The best PS5 game you can play right now is Elden Ring, the most critically acclaimed PlayStation 5 release of all time at a 96 Metascore. For a true PS5 exclusive it is Astro Bot, the 2024 Game of the Year, with Baldur’s Gate 3 and God of War Ragnarök rounding out the top tier. Whether you want a sprawling RPG, a family platformer or the newest horror, there is a definitive pick below.
Below are the best PS5 games ranked by Metacritic score, with release year and genre. Scores are the PS5 critic aggregate; where games tie, the more essential PlayStation experience is placed higher. The list runs from launch-window classics to Resident Evil Requiem, the best-rated new game of 2026.
The best PS5 games, ranked
Ranked by Metacritic as of 2026. Genre marks the type of game so you can find the right fit for your library.
| # | Game | Year | Genre | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elden Ring | 2022 | Action RPG | 96 |
| 2 | Baldur’s Gate 3 | 2023 | RPG | 96 |
| 3 | Astro Bot | 2024 | Platformer | 94 |
| 4 | God of War Ragnarök | 2022 | Action-adventure | 94 |
| 5 | Metaphor: ReFantazio | 2024 | RPG | 94 |
| 6 | Resident Evil 4 (remake) | 2023 | Survival horror | 93 |
| 7 | Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | 2024 | RPG | 92 |
| 8 | Demon’s Souls | 2020 | Action RPG | 92 |
| 9 | Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | 2023 | Action-adventure | 90 |
| 10 | Resident Evil Requiem | 2026 | Survival horror | 89 |
| 11 | Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | 2021 | Platformer | 88 |
| 12 | The Last of Us Part I | 2022 | Action-adventure | 88 |
| 13 | Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut | 2021 | Open-world action | 87 |
| 14 | Nioh 3 | 2026 | Action RPG | 86 |
| 15 | Returnal | 2021 | Roguelike shooter | 86 |
| 16 | Helldivers 2 | 2024 | Co-op shooter | 82 |
| 17 | Black Myth: Wukong | 2024 | Action RPG | 81 |
| 18 | Stellar Blade | 2024 | Action | 81 |
Why the top of the PS5 library is so strong
The chart’s flat top shows how many PS5 games hit near-perfection. Sony’s first-party studios delivered God of War Ragnarök, Astro Bot and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, while third parties landed Elden Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Astro Bot is the standout exclusive — a platformer that won 2024 Game of the Year and shows off the DualSense controller better than anything else on the system.
The must-play PS5 games
Four games belong in every PS5 collection.
Two of the top games double as our genre picks elsewhere: Elden Ring anchors our best Elden Ring weapons and builds guide, and Baldur’s Gate 3 tops our best Baldur’s Gate 3 classes ranking. Many of these titles also feature among the best-selling video games of all time.
Best PS5 game by category
Straight to the top pick for what you want to play.
| Category | Best pick |
|---|---|
| RPG | Baldur’s Gate 3 |
| Action-adventure | God of War Ragnarök |
| Platformer / family | Astro Bot |
| Open-world action | Elden Ring |
| Horror | Resident Evil Requiem |
| Co-op shooter | Helldivers 2 |
| PS5 exclusive | Astro Bot / Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 |
| Best 2026 newcomer | Mina the Hollower |
For a wheel-and-pedals session on PS5, Gran Turismo 7 remains the console sim to beat — see where it lands in our best racing games ranking.
