5 of the best PS5 exclusives – plus some honorable mentions
Every console generation has its share of exclusives, games that can be played on the PS5 or the Xbox only. Typically which of these games you’re keen on will dictate which console you invest in for a particular generation.
Some are available on the PC (or will be coming to the PC in the future), but none can be played on the Xbox or Nintendo platforms. Here is a selection of the best PS5 exclusives you can buy right now.
5 of the best PS5 exclusives
Returnal
Returnal was one of the first PS5 exclusives to be released, and it took full advantage of the console’s impressive technology to offer absolutely fantastic graphics to accompany its brutally difficult gameplay.
It’s a third-person shooter with a rogue-like progression that has absolutely no mercy for the player. Combat is fast-paced, frantic, and deadly. Expect to die repeatedly to uncover even a scrap of the game’s mystery.
Despite that, it’s rewarding to do so, and mastering the combat makes you feel extremely cool and like an absolute legend. The story is intriguing and makes you want to push on. If you’ve got a PS5 don’t miss Returnal.
Key info
- Game: Returnal
- Developers: Housemarque
- Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Price: $69.99 (or included in PlayStation Plus Extra)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the third game in Insomniac’s Spider-Man series and well lives up to its predecessors – it was even Game of the Year nominated. Switch between Peter Parker and Miles Morales to defend New York from a host of bombastic villains.
The story in Spider-Man 2 is fine, but the gameplay more than makes up for that. It embraces a core facet of gaming – video games should be fun to play, and Spider-Man 2 delivers on that front in absolute bucketloads with joy oozing from every orifice.
The open world capitalizes on just how enjoyable it is to move around the environment as Spider-Man. Web-swinging and web-gliding are truly superior ways to travel. The combat is also extremely enjoyable, flowing together almost rhythmically leading to extremely reactive combat encounters.
Key info
- Game: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Developers: Insomniac Games
- Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Price: $69.99
Demon’s Souls
This is a world-class remake of the game that launched FromSoftware onto the path of making brutally difficult games. While Demon’s Souls is different in a few key ways (for example, healing items are limited rather than renewable like Estus in future games), it maintains the core concept – extremely difficult but rewarding combat and an expectation that you will die repeatedly before conquering.
The remake takes full advantage of the PlayStation 5 and is glorious to look at. Never before have such horrible monsters been realized in such minute detail. While the game has been modernized in some light ways it’s very faithful to the 2009 original and is an excellent way to experience where it all started for FromSoftware.
It’s a must-play for FromSoftware fans and a must-try for everyone else.
Key info
- Game: Demon’s Souls
- Developers: Japan Studio & Bluepoint Games
- Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Price: $29.39 (on sale from $69.99 until 10/10/24) (or included with PlayStation Plus Extra)
Astro Bot
Astro Bot is a charming 3D platformer that takes what the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller can do and capitalizes on it with exceptional vision. The game has 90 levels and they are all fun and enjoyable in their own way, drawing on some new idea to delight the player.
The eponymous Astro Bot has a ton of different movement abilities with which to traverse levels wherein you must locate the missing Bots and lead them to safety. The bots are a joy in themselves – many of them are direct references to other classic games. Find Dad of Boy and Boy (Kratos and Atreus from God of War), Machine Hunter (Aloy from the Horizon games), Dependable Smuggler (Joel from The Last of Us), and tons more, with even deeper cut references.
Astro Bot’s development team gathered hundreds of ideas and said yes to all the best ones. Not just a handful – there are so many things happening in the game that if you don’t like one mechanic, no worries, it’s gone in just a few minutes.
Nintendo has Mario, and now, Sony has Astro Bot, the little platformer that could. Plus it’s getting a new free DLC before the end of the year.
Key info
- Game: Astro Bot
- Developers: Team Asobi
- Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Price: $59.99
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered
While some raised eyebrows at a remaster just three years after the original launch of a game, it’s clear now that Naughty Dog knew what they were doing. The PS5 is the perfect vehicle for the level of visual fidelity a game like The Last of Us Part 2 deserves, and the remaster is the best way to experience it.
Part 2 picks up the story of Joel and Ellie some years later after they’ve settled down in Jacksonville. However it isn’t long before their past catches up with them, and the game’s early parts are some of the most shocking and brutal in all of gaming. The story is heartwrenching and does a good job of showing the kind of damage trauma can do to a person. We’ve got a more detailed The Last of Us Part 2 plot summary if you need to know more before diving in or checking out a full list of trigger warnings.
In terms of gameplay, Part 2 continues the first game’s stealth-focused survival action. Make sure you loot every corner because you need every scrap of resources to succeed. Enemies are a mix of humans and infected and there’s the usual selection of guns and other tools to master.
There are also bonus features like a new rogue-like mode called No Return and three ‘lost levels’ that never made it into the final game, making the remaster well worth it.
Key info
- Game: The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered
- Developers: Naughty Dog
- Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Price: $49.99
Honourable mentions
Most of the games that get to call themselves exclusives are worth checking out at the very least. Here are a few more that are worth your time.
- Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection – two of the best Uncharted games with iconic action gameplay and characters
- Pacific Drive – a car-based roguelike set in a weird quantum exclusion zone. Collect upgrades and explore to escape
- Stellar Blade – rapid combat that feels extremely fluid and fun sets this game apart
- Final Fantasy 16 – an epic adventure through a world you must save with fun action gameplay
- Silent Hill 2 Remake – OK it’s not out until October 8 but this will be an unmissable horror experience
- Helldivers 2 – spread managed democracy through the galaxy in this enjoyable shooter
- Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart – 3D platforming fun with goofy familiar characters
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