Since its long-awaited arrival back in November 2020, the PlayStation 5 has firmly established itself as a key figure in the ongoing evolution of gaming. With everything from epic sequels such as God of War: Ragnarok to eyebrow-raising updates such as the director's cut of Death Stranding, the console has delivered something for everyone who's enjoyed playing on prior console generations.
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The best open-world games on the PlayStation 5 push the system to its absolute limits, offering players some of the most stunning locations in gaming.
One area where the PS5 has arguably struggled somewhat is in its range of brand-new exclusives. Many of the complete originals to arrive on Sony's latest gaming juggernaut have been met with relatively mixed receptions. Worse still, a large number of them have largely failed to secure the blockbuster level of sales success developers had envisioned. Among these games, some are especially glaring due to their exceptionally high quality. To truly count as underrated, a video game must fail on at least one of the critical or sales fronts despite having the overall chops to have deserved better. In the time that followed its release, such a game has likely continued to struggle to find its reputational footing, with its many good qualities largely getting overlooked.
Updated on February 28, 2024, by RItwik Mitra: The PlayStation 5 is apparently in the second half of its operations, which is something that surprised fans quite a bit. Fans can't believe that a game without any major first-party titles is thinking about wrapping up in a few years, which is a shame given how epic the PS4's library was. Still, that doesn't mean that PS5 is lacking any quality games by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, players can check out some underrated PS5 gems that any fan of unique, quality games should check out for themselves.
8 Inscryption
Three Wild Acts That Any Fan Of Off-The-Wall Horror Games Will Love
Inscryption
It takes some real guts for a game to take the wild turns that Inscryption does. What starts out as a slightly unnerving deckbuilding roguelike turns into one of the most unforgettable video game experiences anyone can subject themselves to.
Inscryption's amalgamation of genres is nothing short of fascinating, proving why so many fans love what Daniel Mullins brings to the table. Inscryption is one of the greatest indie games ever made, and players will love checking out its dark, wily charms on the PS5.
7 Weird West
Combines Immersive Sim Gameplay With Top-Down Action RPG That's A Ton Of Fun When Things Click
Weird West
- Released
- March 31, 2022
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Developer
- WolfEye Studios
It's not all that common for a top-down RPG to try and integrate immersive sim elements into its gameplay, but this is precisely what Weird West attempts. While facets of its gameplay can feel a bit too repetitive at times, that's a small price to pay for a truly wonderful and unique gaming experience.
Weird West didn't really make the rounds, which was a shame since players would've loved what this title brought to the table. The game's quirks end up being more endearing than irritating, with fans of immersive sim gameplay loving the experimental nature of this title's gameplay.
6 Not For Broadcast
Broadcasting Propaganda And Choosing What To Show The People Makes For An Interesting Gameplay Loop
- Released: January 25, 2022 (PC) & March 23, 2023 (PS5)
- Developer: NotGames
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Meta Quest 2
The beauty of indie gaming is that something as simple as managing the controls in the broadcast room can end up being something compelling if things are executed properly. Such is the case with Not for Broadcast, which takes the cake as being one of the best live-action games fans can check out for themselves.
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The politically charged story of Not for Broadcast is combined with its fair share of humor and satire to make for a fun and delectable combination. Players who are struggling to check out unique gameplay experiences on the PS5 will find Not for Broadcast to be a perfect game to check out.
5 Kena: Bridge Of Spirits
An Indie Open-World Game With A Cute Aesthetic That More Fans Should Check Out
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Released
- September 21, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Ember Lab
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
This spiritually-focused action game takes players on an adventure through the afterlife. Taking control of the titular spirit guide, players go on an increasingly complicated quest to locate the mythical Mountain Shrine.
Stunning in its graphics and designs, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an immersive, adventurous experience that handles its heavy themes of life and death artfully. Kena's battles with corrupt spirits, as well as her guidance of lost souls, make for dramatic, often confronting fare. Despite its incredible visuals and dramatic, compelling gameplay, Ember Lab's first major foray into video gaming struggled to find adequate footing with audiences, ultimately failing to secure the level of buzz typically needed to reach franchise potential. Two years on, it remains an inventive, masterful piece of imaginative gaming that is sadly lacking in substantial audience interest and acclaim. For now, it appears a potential sequel is not on the horizon.
4 The Pathless
A Visually Impressive Adventure That Players Will Love If They Give It A Shot
The Pathless
This open-world adventure game raised some eyebrows due to its lack of a mini-map. Instead, to comfortably get around the map on offer, players must use the Spirit Vision feature to get around.
A visually impressive action-adventure game, The Pathless puts players in the shoes of an elite-level archer who must solve a variety of puzzles as well as collide with a litany of corrupted spirits. With a heavy emphasis on stealth gameplay, this Annapurna Interactive product first arrived on the PS5 back in November 2020. Despite garnering a fair share of critical praise for its distinctive style and gameplay, The Pathless garnered little regarding major audience interest, ultimately slipping by at the time of its initial release without much in the way of blockbuster success.
3 Maquette
This Mind-Bending Puzzle Game Should Be Checked Out By More Fans Of The Genre
Maquette
- Released
- March 2, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Graceful Decay
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Platformer
This unconventional puzzle platformer sees players take control of a character using puzzles to relive a series of memories. Arriving on the PlayStation 5 back in 2021, Maquette quickly impressed with its vibrant, colorful setting.
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However, the game's narrative emphasis on romance and past relationships garnered a more polarized reception, as did the relatively light difficult levels of the puzzles and gameplay as a whole. While the plot might not be quite as grand-scale as the initially planned fantasy set-up, its overall poignancy makes for an original, often emotional gaming experience that helps Maquette stand out on account of its originality. Earlier this year, the game made its way onto the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch consoles as well. Regardless, it remains a largely overlooked gem in the ninth generation of console gaming.
2 Destruction AllStars
An Explosive Car-Wrecking Game That Deserves More Attention
Destruction AllStars
- Released
- February 2, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Lucid Games
- Platform(s)
- PS5
- Genre(s)
- Racing
Lucid Games' all-action vehicular combat effort was met with a largely deflated critical response at the time of its February 2021 release. A key, understandable reason behind the game's middling response was its frustrating emphasis on microtransactions.
Beyond the microtransaction issue, however, there is a lot of worthwhile content to unpack here. Blending intense, competitive multiplayer action with unique character abilities and suitably flashy, car-wrecking gameplay, Destruction AllStars is a thrilling experience at its best. Two years later, the game is a largely dead enterprise due to disappointing sales and player numbers. Considering its fun, vibrant approach to the oft-overlooked vehicular combat subgenre, Destruction AllStars had the potential to be a major, car-crash-heavy franchise had its release panned out more lucratively.
1 Returnal
A Thoughtful Sci-Fi Thriller And One Of Sony's Less Talked-About Offerings
Returnal
- Released
- April 30, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Housemarque
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
This 2021 release managed to sidestep the overrated label when it came to critical reviews. Widely praised for its storytelling and complex combat systems, the game's difficulty level ultimately led to it falling by the wayside with players.
Its roguelike action proved to be a polarizing feature, with many ultimately dismissing its value due to both its difficulty and its lack of a quick save feature. While such a setup can appear frustrating at a glance, the intensity it provides is a huge plus for the game's overall suspense factor. Considering its cerebral, time-loop-focused plot, relentless action, and well-textured environments, Returnal arguably deserved far more fanfare and sales than it ultimately got. Two years on, there appear to be no hints of a potential sequel in the wings, making this a high-quality but in danger of being forgotten PS5 exclusive.
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The best-looking games on the PlayStation 5 feature remarkable visuals and are a must-play for players who appreciate games with stunning graphics.