We play all the PS5 launch games that were released with the system so you know which ones to pick up with your shiny new toy.
The PlayStation 5 is out in the wild, and although it’s incredibly hard to get and going for thousands of dollars on eBay, for those of you who did win the next-gen console lottery, you’re probably going to want something to play.
Here’s a quick round-up of all the major PS5 launch games you should be considering:
Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS5, PS4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOJWJHzyNkw
Spidey’s debut back on the PS4 easily became one of the best superhero games on the market, and this quasi-sequel only improves on that. Following the plights of Miles Morales this time, Insomniac has clearly learned from some of its minor missteps. Out of place stealth missions are no more, as are the controversial puzzle-based mini games.
Instead, the flow of Miles is much more successful, and thanks to the inclusion of new ‘venom’ moves, combat continues to be an absolute treat while still feeling fresh. Oh, and playing it all in a steady 60fps in performance mode is a sight to behold. The whole experience is a lot shorter, as expected, but if you only pick up one PS5 launch title out of all the games available, this is the one.
Demon’s Souls (PS5)
Welcome back to the game that started the whole Soulsbourne fandom in the first place. Simply put, Demon’s Souls is a simply stunning remake of the beloved original, and one of the most impressive games of 2020.
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A side-by-side comparison between the PS3 original will absolutely blow you away and is an early testament to the power of the PS5. Yep, she’s an absolute beaut, that much is certain.
It’s also tough as balls, so prepare to die many, many times. Thing is, it’s an almost addictive loop that although inherently frustrating, will also push you to get better with each new attempt. That said, if you’re after a more casual experience, maybe save this one for later.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (PS5, Xbox Series S|X, PS4, XBO, PC)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOxWQGkho4E
Call of Duty is back and remains as solid as it ever has, and the good news is that there’s a little something for everybody.
For the solo player, the campaign is brief, but a fun romp that delivers a dose of spy action, the more typical bombastic spectacle and a few setpieces that are truly wild and unexpected.
The multiplayer suite, meanwhile, will keep the COD devout satiated, with a special shoutout to the pure chaos of the new Fireteams mode – a 40-person mode with four-person squads.
Oh, and Zombies once again remains the frantic, fun blast that helped blast it to popularity in the first place. Cold War might not be for everybody, but it certainly provides excellent bang for buck.
Just make sure you have the right version.
Godfall (PS5, PC)
Every console launch has its generic action title, and for the PS5 that honour goes to Godfall, a generic action game to rival all generic action games. With a paper-thin story about an evil doer attempting to become a god, and an incredibly repetitive slasher gameplay loop, Godfall never quite transforms into anything particularly memorable.
Thankfully, the variation in combat can be enjoyable, the game is pretty as a bloody picture, and the whole thing wraps up in around 10-20 hours. For those on the hunt for a cheeky loot grind, you’ll get it in spades with plenty of chests to crack open, which is where a lot of the game’s appeal lies.
At the end of the day you can do a whole lot worse than this, and it’s also one of the few PS5 exclusives that help show off the machine’s graphical fidelity.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS5, PS4)
While much of the attention is on Astro thanks to it being one of the free launch games that comes installed on all PS5 consoles, Sackboy’s latest adventure is nothing to sneeze at either.
It’s a massive collect-a-thon at heart and that’s perfectly fine in our books when it’s this creative and well put together. A special shoutout also needs to go out to the soundtrack which will almost definitely take you by surprise.
Sackboy’s Big Adventure is a perfect option if need some family-friendly entertainment, are after some local couch co-op or if you need a refreshing change of pace from the more action-heavy moments of Demon’s Souls and Miles. Fingers crossed this is just the start of many.
Bugsnax (PS5, PS4)
Honestly, we don’t know where to even begin with Bugsnax, but considering it’s made by the team behind Octodad: Dadliest Catch – the game that saw you controlling an Octopus trying to play it cool during day-to-day life – you know you’re in for a wild time.
Thankfully though, this game packs a lot more depth than Octodad as you spend much of your time attempting to capture many of the titular Snax’s in a variety of means. Think a stranger take on Pokémon Snap from the late 90s’.
It’s also got a hell of a lot of charm, the character designs are creative and its story will keep you more engaged than you might first think. All this helps overlook the odd technical flaw and loading time, but if you have PlayStation Plus it’s currently free, so go bloody download it!
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition (PS5, Xbox Series S|X)
Devil May Cry 5 was already a pretty game when it first released and this beefed-up version takes things to a whole other level. The ray tracing is a sight to behold and the loading is a heck of a lot speedier.
If you’ve beaten the game already, the two new modes should help stretch out your playtime a little more. Turbo mode will boost the game’s speed while the Legendary Dark Knight difficulty adds some serious challenge, and both demand completely unique approaches to how you play – breathing some extra life into the overall package.
That’s without even mentioning the addition of fan-favourite Vergil who is another big win, and thankfully you can play through the whole experience as him – no switchies.
Also Out…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeRnez3di1I
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered (PS4, XBO, PC, Switch)
With so many racers leaning towards the simulation route these days, its nice to get back into one that encourages a bit of rough and tumble – and by that we mean slamming the absolute crap out of one another.
Granted, this is a remaster of the 2010 original, but you’ll be pleased to know the gameplay still holds up beautifully. You’ll alternate between fast and furious street racer and the police tasked with brining them down, and both sides of the law are a treat to play.
Plus the return of Autolog (a more modern online leaderboard) means you’ll likely be shaving down seconds off your times as you try to best your mates. It’s just a shame it doesn’t look as good as it could have.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope (PS4, XBO, PC)
The second entry in the Dark Pictures series, Little Hope thankfully makes some real strides from its predecessor Man of Medan. And thanks to the fact that all the stories are self-contained it means you can pick up this spooky tale with zero context required.
This time you find yourself in an especially eerie town that was once home to witch trials and a terrible tragedy. Without going into specifics, the story is still a slow burn, but has plenty of frights to get the heartrate going as the death count rises.
Still, as with the last game, this is best experienced via co-op with a friend who will control their own character and make decisions independent of yours. Neither will know the full story but it will create some excellent conversation once all the dust settles.
Ghostrunner (PS4, XBO, PC)
Ever wanted to be a cyberpunk ninja assassin? Ghostrunner grants you precisely that wish and it’s one of 2020’s biggest surprise gems.
The name of the game here is speed, and Ghostrunner demands plenty of it with pinpoint accuracy as you run, jump and slide about its world, ready to deal serious damage with your blade. The feeling of pure power as you’re able to dodge and deflect enemy fire is one few games are able to provide.
It won’t always be this glorious, meaning you’re going to cark it plenty of times, but that’s rarely an issue thanks to some wonderfully quick respawns that thrusts you back into the action. At around 8-10 hours, the whole experience never outstays its welcome and the confirmation of a next-gen upgrade in 2021 makes this a very worthy investment indeed.
XIII (PS4, XBO, PC)
When XIII first came out back in 2003 it became a cult favourite beloved for its graphical style and comic book sensibilities. Bizarrely, this modern remake throws much of that out the window, adopting an entirely new art style that while still well done, lacks the charm and originality of the original.
Where things are really let down is the game’s performance, with an abundance of slowdown and screen tearing that mars the whole experience. No, not even David Duchovny voice acting can save it, so here’s hoping many of the issues get solved via future patches.
