the tools you need to face down any threats standing in your way, but makes each of those threats so memorable and challenging that you can’t help but get up and try again when they take you down.

This one’s so good that giving up on it isn’t an option, as you’re going to find out when you dive in.

11. DOOM: The Dark Ages

The Slayer might be feared by the forces of Hell, but he’s only as good as the one who wields his mighty arsenal of weapons. This prequel can get overwhelming if you don’t take full advantage of its new mechanics, and even that might not save you on its harder difficulties.

This is a game that needs you to be quite tactical as you take on enemies, planning a bloody path through their ranks with the brutal efficiency that only Earth’s mightiest defender can wield against the forces that threaten his world. The Slayer’s latest adventure is a deadly one, but it’s totally worth it if you’re up for the challenge.

12. Warriors: Abyss

Although the massive roster and a great combat system are the main draws of this one, it can get quite difficult to take on the armies it throws at you in the heat of battle. You’re going to have to master your moves to get the most out of your build, and the game’s enemies are no pushovers, ready to slice and dice you into oblivion if you allow the momentum of a battle to slip away.

While the story could have been better, it does manage to give you a reason to take on as many enemies as you like with almost reckless abandon, provided you earn your mastery through practice and perfection.

13. Ninja Gaiden 4

The new Ninja Gaiden does very well to preserve the franchise’s trademark challenge, with both Ryu and Yakumo having their abilities pushed to their limits over the course of the story. Taking on enemies with its combat system might be familiar if you’re a returning veteran, but it can get a tad challenging to master for a newcomer.

Either way, this is a game where you need to use all of the skills you learn in order to stay on top of everything it throws at you. Oh, and of course, you have to do it all with style. Otherwise, what’s the point?

14. Hell Is Us

While this game’s combat might not be too much of a challenge, it’s in how the game’s very design is aimed at making it all as opaque as possible that gets you. Hell is Us can get quite complicated if you’re not paying attention, with so much of its content hidden away behind a veil of obscurity that seems to cover its world.

Uncovering it all is going to require the best of your sleuthing skills, and of course, a bit of talent with your blades whenever the need arises. Even that might not be enough to see all it has to offer in a single playthrough. Approach this one with a suitable notepad in hand.

15. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Joe Musashi’s fight against the ENE is a great action-platformer that can have you retrying portions of it more often than you’d like to admit. While you do enjoy Musashi’s agility and a solid arsenal of skills and tools to make fights easier as the adventure goes on, its enemies ensure that you’re always kept on your toes and that no victory feels cheap.

It’s a deadly dance of attacks and dodges that can have you spending hours just enjoying its balance between simplicity and depth.

And that’s a wrap on the hardest games of 2025 that caught our attention. We can only wonder what the year ahead has in store for us, but no matter what, know that we’re going to be there for it all alongside you!

With that, the nominees for the best PS5 games of 2025 are:

Lost Soul Aside

What originally began as a one-man tech demo eventually blossomed into a competent action RPG with Revengeance-like combat and tons of style to spare. You’re not alone in thinking it looks a bit like Final Fantasy given the crystal theming and character design. Still, Lost Soul Aside carves its own identity with its combo-laden combat and varied boss mechanics. The game may have some growing pains as a debut indie effort (especially in its story), but the kernels of greatness are there in its gameplay systems.

The Midnight Walk

If you’re looking for a short-but-sweet adventure game with some uncanny claymation visuals, it’s impossible not to recommend The Midnight Walk. What struck me most as I reviewed the game was the strong atmosphere created by inventive environments, Burton-esque character designs, and a stirring musical score. It’s a game with a remarkably strong sense of place , and the experience lingers long after you’ve completed it.  And for horror fans, there’s plenty to enjoy too, the stealth sections are legitimately nightmarish despite the game’s demure appearance.

Dying Light: The Beast

You don’t need to have played any other Dying Light to have fun with this one. This standalone entry flips the bright, colorful world design of Dying Light 2 on its head with an all-new wooded region infested with infected zombies. In short, it nails the horror vibe fans have been begging for since the first game. Kyle Crane returns with new beast powers that feel great to use on the horrific denizens of Caster Woods, and the skill tree is the best the franchise has seen to date.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong finally came out this year and its been well worth the long wait. It earns the perfect 10 we gave it due to its exhilarating boss fights and fun platforming. The level design and progression system add tons of replayability and substance to the game as well, providing well over 30 hours of tough-as-nails content for fans to enjoy. Even newcomers will find plenty to appreciate through the lush soundtrack and charming hand-drawn art

Where Winds Meet

Free to play games have come a long way in offering top-tier experiences without requiring players to spend a dime, and Where Winds Meet might be the most impressive leap yet. The sheer abundance of genres it fuses together is remarkable. You’re getting a vast, gorgeous open world with a meaty single-player campaign, tons of boss battles, minigames, and immersive sim mechanics. If you’ve ever wanted to explore 10^th Century China with some side quests reminiscent of The Witcher 3, and you don’t mind a mostly non-invasive F2P structure plus a few glitches, Where Winds Meet delivers in spades..

Blue Prince

Blue Prince is easily in the discussion for best puzzle game of the year. Heck, it’s arguably one of the best rougelikes of the year as well, especially since it got me, a rougelike denier, to enjoy it. What I love is how simple it is to jump in and immediately understand. You explore a mansion with randomly generated rooms, with the twist being that you’re the one choosing which rooms get “drawn.” The goal is to unlock and enter the mysterious 46th room by selecting the right rooms and solving puzzles along the way. Don’t sleep on Blue Prince. Even if you’re not a fan of puzzle games or roguelikes, its deceptive simplicity has a way of hooking you.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

The original Death Stranding was an amazing game, but it had noticeable issues. Then came the Director’s Cut and it added some new content which made an already great game even better. But Kojima has learned his lessons and after working on the sequel for more than five years, we finally got Death Stranding 2:On the Beach back in June. And, by all accounts this is a stellar achievement. Featuring exceptional gameplay that takes the strand mechanics to newer heights, a story that will capure your attention and visuals that will stun you, this sequel has all the makings of a game of the year.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur is a turn-based RPG that lets players time parries and manually aim for enemy weak spots. This real-time element really adds a lot of dynamism to the classic turn-based formula, complemented by a variety of enemy types to strategize against. Besides the remarkable combat,  genre-specific staples such as story and progression are also exceptional. The cast of characters grapple with mortality and grief throughout the adventure in earnest and thought-provoking ways. You just can’t help but want to solve the ever-dwindling lifespan dilemma The Paintress has concocted. Turn-based RPG fans are eating well this year thanks to Clair Obscur’s stellar story and gameplay.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 expands the grounded medieval immersive sim elements of the first game into a masterful AAA-like experience. You can still get knocked out by common bandits late into the game, but combat is tuned to  be more fun and intuitive. The world design is breathtaking, with the realism of towns like Troskowitz and the bustling Kuttenberg leaving my jaw on the floor. But it’s the story and side quests where the game truly shines. With enhanced cinematography, stellar voice acting, and historically accurate details, KCD2 is as much a narrative powerhouse as it is a medieval simulation.

Silent Hill f

Capturing the essence of the best Silent Hill games isn’t easy. There’s a lot of subtle detail involved. And despite its change in location, Silent Hill f has that essence down. In fact, the rural Japanese town nails that Silent Hill feel perfectly. The environments are grade A spooky, with that characteristic fog enveloping looming threats in ways that feel natural for the rural countryside. Combat is spicier than usual, encouraging you to engage enemies rather than simply retreating. If the monster designs don’t scare you, the camera work and music probably will. There’s just a lot to love with the new Silent Hill and thankfully, there’s five endings to elongate the playtime as much as you want.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

MGS Delta is arguably the ideal remake. The 1:1 cutscenes, 4K visuals, and quality of life features make this the best way to play Metal Gear Solid 3 today. But what impresses me even more than the way the rising sun glints off of Snake’s visor in that opening scene is the new stuff sprinkled in. Snake’s wear and tear over the course of the game is shown through dynamic cosmetic scraps and clothing rips. There’s also the ability to crouch walk (finally) and an over the shoulder perspective, adding some much-wanted gameplay features to the classic. This remake has it all.

Ghost of Yotei

If you’ve played Ghost of Tsushima, you know what to expect with Ghost of Yotei. Yet the game still manages to surprise and impress. The instant load times and silky smooth framerates are particularly impressive. Being built solely with the PS5 in mind allows the game to run flawlessly and then some. The open world here is one of the most beautiful we’ve seen in a game, thanks in part to sweeping draw distances not detracting from foreground detail. Storywise, the Yotei Six serve as a fun, motivating target throughout the story due to how well the narrative frames their actions. Ghost of Yotei is the premier PS5 showcase game at the moment and it doesn’t look like it’s being supplanted any time soon.

Days Gone Remastered

Sure, Sony Bend hasn’t added much new story content to Days Gone in this remaster, but the current-gen tech has given the game a much-needed boost. It finally feels like it’s living up to its potential, story aside. Fighting through hundreds of Freaker zombies is super smooth in this remaster, with the game very rarely dipping below 60 FPS in such chaotic moments. The result is a dynamic open world zombie game with fun combat similar to The Last of Us. If you can tolerate Deacon talking to himself every five minutes, Days Gone Remastered will put you in zombie madness for many hours to come.

Cronos: The New Dawn

Bloober Team has been knocking it out of the survival horror park lately. Between Silent Hill 2 Remake and Cronos, they’re capturing what makes the genre so compelling. Cronos has an atmosphere so tense that it actively rattles you into missing your shots. The claustrophobic journey is made more limiting by The Traveler’s (that’s you) slow traversal speed. Every bullet is prized in this game, and you’ll be seeing the game over-screen quite a bit. But it’s all worth it to experience the unconventional Polish setting and tight gameplay.

Sword of the Sea

Sword of the Sea is an instantly inviting experience. The colorful art style, mesmerizing soundtrack, and seamlessly smooth control scheme are as intuitive and irresistible as it gets in gaming. It’s a journey as magnetic as, well, their previous game The Pathless. Despite minor performance issues, even on PS5, Sword of the Sea flawlessly delivers on what the studio does best, and that’s something to celebrate.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (PS5)

Stalker 2 is finally out on PS5 and what a port it is. PlayStation users get to experience the exclusion zone and all its bizarre anomalies and creatures with smooth performance and impressive visual fidelity. The DualSense haptics shine here, enhancing the act of probing for anomalies with immersive rumble and trigger resistance. Stalker 2’s strong horror atmosphere blends with compelling immersive sim gameplay to create an unforgettable experience, made even more personal via PS5-exclusive features.

And The Best PS5 Game of 2025 Goes to:

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

I don’t know how he did it, but Kojima actually managed to make a game even more zany and compelling than the first Death Stranding. The sequel has so many iconic moments it’s hard to know where to begin. Characters have more fleshed-out backstories and quirks in general, which makes sense given the Hollywood talent Kojima brought along for the sequel. But the game does far more than expand its story and presentation: the delivery sim aspects also see tremendous improvement. Those jaw-dropping moments stumbling atop a cliffside overlooking a gorgeous vista are alive and well, and even more striking thanks to the new day/night cycle. Weather plays a massive role too. Earthquakes, dust devils, downpours, sandstorms, you name it, appear while trekking across the brand-new Mexico and Australia environments. There’s no denying it: Death Stranding 2 is a premier PS5 experience that embodies everything PlayStation strives for in its first-party titles. It’s our best PS5 game of 2025 and one of the greatest first-party games PlayStation has even had.

However, there are a few games this year that can test even the most determined players with their immense size and scope, and more than a few on the way. To that end, in no particular order, here are a few long adventures that can chew up many hours of your time while keeping you well entertained in the process.

1. Ghost of Yotei

Slated for an October 2025 release, this follow up to Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima is primed to recapture the magic of its predecessor while taking the franchise to the next level all at once. This PS5 exclusive action adventure title follows new protagonist Atsu as she hunts down the Yotei Six, who were responsible for killing her family and leaving her for dead.

She does so by relying on her exceptional swordplay and stealth skills, along with the ability to wield multiple weapons in combat. Yotei brings a lot to do within its boundaries, with sumi-e paintings, training with bamboo shoots, bounty hunts, and so much more and is likely to take you around 60 hours to fully experience everything it has to offer.

2. Pokemon Legends: Z-A

This action RPG for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is sure to keep you coming back for more, bringing the best of the beloved IP to the table. Set in and around Lumiose City in the Kalos region, where Pokemon are able to coexist with humans in designated Wild Zones, the game is stated to bring real-time battles via a new combat system and a host of other activities for you to take on as you craft your legend from the ground up.

With a new story and side missions also being featured in the game, this is a title that Pokemon fans will be waiting to dive into when it launches in October 2025. While little is known about the story’s runtime, this is a game that is sure to have many players returning to Lumiose City long after they have completed it, if past titles are any indication.

3. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Hideo Kojima’s latest release is one that can quickly enthrall you with its breathtaking views of Mexico and Australia, with Sam Porter embarking on a new quest to bring the Chiral Network back online in these new areas. That’s not the only thing occupying his time, however, with BTs to take down, new faces to meet, and a host of other activities that he can take up during his travels.

That’s not all! Kojima has made life after On the Beach’s explosive main story quite encouraging to take on, and there are a lot of things to do after you roll the credits on Sam’s latest adventure. That could very well take you more than a 100 hours to get through it all, making this one a no-brainer if you’re looking for a massive game to take on!

4. The Outer Worlds 2

The upcoming action RPG sequel to the original Outer Worlds takes its players to a new solar system in which they are tasked with investigating rifts in the sapce-time continuum for the Earth Directorate. With an increased focus on action and a visual overhaul to better service it, this October 2025 release is certainly one to watch out for.

While the original game took about 40 hours to experience in its entirety, Outer Worlds 2 could very well raise the bar with its branching story paths that stem from its returning dialogue tree system. Combined with its new world, this is a title that comes with a lot of replay value for those who want to experience everything it has to offer.

5. Monster Hunter Wilds

Although this action-RPG is best enjoyed with a team of your friends, it’s more than possible to get through the sprawling adventure it presents on your own. That’s easier said than done, however, with the Forbidden Lands presenting you with a plethora of monsters to hunt down across several biomes as you search for a missing expedition as part of the main story.

With meaningful improvements to crucial aspects of the experience such as its combat, RPG mechanics, exploration, and more, this game could easily take you past the 100-hour mark if you decide to track down everything you could possibly do within its massive open world. Happy hunting!

6. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

With the series finally taking to the shores of feudal Japan, Naoe and Yasuke’s adventures through its villages, and fields builds on everything good about its past instalments to bring a polished and highly entertaining experience to the table.

There’s a lot to do and see in the studio’s take on Japan, along with several targets to take down. Expect to hit the 100-hour mark if you decide to channel your inner completionist while going even higher if you decide to try out the game on its higher difficulties.

7. Clair Obscur: Expedition 

If you haven’t already travelled to the shores of Lumiere and witnessed Sandfall Interactive’s marvellous spin on RPGs, this is a title that can keep you coming back to its Belle Epoque inspired world for a while yet.

The Expedition’s charm, wit, and determination against overwhelming odds make for a very compelling story while the game’s combat can be very hard to learn but is equally rewarding to master. While it doesn’t match the staggering playtimes of other entries on this list, Clair Obscur is a game that you will want to replay almost instantly for its second ending, and a very well-implemented New Game Plus mode.

8. Kingdom Come Deliverance II

This first-person action RPG brings an expanded open-world and a host of improvements over its predecessor, making it well worth your time to dive into the immersive adventure it offers. There’s a lot of variety in its gameplay loop, with your choices affecting different outcomes across its playtime.

Its story is not to be scoffed at either, bringing wit, charm, and intrigue to the Bohemian countryside in an adventure that can keep you occupied for at least 50 hours while diving into every little detail of its world could easily push you close to about 140 hours.

9. Dying Light: The Beast

While originally envisioned as a DLC expansion for Dying Light 2: Stay Human, Techland went ahead to make a standalone title out of its upcoming survival horror title that’s slated for an August 2025 release.

While it is a more compact experience when compared to Dying Light 2, it could very well keep you very entertained for quite a while considering how immersive its gameplay and mechanics can get. Kyle Crane’s return to the helm of this new adventure is an added bonus, and this one is sure to keep its players coming back for more long after they have rolled the credits on its story.

10. Borderlands 4

Gearbox’s Software’s upcoming first-person looter shooter is set to expand on everything the wildly popular franchise has done in the past. Putting you in the shoes of the Vault Hunter in their resistance against the tyrannical Time Keeper, this title is sure to tip the scales in terms of its playtime while managing to offer a wide range of activities for you to take on.

If Borderlands 3 is any indication, its sequel could easily take you more than a 100 hours to experience fully, and perhaps even more if Gearbox manages to fulfil its ambitions for the game.

11. Metroid Prime 4

Retro Games’ upcoming action adventure title is slated to continue Samus Aran’s adventures after the destruction of Phazon on a new planet with some familiar faces and new ones making their way to the game.

With the introduction of new abilities and features, this upcoming title for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is sure to give you many a reason to explore its world as thoroughly as you can, and perhaps even dive back in for another playthrough once you’re done.

12. Black Myth Wukong (Xbox)

If Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong slipped you by since you’re an Xbox owner, it’s well worth diving into the action this August when the game finally makes it onto the platform.

The Destined One’s rise to Sun Wukong’s greatness is an adventure that can be quite the challenge, with a fully complete playthrough taking well over 60 hours depending on how well you’re able to tackle the many threats you find along the way. There’s a lot to see and do in this visually breathtaking title that brings an excellent combat loop to its relatively linear world. For fans of the Monkey King’s adventures, this one’s a no-brainer.

13. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

The adventure that started Naked Snake’s trajectory to his time as Big Boss is well worth diving back into, with Konami bringing more than just a visual overhaul to a title that needs no introduction.

There’s about 30 hours of play in this game if the original title is any indication, but this Kojima classic is well worth the time you invest into its excellent stealth mechanics and riveting story. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, this is a remake that could very well bring the Metal Gear Solid franchise to a new generation of gamers who may not have had the chance to experience its magic yet.

14. Jurassic World Evolution 3

This sequel to Evolution 2 from the stables of Frontier Developments brings the iconic construction and management sim franchise back for another round. There are over 80 species of dinosaurs to populate you take on Jurassic Park.

What’s more, added functionality like the ability to modify the terrain and share your custom parks, enclosures, and buildings with friends can make Evolution 3 a title that you keep coming back to for a long time, with previous titles clocking in at about a 100 hours for completionists.

15. Silent Hill f

NeoBards and Konami’s survival horror title is primed to bring chills and thrills to the table in equal measures this October with a new adventure taking place in Japan, and new horrors to uncover.

Ebisugaoka is beginning to look like the perfect stage for Konami’s renewed focus on Japanese horror in its latest addition to the long-standing franchise, and while its playtime is anyone’s guess, it could very well be an adventure that you will want to replay several times over if the studio plays its cards right.

BONUS: Mafia: The Old Country

Although Hangar 13 has ditched Mafia 3’s open world for a more linear, story-focused experience this time around, The Old Country is worthy of your attention as it takes the franchise back to the early days of the Mafia for a story that could be the franchise’s flagship.

Current-gen hardware has enabled the studio to bring a visually stunning recreation of early Siciliy to the table while its new protagonist is set to bring a poignant tale of loyalty and inevitable betrayal to the table in this addition to the Mafia lineup this August. Expect a playtime of about 30-40 hours on this one.

And that wraps up our picks from 2025’s lineup of single-player titles that you could dive into as and when you need a new adventure to take on!