The Best Console Exclusive Games You Can Play on the PS5

Highlights

• The PlayStation 5 has a fantastic selection of console exclusives, making it a popular choice among gamers.
• Many of the best PS5 exclusives are single-player games, with action-adventure and open-world being common themes.
• The PS5 offers a variety of exclusive games across many different genres, including platformers, RPGs, and fighting games.

When asked why they chose to purchase a PS5 over an Xbox Series S or X, many PS5 owners will likely cite the former’s fantastic selection of console exclusives as having helped to make up their minds. Whether these be titles that were developed by Sony’s first-party studios or third-party games for which the Japanese giant snapped up the home console rights, most people seem to be in agreement that the PlayStation 5 has the edge when it comes to console-exclusive games.

A lot of the best PS5 exclusives are single-player experiences, with action-adventure and open-world also being frequently recurring themes. That’s not to say that every PlayStation 5 exclusive falls into one of these categories though, with the console’s fantastic selection of exclusives also boasting some great platformers, RPGs, and fighting games. When it comes to deciding between an Xbox or a PlayStation, it can therefore be difficult to avoid being swayed by what the latter has to offer.

This list will consider games that were released simultaneously on both the PS4 and the PS5, as well as former PS4 exclusives that went on to receive upgraded PS5 versions.

16 Rise of the Ronin

Metacritic Rating: 76 (PS5)

Team Ninja has always excelled when it comes to combat. However, the developer’s games have sometimes struggled to provide narratives that are worthy of their exciting and engaging gameplay. Thankfully, this isn’t the case with Rise of the Ronin, with both the game’s story and its wonderfully well-realized world being an absolute joy to explore.

Granted, Rise of the Ronin falls some way short of matching the visual fidelity of the best-looking PlayStation 5 games, but it more than makes up for this in the gameplay department. Those who can look past the decidedly last-gen graphics will find an incredibly rewarding experience on offer, not to mention one of the best PS5 exclusives of 2024.

15 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Metacritic Rating: 88 (PS5)

Some will perhaps feel that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is one of the series’ weaker installments, and there’s certainly an argument for that. Both the writing and the gameplay appear to have been watered down just a little to appeal to a younger audience, but it’s still an incredibly fun action platformer nonetheless.

The game looks great and boasts a narrative that is as interesting as it is engaging, with a strong cast of characters helping to really make the story shine. The boss fights are enjoyable too, while the vast selection of weapons and upgrades help to encourage exploration and accommodate a number of different playstyles.

14 Death Stranding Director’s Cut

Metacritic Rating: 85 (PS5)

Death Stranding is definitely one of the more divisive console exclusives of the past decade or so, with many people writing the Hideo Kojima title off as little more than a walking simulator. However, as time has passed, more and more people have come to appreciate the brilliance of the Strand-type genre, which, among other things, prioritizes social connections over combat.

To be clear, this is still one of those games that some people are going to hate, due largely to how much time is spent watching cutscenes and traversing a mostly barren open world. However, for those looking for a great story and an experience that is every bit as unique as one might expect from a Hideo Kojima game, Death Stranding may well be worth a look.

13 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Metacritic Rating: 85 (PS5)

There was a bit of confusion as to what Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales was when it was released alongside the PS5 in late 2020. Some erroneously believed that it was some kind of DLC expansion for Insomniac’s 2018 title, but this is far from the case. It’s a standalone game in every measurable way and a pretty good one at that.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales takes players back to the streets of New York, where they’ll once again be able to swing their way through the city’s beautifully rendered skyscrapers with the push of a few buttons. It’s a visually impressive game, for sure, but also one with a fantastic main story. The deluxe edition of the game also includes Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, which may well be appealing to those who missed out on the original game.

12 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

Metacritic Rating: 89 (PS5)

For well over a decade, JRPG fans begged Square Enix to remake Final Fantasy 7, which many consider to be one of the franchise’s very best installments. The Japanese giant eventually caved in, with Final Fantasy VII Remake announced on the Sony stage back at E3 2015. However, the resulting game would not actually be a true remake as the title had seemed to suggest.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is more of a reimagining of the original title, with certain events playing out very differently than they did in the 1997 classic. Not everybody was pleased with all of the changes that were made to the game’s narrative, but few took issue with the gameplay or the graphics, both of which are every bit as well-polished as fans had been hoping for.

11 Gran Turismo 7

Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS5)

Despite director Kazunori Yamauchi’s somewhat bizarre decision to opt for an always-online model and the game making use of some rather egregious monetization methods, Gran Turismo 7 is still a very good game. In fact, many see it as the best Gran Turismo game in more than a decade, and there are some very good reasons for that.

For starters, the game looks fantastic on PS5, harnassing the console’s improved processing capabilities to great effect. There’s a fantastic selection of cars and tracks too and a wide array of Menu Books to keep players busy while they’re grinding for Credits. Better still, the game now has full PSVR 2 support, allowing players to experience all of this in stunning virtual reality.

10 Demon’s Souls

Metacritic Rating: 92 (PS5)

The gaming industry owes a debt of gratitude to FromSoftware and the studio’s breakout title Demon’s Souls. It’s a game that almost single-handedly defined an entire genre, contributing the second part of its name as well as many of its core mechanics. With that in mind, it seemed somewhat fitting that a remake of the 2009 classic should be one of the games to kick off the era of the PlayStation 5.

Though it would eventually go on to be overshadowed by the release of Elden Ring, the Demon’s Soul’s remake enjoyed a good year or so as being the best Soulslike on the console. The popular PS5 launch title brought with it plenty of big upgrades to the original game, including better rolling, improved animations and loading times, and vastly superior graphics.

9 Horizon Forbidden West

Metacritic Rating: 88 (PS5)

Aloy may be a fairly boring protagonist when compared to some of her first-party peers, but the games in which she features are anything but. The first Horizon game sets up one of the most compelling sci-fi stories in gaming, backing it up with solid gameplay, a stunning open world, and one of the best supporting casts in recent memory.

Horizon Forbidden West builds on all of this to great effect, throwing players headfirst into a brand-new world suffering from the exact same fate. There are improvements across the board, from combat to map traversal, and many more great characters for players to meet. Sadly, Aloy remains a fairly one-dimensional hero, but the people around her more than make up for this.

8 Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

Metacritic Rating: 87 (PC)

Considering the original is one of the best first-party exclusives of all time, it’s a little hard to believe that Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered was available on PC almost a full year before its retail release on the PlayStation 5. Of course, anyone who splashed out on the Deluxe Edition of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales did get the game for free, but those hoping to purchase the game on its own were made to wait quite some time.

This is very much a game worth waiting for though, with the next-gen enhancements taking an already fantastic title to a whole new level. It’s one of the most impressive open-world games ever made and boasts one of the best video game versions of New York City. Few games have managed to nail their recreations of real-world locations quite like this one, nor are there many that make map traversal anywhere near as fun.

7 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Metacritic Rating: 92 (PS5)

It’s a little strange to think that Final Fantasy was once a Nintendo-exclusive franchise, with the series’ first six installments having made their debuts on the Japanese giant’s first two home consoles. Since then, though, just about every Final Fantasy game has appeared on a PlayStation console; many of them exclusively.

In addition to being one of the franchise’s most popular installments, Final Fantasy 7 was the very first to appear on PlayStation, so it seems only fitting that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth ranks so firmly among the best PS5 exclusives. Like its predecessor, it serves as a wonderful reimagining of the PS1 classic and is also one of the best-looking games on the system.

6 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut

Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS5)

Horizon Forbidden West and Ghost of Tsushima are similar in a lot of ways. Both games take place in a war-ravaged open world full of interesting characters and locations, but the latter just about has the edge on account of the natural beauty of its titular island and its main protagonist being infinitely more compelling and relatable.

Ghost of Tsushima is an incredible game from start to finish and does a fantastic job of capturing the hardships of life in feudal Japan. Its director’s cut brings with it a number of major improvements, including sharper visuals, faster loading times, and more targeting options during combat. Players also get access to the Iki Island DLC, which is well worth checking out for those who enjoyed the base version of the game.

5 Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS5)

As its name suggests, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection isn’t a single game, but rather a set containing remastered versions of both Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Both games were already incredible prior to being remastered, but the increased performance of the PS5 allows for a few notable improvements across the board.

The most notable changes come in the graphics department, with players given much more control over things like frame rate and resolution. The remasters also make excellent use of the PS5’s adaptive triggers, with players now able to feel the full weight of every shot that they fire. Given these improvements and the fact that Uncharted 4 was one of the best games on the PS4, the fact that its remaster is one of the best PS5 exclusives should perhaps come as no surprise.

4 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Metacritic Rating: 90 (PS5)

Though Naughty Dog has arguably been responsible for more of the best PlayStation franchises, Insomniac Games is fast becoming one of Sony’s most important first-party studios. In addition to Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, the Burbank-based studio has put out three brand-new PS5 games in as many years, the best of which is undoubtedly Marvel’s Spider-Man 2​​​​​​.

Released in late 2023, the game provides players with one of the best digital recreations of New York to date, building excellently upon the strong foundations laid by the series’ two previous installments. The storytelling is fantastic and the gameplay is top-notch, providing players with one of the first true PS5 exclusives (most of the console’s other big first-party games have also been released on the PlayStation 4).

3 The Last of Us Part 1

Metacritic Rating: 88 (PS5)

Many will feel that Naughty Dog didn’t really need to remake The Last of Us, with the title having already been treated to an excellent remaster for the PS4. However, there will be those out there who will be very glad that the developer did, as there can be no denying that The Last of Us Part 1 is the superior version when compared to either the original or its 2014 remaster.

For those who already have access to the latter, picking this up at full price would probably be a waste of money. For new players or those looking to relive the game’s excellent story, though, it’s a fairly compelling proposition and one that becomes infinitely more attractive whenever the game goes on sale. It’s an excellent remake, after all, and the PS5 version of it runs incredibly well.

2 The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

Metacritic Rating: 90 (PS5)

The decision to start work on a remaster of The Last of Us 2 less than three years on from the game’s original release was perhaps as controversial as some of the big story beats that made the 2020 title so memorable in the first place. However, only a fool would try to argue that the remaster isn’t the definitive way to experience the game; either again or for the very first time.

The story once again follows Ellie and Joel, who at first seem to have found peace in their post-cordyceps world. However, their past soon catches up to them, resulting in one of the most brutal and shocking plot twists in video game history. The remaster also comes bundled with a new roguelike survival mode called No Return, which only serves to sweeten the deal.

1 God of War Ragnarok

Metacritic Rating: 94 (PS5)

Rarely does a game manage to meet everybody’s expectations, particularly when the expectations in question are as high as the ones for God of War Ragnarok were in the build-up to the game’s release. However, the developers absolutely smashed it, providing the perfect sequel to the series’ 2018 installment as well as a fitting conclusion to Kratos and Atreus’ epic adventures through Norse Mythology.

God of War Ragnarok excels on just about every front, from its unmatchable accessibility to its fantastic selection of side content. It’s hands-down one of the best PS5 exclusives and a system-seller in every sense of the oft-spouted phrase. Depending on a person’s exact tastes, there may well be better PS5 games out there for them, but not too many, and not by all that much.