The best PS5 exclusives | Digital Trends (2023)

PlatformsPC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5

GenreShooter, Adventure

DeveloperNaughty Dog

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseSeptember 02, 2022

Serving as a remake of the hit PS3 (and PS4) game, The Last of Us Part 1 is the definitive way to experience this story. Not only does it include enhanced visuals and gameplay improvements, but it also features numerous accessibility options, allowing more players to enjoy it. The Last of Us Part 1 also utilizes a handful of PS5 functionalities, such as the DualSense’s haptic feedback. Even if you’ve played the original, this enhanced edition has enough to make it worth experiencing again.

PlatformsPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

GenreRole-playing (RPG), Adventure

DeveloperGuerrilla Games

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseFebruary 18, 2022

Serving as the followup to the hit 2017 open-world game, Horizon Forbidden West doubles down on many mechanics while introducing new ones. For the most part, most of the changes are for the better, such as the inclusion of new tools and improved combat. Most notably, traversal underwent changes, allowing players to get around the map much easier thanks to the use of a new paraglider. And of course, the combat is gripping and satisfying, as is the design of the giant mechanical dinosaurs that roam the world. While this game won’t break new ground, mostly all of its features are well-executed, making it a must-buy.

PlatformsPC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5

GenreRole-playing (RPG)

DeveloperSquare Enix

PublisherSquare Enix

ReleaseJune 10, 2021

The 2020 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake was already a stellar experience, and the PS5 exclusive Intergrade edition makes it even better. What’s great about this version is that it includes a photo mode, new difficulty settings, visual and performance enhancements, and quality of life improvements over the 2020 game. The base experience is incredible, especially if you enjoyed Final Fantasy VII from 1997. The remake looks, plays, and feels like a modern action title, but still pulls from some of the mechanics in the original while telling mostly the same story. There are some key narrative differences that might surprise you, though we won’t spoil them here.

PlatformsPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

GenrePlatform, Adventure

DeveloperSumo Digital

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseNovember 12, 2020

Many games on this list are for mature audiences, but Sackboy: A Big Adventure is an exception. This is a 3D platformer made for all sorts of players, featuring the LittleBigPlanet star Sackboy. While you aren’t able to create your own levels in this game, it’s focused on platforming, with stages designed by Sumo Digital. Many of the levels are expansive, with plenty to do and collect, both solo and with a friend. That’s one of the selling points of Sackboy: A Big Adventure. It’s a fantastic, approachable experience that can be played with friends and family, but don’t let its cute visuals stop you — it’s superbly designed and is a blast to play.

PlatformsPlayStation 5

GenreHack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure

DeveloperInsomniac Games

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseNovember 12, 2020

Arguably the best superhero game of all time is made even better in Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. This enhanced version doesn’t fundamentally change the experience overall, but it does add ray tracing along with a performance mode that bumps the frame rate up to 60fps. In addition, many assets simply look better in the Remastered edition, so even if you’ve already played the PS4 game, it’s worth revisiting on PS5. The cool thing is that you can carry your save from PS4 to PS5 — including trophy progress — meaning you can get extra platinum with very little effort.

PlatformsPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

GenreHack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure

DeveloperInsomniac Games

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseNovember 12, 2020

It’s hard to talk about Spider-Man without mentioning the follow-up game, Miles Morales. This takes place after the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man, but stars the titular Miles Morales, a new version of the web-head. Miles is young and is taken under Peter Parker’s wing, with the goal of protecting the city while the original Spider-Man is away. This is a much more condensed story than the first, but in many ways, that makes it better. It also has one of the best cast of characters in any video game ever, with authentic depictions of people of color. Miles Morales takes nearly everything from the first game, builds upon it, and surpasses it, which is impressive considering just how good the original is.

PlatformsPlayStation 5

GenreShooter

DeveloperHousemarque

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseApril 30, 2021

There isn’t much like Returnal. This is a third-person shooter with roguelike elements, wherein you must explore a planet, pick up items, and defeat aliens. The twist is that each time you die, all your progress resets — as does the layout of each level. That might sound too difficult, but once the combat clicks and you begin making progress, it becomes far more fun. Even if the gameplay doesn’t grab you, it’s hard to ignore the striking sense of atmosphere — due in part to the artistic design of the creatures and levels. There’s an underlying sense of mystery throughout Returnal, and uncovering its secrets is one of the driving forces.

PlatformsPlayStation 5

GenreShooter, Platform, Adventure

DeveloperInsomniac Games

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseJune 11, 2021

It’s hard to find a game that looks as good as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. In many ways, it’s a showcase for what the PS5 can do, featuring tons of explosions and particles across various encounters in the game. One of its highlights is the ability to travel to other dimensions on the fly, which would have been difficult to pull off on PS4. The characters are witty, the writing is clever, and the presentation looks expensive. This is yet another example of an approachable yet fun experience that is meant for a wide audience, even for players who aren’t as skilled.

PlatformsPlayStation 5

GenrePlatform

DeveloperSIE Japan Studio

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseNovember 12, 2020

The great thing about Astro’s Playroom is that it comes bundled with each and every PS5 console at no additional cost. This platformer is meant to showcase what the PS5 — and more importantly, what the DualSense controller — can do, following in the footsteps of its PSVR predecessor, Astro Bot Rescue Mission. Only you don’t need a PSVR headset to enjoy Astro’s Playroom. In it, you’ll be jumping, exploring, and taking out enemy robots — very much in the style of Nintendo’s best platformers. It’s a pack-in, so there’s no excuse to skip out on this one, especially since it’s not terribly long and is easy to get into.

PlatformsPlayStation 5

GenreRole-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up

DeveloperBluepoint Games

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseNovember 12, 2020

Speaking of Demon’s Souls, this is one of the highlights of the PS5, showcasing absolutely stunning visuals made possible by Sony’s new system. This comes to us courtesy of Bluepoint Games, the team that developed the beloved Shadow of the Colossus remake, and from what we can tell, Demon’s Souls seems to be the company’s most ambitious project yet. While the level design, enemy placement, mechanics, and even movement cadence remain intact, the remake features 4K visuals built from the ground up, making it one of the most impressive-looking games ever to release on a console. It also comes with many quality-of-life improvements that make it easier to jump into, as well as slightly updated animations, and more customization options in its character creation mode. The main goal with Demon’s Souls on PS5 is to stay true to the original, while offering an experience that feels next-gen, and from what we’ve seen, it absolutely delivers on that front. Though, as with all Souls games, Demon’s Souls is tough and won’t be for everyone. Despite that, now is a great time to jump in, as it will be ripe with an online community to help you take down bosses, and is streamlined in many ways.

PlatformsPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

GenreRacing, Simulator, Sport

DeveloperPolyphony Digital

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseMarch 04, 2022

It’s hard to beat Gran Turismo, a series that is classy through and through. Gran Turismo 7is notable for including a proper single-player campaign after being absent from the previous installment. This simulation racing game has so much packed into it, with plenty of attention to detail, making it much more enjoyable for car lovers. But even if you aren’t as “in-tune” with the world’s finest automobiles, Gran Turismo 7 is still the most enjoyable driving game on the system.

PlatformsPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

GenreHack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure

DeveloperSIE Santa Monica Studio

PublisherSony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseNovember 09, 2022

God of War Ragnarök is everything we could have asked for from a sequel. Sure, following in the footsteps of 2018’s God of War was no easy task, but Santa Monica Studio knocked it out of the park with Ragnarök.The sequel continues the thrilling story, offering a wide range of characters, fantastic combat, and a slew of improvements over its predecessor. In many ways, Ragnarök is much larger in terms of scope, expanding upon what made the 2018 game so great. If you liked the 2018 game and want more, or if you’re a fan of action games with gripping stories, you must play God of War Ragnarök.

PlatformsPC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5

GenreShooter, Adventure

DeveloperNaughty Dog

PublisherNaughty Dog, Sony Interactive Entertainment

ReleaseJanuary 28, 2022

The Uncharted series is easily one of Sony’s most recognizable, and now you can play two of the best entries on PS5. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection includes Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, both of which have been upgraded for PS5. The package offers smooth 60-frames-per-second gameplay, along with a slew of additional accessibility options to appeal to a wide group of players. These are some of the best games in the series, with fantastic set pieces, wonderfully written characters, and action-packed gameplay. It might be a while before the next Uncharted game comes out, so these should hold us over until then.