The PlayStation 5, Sony's latest foray into the world of gaming, has taken the world by storm. With its stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and a library of exclusive titles that is unmatched, it's no surprise that the PS5 has become a must-have for gamers of all stripes. But with so many incredible games available, choosing the best ones to play can be overwhelming.
To help you navigate this exciting landscape, we've compiled a list of the best PlayStation 5 games for 2024, covering a range of genres and styles. Whether you're looking for action-packed adventures, mind-bending puzzles, or immersive role-playing experiences, we've got you covered.
Action-Adventure Games
1. God of War Ragnarök
God of War Ragnarök is a worthy successor to the critically acclaimed 2018 title. Set in a vast and beautiful world inspired by Norse mythology, the game offers an epic story filled with thrilling combat, memorable characters, and stunning visuals. The game's combat system is incredibly fluid and dynamic, allowing you to utilize a variety of weapons and abilities to defeat your enemies. Kratos and Atreus continue their journey through the Norse realms, and the game's storytelling is filled with emotional moments and memorable dialogue.
Key Features:
- Immersive Story: The game's narrative delves into the rich lore of Norse mythology, weaving a compelling tale of family, destiny, and the consequences of choice.
- Epic Combat: The combat is visceral and satisfying, with a wide range of weapons and abilities to master, including Kratos' signature Leviathan Axe and Atreus' bow and arrow.
- Stunning Visuals: The game's graphics are breathtaking, capturing the beauty and grandeur of the Norse realms.
- Open World Exploration: Explore the vast world of Midgard, encountering diverse creatures and environments, from sprawling forests to icy mountains.
Why It's a Must-Play:
God of War Ragnarök is a masterclass in action-adventure gaming, combining a thrilling story, exciting combat, and stunning visuals to deliver an unforgettable gaming experience. It's a must-play for any PS5 owner.
2. Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West is a sprawling open-world action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world teeming with robotic creatures. The game picks up where Horizon Zero Dawn left off, with Aloy venturing into the Forbidden West, a region plagued by mysterious machines and a new threat to humanity.
The game features a rich story, a diverse open world, and a variety of combat options, including Aloy's trusty spear and a wide range of weapons and gadgets.
Key Features:
- Vast Open World: Explore a vast, beautifully crafted world filled with stunning landscapes, dangerous environments, and secrets to uncover.
- Engaging Story: The story is filled with twists and turns, exploring themes of survival, redemption, and the consequences of technology.
- Diverse Combat: Engage in thrilling combat against a variety of robotic creatures, each with unique abilities and weaknesses.
- Crafting and Exploration: Craft new weapons, tools, and upgrades to enhance your abilities and explore the vast open world.
Why It's a Must-Play:
Horizon Forbidden West is a visually stunning and engaging game that offers a truly immersive experience. The game's rich story, diverse gameplay, and breathtaking world make it a must-play for fans of action-adventure games.
3. Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a standalone expansion to the critically acclaimed Spider-Man (2018) and a fantastic game in its own right. It follows Miles Morales as he takes on the mantle of Spider-Man and protects New York City from a new threat.
Key Features:
- Fast-Paced Combat: Engage in fluid, dynamic combat using Miles' unique abilities, including his venom blasts and camouflage.
- A Fresh Take on Spider-Man: Discover a new story that expands upon the world of Spider-Man, introducing new characters and exploring themes of identity and responsibility.
- Stunning Visuals: Experience the beauty of New York City with stunning graphics that showcase the PS5's capabilities.
- Immersive World: Explore a vibrant and detailed open world with a plethora of side activities and collectibles to discover.
Why It's a Must-Play:
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a stellar action-adventure game that showcases the power of the PS5 and offers a fresh take on the Spider-Man mythos. The game's engaging story, fluid combat, and stunning visuals make it a must-play for fans of the web-slinger.
Role-Playing Games
4. Elden Ring
Elden Ring is an open-world action role-playing game that has taken the gaming world by storm. Set in the vast and unforgiving Lands Between, the game allows you to explore a breathtaking world filled with secrets, dangers, and challenging enemies. The game's combat is incredibly challenging and rewarding, requiring players to master the game's mechanics and strategies.
Key Features:
- Vast Open World: Explore a vast, interconnected open world filled with stunning landscapes, dangerous dungeons, and challenging bosses.
- Deep Customization: Create a unique character with a variety of classes, stats, and weapons, customizing your playstyle and approach to combat.
- Challenging Combat: Engage in intense and rewarding combat, mastering the game's mechanics to overcome challenging enemies and bosses.
- Rich Lore: Unravel the mysteries of the Lands Between and discover the secrets of its rich history and lore.
Why It's a Must-Play:
Elden Ring is a masterpiece of open-world role-playing games, offering an unforgettable experience that will challenge you to become a true master of the game. The game's vast world, challenging combat, and deep customization make it a must-play for any RPG enthusiast.
5. Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy XVI is the latest installment in the iconic role-playing game franchise, and it's a true return to form. The game features a stunning world, a compelling story, and a captivating blend of action-packed combat and classic Final Fantasy elements.
Key Features:
- Breathtaking World: Explore the beautiful and expansive world of Valisthea, featuring a variety of environments and diverse cultures.
- Intriguing Story: Experience a compelling story filled with political intrigue, magical powers, and the fate of the world.
- Fast-Paced Action Combat: Engage in thrilling real-time combat, mastering the game's intricate mechanics and utilizing a variety of abilities and weapons.
- Classic Final Fantasy Elements: Experience a mix of classic Final Fantasy elements, including summons, a rich cast of characters, and a compelling narrative.
Why It's a Must-Play:
Final Fantasy XVI is a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike. The game's stunning visuals, immersive world, and captivating story combine to deliver an unforgettable gaming experience.
Adventure Games
6. The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part II is a powerful and emotionally charged adventure game that picks up five years after the events of The Last of Us. The game features a captivating story, unforgettable characters, and stunning visuals. The game's gameplay is a blend of stealth, action, and survival, and it's filled with challenging encounters and heart-wrenching moments.
Key Features:
- Compelling Story: The game's story is both powerful and emotionally complex, exploring themes of loss, revenge, and the cycle of violence.
- Unforgettable Characters: Experience a deep dive into the characters of Ellie and Abby, exploring their motivations, struggles, and the impact of their actions.
- Stunning Visuals: The game's graphics are breathtaking, showcasing the PS5's capabilities with realistic character models, detailed environments, and stunning lighting effects.
- Immersive Gameplay: The game features a blend of stealth, action, and survival gameplay, allowing players to approach situations in different ways.
Why It's a Must-Play:
The Last of Us Part II is a must-play for any fan of storytelling and emotional experiences. The game's captivating narrative, unforgettable characters, and stunning visuals make it a true masterpiece of gaming.
7. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is a remastered collection of two critically acclaimed Uncharted games: Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. The collection features stunning visuals, improved performance, and enhanced gameplay for the PS5.
Key Features:
- Stunning Graphics: Experience the Uncharted games in their most beautiful form with enhanced visuals, including higher resolutions, improved lighting, and enhanced textures.
- Enhanced Performance: Enjoy smooth and responsive gameplay with improved frame rates and loading times.
- Improved Gameplay: The games feature enhanced gameplay mechanics, including improved aiming and a more fluid combat system.
- Two Epic Stories: Experience two captivating stories, including Uncharted 4's exploration of Nathan Drake's legacy and The Lost Legacy's exciting adventure featuring Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross.
Why It's a Must-Play:
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is a must-play for any fan of action-adventure games and is a great way to experience these iconic titles on the PS5. The collection offers stunning visuals, improved performance, and two captivating stories, making it an essential addition to any PS5 owner's library.
Puzzle Games
8. Returnal
Returnal is a challenging and rewarding rogue-like shooter that takes place on a mysterious alien planet. You play as Selene, an astronaut who is trapped in a time loop and must fight her way through hordes of alien creatures and uncover the secrets of the planet.
Key Features:
- Fast-Paced Action: Experience intense and challenging combat against a variety of alien creatures with unique abilities.
- Rogue-like Elements: Each playthrough is unique, with procedurally generated environments and enemies, making every encounter feel fresh.
- Explore and Uncover Secrets: Explore the alien planet and uncover its secrets, piecing together the story of the time loop and your own past.
- Permadeath: The game features a permadeath system, meaning that you start from scratch each time you die, adding a layer of tension and strategy to the gameplay.
Why It's a Must-Play:
Returnal is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a truly unique and unforgettable experience. The game's fast-paced action, rogue-like elements, and compelling story make it a must-play for any fan of challenging and rewarding games.
9. Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a beautiful and heartwarming action-adventure game with a focus on puzzle-solving and exploration. The game follows Kena, a young spirit guide who must help lost spirits find peace and return to the spirit realm.
Key Features:
- Stunning Visuals: Experience a beautiful and vibrant world filled with charming environments and characters.
- Puzzle-Solving and Exploration: Solve puzzles, uncover secrets, and explore a vast and detailed world.
- Spirit Companions: Collect and control spirits who will aid you in your journey, providing combat support and unlocking new areas.
- Touching Story: Experience a heartfelt story that explores themes of loss, grief, and healing.
Why It's a Must-Play:
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a charming and heartwarming game that offers a unique and memorable experience. The game's stunning visuals, puzzle-solving elements, and touching story make it a must-play for any fan of adventure games.
Sports Games
10. MLB The Show 24
MLB The Show 24 is the latest installment in the popular baseball simulation series. The game features a variety of improvements over previous titles, including enhanced graphics, a new story mode, and a more robust online mode.
Key Features:
- Enhanced Graphics: Experience realistic visuals and stunning player models, bringing the thrill of baseball to life.
- New Story Mode: Experience a new story mode that follows the journey of a young baseball player as they strive for greatness.
- Robust Online Mode: Compete against players from around the world in a variety of online modes, including Ranked Seasons, Diamond Dynasty, and more.
- Franchise Mode: Create your own baseball dynasty and build a team from the ground up.
Why It's a Must-Play:
MLB The Show 24 is a must-play for any baseball fan, offering a realistic and engaging baseball experience. The game's enhanced graphics, new story mode, and robust online mode make it the best baseball game on the market.
Racing Games
11. Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7 is a stunning racing simulator that offers a variety of gameplay options, from single-player races to online competitions. The game features a vast collection of cars, tracks, and racing modes, making it a must-play for any racing enthusiast.
Key Features:
- Stunning Graphics: Experience beautiful graphics and realistic car physics, bringing the thrill of racing to life.
- Vast Car Collection: Drive a wide variety of cars, from classic models to modern supercars.
- Diverse Tracks: Race on a variety of tracks, including real-world circuits and fictional tracks.
- Online Multiplayer: Compete against players from around the world in a variety of online modes.
Why It's a Must-Play:
Gran Turismo 7 is a must-play for any racing fan, offering a realistic and engaging racing experience. The game's stunning graphics, vast car collection, and diverse tracks make it the ultimate racing simulator.
Conclusion
The PlayStation 5 offers a wealth of incredible games, each with its own unique appeal and charm. Whether you're a fan of action-adventure, role-playing, or puzzle games, there's something for everyone on the PS5.
We hope this list has helped you discover some of the best PlayStation 5 games for 2024. With so many great games to choose from, you're sure to find plenty of exciting adventures to embark on.
FAQs
1. What is the most popular PlayStation 5 game?
- It's tough to say definitively, but Elden Ring, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Forbidden West are consistently ranked among the top-selling and critically acclaimed PS5 games.
2. What are some of the best free PlayStation 5 games?
- Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Rocket League are popular free-to-play games available on PS5.
3. What are some of the best exclusive PlayStation 5 games?
- God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Forbidden West, Returnal, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, The Last of Us Part II, and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection are all exclusive titles available on PS5.
4. How many PlayStation 5 games are there?
- The PS5 has a growing library of games, with hundreds of titles available, including both new releases and back-compatible PS4 titles.
5. What are some of the best PlayStation 5 games for kids?
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Little Big Planet 3, and LEGO Games are excellent choices for kids on PS5.