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 eager to try 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 (whose name is Astro), you’ll feel every movement thanks to the new vibration technology of the DualSense. 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: Work 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
We don’t know how they did it, but developer Insomniac Games managed to create a sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man that’s better than the 2018 PS4 original. Marvel’s Spider-Man can be obtained through Miles Morales in his own Launch Edition or included in the original Marvel’s Spider-Man Ultimate Edition PS5 update.
After his father’s death, Miles meets Peter Parker, who becomes his mentor. When Miles is bitten by his genetically modified spider, Oscorp, he develops unique powers and convinces Peter to train him. Next up is Marvel’s most realistic Spider-Man yet, with Marvel’s New York City rendered in incredible detail.
PS5 Highlights:
- 4K and HDR visuals. Improved lighting, shadows, and character detail.
- Fast loading, super-fast SSD. For a smooth, immersive Marvel’s New York experience.
- 3D audio technology on compatible headphones. Bring the sounds of Marvel’s New York to life.
4. The Pathless
The Pathless was released simultaneously for PS5 and PS4. Both versions are priced the same, but only the PS5 version 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 across 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 bring the world back to normal.
Best PS5 Features
- Haptic vibrations. Feel the recoil of the hunter’s bow, which will help you register when to shoot an arrow. Performance options: 4K 60 FPS at low resolution (default) or 4K 30 FPS
5. Sackboy: A Big Adventure
One of PlayStation’s most iconic characters, Sackboy returns in this spin-off of the LittleBigPlanet series. Launching simultaneously for PS5 and PS4, this 3D platformer is Sackboy’s most exciting game to date.
In Shelter: 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 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 Craftworld to life around you.
- Haptic feedback: Feel the platform shift beneath Sackboy’s feet. 6. Assassin’s Creed:
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 a bonus mission for the Beowulf legend.
In Assassin’s Creed: 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 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 advancements, will bring you one step closer to glory.
Best of PS5 Features:
- Play at 60fps for a smoother experience than previous installments in the series.
- Improved visuals bring the medieval English setting 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). It’s a fun first-person adventure game where players travel across the island of Snatchtooth in search of over 100 species of Bugsnax.
In this game, you’ll explore the various biomes of Snatchtooth Island to find and collect its inhabitants, feed your new friends Bugsnax (also known as beetles) to give them new looks, and follow clues to uncover the secrets of Snatchtooth Island.
Best PS5 Features
- The gamepad beeps. When you catch a Bugsnax, the pad calls out its name.
- Additional content for PS Plus subscribers.
- Activity cards: Instructions each time you restart the game to help you pick up where you left off.
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
The eighteenth game in the Call of Duty series takes 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 upending the balance of international power and changing history.
The game includes dedicated Warzone season packs. 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. The first season introduces new free weapons, including the high-fire Mac 10 machine gun and the versatile Groza assault rifle. Gunfight mode features 2v2 deadly duels across four new Gunfight maps.
Best PS5 features:
- Zombie Wave mode. A year of exclusive access to this version of the classic Zombies game, complete with limited-time events, unique leaderboards, and trophies.
- Battle Pass Bonuses: PlayStation players who purchase the $20 Battle Pass will receive five additional level passes.
- PlayStation Party Bonus: Play with a group and get a +25% weapon XP bonus.
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 action RPG, you embark on missions that reward you with loot as you defeat 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 multiplayer attacks from different angles.
Best PS5 Features
- Full HDR reveals the fantastical world of Godfall.
- Haptic Feedback: Feel the ground move beneath your feet as you attack and dodge enemies around you.
- Adaptive Triggers: Feel the impact of warhammers and swords clashing.
10. NBA 2K21
We’re amazed at how much more realistic the NBA 2K series has become since its launch 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 promotional video, 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 puts you as close to the action as possible.
The best 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 PS5 games prove what the critics have been 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. As always, a PS Plus membership enhances your experience and allows you to participate in multiplayer games.
