The Best Single-Player Games You Can Play on the PS5

When it comes to single-player games, Sony has long since had the edge over its biggest rivals. This is because many of PlayStation Studios’ most talented developers focus primarily on narrative-driven experiences these days, which has resulted in some of the best single-player games of all time releasing exclusively on PlayStation consoles.

Granted, many big PlayStation exclusives have been released on PC in recent years, but Sony still reigns supreme in the home console space. The best single-player PS5 games are among the industry’s very finest and provide players with settings and storylines that are capable of keeping them engaged from start to finish.

GAMERANT VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT 12 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

Developer

Square Enix

Publisher

Square Enix

Release Date

June 10, 2021

Metacritic Rating

89

Is Final Fantasy VII Remake available on PS Plus? Yes (Extra & Premium). Is Final Fantasy VII Remake available on Xbox? No.

There’s a fair amount of discourse surrounding the best Final Fantasy games, with the series’ sixth, seventh, and tenth installments all having their fair share of supporters. When it comes to the most impactful, though, most seem to be in agreement that it was Final Fantasy 7, thanks in large to the PS1 classic having helped to drag the JRPG genre into the mainstream.

For this reason, Final Fantasy 7 was one of the most requested remakes of all time, though it was not until E3 2015 that Square Enix finally announced the project. Final Fantasy 7 Remake is the first part of a trilogy and does an excellent job of retelling, and, in some places, reimagining the original narrative. The new combat system strikes the perfect blend of turn-based and real-time, while the whole thing looks fantastic, particularly the Intergrade version for the PS5.

11 Hades

Developer

Supergiant Games

Publisher

Supergiant Games

Release Date

August 13, 2021

Metacritic Rating

93

Is Hades available on PS Plus? No. Is Hades available on Xbox? Yes.

Following its hugely successful release in late 2020, Hades was ported to the PlayStation 5 in August of the following year, offering a much smoother experience in terms of framerate. The popular roguelike action RPG looks a lot better on the PS5 too, thanks in large to the port’s support for 4K 60 fps playback.

The game sees players controlling the Prince Zagreus, as he attempts to escape the underworld and the influence of his father to track down his mother, Persephone. The storytelling is top-notch and is backed up by a fantastic RPG combat system. There’s plenty of post-game content too, ensuring that players are kept busy long after finding Persephone.

10 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Developer

Insomniac Games

Publisher

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Release Date

June 11, 2021

Metacritic Rating

88

Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart available on PS Plus? Yes (Extra & Premium). Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart available on Xbox? No.

There are plenty of great platformers on the PS5, but none that are quite like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Released in mid-2021, the game’s Rift Tether mechanic is a lot of fun to play around with, while the huge arsenal of weapons at the player’s disposal allows for some truly unique combat encounters and helps to keep things feeling fresh right up to the final boss.

Like a lot of other first-party exclusives, the game also features a wide array of accessibility options, helping to ensure that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy what it has to offer. Rift Apart marks a true return to form for everybody’s favorite Lombax and robot duo and is one of the best single-player titles on the PlayStation 5 thus far.

9 Persona 5 Royal

Developer

P-Studio

Publisher

Sega

Release Date

October 21, 2022

Metacritic Rating

95

Is Persona 5 Royal available on PS Plus? No. Is Persona 5 Royal available on Xbox? Yes.

For JRPG fans, Persona 5 Royal is about as good as they come. Even for those who are unfamiliar with the genre or have only dipped their toes into the water, it’s still a game worth checking out, more so now that it is available on the PlayStation 5. The PS5 port offers plenty of big improvements, including higher resolution assets and a silky smooth 60 frames per second.

The game follows a group of high school students who band together to expose the crimes of corrupt adults, with the titular Personas playing an integral role in the game’s combat. It also boasts plenty of great life sim elements, with players able to form special bonds with the people that they meet in order to unlock new skills and abilities.

8 Resident Evil 4

Developer

Capcom

Publisher

Capcom

Release Date

March 24, 2023

Metacritic Rating

93

Is Resident Evil 4 available on PS Plus? No. Is Resident Evil 4 available on Xbox? Yes.

For the most part, Capcom has done an exceptional job of remaking some of the older Resident Evil games, and 2023’s Resident Evil 4 is no exception in this regard. In fact, some will perhaps argue that it’s the pick of the bunch, with only the Resident Evil 2 remake really coming close to the brilliance of this hugely influential game.

Not all of the changes are for the better, but those made to the companion character Ashley make the remake a lot less frustrating, while the work done to flesh out some of the game’s secondary characters helps to improve the game’s narrative. To a certain extent though, this is as much a reimagining as it is a remake, with the 2023 title offering a different, albeit familiar experience.

7 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Developer

Insomniac Games

Publisher

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Release Date

November 12, 2020

Metacritic Rating

85

Is Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales available on PS Plus? Yes (Extra & Premium). Is Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales available on Xbox? No.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales was released alongside the PlayStation 5, offering players a chance to return to the beautifully rendered streets of New York that helped to make its predecessor such a hit with players. The deluxe edition of the game even comes bundled with a remastered version of Marvel’s Spider-Man, providing excellent value for those who never got a chance to experience the PS4 classic.

Even without this upgrade though, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales stands tall on its own two feet, with a compelling single-player storyline and a wide array of side activities and collectibles to keep players busy during their downtime. Such is the quality of the game’s map traversal, simply swinging around the city’s streets can also serve as an excellent distraction and provides a sense of freedom that few other games can match.

6 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut

Developer

Sucker Punch Productions

Publisher

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Release Date

August 20, 2021

Metacritic Rating

87

Is Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut available on PS Plus? Yes (Extra & Premium). Is Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut available on Xbox? No.

Some of the visuals on display throughout Ghost of Tsushima are absolutely stunning. This is especially true of the director’s cut of the game for the PlayStation 5, which offers a myriad of improvements over the PS4 original, including haptic feedback, support for higher resolutions and frame rates, and much faster loading times. It also includes the fantastic Iki Island DLC, which is a must-play for fans of the base version of the game.

Jin Sakai’s story is an incredibly compelling one and serves as a great example of why so many people love single-player games. He spends just as much time fighting the morals and ideals that his uncle ingrained within him as he does the invading Mongols, and players are given a front-row seat to enjoy his gradual transition into the titular Ghost and the emotional turmoil that comes along with it.

5 Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

Developer

Naughty Dog

Publisher

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Release Date

January 21, 2022

Metacritic Rating

87

Is Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection available on PS Plus? Yes (Extra & Premium). Is Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection available on Xbox? No.

Some developers have trouble knowing when to call time on a character’s journey, dragging it out to lengths so unnecessarily long that players simply stop caring. Thankfully, Naughty Dog is not one of these developers, with Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End providing a satisfying conclusion to the personal journey of one of the most compelling video game characters of all time.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection allows a new generation of players to experience Nathan Drake’s last hurrah, as well as the hugely underrated Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Both titles already looked fantastic prior to being remastered, but the power of the PS5 brings the games’ graphics to all-new heights. The remasters also make excellent use of the console’s adaptive triggers.

4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Developer

CD Projekt Red

Publisher

CD Projekt

Release Date

December 14, 2022

Metacritic Rating

94

Is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt available on PS Plus? No. Is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt available on Xbox? Yes.

Geralt’s actions may at times be a bit more morally grey than Drake’s, but the character is every bit as loveable, if not more so. Just like Naughty Dog, CD Projekt Red made the brave decision to conclude the character’s journey at the end of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with future Witcher titles set to star a brand-new protagonist rather than the fan-favorite witcher.

To say that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt provides a fitting conclusion to Geralt’s tale would perhaps be a bit of an understatement. It’s one of the best single-player games ever made, with a fantastic narrative and plenty of incredible side content. The PS5 version offers plenty of big improvements over its PS4 predecessor, making it a great option for those looking to re-live the CD Projekt Red classic or experience it for the very first time.

3 The Last of Us Part 1

Developer

Naughty Dog

Publisher

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Release Date

September 2, 2022

Metacritic Rating

88

Is The Last of Us Part 1 available on PS Plus? No. Is The Last of Us Part 1 available on Xbox? No.

Having already been remastered for the PS4 back in 2014, it could perhaps be argued that The Last of Us Part 1 was an unnecessary endeavor on Naughty Dog’s part. However, few would dare dispute the fact that the PS5 version of The Last of Us Part 1 offers a much better experience than the 2014 remaster, with the first act of Ellie and Joel’s journey having been lovingly remade from the ground up.

Those who already own The Last of Us Remastered probably don’t need to splash out for the 2022 remake, at least not at full price, anyway. However, for those who enjoyed the fantastic HBO series and are now looking to check out the game for the first time, The Last of Us Part 1 really is a no-brainer. It’s also an excellent choice for anyone looking for an incredible narrative-driven experience, as very few games can offer better.

2 Elden Ring

Developer

FromSoftware

Publisher

Bandai Namco Entertainment

Release Date

February 25, 2022

Metacritic Rating

96

Is Elden Ring available on PS Plus? No. Is Elden Ring available on Xbox? Yes.

Elden Ring is a phenomenal game on just about every level. It looks great, the combat is fantastic, and the lore of the Lands Between is incredibly well-fleshed out. Granted, like many other FromSoftware titles, the game does feature some multiplayer elements, but the optional nature of Elden Ring’s multiplayer arguably places the game very firmly in single-player territory.

Those looking for a challenging yet rewarding game can definitely find that here, not to mention a surprising amount of options when it comes to character builds. Certain setups can completely change the gameplay experience for players, allowing them to play to their own personal strengths or mix things up a little to provide an additional layer of challenge.

1 God of War Ragnarok

Developer

Santa Monica Studio

Publisher

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Release Date

November 9, 2022

Metacritic Rating

94

Is God of War Ragnarok available on PS Plus? No. Is God of War Ragnarok available on Xbox? No.

There really is very little to choose between God of War Ragnarok and Elden Ring, with the two titles going blow for blow across various 2022 game awards ceremonies. Kratos and Atreus have the edge when it comes to user friendliness though, with the conclusion to the pair’s adventure through Norse mythology catering to a much broader demographic due to the game’s simpler combat system and its fantastic selection of accessibility options.

This isn’t to say that God of War Ragnarok is easy; far from it, in fact. Playing the game on “Give Me God of War” mode can be every bit as challenging as some of Elden Ring’s toughest content, if not more so. There’s plenty of fantastic side content on offer too, which, when combined with the excellent story and everything else that Santa Monica Studio was able to cram in, makes God of War Ragnarok one of the best single-player games on the PS5; if not the very best.