Summary
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 bySony’s first-party studiosor 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.
A lot of the best PS5 exclusives aresingle-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.
20Rise 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 withRise 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 Roninfalls some way short of matching the visual fidelity ofthe 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.
19Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
OpenCritic Rating: 88
Some will perhaps feel thatRatchet & Clank: Rift Apartis 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, witha 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.
18Death Stranding Director’s Cut
OpenCritic Rating: 83
Death Strandingis 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 traversinga 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 Strandingmay well be worth a look.
17Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
OpenCritic Rating: 85
There was a bit of confusion as to whatMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Moraleswas 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 Moralestakes 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 includesMarvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, which may well be appealing to those who missed out on the original game.
16Black 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 exactlyBlack Myth: Wukongwill 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: Wukongis a must-play for fans of action RPGs, particularly those who are looking for a challenge.
15Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
OpenCritic Rating: 86
For well over a decade, JRPG fans begged Square Enix to remakeFinal Fantasy 7, which many consider to be one of the franchise’s very best installments. The Japanese giant eventually caved in, withFinal Fantasy VII Remakeannounced 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 VII Remakeis 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 withall 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.
14Gran 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 7is still a very good game. In fact, many see it as the bestGran Turismogame 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 anda wide array of Menu Booksto 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.
13Demon’s Souls
OpenCritic Rating: 92
The gaming industry owes a debt of gratitude to FromSoftware and the studio’s breakout titleDemon’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 ofElden Ring, theDemon’s Soul’sremake enjoyed a good year or so as being the best Soulslike on the console. The popularPS5 launch titlebrought with it plenty of big upgrades to the original game, including better rolling, improved animations and loading times, and vastly superior graphics.
12Helldivers 2
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 ofHelldivers 2.
Most modern live service games struggle to find a consistent audience, but this hasn’t proven to be too much of an issue forHelldivers 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.
11Stellar 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 Bladeoffers 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 aDevil May Crygame: highly polished and just begging to be mastered.
Above all else though,Stellar Bladeis 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.
