We're five years into the PS5's life cycle now, and if you've just had the pleasure of unwrapping a new console this Christmas, you're no doubt looking forward to finally playing all the best PS5 games that you've not been able to load up until now.
Fact is, though, five years means there's an awful lot of games to choose from, and you might well be struggling to choose where to start. If that sounds like you, I've put together a quick list of five titles that represent some of the greatest games available on the latest PlayStation. Whether you've just been gifted a PS5 Slim or even the mighty PS5 Pro, I'm confident the five games I've listed will make for a great introduction to your new console.
Astro Bot
Any new PS5 owner should spend their first few hours with Astro's Playroom, the delightful 3D platformer/tech demo that comes pre-installed on your system. But PlayStation's mascot has a full-sized adventure in the form of Astro Bot, and it's an utter delight.
Astro Bot is a playful, charming adventure that'll take you blasting across the galaxy on your Dual Speeder, searching for parts of your wrecked PS5 mothership, and rescuing hundreds of robotic pals by running, jumping, and using Astro's many abilities on an endlessly entertaining adventure. It's a love letter to PlayStation's past and an explosion of fun; get it played ASAP.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you're looking to play one of the latest (and biggest) games on the market, I think the best place to start would be with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Sandfall Interactive's gorgeous JRPG is one of the most talked-about games of 2025, and just recently scooped no fewer than nine wins at The Game Awards 2025, including Game of the Year. And as one of the game's countless fans, I can see why it comes so highly recommended.
It's a compelling combo of beautiful art direction, an incredible score, intriguing narrative direction, and challenging, customizable combat. Take it from someone who gave the game a 4.5/5 star score in our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review back in April: if you love RPGs and you're yet to give it a go, you're in for a real treat.
Demon's Souls
While From Software fans might well opt for Elden Ring as the go-to game for Soulslike players, for sheer graphical heft, I'd suggest checking out the Demon's Souls remake first. Bluepoint's remake of the influential action-RPG is a top-tier dark fantasy adventure that rebuilt and enhanced the PS3 title for the current generation.
Players are tasked with venturing to Boletaria, a land cut off from the rest of the world by a deep fog, and that's been overrun with nightmarish demons. There, you'll explore fallen lands where danger lurks around every corner, facing down tough trials and brutal bosses as you piece together the story of what befell this kingdom.
Ruthless, rewarding, and brought up to date in stunning detail, persevering through Demon's Souls is still one of my favorite PS5 gaming experiences so far.
God of War: Ragnarok
PS5 is home to tons of cinematic third-person action/adventure titles, but if I had to highlight the most essential of the bunch, it'd be God of War: Ragnarok. It may well be available on the PS4, but PS5 is where the second half of Kratos and Atreus' adventure through Norse mythos belongs.
Picking up after the events of 2018's God of War, this epic sequel sees Kratos and Atreus journeying throughout the Nine Realms in preparation for the prophesied battle that will end the world, exploring various hubs and using powerful weapons to battle the Nine Realms' many denizens, including dangerous monsters and literal gods as they search for answers. It's an epic single-player experience, in every sense of the word.
Returnal
Returnal is another title from early in the PlayStation 5's lifecycle, but in my opinion, it's still one of the most unique, challenging, and engrossing experiences you can have on PS5 today.
Housemarque's punishing third-person sci-fi shooter arrived in early 2021 and sees players stepping into the shoes of Selene, a traveller who is locked in a time loop and endlessly fighting for survival after crash-landing on the alien planet of Atropos.
Every run, you'll be picking up high-tech weaponry and dodging and weaving through bullet-hell skirmishes, navigating shifting corridors as you search for your escape. Die, and you'll wake up back at the beginning, ready to adopt a new strategy and try again. It's challenging, but an immensely satisfying gameplay loop, and one that you should at the very least give a shot.
More PS5 games to consider
There's plenty of play on PS5, so I couldn't help but include further recommendations in case the above picks didn't resonate with you.
- Love sinking dozens of hours into massive RPGs? Try Baldur's Gate 3, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Cyberpunk 2077, or Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Want more 3rd-person action/adventure games? PS5's home to loads: Ghost of Tsushima and its sequel, Ghost of Yotei, Horizon: Forbidden West, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Kena: Bridge of Spirits and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 are all worth investigating
- Want more shooters? Helldivers 2, Battlefield 6, or Destiny 2 could be great places to start gaming
- Racing fan? Gran Turismo 7 or Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds may be the picks for you
As a final tip, I'd suggest investigating whether signing up for PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium would be a smart solution for you. You'll need a Plus membership if you're planning to play online, but the higher subscription tiers offer additional perks.
With Extra, you get access to hundreds of games in the PS4/PS5 Game Catalogue (including some of the titles on this list!), while Premium offers that plus game streaming and access to the Game Catalogue's retro selection, too.
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