Returnal (PS5)

Not that it needed to, but with Returnal, Housemarque has proven itself an incredibly capable studio. This PS5 exclusive is a frantic, ultra-tight third person shooter dressed up with some rogue-like elements to add variety and unpredictability to the mix, and the result is wonderful.

Trapped in a loop on a hostile alien world, Selene is forced to relive her fateful crash landing each time she dies. There's an amazing sense of accomplishment as you slowly progress through challenging boss encounters and explore six diverse environments full of randomised weapons, perks, and power-ups. It feels amazing to play, especially with amazing support for the DualSense's features, and the addictive gameplay is complemented by an enigmatic story that will leave you guessing.

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The best part is that's just the start. A slew of additional modes flesh out Returnal, giving you a few extra ways to play when you're done with the single player campaign. The daily challenge mode provides all players with a fixed loadout and room layouts, with the goal of amassing the highest score possible by exploring and playing skilfully. Beyond that is the Tower of Sisyphus, an endless arcade mode that similarly tasks you with getting the highest score you can, only there's more of a sense of urgency. You're rewarded not just for skilled play but for fast play — your multiplier will start to tick down if you loiter for too long. The Tower also contains additional story, adding more layers to the mysterious narrative the main game offers.

Finally, there's two-player online co-op. This allows you to join or invite another player and go through the main campaign with a companion, potentially alleviating some of the challenge. While it isn't the primary focus of Returnal, the co-op works splendidly; resources are shared between you, forcing you to make decisions on who gets what, and a revival mechanic lets you bring each other back into the fight. It's just as much fun taking on the world of Atropos with a friend as it is alone, if not more so.

Whether you're in it for the world class gameplay, the atmospheric sci-fi setting, the intentionally mysterious story, or the variety of extra modes, Returnal is among the most robust, rewarding, and addictive games on PS5.

Rise of the Ronin (PS5)

Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS5)

With creator Media Molecule focusing its attention on PS4’s boundless sandbox Dreams, LittleBigPlanet’s whimsical weaved hero deserved his Super Mario 3D World moment. Sackboy: A Big Adventure doesn’t pull up any trees like its predecessors, but is instead a robust co-operative platformer with some memorable musical moments. With a cutesy DIY aesthetic and some surprisingly tight action, it excels in an area that Sony has often been accused of overlooking: fun for the whole family.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake (PS5)

Stellar Blade (PS5)

Console debuts simply don’t get much stronger than Stellar Blade, a throwback combat-centric adventure that channels retro PS2 energy in all the best ways. This sturdy single player campaign has a strong visual identity, a stunning soundtrack, and some outstanding art direction. It’s also bursting with unlockable, off-the-beaten-path content, like a bunch of outfits and accessories you can unlock.

The God Slayer (PS5)

The Last of Us Part II Remastered (PS5)

Arguably the greatest PS4 game, upgraded and repacked for PS5, with cut content and an all-new roguelike inspired mode, which takes full advantage of Naughty Dog’s underappreciated third-person shooter gameplay. The Last of Us Part II Remastered will hold few surprises for those who’ve already played the original, groundbreaking outing – but that doesn’t make it any less essential.

The Last of Us: Part I (PS5)

Forever tainted by its high launch price, The Last of Us: Part I is a faithful remake of Naughty Dog's 2013 masterpiece that brings the post-apocalyptic adventure up to modern standards. While the gameplay is largely untouched, its visuals shine with stunning character models, gorgeous backdrops, and an abundance of detail to ensure there's something to look at in every corner. Some will forever question why it was needed, but The Last of Us: Part I has never looked better.

The Nioh Collection (PS5)

Team Ninja's answer to the popular Dark Souls series is Nioh, a punishing but satisfying action RPG based on Japanese history and folklore. The Nioh Collection on PS5 brings the two titles together in one package. Fortunately, both games are excellent — fairly linear but featuring fast, deadly melee combat that has you swapping between stances to gain the upper hand. The pair of games are remastered for the up-to-date hardware, running at up to 120 frames-per-second on the right display, and support DualSense's haptics and adaptive triggers. Two cracking action titles for the price of one, and looking and playing better than ever on PS5? A no-brainer.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (PS5)

A compilation including two of the PS4’s most beloved games was destined to be well-received, and while the absence of PS3 era adventures like Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves prevents this from being definitive, it’s still an absolute must for thrill seekers. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End paints protagonist Nathan Drake as a weary buccaneer on one final score, while the even more refined Uncharted: The Lost Legacy – originally intended as DLC – acts as a kind of Greatest Hits album, with series stalwart Chloe Frazer serving as a superb step-in for Nate. Series creator Naughty Dog could have done more to upgrade these greats for the PS5 console, but there’s no question this collection is a must-play.