Best PS5 games 2023: 15 PlayStation 5 titles you need to play
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Best PS5 games 2023: 15 PlayStation 5 titles you need to play
We've tested the best PS5 games out right now that make the most of Sony's new console
If you’ve just got your PlayStation 5 or are looking for something new to play in 2023, these are the best PS5 games out now. We’ve played hundreds of titles since Sony launched its console in November 2020, and thankfully there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Our list of top PS5 games is here to help you decide which video games are worthy of your time and hard-earned money. They also cover a range of genres including platformers, story-driven adventures, RPGs, and racing games.
Unlike the majority of the best Xbox Series X games, most of the recommendations below are exclusive to PS5, developed specifically to take full advantage of the PlayStation 5’s unique feature set. The good news is the majority of our favorite titles are now available to download on Sony’s PlayStation Plus Premium and Extra service, though some first-party titles like Gran Turismo 7 will still cost you $70.
Don’t forget to check out the best PS4 games to play on PS5, too. Thanks to the PlayStation 5 being backward compatible, there’s still a fantastic range of last-gen titles to enjoy, many of which have been enhanced.
The best PS5 games 👇
15. Sackboy: A Big Adventure 🧶
Release date: November 12, 2020
MSRP: $59.99
➕ Fun for all the family
➕ Online and couch co-op
➖ Limited DualSense features
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is an expertly-crafted platformer stuffed with the sorts of clever ideas that Nintendo’s first-party lineup is renowned for. Sony’s hessian hero returns to take on the dastardly Vex, who has kidnapped Sackboy’s friends and turned the world of Craftworld on its head. You’ll need to save Craftworld by socking it to the evil Vex, but only if you can make it through the game’s topsy-turvy levels.
This highly recommended PlayStation 5 game also has online and couch co-op, so you can jump, swing, and slide through Sackboy: A Big Adventure with up to three friends or family members. It’s the perfect family title but packs a real challenge for veteran players.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
14. Hogwarts Legacy 🧙♀️
Release date: February 7, 2023
MSRP: $69.99
➕ A stunning representation of the Wizarding World
➕ Excellent voice acting and combat
➖ Too many challenges and menial tasks to complete
Hogwarts Legacy is not only one of the best Harry Potter games ever made by some margin, but it’s also a fantastic open-world RPG game in its own right. The fantastical setting and attention to detail throughout is incredibly impressive. Whether you’re running around Hogwarts or flying on your broom outside – the game brings all the places you know and love from the books to life in a new and exciting way.
While the game does suffer from the usual pitfalls of open-world games, specifically by giving you one too many things to do, the story and combat are solid and do enough to keep you engaged during the mainline quests.
13. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 🔧
Release date: June 11, 2021
MSRP: $69.99
➕ Sumptuous graphics
➕ Great cast of characters
➖ Plays it a bit too safe
It may sound cliché, but Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is as close as you’ll get to an interactive Pixar film on the PS5. If you want a game that shows off just what the PlayStation 5 console is capable of, there’s no better candidate than Rift Apart. Thankfully, it’s not just beautiful to behold – it’s a blast to play too.
In typical Ratchet and Clank fashion, you have an arsenal of zany weapons at your disposal to unleash havoc with. From rocket launchers to firing off mechanical attack robots, taking down hordes of enemies never gets old, thanks to the game’s whacky weaponry.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
12. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection 🪙
Release date: January 28, 2022
MSRP: $49.99
➕ Incredible 3D audio
➕ Two games for the price of one
➖ Can get a little repetitive
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is one of the best PS5 games because it remasters two of the greatest PS4 games of all time. Both Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy have been given a pleasing makeover, bringing 4K resolution, a silky-smooth performance mode, and a high frame rate mode for players to enjoy on Sony’s new console.
The games also benefit from amazing 3D audio support, which needs to be heard to be believed. Check out the best PS5 headsets if you really want to get the most out of Uncharted’s spectacular audio.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
11. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade ☁️
Release date: June 10, 2021
MSRP: $69.99
➕ An ambitious remake of one of the best JRPGs of all time
➕ Reimagined for a new audience
➖ New changes won’t suit everyone
Final Fantasy 7 changed the fortunes of Japanese RPGs in the West and holds a special place in many gamers’ hearts. When Square Enix announced it would be remaking one of its most cherished games in 2015, few would have thought it would take over five years to arrive. However, it was definitely worth the wait.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is one of the most ambitious remakes we’ve ever played and overhauls practically every aspect of the PS One classic. Remarkably, the game feels innately familiar yet completely new, which is quite an achievement.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
10. Death Stranding: Director’s Cut 📦
Release date: September 24, 2021
MSRP: $59.99
➕ Unique concept
➕ Riveting story
➖ Gameplay is rather polarizing
From the genius mind of Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding is his most bizarre creation yet. The game sees you delivering supplies to various outposts and overcoming any obstacles that stand in your way. This can be as simple as hiking across some rough terrain or as tricky as avoiding the game’s supernatural enemies, the ‘BTs.’
That might sound as dull as dishwater to some, but it’s not the destination that’s important – it’s the journey. There’s something undeniably captivating about Death Stranding’s world and its characters that it’s easy to lose hours at a time as you trudge across the game’s beautiful landscapes.
Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
9. Demon’s Souls 🏰
Release date: November 12, 2020
MSRP: $69.99
➕ One of the best-looking games on PS5
➕ Punishingly difficult yet immensely rewarding
➖ Patience required
Sure, Demon’s Souls was a PS5 launch title more than two years ago, but it’s still one of the most visually striking PlayStation 5 games on the system. Bluepoint Games has done an outstanding job of remaking the classic PS3 title from 2009, and the game stays true to the original design – warts and all.
Spectacular lighting, super-fast load times, and epic boss battles are some of the key highlights of the PS5 remake, but the tried-and-tested gameplay ensures Demon’s Souls is just as compelling today as it was all those years ago. Be warned, though — it’s a frequently brutal and punishing affair.
Demon’s Souls is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
8. Resident Evil Village 😱
Release date: May 7, 2021
MSRP: $39.99
➕ Genuinely scary
➕ PSVR 2 support
➖ Story tails off toward the end
Resident Evil Village reunites players with Ethan Winters. Ethan appears to be living a picture-perfect life with his wife Mia and daughter Rose after the harrowing events of Resident Evil 7, but things quickly take a turn for the worse as his family is abducted.
In search of Mia and Rose, Ethan encounters all sorts of grotesque creatures and crazed individuals and ends up fighting for his life and abducted family. We won’t spoil the details of what awaits but be prepared for some seriously scary moments and disturbing visuals. Resident Evil Village is also one of the best PSVR 2 games you should play if you own Sony’s VR headset.
7. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales 🕷️
Release date: November 12, 2020
MSRP: $49.99
➕ Swinging through Brooklyn feels incredible
➕ Blazing-fast load times
➖ Feels more like an expansion than a true sequel
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales for PS5 doesn’t quite surpass the web-slinger’s first entry on PS4, but it’s still comfortably one of the best superhero games ever made.
Thanks to the PS5’s super-fast SSD, Spider-Man: Miles Morales has practically no load times, and the game’s vast open-world launches in just a few seconds. The power of Sony’s new console also adds ray-traced reflections to the mix for some visual eye candy, making it one of the first PS5 games we recommend buying.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
6. Sifu 👊
Release date: February 8, 2022
MSRP: $39.99
➕ Makes you feel like a kung fu master
➕ Nothing else quite like it
➖ Some boss battles feel unfair
If you’ve ever watched any of the great kung fu movies and dreamed of a video game equivalent, Sifu is as close as it gets. As a martial arts master, you’ll take down enemies with a flurry of expertly-placed punches, dodge their attacks, and counter with consummate ease.
What makes Sifu so unique is its aging mechanic. Your character gets older every time you die, giving you more power but less health overall. Once you reach the age of 71, it’s all over, so you’ll need to perfect each level if you’re to make it to the final boss while still in your prime. Challenging, addictive, and super satisfying to play, Sifu is an exceptional PlayStation 5 game.
5. Returnal 👩🚀
Release date: April 30, 2021
MSRP: $69.99
➕ Satisfying gameplay loop
➕ Free DLC adds co-op and new challenges
➖ Skill level could hamper your fun
A new twist on the roguelike genre, Returnal is another game that demands your attention. And that’s precisely why we’ve ranked it as one of the best PS5 games for 2022. It utilizes almost every aspect of the PlayStation 5’s unique feature set to great effect: such as its immersive 3D audio and smart use of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
You’ll need to survive against countless swarms of enemies in an ever-changing world and use alien weaponry and artifacts to give yourself a fighting chance of survival. However, if you die, you’ll have to start all over again. There’s a constant risk and reward element to the gameplay which will keep you coming back for more.
Returnal is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
4. Elden Ring 💍
Release date: February 25, 2022
MSRP: $59.99
➕ A triumph in open-world game design
➕ Staggering amount of replay value
➖ Can be overwhelming
Elden Ring sets a new bar for open-world game design. It brings the impeccable combat mechanics of the Dark Souls series to a sandbox full of the same terrifying foes that can end your progress with the swing of a weapon. It retains the series’ no-nonsense difficulty, but you’re free to tackle the game your way instead of being funneled into a potential dead end. That opens up so many more opportunities in a genre that has a habit of rewarding curious minds.
FromSoftware’s signature brand of fairly obtuse storytelling won’t be for everyone, mind you. Nor will the fact that the game can feel needlessly unfair at times. However, stick with it – what awaits is a fantastical adventure that critics universally adored. There’s a reason why Elden Ring is so many people’s game of the year.
3. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut 🏯
Release date: July 17, 2021
MSRP: $69.99
➕ Expansive DLC island to explore
➕ Gorgeous from every angle
➖ Not a free upgrade for PS4 owners
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut makes one of the best games on PS4 even better on PS5. If you’ve been waiting years for a convincing samurai game that combines an emotional story with razor-sharp combat, you owe it to yourself to join Jin on his perilous journey to save Tsushima from a Mongol invasion.
The Director’s Cut includes Iki Island, a brand-new area with new story content, engaging sidequests, and a slew of collectibles to discover. If you’ve yet to join Jin on his courageous and perilous journey to save Tsushima, there’s never been a better time than now.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut is free with PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra.
2. Gran Turismo 7 🚘
Release date: March 4, 2022
MSRP: $69.99
➕ A fantastic return to form for the racing sim series
➕ DualSense controller makes every car feel unique
➖ Some cars feel unobtainable without microtransactions
Gran Turismo 7 puts you in the driver’s seat of some of the world’s best cars, but thanks to the PS5, you feel like you’re really there. The DualSense controller mimics every gear change and the roar of a car’s engine to great effect. You also feel resistance in the triggers when you press down on the throttle or brakes, and it’s an incredibly convincing sensation.
Unlike GT Sport, which was notably bereft of content at launch, Gran Turismo 7 has a litany of modes for players to dive into and free updates continue to add more content to the game post-launch. It’s one of the top PSVR 2 games you need to play, too
1. Astro’s Playroom 🤖
Release date: November 19, 2020
MSRP: Free, pre-installed on every PS5 console
➕ Completely free and a celebration of PlayStation’s history
➕ A showcase for the DualSense controller
➖ Lack of boss battles
One of the best features of the PS5 console is the clever DualSense controller from Sony. Even after two years of using the PlayStation 5, it’s remarkable how much I still enjoy the features of the DualSense. The new haptic feedback and adaptive triggers add an extra level of immersion to games which I never knew I needed, and it’s hard to go back to a standard controller once you’ve experienced what the DualSense can provide.
Astro’s Playroom shows off the potential of these two technologies in the most brilliant of ways, then, and it’s a must-play if you’re booting up your PS5 for the first time. The game uses the controller to replicate several feelings and sensations, like wading through a sandstorm, jumping into the water, firing off a Gatling gun, or scampering across metal structures. It’s incredibly convincing and I guarantee it will leave you grinning from ear to ear.
How we test the best PS5 games 🧪
Sat on a comfy sofa with a pair of headphones on, playing on a big screen TV with the lights turned down – that’s the best way to test the best PS5 games on Sony’s console. I game on an LG CX 55-inch OLED, one of the best PS5 accessories for gamers, which has HDMI 2.1, VRR, and HDR support. It means I can use every PS5 display feature, like playing PS5 120fps games.
I wear various headphones to get the most out of 3D audio (right now I’m loving the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless) and attempt to play every game to completion – remember, you can’t technically “complete” live service games. I also tend to opt for ‘Performance mode’ whenever possible as I prefer playing at 60fps. I’ll opt for 120fps in online multiplayer games if it’s supported.
In terms of PS5 storage, I expanded the console’s default 825GB SSD with one of the best PS5 SSD you can buy: the 1TB WD Black SN850. For PS4 games, I use Samsung’s Portable T5 external SSD which gives older titles a speed boost when it comes to load times.
While it’s not really relevant to the testing process, I also use a Midnight Black PS5 DualSense controller, which I think is one of the best PS5 controller colors available. I also have the black covers on my PS5 to complete the look and a PS5 DualSense Charging Station so I never have to stop mid-game to charge Sony’s pad.
Looking for something new to play on the PS5? Keep track of every new game on the way with our upcoming PS5 games list to see what’s coming to PlayStation 5 in the months ahead. And if you still can’t decide between the PS5 Disc vs Digital console, we’re here to help you make the right call.
Has your PS Plus membership expired? Use our exclusive PlayStation Plus discount code for $10 off PS Plus Essential, which gives you access to three PS Plus free games per month.
Last updated: August 4, 2023
Best PS5 games 2023: 15 PlayStation 5 titles you need to play
Went back for platinum in Astro's Playroom thanks to this article. What a joy!
Jin would probably give a brief, smoldering stare at the thought ... but Tsushima definitely earned its place.
Matt/Adam, regarding the FIFA 22 free to PSN subscribes, the game needs to be downloaded/ added to library before the deadline at 12pm? My PS5 didn’t arrive yet. Thank you.