Summary
- PlayStation 5 has seen many critically acclaimed M-rated games, offering mature themes and immersive experiences.
- Top PS5 RPGs like Sifu, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and Elden Ring deliver challenging gameplay and deep narratives.
- Recent releases like Helldivers 2 and Baldur's Gate 3 showcase compelling live-service games and robust RPG experiences.
The PlayStation 5 entered store shelves on November 12, 2020. While acquiring one has not been the easiest of tasks, those lucky enough to get their hands on one have been enjoying countless hours of gaming. Since then, the latest PlayStation system has seen a number of critically acclaimed games worth pouring hours into. Among these many acclaimed games have been countless M-rated games, full of somber themes, excellent gameplay, and, at times, a lot of violence.
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Ultimately, the worth of a title will vary for every individual, but these PlayStation 5 releases have enjoyed much critical praise and are sure to grip a mature audience. Sony is known for pushing games with adult themes and strong motifs, propelling this notion from the very moment they entered the gaming landscape to combat with the likes of Nintendo during a time when games weren't really associated with anything too mature.
Updated on December 19, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: PlayStation 5 might not have the biggest launch titles for a new console's release, but as we moved further from its launch, more impressive games were released on Sony's latest flagship gaming hardware.
Among these great games, a vast majority have been rated for mature audiences for a plethora of reasons. Having a mature tag doesn't make a game necessarily better, but it leaves the developers free to implement anything that would make the experience more immersive and maybe more impactful.
Only games with native PS5 versions will be considered.
25 Sifu
Master Martial Arts In Challenging Fights Against Hordes Of Enemies
Sifu
- Released
- February 8, 2022
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sloclap
- Franchise
- Sifu
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Beat 'Em Up
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Sifu is a game that forces players to adapt to its combat system by making them eat dirt over and over again. Players who don't realize when to dodge and parry will find themselves having a pretty hard time with this game indeed. Mastery in Sifu is obtained through repetition and skill unlocks that can prove to be quite helpful indeed.
It's not the easiest game around, but beating down a boss after the tough time they can give makes for one of the more rewarding gaming experiences to come out in recent times. Of course, there's always an easy mode for players who just want to experience the engaging setting, story, and characters of this martial arts action game without being frustrated by its difficulty.
24 Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6
A Much-Anticipated Return To The Origins With Lovely Campaign
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Released
- October 25, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Franchise
- Call of Duty
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
After multiple failures since the reboot of Modern Warfare back in 2019, Call of Duty finally managed to deliver something that really fascinated the community, reminding them of the golden age of the franchise.
Black Ops 6 is almost flawless in every part. It comes with an incredibly epic and mature story in the campaign, an old-school Zombies mode with gory fights, and some new multiplayer innovations to satisfy the competitive players. It's a perfect package from Treyarch and new blood in the series.
23 Grand Theft Auto 5
A Mature Story With Strong Sarcastic References To The American Dream
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Franchise
- Grand Theft Auto
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
A lot of people weren't exactly thrilled to see Grand Theft Auto 5 on the current generation of consoles, with many fans exasperated with Rockstar's insistence on focusing solely on the Online component instead of letting players enjoy a single-player experience. Thankfully, it seems that Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming sooner rather than later, which has satiated the demands of most players in this department.
Context aside, there's no denying that Grand Theft Auto 5 is a game that has aged like a fine wine and still looks impressive, despite the original game launching all the way back on the PS3 in 2013. The massive open world, unique cast of characters, and action-packed story are all reasons why this title became such a rage and continues to hold a lot of players' attention to this day.
22 Helldivers 2
Co-Op Shooter With Scary Mutated Insects And Bloody Battles
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Live-service games have a stigma that makes it hard to market these experiences, so players are glad to see developers trying to make long-lasting titles full of passion in a subgenre of gaming that has been rather controversial as of late. Helldivers 2 is a great example of a live-service game done right.
The mission structure of this game coupled with its satirical and intentional over-the-top patriotism makes it one of the best third-person shooters that fans can get their hands on right now. Battles are cinematic and teamwork is downright necessary for some of the game's toughest missions. With the player base of this title expanding every day, it's easy to see why Helldivers 2 has such a bright future, with its successful launch serving as a wake-up call for Sony's previous insistence on exclusivity at all costs.
21 A Plague Tale: Requiem
Surviving A Brutal War And A Deadly Disease
A Plague Tale: Requiem
- Released
- October 18, 2022
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Asobo Studio
- Franchise
- A Plague Tale
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Stealth
- Platform(s)
- PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
A Plague Tale: Innocence was a surprisingly engaging adventure game with its fair share of stealth and action elements. The title takes the backdrop of a rat plague and weaves a brilliant story around it, with its sequel improving upon the formula in every way.
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The narrative-driven experience of A Plague Tale: Requiem is perfect for PlayStation fans who expect their games to have riveting stories to accompany a fun gameplay loop. The scope of this title has been increased massively, making it a perfect sequel in almost every department.
20 Metro Exodus
When Mutated Creatures Rule The Surface
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Metro Exodus
- Released
- February 15, 2019
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- 4A Games
- Franchise
- Metro
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The biggest and most visually stunning installment in the Metro saga, Metro Exodus released to great critical acclaim. Players get to play as Artyom and traverse this foreboding post-apocalyptic world, in a desperate search for survivors. It's a story-driven first-person shooter that sees the protagonist journey through multiple fantastically realized locations and fight a variety of hideous creatures.
The brutal and dark world of Metro Exodus is full of blood, exploration, and top-tier first-person gameplay. Its impact may have been diluted by familiarity by the time of its PlayStation 5 release, but it is still one of the finest experiences the console has to offer and quite possibly the best single-player FPS narrative in recent years.
19 Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2
A Gory Battle Against Blood-Thirsty Creatures
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
- Released
- September 9, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Saber Interactive
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Franchise
- Warhammer 40K
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
As one of the long-awaited sequels, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 nails it with the atmosphere and world-building. The setting of the game is dark and gory. There is no sense of mercy. It's all about killing or getting killed.
The game features an abundance of weapons that add to the brutality of the overall experience. If bullets don't kill the enemies, then sawing off their heads will surely do it. Space Marine 2 has everything expected from an epic war.
18 Resident Evil: Village
Discovering Mysteries Of The Past In An Ill-Fated Village
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Resident Evil Village
- Released
- May 7, 2021
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR2, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The second installment in the Ethan Winters saga of Resident Evil games improved upon almost everything set up by Resident Evil 7, an already great title. Resident Evil: Village brought with it next-gen visuals, improved gameplay, and a truly haunting, unique setting (similar to that of Resident Evil 4).
The world of Resident Evil: Village is atmospheric and terrifying. With gory, intense gameplay and chilling set pieces that can scare even the bravest players, Resident Evil: Village has it all. Though its gunplay has its detractors, the narrative, atmosphere, and visuals make Resident Evil: Village an amazing experience. Only those who can stomach the horror genre should apply, though.
17 Control: Ultimate Edition
Trapped Inside A Possessed Office With Otherworldly Forces
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Control Ultimate Edition
- Released
- February 2, 2021
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
As if the 2019 original was not enough, Remedy's brilliant title Control got a next-gen upgrade in 2021. The upgrade brought with it a 60 FPS performance mode and a 30 FPS quality mode, featuring arguably some of the best ray tracing yet seen on next-gen consoles.
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Alongside its beautiful visuals, Control has unique and engaging gameplay and a very deep and complicated story. Control also features a wonderful world design, with fluid and vicious combat to boot. While Control's story may not be as solid as some of the system's other mature titles, it does its absolute best to complement the dark and bleak setting.
16 Death Stranding
A Complex Story Set Within A Post-Apocalyptic World
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Franchise
- Death Stranding
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Death Stranding is a unique game that only someone like Kojima could've thought of. The very act of walking is turned into a compelling gameplay dynamic where players need to balance their packages and ensure that they don't lose too many goods by being ambitious with their dropoffs.
The game has a great story that will take some time for players to wrap their heads around, what with all the confusing jargon that comes out at times. It looks absolutely gorgeous on the PS5 and is a worthwhile title that fans can check out.