It may not feel like it, but the PlayStation 5 has been out for more than two years now. Sure, more people have managed to lay hands on it, but the vast majority have yet to lay eyes on the thing. Don’t be too down if you haven’t managed to catch a glimpse just yet; it’s pretty hideous. Still, it’s better than having an Xbox, right?
We only say that because Sony has locked in so many PlayStation exclusives. You’ll see plenty of them right here – in glorious 4K (or 60fps, you don’t really have a choice in the matter). And with Christmas having just gone by, you might be the owner of a brand-new PS5. You’ll be wanting some games. You’re in the right place.
Here are the top ten PS5 games you can play right now (in no special order).
Elden Ring
Ok, we lied. But not entirely. We said this list wouldn’t be ordered based on quality. But we just couldn’t help ourselves from putting Elden Ring at the number one spot. It’s just that good. In truth, we here at Stuff consider Elden Ring to be a masterpiece. Many questioned FromSoftware’s ability to take what made its previous Soulsborne entries so special and add an open-world element to them. Oh, where are all those doubters now?
Despite Elden Ring being the best game of the year (officially), it’s still a FromSoftware game. Meaning, you’ll die thousands of times in The Lands Between. But, unlike previous games, getting stuck on a boss doesn’t mean you’re stuck in general. You can turn around, say “screw this. I need my mommy”, and go fight something else. It’s glorious.
There’s a feeling you get when playing Elden Ring that no other game can match. Breath of the Wild comes close but doesn’t really stand a chance against this one. There’s a sense of wonder, fear, and joy that is specific only to The Lands Between.
God of War Ragnarök
Okay, we’re no longer biased. We had our fun with the number one spot. It was a random accident that the runner-up to Elden Ring at this year’s Game Awards happened to be number two on the list. But honestly, it’s quite fitting. God of War Ragnarök is a sequel to 2018’s God of War, which itself garnered the GOTY title. It’s no surprise that its follow-up would be close to winning that top spot in 2022.
(Check out Stuff’s Ragnarök review here)
Kratos continues his journey through the world of Norse Mythology and somehow manages to make it even bigger than before. The heart and soul of Ragnarök takes lead from its younger brother and continues to focus on the connection between Kratos and his son Atreus. There’s a lot we wouldn’t want to spoil for you – but we recommend playing the 2018 game first. Heck, if you can, play the original God of War trilogy too, though a quick recap on YouTube should suffice if you don’t have a PS3 lying around.
The Last of Us Part 1
At this point, The Last of Us could be a contender for the most remastered game ever made. Of course, there’s still Skyrim, GTA V, and Another World to consider, but Naughty Dog’s zombie-apocalypse game could certainly give them a run for their money (and ours).
There’s a good reason that The Last of Us has survived for nearly ten years, spanning three consoles. That’s because it has one of, if not the best, stories ever told in a videogame. HBO realised this and is currently developing an adaptation for the small screen set to release in January. The story follows Joel and Ellie, an unlikely pair making their way across the country in the hopes of finding a cure to the zombie-filled world they find themselves stuck in. Again, we’d feel terrible for giving anything else away.
The PS5 version of the game will set you back a fair amount of money (as with every game these days) but it’s so worth it. Naughty Dog improved the visuals, made the locations more detailed and of course, added a 60fps performance mode that is so buttery smooth. Give it a go, whether you’ve never played it or even if you played it on the PS3 or PS4. Personally, we can’t wait for the PS6 remaster either.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Spider-Man on the PS4 was one of the best superhero games we’ve ever played. Personally, the story didn’t grab us as it did most of the world, but it did manage to ensnare us in its gameplay. There was no better feeling than loading up the game and just swinging around for 30 minutes. If you thought Insomniac couldn’t possibly top that, you’d be wrong.
Enter Spider-Man: Miles Morales, a kind-of sequel to 2018’s Spider-Man. It’s set after, and features Peter Parker, yes, but it’s more of a standalone DLC that Insomniac made to show off the power of the PS5. The real sequel is set to launch sometime in 2023, though we couldn’t tell you when. Miles Morales is left alone to defend the Big Apple while Peter takes a much-needed holiday. The main campaign is rather short, but the far-improved graphics and 60fps make up for that instantly. Swinging feels far superior to the 2018 game and if we’re honest, we prefer the main character here too. You don’t need to play the first Spider-Man to enjoy Miles Morales, though it certainly helps set the tone.
Horizon Forbidden West
One of 2017’s best games finally got a sequel in 2022. It’s just unfortunate that both times Guerrilla Games released their Horizon games, something else came along to snatch GOTY away from it. In 2017, it was Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that garnered all the praise (and rightfully so). Were the first Horizon game released in any other year, it could have had a real shot at winning GOTY.
The same applies to Horizon Forbidden West. A perfectly crafted RPG with improved 4K visuals, 60fps, and a decent story with a wonderful setting to back it all up. It had the misfortune of launching alongside Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarök, both of which outstripped Horizon by a mile. But that’s not a knock against Horizon. It’s more of a compliment to the other two games.
Aloy is back as the main protagonist in Forbidden West, stronger and more aware of the world around her. There are larger robotic beasts to take on, a larger arsenal of weapons and gadgets to do so with, a prettier world to get lost in, and more side-quests to challenge yourself with. Give it a try.
Demon’s Souls
Demon’s Souls is the one that got the world hooked on the Soulsborne genre – the first of its kind. It was later followed by Dark Souls, and we all know how that panned out. Surprisingly though, FromSoftware decided that Demon’s Souls was the first that deserved a PS5 remaster, and we’re so glad that it did.
To be honest here, we were still in primary school when Demon’s Souls first dropped in 2009 on the PS3 meaning we missed out on the birth of Souls games. We corrected our mistake when Bloodborne first released – which made us hungry for more. Fortunately, FromSoft provided that with a ground-up remaster of Demon’s Souls, adding 4K visuals and 60fps and a few quality-of-life changes that make playing through that much smoother.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2
Confession time: we weren’t alive when the first Tony Hawk Pro Skater game was released on the PS1 in 1999. We couldn’t really help missing out on that one, but when we saw a remaster of the first two games was releasing, we had to try them. The only complaints we hear from people are that there aren’t more maps and a longer soundtrack.
This is a full rebuild, complete with a native 4K 60fps option available, though a 120fps option is available for those that don’t mind a worse-quality picture.
There isn’t a story to follow here. There are maps that get larger as you go on, each complete with a set of challenges you need to complete in some obligatory timeframe. Why? Who cares. Just get it done. If the game tells you to find five magic bums and ollie over them, do it (that’s something you actually do, by the way). Don’t question the devs. You’ll lose the fight every single time.
In short, you need to try out Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2.
Gran Turismo 7
While Xbox has the Forza Horizon, PlayStation has the Gran Turismo series. The PS5 has Gran Turismo 7 – released in the series’ 25th anniversary year.
GT7 doesn’t require a love of cars and racing to fall in love with it. It would help, but it certainly doesn’t stop you from having a great time with it. It excels at teaching rookies the ropes and has over 400 cars to help you find your playstyle. If racing isn’t your thing and would prefer to just drive, there are a bunch of assist options to make that possible.
Then there’s Cafe mode, in which a lad named Luca gives you a list of cars to collect – giving you a rundown of the car’s history at the same time. Music Rally is fun too, letting you race against the music’s BPMs instead of other players. Throw in the full support for 3D audio, great haptic controls, and stunning ray-tracing visuals and you’ve got yourself a racer that everyone should try out at least once.
Stray
If you had told us a year ago that a game about a cat’s life would be a compelling play, we would have laughed at you. Thankfully that didn’t happen, or else we’d have plenty of apologies to make. Stray was a standout indie title for 2022, letting the player take control of a stray cat running around a city occupied by robots. Weird, right?
Stray isn’t particularly long, being careful not to overstay its welcome. There are tedious combat sections to power through, though it isn’t a chore to complete them. You’d just rather be wandering the streets uncovering the backstories of the robots you meet in the game’s five-ish hour campaign. Stray is available on PlayStation’s PS Plus Extra and Premium tiers, so there’s really no reason not to give this one a go.
Oh, and there’s a dedicated meow button. That alone should tell you all you need to know about Stray.
It Takes Two
It Takes Two is one of our favourite games of all time. Period. If you’re solely a single-player gamer, then It Takes Two probably isn’t for you. But if you’ve got two controllers and a friend that can be bullied into trying it out, make them. They’ll thank you later, trust us.
It Takes Two is a co-op puzzle adventure game that showcases what a divorce can do to children. Players are thrust into the doll-like bodies of May and Cody, a soon-to-be-divorced couple that needs to resolve their issues and work together in order to return to their daughter. You’ll explore the house and surrounding gardens (and sometimes visit space?) to accomplish that. As the name suggests, the puzzle aspects need both Cody and May to get through, with each level giving the characters a new set of powers to make that possible.
The story is great, though a little predictable. But that’s not the main course of It Takes Two. The gameplay is where this really shines. It was so good in fact, that it even won 2021’s GOTY award – and we couldn’t think of a game that deserved the title more. Replayability is great too, as you and a friend can play through the game as one character, and immediately start again with the roles reversed. This one often goes on sale on the PlayStation Store, so wait for those deals if you must.