The PlayStation 5 is almost six years old, and this generation has proven to be a great one for longtime fans. There have been so many games that have shown off just what this console is capable of.
Some of them are story-driven action games; others are intense shooters that can be played either in single-player or multiplayer. There is a little something for everyone on the PlayStation 5 thanks to its impressive catalog.
Demon’s Souls is a Remake of a Classic
Demon’s Souls player fighting the Tower Knight boss
What better way to kick off the new generation than with a remake of one of the greatest games of the PlayStation 3 era? Bluepoint Games proved that they can create a Soulslike game just as good as FromSoftware can.
The challenging exploration and boss battles remain just as rage-inducing as before, but with updated visuals and gameplay to keep in line with more modern Soulslikes. Many more recent PlayStation 5 games have pushed the console to its limits, but Demon’s Souls showed off just how much of a leap the new generation was in terms of graphics and gameplay.
Returnal is Bullet Hell Done Right
Image via Housemarque
Although it wasn’t a launch title, Returnal also showed off the advanced console hardware’s ability to make great games. This sci-fi game centers on an astronaut stranded on a hostile planet, trapped in a time loop that forces her to relive her own death repeatedly.
Returnal’s roguelike elements made each run a unique challenge, and the massive waves of projectiles each enemy throws out will challenge the reflexes of all kinds of players. These elements make Returnal not only a great PlayStation 5 game, but also one of the best modern sci-fi games out there.
Spider-Man 2 Gives Peter and Miles a Marvelous Dual Adventure
Miles and Peter in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2Image via Insomniac
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 juggles two superheroes at once, but it allows both Peter Parker and Miles Morales to shine in different ways. The former is pushed to their limits as their personal and superhero lives crumble around them, while the latter proves to everyone that they can hold their own among major threats.
CBR Exclusive · Quiz WHICH MARVEL CHARACTER ARE YOU? Your Powers Are About to Be Revealed The Marvel Universe is full of extraordinary people — genius billionaires, super-soldiers, sorcerers, and gods. Twenty questions stand between you and the truth. Answer honestly. Your true self will assemble.
⚡Iron Man
🛡️Captain America
🗡️Black Widow
☘️Thor
🕷️Spider-Man
01
You’re outnumbered and outgunned. What do you do? A hero’s instinct is defined in their darkest moment.
02
Your team disagrees with your plan. How do you handle it? Every Avenger has their own idea of teamwork.
03
What does your hero identity mean to you? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
04
How do you typically make big decisions? A hero’s process shapes their outcome.
05
Someone takes credit for your work in front of everyone. You: Pride is the armor and the weakness of every hero.
06
A government agency wants to oversee your activities. Your response? Accountability is the line every hero must face.
07
When facing a villain, your strategy is: Every fighter has a philosophy.
08
Your biggest personal flaw is: Every hero has a crack in the armor.
09
A rookie hero is overwhelmed on their first mission. You: How a hero mentors others reveals their character.
10
What drives you more than anything else? The “why” behind the hero is everything.
11
You’ve just suffered a crushing defeat. What’s next? A hero is measured by how they get back up.
12
You could end a threat permanently — but it crosses an ethical line. You: The hardest choices define a hero from a weapon.
13
What do you actually fear most? Even the mightiest hero has something to lose.
14
People who just met you would describe you as: First impressions carry a grain of truth.
15
What’s your ideal base of operations? Where a hero operates reveals how they think.
16
What does “being a hero” actually mean to you? The philosophy behind the power is the real definition.
17
What do you want to leave behind? The mark a hero leaves is their truest measure.
18
Someone you love is in danger. Your first move is: Crisis strips away everything but the truth.
19
Your power — where does it come from? Origin shapes destiny in the Marvel Universe.
20
The final battle. Everything is on the line. You: This is the moment that defines everything.
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE HAS SPOKEN YOUR HERO IDENTITY
Your scores are shown below. The character with the highest number is your match. Read their description to discover which hero the universe chose for you.
⚡ Iron Man
🛡️ Cap. America
🗡️ Black Widow
☘️ Thor
🕷️ Spider-Man
Brilliant, driven, and uncompromising in your ambition. You believe that the right technology — in the right hands — can solve any problem, and you’re confident enough in your own abilities to back that up. Beneath the armor and the bravado, you carry the weight of responsibility deeply. When it truly matters, you’re willing to sacrifice everything.
Principled, courageous, and steadfast. You have an unshakeable sense of right and wrong, and no amount of pressure, politics, or power can make you compromise it. People trust you instinctively — not because you demand it, but because you’ve earned it. You lead not by authority but by example, and you will always get back up.
Strategic, precise, and formidably self-reliant. You don’t need a suit or a superpower — your greatest weapon is your mind and your nerve. You keep your cards close, trust slowly, and operate three steps ahead of everyone else. Your past is complicated, but you’ve turned it into something that makes you nearly impossible to stop.
Powerful, honorable, and ultimately humbled by what truly matters. You came into your power believing it was your birthright — and then you learned it had to be earned. Your strength is immense, but your greatest growth came from learning to serve rather than reign. Loyal to your people, terrifying to your enemies, and always magnificent.
Quick-witted, deeply compassionate, and driven by a responsibility you didn’t ask for. You’ve learned the hard way that great power comes with great cost — and you show up anyway. You stay grounded when others would ascend, and your humanity is your greatest strength. You make it look effortless. It never is.
Gameplay for both heroes is fun throughout, with unique gadgets and combat abilities setting them apart, as well as their own batch of side quests in the sizable open world to play. By the time the credits roll, Spider-Man fans are left wanting more.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a Blast to Play
Image via Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games constantly proves itself to be one of PlayStation’s best developers. They entered the PlayStation 5 era with Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but they used Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart to show off how the console’s fast loading times can make for better gameplay.
The ability to open rifts to teleport around levels and transport to new worlds made the explosive gunplay better than ever. The writing and characters are also top-notch, humorous without sacrificing character development. It may not be a long game, but Rift Apart is a reminder of why the space duo has endured while many PlayStation heroes have faded away.
Horizon Forbidden West Makes Sci-Fi Spectacle Exciting
Image via Guerrilla Games
Horizon Zero Dawn was the beginning of one of PlayStation’s best franchises, and Horizon Forbidden West proved why it was here to stay. Aloy’s adventure into an unknown land to save the dying planet was bigger and better than ever.
The open world is absolutely gorgeous with the newer hardware; there are even more weapons and robots to fight, and the intricate lore made the saga feel larger than life at times. It’s no surprise that Horizon Forbidden West catapulted Aloy into superstar status within the PlayStation universe.
God of War: Ragnarök Closes the Kratos/Atreus Saga in Style
Kratos looks at his son, Atreus, in God Of War RagnarökImage via Sony
2018’s God of War reintroduced Kratos to modern audiences with his new son, Atreus. Four years later, God of War: Ragnarök concluded their story in a grand adventure across the realms of Norse mythology.
The combat was just as brutal as ever, relying on a combination of long combos and RPG elements to keep things exciting. But the story is an even bigger draw, featuring an expertly written father-son dynamic that will tug at everyone’s heartstrings.
Helldivers II Revived a Dormant Franchise
Image via Arrowhead Game Studios
PlayStation’s push for more multiplayer games has been hit or miss, but Helldivers II has been one of the highs. This cooperative multiplayer shooter has blown gamers away with its addictive missions, outrageous gameplay, and satirical take on the American military.
Helldivers II is a live-service game, meaning it doesn’t have a “finish” state as of yet. But that doesn’t discount just how addicting this shooter is for anyone who picks it up.
Stellar Blade Grabbed Everyone’s Attention
Image via Shift Up
Stellar Blade garnered some controversy up until its release in 2024 due to the design of protagonist Eve. But beyond this, gamers found a fun action-adventure game that incorporated challenging combat into its fantastical sci-fi world.
With tons of new combat techniques and upgrades to unlock, Stellar Blade’s gameplay will keep players hooked. There are also tons of hidden collectibles and unlockable outfits for Eve, which will keep players hooked to try and find everything.
Astro Bot Shows Their Love for PlayStation
Image by Surya Punjabi
Astro Bot not only excelled as a fun platformer, but it also showed just how much the franchise loves the PlayStation brand. The levels are filled with references to some of the company’s greatest franchises, brought to life by a series of charming little robots that are full of whimsy and fun.
A massive number of levels, each with unique gameplay mechanics and bright visuals, are just waiting to be explored. Much like Astro’s Playroom before it, Astro Bot showcases the PlayStation 5’s technical prowess while also delivering an adorable platformer.
Ghost of Yōtei is a Grand Tale of Revenge and Redemption
Ghost of Tsushima came out at the end of the PlayStation 4’s run, but it set many of the precedents Ghost of Yōtei followed into the next. Another quest for revenge unfolds, filled with bloody swordfights and morally ambiguous characters who keep players guessing at every story beat.
In between all of this, there are optional duels to win, outposts to liberate, and weapon techniques to learn. All of this can be learned at the player’s pace, making Ghost of Yōtei a substantial journey to get invested in.
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