The best PS5 games to play in 2026, from Astro Bot and Baldur’s Gate 3 to this year’s Hades II and Resident Evil Requiem — ranked by genre, with how long each takes to finish.
Best PS5 Games in 2026: The 25 Worth Your Money
Best PS5 Games in 2026: The 25 Worth Your Money
The PS5 library is deep enough now that “what should I play?” is a genuinely hard question. This guide picks the best PS5 games worth your time and money in 2026 — the all-time greats, the strongest new releases, and the best pick in each genre — with how long each one takes and who it actually suits.
No filler, no padding to 100 entries. Every game here is one we would actually recommend, and where a game is a PS5 exclusive we say so, because that is often the reason to own the console in the first place.
Looking for the best free PS5 games this month? We keep a separate, regularly updated guide.
The best PS5 games overall
If you only take five recommendations from this page, take these. Each is a consensus critical high point, and between them they cover very different tastes.
1. Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian Studios · 2023 · CRPG · Multiplatform · ~68 hours · Metacritic 97
The highest-rated game on PS5 and the 2023 Game of the Year. An enormous role-playing game where your choices genuinely reshape the story. Best for players who want depth and do not mind reading. Playable in co-op with up to four friends.
2. Elden RingTough
FromSoftware · 2022 · Action-RPG · Multiplatform · ~55–60 hours · Metacritic 96
A vast, hostile open world that explains almost nothing and rewards curiosity. Difficult by design — if you bounce off it, that is the game working as intended. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adds a substantial second campaign.
3. Astro BotPS5 only
Team Asobi · 2024 · 3D platformer · PS5 exclusive · 10–12 hours · Metacritic 94
Game of the Year 2024 and the single best game to show off what a PS5 controller can do. Short, joyful, and genuinely suitable for all ages — the rare title that works for a nine-year-old and a lifelong player equally.
4. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sandfall Interactive · 2025 · Turn-based RPG · Multiplatform · 30–35 hours · Metacritic 92
The 2025 Game of the Year, and it swept the awards with a record haul. A turn-based RPG with real-time dodges and parries, a striking art direction and a story people genuinely will not stop talking about. The must-play of the last two years.
5. Hades IINew
Supergiant Games · 2026 · Roguelike · Multiplatform · ~40 hours · Metacritic 94
The highest-rated game of 2026 so far. Each run is 20–40 minutes, so it fits around real life better than anything else here, and it keeps unfolding new story for dozens of hours.
Best new PS5 games of 2026
2026 has been a strong year, particularly for horror and for PlayStation’s own studios. These are the standouts so far.
Resident Evil Requiem
Capcom · February 2026 · Survival horror · Multiplatform · 8–10 hours · Metacritic 89
The best-reviewed horror game of the year and the obvious pick if you want something genuinely frightening. Short enough to finish over a weekend.
SarosPS5 only
Housemarque · April 2026 · Roguelike shooter · PS5 exclusive · Metacritic ~87
From the Returnal team. It uses the DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers better than any other game released this year — a genuine argument for the hardware.
007 First Light
IO Interactive · May 2026 · Action / stealth · Multiplatform · 15–20 hours · Metacritic ~87
A Bond origin story from the Hitman studio, which shows in the level design. If you like being given a target and several ways to reach it, this is for you.
Nioh 3Tough
Team Ninja · February 2026 · Soulslike · Multiplatform · ~50 hours · Metacritic 86
The fastest-selling game in its series. More mechanically demanding than Elden Ring in combat, and aimed squarely at players who already enjoy the genre.
Best PS5 exclusives
These are the games you cannot play on Xbox or Switch — the ones that justify the console. Several are also on PC now, but all are PlayStation-first.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2On PS Plus Extra
Insomniac Games · 2023 · Action-adventure · ~20 hours · Metacritic 90
The most reliable crowd-pleaser on the system: traversal that never stops feeling good, and a story that works whether or not you follow the comics. Added to the PS Plus Extra catalogue in February 2026.
God of War RagnarökOn PS Plus Extra
Santa Monica Studio · 2022 · Action-adventure · ~26 hours · Metacritic 94
Blockbuster cinematic action at its absolute peak, and the emotional high point of the PS5 generation. Play the 2018 God of War first if you can.
Ghost of Yotei
Sucker Punch · October 2025 · Open-world action · ~25 hours · Metacritic 86–87
The most visually striking exclusive on the console. A standalone follow-up, so you do not need to have played Ghost of Tsushima — though it is worth it.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Kojima Productions · 2025 · Action · ~40 hours · Metacritic 89
Named the best PlayStation exclusive of 2025. Deliberately strange and divisive — if the first game clicked for you, this is essential; if it did not, skip it.
Gran Turismo 7
Polyphony Digital · 2022 · Racing sim · 500+ cars · Metacritic 87
The definitive PS5 racing sim, with full PS VR2 support that remains one of the best uses of the headset. We have a separate guide to getting online in Gran Turismo 7.
Best PS5 games by genre
If you know what you are in the mood for, start here.
| If you want… | Play | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two-player co-op | Split Fiction | Built for exactly two people. The Friend’s Pass means one copy covers both of you. |
| Couch co-op with kids | Sackboy: A Big Adventure | Genuinely child-friendly four-player platforming, and no reading required. |
| A long RPG to live in | Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | A grounded medieval simulation — no dragons, no magic, ~60 hours. |
| Horror | Resident Evil Requiem or Silent Hill f | Requiem for action-horror; Silent Hill f for slower psychological dread in 1960s Japan. |
| Fighting games | Street Fighter 6 | The consensus best fighter, and the most welcoming to beginners thanks to its training tools. |
| A co-op grind with friends | Monster Hunter Wilds | The fastest-selling Capcom game ever, and built for the long haul. |
| Metroidvania exploration | Hollow Knight: Silksong | Best action-adventure of 2025 and a serious challenge. |
| Football | EA Sports FC 27 | The annual football pick. FC 27 launches 25 September 2026 — early access from 18 September with the Ultimate editions. |
Availability and PS Plus catalogue membership change monthly — check PlayStation Store for the current position in your region.
Which PS5 games come with PlayStation Plus?
A good portion of this list is playable at no extra cost if you subscribe. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium include the Game Catalogue — hundreds of games, including God of War Ragnarök, Ghost of Tsushima and, since February 2026, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
PlayStation Plus Essential does not include the catalogue, but every tier gets the monthly games. We keep a running guide to PlayStation Plus monthly games guide, and this month’s free lineup is in our best free PS5 games guide.
One thing worth being clear about: catalogue and monthly games are yours to play only while your membership is active. Sony’s own wording is that you keep them “for as long as you remain an active member”. Buying a game outright is different — that is yours permanently.
Top up your PlayStation wallet
Buying any of these outright? Add credit to your PlayStation account with a PlayStation Store gift card — the code arrives by email in minutes, redeems straight to your wallet, and works without linking a bank card.
Get a PlayStation Store gift cardHow we picked these games
We weighted three things: critical consensus (Metacritic aggregate scores, and major awards like Game of the Year), how well a game has held up rather than just how it reviewed at launch, and genre spread — a list of ten open-world action games would not help anyone choose.
We have deliberately not listed prices. PlayStation Store pricing moves constantly, varies by region, and games in this list are discounted regularly — our guide to Sony dynamic pricing explained explains why the number you see changes. Check the store for the current price in your country.
Best PS5 games FAQ
What is the best PS5 game of all time?
By critical score, Baldur’s Gate 3 at Metacritic 97 — the highest-rated game on the platform. If you want something shorter and more universally appealing, Astro Bot won Game of the Year in 2024 and is a PS5 exclusive built specifically around the console’s controller.
What are the best PS5 exclusives?
Astro Bot, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök, Ghost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2 and Gran Turismo 7. Saros, released in April 2026, is the newest and makes the strongest case for the DualSense controller.
What is the best new PS5 game in 2026?
Hades II holds the highest critical score of 2026 so far at Metacritic 94. For horror, Resident Evil Requiem at 89 is the best-reviewed of the year.
What is the best PS5 game for two players?
Split Fiction. It is designed exclusively for two-player co-op, and its Friend’s Pass lets a second person play from one copy. For younger players, Sackboy: A Big Adventure supports four on one sofa.
Do I need PlayStation Plus to play PS5 games?
Only for online multiplayer in most games — single-player games do not need it. Most free-to-play games, including Fortnite and Apex Legends, do not require a membership even online.
Are PS4 games playable on PS5?
The vast majority are. We cover the exceptions and how it works in our backwards compatibility guide.
More PlayStation guides
- PlayStation Plus monthly games guide
- PlayStation backwards compatibility guide
- Marvel’s Wolverine pre-order guide
- Gran Turismo 7 online guide
- what game should I play next?
- gaming value guide
Unofficial content by Recharge.com — not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Game availability, PlayStation Plus catalogue membership and free-to-play status change regularly; check PlayStation Store for the current position in your region. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Written by
Conor Byrne
