Did you pick up a PlayStation 5 over the holidays? That’s great news. Ten PlayStation 5 games are more powerful than their PS4 and PS4 Pro counterparts, and the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers make the gaming experience more immersive than ever.
Whether you’re new to PlayStation or upgrading from a PS4, there are plenty of PS5 games to keep you entertained. PlayStation released dozens of new PS5 games in early November, with many more to come next year. The PS5 is also backward compatible with over 99% of the PS4 catalog, which includes over 4,000 games.
You’re probably looking forward to trying out the best games on your new gaming rig. To help you get started, here’s our list of the ten best PS5 games of 2023.
1. Demon’s Souls
Despite the many original games, this reimagining of the 2009 cult classic takes the top spot on our list of PS5 games. PlayStation Studios and Bluepoint Games have rebuilt the game from the ground up, introducing a new generation of gamers to the horrors of this brutal fantasy land.
Demon’s Souls takes you to the northern kingdom of Boletaria, a once prosperous land of knights that is now inhabited by bloodthirsty demons and other nightmarish creatures. You can fight as a lone warrior in PvP battles, defend yourself against online invasions, or gather allies in online multiplayer to fight demons together.
PS5 best features:
- Two graphics modes: 4K mode and high frame rate mode.
- Haptic feedback: allows you to feel the energy when casting spells.
- Immersive 3D audio with compatible headphones.
2. Astro’s Playroom
Astro’s Playroom is the best free-to-play game on PS5, and critics are already calling it one of the best packaged games of all time. The main purpose of packaging games is to showcase their capabilities. With PS5 and Astro’s Playroom, this game makes full use of the DualSense controller and adaptive triggers.
With charming characters, plenty of magic, and fun scenes, Astro’s Playroom is designed for the whole family. As you control the main character (Astro), you’ll feel every movement thanks to the new DualSense vibration technology. This game is full of references and hidden details that recall the history of the PlayStation gaming system.
Best PS5 features:
- Haptic feedback: Experience the world of Astro through immersive haptic feedback.
- Adaptive triggers. Work with motion sensors to provide a new gaming experience.
Fast loading: This game shows off the PS5’s super-fast loading capabilities.
3. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
We don’t know how they did it, but Insomniac Games managed to create a sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man that surpasses the original 2018 PS4 game. Marvel’s Spider-Man can be purchased with Miles Morales in its own Launch Edition or included in the Marvel’s Spider-Man Ultimate Edition update for PS5.
After his father’s death, Miles meets Peter Parker, who becomes his mentor. When Miles is bitten by a genetically modified Oscorp spider, he develops unique powers and convinces Peter to train him. The result is the most realistic version of Marvel’s Spider-Man to date, with Marvel’s New York City recreated in incredible detail.
Best PS5 features:
- 4K and HDR visuals. Improved lighting, shadows, and character detail.
- Fast loading, super-fast SSD. For exceptionally smooth Marvel’s Spider-Man movement.
- 3D audio technology in compatible headphones. Bring the sounds of Marvel’s New York City to life.
4. The Pathless
Pathless was released simultaneously for PS5 and PS4. Both versions are priced the same, but only the PS5 version includes the new PlayStation DualSense controller technology. If you own both a PS5 and a PS4, the good news is that you can get both for the price of one.
This game tells the story of an archer and an eagle who are trying to dispel the curse of darkness that has spread throughout the world. As the hunter-archer, you’ll perform acrobatic feats and pull off spectacular shots while moving at breakneck speed. Forests, meadows, and tundra contain puzzles that you must solve to restore the world to its normal state.
Best PS5 Features:
- Haptic Feedback: Feel the recoil of the hunter’s bow to help you know when to release the arrow.
Performance options: 4K 60 FPS at a lower resolution (default) or 4K 30 FPS.
5. Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Sackboy, one of PlayStation’s most iconic characters, returns in this spin-off of the LittleBigPlanet series. Released simultaneously for PS5 and PS4, this 3D platforming adventure is Sackboy’s most exciting game to date.
In “The Great Adventure,” the mythical Vex kidnaps Sackboy’s friends and forces them to build his Topsy Turver. As Sackboy, you must journey through mountains, jungles, underwater kingdoms, and space colonies to defeat Vex and save the day. You can play solo or with friends in online multiplayer via PS Plus.
Best PS5 features:
- Super-fast SSD: Fast loading between and within levels.
- 3D audio on compatible headphones brings Craftworld to life.
- Haptic feedback: Feel the platform shift beneath Sackboy’s feet.
6. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Ubisoft has restored this historical action-adventure saga to its former glory with a remastered version based on the Viking invasion of Great Britain. The Definitive Edition includes the PS5 Season Pass and an additional mission for the Beowulf legend.
In Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, you control Avery, a Viking warrior who fights with axes, swords, and shields as he becomes embroiled in a long-running conflict between the Assassin’s Brotherhood and the Templar Order. The game takes you from the picturesque shores of Norway to epic raids along the English coast, where every decision you make, from political alliances and combat strategies to dialogue and team progression, brings you one step closer to glory.
Best PS5 Features:
- Play at 60fps for a smoother experience than previous installments in the series.
- Improved visuals bring the medieval English landscape to life.
Bugsnax and crashes have been reduced compared to the PS4 version.
7. Bugsnax
From independent studio Young Horses, Bugsnax is the second fully original game on our list (after The Pathless). It’s a fun first-person adventure where players explore the island of Snatchtooth in search of over 100 species of Bugsnax.
In this game, you’ll explore the diverse biomes of Snatchtooth Island to find and collect its inhabitants, customize your new Bugsnax friends (also known as beetles) and give them new looks, and follow clues to uncover the secrets of Snatchtooth Island.
Best PS5 Features
- Gamepad sounds. When you catch a BagSnake, the gamepad says its name.
- Bonus content for PS Plus subscribers.
- Activity cards. Instructions will appear each time you restart the game to help you pick up where you left off.
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
The 18th game in the Call of Duty franchise transports players to the crucial years of the Cold War, the early 1980s. Perfect for fans of the historical fiction genre, your mission is to uncover a global conspiracy led by a mysterious figure intent on destabilizing the balance of international power and changing history.
The game includes exclusive season packs for Warzone. The first season, released after the game’s launch, takes players through a series of multiplayer maps, from The Pines Mall in New Jersey to the Christmas-themed Nuketown ‘84 map. Season one introduces new free weapons, including the high-fire rate Mac 10 machine gun and the versatile Groza assault rifle. Gunfight mode features 2v2 deadly duels across four new Gunfight maps.
Best of PS5 Features:
- Zombie Surge Mode: One year of exclusive access to this take on the classic Zombies game, complete with limited-time events, leaderboards, and unique trophies.
- Battle Pass Bonuses: PlayStation players who purchase the $20 Battle Pass will receive five additional level passes.
- PlayStation Party Bonus: Play as a group and earn 25% more weapon XP.
9. Godfall
Godfall received mixed reviews, but it earned a spot on our list as the best PS5 loot shooter of 2021. In this fantasy action RPG, you complete missions that reward you with loot by defeating armies.
The best part about Godfall is that you can play it solo or with up to two other players. Bosses and enemies are designed for co-op and have special abilities that counter attacks from multiple players from different angles.
Best PS5 features:
- Full HDR that reveals the fantasy world of Godfall.
- Haptic feedback. Feel the ground moving under your feet as you attack and dodge enemies around you.
- Adaptive triggers. Feel the impact of warhammers and swords clashing.
10. NBA 2K21
We’ve been amazed by the level of realism that the NBA 2K series has achieved since its original release in 1999. This next-gen version pays tribute to the late Kobe Bryant with the limited-edition Mamba Forever Edition, which includes bonus tokens, MyTEAM promotions, packs, MyTEAM cards, and a special digital collection dedicated to the Lakers legend.
With improved graphics and gameplay, competitive and community online features, and multiple game modes, NBA 2K21 immerses you in the action.
Best of PS5:
- Game modes such as Limited, Unlimited, Triple Threat, Domination, and more.
- MyTEAM mode: Create your own team of current and former NBA players to compete in a variety of game modes.
- Improved vibration feedback and improved activation effects.
Enhanced Visuals, Feedback, and Triggers
The best new PS5 games meet the most important expectations. PlayStation has closed the gap with the best gaming PCs. With improved graphics, interpretation, and triggers, the best PS5 games of 2023 offer a more immersive PlayStation experience than ever. As always, a PS Plus subscription enhances your experience and allows you to participate in multiplayer games.
