Did you pick up a PlayStation 5 over the holidays? Good news. Ten games on PlayStation 5 are more powerful than those on PS4 and PS4 Pro, and the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and dynamic adaptive triggers make gameplay more immersive than ever.
Whether you’re new to PlayStation or upgrading to a PS4, there are plenty of PS5 games to get excited about. PlayStation released dozens of new PS5 games in early November, with many more to come next year. The PS5 is also compatible with over 99% of the PS4’s library of 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 competing with a slew of original titles, this update to 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, bringing the horrors of this brutal fantasy world to a new generation.
Demon’s Souls takes you to the northern kingdom of Boletaria, a once-thriving land of knights 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.
Best PS5 Features
- Two graphics modes: 4K mode and high frame rate mode.
- Haptic feedback: Lets you feel the energy as you cast your spell.
- 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 bundled games of all time. The main purpose of grouping games is to showcase their capabilities. This game does a great job of showing off the DualSense controller and adaptive triggers with the PS5 and Astro’s Playroom.
With charming characters, lots of magic, and fun scenes, Astro’s Playroom is designed for the whole family. As you control the main character (named Astro), you’ll feel every movement thanks to the new DualSense vibration technology. This game is full of hidden references and artifacts that commemorate the history of the PlayStation gaming system.
Best PS5 features:
- Haptic feedback: Lets you experience Astro’s world through immersive haptic feedback.
- Adaptive Actuators: Works with motion sensors and sensors to provide a new gaming experience.
Fast Charging: This game shows off the PS5’s super-fast charging capabilities.
3. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
We don’t know how they did it, but developer Insomniac Games managed to create a sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man that surpasses the 2018 PS4 original. Marvel’s Spider-Man can be acquired through Miles Morales, either in its own Launch Edition or as a standalone update for the PS5 Marvel’s Spider-Man Ultimate Edition.
After his father’s death, Miles meets Peter Parker, who becomes his mentor. When Miles is bitten by his genetically modified Oscorp spider, he develops unique powers and convinces Peter to train him. Next up is the most realistic version of Marvel’s Spider-Man to date, with scenes from Marvel’s New York City rendered in incredible detail.
PS5’s best features:
- 4K and HDR visuals. Improved lighting, shadows, and character detail.
- Fast loading, super-fast SSD. For a fluid Marvel’s New York.
- 3D audio technology on compatible headphones. Brings the sounds of Marvel’s New York to life.
4. The Pathless
The Pathless was released for PS5 and PS4 at the same time. Both versions are priced the same, but only the PS5 game includes PlayStation’s new 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, the archer, you will perform acrobatics and tricks while moving at super-fast speeds. Forests, meadows, and tundra hide puzzles that you must solve to restore the world to normal.
Best PS5 Features:
- Haptic Vibrations: Feel the recoil of a hunter’s bow, helping you register when to release an arrow.
Performance options: 4K 60 FPS at low 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 platformer is the most exciting Sackboy game to date.
Overcoat: In A Big Adventure, the mythical Vex kidnaps Sackboy’s friends and forces them to build his Topsy Turver. As Sackboy, you must travel through mountains, jungles, underwater kingdoms, and space colonies to defeat the Vex and save the day. You can play solo or with friends in online multiplayer with PS Plus.
Best PS5 features:
- Super-fast SSD. Fast loading between and within levels.
- 3D audio on compatible headphones brings the world of crafting around you to life.
- Haptic feedback. Feel the platform shift under Sackboy’s feet.
6. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Developer Ubisoft has restored this historically-themed action-adventure series to its former glory with a reimagining of the Viking invasion of Britain. The Definitive Edition includes the PS5 Season Pass and an additional mission for the Beowulf legend.
Assassin’s Creed: In Valhalla, you control Avery, a Viking raider who fights with axes, swords, and shields as he becomes embroiled in a long-running conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order. The game takes you from the scenic 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 advancements—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 setting of medieval England to life.
Fewer bugs and crashes than the PS4 version.
7. Bugsnax
Bugsnax from independent studio Young Horses is the second fully original game on our list (after The Pathless). This is a fun first-person adventure game where players travel across Snatchtooth Island in search of over 100 species of Bugsnax.
In this game, you’ll explore the different biomes of Snatchtooth Island to find and collect its inhabitants. You’ll fill your new friends with Bugsnax (also known as beetles) to give them new looks, and follow clues to uncover the secrets of Snatchtooth Island.
Best PS5 Features
- The gamer gives a signal. Once the Bugsnak is caught, it calls out its name.
- Additional content for PS Plus subscribers
- Activity cards. Instructions each time you restart the game, helping you pick up where you left off.
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
The eighteenth game in the Call of Duty series transports players to the pivotal years of the Cold War, the early 1980s. Perfect for fans of historical fiction, your mission is to uncover a global conspiracy led by a shadowy figure intent on destabilizing the balance of international power and changing history.
The game includes season packs dedicated to Warzone. The first season, released after the game’s launch, takes players through several multiplayer maps, from The Pines mall in New Jersey to the holiday map of Nuketown ’84. Season 1 introduces new free weapons, including the high-fire Mac 10 machine gun and the versatile Groza assault rifle. The Shooter mode features 2v2 deadly combat across four new maps.
Best PS5 Features:
- Zombie Surge Mode: One year of exclusive access to this version of the classic Zombies game, featuring 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 shooter-heist game of 2021. In this fantasy combat RPG, you embark on missions that reward you with loot while defeating armies on foot.
The best part about Godfall is that you can play alone or with up to two other players. Bosses and enemies are designed for co-op and have special abilities that counter multiple players attacking from different angles.
Best PS5 Features:
- Full HDR reveals the fantasy world of Godfall.
- Haptic Feedback: Feel the ground move under your feet as you attack and dodge enemies around you.
- Adaptive Triggers: Feel the impact of warhammers and clashing swords.
10. NBA 2K21
We’ve been amazed by the 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, which includes additional tokens, a MyTEAM commercial, packs, MyTEAM cards, and a special digital collection dedicated to the Lakers legend.
With improved graphics and gameplay, online competitive and community features, and multiple game modes, NBA 2K21 brings you closer to the action.
Best of PS5 Features.
- Modes include Limited, Unlimited, Triple Threat, Domination, and more.
- MyTEAM Mode. Create your own team of current and former NBA players to compete in game modes.
- Improved rumble and activation effects.
Enhanced Visuals, Feedback, and Triggers
The best new games on PS5 confirm what the critics were saying. PlayStation has closed the gap with the best gaming PCs. With improved graphics, commentary, and triggers, the best PS5 games of 2023 offer a more immersive PlayStation experience than ever before. As always, a PS Plus membership enhances your experience and allows you to participate in multiplayer games.
