The PlayStation 5 has been out for quite some time, but now that they are a lot more easily accessible, we figured it was time to do a quick list of games we feel are worth checking out on the console! These games are in no particular order, and we'll cover a wide range of genres!
Astro Bot
You should've seen this one coming!
Astro Bot as a whole is simply a joy to play. We already broke down each entry in the series in another article, and they are all a lot of fun. (Or rather, the actual games are fun!)
When it comes to the PS5, Astro's Playroom is free, and is simply a must play. It does a great job showing off what the PS5 can do, and there are some really creative levels and gameplay mechanics. Not to mention all of the video game history and references hidden throughout the entire game, and a fun collection room to display your PlayStation memorabilia you collect throughout the adventure.
Astro Bot on the other hand is a paid sequel, and takes everything Astro's Playroom did, but does it better. This game is full of secrets to discover, bots to rescue (and play as), plenty of stages and challenges to overcome, and there are even full mini games based on other PlayStation titles to partake in. You even have recreations of games like Ape Escape, which is simply some of the best fan service for long time fans craving a new game. Not to mention how charming the game is, and how much fun you can have just by messing around with the stages and the physics at play.
Uncharted
Uncharted is an iconic PlayStation IP that dominated the PlayStation 3 days, and is still well worth checking out to this day.
While the original Uncharted had some rough edges, the series took a major step forward with Uncharted 2 and went all out. A deep engaging story with iconic funny moments and line delivery, the game mixes platforming with stealth, action, puzzle, and third person shooter gameplay, and the locations and set pieces are some of the most memorable in all of gaming history. Uncharted is a series everyone should at least give a chance, and it is even better on PlayStation 5.
The Nathan Drake Collection was a PS4 release that includes an updated version of the original Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (which improved the game quite a bit), as well as Uncharted 2 and Uncharted 3. It is a solid collection and lets fans experience the original trilogy. The Legacy of Thieves Collection is a PlayStation 5 release of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and The Lost Legacy, which is a follow up story to 4 focusing on Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross from the main game.
Although the whole series is a lot of fun, Uncharted 2 and Uncharted 4 still remain the top go-to choices here. Uncharted 2 is just as impressive now days as it was back when it first released, with a really good story, great gameplay, and the game never overstays its welcome. There is a reason why people love it so much, and everyone who gives it a chance sees why pretty quick.
Uncharted 4 on the other hand is the biggest entry in the series, with a lot more story, a lot more set pieces, and some truly massive open areas to explore. One of which requires the use of a car, and another the use of a boat! While not everyone may enjoy the slower pacing at times, it was a great send off for our hero Nathan Drake.
With these two collections, newcomers and fans alike can experience nearly the entire series on the PlayStation 5, in their best forms yet. Sadly the Vita exclusive Uncharted: Golden Abyss is still locked to the Vita, but maybe someday that'll change.
The Last of Us
You may have seen the TV show, but if you haven't played the games yet, the PlayStation 5 is the perfect chance.
Made by Naughty Dog, the same team behind Uncharted, the series is an emotional ride through the end of the world. The original The Last of Us focuses on Joel as he forms a bond with a young girl named Ellie as he escorts her across what remains of the USA, while The Last of Us Part II shifts the focus to Ellie herself.
Both games have a huge focus on cinematic storytelling, while also providing unique stealth and action gameplay. Many zombie-like enemies are blind and rely on sound to find you, while human characters will consider their own safety and react based on your own actions as a player. There is a huge focus on exploration as well, as gathering resources is key to survival, but there are difficulty options to allow players of all skill levels to enjoy this one.
While the original The Last of Us is a much more grounded linear experience, The Last of Us Part II takes a page out of Uncharted 4's book, and introduces some much larger semi open world stages. These areas let players tackle objectives in any order of their choosing, and look for alternative ways to handle enemy encounters as well. The game does have some controversial moments, but fans who can look past that will find a game that has been greatly upgraded from the 2013 original. Some of these gameplay upgrades and improvements were also ported back to The Last of Us Part I, which is the PlayStation 5 remake of the first game.
Currently there are two games in the series, and both are available in remake and remastered forms on PlayStation 5.
God of War
God of War is a classic PlayStation 2 action series, which originally concluded on the PlayStation 3 with God of War III. Of course a side game eventually was developed as well, but the series didn't make its full return until the simply named God of War on PlayStation 4.
This new God of War brought series protagonist Kratos to the world of Norse Mythology, and put a completely different spin onto its gameplay. Rather than being a pure over the top action game, this was an adventure across a massive world, with an over the shoulder camera, a new axe weapon, and Kratos' very own son helping you along the way. It is in a way a father and son coming of age story, but also one like any other.
God of War: Ragnarok is the direct sequel released on PlayStation 5. As a sequel on new hardware, it greatly expands upon its predecessor, and quickly became a fan favorite.
Looking past the new series, the original God of War 3 can also be played on PlayStation 5, with the previous God of War (1), God of War 2, and Ascension available for streaming with PlayStation Plus Premium. This means newcomers can access nearly the entire series on PS5, but it requires an extra subscription...
Resident Evil
Resident Evil is a horror series that needs no introduction, but PlayStation 5 is actually one of the best ways to jump in!
Not only does the PS5 have access to the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 3 (available Summer of 2025), but the remakes can be played as well. Resident Evil's remake is included in Resident Evil Origins Collection along with Resident Evil 0, and both versions of Resident Evil 4 are here as well. Resident Evil 5 and 6 received ports forward too, and of course we can't forget Resident Evil: Biohazard (RE7) and Village (8). Even Code Veronica X is up for download, which completes all of the mainline titles, with Resident Evil Requiem (9) also on its way. Resident Evil Revelations and Revelations 2 are also great options, both of which have a really fun "raid" mode to play through solo or co-op.
Each game offers a slightly different experience, but there is sure to be at least one game in the series horror fans will love; it is just a matter of picking which one interests you the most.
Additionally the VR versions of 4 Remake, 7, and 8 are PlayStation exclusive, so that is something to think about as well. Makes then even more worth playing if you own a PlayStation VR and PlayStation VR2 respectively.
With all of these titles available, I still personally look back at Resident Evil 2 remake as my favorite, and still speed run through it to this day. It is a very refined game, with a great balance and item placement, and once you learn some tricks after your initial run, it makes future playthroughs so much easier... And rewarding if you are going for those S ranks! (Pro tip: Clear the door of debris after setting off the explosive, and before picking up the key item you now have access to! You can thank me later.)
The Final Fantasy Series
The PlayStation 5 is one of the consoles that has access to nearly the entire mainline series, along with multiple spin offs and side games. The original Final Fantasy titles can be purchased individually or as part of the Pixel Collection, with Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, and Final Fantasy IX having enhanced ports. Final Fantasy X and XII also have enhanced HD versions on the console, and you can also play the massive online game that is Final Fantasy XIV (which has hundreds of hours of story content available in the free trial)! We also have Final Fantasy XV, but everything up until now has been PlayStation 4 games running on the PS5.
Looking at only what the PS5 offers over the PS4, we have the enhanced edition of Final Fantasy VII: Remake, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, and Final Fantasy XVI. All three of these titles are action based, but they also offer very different experiences. Remake is more linear and set within a single main location, Rebirth features a massive semi-open world with tons of mini games, and XVI goes the more pure story driven action game route. They are all fun in their own right, but they also might not be for everyone. So we recommend picking what looks the most interesting to you, or you can also resort to going back to the classics!
Outside of the mainline games, the PlayStation 5 is also home to some really fun spin-offs that tend to get overlooked. World of Final Fantasy is a classic turn based game that allows you to tame and control monsters, and also transform into a chibi like form to stack your party for added bonuses. It features a story packed full of throwbacks and references to previous Final Fantasy titles, with dungeons and exploration that feels a lot like Final Fantasy X; except mixed with a world map. The art style is almost Kingdom Hearts like, and the game is handled in a way where both newcomers and fans can enjoy it.
On top of this, we also have games like Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, highly recommended for music fans, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, and Final Fantasy Type-0, a great game that got held back by being a PSP game originally (also one of the saddest games I've ever played).
Like I said, the PS5 is a great place for Final Fantasy fans to be, with only a handful of games currently not accessible.
Kingdom Hearts
Speaking of Kingdom Hearts... PlayStation 5 is home to the entire Kingdom Hearts series!
Those looking to get into the series for the first time need not look any further than PS5. Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD + 2.5 HD includes Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix, a movie version of 358/2 Days, Re: Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and a movie version of Re: Coded.
Moving on is The 2.8 HD Collection, which includes an enhanced version of Dream Drop Distance, Birth by Sleep 0.2, and a movie that is connected to the mobile game Unchained X (Chi). Past that we also have Kingdom Hearts III, the expansion Re: Mind, and the music game Melody of Memories (which does continue the story).
This is a lot of Kingdom Hearts, and each game is packed full of Disney fan service, thousands of enemies to hack and slash your way through, and some surprisingly deep RPG mechanics that really only get to shine when playing the series in critical mode. (Or Proud mode on Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix.) It is truly a unique series that appeals to a large group of fans, but it also won't click for everyone.
While everyone has their favorite entry in the series, Kingdom Hearts II remains the highlight for most of us here at Netto's Game Room, simply due to its selection of Disney worlds, exciting story, really good gameplay, and countless hours of additional content that might as well be a game of its own. This is an entry that you could spend hundreds of hours on trying to complete, and possibly still lose to the many additional bosses. The Final Mix version of the game is really something special, and after it remaining Japanese exclusive for years, it finally made its way to PlayStation in the west. This game alone may be enough to make the collections worth it.
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear became a PlayStation icon in the 90s, and still to this day the series is loved by millions. We haven't had a game in a long time, but with Metal Gear Solid Delta being available after August 28th of 2025, and the collection being released, these are games every PS5 owner should at least give a chance.
Stealth action, and crazy convoluted storytelling at their finest. The first Metal Gear Solid blew fans away with its jump into 3D and cinematic cutscenes (on the PlayStation!), while MGS2 shocked the world for many other reasons. MGS3 went on to be known as one of the greatest games of all time, which is why Delta is a remake of it), and MGS4 was a must play for the PlayStation 3. Portable Ops and Peace Walker had their fans as well, with MGS5 being a bit mixed... Sadly some of these games are not available on PS5 (yet), but more than half of them are.
Those looking to get into the series can purchase the collection to receive all of the original Metal Gear games, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Metal Gear Solid 3. Additionally Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V can be purchased as PS4 games, and played on PS5. There is also the zombie survival game Metal Gear Survive, which honestly isn't terrible, but it has little to do with the actual Metal Gear series.
This is a large selection of games with dozens of hours of content, and well worth checking out. They too contain an easy mode if the stealth gets too hard! But it is honestly a lot more fun if you simply learn the mechanics, watch for enemy patterns, and go at it the way it was intended.
Death Stranding
And it is only natural to follow up Metal Gear with Death Stranding.
Death Stranding was created by Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear series. It takes place in a world where both the living and dead are crossing over, and a lot of craziness ensues because of this. Weird ghost like monster things, dead people exploding and creating massive craters in the Earth, moments where the future and past blur together, and rain that ages you if it touches your skin. It is honestly impossible to put what the game is fully into words without spoiling anything, but the bottom line is... You are a delivery man, and it is your job to make your way across this messed up world.
Of course there is a lot more than just "delivering packages." Players pick and choose what items to take with them on their routes, balancing becomes an issue, and delivering resources to build helpful structures becomes key. Constructed and placed objects helps other players as well, and they in return help you too. This is just scratching the surface however, as the game evolves into a massive 40 + hour long story, with unique boss fights, stealth elements, and a lot of traveling.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is PlayStation 5 exclusive, with the original receiving an enhanced version for PS5 as well. Both are games worth checking out, but sadly many players are put off by their misconceptions of what the game really is. There is more to it than what it appears to be on the surface, but we won't ruin it for you.
Spider-Man
No we didn't forget Spider-Man!
The PS5 is home to three outstanding Spider-Man titles. Spider-Man, Miles Morales, and Spider-Man 2. These games are set within their own world based on the Spider-Man series, and feature a fully open world that allows players to live the life of... Well... Spider-Man?
Interesting and unique boss fights, fun combat with upgrades and unlockable abilities, countless challenges, and stories that will even keep long time fans on their toes. These games take the best aspects of the original Spider-Man 2 Movie's video game adaptation, cranks everything up to 11, and offers an experience well worth playing through.
Miles Morales is a smaller title that bridges the gap between the two main releases, but it introduces Miles as a playable protagonist with his own powers. Spider-Man 2 then allows both Miles and Peter to stand in the spotlight, and builds upon everything that came before. It is a flagship title for PlayStation 5, with all three entries being more than worth the time.
Stellar Blade
Stellar Blade is a game that is more than meets the eyes. Initial marketing, and even the release of DLC costumes, likes to show off the main character and all of the outfits she can change into, but this game is a lot more than just "fan service." Stellar Blade is actually a high speed action game, with challenging enemies to overcome, countless collectibles to find, and a semi-open world to explore. The main focus of this game is simply to "have fun," and to make use of all the skills and abilities that become available to you throughout your playthrough.
The story itself is interesting, sure, but it is the combat, platforming, exploration (including underwater), side activities, and customization options that really make this game shine. Yes, you can play dress up also, but it really is just a small part of an overall outstanding package. For sure worth checking out.
Monster Hunter
Despite having issues on PC, Monster Hunter Wilds is the newest entry in the Monster Hunter series, and is a solid experience on PlayStation 5.
The game allows users to step into the shoes of a hunter as they take on massive beasts, and continue to improve their own skills. Hunting monsters gets you rewards, rewards are turned into gear to use, and that very same gear then lets you go out and take on even bigger and stronger monsters. It is an addictive gameplay loop, and the online multiplayer only makes things better. We've already discussed this game in great detail with our review, but it really is a great starting point for newcomers, and a game long time fans are sure to enjoy.
On top of that, Monster Hunter World is playable on PS5, and the spin off turn based RPG titles Monster Hunter Stories, and Monster Hunter Stories II are here as well. We also have the PS5 edition of Monster Hunter Rise, which is a game that is more in line with classic Monster Hunter (with smaller scale maps) and also contains possibly thousands of hours of fun.
Monster Hunter has almost always found its home on PlayStation, and that hasn't changed.
Yakuza (Like a Dragon)
One of SEGA's flagship series, the Yakuza (now known as Like a Dragon) series basically a massive soap opera that basically spans nine seasons (and counting), with two mini limited series, and a two season spin-off. There are also a handful of alternative side games, not directly connected to the main canon.
The mainline games follow the story of Kiryu Kazuma as he initially starts out as being an underling in the criminal underworld, who then eventually finds himself at the top where he learns family and protecting others is the most important thing in life. Eventually second series protagonist Ichiban Kasuga takes over, as he too learns the meaning of life after having everything taken from him.
These are very heartfelt stories, with a great mix of drama and comedy, tons of side activities and mini games to play, and it is all set within a world that simply feels alive. The side series Judgment focuses on mature topics such as Alzheimer's and teen bullying while retaining the original action combat found in the series, while the newer mainline titles have shifted towards a wacky turn based system instead. There is so much that makes this series so great, and again we couldn't possibly spoil it for you here.
This is the series that my non-gaming wife first watched me played, and it is one of the handful of series we both continue to discuss and look back on to this day. The attachment we both felt to these characters made them feel real to us, and seeing Haruka growing up in Yakuza 3 was an experience unlike any other in a video game.
Seriously, go play this for yourself right now. We both can't recommend it more than enough!
Closing Thoughts
The PlayStation 5 has a large library of great games, with a lot of amazing PlayStation 4 games as well. It is impossible to go over every single game we've liked on the console, but you can always check out our PlayStation 5 section to learn more about what is currently out there (and coming out in the future)! There is even a pretty large selection of Xbox titles finally making their way to the platform that are more than worth looking into also. Gears of War, Forza, and Hi-Fi Rush; all worth looking into, and all right here available on PlayStation 5. (Well, Gears of War launches on August 26th, have to wait for that one!)
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