Mass Effect 1 – Mako Segments

Mass Effect’s first outing laid the foundation for what would end up becoming one of the most beloved sci-fi RPG trilogies of all time, but even those who swear by the franchise will tell you that the Mako segments are easily the game’s most off-putting mandatory sections. On paper, cruising across alien planets in a six-wheeled all-terrain tank sounds like a thrilling opportunity to explore strange landscapes and uncover hidden secrets. But in execution, the driving experience turns into a bumpy nightmare in the face of weird controls and awkward handling. The Mako handles like a bouncy toy through and through, ricocheting off the slightest hill and sliding around at every slope. It also doesn’t help that most planets you explore are barren with little variety between them and the enemy encounters presnet within. And when mission objectives force you into these segments repeatedly, it becomes painfully clear they were more ambitious than polished. They can break the narrative flow, drag the pacing down, and leave anyone dreading the next time the game says, “Time to deploy the Mako.”

Its haptics were designed for immersion, being able to simulate a range of different surfaces. weapons, and other effects, while its triggers would adapt to what was in your hands on-screen, making for a controller that feels like it’s a part of the game along with you. The touchpad and speaker made a very welcome return from the PS4, too. However, not all games make use of the DualSense’s immersive capability.

And yet, others do, with some very nice results. If you’re looking to find a few titles that do the DualSense justice, we’ve got a few great ones for you. Let’s get started.

1. Ghost of Yotei

As a PS5 exclusive, Atsu’s revenge-fueled rampage across Ezo was bound to make use of the DualSense in some form. The guiding wind was already mapped to the touchpad, as were a couple of key functions. But having players swipe across the touchpad to navigate their shamisens, or actually move and tilt their controllers to cook over a campfire, were fantastic touches that brought a layer of realism to the open-world and its activities.

Even building a campfire was cleverly implemented here. While we would have liked the haptics and adaptive triggers to really come alive during the game’s combat, they do a decent job overall. This one’s a great choice if you’d like your DualSense to really come along with you for the ride.

2. Astro Bot

Team Asobi’s platformer was so rooted in PlayStation history and put so much into the DualSense that there’s an Astro Bot-themed one all on its own. The haptics made surfaces like sand and metal come alive, the motor’s intensity pulsing ever so differently and giving a distinct feel to each one.

There were even different trigger responses on various power-ups. Suction devices made the triggers actually push against your fingers, simulating a device that was slowly filling up. The boxing gloves made them click satisfactorily in place, making it feel like you were landing punches yourself. We could go on, but you get the idea. This love letter to PlayStation is a logical choice for those of you who want to enjoy everything the DualSense has to offer.

3. Gran Turismo 7

As a racing sim that takes itself quite seriously, it only makes sense, then, that Gran Turismo 7 made use of every tool in its arsenal to improve player experience. If you’re thinking that it’s good news for PS5 players thanks to the DualSense, you already know what to expect.

But it’s hard to describe how each car’s engine brings a subtle, yet obvious shift in the haptic feedback you get, while bumps in the road or changes to your tire’s grip come right back to you as you attempt harder turns. The adaptive triggers do well to shift the weight of your brake pedals between cars, and even simulate ABS-assisted braking. It’s a long list, but definitely worth discovering for its visuals and authentic gameplay alongside its DualSense integration.

4. STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl

The PS5 version of GSC’s long-awaited addition to the STALKER franchise does interesting things with the DualSense. For starters, the developers have discussed their use of the adaptive triggers at length, highlighting how the weapon enthusiasts on the team ensured that each gun’s heft and distinct features were translated well into the triggers.

All of the game’s radio chatter is routed through the DualSense’s speaker, while the haptics have been trained to simulate a variety of different, varied surfaces across The Zone’s many biomes. In a game that’s as immersive as STALKER 2, the PS5 version is the one to beat, and the DualSense is a major part of that distinction.

5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

As if bringing Peter Parker and Miles Morales together as dual protagonists wasn’t enough, Insomniac decided to make the DualSense feel alive in your hands as you zipped around the city, a ray-traced reflection of Spidey coming back at you to remind you that this one was a next-gen game at the time.

Of course, the DualSense played its part, its haptics simulating the feel of the wind on your web wings, or the adaptive triggers suitably seizing up as Spidey gathered the initial burst of force he needed for his next launch. Personally, the first time trying to glide along on water was among the best ways to feel the controller’s haptics at work. This one’s definitely worth checking out on the whole and as a showcase for the DualSense.

6. Horizon Forbidden West

Another great PS5 exclusive, this one is another great use case for the DualSense’s unique feature set. For starters, the controller’s integration into the gameplay loop is done so subtly, you might barely notice it’s there at the outset. But you’re soon going to be looking for ways to fire up the haptics by your in-game actions, and that’s where the fun begins.

You begin to notice the ever-so-slight vibrations of the blades of long grass you use to remain unseen, or the way a fall from a high place makes the controller tell you quite directly that it was a bad idea. It’s in the way that different strokes in the water as you swim evoke different responses from your controller, even as the triggers make each weapon feel distinctly different. This is one that you have to check out for yourself, and it’s a great game, too.

7. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Hideo Kojima’s 2025 masterpiece needs no introduction, but Sam Porter’s latest adventure does bring some interesting, DualSense-focused touches to the table. It essentially made the controller feel like an extension of Sam and the player, with every texture the character stepped across making the controller come alive just a bit differently in our hands.

The triggers made us feel the weight of his cargo when he handled it, even as every drop of rain from a Timefall occurring around us gave a sense of foreboding, thanks to the DualSense making us uncomfortably aware that time was of the essence. It’s brilliant stuff, and perhaps an indicator of even better things to come for the controller in the near and distant future.

8. The Last of Us Part I

This remake of Naughty Dog’s original 2013 classic did very well to make good use of the Dualsense to elevate an experience that was so familiar it ran the risk of feeling dated. Guns and Ellie’s bow are suitably different in your hands thanks to the triggers, while the haptics add to the tension you feel when you’re navigating the environments that cause it.

They’re also a part of some of the story’s most important moments, bringing a subtle yet fresh touch to those scenes in a way that wasn’t possible at the time of the game’s development. If you’re a fan and would like to experience the original adventure in a fresh new way, the DualSense is going to help with that.

9. Dead Space Remake

Returning to the USG Ishimura with a DualSense in our hands made for an interesting time when we tried this one out. The plasma rifle suddenly felt all the more satisfying to use, the haptic feedback from each shot working well with the visuals of a terrifying enemy being put down in front of you.

Every step with your magnetic boots is sent back to you via the haptics, while the triggers do well to make each weapon feel distinct enough that you might even tell them apart with your eyes closed once you spend enough time with them. If you have the stomach for some scares, give this one a go.

10. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Cloud Strife’s revamped tangle with Shinra in this continuation of the story from Remake came with excellent implementations of the DualSense’s haptics and triggers. They did well to add the usual immersive layers we’ve come to expect to the game’s combat and exploration, but they were also neatly tied into the story and a few minigames, too.

Rebirth is a great example of how the DualSense could be woven into a game’s narrative cutscenes as well, while also being a part of more than just combat and a way to simulate the texture of the ground under a player’s feet. This one’s a no-brainer on the controller front, and you’re likely going to enjoy it on its own merits as well.

11. Alan Wake 2

This one’s probably our favorite one of the lot. There’s a case to be made for combining a controller like the DualSense and a game that’s as atmospheric as this one. While the visuals could take a while to praise considering how great they look on a PS5, having the DualSense add-on to that immersion is a great way to enjoy an experience that’s already among the finest ones you can find.

From the way the rain patters down around you while the controller gently vibrates to make you feel like a few drops caught you instead, to how a shotgun and crossbow feel castly different thanks to the triggers working very well to make that so, this is a game you’re going to find excuses to replay once you finish it for the first time.

12. Black Myth Wukong

You’re going to appreciate the DualSense’s role in this one right off the bat. Fighting the several bosses throughout the game brings the controller alive, with each blow you fend off, making it rumble in your hands. But Wukong also weaves in other subtle touches to its gameplay loop that make it worthwhile to play on a PS5 (or a PC with a DualSense if that’s your thing).

From resistance to your staff to the build-up of spells, the adaptive triggers are always looking for ways to differentiate your gear, while the haptics do a great job of simulating different occurrences and, of course, making combat come to life. Tracing the steps of the protagonist is certainly a task worthy of the DualSense.

13. Deathloop

Deathloop is a solid example of the DualSense being used effectively across the board in a video game. The haptics are woven into your exploration loop, effectively making each surface you walk across feel as it should in the real world, while the triggers differentiate your weapons very well indeed.

But integrating the haptics into cutscenes made for an experience that was all the more engaging as a result, adding weight to the moments where the developers wanted it. Take the DualSense along to Blackreef, and you’re not going to be disappointed.

14. Stray

We can’t help but feel like this one was made for the DualSense and not the other way around. The controller feels like such an important part of this surreal adventure, coming alive with every purr your feline protagonist makes. The triggers make you appreciate why cats like to scratch things so much.

Our favorite use of the controller was at resting points, where watching your kitty cat take a well-served nap comes with the bonus of having the controller mimic its breathing in a way that’s as satisfying as it is adorable. This is one of the more innovative uses of the DualSense on our list, and perhaps a very innovative experience on its own.

15. Baldur’s Gate 3

Larian did well to translate its UI over from a keyboard and mouse to a controller, its radial menus offering players a lot of options as they navigated the many mysteries and adventures of Faerun in this very memorable take on Dungeons & Dragons.

The triggers did well to bring that shift to life, with varying amounts of pressure controlling the behavior of radial menus in the game. The light bar on the DualSense switches colors depending on the spell you’re casting, while the haptics rumble away at the appropriate times to make things interesting. It’s surely worth a shot, especially with official modding support from Larian for the PS5 thrown into the mix.

And that’s a wrap on games that are best enjoyed on the PS5, thanks to how the DualSense makes them even better. Here’s to many more on the horizon.

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.

Fortunately, that isn’t the case with the PS5 Pro. There are quite a few titles that make the most of its power, and it’s gamers who win as they get to experience games like never before! Here are a few great titles that have made the most out of Sony’s latest powerhouse, and come out all the better for it.

We’ve put together some of our favorite ones for you to check out. Let’s dive in!

1. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Insomniac’s take on the neighborhood-friendly webslingers is nothing short of a masterpiece on the PS5 Pro, with New York City coming to life on the Performance Pro mode. With full ray tracing via PSSR and a smooth 60fps guiding the action along, swinging across the game’s urban sandbox is a visual treat while making the entire experience feel authentic and immersive.

Of course, the grand set-pieces also benefit from the PS5 Pro’s raw power, making this one a game you shouldn’t miss on the console.

2. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

While the PS5 version of the game was certainly a looker, Insomniac really took things up a notch with the PS5 Pro update on this one. While the Performance Pro mode offered the standard version’s Fidelity mode at 60fps, the new Fidelity Pro mode brings some serious ray-traced goodness to push the visuals to the maximum.

With increased reflections and even pedestrian density in certain areas, this game makes great use of the PS5 Pro’s abilities to make the entire experience look and feel incredible to those of you playing through the iconic characters’ latest adventure.

3. Callisto Protocol

Although Striking Distance’s implementation of its new graphical improvements might not have been as impressive as other titles on this list, there’s no denying that the new ray-traced Performance mode makes the entire experience feel significantly better than the base version.

Additionally, the use of TAAU did make the game perform better, which is always a good thing for an experience that’s as riveting and scary as this one.

4. Gran Turismo 7

Codemaster’s excellent use of PSSR to improve the image quality on offer both on the track and outside of it earns Gran Turismo 7 a place on our list of PS5 Pro games that push the powerhouse to its limits. Diving into a race with the new graphical bells and whistles at 8K is quite immersive, with your car’s interiors now appearing more detailed, and tracks come to life as you blaze through them.

This is a title whose amazing visuals get even better when you play it on the PS5 Pro.

5. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

The developers took advantage of the PS5 Pro’s versatility mode to build on the PS5 version of this sequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake, combining the best of the base version’s Quality and Performance modes to make it the definitive way to enjoy Cloud Strife’s adventures.

This is a title that is a great showcase of just how well PSSR can function to bring incredibly designed worlds to life in all their glory.

6. F1 25

Codemaster certainly knows how to make use of the PS5 Pro’s power, with F1 25 bringing three different graphical options to the console. As if running races at 4K/60fps with Quality mode wasn’t enough, Performance Mode took the framerates up to 120fps on compatible displays.

But the real star of the show is Resolution Mode, which bumps things up to 8K/60fps for an experience that comes pretty darn close to the real thing, thanks to ambient occlusion, reflections, and shadows bringing incredible visual details to the track. This is a game that you might use to show off your PS5 Pro’s real power.

7. Death Stranding 2

Hideo Kojima’s follow-up to the original Death Stranding is simply stunning on the PS5 Pro. The Decima engine really shows off its chops in the game’s performance mode, allowing for an experience that you must see to believe.

Sam’s trek across Mexico and Australia is a visual treat that’s made even sweeter on the PS5 Pro, although the base PS5 also does a great job of bringing this new world to life.

8. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

The decision to set the game in Sengoku Japan has been quite well-received, with a solid gameplay loop backing up an intriguing setting. The open world makes the experience even better when it’s played on the PS5 Pro’s Balanced mode, which offers a superb mix between Quality and Performance modes on the base PS5.

With ray tracing and 40fps enabled on compatible 120Hz displays, the PS5 Pro version of Shadows is the best balance of smooth graphics and incredible visuals that push the console to its limits.

9. Alan Wake 2

Remedy Entertainment’s survival horror experience does very well on the PS5 Pro, bringing an almost perfect balance between the base versions’ Performance and Quality modes. While the differences might not be as evident on paper, playing through this title on the new console makes the entire experience feel that much more immersive, drawing you into Alan Wake’s bizarre world right off the bat.

Playing the game at 40fps with ray tracing enabled across the board is something we’d do over and over again, thanks to how great it makes the experience look and feel.

10. Cyberpunk 2077

The PS5 Pro simply brings Night City to life in a way that makes it a very strong option for those of you looking to enjoy CD Projekt Red’s take on a dystopian future. With 40fps on Quality Mode and 80fps in Performance Mode, this is a title that really pushes the PS5 Pro and makes great use of its power.

Cyberpunk 2077 has certainly come a long way from its messy launch and is now a game that’s right up there with modern gaming’s greatest hits.

11. Resident Evil Village

Playing through Ethan Winters’ search for his daughter in the titular village on the PS5 Pro’s 120Hz mode is a great way to let the game’s many horrors terrify you even more than they did on the base console.

The official Pro patch makes good use of PSSR to bring ray-traced immersion and a solid framerate to enable new levels of immersion to the experience on offer, and earns Village a place on this list.

12. Dragon’s Dogma 2

Although we were quite impressed by Dragon’s Dogma 2 when it first came out, there’s no denying that the experience needed a lot of improvement on the base PS5. However, the game’s balance mode bought a lot of those improvements and then some to the table.

Performance was nearly locked at 60fps while ray tracing brought a fresh coat of paint to the Arisen’s world, making this one quite the looker on the PS5 Pro.

13. Returnal

How did Housemarquee make an excellent shooter even better? By giving it a free PS5 Pro update that brought a significant resolution boost, along with a buttery smooth 60fps to the table.

The end result is a game that showcases the Pro’s graphical prowess like no other, with the particle physics and visually stunning world and enemies looking their very best, while the gameplay loop keeps its players coming back for more. Returnal is a fun game to play on any platform, and a graphical marvel on the PS5 Pro.

14. Battlefield 6

We’re quite impressed with the graphics on offer in this one, even if its main campaign has drawn a bit of flak since its release. However, the Fidelity mode on offer for PlayStation gamers brings an impressive level of visual detail accompanied by excellent framerates that simply cannot be ignored.

If you’re looking to dive into this one on a console, the PS5 Pro is the one to beat.

15. Ghost of Yotei

Sucker Punch’s follow-up to Jin Sakai’s touching tale brings a lot of meaningful changes to the formula it set up in 2020. Among them is a visually stunning open world that comes alive from the second you first behold its expansive vistas as Atsu.

On the PS5 Pro, Ezo is an absolute stunner, with the RT Pro mode being the option that makes the game blend all of its visual splendor into an experience that can have you spending hours just exploring away while the Yotei Six wonder where the onryo meant to bring them to justice vanished off to.

And that’s a wrap on our picks for the games that push the PS5 Pro to its limits. Were there others that you think deserve a place on this list?

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.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty 

Metal Gear Solid 2 was a cultural shift for the franchise, solidifying the brand as a household name in the action-adventure genre. Based on themes of the rapid spread of misinformation in the technology age and how it affects society at large, the opening hours start on a high note as you begin to explore the USS Discovery and get familiar with the new controls. The final hours start to question everything that you know about the narrative: your allies, your motivation, and the ever-looming questions about who’s right or wrong in a world that’s ruled by biased information.

Clair Obscur: Expedition

While traditional role-playing games never disappeared, they did become quite rare for a few years. The release of Clair Obscur: Expedition has managed to remind many people why that style of combat was so beloved. Along with an excellent setting that revolves around serious themes like loss and grief, Expedition also has a solid take on turn-based combat, with every single character in your party having their own bespoke mechanics, be it Maeve’s stance system, how Lune handles elements, or even Gustave’s Overcharge mechanics. Pair this with rewarding high-level gameplay with parries and dodging, and you get one of the best RPGs out there.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 finally managed to hit mainstream success, thanks in large part to its strong setting and ambitious design. Baldur’s Gate 3 adapts rules from the 5th edition of tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons, and features some of the most interesting and likeable characters that have been featured in games in quite some time. Along with this, it also has an expansive story that kicks things off with a great premise: figure out how to get rid of a parasite in your brain before you end up being turned into a mindflayer. What follows is an epic adventure that carries you through different cities and planes, where countless stories and challenges await.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition

What can we say about The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that hasn’t been said already? An entire decade since its original release, the open-world RPG has continued to be awesome thanks to constant support from CD Projekt RED, not only through the release of excellent expansions—but also through updating the title to make use of more modern hardware with enhanced visuals. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt continues to have an excellent story, with plenty of wonderfully-written sidequests. All of this, paired with a great combat system leads to a generally fun way to spend hundreds of hours.

Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erdtree

In many ways, both Elden Ring as well as its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, represents the culmination of everything developer FromSoftware has learned in developing titles since 2009’s Demon’s Souls. Along with the slow-paced but heavy combat that the studio is known for, Elden Ring and its expansion also feature a great open world to explore, some of the best boss fights it has ever design, and some incredibly dense lore available for players who would care enough to pore through the dozens of item descriptions and conversations needed to uncover it all. Pair this with tools that provide plenty of options for players that might want an easier time through the game, and Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree simply prove themselves to be the best that FromSoftware has to offer.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Developer Rockstar has had many great games under its belt, essentially changing the entire concept of open-world games with the release of Grand Theft Auto 3 and its host of follow-ups, but none of them have been as jaw-dropping or awe-inspiring as 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2. Acting as a prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption, the title puts you into the shoes of Arthur Morgan as he experiences the age of the cowboy coming to an end as a member of the Van der Linde gang. Along with some excellent character-writing and fun missions, Red Dead Redemption 2 also offers dense gameplay, taking on a simulationist approach to even side activities like hunting or train robbing, giving players hundreds of hours worth of things to do in its massive and lush open world.

Days Gone Remastered

While Days Gone was originally a PS4 game that came out to a middling reception, its release on PC has been a glow-up for the open-world zombie title, with modern gaming PCs being more than capable of handling the hordes of zombies that get thrown at you. Sure, the main narrative may not be particularly noteworthy. However, the side-activities, as well as the general gameplay loop encouraged by the fact that upgrading your motorbike is important, make the overall idea of setting out to scavenge from long-abandoned medical facilities or even rival gang camps an enticing idea.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

While its initial release may have been a bit of a mess, in the years since, Cyberpunk 2077 has proven itself to be an excellent open-world action RPG. Taking on the role of V in the year 2077, you set out to become a legend in Night City. However, one of the jobs you take alongside your best friend Jackie goes horribly wrong, and now you’re slowly dying and the ghost of Johnny Silverhand lives in your head. Cyberpunk 2077, along with its expansion Phantom Liberty, tells an excellent story that takes you across Night City’s various districts and social strata as you try and figure out the evil machinations of the megacorporation Arasaka that led to the development of the thing that has been slowly killing you. Along with an excellent main story, Cyberpunk 2077 also features several well-written and fun side-quests that can range from getting into a rivalry with a Japanese pop group to discussing the nature of sentience with an AI taxi service.

Disco Elysium – The Final Cut

Quite easily one of the most interesting takes on the RPG genre that has been attempted, Disco Elysium – The Final Cut puts you in the shoes of a detective. You explore the city of Revachol, which is seemingly in the midst of a cultural upheaval in some parts, alongside your partner Lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi. Disco Elysium focuses more on conversation than it does action, and one of its most unique aspects is the fact that each aspect of the protagonist’s mind and body has a personality of its own. Through these conversations, you learn more about yourself, about Revachol, and about the world at large.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Mass Effect is one of those rare video game trilogies that deserves its “legendary” moniker. The three titles tell the story of a galaxy’s fight against a cosmic, existential threat, and puts players in the shoes of human Commander Shepard who must assemble a rag-tag crew of allies from the various species from across the galaxy as they try to figure out the mysteries behind the forces known only as the Reapers. Along the way, in true RPG fashion, there are also plenty of choices that players have to make, with many of these choices having far-reaching consequences for the galaxy as a whole. While the ending of Mass Effect 3 might be regrettable, the rest of the journey still holds up even today as one worth experiencing.

Prey (2017)

While it may not have anything to do with its 2006 namesake, Prey (2017) is an immersive sim that puts players in the shoes of Morgan Yu. Working for the TranStar Corporation on ethically-dubious experiments, you eventually start serving on the Talos I space station. However, these experiments eventually start going wrong, and the space station comes under attack by an alien threat known as the Typhon. The twist is that these aliens can shapeshift, which adds an extra layer of tension to the gameplay. Even when you’re just exploring an office room, one of the mugs might end up being a Mimic-type Typhon that can attack you at any time, after all. What makes Prey especially interesting is the freedom it gives the player in how they choose to tackle any situation, be it stealth, combat, or even something more creative, like building platforms out of nearby furniture and your Goo Gun to avoid any dangers.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition

Skyrim is still – at the time of publishing – the latest game in The Elder Scrolls franchise, and there’s a good reason that it has been the best-selling one so far. Taking place in the eponymous region of Skyrim, the game puts players in the shoes of whatever character they might like to be and, after a short opening quest, sets them free in the world. What makes Skyrim fun is that it has hundreds of hours worth of content, not only through its main story, but through several side quests as well. Along with this, the game also has an excellent modding community that has constantly worked on adding more content to the game, as well as improving what’s already there. Generally speaking, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is the closest thing we have to a game we can play forever.

Fallout 3

What Skyrim does for the fantasy genre, Fallout 3 does for players that might prefer a post-apocalyptic setting. Taking place in and around a post-nuclear fallout Washington DC – referred to in-game as the Capitol Wasteland – Fallout 3 sets you loose in an open world with a single goal: find your father. More interesting than the main story, however, is the sheer amount of side-content that is available right from the get-go. The first-person RPG will have you cover the entire length and breadth of the wasteland as you try and do as many side-quests as possible thanks to the excellent writing. While we’re at it, the gameplay isn’t bad either; it might be dated by modern standards, but the RPG systems in the game allow for plenty of player choice in terms of how you want to define your play style.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

After years of memes making the rounds on the Internet, Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally out. Putting players in the shoes of new protagonist Hornet, Hollow Knight: Silksong features an entirely new world to explore, and tons of challenging boss fights to tackle. Along the way, there are also plenty of new gameplay systems to explore, including the new healing mechanics, as well as the ability to change up Hornet’s entire moveset if you so desire. Much like the original Hollow Knight, Silksong has an easy claim to the crown at the top of the genre.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

While Marvel’s Spider-Man was already a fantastic return of the webslinger to the gaming medium, Insomniac Games has taken everything about the open-world action game and turned it up to eleven with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Not only does it feature an even more epic storyline featuring plenty of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, it also features two whole Spider-Men taking on the threats to New York City – Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Throw on top a fun plot about both of our heroes growing together, as well as the unique personal issues affecting both of them, as well as the threat of the Symbiote over the whole plot, and you get a great time.

Little Nightmares 2

Little Nightmares 2 is an interesting game since, while it might appear like a cutesy platformer from the outside, underneath its adorable exterior lies a dark game filled with a surprising amount of horror. The title revolves around a boy, Mono, who finds a girl, Six, trapped in the basement of a dark and terrible house, and the two must work together to make it out alive.Along the way, they will have to deal with many terrifying enemies and other dark secrets of the main setting of the game – the Pale City – and the title makes heavy use of some psychedelic visuals to hammer home the point that the city is not a welcoming place for wayward children.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

While most open-world RPGs tend to make use of fantasy settings, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 instantly sets itself apart from its contemporaries by instead making use of real-world place, complete with accurate depictions of historical events. Taking place in the lands of Bohemia, protagonist Henry finds himself and his friend, Sir Hans, the victims of a bandit attack on their way to deliver a message to Trosky. What follows is Henry’s attempts to complete his mission, and along the way, grow as a person. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 takes a simulationist approach to its gameplay, with armours and weapons feeling appropriately hard to find and maintain, and crafting systems that will have you reading instructions from books before you go about mixing potions or forging a sword. The title offers hundreds of hours worth of gameplay, along with some of the best sword-fighting mechanics ever executed in a first-person game.

Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake was a masterclass in horror, but its sequel takes things a step further. In Alan Wake 2, players control multiple characters as they explore genuinely creepy locations, face terrifying creatures, and experience it all with an amazing score and exceptional gameplay. This is what horror games should strive to be, and it leaves us eager to see what Remedy has in store for the inevitable Alan Wake 3.

Death Stranding Director’s Cut

Hideo Kojima’s first major project after his departure from Konami, Death Stranding is a game that is quite difficult to explain. Essentially, you are a courier in a world where a global catastrophe has made humanity spread out far and wide, with little to keep them connected to each other. The core gameplay revolves around you taking on delivery jobs and then figuring out how to cross the terrain to get to your objective. What makes this interesting is that Death Stranding is one of those rare games where terrain is quite important, and you can’t just climb any surface you see. This means that you will have to figure out the best route to take that doesn’t risk too much damage to the cargo you’re carrying. Throw on top a bonkers plot that revolves around the concepts of death, the soul and the body, as well as the general creepiness that the ghost-like BTs exhibit, and you have a fantastic time experience, while long, is well worth it.

The Witness

From the developer behind Braid, The Witness is a strange puzzle game that takes a single mechanic – being able to draw lines – and turns it into the entire game. While most of the title will have you finding screens to then solve logical puzzles with your line drawing powers, the whole game essentially blows open at a certain point when you start to discover that the entire world around you is also a puzzle that can then be manipulated and solved in different ways. Along the way, the game also features narration that explores the nature of the island you’re exploring, and what its true purpose might be. All of this is paired with some wonderful art direction and a vibrant colour palette that makes sure that nothing in The Witness ever looks boring.

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world game where the protagonist – a samurai named Jin Kasai – survives an initial battle against an invading Mongol force, and must rally the citizens and soldiers of Tsushima island to mount a resistance against the invaders. Over the course of the fantastic open-world game, Sakai must also come to terms with meanings behind words like honour, and the caste system that Japan was living under at the time. Ghost of Tsushima features simple-but-excellent combat gameplay, as well as quite a few tools for the player should they decide to sneak around instead, as they go around Tsushima liberating settlements from the Mongols and ultimately figure out a way to get at the primary antagonist – Khotun Khan, cousin of Kubali Khan.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

While the original The Last of Us was a great game with a fantastic story anchored by wonderfully-written characters, The Last of Us Part 2 goes a step further, giving us a darker tale that focuses on two distinct characters and their quest for vengeance and redemption. Along with the larger overall scale of gameplay, The Last of Us Part 2 also tells a grander story, and features some of the most fun boss fights to have been put into a title where the gameplay is otherwise quite realistic. On top of all of this, the Remastered release on PC also has a host of extra content in the form of the roguelike survival mode No Return, where you get to take on combat challenges as the character of your choice in a variety of different levels.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

FromSoftware might be largely known for its slow-paced action RPGs in the Souls series and Elden Ring, but with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the studio instead decided to take on a much faster style of gameplay where being on the defensive was punished. Rather than hiding behind a shield, in Sekiro, you are instead forced to learn the timings of various enemy attacks so that you can instead parry them, eventually breaking your foes’ posture to then finish them off with a glorious killing blow. The title still maintains much of the FromSoftware DNA, however, including how death works and the emphasis on smaller-scaled levels that are more dense and intertwining, encouraging plenty of exploration. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, despite its differences from the studio’s other games, can easily be considered one of its best outings yet.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

A collection featuring two games – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: Lost Legacy – Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection tells two excellent stories. While one tries to wrap up the ongoing plot of Nathan Drake trying to forge a legacy for himself, the other instead features two supporting characters from preceding Uncharted games in the roles of dual protagonists as they set off on an adventure of their own. Where Uncharted 4 offers a polished take on everything the series has had to offer so far, Lost Legacy instead goes for more experimental game design. All in all, both titles are well worth playing, even if you haven’t been able to play the first three games in the series.

Frostpunk 2

The original Frostpunk was a fresh take on the city-builder genre with a unique setting where you have to build and manage a city around sources of heat, since the planet has essentially frozen over. Its sequel pulls the camera back a bit, and instead of having you put down individual buildings, you’re now laying out entire districts with a single click. Despite this more zoomed out take on the gameplay, however, Frostpunk 2 still makes the player choose between two horrifying choices for the survival of their city, much like its predecessor, and the general progression of the title has been taken in interesting directions, such as how trade routes are managed and how districts can boost or bring down one another, depending on proximity. All of this is paired with some wonderful visuals and excellent sound design that perfectly manage to bring your cities to life.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A Plague Tale: Requiem is a direct sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence, and revolves around the two siblings once more having to travel together again. This time around, Amicia and Hugo de Rune have to travel south in order to try and look for a cure for Hugo’s affliction. On the gameplay side of things, it offers more of a refinement over its predecessor rather than any radical changes. Players take on the role of Amicia while Hugo helps out 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.

The Rogue Prince of Persia

After having spent several months in Early Access, The Rogue Prince of Persia was finally out a few weeks ago, and the fact that developer Evil Empire took player feedback quite seriously is evident. The title features incredibly-polished side-scrolling and platforming with smooth animations and a great visual style that still manages to work well with the randomly-generated levels. Throw on top some fast-paced combat that rewards quick timing, as well as a large variety of weapons, and you’re going to have a great time as you figure out the time-bending story of the Prince who is trying to save his people after previously having been the unwitting instigator of this doom to begin with.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Middle-earth: Shadow of War builds on everything its predecessor did in expansive ways. It brings back the much-beloved Nemesis system, which allows protagonist Talion to face down various kinds of Orc enemies, each with their own unique personalities and fighting styles. On top of this, the Orcs winning the fight also means that they’ll get stronger, making the subsequent rematch even harder. The Nemesis system alone makes Shadow of War worth your time, but if that’s not enough, it also has a fun story exploring an alternate timeline of the Lord of the Rings books where a giant war was waged against the forces of Mordor well before the events of the books take place. The gameplay also serves as an excellent evolution of the classical style of open-world action gameplay we saw over the last couple of console generations.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara Croft embarks once again on a perilous hunt for a precious treasure. However, in her carelessness, Croft accidentally sets off a chain of events that threatens the world, and now she must find a way to stop the destruction. On the gameplay side of things, it offers fast and responsive gunplay as well as plenty of options for some stealth, including the ability for Croft to cover herself in mud to blend in with her surroundings better. The star of the game is undoubtedly the platforming, and with plenty of tombs for Croft to raid, Shadow of the Tomb Raider offers just about everything you could ask for.

Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong is an interesting take on a classic setting. The game features excellent boss fights, along with some gorgeous visuals. These aspects are further bolstered by the fact that the combat system is incredible and responsive. Even the encounter design deserves some praise, since Black Myth: Wukong has been designed around the idea of making the player use just about every tool they have at their disposal. There isn’t really much else to say that hasn’t already been said plenty of times already. It did, after all, manage to hold on to its concurrent player count records at launch when compared to any game out there on PC.

Mafia: The Definitive Edition

While the Mafia series has seen a newfound level of success thanks to the recent release of Mafia: The Old Country, the original Mafia is still worth revisiting, especially in its Definitive Edition form, since it now features modernised gameplay and combat systems, as well as a massive upgrade in visual quality. The story revolves around humble taxi driver Thomas Angelo in the city of Lost Haven, who finds himself embroiled with the local mob thanks to a recent car chase against a rival mob. Things slowly escalate as Angelo climbs up the ranks of the Salieri family. Interestingly, the story is told in the form of Angelo confessing to his crimes to a detective, with liberal use of flashbacks as the main storytelling device. The title also features a fun open world to drive through, especially since few games ever use the Great Depression as their setting.

Mad Max

Having come out at a time where many players and critics alike were suffering from open-world fatigue, Mad Max was quite overlooked. However, in the decade since, the title has been vindicated thanks to its excellent open world design and strong gameplay. Mad Max is a unique open world game where the player’s vehicle, the Magnum Opus, is an important form of progression. Much of the game will be spent with you, as Max, trying to find parts and blueprints to upgrade the car. Along with this, there is also an emphasis on vehicular combat, as well as good ol’ fisticuffs and some ranged weapons thrown in for good measure.

Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world game that perfectly manages to tap into the world of the Harry Potter books. The title takes place a hundred years before the events of the books, and puts players in the shoes of a budding young wizard joining the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As they live out their student life, players will also eventually discover a bubbling goblin uprising, as well as criminal wizards. Hogwarts Legacy is one of those games that any fan of the Harry Potter series owes themselves to play because of just how well it captures the magical feelings of the books.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

While Skyrim might offer a fun take on a fantasy open-world RPG, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon takes a darker turn. The game takes on the classic tales of Arthurian legend, albeit with its own unique interpretations. Along with its vast open world, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon also features quite a bit of emphasis on first-person combat, be it with swords or at range with a bow and some arrows. There are also plenty of other things to do while you’re out and about, from gathering crafting materials to simply taking a break by sketching some scenery or fishing by a lake.

Star Wars Outlaws

Star Wars Outlaws stands as a redemption story of its own, overcoming early skepticism to win players over. While the game was a mess when it first came out, the developers have taken quite a bit of player feedback to then introduce a host of fixes to the game, from gameplay aspects like improving how stealth works, to the addition of plenty of story content through the release of two expansions. Star Wars Outlaws is a great way to experience the Star Wars universe without the baggage of having to play as a Jedi.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows represents something of a new leaf for the franchise. While many had found the last two releases—Valhalla and Odyssey—a bit too bloated, Shadows pulls its filler and padding back a bit, instead focusing on delivering a few core activities that are actually fun and make the world a joy to explore. It also finally takes the franchise to Japan, and introduces a pair of new protagonists: the stealthy Naoe and the fearsome Yasuke. The two have to work together to figure out the secrets behind Oda Nobunaga’s death, while also dealing with the machinations of an early form of the Templars.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

While Skyrim might serve as a fantastic open-world RPG in its own right, its predecessor, Oblivion, was also a downright excellent game. And now, with the Remastered release, we can once more explore the lands of Cyrodiil as we take on the opening of the Oblivion Gates and a Daedric invasion. Along with this, there are also plenty of side-quests to take on, including a host of factions to join, from the fighter’s guild to the Dark Brotherhood. You can even simply become an arena fighter if that’s all you really want to do, it’s ultimately all up to you.

Atomfall

While Rebellion might be known for its excellent shooter series Sniper Elite, the studio decided to try something different with Atomfall. Rather than taking on Nazi soldiers on covert missions during World War 2, Atomfall instead has you scavenging for resources in a strange world where it is up to you to figure out the game’s story through your own skills of investigation and deduction. While there are plenty of fights you can still get into, you’ll want to be a lot more careful about the kinds of enemies you decide to take on, since you’re a lot more fragile and not as well-armed as you might be in a Sniper Elite game.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

While Rebellion has been experimenting with Atomfall, it still hasn’t left its Sniper Elite series behind. We also recently got the release of Sniper Elite: Resistance, where players take on the role of a brand new protagonist, SOE Agent Harry Hawker, who is taking on missions that run parallel to the events of Sniper Elite 5. Since it is ultimately a spin-off, Sniper Elite: Resistance features primarily the same gameplay as its predecessors, but with quite a bit more refinements in various things, from second-to-second gameplay all the way up to how its missions are structured.

Firewatch

Firewatch is a narrative adventure game where the goal is quite simple; on his first day at Firewatch tower Two Forks, protagonist Henry gets some interesting calls on his radio, which is otherwise only used to contact his supervisor who is based at the Thorofare tower. Things quickly start getting dark, and Henry must figure out who is calling him on the radio, and what exactly is up with his supervisor who he is yet to physically meet. Firewatch doesn’t really feature any combat. Rather, there is a focus on exploration and environmental storytelling, and it’s largely up to the player to figure out where to go and how to get there.

Dying Light

While there have been a couple of sequels out so far, the original Dying Light is still a game well worth playing thanks to its fantastic melee combat systems and parkour mechanics that make travelling through the streets and rooftops of the zombie-infected city of Haran. The story itself is also quite interesting, with protagonist Kyle Crane having been infected with the zombie virus and needing to find a way to curtail its symptoms before he ultimately turns. The title also features an interesting twist on the day-night cycle, with day time being safe for exploration but night time offering far greater rewards at the risk of the player having to deal with incredibly dangerous and more powerful zombies dubbed Volatiles. All of this combined with a fun crafting system that rewards creativity in your weapon choices make Dying Light often feel like it’s still the best game in the series so far.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

Until the release of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, the Ace Combat franchise felt like one of the worst-kept secrets in terms of how insane it can be both in terms of quality of gameplay and story. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown tells a brand new story in the world of Strangereal, with the plot primarily revolving around a massive war between the Kingdom of Erusea and the Osean Foundation. The title features excellent arcade-style dogfighting combat with a host of fighter jets from the real world, as well as quite a few fictional jets for some added fun.

Half-Life 2

Quite an easy contender for one of the greatest games ever made, Half-Life 2 has a sprawling campaign that holds up even to this day thanks to the sheer amount of variety it presents to players, both in the form of different weapons and enemies, as well as the mechanics of various levels. The title was also important in introducing the physics engine that is part of Valve’s own Source engine, and the feature was on incredible display thanks to a weapon like the gravity gun. Throw on top an impressive story that is told in an incredibly minimalistic way without ever cutting to a cutscene, and it’s easy to see why Half-Life 2 is so widely regarded as being such a great game, even in 2025.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

While PC as a platform is no stranger to first-person shooters, it is hard to argue that the Halo franchise isn’t one of the best that the genre has seen. Thankfully, thanks to Halo: The Master Chief Collection, players can experience almost the entirety of the Halo storyline, starting from the original Halo: Combat Evolved, its sequels Halo 2, Halo 3 and spin-offs ODST, Halo Reach, and even the start of 343 Industries’ (now Halo Studios) run with the franchise, Halo 4. The collection also offers a way to play all of the various games’ levels in remixed orders, following distinct themes like levels that focus on vehicles, for example, to focusing more on certain subplots. Halo: The Master Chief Collection is essentially the best way to experience a seminal shooter series, warts and all.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Quite possibly the most refined gameplay offered so far in the Monster Hunter franchise, Monster Hunter Wilds represents the pinnacle of the series, if not in its smaller roster of monsters when compared to its predecessors, then at least in its gameplay systems and massive, beautiful worlds. Monster Hunter Wilds features a short, fun story that takes you across the Forbidden Lands as you try to get young child Nata back to his family. Along the way you’ll get to take on several monsters, both new to the series as well as returning favourites, using the weapons of your choice out of 14 distinct options. Monster Hunter Wilds features plenty of gameplay refinements as well, including a mount system, as well as the ability to carry around two weapons that you can switch between mid-fight, which is great since each weapon feels like you’re playing a new game altogether.

Returnal

One of the rare instances of a AAA roguelite game, Returnal is an intense third-person shooter that puts players in the shoes of space pilot Selene Vassos who finds herself having crashed on an alien planet named Atropos. What follows is a psychedelic adventure as she tries to find the source of a mysterious signal called the White Shadow, but the twist is that Selene seems to be stuck in some kind of time loop where, every time she dies, she finds herself waking up at the moment of her ship’s crash. The title is filled with fast-paced and tense combat that has you dodging massive projectiles shot by strange creatures, and occasionally also getting your hands on upgrades for your weapons. The story itself is also quite interesting, pulling in plenty of allusions from myths as she tries to make it off Atropos alive.

Sleeping Dogs

Born from the ashes of the long-dead True Crime series of games, Sleeping Dogs is the closest we’ve ever gotten to having a Hong Kong action movie in video game form. The plot revolves around the adventures of undercover cop Wei Shen who must infiltrate a triad gang in order to take it down from the inside. When it comes to gameplay, Sleeping Dogs is an open-world game with several inter-mingling systems, from driving and vehicular combat, to melee combat with slick martial arts moves, and the occasional bouts of ranged combat when you can get your hands on a gun. The game wonderfully realises its setting of Hong Kong, often showing the stark contrasts between the cleaner commercial areas of the city and the but bright and colourful entertainment districts.

Metro Exodus

Whereas the first two games in the Metro series were more focused on offering linear experiences, Metro Exodus broadened its scope by a considerable amount by opting to set players free in more open environments. While far from an open-world game, Metro Exodus still provides quite a bit of freedom to players in terms of how they want to approach any situation. Along with this, the title also encourages plenty of exploration since, in keeping with series tradition, resources are scarce in Metro Exodus. Exploring is also a great way to get your hands on valuable upgrade materials to improve the arsenal of weapons you will ultimately end up using against not only human enemies, but mutated foes as well. The story is also quite interesting, since it revolves around Artyom, his wife Anna, and their friends the Rangers departing the Moscow Metro system in a train to explore the Russian wilderness.

Gears of War: Reloaded

When the original Gears of War first came out back in 2006, it was considered a mind-blowing experience for the time thanks to its visuals, as well as refinements over the turn-based shooter mechanics we had seen done much worse in plenty of other games. Gears of War: Reloaded, however, proves that the original title still holds up to this day thanks to its incredible campaign with plenty of set pieces, fun and varied weapons to play around with, and some downright fantastic visual upgrades that have been made to take better advantage of modern hardware.

Dead Cells

Dead Cells is one of those rare indie games that manages to get just about every single one of its aspects right. Even something as simple as movement and exploration feel great in the roguelite action game, and the level of variety on offer with the weapons, as well as the meta progression system that encourages not only mastery of the traversal systems, but also a willingness to explore, make just about every run of Dead Cells feel like a fun time. Throw on top some excellent pixel art that really makes its massive boss fights come to life, as well as the plethora of additional content – ends up making it very difficult to put the side-scroller down for good.

Detroit: Become Human

While games made by Quantic Dream might be quite divisive at times, Detroit: Become Human is outright the best title that the studio has put out so far. Featuring narrative-focused gameplay that largely involves having conversations and making choices at key moments, Detroit: Become Human tells three distinct stories in a world where humanity treats sentient androids that it has developed as slaves. All three stories have the player take on the role of a distinct android, where you have to figure out the complex moral quandaries that take place throughout the storylines.

Portal 2

When the first Portal came out, it was widely regarded as a radical new entry in a genre that was otherwise known to revolve around killing things. It ultimately ended up laying the foundations for what would become Portal 2 – a bigger, grander sequel in every way possible. Portal 2 takes place an unknown amount of time after the events of the first game, and has Chell once more pick up the portal gun to find her way out of the Aperture Science facility she’s trapped in. Along with GlaDOS returning once more as a major character, Portal 2 also features a new character in the form of Wheatley. We also get a lot of storytelling in the game, since quite a bit of it has you exploring ancient versions of the bathroom curtain company that would eventually become Aperture Science.

Outlast

There might be plenty of stealth-based horror games out there, but Outlast manages to be something quite special thanks to its use of some real-world history to build up its scare. Revolving primarily around the MK Ultra experiments that were conducted by the CIA, the game puts you into the shoes of independent journalist Miles Upshur who is trying to get the scoop on Mount Massive Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Unfortunately, owing to unethical experiments, most of its residents have essentially gone insane, and now Upshur must figure out how to survive and get out in one piece while also making sure he gets enough evidence along the way. Outlast also makes use of a handheld camera as its primary PoV device, since it offers a night vision mode. However, players will also have to keep a track of their battery consumption, since you don’t want to be trapped in the dark with murderous people around you.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Ostensibly the closest the Metal Gear franchise gets to having a “final” game since it takes place furthest into the future, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a major departure for the series. It trades in the tactical espionage action in favour of the more bombastic tagline of lightning bolt action, and puts you in the shoes of a fully cyborg-ised Raiden at the peak of his power. Developed by PlatinumGames, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance features a fantastic combat system that has an emphasis on not only long and vicious combos, but also parrying the enemy’s attacks to open them up for massive counter-attacks. This, along with the Zandatsu system that lets you cut just about everything, be it an enemy’s limbs or a bridge’s support, make Revengeance a treat to play. Throw on top an over-the-top but fun story about private military contractors and a cartoonishly evil US Senator and you have an explosive roller coaster.

Resident Evil

Before the remake of Resident Evil 2 back in 2019 was considered the high watermark for video game remakes, the series had already earned similar acclaim for its remake of the original Resident Evil. Originally released on the GameCube all the way back in 2002, the remake of the original Resident Evil eventually made its way to PC, complete with higher-resolution textures and all of the high-quality upgrades that it got over the original. Even after all these years, Resident Evil still manages to feel like a one-of-a-kind survival horror experience, thanks to its tight level design and generally excellent gameplay that melds environmental puzzle solving and tense action sequences, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat thanks to a constant scarcity of weapons and ammo.

Watch_Dogs 2

It’s no secret that the original Watch_Dogs was a bit of a disappointment, both in terms of its visuals, as well as its story and characters. The series’ second stab at the series in the form of Watch_Dogs 2, however, proved to be a much more interesting experience. Rather than focusing on the brooding Aiden Pearce, Watch_Dogs 2 instead stars a group of scrappy young adults as they venture into the real world to start their careers, but find themselves fighting against an authoritarian regime that is making use of high-tech surveillance technology to control the populace. Protagonist Marcus Holloway is a much more fun character than Pearce ever was, and the attempts of his rebel hacker crew, DedSec, to take down ctOS 2.0 are a wild, fun, and often emotional adventure.

Silent Hill f

After the Silent Hill franchise spent over a decade being missing from the overall gaming scene, the series made a bombastic return with last year’s remake of the seminal Silent Hill 2. A year later and now we even have a brand new entry in the stories franchise – Silent Hill f. The game takes place in the unique setting of a quaint Japanese finishing town in the 1960s, where school-going girl Hinako has a strained relationship with her parents and goes to meet her friends for some solace. However, a sinister fog starts covering the town of Ebisugaoka, and Hinako finds herself trapped and fighting for her life. While there is an emphasis on combat this time around, Silent Hill f is still able to effectively pull off the scares and tense atmosphere that the series is known for.

Dying Light: The Beast

The newest entry in the Dying Light franchise is seen as something of a return to form for the series. While Dying Light 2 Stay Human did well for developer Techland, the studio itself acknowledged that it had lost what made the original Dying Light great, and hence we get The Beast. Once more putting us into the shoes of Kyle Crane after the events of The Following, Dying Light: The Beast features improved parkour-based traversal over its predecessor, while also bringing in improvements to both melee and ranged combat, all of which is packaged into a fantastic new open world to explore with plenty of variety, both in terms of zombie types and the scenery.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

A reimagining of an absolute classic, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a ground-up 3D remake of a seminal 2D sprite-based RPG. As its name implies, it is the first part of the expansive Trails franchise, and puts you in the shoes of Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua as they set off as members of the peacekeeping guild, starting out as bracers and slowly working their way up. The Trails series, while long, absolutely features several stories well worth experiencing, and there is currently no better way to start your journey than with Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter.

Blue Prince

Puzzle games, especially in the indie space, tend to come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Very rarely, however, does one show up that ends up feeling like a revelation. This is precisely what developer Dogubomb achieved with Blue Prince. The premise is quite simple: you are stuck in a mysterious manor – Mt. Holly – where the rooms shift around for no apparent reason. The core of the game is exploring the mansion, but the twist is that the player decides what the next room will be every time they open a door. Blue Prince has a wide gamut of puzzles for players to figure out as they try to make their way to the rumoured Room 46. To throw another wrench in your plans, the house once again shifts its rooms around every dawn. Blue Prince is the kind of game where you can spend anywhere from between 15 minutes to several hours at a stretch as you try to comb through the mysterious rooms of Mt. Holly to find a way to their destination.

Commandos: Origins

While the real-time tactical stealth series Commandos doesn’t really need much of an introduction, the latest release, Commandos: Origins, proves that the genre and style of gameplay still has legs in the modern day. Taking us all the way back to the origin of the World War 2 crew of commandos you play in the original Commandos, Commandos: Origins offers entirely new challenges throughout its various maps, all with more modernised gameplay thanks to updated visuals, as well as a large variety of objective types that will have you make use of just about every ability you and your crew can muster.

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.

Other notable releases include Giant Squid’s Sword of the Sea, launching on the same day worldwide for PS5 and PC. Subscribers can also check out Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key, Coral Island, Earth Defense Force 6, Harold Halibut, Indika and Unicorn Overlord. It’s a solid line-up, especially for role-playing game fans.

However, that’s not all for Premium/Deluxe subscribers, as they can also play Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, two legendary PS One classics, on PS4 and PS5. Both titles support quick save, custom filters, rewind and up-rendering for a smoother experience.

This console generation has given us gamers with certain experiences that adhere to this principles of best design, and with this feature – we will be discussing exactly that as we run down 10 of the best PS5 games where going off the beaten path is more fun than sticking to the main quest.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding was a novel idea that birthed an entirely new genre in the medium of gaming – the Strand genre. It wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but those who stuck around found a lot to love in Kojima’s post-apocalyptic adventure. With the sequel, however, Kojima Productions has taken what came before to new heights – making the core gameplay a lot better this time around with plenty of new tools and tricks.

Much like the predecessor, a lot of what makes Death Stranding 2 so fun and addictive isn’t nestled in its main quest, but rather what surrounds that central narrative pillar. The many side quests littered throughout the map are quite literally fetch requests, but Death Stranding 2 smartly introduces complexities and interesting situations onto these objectives that make them tick off your journal more than chore-like.

Doing deliveries and building structures strengthens your social strand level, gives you more information about this new world, and makes this rendition of the real world feel eerily alive.

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