The PlayStation 5 has been out for quite some time now, so Sony has had plenty of time to release multiple games and update older titles to run better on the new console. In addition to the graphics and performance seeing a considerable improvement, the DualSense controller also has its own unique features.
Mainly, the Dualsense features adaptive triggers that change the resistance based on the action in-game and haptic feedback that more accurately represents what is happening on the screen. The games below are great regardless, so the DualSense features only improve the overall experience.
Updated August 23, 2023, by Chris Sanfilippo: Our latest update adds two indie hits that showcase the DualSense's capabilities well: the cryptic card game Inscryption and the street sign platformer The Pedestrian.
17 Stray
Part of what is so impressive about Stray is just how realistic the cat feels to play. This is not a humanoid cat or a cat with a human personality like in animated films. The cat in Stray has more in common with the feline in your living room than with you. The DualSense controller contributes to this immersion into a cat's life.
The meows come through the speaker on the remote, the adaptive triggers kick in when you need to scratch, and the nuanced vibrations are utilized when the cat rests and purrs. This is one of the best DualSense games for wanna-be cat lovers who can't have one of their own due to allergies.
16 Inscryption
A trading card game isn't the action-packed scenario one would imagine a DualSense controller was designed for. However, few trading card games are as engrossingly atmospheric as Inscryption, the supernatural strategy game published by Devolver Digital.
Inscryption is one of the best DualSense games because it focuses on minute details. Small vibrations recreate the tactile feeling of drawing cards by hand. Heightened moments, like when you're forced to pull out one of your teeth, become more potent due to crinkly controller SFX and fidgety haptic feedback.
15 Horizon Forbidden West
You'd expect Sony exclusives to make the best DualSense games for the platform. Not every game goes the way of Astro's Playroom, though. Horizon Forbidden West also came out on the PlayStation 4, so the developers could not make anything too reliant on the features exclusive to the DualSense.
All the same, the sequel to the 2017 open-world game uses haptic feedback and adaptive triggers well. This is most evident in the way you use the bow and arrow. The tension grows as you pull back the bow while prepping a shot.
14 Gran Turismo 7
Some genres feel more appropriate for the DualSense than others. Racing games are a no-brainer, especially for a series that strives for realism like Gran Turismo. The series has always ridden the line between realistic racing and easy-to-understand gameplay.
Whether you approach Gran Turismo as a simulator or an arcade racer, the PS5's DualSense features undoubtedly enhance gameplay. Every action elicits a reaction from the controller on par with how a car would act. While you might want to play with a racing wheel for the highest level of realism, Gran Turismo 7 is one of the best DualSense games to experience.
13 Dirt 5
Dirt 5 was a launch title for next-generation consoles that launched on late-gen consoles too. Even though it is available for many platforms, the PS5 version is one of the best DualSense games.
Adaptive triggers have been there since release, but only after an update did the vibration take advantage of the specific abilities of the PS5 controller. The varied terrain reacts differently depending on what surface you are driving on.
12 Bugsnax
This cutesy game came out early in the PS5's life and had a darker story beneath its surface. It also showed that the DualSense features were not only for big-budget games aiming for realism. The haptic feedback helps you feel more in tune with the environment.
It was hard to tell what Bugsnax was before release, but it revealed itself as a puzzle game based on using the abilities of the unique titular creatures on the island. It also has an adorable theme song from Kero Kero Bonito.
11 Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart
The most recent title in this storied series is arguably the best. Weapons have always been the star of the show, and the triggers in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart make the gunplay smoother.
You will utilize the gun's primary or secondary function depending on how hard you hold the trigger. This helps each weapon feel unique, which has always been the series' pride. Considering its positive reception, Rift Apart will be remembered as one of the best DualSense games.
10 Ghost Of Tsushima
The Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut adds many features, including a new island and a DLC chapter. One of the adjustments to the gameplay is the inclusion of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
These features shine the brightest when Jin Sakai is riding his horse - You can feel the different terrain in your hands through the controller. It's safe to say that you spend a decent amount of time on your horse, so you will have plenty of time to experience why Ghost Of Tsushima is one of the best DualSense games.
9 Demon's Souls
This launch title became a great reason to own a PS5 on day one. Despite being a remake, Demon's Souls was one of the most beautiful games of 2020, thanks to the new technology.
The developer, Bluepoint Games, remained faithful to the PS3 original, being cautious not to add redundant features. The controller provides haptic feedback and expanded sounds of clashing and effects from its speaker. But Demon's Souls is one of the best DualSense games because these effects never feel too intrusive.
8 Control
Control performed poorly on late-generation consoles, often dropping under 30 frames per second. Fortunately, the Ultimate Edition launched for the current generation runs significantly smoother and includes prior-launched DLC.
Including adaptive triggers and haptic feedback propel Ultimate Edition beyond the usual update, making Control one of the best DualSense games. You can feel Jesse Faden's footsteps, and the triggers make each form of the service weapon feel different.
7 Last Of Us Part 1 And 2
On the PS4, The Last of Us Part 2 already looked like it was built on next-generation technology. Then, it was updated for the PS5, running at 60 frames per second with additional haptic feedback. We'd say that makes for a worthy replay. TLOU Part 2 makes you feel every kill and immerses you in its post-apocalyptic landscape, making it one of the best DualSense games.
Not to be completely outdone by its sequel, The Last of Us re-launched on the PS5 in 2022 with an intense graphical facelift as The Last of Us Part 1. While some questioned the necessity for a remake of such a new game with a perfectly competent remaster, it gave the game more accessibility features and DualSense support.
6 No Man's Sky
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No Man's Sky disappointed many people at launch, but the developer turned the ship around and created one of the most beloved living games - it didn't take long for an update to bring this 2016 title to the PS5 and add full DualSense support.
When mining, you feel the tools heat up through increased resistance in the triggers. Additionally, you'll feel the engine's throttle when taking off in your ship. These creative ways of using the controller and several other effects make No Man's Sky one of the best DualSense games.
5 The Pedestrian
The Pedestrian lets you take on the role of a stick figure that traverses a cityscape via street signs, traffic lights, blueprints, electronic displays, and more. This game is an innovative 2D puzzle platformer with imaginative mechanics and tough but fair challenges.
Shookum Arts' puzzle game is a hit regardless of haptic feedback integration. But the dedication to the DualSense seen in its PS5 port is impressive. Everything in this adventure has haptic feedback, from the pitter-patter of your stick figure's feet to the rumble of a subway train. The Pedestrian is arguably the best DualSense puzzle game!
4 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
It is worth it to play Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS5 for the increased performance and the controller features despite it also coming out on PS4. For example, DualSense vibrations signify when specific attacks are fully charged up, which adds plenty of ease to the experience.
More interestingly, the location of the vibration on the controller during combat even hints at where attacks are coming from, acting as a more involved form of Spidey sense. Insomniac was clear that Miles Morales was not the sequel to the 2018 game. But if Miles Morales was any indication, the full-length follow-up should be one of the best DualSense games of 2023.
3 Astro's Playroom
Even though the PS5 features backward compatibility, Sony packed a free game on the SSD out of the box. Astro's Playroom is a tribute to the entire history of the PlayStation and includes references to just about every game that once made a home on Sony's consoles.
The title is also the best DualSense game you can play, using every opportunity to implement the controller's features into gameplay. When on a beach, for example, you feel each footstep through the sand - or when in the rain, you'll feel each droplet on the controller's surface.
2 Marvel's Avengers
Marvel's Avengers was notorious on the PS4 for how loud it got the system's fans running. This issue was remedied with the next-generation patch, which runs smoothly and does not bring the console to its knees.
The developer also integrated DualSense support, making Marvel's Avengers one of the best DualSense games to date. Each hero has different abilities; the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers reflect their play styles. Using Thor's hammer feels significantly different from using Captain America's shield, and so on.
1 Returnal
Returnal is not an easy game to get into. It is a Roguelike PS5 exclusive and is just as punishing as most titles in the same genre. Those who can power through it will find themselves in an exciting world while uncovering the game's compelling mystery.
The DualSense triggers directly impact combat: hold them down halfway to aim and hold them down entirely to fire. While it may not be an ideal setup for all third-person shooters, it works in a fast-paced bullet hell like Returnal, making it one of the best DualSense games.