Happy one-year anniversary to the PlayStation 5! Since its release on November 12, 2020, the PS5 quickly became one of the hottest consoles on the market selling over 13 million units to claim its trophy as one of the best-selling consoles of all time! To celebrate, we've complied a list of the 10 best PlayStation 5 games to play (when you can inevitably snag one!).

Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Swing through New York as Miles.

Launching day and date with the PlayStation 5, Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a spin-off, bite-sized game compared to the 2018 original, but that’s no reason to write it off. Mile’s first adventure as the web-slinger is filled with action-packed moments, excellent writing and gameplay that cut much of the fat off the original game. 

Miles Morales is playable on PS4 but shines the best on PS5 with better graphics (including 4K and ray tracing) and 60 frames per second capabilities. Once you start swinging around New York in 60 FPS, you’ll never want to go back.

BONUS: Spider-Man: Remastered

Speaking of the 2018 game, developer Insomniac Games went back to the first one and gave it a shine. Dazzling 4K graphics and 60 FPS improve what was already one of the PlayStation 4’s best games. If you missed it the first time around, pick this one up to see why this is the best Spider-Man game to date. If you’re a returning player, experience it the best way possible (and play the excellent 3-pack DLC adventure).

Did you pick up a limited edition Spider-Man PS4 Pro? DISPLAYit with a HIDEit PS4 Pro Wall Mount!

Demon’s Souls

Return to Boleteria with unprecedented detail.

Released in 2009, the original Demon’s Souls is the definition of a surprise hit. Sony published the PS3 game in Japan but opted to let another company handle the American release thanks to poor previews and high difficulty. It’s a series that got away from Sony and helped spawn the growing Souls-like genre with the release of the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne and the many imitators that have sprung up in the last decade.

Demon’s Souls is Sony capitalizing on the demand of the genre and flexing some muscle. Developed by (the now first-party) Bluepoint Games, Demon’s Souls is a from-the-ground-up remake. The game plays the same, but the dark, gothic graphics got a complete overhaul becoming one of the best-looking games to come out. Thanks to the PlayStation 5’s high-speed SSD, dying -- which you’ll do a lot -- doesn’t feel like an inconvenience, but a small obstacle that’ll have you thinking you can go just a bit further.

Astro’s Playroom

A cute platformer and excellent showcase for the DualSense.

Astro’s Playroom is the first game you’ll own when you pick up and PlayStation 5. Why? It’s pre-loaded on the console from the moment you turn it on. Devised as a demo for the incredible features of the new DualSense Controller, many will skip out on this cute game as they make their way to other games on this list.

But that’d be a massive mistake. Astro’s Playroom is a love letter to PlayStation history, hiding easter eggs from the nearly 25 years of PlayStation games and hardware. Astro’s Playroom has some of the best platforming sections this side of Nintendo (even outpacing some Mario levels) and the innovative stages, music and graphics help complete the package. 

But where Astro’s Playroom shines best is how well it shows the DualSense off. Adaptive triggers and haptic feedback sound nice on paper (or do they?), but when you hold the controller in your hands, you really get a sense of how revolutionary these features are. And no game has done it better.

Deathloop

A Microsoft studio made one of the best games of the year... on PlayStation!

Here’s an interesting one. Deathloop was developed by Arkane Studios, known for the Dishonored series, and now owned by Microsoft. Deathloop also happens to be a console exclusive to the PlayStation 5, thanks to a deal in place before the Bethesda acquisition.

It turns out this also happens to be one of the best games to come out on the PS5 during its first year. Set in the 1960s, Deathloop is a first-person, rogue-like shooter where you’re stuck in a time loop on a mysterious island and must kill eight targets. But you need to be strategic as you’ll start the loop over at the end of the day or after dying. Fantastic gunplay and over-the-top powers make the gameplay top tier and an unforgettable experience.

Returnal

Fight, die and repeat as you solve Selene's story on an alien planet.

This Housemarque developed is one of the most unique experiences on the PlayStation 5. Expanding on the studio’s pedigree for twitch, arcadey gameplay, a deep story of an astronaut stuck in a time loop on a mysterious planet will entice you to keep playing until you see the end. Death starts the loop over, and one mistake is all it takes to end a high-scoring run that needs to be started over again. It’s a design that harkens back to old-school arcade cabinets.

Gorgeous H. R. Giger-inspired architecture brings a haunting feeling to Returnal, and snappy load times mean you’re right back in the action after dying. You’ll want to keep playing long into the night to perfect a run in hopes of ending the time loop and seeing all the twists the story has in store.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

The best way to experience the retelling of a classic tale.

The seminal RPG mega hit got a massive remake in 2020 when Final Fantasy VII Remake launched on PS4. While only the first part of the story, FFVIIR upped the anty by completely revamping the graphics, expanding the classic tale and changing from turn-based combat to fast-paced action. 

Launching earlier this year, the Intergrade upgrade is well worth a look. Not only does it come with the base game (coming in 40 hours to complete), a new story chapter -- titled Intermission -- adds another 10 hours that picks up after the base game. As with many other PlayStation 5 games, FFVIIR Intergrade got a nice shine with different graphic options to play in 4K or with 60 FPS. 

Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut

Stop the Mongol invasion in stunning 4K.

Ghost of Tsushima was one of the final few games Sony released on the PlayStation 4 before launching the new console, and it was an appropriate swan song. Set on Tsushima Island during the 13th century, Ghost of Tsushima tells the story of Jin Sakai and the invasion of the Kahns. The brutal opening moments spell doom for the small island.

As Jin, you must walk the fine line of keeping your honor as a samurai while taking up the mantle of the Ghost, a new type of warrior who uses any tactic possible. Exploring the island of Tsushima is one of the best experiences in gaming, with stunning vistas and fields of colorful flowers that juxtapose the brutal sword-slashing combat. Plus, Ghost of Tsushima scatters unique collectibles across the island, including new sword sheaths, water springs and places to create your own haiku.

Improvised visuals, haptic feedback and the addition of the new Iki Island DLC pack make this a must-play on PS5 as one of the best PS4 games got that much better.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

Make stuff go boom in 4K.

The latest entry in a series running for 20 years, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is one of the first true ‘next-generation’ games. Developed by Insomniac Games (a studio putting the PS5 on its metaphorical shoulders) and released this past summer, Rift Apart features bright, colorful graphics that looks like you’re playing a Pixar movie, but with zany gunplay. 

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart evolves the series’ zany gunplay, which, when paired with the DualSense, provides an experience unlike any other. Each gun feels unique, with the haptic feedback and the triggers feel different depending on which gun you’re using.

But where the ‘next-gen’ feel comes in is the rift gameplay. Thanks to the PS5’s SSD, loads are non-existent and that comes out in gameplay with the use of a Rift Hook that pulls the level towards Ratchet. Or jump to an entirely different planet during an intense boss fight, changing the pattern of the battle as you try to save the galaxy from the impending collapse of the galaxies.

Resident Evil Village

The breakout star in Resident Evil Village looking horrifying in 4K.

We love Resident Evil and the latest entry in the legendary franchise doesn’t let up the scares. Set in an Eastern European setting, Resident Evil Village takes the series in a new direction as it reveals more about the past. Retaining the previous entry’s first-person viewpoint gets you up close and personal with the horrors of the titular village, including some of the most memorable characters the series has introduced -- Lady Demistricus, anyone?

The Village features horrifying detail on PS5, and the load times are nearly non-existent letting you get back in the action when you inevitably die after a failed escape.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Pick up this family-friendly adventure and save Craftworld!

If you need a solid two-player or family-friendly game to play on your new box, look no further than Sackboy: A Big Adventure. A spin-off of the LittleBigPlanet series and starring the longtime PlayStation mascot, Sackboy goes off on a 3D platforming adventure as you gather Dreamer Orbs to save Craftworld from the evil Vex.

You’ll be smiling from ear to ear with the whimsical charm and unexpected surprises as you grab a second controller for you and a friend.

There’s already a lot to look forward to in the coming months, including first-party titles like Horizon Forbidden West and God of War Ragnarok, as well as popular third-party games like Grand Theft Auto: Expanded and Enhanced. Here’s to the first year of great games, and we’re looking forward to more on PlayStation 5!