The Best PlayStation 5 Games
The PS5 has upped the ante when it comes to gaming console power. The graphics and physics engines are mind-blowing, and there's no shortage of great games, many of them exclusive to the PS5. If you're lucky enough to have snagged this next-gen console, read on for the top PS5 games. We've covered a wide variety, and they're all the best in class.
What to Look For
To compile this list of the best PS5 games, we primarily looked at the following: How is the single-player campaign? Does it have multiplayer? Are the graphics immersive and engaging? And what genre is it? For example, a top sports game for a football lover is Madden NFL 23 from Electronic Arts. It offers smooth multiplayer and single-player content for football fans. If you’re looking for a great solo campaign as a superhero, you might like the highly celebrated game Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition from Playstation Studios. It remasters the critically acclaimed Spider-Man game from PS4 and includes a whole new storyline based on Miles Morales. We can’t wait to tell you more about these awesome games, so read below as we go into further detail.
Electronic Arts Madden NFL 23 for PS5
Go for the ring
The reigning champion of football games is back with another rousing performance. In this latest iteration, you have even greater control over your players. The passing controls have been revamped to allow for more accuracy — which you’ll need because this is one of the more challenging Madden games in recent years. The defense AI has been overhauled to act smarter and more realistic. Overall, not too much has changed in the various modes. For example, the “Face of the Franchise” mode has better team building and scouting options. And a new historical mode takes you through various highlights in NFL history.
Pros:
- This version of Madden runs smoothly and is less buggy than previous iterations.
- While you can purchase packs and players, it’s not necessary to play competitively online.
Cons:
- The advanced AI certainly makes this game a challenge, so it’s not the most casual sports game out there.
Electronic Arts FIFA 23 for PlayStation 5
Where stars are born
EA continues its dominance of sports franchises with another top-notch version of FIFA. We really like this one for so many reasons: women’s soccer has finally been added, gameplay physics and movement have been updated, everything feels more fluid and under our control, and there are a bunch of new modes to explore. The chemistry system has also thankfully been reworked to be less frustrating. Overall, it’s a fresh upgrade to FIFA gameplay that was much needed. Players don’t feel like they’re “on rails” as much, and the physics feels more realistic. We are definitely hooked.
Pros:
- FIFA’s graphics on the PS5 really shine, thanks to the powerful processing on the console.
- A world cup mode has been added, which can be played online.
- You can play co-op games with a friend online, either versus each other or on the same team against other players.
Cons:
- It can be a bit hard to get high-rated players without spending money, although there are plenty of ways to get packs through team-building challenges.
Bandai Namco PS5 Elden Ring
Answer the call
Games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring have become the new gold standard for hardcore, expert gaming. In Elden Ring, you’re thrust into an open-world adventure with little direction or instructions. The name of the game is freedom, with no linear storyline you’re supposed to follow. It’s all about exploration and building up your character to conquer increasingly difficult enemies. Although it can be frustrating at times, the sheer depth and beautiful landscapes to explore make this a hard game to put down.
Pros:
- You can team up with players online for co-op play. This can make it easier to level up and take down tougher bosses.
- The graphics are absolutely stunning. You’re completely transported to another realm.
Cons:
- Younger players may find the difficulty too high for relaxed, casual play.
PlayStation Studios Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition
An acrobatic delight
Not many games reach this level of perfection. Spider-Man for PS4 has been remastered for PS5, which is absolutely gorgeous. With this Ultimate Edition, you get the original remastered game along with a new campaign following Miles Morales. There are new enemies, moves, and suits to discover, and the storyline might make you shed a tear or two. The fluid, freeform combat follows the same format as older Spider-Man games: you weave and dodge between attacks, using your web-slinging skills to move around and restrain enemies. With the sprawling cityscape, you can explore, fight crime, and collect items to reach 100% completion and unlock different suits and gadgets. It’s every Spider-man fan’s dream come true.
Pros:
- Combined, the two games take over 60 hours to reach 100% completion. The Miles Morales story is significantly shorter, which can be great for those who don’t have time for long campaigns.
- There are different settings for graphics and framerates so that you can choose between higher framerates or maximum graphics.
Cons:
- There is, unfortunately, no multiplayer support.
Playstation Studios Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
The duo is back
After many long years, the Ratchet and Clank series is back with a killer new game. This 3D platformer and shooter ups the ante in terms of gameplay and graphics and really shows off the power of the PS5 — it’s often touted as one of the best-looking games of all time, at least for consoles. With new gameplay mechanics such as wall-running and dashing, the level design has expanded and feels bigger and more open. All in all, this is a masterful take on a beloved series that does it justice.
Pros:
- The storyline is heartfelt and well-told, and the voice acting and writing are both top-notch.
- There are different modes to achieve smooth framerates. You can get a locked-in 60 fps with just a few sacrifices to the graphics quality or use Fidelity mode for perfect graphics at 30 fps.
- There’s a robust photo mode to capture the beauty of various scenes.
Cons:
- We wish the campaign were a bit longer and that this game had more replay value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Fidelity and Performance graphics modes?
On some PS5 games, there are different settings depending on your desired resolution, framerate, and graphics quality. Sometimes, you might sacrifice framerate for ray-tracing and other processor-intensive effects, which is usually called Fidelity mode. Performance mode can reach higher framerates at resolutions like 1440p and 4K, with some graphics effects tuned down slightly.
Is it better to play PS5 games digitally or via disc?
Performance-wise, there is practically no difference between the two. Obviously, with a disc, you have a physical copy of the game that doesn’t take up hard drive space. It can be good to have some games digital and some physical to save on space.
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