Best Playstation 5 Games (Updated 2022)

Elden Ring is a spectacular game. One that is going to keep you hooked for hours upon hours. Wether that is down to the curiousness of the different lands you can explore, or the sheer determination to defeat the incredibly difficult bosses that you will eventually face, it is a game that is equally rewarding as it is tricky. The open worlds are particularly dense and there are many side quests that you will find yourself stumbling into. The open world element in Elden Ring is probably the most enjoyable compared to every other open world game on the market as it actually feels like you are free to explore without the overarching story line directing you to different places. The naturalness of the game is exemplified by the fact that there are no exclamation markers on the map guiding you to complete specific quests. Although this level of ambiguity can sometimes make the main story line hard to follow for those who are new to games like Elden Ring, it is certainly worth the dedication to complete.

Unlike similar games, such as Skyrim, jumping into a different region means coming against enemies of different levels. Elden Ring does not scale enemy levels to your own, so you are constantly coming up against tougher opponents that you have to really figure out how to defeat. Making the victory even more rewarding. If you are a curious traveler, the game always seems to reward you. With every ambushed goblin you kill or new NPC that you meet, the game will reward you. Wether that be with a new Ash of War, valuable consumable or interesting weapon there is always going to be a quest worth doing or a new cave to explore.

Now the game is pretty hard, that is nothing new for a FromSoftware game, so if you are looking for a game that you can turn on and switch your brain off, you are probably not going to enjoy this too much. However, what makes Elden Ring addictive is if you do get stuck, or come across an undefeatable boss that has been pounding you for hours, you can just walk away. The amount of different side quests, stories and explorable lands is always open to revisiting, at any time. You will never face a complete stone wall as there is so much on offer.

Read More

Ratchet and Clank are back in this new installation, Rift Apart. The unlikely pairing is well known, and loved, having over 15 different games that follow their adventures traveling between different worlds and facing different adversaries. Initially released on the Playstation 2 all the way back in 2002, Rift Apart had a lot to live up to considering how well received most of the franchise has been by critics and fans alike, and boy did they deliver. Rift Apart is a really exciting game that offers full-frontal cartoon action that taps into the crazy weapons we have come to expect from a Ratchet and Clank game. The gameplay has a really nice flow and the action is split up well with enjoyable puzzle-like segments which is introduced with Clank.

Without too giving away to many spoilers, the storyline follows Ratchet and Clank as they take on an evil robotic emperor, Dr Nefarious, who is hell-bent on complete galaxy domination. Dr Nefarious transports both himself and our plucky duo to a parallel dimension, where it turns out that the doctors’ parallel personality, Emperor Nefarious is in charge, although conveniently missing. We’re also introduced to Rivet, who is Ratchet’s alternative personality. Rivet is an exciting addition to the franchise and the gameplay follows the interdimensional interaction between all the characters.

One of the most impressive features of this game is the seamless loading between the different dimensions and in some instances, the games’ developers Insomniac, have hidden the loading screens and world hopping in very clever ways which you sometimes don’t even notice. There are two new moves that separate Rift Apart from the previous releases, the rift tether and the phantom dash. Both of which come into life when you employ them in combat. The phantom dash acts as a dodging roll whilst the phantom dash can be utilized to jump through dimensions, both are very fun and make the gameplay fresh and interesting.

Read More

Marvel video games sometimes get a bad reputation. The Avengers game really didn’t do much to help that reputation as it left both fans and critics disappointed, an opportunity missed. However, the Guardians of the Galaxy video game, which has been developed by Eidos-Montréal, has done a lot of to win back those let down Marvel gamers and alleviate apprehensions people felt at the prospect of another terrible superhero video game. This game follows a totally original story, that will appeal to newcomers and dedicated fans alike. The story is set 12 years after the universe was torn apart in the galactic war, where Starlord and his motley crew are taking on odd jobs in order to earn a buck or two. After being captured in the quarantine zone, the team are released after stumping up enough to pay their fine only to find another threat to the galaxy. That threat is what you need to quell!

The storyline is quite simple, maybe even a bit predictable, but the interaction between all the characters is enough to keep you entertained. The dialogue between the team is hilarious and the performances of the voice actors is thoroughly entertaining and commendable. It being a Guardians of the Galaxy game, the soundtrack is absolutely great, and it is chalked with plenty of songs to keep you pumped. You can explore your teammates backstories between missions, which is a nice touch and keeps things interesting.

You only ever control Starlord during the game but having the ability to make decisions to the narrative and being able to utilize your teammates powers during combat keep the momentum of the game flowing. At around 15 hours, it isn’t the longest gameplay on this list so bare that in mind if you are considering buying this. That aside, it is a super fun game that will hopefully demand a sequel.

Read More

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a spinoff of the much loved LittleBigPlanet series and focuses on protagonist, Sackboy. Sackboy’s universe is in danger as evil villain Vex, Richard E. Grant, rips through the sky and descends on the village of Loom sucking up everything in his path to enslave the Sackfolk and to pillage resources, so he can build the Topsy-Turver machine. A machine that has the capabilities of taking over the whole world. So it is Sackboy’s job to stop Vex before the evil villain can do just that, no pressure right? Regardless of the high stakes, this is a really enjoyable game with many creative game mechanics to keep it a highly entertaining game.

The developers, Sumo Sheffield, have created an intricately detailed game that is a pleasure to play. There is an incredible depth of field throughout the different areas and the variety of the different locations is both amusing and creative. Seeing the different materials up close and personal will leave you in awe and the detail is so lifelike.

Unlike LittleBigPlanet, which was created in 2.5D, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is portrayed in full 3D and the freedom this allows for movement is unique. However, the constantly changing perspective of the 3D platforms can be a little tricky to follow, and it can take a bit of time getting used to. This goes for the villains, too, judging where they are going to come from, or launch an attack can be deceptively tricky. If you can get past that, then Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a lovely game which can be completed between six and ten hours.

Read More

Gran Turismo has been loyally dedicated to giving its fans the most realistic super car driving experience compared with any other franchises. Don’t expect to weave in between traffic in an open world whilst hurtling towards 20 foot ramps, Gran Turismo offers something a little different. You are driving on traditional racetracks instead of open roads and the gameplay demands very close attention to detail. It is a game for those who are passionate about racing, and you have to have a certain amount of control, going abandonedly full throttle isn’t going to get you very far. To progress, you are expected to grind through races to get to the next level, whilst collecting the correct cars that will secure you a podium finish.

Car enthusiasts will love all the different elements you can tweak, the game is dense with customizable options, and you can spend hours comparing different mechanical improvements that can make your car perform that bit better. From changing your tires, buying an upgraded internal car computer, improving your suspension or buying a new muffler, it is very hands-on. The Haptic Feedback in the Sony DualSense controller is brilliant in Gran Turismo 7, you can feel every bump of the road and every bash on your car. It is very immersive.

The graphics are ultra-realisitc in Gran Turismo 7 and there are a lot of deep details, especially on the cars. There are over 420 cars you can purchase and browse through, it almost feels like a museum of car history. From the car interior to the map environments and textures everything is very detailed, and it is a gorgeous game to play. If you are a car enthusiast, look no further.

Read More

DEATHLOOP is the newest First-Person Shooter by developer Arkane Lyon, who released the highly-acclaimed ‘Dishonored’ in 2012. DEATHLOOP had a lot to live up to. It follows the protagonist, Colt, as he is trapped in a deadly time loop and the only way to escape is to take out 8 different bosses, which are called ‘visionaries’ in-game, if Colt doesn’t do this before midnight then the time loop resets, and he has to begin all over again, how frustrating! If this isn’t tricky enough, Colt is constantly being hunted by an assassin, Julianna, who is always waiting on Colt slipping up.

The gameplay itself is super fun and there are a lot of different weapons and abilities you learn and pick up along the way. It is distinctly Arkane Lyon and the gameplay suits a lot of different styles of gameplay. Wether you’re a shoot ’em down or a stealth mode sort of player, this game has you covered. The stakes are high in DEATHLOOP as during the game you collect Residuum, which is a resource that can go toward saving weapons and abilities in that particular loop. However, if you die before spending that Residuum then you lose it all! There is an enjoyable amount of exploration, and it is down to the player to come up with creative ways to explore and collect all the resources you need to escape the loop. The multiplayer aspect of the game is quite devious, the online player takes the role of Julianna, and it is their task to protect the loop and generally, mess your stuff up.

Since the whole story is based on repetition, the gameplay follows suit and this can sometimes be a little tedious. However, it does encourage you to push onto the end for the final cathartic release where all the pieces of the puzzle are put together. DEATHLOOP is an enjoyably tricky game which makes you collate information together through a series of adventures until you eventually beat the loop. Try it out.

Read More

Have you ever wanted to experience the life of a cat for a day? Well thanks to the good folks over at Annapurna Interactive, now you can! Stray is a unique adventure game, not like any others, where you play as a curious cat who has been separated from its pack. Set in a dystopian, cyberpunk robot future you navigate yourself through an interesting underground world which is completely inhabited by robots. Quite early on you meet a robotic friend who attaches itself to your jacket, and together you have to look for clues which may help reunite with the pack.

The developers, BlueTwelve Studio, have done a superb job in making you feel like a little cat in a big world. Although the map isn’t particularly huge, the camera is usually focused on everything overhead and this makes your surroundings look humongous. Although the movement is quite straightforward, most of the time you are clicking one button to jump up onto a surface, figuring out your course of action is really enjoyable. It is not quite an open-world game and is a little more linear, but the world you are left to explore is interesting and really well-designed.

Stray is a pretty simple game, and it is not particularly long, you could complete the game in about 6-10 hours. However, Stray never leaves you bored, and it flows very naturally in a dense and fascinating world. Simplicity isn’t always a bad thing, if you work a stressful 50-hour-per-week job, what better way to relax than strolling about a beautiful neon world as a stray cat?

Read More

The sequel to 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West is a fully immersive action role-playing game that is densely packed with weapons, objectives and collectibles. First things first, the game is absolutely stunning. There is a beautiful natural element to a lot of the features in the game, from the moss on the stones to the spectacular lighting, it is a visual feast and is a testament to the power of modern technology. The characters are very realistic and for the most part, you can see the emotion in their eyes, it’s quite spooky! The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world, based in the Western United States. Recovering in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, the main protagonist is left to navigate a dangerous world filled with mechanical robotic animals and hostile tribes through many environments.

Forbidden West is a lot more detailed than its predecessor, if Zero Dawn was a lot more ‘bare bones’ then Forbidden West is the whole feast. The map is a lot bigger, which can take hours to explore. Guerilla Games wanted to make everything bigger, better and more beautiful, and they have certainly achieved that. The stylistic design is really spectacular and the mechanical robots you face are fascinating, and is a really interesting aspect of the game. Whilst fighting, there is a lot of variety which keeps the gameplay from becoming stale and there is plenty of fighting styles to keep all types of players interested.

Something that may become distracting is the sheer amount of things to do and collect. The number of collectibles, missions, side quests and characters can be a little overwhelming at times and at its worst, can be a little distracting. However, this is a tiny gripe and all the positives definitely make up for it.

Read More

Kena: Bridge of spies follows protagonist Kena, who is a likable spirit guide trying to help deceased souls traverse from the physical world to the spirit world. The physical world is split up into different zones which you adventure through, only when you amount enough collectibles and defeat the zone boss will the game allow you to progress to the next zone. Quite a simple, linear game style which is similar to the 3D third-person adventure usually found in a Zelda. Each zone is home to a corrupt spirit which Kena has to free, along the way you meet characters who are familiar with the corrupt spirit and learn their history and storyline. It is quite formulaic, but it keeps your attention and is interesting nonetheless.

Where the game really shines is the animation. It is a visual experience, and you feel like you are playing through an animated movie, which is not surprising considering the developers Ember Lab is an animation and digital content studio. The characters look fantastic, and their facial expressions are eerily realistic. Keena looks absolutely extraordinary throughout the entire game and this realism makes you really engrossed in her journey. This is Ember Lab’s first video game, and they have knocked it out of the park. The use of different lighting is beautiful, wether that be from the sunlight when you are journeying through the land or in a dimly lit cave which is lit up by the bioluminescent light emitting from Kena’s powers, it is a sight to behold.

The combat mechanics are quite simple but deceptively tricky. There are only 3 options when fighting: light attack, strong attack and using your bow to shoot arrows, which is a little disappointing considering the thought that has gone into the animated world and the clever ways you can explore the map. However, the enemies that you come up against usually take a few attempts to defeat, so don’t let the simplicity fool you. Overall, this is an awesome first attempt by an independent studio, hopefully there is more to come.

Read More

Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles is a 3D action, arena fighting adventure game based on the based on the anime adaptation of Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga series, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Since the game is based on a popular anime it makes for a much more fleshed out story mode experience that you don’t usually find in traditional arena fighting games. Regardless if you have seen the anime before playing the video game, the story is easy enough to follow, and you will find yourself invested right from the start. There are different explorable areas throughout the game and although these are quite small in comparison with open world games, there are different objectives throughout the areas which keeps things interesting. You also have the option to pick up collectibles along the way, such as ‘memory fragments’ which give you additional plot points and give you a brief summary of events that are not covered in the games’ main storyline.

The boss battles are the most enjoyable part of video game, especially if you are a fan of the anime. The bosses you come to face are the same ones found in the anime and playing through the combat is superbly enjoyable. Each boss has a unique mechanic you have to be aware of, only then will you comfortably defeat one. It is no walk in the park and the boss levels are actually quite tricky, however, this makes it more rewarding when you eventually do.

The combat is fast and responsive and there are a lot of mechanics that can be put to use. It is quite a steep learning curve but when you master it you become unstoppable! Like other arena battle games, you can build combinations that will pummel your opponent or throw them up into the air. Different characters have their own unique abilities and specialties which make for exciting fights. Each are capable of unleashing an ultimate art, which is a cinematic special attack you can deploy during combat, it is a sight to behold and both arena battle fans and anime lovers will adore.

Read More