When it comes to single-player games, Sony has long had the edge over its console rivals. This is because many of PlayStation Studios' most talented developers focus primarily on narrative-driven experiences these days, which has resulted in some of the best single-player games of all time being released exclusively on PlayStation consoles.
The Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games You Can Play on the PS5
Although couch co-op isn't as common as it once was, there are still plenty of great local co-op and split-screen games for the PlayStation 5.
Granted, many big PlayStation exclusives have been released on PC in recent years, but Sony still reigns supreme in the home console space. The best single-player PS5 games are among the industry's very finest and provide players with settings and storylines that are capable of keeping them engaged from start to finish.
35 Dredge
OpenCritic Rating: 82
For those who prefer single-player titles to their multiplayer counterparts, Dredge might just be the perfect game. Though it's not too heavy on the narrative front, it's able to evoke a feeling of isolation within its players; jumping between serene and peaceful sailing to nightmare-inducing mayhem at the drop of a hat.
It's this dichotomous contrast and the creativity that went into some of the game's many Lovecraftian creatures that make this one of the best single-player games on the PlayStation 5 and a must-play for fans of eerie and atmospheric horror games. The experience that's on offer here isn't a particularly long one, but just about every second of it is thoroughly enjoyable.
Dredge
- Released
- March 31, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Black Salt Games
- Publisher(s)
- Team17
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
34 Octopath Traveler 2
OpenCritic Rating: 85
Most classic JRPG franchises made the leap from 2D to 3D around the turn of the century, but that's not to say that there aren't still a few fantastic 2D role-playing games around today. Octopath Traveler 2 is a great example of this, with the 2023 title proving that pixel art can still be every bit as beautiful as bleeding-edge 3D graphics.
The game improves upon its predecessor in just about every measurable way; save, perhaps, for in the narrative department. That's more down to the fact that the stories explored in the first game are so damn incredible though, with the sequel still offering an engaging and enjoyable plot. Of course, players will probably want to check out the first Octopath Traveler game as well if at all possible.
Octopath Traveler 2
- Released
- February 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Acquire
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- RPG
33 Stray
OpenCritic Rating: 84
Though not quite on the same level as games like Undertale and Super Meat Boy, Stray remains one of the most impressive indie games to have come out in recent years. The 2022 title sees players controlling a stray cat as they attempt to find their way out of a gigantic underground living space inspired by Kowloon's former walled city.
Despite being a little on the short side and its over-simplified platforming, the game is still highly enjoyable and boasts a surprisingly engaging narrative that will likely have players welling up a little at the end. It's one of the best single-player games on the PlayStation 5 and a poignant reminder of what indie game devs can do when given a platform.
Stray
- Released
- July 19, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
32 Star Wars Outlaws
OpenCritic Rating: 76
Star Wars Outlaws makes no attempts to reinvent the wheel, but that isn't to say that it's not worth checking out. It's the least Ubisoft-like Ubisoft game to have been released over the past few decades, replacing traditional skill trees and the copy-paste map fillers with which the developer has become synonymous for some semi-original ideas.
There's perhaps an argument to be made for Star Wars Outlaws being an excellent game in spite of its open world rather than because of it, with most of the points of interest on Toshara, Tatooine, and Akiva being fairly forgettable, and the latter being a nightmare to navigate. However, the game's main cities are all fantastic and the story is pretty decent as well, at least when compared to some of the more recent Star Wars media.
Star Wars Outlaws
- Released
- August 30, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure
31 Braid Anniversary Edition
OpenCritic Rating: 89
It's hard to believe that Braid is now more than fifteen years old, but harder still to emphasize just how important Jonathan Blow's hugely influential title was to the indie game movement of the late 2010s. Like many of the other great indie games from that era, Braid has aged extremely well, with its anniversary edition offering players a puzzle platforming experience that isn't to be missed.
Braid Anniversary Edition is much more than just a rerelease, though, with new puzzles, improved visuals, and creator commentary making this the quintessential version of the game for all intents and purposes. Puzzle game fans who still haven't played this one will be blown away by its creativity, while returning players will be hit with a warm and fuzzy wave of early two-thousands nostalgia.
Braid, Anniversary Edition
- Released
- May 14, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Thekla Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Thekla Inc.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
30 Moss
OpenCritic Rating: 85
Polyarc's Moss games are far from the best-looking PSVR 2 games, but there's a certain charm to their woodland setting that makes them highly enjoyable to explore. The fact that the player spends more time controlling Quill than they do the reader whose eyes they view the games' events through can take a bit of getting used to, but it ends up being a welcome change from the usual first-person experiences that VR typically has to offer.
That the player is accompanied by Quill for most of the games does an excellent job of distracting from the fact that Moss is a single-player affair. Sure, there are a few other characters here and there, but for the most part, the games focus on the relationship between the young rodent and her reader to great effect. The puzzles are thought-provoking too, and the hidden collectibles provide a compelling reason to dive back into the games' fairytale world from time to time.
Moss
- Released
- February 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Polyarc
- Publisher(s)
- Polyarc
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PC, Oculus Quest, PS5
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Puzzle
29 Tales of Arise
OpenCritic Rating: 87
When asked to think of a long-running JRPG franchise, most people's minds will instantly jump to the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Bandai Namco's Tales series hasn't been around for quite as long as either of these two gaming behemoths has, but its history is arguably every bit as rich. In fact, it has more mainline installments than either, the most recent of which is called Tales of Arise.
Released in late 2021, Tales of Arise tells the story of Alphen: an ashen-haired warrior with no memory of his past. He does remember his hatred for Dahna's Renan overlords though, and, together with a colorful cast of like-minded characters, sets out to bring their reign of terror to an end. It's one of the best Tales games in recent memory, and a must-play title for JRPG enthusiasts.
Tales of Arise
- Released
- September 10, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
28 The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
OpenCritic Rating: 90
As graphics have improved and narrative-driven gameplay has taken hold, video games have, for the most part, become a lot more serious over the past decade or so. The Stanley Parable bucks this trend though, with its writing serving as a delicious throwback to some of the hilarious and self-aware point-and-click adventure games from the late eighties and early nineties.
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe ushers in more of the same, with plenty of new content for players to enjoy. When all's said and done, there's around twice as much for players to see and do this time around, making this great value for money. The way that it parodies the video game industry is masterful, but it's perhaps the way that it pokes fun at itself, and, to a certain degree, the player, for tolerating its tomfoolery, that makes this game so memorable.
The Stanley Parable
- Released
- October 17, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
27 Dragon's Dogma 2
OpenCritic Rating: 87
Open-world action-adventure games are a dime a dozen these days, yet very few offer enough to set themselves apart from the crowd. Through sheer stubbornness more than anything else, Dragon's Dogma 2 manages to do exactly that, with Hideaki Itsuno and the rest of the development team encouraging players to rethink the way that they interact with modern video games through a series of unconventional, yet mostly effective design choices.
Following the eventual success of the first Dragon's Dogma game, expectations were pretty high for its 2024 sequel, and the game duly delivers, for the most part. The monetization is unfortunate, and some may not appreciate being encouraged to play a certain way when so many other games offer a bit more freedom in this department, but the overall experience is one that should satisfy most players, particularly those who enjoyed the first game.
Dragon's Dogma 2
- Released
- March 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
26 Black Myth: Wukong
OpenCritic Rating: 81
Inspired by Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG developed and published by Game Science. Controlling a silent, anthropomorphic ape who becomes known as the Destined One, players are tasked with tracking down six ancient relics so that they can revive Sun Wukong, who has been sealed in stone.
There are over 100 bosses in Black Myth: Wukong, making this an excellent game for fans of challenging combat and well-realized boss fights. The visuals are gorgeous too and the story is well told, despite some critics choosing to take issue with some of the creative decisions made by the developers. It's far from the perfect game, but it's a lot better than some people would have you believe.
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