Highlights

  • Quantum Error may have gone unnoticed, but its bugs and questionable decisions prevent any enjoyment.
  • Destruction AllStars failed to revive the vehicular combat genre due to underwhelming gameplay.
  • Astro's Playroom, a pre-installed game on PS5, offers a vibrant world and unique DualSense controller features.

The PlayStation 5 launched on November 12th, 2020, and includes enticing features such as quicker load times, the impressive DualSense controller, and the promise of truly next-gen exclusive games. Early console exclusives included Deathloop, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade expansion.

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However, we're only interested in true exclusives here, the games that can only be purchased and played on the PS5. Here are the games you should seriously look into once you've booted up your console and are ready to dive into the world of enhanced graphics, rapid loading times, and innovative controller effects.

Updated on March 10, 2024, by Kyle Chamaillard: There are still only a handful of games you can only play on the PS5, and we've decided to update this list to remove the games that have been ported elsewhere and add the new ones to see where they rank against the rest.

This list excludes games exclusive to the PSVR2, like Horizon Call of the Mountain and Dark Pictures: Switchback VR. While the hardware is connected to the PlayStation 5, it's a different platform that deserves its own list one day.

8 Quantum Error

A Big Mistake

Quantum Error

Developer(s)
TeamKill Media
Publisher(s)
TeamKill Media
Genre(s)
FPS

Even though there are only a few PS5 exclusives, Quantum Error has gone so far below the radar that most people don't even know it exists. It was barely featured in Sony showcases and rough reviews pushed it further away from general interest.

Developed by a small team, Quantum Error follows a firefighter in space as he investigates horrific research facilities. There are some interesting ideas here, like the ability to switch between first-person or third-person perspectives, but a plethora of bugs and questionable decisions burn away any possible feelings of enjoyment while playing it.

7 Destruction AllStars

Fast And Furious

Destruction AllStars

Released
February 2, 2021
Developer(s)
Lucid Games
Genre(s)
Racing
ESRB
T For Teen due to Fantasy, Violence

It's a shame how few vehicular combat games are available these days. The genre was immensely popular in the late 90s, but quickly became oversaturated with games and nearly disappeared completely. Sony attempted to breathe new life into the genre with Destruction AllStars, but it ended up crashing and burning with its concept.

Destruction AllStars almost has everything it needs to be a hit. The diverse roster of characters is compelling and unique, and each driver has their own abilities and vehicles. While the game was originally announced to be sold at full price, Sony instead released it for free to PlayStation Plus subscribers for the first two months after its launch. Unfortunately, the free price tag and interesting characters couldn't save Destruction Allstars from its underwhelming gameplay and bland stages.

6 Silent Hill: The Short Message

A Fleeting Experience

Despite many of its spin-offs appearing on other consoles, like the Wii, the mainline Silent Hill games are often associated with the PlayStation. The series has reentered the zeitgeist as multiple games are currently in development - including a remake of Silent Hill 2 and a few new titles - and The Short Message was the first playable entry since the P.T. demo launched in 2014.

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As per its title, The Short Message is only a couple of hours long, but most people would agree that it overstays its welcome. It plays similarly to P.T. as you walk through narrow hallways, but it fails to ever reach the same heights as its predecessor and feels more like a poor imitation instead of an innovative step forward. If you're curious about The Short Message, the best part about it is that it is free to download.

5 Astro's Playroom

Say Hello To Your Little Friend

Astro's Playroom

Released
November 12, 2020
Developer(s)
ASOBI Team
Genre(s)
Platformer
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence

Once you finally have your PS5 at home, it will take some time to download the majority of the games you bought along with it. Fortunately, the console comes pre-installed with one of its best games, which you can play right away while you wait. Astro's Playroom is so much fun that by the time your other games finish installing, you might not want to leave its vibrant and creative world.

Though it's a short experience, Astro's Playroom is packed with exciting levels, stellar music, and a fascinating retrospective on the history of PlayStation consoles. Astro Bot is one of Sony's more adorable mascots, and guiding him through gorgeous levels is an absolute blast. The best part about the game, though, is how it utilizes the DualSense controller's many features — such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers — to create an immersive platformer unlike any other.

4 Final Fantasy 16

A Game Of Eikons

Final Fantasy 16

Released
June 22, 2023
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Genre(s)
Action RPG
ESRB
Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

Since the original Final Fantasy launched on the Famicom and NES, the series has consistently subverted and reconstructed the definition of an RPG. Final Fantasy 16 mostly throws the turn-based mechanics of its predecessors away in favor of a more action-oriented playstyle that's reminiscent of Bayonetta and Devil May Cry. It's a bold strategy that creates a refreshing journey while still feeling like a Final Fantasy game.

Heavily inspired by Game of Thrones, Final Fantasy 16 follows Clive Rosfield as he seeks revenge for a betrayal that changed his life forever. It might not be the longest Final Fantasy game, but its focused narrative keeps the plot moving at a steady pace that continues to build until the epic final battle. Between the fast-paced combat system and the spectacular battles between the god-like Eikons, Final Fantasy 16 feels like a game that could only run on the PlayStation 5 due to its scale and ambition.

3 Demon's Souls

A Reimagined Classic

Demon's Souls

Released
November 12, 2020
Developer(s)
Bluepoint Games
Genre(s)
RPG
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence

When Demon's Souls was first released for the PlayStation 3 in 2009, it was beloved by the few who played it — but wasn't able to make it into the mainstream on its own. Over time, its spiritual successors gained more momentum, and eventually, the Souls series and their spin-offs became some of the most popular and anticipated games of the generation. When Sony announced that Bluepoint Studios would be remaking the often-overlooked original, fans couldn't have been more delighted.

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The Demon's Souls remake launched alongside the PS5 in 2020 and remains one of the best exclusives in its library. It features new weapons, armor, and an enhanced character creator, among other quality-of-life improvements. Its astonishing graphics and incredible gameplay create an immersive adventure in a world full of secrets and magnificent bosses.

2 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

A New Spin On An Old Adventure

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Released
2023-02-29
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Genre(s)
RPG , Action RPG
ESRB
Teen // Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

Final Fantasy 7 Remake ambitiously retells the opening hours of the original game and stretches it out to a nearly 40-hour journey. It's a fairly linear experience that ends with Cloud and the gang outside the walls of Midgar ready to explore an unknown world. The sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, picks up right where its predecessor left off and is somehow much larger in scope than anyone could have imagined.

With an immersive open world full of engaging activities, mini-games, and a consistently entertaining soundtrack, Rebirth perfectly encapsulates the feeling of exploring the original Final Fantasy 7. Beyond its excellent design, Rebirth also contains some of the best combat in any RPG, expanding on the formula from Remake to create an endlessly fascinating and fast-paced take on the original ATB system. Simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking, Rebirth is an essential title for anyone with a PlayStation 5.

1 Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Swinging To The Top

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Released
October 20, 2023
Developer(s)
Insomniac Games
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure
ESRB
Teen: Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence / In-Game Purchases

Spider-Man 2 builds from the foundation of the first game and Spider-Man: Miles Morales to create one of the most seamless and endlessly exciting open worlds on the PlayStation 5. Swinging around New York City feels amazing, and the DualSense controller uses unique features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers to make you feel like an actual superhero.

One of the most impressive aspects of Spider-Man 2 is how it balances the two protagonist's stories to give them unique but equally compelling arcs that eventually tie into each other. Both Peter and Miles have grown since their first adventure, and the game does an excellent job of depicting what it would be like to be a superhero who can't hold a job because of their secret identity. With a riveting plot, exciting combat, and worthwhile side activities, you'll be stuck in Spider-Man 2's web after the opening hour and won't want to leave.

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