The PS5 library has grown into a huge collection of cinematic adventures, challenging RPGs, creative platformers, and chaotic multiplayer games. That is great news for players, but it also creates a familiar problem: what should you actually play next?
The answer depends on what you enjoy. Some players want a massive fantasy world that can keep them busy for months. Others prefer a focused story, a relaxing platformer, or an online game they can enjoy with friends after work.
This guide covers the best PS5 games you should play right now, with recommendations across several popular genres.
The list includes PlayStation Studios releases, ambitious third-party RPGs, and multiplayer experiences that use the console’s fast loading, DualSense controller, and current-generation hardware effectively.
Every game here offers something memorable, but not every title will suit every player. Consider your preferred genre, available playing time, difficulty tolerance, and interest in online features before making your choice.
Best PS5 Games at a Glance
| Game | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Astro Bot | 3D platformer | Accessible, creative fun |
| Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | Action RPG | Story and party-based combat |
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Turn-based RPG | Strategic cinematic adventure |
| Elden Ring | Open-world action RPG | Exploration and difficult combat |
| Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | Superhero action | Fast movement and cinematic storytelling |
| Helldivers 2 | Online co-op shooter | Playing with friends |
| Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | Open-world adventure | Unusual exploration and atmosphere |
These games are not arranged from best to worst. Each one serves a different type of player, so the strongest choice is the one that matches the experience you currently want.
1. Astro Bot: The Best PS5 Platformer
Astro Bot is one of the easiest PS5 games to recommend. It is colorful, creative, and simple enough for newer players while still containing optional challenges for experienced platforming fans.
The adventure sends Astro across dozens of imaginative worlds filled with hidden collectibles, unusual powers, and references to PlayStation history. The full game includes 300 bots to rescue and is more than four times larger than the free Astro’s Playroom experience.
What makes it especially enjoyable is how naturally it uses the DualSense controller. Different surfaces, movements, and abilities produce distinct feedback, making the game feel closely connected to the PS5 hardware.
Choose Astro Bot when you want a joyful single-player game that does not require a complicated tutorial or dozens of hours of preparation. It also works well as an introduction to gaming for younger family members.
2. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: The Best Cinematic Action RPG
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth expands the remake project beyond Midgar and sends Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII into a much larger world. Their journey continues as they pursue Sephiroth and uncover more about Cloud’s past.
The game combines real-time movement with command-based abilities. You can attack and block directly, then slow the action to select spells, special techniques, and coordinated attacks.
Exploration is much broader than in Final Fantasy VII Remake. Large regions contain side quests, optional battles, minigames, and activities that encourage players to spend time away from the main story.
Newcomers can technically begin with Rebirth, but playing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade first provides valuable context.
This is the right choice for players who enjoy emotional storytelling, memorable characters, and a combat system that rewards both quick reactions and tactical planning.
3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: The Best Modern Turn-Based RPG
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG inspired by Belle Époque France. Its world is beautiful but dangerous, and its expedition members are attempting to break a deadly cycle controlled by the mysterious Paintress.
Combat uses traditional commands alongside real-time actions. Players choose attacks and abilities, but they can also dodge, parry, or time certain inputs during battle. This keeps encounters active without removing the strategic foundation of a turn-based system.
Its smaller party and focused narrative make it feel more manageable than an RPG filled with hundreds of systems. However, character builds, abilities, and enemy patterns still provide enough depth for players who enjoy experimentation.
Try Expedition 33 when you want a story-driven role-playing game but do not enjoy the constant movement of a traditional action RPG. It offers strategy, dramatic presentation, and a world that feels different from standard medieval fantasy.
4. Elden Ring: The Best Open-World Challenge
Elden Ring gives players an enormous fantasy world known as the Lands Between. Instead of directing you through a strict sequence of missions, it encourages exploration, experimentation, and discovery.
You can build a heavily armored warrior, spellcaster, fast-moving swordsman, or hybrid character. Weapons, spirit summons, magic, and cooperative help provide several ways to overcome difficult encounters.
The game is challenging, but it is more flexible than it first appears. Players can leave a difficult boss, explore another area, collect better equipment, and return when they are stronger.
PlayStation’s beginner guidance emphasizes balancing risk and reward while using the tools the world provides. After completing the main game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adds another large region, new equipment, and additional story content.
Choose Elden Ring when you want freedom, difficult combat, mysterious storytelling, and enough content to support a very long playthrough.
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: The Best Superhero Adventure
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 allows players to control both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Each hero has different abilities, animations, and personal conflicts, while the larger New York map provides more space for swinging and gliding.
Movement is the biggest reason to play. Traveling across the city rarely feels like an obligation because swinging between buildings is fast, responsive, and entertaining on its own.
Combat builds on the earlier games with new powers, gadgets, and character-specific attacks. The story introduces major threats including Kraven and Venom while continuing relationships established in Marvel’s Spider-Man and Miles Morales.
The game supports DualSense vibration and trigger effects, includes extensive accessibility features, and is enhanced for PS5 Pro.
Play the earlier titles first for the strongest emotional impact. However, anyone looking for a polished, accessible action game can still enjoy the sequel’s movement and superhero spectacle.
6. Helldivers 2: The Best PS5 Co-Op Game
Helldivers 2 is a third-person cooperative shooter where squads fight alien threats while completing dangerous military objectives. Up to four players can enter a mission together, supported by cross-play between PS5 and PC.
The game’s friendly-fire system creates much of its personality. Airstrikes, turrets, explosives, and heavy weapons can eliminate enemies, but they can also destroy careless teammates.
Success therefore depends on communication. A coordinated group can complete objectives efficiently, while an unorganized squad may turn a simple mission into a series of hilarious disasters.
Helldivers 2 is best when played with friends, although matchmaking allows solo players to join public squads. Because it is an online-focused experience, it is less suitable for someone who mainly wants an offline campaign.
7. Death Stranding 2: The Best Unconventional Adventure
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach follows Sam on a new mission to connect communities across Australia. The game combines open-world travel, cargo delivery, stealth, combat, construction, and an unusual science-fiction story.
Terrain is not simply decoration. Mountains, rivers, weather, and unstable ground affect how you plan each route. Vehicles and equipment make travel easier, but careless preparation can still turn a simple delivery into a long recovery mission.
The sequel offers more flexible action than the original. Players can confront enemies, use stealth, or avoid dangerous areas entirely, depending on their equipment and preferred approach.
Its asynchronous multiplayer features allow structures and routes created by other players to appear in your world. PlayStation Plus is not required for these shared elements.
This is the most unusual recommendation on the list. Choose it when you value atmosphere, exploration, detailed environments, and experimental storytelling more than constant combat.
How to Choose Your Next PS5 Game
Start with the amount of time you can realistically commit. Astro Bot and Spider-Man 2 are easier to approach in short sessions, while Elden Ring and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth reward longer-term investment.
Your preferred difficulty also matters. Astro Bot is welcoming, Spider-Man 2 offers flexible accessibility options, and Elden Ring expects patience and repeated learning.
For multiplayer, choose Helldivers 2. For turn-based strategy, try Clair Obscur. Players who want a cinematic adventure can select Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, while those looking for something unconventional should consider Death Stranding 2.
Before buying, check whether the game is included in your current PlayStation Plus catalog. Subscription availability changes over time, so confirm its status directly through the PlayStation Store.
The best PS5 games offer much more than impressive graphics. Astro Bot delivers creative platforming, while Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 provide two very different approaches to role-playing.
Elden Ring rewards exploration and persistence, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 turns movement into one of its greatest strengths. Players looking for teamwork should try Helldivers 2, while Death Stranding 2 offers a slower and more experimental journey.
Choose one title based on your preferred genre and available time rather than buying several games at once. Add your favorites to your PlayStation Store wishlist, compare current prices, and begin with the game you are most excited to finish.