The best PS5 games for most players are Astro Bot, God of War Ragnarök, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Ghost of Yōtei, the four first-party games that show off the console best. Add Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3 and Helldivers 2, and you have eight picks that cover platforming, action, RPGs and co-op.
Below, each game gets a short answer on who it is for and what to know before buying. Platform details were checked against official PlayStation and Steam pages in October 2026.
How we picked the best PS5 games
We looked for games that are easy to recommend to a wide audience, still hold up well and are available on PS5 right now. We favored variety: one strong pick per style rather than five open-world action games. Exclusivity was not a requirement, but games that play especially well on PS5, with DualSense features or PS5 Pro enhancements, earned extra credit.
1. Astro Bot: the best PS5 game to start with
Team Asobi's Astro Bot launched on September 6, 2024 and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards. It is a 3D platformer packed with creative levels and references to PlayStation history, and it is the best showcase of the DualSense controller's haptics and adaptive triggers. It is PS5-only, family-friendly and ideal as a first game on the console.
2. God of War Ragnarök: for story-driven action
Santa Monica Studio's sequel follows Kratos and Atreus through the Norse realms, with heavy combat, big boss fights and some of the best performances in the genre. It came out on PS5 and PS4 in November 2022 and reached PC in September 2024. The free Valhalla mode adds a roguelite challenge after the credits. If you skipped the 2018 God of War, play that one first.
3. Marvel's Spider-Man 2: the best superhero game
Insomniac's sequel lets you swap between Peter Parker and Miles Morales across a bigger New York, with fast traversal, web wings and fast loading thanks to the PS5 SSD. It launched on PS5 in October 2023 and on PC in January 2025. It is the easiest open-world pick on this list for players who want spectacle without a steep learning curve.
4. Ghost of Yōtei: the newest essential exclusive
Sucker Punch's follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima launched on October 2, 2025. It is set in Ezo, in northern Japan, around 300 years after the first game, and follows the mercenary Atsu on a revenge story. According to PlayStation, the free Legends update adds two- to four-player online co-op, which requires PlayStation Plus. It is PlayStation-exclusive and PS5 Pro Enhanced.
5. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: the best RPG for newcomers to the series
The second part of Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII remake project launched on PS5 in February 2024 and on PC in January 2025. It mixes real-time and tactical combat, a huge open world and plenty of side activities. Play Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade first; the third part, Revelation, is already in development. Our guide to Final Fantasy games in order explains where it fits.
6. Elden Ring: for players who want a challenge
FromSoftware's open-world action RPG launched in February 2022 and is still the most approachable way into the soulslike genre, because you can explore elsewhere when a boss blocks your path. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, released in June 2024, adds a large new area. If you enjoy it, our list of the best soulslike games has more to play next.
7. Baldur's Gate 3: the deepest RPG on PS5
Larian's Dungeons and Dragons RPG reached PC in August 2023 and PS5 in September 2023, and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards that year. Turn-based combat, huge freedom of choice and split-screen co-op on PS5 make it a great pick for patient players and couples who want to share one campaign.
8. Helldivers 2: the best co-op shooter
Arrowhead's four-player co-op shooter launched on PS5 and PC in February 2024 and on Xbox in August 2025. Friendly fire, stratagems called in with button combos and a shared community war make every mission chaotic and memorable. It keeps getting free updates and paid Warbonds; see our report on the Easy Anti-Cheat switch in patch 7.2.0 for the most recent change on PC.
Which PS5 game should you play first?
- New to PS5 or playing with kids: Astro Bot.
- You want a cinematic story: God of War Ragnarök or Ghost of Yōtei.
- You want an easy open world: Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
- You love long RPGs: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth or Baldur's Gate 3.
- You want a hard challenge: Elden Ring.
- You play with friends online: Helldivers 2.
Common mistakes when picking PS5 games
The first mistake is starting a sequel cold. God of War Ragnarök and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth both assume you know the previous game, and story recaps only go so far.
The second is ignoring storage. Big PS5 games can take more than 100 GB each, so check free space before you buy several at once.
The third is paying full price for older games. Many of these picks appear in PlayStation Plus Extra or in PlayStation Store sales, so it is worth checking the catalog first.
FAQ
What is the best PS5 exclusive?
Astro Bot is the easiest to recommend, and Ghost of Yōtei is the strongest recent exclusive. God of War Ragnarök and Spider-Man 2 are now also on PC.
Are these games good on the base PS5?
Yes. All eight run on the standard PS5. PS5 Pro owners get extra enhancements in several of them, such as Ghost of Yōtei.
Can I play these games on PS4?
Only some. God of War Ragnarök and Elden Ring have PS4 versions, but Astro Bot, Spider-Man 2, Ghost of Yōtei, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Baldur's Gate 3 and Helldivers 2 are PS5 games. For racing fans, our best racing games guide covers Gran Turismo 7.
