ThePlayStation 5is an impressive console with some remarkable advancements that help it stand out from its competitors.The machine’s controller, the DualSense, is especially striking. Features like adaptive trigger resistance and haptic feedback can go a long way toward enhancing the immersion of a gaming experience.
Yet as striking as the console and its peripherals are, the most important factor in the success of a video game console is its library of games. In the modern video game landscape, most major titles are available on multiple consoles, giving PS5 owners an extremely robust collection of games to return to. Here are ten of the best games for repeat playthroughs.
The gameplay ofTetrishas been one of the most addictive video game experiences on the market since its debut almost forty years ago.Tetris Effect: Connectedis a fantastical celebrationof this undisputed icon of the gaming industry. In terms of presentation and atmosphere, this title is hard to beat.
Tetris Effect: Connectedis a significant diversion from the cinematic third-person action games that arguably define the current console generation. People have been playing and replayingTetrisfor decades, andTetris Effect: Connectedis one of the best and most aesthetically pristine ways to go back to this iconic puzzle game.
The legendaryBaldur’s Gate 3is a game that needs no introduction. This expansive RPG took the Game Awards by storm and continues to support a massive playerbase, demonstrating its intense longevity.
Like the tabletop RPG that inspired it,Baldur’s Gate 3is extremely easy to replay. The game’s lengthy story and wealth of side content support numerous playthroughs for fans to make different choices and see how they can influence the world around them. Just like inDungeons & Dragons, players can also usethe game’s robust class systemto build and experiment with countless different playstyles, further encouraging them to dive back into the game repeatedly and see what new creations they can make.
FromSoftware’s return to theArmored Corefranchise took many fans by surprise. The developer is certainly best known for inventing the Soulslike genre with titles likeDark Souls,Bloodborne, andElden Ring. Its mech combat franchise is a much more obscure part of its history, but that didn’t stopArmored Core 6from taking the world by storm in 2023.
Armored Core 6’s intricate combat system makes replaying the game almost a necessity. The various upgrades and customization options make every build feel wildly different. This, in turn, means that experimentation is essential, and engaging with the game’s robust New Game+ mechanic lets players go through the narrative again and again, not just to experiment with new playstyles, but to make different story choices, leading to brand new boss fights and, eventually, the game’s true ending.
TheGod of Warseries has been one of PlayStation’s most prominent franchises for many years, and the Norse reboot that began with 2018’sGod of Warbreathed new life into the series in a major way.God of War: Ragnarökelevated everything that made its predecessor so special, enhancing the combat and introducing some emotionally devastating new twists to Kratos and Atreus' personal journeys.
While the story may not hit quite as hard on a second playthrough, the combat certainly will. Kratos' robust arsenal of weapons can be enhanced and customized withplenty of special moves and upgradesso players can hone his brutal and punishing combat style however they like. Setting aside the game’s explosive combat, the phenomenal performances from actors like Christopher Judge and Richard Schiff are well worth going back for, as is the game’s free Roguelike mode DLC.
TheHorizonseries is a relatively recent project for Sony, but it’s quickly grown into one of the publisher’s most significant flagships. 2022’sHorizon Forbidden Westwas a considerable step forward for the franchise, refining and improving a lot that was lacking in the previous game. The mysterious new environs of the Forbidden West offer many new mysteries and challenges for the heroic Aloy.
Like with any good open world game, it’s hard to see everythingForbidden Westhas to offer in a single playthrough. ReplayingHorizon Forbidden Westlets Aloy see new regions, meet new NPCs, and embark on new sidequests. It also gives players a chance to experiment with different skills and abilities in the game’s robust skill tree, and even prioritize different weapon types in order to discover new advantages in the game’s intricate combat system.
When the PlayStation 5 was first announced, theDemon’s Soulsremake was one of its most anticipated launch games. WhileElden Ringis certainly FromSoftware’s most well known game today, it owes most of its success toDemon’s Souls, and fans who missed it the first time around were eager to experience the origins of this titanic genre.
Like any good Soulslike,Demon’s Soulshas a robust selection of weapons and spells for players to use in their arsenal. By replaying the game, players can experiment with different classes and playstyles. They can also explore the effects of their decisions on the world using the game’s distinctive world tendency mechanic.
In spite of its grand open-world scope,Ghost of Tsushima’sstory is intensely personal. The protagonist, Jin Sakai, must choose between holding on to the traditions of his samurai code, or abandoning them in order to liberate his island from Mongol invaders.
By centering so much of the gameplay around this deep struggle,Ghost of Tsushimaopens upa lot of options for replayability. Situations and quests will play out much differently based on how committed Jin is to his training. The world itself responds to Jin’s moral code, and even the weather will reflect his outlook on his grim quest.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is one of the most impressive games in the PS5’s library, boasting seamless transitions across the map and the ability to instantly swap between Peter Parker and Miles Morales. The game’s story is also a step up from the previous games, introducing the iconic Venom with a truly terrifying amount of power and a devastatingly close relationship to Peter’s past.
Fans of the iconic web-slinging duo and their rogue’s gallery will have a blast playing this game. Subsequent playthroughs with the game’s New Game Plus mechanic will let fans replay missions with whatever suits they’d like and experiment with techniques and abilities that they ordinarily wouldn’t get until the late-game.
The massive open world of The Lands Between, as huge and immersive as it is, is just one of the things that makesElden Ringsuch a special game. FromSoftware’s mastery of their Soulsborne formula shines through even in an open-world setting, a major departure from series conventions.
Like any Soulslike,Elden Ringis worth replaying just for the benefit of trying out different builds and playstyles. The massive size of The Lands Between also means that every subsequent playthrough is likely to result in discovering something new, whether it’s a minor cave in a forgotten corner of the map ora whole new side questthat went completely overlooked the last time around.
As popular as the Roguelike genre is, it doesn’t always get the mainstream attention it deserves.Returnalis a major exception to this rule. This intense Roguelike shooter takes full advantage of the PS5’s impressive tech to deliver an immersive and challenging gauntlet set on a sinister alien world.
Like any good Roguelike,Returnalis built for replayability. It’s impossible to see everything the game has to offer in just one run. It’s impossible to even finish the game in just one run. Different playthroughs will go completely differently depending on what upgrades andweapons Selene is able to acquirefrom her arduous trek through this mysterious and hostile world.
