20 Best PS5 Single-Player Games You Should Play

While it may seem like everyone is in the middle of pivoting towards games as a service, there are still plenty of excellent solo experiences out there to enjoy with the ninth generation of console gaming already proving just that. The best PS5 single-player games show that there’s nothing to be worried about for those who don’t want every game to turn into a second job.

Though they dabbled in some multiplayer-focused titles over the lifespan of the PS4, Sony were focused on narrative games for the majority of the console’s life, bringing some of the defining games of the generation in the process. Efforts like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Ghost of Tsushima truly shone on the big black box, and now Sony’s new weird white box is looking to keep that trend going.

If you’re tired of battle passes, creeping microtransactions, and getting destroyed by children online, here are the best single-player games on PS5 you should be trying out.

 

The Best PS5 Single-Player Games

20. Bugsnax

Developer: Young Horses
Publisher: Young Horses

One of the most talked about games following the PS5’s reveal for quite the myriad of reasons, Bugsnax is a wacky games for players of all ages that sees you investigating a strange island where the animals are sentient food.

Weirder still, eating these titular Bugsnax will transform body parts, leaving the residents of Snaktooth Island looking very strange indeed. They see it as a completely normal thing when their arms turn into strawberries, though.

Catch Bugsnax, make new friends, and try to figure out what the heck is going on in this barmy adventure game from the makers of Octodad. It’s not for everyone, but those who do fall in love with it end up talkin’ ’bout Bugsnax for a long while.

 

19. Immortals Fenyx Rising

Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft

Basically like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey but made by Dreamworks, Immortals Fenyx Rising slowly grew on a lot of people when it released at the backend of 2020. While undeniably derivative of Breath of the Wild, there’s a reason why that game is so beloved: it’s damn good. More of it is totally fine by us.

Immortals Fenyx Rising follows Fenyx (the player-created character) as they are embroiled in a battle between Olympus and a usurper by the name of Typhon, who is on a quest for revenge. You must take on the corrupted legends of Greek myth and restore order in a giant open world.

While it might be a tad too similar to Breath of the Wild for comfort, Immortals Fenyx Rising’s approachably fun gameplay, large scale, and silly laughs make it an easy pick up and play game that’s great to waste a few hours with.

Still should have stuck with Gods & Monsters as the name, though.

 

18. Tales Of Arise

Developer: Bandai Namco
Publisher: Bandai Namco

The “Tales Of” has been a JRPG hallmark for generations, with titles like Vesperia and others garnering critical acclaim for their excellent graphics, satisfying combat and great story. If want to see the series at its best, Tales of Arise is the game for you.

Set during a feud between two warring planets, Tales of Arise sees the more medieval world of Dahna being subjugated by the advanced civilisation on Rena. The story sees the Dahnan native of Alphen teaming up with Renan royalty in the form of Shionne, as the two work to take out the occupying forces on Dahna.

With a huge focus on countering and dodging attacks rather than mashing buttons to win, Tales of Arise’s gameplay will keep you invested for the 40+ hours you’ll need to finish the game.

 

17. Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy

Developer: Eidos Montreal
Publisher: Square Enix

For a while now, it’s felt like Marvel have been waiting for that big AAA video game to pop off in the same way that the MCU has, and while the sales of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy would suggest otherwise, this is the best Marvel game in a long time.

Instead of controlling the entire group, players control Starlord as he leads the Guardians to save the whole universe from a massive threat. You’ll order your Guardians to attack, chaining together moves to create exciting combos that decimate your foes.

While the gameplay is rock solid, the story and chemistry between the Guardians themselves is the beating heart of this game, and it’s what’ll keep you hooked until those credits roll.

 

16. Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Developer: Sumo Digital
Publisher: SIE

It might not be LittleBigPlanet 4, but Sackboy: A Big Adventure still brings the franchise mascot to the forefront for a fun outing all his own.

A PS5 launch title, Sackboy: A Big Adventure follows the stringed lad as he looks to stop Vex from building his Topsy Turver while saving his friends in the process. A deep setup it certainly isn’t, but platformers have never exactly been famed for their strong narratives.

No, what you’re coming to Sackboy for is a game for the young ones that you can play right alongside them, a relatively fuss-free and joyful outing that you can dust off in an afternoon — and have a mile-wide smile the whole time. It makes good use of the PS5’s new features as well, such as haptic feedback and 3D audio.

While it’s a little difficult to justify spending £70/$70 on it for how quickly it can be dusted off, Sackboy is absolutely worth picking up on a small discount.

 

15. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft

A single-player PS5 game that just never seems to end, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is seen by many as the definitive Viking video game experience. Well, that was until Valheim came along, though Valhalla is a completely different kind of skol to try out.

If you’re familiar with Origins and Odyssey, you’ll know exactly what to expect with Valhalla: an utterly gigantic open world RPG with something to do almost every other step. You play as Eivor, a Viking who ostensibly leads the Raven Clan to settle in England, one raid at a time.

While Ubisoft didn’t go quite as far as they could have with the feature, being able to customise your settlement while adding new residents and buildings over time is a worthwhile addition to the formula. Backing that up is a beefy combat system, a good amount of loot to collect, and a surprisingly great storyline, even if does have some stodgy pacing at points.

Unfortunately, Valhalla is a little over-monetised with plenty of things to spend your money on, though you can technically go through the whole game without feeling pressured into taking the plunge.

 

14. Dying Light 2

Developer: Techland
Publisher: Techland

The original Dying Light is already considered one of the best open world RPGs you can play, offering players a giant parkour playground filled with zombie punching bags, so it’s no surprise that the sequel, Dying Light 2, turns that action up to 11.

Set years into the apocalypse in one of the last remaining human cities on Earth, Dying Light 2 follows Aiden, a Pilgrim who arrives at the city of Villedor in search of his lost sister. What he finds is a city on the brink of civil war, and a Volatile that gives him a nasty case of the biteys.

While Aiden lives the rest of his life on borrowed time, the infection coursing through him has amplified his abilities, which is nice when the hordes of zombies and hostile humans are baying for your blood.

 

13. Death’s Door

Developer: Acid Nerve
Publisher: Devolver Digital

If you’re looking for a game that feels like an amazing blend of classic Zelda games and modern Soulslike titles, Death’s Door is the game for you. Throw in a bit of a comedic take on the afterlife, and you’ve got a single-player game that’s well worth your time.

You play as a small crow, who happens to work for the Reaping Commission Headquarters, a beaurocratic afterlife agency designed to send creatures on their way, regardless of if they want to. After a successful mission, you stumble onto a conspiracy concerning all of crow-kind, and the afterlife may never be the same again.

With more weapons and magic to find, along with plenty of upgrades across the game’s three dungeons and the chance to backtrack for more goodies, Death’s Door is one of the best PS5 single-player games on the market.

 

12. The Artful Escape

Developer: Beethoven & Dinosaur
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive

For fans of highly musical indie games that boast a surprisely stacked voice cast, The Artful Escape is an easy recommend. The title itself gives you some clue as to vibrancy you can expect from this adventure, but the full journey needs to be seen to be believed.

As the nephew to the now-deceased folk singer Johnson Vendetti, Francis feels the weight of expectation upon him as a musician, especially as he’s set to perform at a 20th anniversary show for one of Johnson’s albums. Fortunately for Francis, a chance encounter the day before the concert leads him on a journey of self-discovery through the cosmos.

With an all-star cast of actors, an art style unlike anything else ever made and brilliant platforming gameplay, The Artful Escape is well worth playing.

 

11. Life Is Strange: True Colors

Developer: Deck Nine
Publisher: Square Enix

Life Is Strange has built its name on creating thought-provoking and emotional stories that players across the world can enjoy, but perhaps none are as brilliant or as beautiful as Life Is Strange: True Colors. Just make sure you keep the tissues handy, as this one will get emotional.

Like all Life Is Strange, the story follows someone with superpowers, this time focused on Alex Chen, an empath who can literally feel the emotions of others. True Colors sees Alex honing her powers as she tries to solve the mystery surrounding the death of her brother.

Alex’s investigation will require her to get to know the residents of Haven Springs, and the choices you’ll have to make long the way will stick with you long after the credits have rolled.

 

10. The Pathless

Developer: Giant Squid
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive

Here’s proof that not every open world game has to be packed to the gills with content to be a journey worth taking.

Coming from the creators of Abzu, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see that The Pathless offers some restraint from the kitchen sink nature of its peers, it instead preferring to focus on its core gameplay and beautiful visuals to see it through.

And it really works: The Pathless is one of the most unique, captivating open world games around. You play as a young huntress who is trying to put an end to The Godslayer, an evil entity who’s corrupting nature. With your trusty eagle friend and bow at your side, you must find a way to stop it, but nothing is spelled out for you.

The Pathless’ non-linear approach and simple yet massively enjoyable gameplay would be enough on their own, but when you mesh those with the game’s stunning aesthetic and amazing soundtrack, you have a single-player game worth hunting down on PS5.

 

9. Lost Judgment

Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: SEGA

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have become one of the most reliable names in gaming when it comes to providing amazing single-player games, with the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series offering excellent thrills if you like beat ’em ups or turn-based RPGs. However, if you prefer your detective thrillers, the Jugdment series is just for you.

While the original Judgment also has a PS5 version, Lost Judgment is the superior version, following private investigator Takayuki Yagami as he investigates a grisly murder case tied to a high school bullying incident. What he’ll find will shake his very resolve and sense of justice to the core, when he’s not distracted playing with his drone, anyway.

RGG Studio’s slick combat and epic storytelling combine here to make Lost Judgment an absolutely unmissable experience.

 

8. Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

We’ll ignore the dodgy fact that Capcom released Devil May Cry 5 but with added Vergil as an entirely new game for PS5, just as it’s a great game regardless of the packaging.

Arguably the best Devil May Cry game since Dante started quipping his way through problems on the PS2, Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition sees you playing as Dante, Nero, and newcomer V as they look to stop Urizen in Red Grave City. It takes about five seconds for Devil May Cry 5 to become much more wonderfully off the wall than that.

The main attraction is the combat, as it should be with any DMC entry. Each character feels unique and satisfying as numbers rack up on-screen, combos pulled off ever more stylishly as the screen getting less congested. While not as flashy, V brings even more variety than the two posterboys, which isn’t even mentioning Vergil’s bombastic debut as a playable character.

Limber up your trigger fingers and prepare for one hell of a time with Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition. Seriously, limber up: this game will give you cramp.

 

7. Astro’s Playroom

Developer: Japan Studio
Publisher: SIE

The best pack-in game of all time? While Wii Sports might have something to say about that, Astro’s Playroom is a pretty much perfect introduction to the PlayStation 5 — and it’s completely free, too.

Basically a whimsical traipse through PlayStation history, Astro’s Playroom is a fun platformer that also acts as a great marketing tool for the PS5. Each region is a new feature of the console and the game shows them off remarkably well, the DualSense features in particular.

Wherever you’re a long-time PlayStation fan or new to the consoles, Playroom will have you grinning through its many brilliant easter eggs and upbeat tone, especially when the bonafide banger that is GPU Jungle is playing.

Here’s hoping for a full-fat single-player PS5 Astro adventure in the near future — he’s every inch the PlayStation mascot.

 

6. Sifu

Developer: Sloclap
Publisher: Sloclap

Martial arts and video games have often gone hand in hand, but few games have even come close to accurately portraying Pak Mei form specifically as Sifu has. It makes sense, considering one of the game’s chief advisors, Benjamin Colussi, is a Pak Mei kung fu master, but the core gameplay is worthy of merit in its own right.

A relatively small game, Sifu is all about practicing until perfection, as you control an unnamed kung fu prodigy looking to avenge the death of their master at the hands of five deadly assassins. It sounds like a daunting task, but you do have an amulet that lets you cheat death. The downside? Each revival will knock years off your life.

Sifu’s satisfying combat and replayability, as you try to complete the levels in as few deaths as possible, make this game such a rewarding single-player experience.

 

5. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Developer: Insomniac
Publisher: SIE

While a little on the short side, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is the perfect dessert for the one-time PS4 exclusive that points towards the direction for the franchise going forward.

Taking the reins of the titular Miles Morales with Peter Parker off on a well-earned vacation, you must put a stop to the destruction that the battle between the rebellious Underground and Roxxon corporation is wreaking on Manhattan, one Venom Blast at a time.

Though largely the same as the first game despite some new gadgets and powers, that old adage about things not being broken certainly applies here — Miles Morales is an enormously entertaining time with plenty of content to tuck into outside of the brief story.

With support for up to 60 frames per second gameplay or 4K resolution, web-swinging has never been as smooth and satisfying as this. Here’s hoping a full-fledged sequel improves on what is already a brilliant franchise — co-op Spider-Man, anyone?

 

4. Hitman 3

Developer: IO Interactive
Publisher: IO Interactive

The closing act in the World of Assassination trilogy, Hitman 3 is the best way to say goodbye to 47 and Diana, at least for now.

Featuring similar gameplay to the first two excellent games, Hitman 3’s small tweaks to the formula don’t exactly reinvent the wheel, rather they just make an exceptionally dynamic game feel even more dynamic.

Drop into a sandbox and figure out how to take out the targets — that’s really all there is to it. However, it’s everything in the middle — all the experimentation with often hilarious results — that defines Hitman 3 as one of the best stealth games ever made.

A game designed to be played over and over with plenty to unlock, making each level completely different depending on how you approach it, Hitman 3 just keeps on giving. That’s especially true when you have bananas to throw and grape pressing machines to abuse.

 

3. Demon’s Souls

Developer: Bluepoint/FromSoftware
Publisher: SIE

One of the most unloved games at the time of its initial release finally had the chance to launch with the audience it deserves alongside the PS5 — and it took the opportunity with both hands.

Few people seemed to really “get” Demon’s Souls when it first came out, leading to it becoming a bit of a cult classic, a curio in the history of Soulsborne that was perhaps a little tricky to go back to. With Bluepoint’s excellent remake, Demon’s Souls now has the following it should have had from day one.

Buffing out some of the original’s rough edges while keeping others to maintain its spirit, Demon’s Souls really isn’t going to sway those who haven’t loved From’s misery simulators in the past, no matter how pretty it looks and smooth it is to play.

However, for those who want to be challenged and inevitably dislodge their DualSense from drywall, Demon’s Souls is as good an origin as they come and yet another reminder that Bluepoint know how to remake the classics. What’s next?

 

2. God Of War Ragnarok

Developer: Sony Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

If someone asked you to name single-player games on the PS5, God of War Ragnarok would probably be one of the first you’d mention, and that’s for good reason. As far as the best PS5 single-player games go, Santa Monica Studio’s Norse epic is the best exclusive in their catalogue by a country mile.

Following on from the events of the original PS4 game, God of War Ragnarok once again follows Kratos and the boy, Atreus, as they now work together to try and prevent Ragnarok from bringing ruin to the nine realms. Unfortunately for them, Thor, Odin and a vengeful Freya are all looking to get their pounds of flesh from the godly duo.

Using the original game as a foundation, God of War Ragnarok builds on what was already considered by many to be a masterpiece to create one of the best PS5 single player games ever made.

 

1. Elden Ring

Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco

As single-player adventures on the PS5 go, Elden Ring is simply the best of the best. Challenging without being unfair, rewarding without handing everything to you on a silver platter, and filled with so many memorable moments and locations, Elden Ring is a single-player game that everyone should try. It might not be for everyone, but it could be your new favourite game.

A open would Soulslike, Elden Ring sees players controlling a chosen Tarnished, who must travel across The Lands Between and slay the various rampaging demi-gods. As a Soulslike, you’ll be challenged at every turn by enemies, traps and environmental hazards all looking to take you down, but the game’s open world allows you to find new gear and opportunities elsewhere.

Being able to tackle Elden Ring in a more freeflowing manner allows players to give themselves the challenge they want to have. Either take on the big bosses immediately, or go level up first. Both are valid, and being able to choose helps make Elden Ring the best PS5 single-player game out there. That, and the amazing combat, of course.

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