20 Best PS5 Single-Player Games You Should Play

While it may seem like everyone is in the middle of pivoting towards games as a service, there are still plenty of excellent solo experiences out there to enjoy with the ninth generation of console gaming already proving just that. The best PS5 single-player games show that there’s nothing to be worried about for those who don’t want every game to turn into a second job.

Though they dabbled in some multiplayer-focused titles over the lifespan of the PS4, Sony were focused on narrative games for the majority of the console’s life, bringing some of the defining games of the generation in the process. Efforts like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Ghost of Tsushima truly shone on the big black box, and now Sony’s new weird white box is looking to keep that trend going.

If you’re tired of battle passes, creeping microtransactions, and getting destroyed by children online, here are the best single-player games on PS5 you should be trying out.

 

The Best PS5 Single-Player Games

20. Horizon Forbidden West

Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

The “always the bridesmaid” of the PlayStation library, it feels like the Horizon series doesn’t have the best of luck. Any time a Horizon game launches, it’s like there’s another game that just comes from out of nowhere to overshadow Horizon completely. First, with Zero Dawn, it was Breath of the Wild, and then with Forbidden West, that release was dwarved by the gargantuan success of Elden Ring. Don’t discount Horizon though, as it’s still one of the best open world single-player games on the PS5.

While the first Horizon game is still fantastic, the second entry is just that little bit better, with a bigger, more varied open world to explore, improvements to the gameplay and the introduction of new abilities like swimming helped make Horizon Forbidden West feel like a more complete game. Throw in a good story and the excellent Burning Shores expansion, and you’ve got a recipe for a real winner.

 

19. Tales Of Arise

Developer: Bandai Namco
Publisher: Bandai Namco

The “Tales Of” has been a JRPG hallmark for generations, with titles like Vesperia and others garnering critical acclaim for their excellent graphics, satisfying combat and great story. If want to see the series at its best, Tales of Arise is the game for you.

Set during a feud between two warring planets, Tales of Arise sees the more medieval world of Dahna being subjugated by the advanced civilisation on Rena. The story sees the Dahnan native of Alphen teaming up with Renan royalty in the form of Shionne, as the two work to take out the occupying forces on Dahna.

With a huge focus on countering and dodging attacks rather than mashing buttons to win, Tales of Arise’s gameplay will keep you invested for the 40+ hours you’ll need to finish the game.

 

18. Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy

Developer: Eidos Montreal
Publisher: Square Enix

For a while now, it’s felt like Marvel have been waiting for that big AAA video game to pop off in the same way that the MCU has, and while the sales of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy would suggest otherwise, this is the best Marvel game in a long time.

Instead of controlling the entire group, players control Starlord as he leads the Guardians to save the whole universe from a massive threat. You’ll order your Guardians to attack, chaining together moves to create exciting combos that decimate your foes.

While the gameplay is rock solid, the story and chemistry between the Guardians themselves is the beating heart of this game, and it’s what’ll keep you hooked until those credits roll.

 

17. Stray

Developer: BlueTwelve Studio
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive

There are two types of people in this world: those who love the silly sci-fi cat game, and filthy liars. You wouldn’t be the second one, would you? Of course not. Everyone loves the silly cat game, which is why Stray makes our list for the best PS5 single-player games ever made. Not every game needs to be a violent shoot ’em up to still be engaging — sometimes all you need is a cute cat and plenty of puzzles to mess around with.

Stray is a one of a kind game, playing as the titular stray cat separated from their pack and forced into a bizarre, subterranean world occupied with robots acting like humans. Oh, and there’s a bunch of enemies patrolling the city too, looking to devour everything, but at least you can still find the time to chill on robot’s couch for a while too. It’s short and it’s sweet, and Stray is an experience worth playing.

 

16. Hitman 3

Developer: IO Interactive
Publisher: IO Interactive

The closing act in the World of Assassination trilogy, Hitman 3 is the best way to say goodbye to 47 and Diana, at least for now.

Featuring similar gameplay to the first two excellent games, Hitman 3’s small tweaks to the formula don’t exactly reinvent the wheel, rather they just make an exceptionally dynamic game feel even more dynamic.

Drop into a sandbox and figure out how to take out the targets — that’s really all there is to it. However, it’s everything in the middle — all the experimentation with often hilarious results — that defines Hitman 3 as one of the best stealth games ever made.

A game designed to be played over and over with plenty to unlock, making each level completely different depending on how you approach it, Hitman 3 just keeps on giving. That’s especially true when you have bananas to throw and grape pressing machines to abuse.

 

15. Inscryption

Developer: Daniel Mullins Games
Publisher: Devolver Digital

How do you categorise a game like Inscryption? Sure, you could say it’s a roguelike deckbuilder, which of course it is, but it’s also one of the weirdest, most unique and genuinely ridiculous games ever made. We mean ridiculous in a good way, but Inscryption is still an utterly bonkers experience from start to finish. If that doesn’t have you interested in playing this game, we’re not sure what’s going to convince you. Maybe a bribe?

Inscryption pulls influences from roguelikes, tabletop RPGs, horror and puzzle games, along with other surprises and the various layers unfurl in this weird, “game within a game” metanarrative. As for the actual gameplay, you’re building decks of cards to compete against the computer, with each card boasting their own abilities. Really, we’re being vague here, because Inscryption is the type of game you’re better off going in blind for.

 

14. Life Is Strange: True Colors

Developer: Deck Nine
Publisher: Square Enix

Life Is Strange has built its name on creating thought-provoking and emotional stories that players across the world can enjoy, but perhaps none are as brilliant or as beautiful as Life Is Strange: True Colors. Just make sure you keep the tissues handy, as this one will get emotional.

Like all Life Is Strange, the story follows someone with superpowers, this time focused on Alex Chen, an empath who can literally feel the emotions of others. True Colors sees Alex honing her powers as she tries to solve the mystery surrounding the death of her brother.

Alex’s investigation will require her to get to know the residents of Haven Springs, and the choices you’ll have to make along the way will stick with you long after the credits have rolled.

 

13. A Plague Tale: Requiem

Developer: Asobo Studio
Publisher: Focus Entertainment

The PS5 might have a few too many third person, over the shoulder action adventure games that are heavy on story and have a focus on stealth, but when it comes to games like A Plague Tale: Requiem, it’s still worth checking out. That is, unless you’re afraid of rats. Then you should probably steer well clear of A Plague Tale: Requiem, as there’s more rats in this game than you’d find in a mafia informant convention.

Following on from the events of A Plague Tale: Innocence, another excellent game that received a PS5 patch, Requiem again follows Amicia and Hugo as they try to deal with the Macula curse as its reawakened within Hugo. Naturally, that means the hordes of rats follow quickly behind, with the duo having to dodge ravenous rodents and violent guards in a bid to survive this bleak medieval world.

 

12. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Even though Insomniac Games are mostly pre-occupied with the Spider-Man series, along with the upcoming Wolverine game, their work on the Ratchet & Clank series cannot be discounted. The action platformer series following the Lombax and their robot friend, Ratchet & Clank has long been one of the PlayStation’s most fun single-player franchises, and the most recent game, Rift Apart, is arguably the best the series has ever been.

Ostensibly still the same game as it was on PS2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart still sees you platforming across various planets, each with their distinctive look and puzzles to solve. Meanwhile, you’re given a steadily escalating arsenal of ridiculous weapons, all of which made even more impressive by the power of the PS5. It’s not a long game by any means, but for a game like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, it just means it’s not outstaying its welcome.

 

11. Astro’s Playroom

Developer: Japan Studio
Publisher: SIE

The best pack-in game of all time? While Wii Sports might have something to say about that, Astro’s Playroom is a pretty much perfect introduction to the PlayStation 5 — and it’s completely free, too.

Basically a whimsical traipse through PlayStation history, Astro’s Playroom is a fun platformer that also acts as a great marketing tool for the PS5. Each region is a new feature of the console and the game shows them off remarkably well, the DualSense features in particular.

Wherever you’re a long-time PlayStation fan or new to the consoles, Playroom will have you grinning through its many brilliant easter eggs and upbeat tone, especially when the bonafide banger that is GPU Jungle is playing.

Here’s hoping for a full-fat single-player PS5 Astro adventure in the near future — he’s every inch the PlayStation mascot.

 

10. Dead Space

Developer: Motive Studio
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Visceral Games were cooking extremely hard back in the day with the original release of Dead Space, as it’s still considered among the best horror games ever made. Or, it would have been had it not been for the release of Motive Studio’s remake, which takes everything that worked about the original release and offers small, nuanced changes to the formula. The formula is still the same, but extra features like a fully explorable ship help really make this remake sing.

The premise is still completely the same, with engineer Isaac Clarke forced to board the mining ship USG Ishimura in order to find his wife after responding to the ship’s distress signal. As it tends to happen to derelict spaceships in sci-fi horror media, the Ishimura is now overrun with necromorphs — mutated crew members who have stabby bits where limbs should be. Fortunately for Isaac, the engineer’s standard issue Plasma Cutter happens to be way more effective at killing necromorphs than regular weapons.

That, or all the soldiers in this version of the future are dumb. It’s one or the other.

 

9. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: SEGA

The Like A Dragon series has morphed from an obscure Japanese curio to a genuine powerhouse for SEGA, with the series’ shift to a turn-based RPG format being hugely successful. Turns out adding charming characters and the power of friendship to a series that was already pretty entertaining and ridiculous at the best of times is a winning combination. Infinite Wealth continues that excellent run of form, cementing the Like A Dragon series as the modern RPG franchise to beat.

A continuation of the new Like A Dragon direction, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth once again follows Ichiban Kasuga, this time heading to Hawaii on the search for his long-lost mother. Along the way, Kasuga meets a brand new cast of characters, reunites with some old friends, and even teams up with former protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, a man facing down his biggest enemy yet: cancer.

Yeah, this is an emotional one, but it’s up there with the best single-player games on PS5.

 

8. Alan Wake 2

Developer: Sloclap
Publisher: Epic Games

For a long time, it felt like we’d never get a proper follow-up to Remedy’s cult horror hit Alan Wake, so the fact that Alan Wake 2 both exists and is one of the best horror games you can play on the PS5 is absolutely wonderful. It’s also an absolute trip from start to finish that must be seen to be believed, which is a pretty cliched statement to make sure, but in the case of Alan Wake 2, it absolutely fits.

Following on the events of the original Alan Wake, the sequel follows Wake as he tries to write a way to escape from The Dark Place. Meanwhile, FBI investigator Saga Anderson has been summoned to Bright Falls to solve a horrific murder case, with the two characters becoming irrevocably linked as reality begins to distort once again.

Between the tense gameplay, satisfying combat and memorable moments, Alan Wake 2 is not to be missed.

 

7. Sifu

Developer: Sloclap
Publisher: Sloclap

Martial arts and video games have often gone hand in hand, but few games have even come close to accurately portraying Pak Mei form specifically as Sifu has. It makes sense, considering one of the game’s chief advisors, Benjamin Colussi, is a Pak Mei kung fu master, but the core gameplay is worthy of merit in its own right.

A relatively small game, Sifu is all about practicing until perfection, as you control an unnamed kung fu prodigy looking to avenge the death of their master at the hands of five deadly assassins. It sounds like a daunting task, but you do have an amulet that lets you cheat death. The downside? Each revival will knock years off your life.

Sifu’s satisfying combat and replayability, as you try to complete the levels in as few deaths as possible, make this game such a rewarding single-player experience.

 

6. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: SIE

Sony and Marvel created magic when they decided to hand over the rights to the Spider-Man franchise to Insomniac Games, and the resulting trilogy of games have become one of the main reasons why you should own a PS5. While the remastered version of the original game, along with Miles Morales, are both worth owning, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 might just be the best the franchise has to offer.

Continuing the adventures of the dual Spider-Men, both Peter Parker and Miles have to contend with a wave of mercs led by Kraven the Hunter, laying waste to the entire city. If that’s not bad enough, the black symbiote suit has reared its ugly head, and we all know that the black slimy symbiote has never been good for Parker’s stress levels.

With an awesome story combined with a range of gameplay improvements, particularly regarding the combat and traversal, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the best Spider-Man game on the market, and a damn fine PS5 single-player game too.

 

5. Demon’s Souls

Developer: Bluepoint/FromSoftware
Publisher: SIE

One of the most unloved games at the time of its initial release finally had the chance to launch with the audience it deserves alongside the PS5 — and it took the opportunity with both hands.

Few people seemed to really “get” Demon’s Souls when it first came out, leading to it becoming a bit of a cult classic, a curio in the history of Soulsborne that was perhaps a little tricky to go back to. With Bluepoint’s excellent remake, Demon’s Souls now has the following it should have had from day one.

Buffing out some of the original’s rough edges while keeping others to maintain its spirit, Demon’s Souls really isn’t going to sway those who haven’t loved From’s misery simulators in the past, no matter how pretty it looks and smooth it is to play.

However, for those who want to be challenged and inevitably dislodge their DualSense from drywall, Demon’s Souls is as good an origin as they come and yet another reminder that Bluepoint knows how to remake the classics. What’s next?

 

4. Returnal

Developer: Housemarque
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Quite possibly the hardest game you can buy on the PS5, Returnal is the end result of Housemarque’s pursuit of putting all the bullets on screen at once. You didn’t think there could be this many bullets in a third person shooter, but here you go, and they’re all going to hit you in the face, so you better get dodging. You will die many, many times while playing Returnal, so it’s not a game for absolutely everyone, but those who click with it will find a game that’s incredibly engaging.

Returnal is a third-person shooter roguelike hybrid where you control an astronaut by the name of Selene, as she’s stranded on an alien planet that seems intent on trying (successfully, we might add) to kill her. If that’s not strange enough, Selene is also trapped in a time loop, and the planet changes shape with every loop. Again, it’s a hardcore game, but the mystery of Returnal, along with its stellar gameplay, makes it a genuine PS5 highlight.

 

3. Resident Evil 4

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

Horror fans have been enjoying plenty of excellent games on the current console generation, particularly when it comes to horror remakes. Motive Studio’s work on the previously mentioned Dead Space remake absolutely deserves to be celebrated, but somehow, Capcom managed to remake Resident Evil 4 and not completely mess up a defining classic of the horror genre. While some might prefer what the original had to offer, there’s no denying that Resident Evil 4’s remake is a stunning achievement.

Following the same plot of the original game, we once again see Leon S. Kennedy travelling to Spain to rescue the kidnapped President’s daughter, Ashley. Instead of just being a simple rescue mission though, Leon finds a violent cult, villagers infected with strange bioweapons and a mysterious stranger in a raincoat who’s very interested in what you happen to be buying. With a brilliant campaign mode, an excellent Mercenaries mode and the Separate Ways DLC adding more to the game, Resident Evil 4 is simply a must-have.

 

2. God Of War Ragnarok

Developer: Sony Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

If someone asked you to name single-player games on the PS5, God of War Ragnarok would probably be one of the first you’d mention, and that’s for good reason. As far as the best PS5 single-player games go, Santa Monica Studio’s Norse epic is the best exclusive in their catalogue by a country mile.

Following on from the events of the original PS4 game, God of War Ragnarok once again follows Kratos and the boy, Atreus, as they now work together to try and prevent Ragnarok from bringing ruin to the nine realms. Unfortunately for them, Thor, Odin and a vengeful Freya are all looking to get their pounds of flesh from the godly duo.

Using the original game as a foundation, God of War Ragnarok builds on what was already considered by many to be a masterpiece to create one of the best PS5 single player games ever made.

 

1. Elden Ring

Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco

As single-player adventures on the PS5 go, Elden Ring is simply the best of the best. Challenging without being unfair, rewarding without handing everything to you on a silver platter, and filled with so many memorable moments and locations, Elden Ring is a single-player game that everyone should try. It might not be for everyone, but it could be your new favourite game.

An open world Soulslike, Elden Ring sees players controlling a chosen Tarnished, who must travel across The Lands Between and slay the various rampaging demi-gods. As a Soulslike, you’ll be challenged at every turn by enemies, traps and environmental hazards all looking to take you down, but the game’s open world allows you to find new gear and opportunities elsewhere.

Being able to tackle Elden Ring in a more freeflowing manner allows players to give themselves the challenge they want to have. Either take on the big bosses immediately, or go level up first. Both are valid, and being able to choose helps make Elden Ring the best PS5 single-player game out there. That, and the amazing combat, of course.

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