From visuals to gameplay, most games bring you into their worlds with a variety of elements that help you form a connection with the characters and environment. If you want to truly immerse yourself in a video game, one of the best ways to do so is by wearing headphones and allowing its music and ambiance to carry you away from reality and toward a new adventure.
A game with great audio deserves to be played with a nice set of headphones. Luckily, Sony has its own headset available for the PlayStation 5. If you want to experience the console's excellent 3D audio, these titles will transport you to another world with their rich and absorbing audio design.
Updated on July 23, 2023 by Kyle Chamaillard: As the PlayStation 5's library continues to expand, there are even more games worth playing while wearing headphones. After a long day of work, there is nothing better than getting cozy on the couch with your favorite game and a pair of headphones to help you relax for the evening. We've decided to update this list to include even more essential PlayStation 5 games that are best played while wearing headphones.
15 TOEM
When someone describes a wholesome game, it tends to involve hanging out in a lovely environment with a charming art style in a world that seems like a warm hug. That's a great way to describe TOEM, a game about going around and taking photos while on a journey to see a natural marvel.
While there are so many aspects of this indie game to love, the audio is worth highlighting. The ambiance of each level sets the tone for the gameplay, from walking on the grass out in nature to the cars driving by in the city. Even the sound of the UI and the character voices are nice to listen to.
14 Gran Turismo 7
Car enthusiasts will have a fantastic time playing Gran Turismo 7 with headphones. The game is an ode to people who love them, from getting behind the wheel and driving in races to learning about the detailed history of some of the different vehicle models.
This game does an excellent job with its audio as well. The sounds of the cars vary depending on what you are driving, which makes for a more immersive experience. There is also a wide range of music to listen to while behind the wheel, from orchestral symphonies to rock music and much more.
13 Demon's Souls
Those who are obsessed with Souls games are missing out if they have never experienced them with headphones. Demon's Souls is a remake with a massive visual upgrade from the original, but that shouldn't distract from how excellent its audio design is as well.
The eeriness of each brutal environment paired with the sound of traversing through them can be nightmarish at first, but it's worth it. Aside from adding to the spooky atmosphere, wearing headphones while playing Demon's Souls will help you pick up audio cues during combat that can make countering much easier. Everything comes together in a fantastic symphony, and that's not even including the epic songs that play during boss fights.
12 Death Stranding: Director's Cut
While there are many open-world games available to play, there are few, like Death Stranding, which heavily focuses on the journey over the destination. As Sam Bridges, it's your task to make deliveries across a post-apocalyptic America and form connections with fellow survivors.
If you ask your local delivery person, they'll probably tell you the job is easier while listening to something. Death Stranding is incredibly ambient most of the time, but it's effective at pulling you into its dilapidated landscape. Wearing headphones during your journey immerses you that much more in the environment, and whenever music does kick in, it feels like a reward for the time you spent stumbling over rivers and steep hills.
11 Resident Evil Village
Playing horror games while wearing headphones is either the best or worst idea, depending on how much you enjoy being scared. Considering the fact that there aren't a ton of jump scares in Resident Evil Village, it may be the perfect game to play if you just want to immerse yourself in a spooky and surprising narrative.
What's great about Resident Evil Village is how much the different areas of the game vastly differ from one another, so you will always experience something aesthetically different. From running around outside in the snow to listening to the creepy sounds of Castle Dimitrescu, you can easily get lost in this world while wearing headphones, but that's not always a bad thing.
10 Astro's Playroom
For what is essentially a tech demo, Astro's Playroom may be one of the best games to come free with a console. The game does a great job using all the different aspects that make the PlayStation 5 great, from the haptic feedback to adaptive triggers.
But when thinking about a game to play that is both visually and audibly pleasing, look no further than this adorable title. The soundtrack may be one of the best on the PlayStation 5 right now, and everything from the sounds of the unique environments to the little chirps Astro Bot makes really help bring the game to life.
9 Final Fantasy 16
The characters and gameplay of Final Fantasy are constantly shifting and evolving, but one thing remains the same in each new entry - excellent and memorable soundtracks. Final Fantasy 16 feels much different than its predecessors, but it reliably features a dynamic score that elevates the adventure across Valisthea and its many kingdoms.
Composed by Masayoshi Soken, - who also crafted the soundtrack for Final Fantasy 14 - the music throughout Final Fantasy 16 is consistently fantastic and creates the perfect atmosphere for whichever situation you're in. From exploration to the epic Eikon battles, wearing headphones while playing through this epic adventure definitely enhances the overall experience.
8 God Of War: Ragnarök
As long as you don't mind hearing Kratos shout and roar a bunch, God of War: Ragnarök's sound design is worth listening to with the best set of headphones available. Everything from Atreus firing arrows to the crunching of the snow beneath your feet makes each realm come to life in harmony with the spectacular visuals.
Not only will you pick up new details and sounds while playing Ragnarök with headphones, but you might also notice more of the subtle voice performances from the many talented actors. A simple gasp or exasperated sigh can easily be missed with the audio coming from the TV, but headphones help you catch these brief moments of vulnerability and develop a better understanding of each character's motivations and true feelings.
7 Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Continuing with another cute title, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is the first time the series decided to do a full-blown platforming adventure rather than just providing a sandbox with creation tools. The game has a really nice art style, with most levels looking like they were made out of various knitting supplies and crafts.
The audio for Sackboy is superb as well, with various sound effects that remain constantly delightful throughout the game. Everything feels like a celebration, like the joyous pops whenever you discover treasure or enter a new area. The music is solid, too, including some licensed tracks that turn select levels into a musical ride.
6 Deathloop
If you want to sneak your way through a level without being noticed and killed, it's important to have headphones on so that you can be mindful of your surroundings. Deathloop is a great example of this, as the visual cues for getting caught can be easily missed, and you will know you've been spotted when the music kicks it into overdrive.
Beyond that aspect of the game, the sound design is phenomenal in Deathloop, especially with all the different weapons and trinkets that you can wield. Also, listening in on conversations that are happening around Colt as he is sneaking around can be a good way to pass the time, and having a pair of headphones on can make it easier to hear them.
5 Uncharted: Legacy Of Thieves Collection
Each game in the Uncharted series features lush environments full of wildlife, nature, and armies of bad guys trying to kill you. The Legacy of Thieves Collection features remastered versions of both Uncharted 4 and Uncharted: Lost Legacy, and for the best experience possible, headphones are an absolute must.
With the 3D audio on the PlayStation 5, you'll feel like you're actually in the wilderness as the sounds of birds flying over your head enhance the adventure. Not only do headphones make the world more immersive, but they will make sneaking around enemy outposts much easier as well, giving you a bit of an advantage before taking on 40 mercenaries at once.
4 Horizon Forbidden West
An open-world game is great to get lost in, but it isn't easy if the game doesn't have the proper aesthetic. Horizon Forbidden West is one of those games that is so visually stunning it's easy to forget how good the audio is too. That said, wearing headphones can really help get you invested in Aloy's journey.
Wandering around the vast world is great, as there is always some subtle music playing in the background as Aloy walks around or climbs a mountainside. Going into a cauldron causes the audio to sound more empty and hollow while the blips of a machine fill the void that is left. With all the great sights and sounds, the best by far that is enhanced with headphones is Aloy's Focus. Any time you activate it in-game, it'll feel like you've got one on the side of your head.
3 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Despite all the chaos that regularly follows them, it's always nice being in the world of Ratchet & Clank. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart took the duo to the next level as it was one of the first major Sony properties to get a PlayStation 5 exclusive title before arriving on PC in July 2023.
The power of the console is immediately on display from a visual angle, but the audio for Rift Apart is also stunning. In particular, you should put on headphones just to listen to the different guns Ratchet and Rivet shoot, as each weapon has a different dynamic sound. The voice acting for this game is top-notch as well, and it's easier to pick up on the subtleties of the performances with a pair of headphones on.
2 Hitman: World Of Assassination
From 2016 to 2021, IO Interactive developed three incredible Hitman games that you can now purchase as one package: Hitman: World of Assassination. With over 20 massive and complex levels to master, headphones will make your mission much easier as you attempt to terminate your target without being spotted.
There is so much happening in every stage that it can be easy to miss a clue or conversation that may lead you toward your mark. Not only will headphones help you evade security and other mishaps, but they will also make it easier for you to hear all the outrageous side conversations between NPCs that occur while you secretly murder people.
1 Returnal
Wearing headphones while playing games truly elevates to a different level. You're able to pick up on so much more of what's happening around you, and it helps immerse you in the game. And though it can leave you on the edge of your seat, there is no better audio experience on the PlayStation 5 right now than in Returnal.
The best reason you should play Returnal with headphones is for the overall atmosphere. You're on an alien planet, and the vibes match it. Each biome you explore is creepy and unfamiliar, and the noises enemies make as you approach will send chills up your spine when the sound is right at your ears and not coming out of the TV a few feet away.
Returnal is intense and unforgiving, and a single distraction can ruin a run. Not only will wearing headphones bring you closer to the action, but it can help block outside noise, which will help you focus on dodging enemy attacks and defeating the game's most ruthless bosses.