The top 10 PS5 Games in 2023
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| The top 10 PS5 Games in 2023 |
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
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| Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 |
Even if PlayStation barely got any games this year, it would still be home to one of this year’s very best exclusives. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is about as good as big-budget gaming gets, delivering top-notch spectacle and incredibly smooth superhero gameplay. Though players are sure to revere it for its refined combat and traversal, it’s the smaller moments that stick with me most. Sidequests that see both Spider-Men helping their community leave the biggest impact of all. It was also good to see this game backtracked on the uncomfortable police surveillance state setup of its predecessors. With an emphasis on criminal reform and being more of a friendly neighborhood helper, Spider-Man 2 is a more mature superhero sequel that ranks with the best of them.
Deathloop
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| Deathloop |
Deathloop may very well be the best PS5 console exclusive thus far, which is pretty ironic considering it was developed by Arkane Lyon--a Bethesda studio that is now owned by Microsoft. The exclusivity deal was struck before Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda, so PS5 users get to experience one of the best first-person shooters in a long time. Deathloop is set on Blackreef island, a strange place where the party never stops and everyone wants to kill our protagonist, Colt. The island is stuck in a time loop, and the only way to break it is by hunting down and killing a list of targets. Colt retains his memories from each loop but so do all of his targets. They know he's coming. Deathloop is an absolutely enthralling shooter that deftly weaves into systems into the loop in a coherent manner that gradually builds over time. It also tells a gripping tale and features some incredible acting.
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition
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| Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition |
A fast-paced action game with stylish combat is the perfect candidate for a PS5 upgrade. Enter Devil May Cry 5 Special edition, the definitive console version of Capcom’s 2019 action game. DMC 5 Special edition is impressive from a technical perspective and offers three different graphics and performance settings that offer different combinations of improvements such as ray-tracing, 4K resolution, or even gameplay at up to 120fps. It also comes with the Vergil DLC, which lets you play through the game as Dante’s twin brother. Two new modes are included as well: Turbo and Legendary Dark Knight. Turbo speeds the game up, while Legendary Dark Knight adds more enemies to the fight. Overall, the technical improvements and new content make DMC 5 Special Edition worth playing even if you already beat the original on PS4. It’s one of the best action games in recent years and includes one of the deepest combo systems ever in the genre.
Diablo 4
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| Diablo 4 |
Blizzard's latest dungeon-crawler presents a massive world to explore, loot to find, and most importantly, a foundation for endless adventuring. After Diablo 3's rocky launch, it enjoyed a second life with tons of post-launch updates and two new classes. Diablo 4 at launch is relatively modest compared to how robust Diablo 3 eventually became, but the fundamentals are rock solid. With a new build system that puts more emphasis on carefully selecting your archetypes and five classes that feel nicely differentiated, Diablo 4 is another excellent visit to Sanctuary. On top of those qualities, it also expands the lore and story of Diablo with an emphasis on Lillith, the unholy Mother Demon. With a presentation that gives you a front-row seat to the gruesome spectacle, this is the most cinematic Diablo has ever been, and it delivers a more personal story.
Final Fantasy XVI
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Final Fantasy XVI |
Ghost of Tsushima
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| Ghost of Tsushima |
Ghost of Tsushima was the last major exclusive to release on PS4 and made the most of the hardware since it already looked incredible and ran extremely well. The free PS5 upgrade makes the details of Tsushima’s lush open world even more rich and expressive. If you missed out on Ghost of Tsushima at the end of the PS4’s lifecycle, the upgrade, which supports gameplay at 60fps and 4K resolution, makes it look and feel like a native PS5 game. You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai who barely staves off a violent death and sets off on an adventure to thwart the first Mongol invasion of Japan. Ghost of Tsushima has great, fluid combat and well-integrated stealth mechanics. The open-world quest structure does feel fairly familiar, but all of the other aspects make it worth the occasional repetition. Outside of the campaign, there’s a surprisingly awesome co-op multiplayer mode dubbed Legends that adds numerous new layers to an already great game.
Forspoken
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| Forspoken |
It might be surprising to see Square Enix’s Forspoken on this list. The open-world adventure was the subject of ridicule when it launched due to its quippy writing. While those criticisms were earned, that doesn’t mean the entire game is a joke. In fact, Forspoken is a surprisingly creative game filled with fast, fluid traversal and a magical combat system that’s not too far off from Final Fantasy XVI. If you can get past all the Marvel-esque one-liners, you’ll find a solid blockbuster that’s a lot more engaging than the less magical Hogwarts Legacy.
God of War / God of War Ragnarok
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| God of War / God of War Ragnarok |
God of War is one of the most stunning PS4 games, and it is even prettier on PS5. The PS5 update adds a performance mode with 4K resolution that runs at 60fps. God of War is one of the best PlayStation exclusives in a long time already, so it’s definitely worth revisiting or playing for the first time on PS5 if you haven't yet. Its sequel, God of War Ragnarok, is a massive expansion of the concept and a continuation of the story. It's just as visually outstanding, while refining the already stellar combat and giving you new tools and RPG-like features to help you make the combat your own. It also continues, and possibly concludes, the apocalyptic story that the first game began, making these two a perfect duology to experience on your PS5.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Ultimate Launch Edition
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| Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Ultimate Launch Edition |
The Ultimate edition of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales comes with the remaster of one of the best PS4 games and its impressive follow-up. The remastered version of Marvel’s Spider-Man runs wonderfully on PS5 and makes use of the powerful hardware to offer several modes that boost frame rate and visual quality. Marvel’s Spider-Man also tells a heartwarming and grounded story filled with adept characterization and superb pacing. Even if you already played the original on PS4, the remastered version is worth running through again.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a more compact experience (think: Uncharted: Lost Legacy), but it uses the strong foundation of its predecessor well. Miles’ coming-of-age story is a joy to watch unfold, and the story has plenty of twists of turns. Together, these two games make quite the duo and should be in every PS5 library.
Returnal
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| Returnal |
Returnal is not a game for everyone--it's extremely difficult and its roguelite structure can feel overwhelming at first--but those who keep playing will be rewarded with one of Housemarque's best games. Essentially a AAA-level third-person shooter with arcade sensibilities, it retains the essence of Housemarque's older, smaller games like Nex Machina and Resogun, with dodging through enemy projectiles and memorizing their attacks playing a huge role. But on top of this is a surprisingly deep story focused on an astronaut named Selene and a planet that she just can't seem to escape, even in death. Shortcuts and a little bit of luck can make the run between the game's six different biomes much less daunting, and little tidbits of exposition and world-building make even your failed runs feel worthwhile. And that's good, because you're likely going to have a lot of them before you see the ending.