Critically acclaimed Skate Story by Sam Eng is also available on the service, and from December 16th, you can also access Granblue Fantasy: Relink. Released after years of delays, the action RPG follows Gran/Djeeta as they venture to the Zegagrande Skydom and deal with a dangerous cult.

Other notable additions include Planet Coaster 2 and LEGO Horizon Adventures on PS5, the latter also recently added to PlayStation Plus Essential. Cat Quest 3 is playable on PS5 and PS4 alongside not one but two Paw Patrol titles – Grand Prix and World.

As for Premium subscribers, they receive exclusive access to Soulcalibur 3 on both platforms. Based on the PS2 version, it includes quick save, custom video filters, rewind, and more.

Released over two years ago, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a throwback to the older titles with a more compact world and emphasis on stealth mechanics. It recently received a free expansion-sized update, Valley of Memory, which added a new region, quests, and more, to a positive response.

Team Ninja’s Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty also launched in 2023 and offers a dark fantasy take on the Han Dynasty’s fall. While incorporating loot systems similar to Nioh, it features more parry-focused combat.

The announcement for both titles should go live later today, though you can likely expect other additions. One confirmed addition, at least for Premium subscribers, is Soulcalibur 3 in the Classics collection.

We’ve put together a list of games that come with fantastic melee systems built to test your reflexes and ability to think on your feet as you take on either hordes of enemies or go head to head with deadly enemies who are just as skilled as you are.

It’s time to dive in! 

1. Lies of P

Neowiz’s take on the story of Pinocchio is nothing short of a masterpiece when it comes to how its combat systems convey a sense of danger while also making you feel powerful enough to take them down.

Although the action isn’t as fast-paced as some of the other titles on this list, the game necessitates a methodical approach to its madness. That’s not to say that things don’t heat up with a few bosses that up the ante with unrelenting, vicious combos that can push you to the limits of your skills.

However, a wide selection of weapons, skills, and the ability to mix and match between various weapons and handles can be a great way to get the upper hand. Finding a combination of weapons and skills that works for you is a feeling that other titles find hard to replicate. And that’s not to mention Legion Arms, each of which adds a new wrinkle to your playstyle.

Give this one a try for its story and intense gameplay.

2. The First Berserker Khazan

Neople’s take on the Dungeon and Fighter series blends a unique visual style with a combat loop that quickly becomes quite addictive despite a learning curve that can dissuade even the most determined of players.

Despite a limited selection of weapons, the game’s emphasis on raw aggression makes each fight a flurry of dodges, blocks, parries, and attacks that can quickly let you garner enough Spirit Points to unleash your most devastating skills while The Blade Phantom brings another layer of strategy to the table, allowing Khazan to harness the power of fallen warriors with some interesting effects.

This is a game that can test your patience but reels you in with its revenge-based story and well-designed encounters, aside from bringing a lot of replay value thanks to multiple endings for you to uncover.

3. Thymesia

If we were to complain about anything in Thymesia, its relatively short length is the only thing that comes to mind. Like Khazan, it’s a title that rewards aggression, with Corvus preferring to keep the pressure on his opponents at every instance. The ability to use your enemy’s own weapons against them while channelling your innate abilities to unleash some very cool moves comes together to present a combat experience that can be a challenge to master but is very rewarding to pull off.

When it’s played right, Thymesia is an absolute treat for players looking for a combat experience that lets them take on increasingly deadly threats with brutal efficiency and flashy style.

4. Sifu

This beat ‘em up action game from developer Sloclap is arguably the best martial arts title to be released in recent times. Aside from bringing the best of kung fu to every attack animation and enemies that ensure that those moves are put to good use, Sifu comes with a unique twist on resurrection after you’re taken down in battle.

This mechanic sees your character’s age go up every time they respawn, improving their attack power while lowering their defences. This could mean that even death becomes a strategic component, allowing you to take on increasingly difficult foes at the cost of a lower health bar.

It’s the perfect way to encourage players to constantly improve their skills while strategically using the game’s mechanics to give themselves a much-needed boost when things get out of hand. Its story may not be as interesting as Lies of P, but it’s nothing to scoff at either, making this a title that’s definitely worth your time.

5. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Wo Long is a refined take on the excellent combat mechanics that the studio established with its Nioh franchise. An obscure narrative and fairly linear world make this a game in which combat quickly becomes the star of the show.

Parrying flurries of attacks from enemies while building up your Spirit Gauge to cause some devastation of your own makes each fight a desperate battle for control, with even lowly grunts capable of taking you out with just a few hits.

 With each level in the game coming with a Morale System that requires you to defeat enemies in order to be capable to take on mini-bosses and bosses later down the line, Wo Long’s combat systems are a tug of war with your enemies as capable of summarily sending you back to the nearest save point as you are capable of sending them on their way to the next life.

6. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut

The complete Ghost of Tsushima experience brings a poignant and riveting story, a beautifully crafted open world, and a sublime combat system that has a lot of depth to its mechanics. As a samurai forced to find new ways to take the fight to an invading Mongol army, Jin Sakai’s fight to defend his home sees him pull off some very flashy moves, assisted by your precision and sense of timing in every fight.

Leaping of your horse to challenge Mongol patrols to a standoff still feels as thrilling as it did five years ago, while flowing from stance to stance as we wield the Sakai clan’s katana and tanto against vicious enemies is an absolute treat for players who like to fight with style and flair.

Just be ready to have your heartstrings tugged on as you go further into this epic adventure.

7. Ghostrunner 2

For fans of first-person action, Ghostrunner 2 is quite easy to recommend, considering how its challenge lies in using Jack’s abilities with full awareness of what’s happening around him in any given situation. While his trusty sword is indeed a reliable killing tool, using it in tandem with all the other cool weapons he unlocks is paramount to victory.

His impressive parkour skills are as valuable to the game’s combat loop as the electrified Shurikens that eventually became an invaluable part of how we approached every encounter we had in the game. The cyber ninjas of Dharma Tower can be very deadly enemies, but for those of you who use every tool in your arsenal, they can quickly melt away in the face of your onslaught.

8. Hi-Fi RUSH

Hi-Fi Rush follows Chai, a young man who volunteers for Vandelay Technologies’ Project Armstrong in hopes of receiving a limb replacement. However, things quickly spiral out of control as he finds himself on the run from security forces, with a robotic arm and a target on his back. The game’s biggest hook lies in its rhythmic melee combat. Attacks and player actions are all synced to the beat, rewarding those who time their moves just right with extra damage and stylish combos.

9. Shadow Labyrinth

Bandai Namco’s dark and gritty reimagining of Pac-Man brings a combat loop that is a far cry from the character’s earliest appearances. Swordsman #8 might come with a limited set of skills and a distinct lack of options to heal himself while fending off enemies, but those limitations only serve to encourage a more strategic approach to the task at hand.

With exquisitely designed bosses and levels that are full of danger, this is an adventure that blends brains and brawn into a very attractive package that can keep you occupied for hours on end.

10. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black

If disabling your enemies in combat is more your style, Ryu’s adventures in this Unreal Engine 5 remake of Ninja Gaiden 2 is going to be quite a treat. However, your enemies could decide to cause as much damage as they can before their inevitable death, making this game’s combat an experience in which you are in danger of dying just as much as your opponents are.

With an emphasis on completing encounters while sustaining as little damage as possible, this game is one in which you need to be on your toes at any point in a fight and come out all the more powerful for it. However, using Ryu’s Ultimate Techniques and a host of other useful additions can ensure that you come out on top while managing to minimize the damage he takes while tearing through enemy ranks.

Bonus: Bloodborne

This list of titles with great melee combat experiences feels incomplete without mentioning Bloodborne, the FromSoftware masterpiece that shook up the studio’s combat formula back in 2015. Yes, it was originally a PS4 title and runs only via backward compatibility on PS5s at 30fps.

However, for those of you who can overlook that factor, its brutal combat and a selection of extremely cool weapons can quickly make you find yourself coming back for another bout against deadly bosses and enemies who can push you to the limit of your patience and skill.

It continues to be a unique and distinct take on the FromSoft formula, requiring lightning-quick reflexes and a very aggressive approach to take down its many threats. Approach this one with caution, and you’re sure to find many reasons to spend another hour in the streets of Yharnam.

And that’s a wrap on our favorite melee games that you can play on the PS5. We hope that you enjoy playing them just as much as we did!

Launching in March 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and PC (alongside Game Pass), the title features several new mechanics like Morale determining the difficulty of encounters. It also leans heavier into parrying mechanics, with players whittling down a target’s Spirit and executing brutal critical hits. Though it follows a linear mission structure like Nioh 1 and 2, Wo Long features more verticality courtesy of a jump button.

For more details, check out our review here. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has received several updates since its launch, including collaborations with Nioh 2 and Lies of P. The Complete Edition launched last month, packing the base and its Season Pass content (including three armor sets and story DLC packs). Head here for more details. As for the future, the developer said there are currently “no plans” for a sequel.

The patch also features improvements to the Japanese translation and fixes typos in some dialogue. It also allows players to reset the P-Organ in a new game without using a Gold Coin Fruit. Other bugs are also fixed, like Frozen Feast’s attack speed increase not working in certain situations or Proof of Humanity causing issues when switching weapons.

Check out the full patch notes below for more details. Lies of P is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC, and sold over one million units in its first month. Check out our review here. A sequel is confirmed to be in development (and is apparently being built on Unreal Engine 5, per a job listing), but the first game will receive some DLC before that.

Update Notes Version 1.5.0.0

New Features and Content

After installing the latest update, the following items can be found in the ‘Equipment’ and ‘Bag’ menus.

• Azure Dragon Crescent Glaive
• Armor of the Honorable
• Bandana of the Honorable

Improvements

• Improved the Japanese translation.
• Players can now reset P-Organ upon new game without paying Gold Coin Fruit.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where the attack speed increase effect of the ‘Frozen Feast’ would not apply under certain situations.
• Fixed a bug in which using the ‘Proof of Humanity’ would cause intermittent malfunctions in switching weapons.
• Fixed a bug in which using the ‘Proof of Humanity’ Special Attack would cause the attribute effects from Grinders to be ineffective.
• Fixed a bug where ‘Nameless Puppet’ would intermittently disappear.
• Fixed a bug where unintended changes would happen while using the ‘Alter Handle’ menu.
• Fixed a bug where a certain elevator and lever in ‘Arche Abbey’ would intermittently spawn in unintended areas.
• Fixed a bug where players could fall into an impassable area.
• Fixed bugs related to certain ingame UI.
• Fixed typos in certain dialogues.

Lies of P and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s collaboration event will see Lies of P adding a weapon and two costumes based on Wo Long as part of a free update a week from now, on February 14. More specifically, the event will allow players to use the Azure Dragon Crescent Glaive weapon and Armor of the Honorable and Bandana of the Honorable costumes. Check out the trailer below for a glimpse of what to expect.

Neowiz announced in October that Lies of P had sold over 1 million units in its launch month, which was September. The developer has confirmed that it’s currently working on DLC for the game, while a sequel is also in the works. As per job listings, the sequel is being built on Unreal Engine 5.

Lies of P and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty are both available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Both are also available via Game Pass.

Along with the base game and all updates released thus far, the Complete Edition includes the Season Pass with three story DLC – Battle of Zhongyuan, Conqueror of Jiangdong and Upheaval in Jingxiang. Three bonus armor sets – Qinglong, Zhuque and Baihu – are also included. If that weren’t enough, there’s Shiiji, an item which reveals the locations of all flags on the mini-map.

All players can also claim the Genbu War Armor Set for free. Access a Military Banner and check the Deliveries section. The armor is free until February 29th, 11:59 PM JST – it won’t be available past that, so claim it now.

Check out our review for Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty here, though it’s changed significantly over the past year. As for the future, director and producer Masakazu Hirayama said there are no plans for a sequel “at this stage.” However, a title set after the Three Kingdoms era could work “if the opportunity arises.”

Given its success then, is Wo Long something that Team Ninja or Koei Tecmo intend to turn into a running franchise? For now, that doesn’t seem to be the plan. Speaking in an interview with TouchArcade, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty director and producer Masakazu Hirayama said that the developer currently has no plans to work on a sequel to the action title.

Interestingly, however, Hirayama did add that “if the opportunity arises”, he would be interested in developing a follow-up that focuses on the period in Chinese history that comes after Wo Long’s setting, which depicts the fall of the Han Dynasty. That, of course, is the Three Kingdoms era, which Hirayama says he would like to “depict with action and in a story” similar to Wo Long.

“We have no plans for a sequel at this stage, as our focus in fiscal 2023 was on the DLCs and updates,” he said when asked about a sequel. “On top of that, I feel that the historic period after the one set in Wo Long has its own unique attraction as the era of strategists, and we have a desire to depict it with action and in a story, so we’d like to take on this challenge if the opportunity arises.”

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty launched for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC in March, and has received three paid expansions since then in the form of Battle of Zhongyuan, Conqueror of Jiangdong, and Upheaval in Jingxiang. The game has also seen a number of free updates and patches, as well as collaboration events with other games like Nioh 2, Bladepoint: Naraka, and Lies of P. A complete edition is due out today.

Meanwhile, developer Team Ninja’s next game, PlayStation 5 exclusive Rise of the Ronin, launches on March 22.

Yuan Shu, the final boss in the Upheaval in Jingxiang DLC, has also received some adjustments to his movement patterns. He no longer lands multiple hits with Water Phase charging attacks, which should make the fight somewhat easier. Fatal Strike damage also won’t be affected by the “Pangu’s Creation of the World” effect.

The patch also fixes issues like consecutive hits with some Wizardry Spells dealing reduced damage and Spirit Disruption recovery not occurring if the player fell off a cliff with depleted Spirit. Check out some of the patch notes below and full details here.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. A Complete Edition is set to launch on February 7th and includes the base game with all story DLC. Head here for more details.

Ver1.303 Patch Notes

Adjustments

• Made adjustments to prioritize actions that activate Frenzy mode while the player is equipped with a whip.
• This change will prioritize the shift to Frenzy mode rather than the performance of a Fatal Strike during combat against an enemy in Spirit Disruption.
• Made adjustments to the movement patterns of the boss Yuan Shu.
• Made changes so that the boss Yuan Shu cannot land multiple hits with Water Phase charging attacks.
• Made changes so that damage dealt with Fatal Strikes is not affected by the special effect “Pangu’s Creation of the World.”
• Added a message that will be displayed when players complete Mile 1000 in The Thousand-Mile Journey for the first time.
• Made adjustments so that some items will be added to Exchange Golden Horse Hooves earlier than before in The Thousand-Mile Journey.

Major Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that decreased the amount of damage dealt by consecutive hits with some Wizardry Spells after applying update Ver1.300 or later updates.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes triggered Revenge Accomplished if the player performed a Fatal Strike with a whip, even if they had not defeated the enemy.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes prevented the animation camera from engaging when the player performed a Fatal Strike with a whip on some enemies.
• Fixed a bug preventing damage Bonuses based on Spirit from being applied if the player performed a Spirit attack without accumulating power after successfully deflecting with a long sword.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes prevented the first strike of normal attacks with a slashing spear from hitting enemies within range of the Wizardry Spell Deathly Bog.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes allowed the Divine Beast Chenghuang’s positive effect Chenghuang’s Prance to be applied multiple times.
• Fixed a bug that prevented some actions from triggering input buffering for the Wizardry Spell set to R2+△.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes allowed Shrimp Soldiers to perform consecutive Critical Blows after their Spirit had been depleted by the player deflecting their Critical Blow.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes caused players or NPCs to immediately recover Spirit after taking elemental damage from an attack that did not trigger a hit reaction animation if they were inflicted with a status effect and their Spirit was depleted at the same time.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes prevented players from recovering from Spirit Disruption if they fell from a cliff just after their Spirit was depleted.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes caused Guan Yu’s spirit to immediately recover if his Spirit had been depleted during his Critical Blow “Soaring Phoenix.”
• Fixed a bug in which Red Hare did not roam around the area properly after Lu Bu dismounted.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes prevented players equipped with a spear from landing Spirit attacks during certain actions made by the boss Yuan Shu.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes caused the screen to become distorted for a split second after the player used the Wizardry Spell Flashing Icicle.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes caused the player to take elemental damage after deflecting any Corpse Demon attacks except Flame attacks.
• Fixed a bug in which the invading NPC Zhang Ying was not carrying a bow despite a bow being equipped.
• Fixed a bug preventing positive effects meant to increase damage from being applied to Wizardry Spells.
• Fixed a bug causing some tutorials to be displayed in the main battlefield “Village of Calamity” in “Path of the Rising Dragon” and beyond.

The Complete Edition includes the base game and all story DLC, including Battle of Zhongyuan, Conqueror of Jiangdong and Upheaval in Jingxiang. You also get the bonus DLC Qinglong, Zhuque and Baihu Armor Sets. Exclusive to the Complete Edition is an item called Shiji, which reveals flag locations on your mini-map, making it easier to claim them and boost Morale.

Fortunately, there’s something for players who purchased the game at launch. From February 2nd, 10 AM JST, to February 29th, 11:59 PM JST, the developer will distribute the Genbu War Armor Set for free. It can be claimed from the Deliveries tab in the Military Banner when the Complete Edition launches. Stay tuned for updates, and check out our review for the base game here.