Summary
- 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.
25 Former PlayStation Exclusives That Can Now Be Played On PC
Days Gone, Death Stranding, and Horizon Zero Dawn are just three of the many former PlayStation exclusive titles that are now available on Windows.
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.
20 Rise of the Ronin
OpenCritic Rating: 77
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.
Rise of the Ronin
- Released
- March 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Adventure, Open-World
19 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
OpenCritic Rating: 88
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.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Released
- June 11, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Third-Person Shooter
18 Death Stranding Director's Cut
OpenCritic Rating: 83
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.
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Platform(s)
- iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Genre(s)
- Action
17 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
OpenCritic Rating: 85
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.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Released
- November 12, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
16 Black Myth: Wukong
OpenCritic Rating: 81
Whether due to platform limitations or some secret exclusivity deal struck between Game Science and Sony, as of the time of writing, there's still no official word on when exactly Black Myth: Wukong will be coming to Xbox. This makes it a timed PS5 exclusive for the foreseeable future, and a pretty darn good one at that.
Although its critical reception was decidedly mixed, the majority of players have loved what the game has to offer, and it's easy to understand why. With more than one hundred bosses, a fantastic combat system, and stunning visuals, Black Myth: Wukong is a must-play for fans of action RPGs, particularly those who are looking for a challenge.
Black Myth: Wukong
- Released
- August 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Game Science
- Publisher(s)
- Game Science
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
15 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
OpenCritic Rating: 86
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 7 Remake Complete Guide - Boss Tips, Side Quests, & General Help
Final Fantasy 7 Remake players who are looking to get ahead in the game can use this complete guide to learn all about the bosses, quests, and more.
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.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
- Released
- June 10, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
14 Gran Turismo 7
OpenCritic Rating: 87
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.
Gran Turismo 7
- Released
- March 24, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Polyphony Digital
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Racing
13 Demon's Souls
OpenCritic Rating: 92
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.
Demon's Souls
- Released
- November 12, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bluepoint Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Genre(s)
- RPG
12 Helldivers 2
OpenCritic Rating: 83
With 2024 being completely bereft of new first-party exclusives, PlayStation 5 owners have had to rely on third-party studios to pick up Sony's slack. Thankfully, developers like Arrowhead Game Studios are more than capable in this regard, as evidenced by the success and popularity of Helldivers 2.
Most modern live service games struggle to find a consistent audience, but this hasn't proven to be too much of an issue for Helldivers 2. The game's co-op-centric combat is highly rewarding and requires a fair amount of coordination among players, while the steady stream of new content helps to keep things from feeling stale.
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
11 Stellar Blade
OpenCritic Rating: 82
Although much of the pre-release discourse was centered around the appearance and attire of the game's main protagonist, Stellar Blade offers its players far more than just a pretty face. Despite being different in its execution, the game's combat is a little reminiscent of a Soulslike or a Devil May Cry game: highly polished and just begging to be mastered.
Above all else though, Stellar Blade is a lot of fun. Sure, the narrative is a little lackluster and the devs went completely overboard when it came to collectibles, but none of this seems to matter while you're tearing through enemies left, right, and center. It's not a game that requires an awful lot of skill either, but that's not to say that it doesn't know how to reward it.
Stellar Blade
- Released
- April 26, 2024