The 20 Best PlayStation Games of 2025

The first game in the survival horror series developed by Taiwanese studio NeoBards (which previously worked on a few Resident Evil titles), this 2025 release shifts the action out of Silent Hill to the fictional Japanese mountain town of Ebisugaoka in the 1960s, where a series of eerie events plague your protagonist, Hinako. The story's ties to the series as a whole are tenuous at best, but the mood and gameplay match those of past offerings, even if gameplay here emphasizes combat more than usual. Critics are especially appreciative of the presentation, lauding the stunning music and visuals in Silent Hill f, while also appreciating Konami's willingness to try something new.

"Silent Hill f is a chillingly elegant return to form for the franchise, blending Ryukishi07's signature psychological storytelling with a hauntingly atmospheric 1960s Japan setting. Balancing methodical survival horror mechanics with rich character introspection, it stands out as a deeply emotional and cerebral entry that lingers long after the credits roll." —Noisy Pixel

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The first sequel to Sucker Punch's 2020 samurai action-adventure hit Ghost of Tsushima moves the action ahead by over three centuries to 1603. The PS5 exclusive casts you as a new protagonist, Atsu, who explores the northern Japanese region of Ezo (present-day Hokkaido) while revealing elements of a nonlinear story that involves a quest for revenge against the "Yōtei Six," who slaughtered Atsu's family when she was a child. Yotei was nominated seven times at The Game Awards and praised by critics for its technical accomplishments—think truly stunning visuals and well-designed combat—though some reviewers felt it adhered a bit too much to open-world gaming formula.

"Sucker Punch leaves nothing on the table with Ghost of Yotei. This game represents everything we were promised the PS5 could deliver and then some. Every aspect of its artistry, mechanics, and technology is used to the fullest in perfect balance. No one part of Ghost of Yotei outshines the rest, and that's because each component bleeds into the others so naturally that they cease to feel like disparate elements. Atsu's journey is one that will stick with me, but not because of the magnificent world I explored, the memorable cast of characters I grew to love, or the dramatic swordplay. Those are all different colors used to paint the complete picture that is Ghost of Yotei. All are strong on their own, but together form something much greater." —Digital Trends

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The first all-new entry in the Lumines rhythm-puzzle game series since 2012's Lumines: Electronic Symphony comes from the team behind another recent puzzle game revival, Tetris Effect. Featuring dynamic new visuals—perhaps too dynamic, according to a few naysayers—a banging soundtrack, some gameplay tweaks, and a variety of gameplay modes including cross-platform multiplayer, Arise is an addictive, well-executed reboot, according to reviewers.

"Lumines Arise is the best entry yet in this long-running puzzle series, building upon Enhance's work in Tetris Effect to create a mesmerizing audiovisual spectacle that shines even brighter in a VR headset. It's not as transformative as the older title and the core gameplay doesn't quite hit those same high notes, but that hasn't stopped Enhance from delivering a highly memorable journey. If you enjoy puzzle games, you won't want to miss this." —UploadVR

This stylish indie animated side-scroller from the team behind 2020's Streets of Rage 4 blends beat-em-up action with the increasingly popular roguelike genre. You're transported to the fantasy world of Talamh, where the evil Sun King Azra has taken power. Attempt to defeat him by choosing one of four characters with varied skillsets—then attempt it again, with each randomized run offering a different layout and combination of ability upgrades. Critics loved the replayability factor added by incorporating roguelike elements.

"Absolum is a game I've wanted to play since I was a kid. We get simple, approachable brawling battles, high production values in art and music, and a richly imagined fantasy world, all wrapped around a narrative that makes replay and progression worth coming back to advance again and again. It's not a game that is going to change anyone's opinions about the genre, but it is a brilliant implementation of a very old formula into something that feels modern, deeply replayable, and unmistakably fun." —Game Informer

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Side-scrolling, ninja-themed action-platformer Art of Vengeance is the first release in 14 years in Sega's 38-year-old Shinobi franchise, and comes from the studio (Lizardcube) behind Streets of Rage 4, which was a similar revival of a long-dormant Sega property. The game boasts a hand-drawn animation style and incorporates some Metroidvania-like elements into the mix. Critics praised the addictive gameplay and well-executed combat, even if the platforming aspects of Vengeance were a bit less satisfying.

"With its gorgeous hand drawn art and kinetic combat, Shinobi Art Of Vengeance is one of my favorite games of 2025, and one of the best 2D action-platformers in years." —PlayStation Universe

The first sequel to the 2018 medieval action-RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance doubles the size of that game's open world and continues the story of Henry of Skalitz in 15th century Bohemia as he attempts to restore King Wenceslaus IV to the throne. Critics think the sequel improves greatly upon the original, praising an ultra-realistic and immersive—though demanding—epic.

"Warhorse Studios has delivered an excellent RPG and sequel. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a near total package, with great writing, acting, and a level of immersion that will have you running down every single quest in fear of missing out on a special moment. Frankly, I will be shocked if it's not in the awards conversation at the end of the year." —Gaming Nexus

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Is this the first great game based on the Indiana Jones film franchise? If not, it's pretty close—and it's also probably better than the last few movie sequels. A Microsoft exclusive at launch late last year before arriving on the PS5 in April 2025, this cinematic action-adventure game from Wolfenstein studio MachineGames features an original story that finds you playing as the famed archaeologist in the year 1937 (in between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade) as he travels to the Vatican, the Egyptian pyramids, Shanghai, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and more locations. Watch out for snakes.

"The PlayStation 5 version of Indiana Jones and the Grand Circle is a paragon of excellence. It's visually impressive, offers solid technical performance, and provides genuine fun. It also maintains everything that was brilliant about the original release and stands out for its careful porting." —Combo Infinito

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The newest adventure game from the art director of the classic Journey and the studio behind Abzû and The Pathless is Giant Squid's best-reviewed release yet. Sword of the Sea blends exploration with skateboarding—well, that's not quite the right word. Your mode of transportation is a hoversword, which allows you to surf sea and sand alike on your quest to return water to a desert wasteland. Execute trick moves or simply glide along as you encounter magical creatures (and the occasional battle). Some reviewers found it a bit too short and predictable, but most were blown away by the ethereal visuals and rewarding sense of constant motion.

"Sword of the Sea certainly won't have the same impact that Journey did all those years ago, but in so many ways, it feels like a direct evolution of that legendary experience. It's a beautifully smooth game, set across a series of gorgeous environments that are a joy to explore. While its more game-y elements do feel a tad forced, they're not enough to distract from what is a sumptuous adventure." —Push Square

A bullet-hell shooter that incorporates base building and roguelite elements, BALL x PIT asks you to shoot a stream of magic balls at what appears to be a ceaseless swarm of barbaric monsters emerging from a bottomless pit. Simple enough—think Arkanoid or Breakout at triple speed—but what complicates matters and adds to the game's replayability is a randomized selection of differently powered balls (from over 60 in total), with some combinations forming useful synergies. And you'll also have a chance to expand your base of operations with dozens of new buildings that unlock further abilities and new characters in what amounts to a mini city-building mode. Critics are having a ball with the unique mix of genres.

"Proving there's almost nothing that can't be painted with the roguelite brush, Ball x Pit manages a dangerously intoxicating blend of arcade brick-breaking, ball-based alchemy and town planning that I haven't been able to put down." —WellPlayed

1st Chapter is a remake of the 2004 anime-style JRPG The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (which launched the Trails subseries of The Legends of Heroes franchise) using the game engine developed for 2021's Trails Through Daybreak. A 2nd Chapter will follow in late 2026. Remastered visuals, new voice acting, and improved gameplay (now including a choice between turn-based or real-time combat) combine with what was already a deep and rewarding conspiracy-driven storyline to make a 21-year-old title seem fresh—especially given that gamers outside of Japan may not have been exposed to the game prior to this year.

"Back in the day, Trails in the Sky hinged on its story and world-building to make up for its other lacking characteristics. Twenty years later, Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter not only brings back the full heart of what made the original a classic, but it can now stand tall beside any other heavyweight JRPG." —DualShockers

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A remaster of the 1997 PlayStation turn-based tactical RPG Final Fantasy Tactics, The Ivalice Chronicles features both the original version of the game and an enhanced version with new (but faithfully isometric) graphics, full voice acting, a new lower-difficulty mode for newcomers, and improvements to gameplay and battle mechanics. Critics think it a terrific remake of a terrific game, so there's never been a better time to dive into the War of the Lions. And Ivalice just collected the award for Best Sim/Strategy Game at The Game Awards.

"Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is probably the best remake/remaster of a classic game that Square Enix has made so far. The company didn't just remaster the original game and add quality-of-life options; it went further and modernized the experience in many aspects, creating the best possible version of one of the greatest games of its generation." —Critical Hits

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The seventh main entry in the 21-year-old action-RPG franchise—and the fastest-selling Capcom game in history— Monster Hunter Wilds is one of the best games of the year so far, according to critics. "Not so fast," say gamers—specifically, PC gamers. While reviewers appreciate how Wilds evolves, refines, and streamlines the Monster Hunter formula, complaints have been piling up on Steam (and elsewhere) about the game's sluggish performance on PC and also about Capcom's less-than-ambitious schedule of updates. (A new update does arrive on June 30, however.)

"Although it's possible that Monster Hunter Wilds could put off some veterans who started early with the series, it's made a massive jump in progress towards being a more well-rounded game that is inviting to a much broader audience. In terms of visuals, it's the best the series has to offer and the seamless world makes the environments come to life like never before. Add on the improved combat and mount controls and it's a game you won't be able to put down once you start." —MMORPG.com

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Late-2025 adventure game sensation Dispatch is just your average playable workplace sitcom. Well, except for the fact that there aren't really any other playable workplace sitcoms ... and that the workplace here is a superhero dispatch center. Playing as Robert Robertson/Mecha Man, forced to take a job as a dispatcher after destroying his mech suit in a losing battle, you'll need to manage and deploy a roster of quirky superheroes (voiced by a cast that includes Aaron Paul and Jeffrey Wright) while navigating workplace politics. Developed by a team of former Telltale Games staffers (including veterans of Tales from the Borderlands and The Wolf Among Us), Dispatch was nominated twice at The Game Awards shortly after its release and quickly sold two million copies in just its first month on the market, wildly surpassing the hopes of its creators.

"Setting a new high bar for interactive storytelling games, Dispatch takes the Telltale formula, refines and matures it into an essential experience. With world class voice acting bringing a top quality script to life, this game is a surprise GOTY contender." —Finger Guns

Metacritic's Best PlayStation Exclusive of 2025. When pioneering game developer Hideo Kojima released the mysterious, open-world sci-fi action-adventure title Death Stranding in 2019, the game both wowed and confounded critics. But this first sequel is doing only the former. Set nearly a year after the events of the first game—in the same bizarre, post-apocalyptic world, but now mainly in Australia rather than the United States— DS2 returns many of the main characters from the prior release, including those voiced by Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, and Troy Baker. No longer an elaborate "walking simulator," the PS5-exclusive sequel features more action and combat and appears to address just about every complaint leveled at the first game. It also looks fantastic and boasts an impressive cast. But a few critics think the sequel's greater embrace of accessibility makes On the Beach a little less interesting in the process.

"In what will prove to be one of the defining games of the PS5 generation, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a profound achievement of design, gameplay, narrative, and visuals. As all four meet in the middle, Kojima Productions has crafted a cinematic spectacle that flawlessly transitions between action and traversal, all wrapped up in the most absorbing of narratives. An immense upgrade on the first game, Death Stranding 2 is an unequivocal masterpiece." —Push Square

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Sektori is an indie twin-stick shooter created by solo developer Kimmo Lahtinen. A techno soundtrack and mesmerizing abstract vocals accompany the fast-paced action where no two runs are alike, thanks to dynamically changing levels, a large roster of enemy traits, and different upgrade paths. More than one reviewer deemed it one of the all-time greats in its genre.

"Sektori is an adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-your-seat assault on the senses. I barely blinked, I barely breathed, and I'm seldom so enthralled with a video game, even if I can't manage to beat it." —Gaming Nexus

This even better sequel to 2022's Citizen Sleeper is another indie sci-fi RPG utilizing a dice-based mechanic and modern, minimalist interface. The narrative-driven game finds your character—a corporation-controlled android known as a "sleeper"—awakening in an inhabited asteroid belt. There, you must find a ship and a crew to take you away from the corporation that seeks to retake you. Developed again by solo shop Jump Over the Age, Starward Vector has been praised by critics for its tense, cyberpunk storytelling.

"A fantastic sequel which succeeds in providing a mechanically deeper role-playing experience, while still being one of the best-written games around." —Metro GameCentral

The latest title from Swedish studio Hazelight is, like It Takes Two and A Way Out before it, a two-player co-op action game. And while those two games were well-reviewed, Split Fiction is even better. You and a partner play as writers Mio and Zoe—the former a sci-fi specialist while the latter writes fantasy—as each becomes trapped inside their stories by a machine hoping to steal their ideas. (The machine is not named ChatGPT—just making that clear.) You'll have to work together to overcome challenges in an impressive variety of settings as the action plays out in split screen. That variety—and the overwhelming creativity, ingenuity, and playfulness on display—make Split Fiction an easy recommendation by critics.

"Split Fiction is one of the most audacious games I've ever played, constantly reinventing itself in ways that somehow work when they simply shouldn't. There were numerous moments that stunned me into wondering how this game just kept getting away with design decisions that seemed like a disaster waiting to happen but instead led to some of the most memorable stages I've ever played. Finding someone to play with may be a challenge for some, but if you can remotely do so, you won't regret it." —Hey Poor Player

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Originally released in 2021 for the Xbox Series X/S, Forza Horizon 5 became the first game in the 20-year-old racing franchise to be released for any PlayStation console when it was ported to the PS5 in April of this year. The setting is Mexico, where you can drive through a diverse group of settings including jungles, cities, beaches, deserts, and even a snow-capped volcano, spanning 11 distinct biomes (and nearly 600 roads) in all. Other features include a single-player exploration mode called "Expeditions" and an arcade mode that scatters multiplayer minigames across the vast map. Critics loved it just as much on Sony's hardware as they did on the Xbox—in fact, thanks to years of updates, it's better and even deeper now than it was at launch on Microsoft's console. The sequel, Forza Horizon 6, arrives as a timed console exclusive on Xbox in 2026, but PS gamers should have a much shorter wait this time around.

"Forza Horizon 5 was well worth the wait for PS5 owners, who are getting the incredible racing game in its most content-rich state yet. Filled with polish and a progression system that makes every gameplay session feel meaningful, this is one of the best racing games ever made and a must-own for fans. If you've been a PlayStation-exclusive gamer, then make sure to check out what you've been missing." —PlayStation LifeStyle

Team Cherry's first sequel to its excellent 2017 Metroidvania Hollow Knight is more of the same, if "the same" means stunning design and challenging gameplay. New lands and foes await returning players as they attempt to navigate their character Hornet—now able to battle with acrobatic finesse—through the insect kingdom known as Pharloom. Despite Silksong's even greater difficulty, critics liked it just as much as (and perhaps even more than) the first game, and it went on to collect six nominations at The Game Awards (winning for Best Action/Adventure Game). A free expansion, Sea of Sorrow, is due in 2026.

"Team Cherry not only delivers on its much-anticipated follow-up to Hollow Knight but exceeds all expectations by constructing one of the most complete and coherent video games I've played in years. Hollow Knight: Silksong is an absolute triumph." —Final Weapon

Metacritic's Best New PlayStation Game of 2025. The first game from French studio Sandfall Interactive is a dark fantasy RPG set in a world where the evil Paintress wipes out every person at or above a certain age—with that number decreasing each time. You control multiple characters who are part of a yearlong expedition that sets out to prevent the next wipe from becoming reality. All prior missions have failed—will yours be any different?

Blending turn-based and real-time gameplay and featuring a voice cast led by Charlie Cox and Andy Serkis, Clair Obscur is one of the year's biggest hits—selling over 5 million units so far—while collecting widespread acclaim from critics and gamers alike for its moving story, unique combat mechanics, and striking visuals. It also set a record with 13 nominations at The Game Awards, winning nine including Game of the Year. Clair Obscur also scored Game of the Year wins from the Golden Joystick Awards and the Indie Game Awards but was forced to surrender the latter when it was subsequently disqualified for violating rules governing the use of AI.

"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a sheer triumph in every department, evolving beyond its inspirations to present one of the most engrossing RPGs of the last decade." —CGMagazine

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