The PlayStation 5, now past the midpoint of its life cycle, has seen its library grow considerably, even as the rate of must-play new releases has been slower than on previous PlayStation consoles. Titles such as Grand Theft Auto 6 are still anticipated later in the year. To help players navigate the growing selection, Polygon has compiled a living list of the best games experienced on the platform, influenced by the team's personal tastes and updated with new additions.
The selection process prioritizes the quality of each title while also aiming for breadth and variety to cater to different player preferences, available time, and desired experiences. The latest update on September 8 incorporated Hades 2, Marathon, 007 First Light, and Star Wars Zero Company.
Among the newly added titles is Star Wars Zero Company, a superb squad strategy game set during the Clone Wars era. Developed by Bit Reactor, it offers fine-honed game design with precision, personality, and puzzle-like ingenuity, complemented by an element of unpredictability. The game compellingly portrays the collapse of the Republic from a ground-level perspective, allowing players to form attachments to characters, especially with the default permadeath setting.
007 First Light, developed by IO Interactive, revitalizes the James Bond game franchise with a slick and entertaining blockbuster action experience. The game intelligently blends set-pieces with IO Interactive's signature open-ended social stealth gameplay, offering a unique perspective on a young James Bond and a thoroughly satisfying adventure.
Marathon, Bungie's take on the extraction shooter genre, provides an electrifying multiplayer experience for those who can navigate its challenging asymmetric PvPvE gameplay. The game is commended for its intensity, drama, interesting solo and group roles, intriguing sci-fi world-building, and Bungie's signature satisfying gunplay, all realized with stunning art direction.
Hades 2, the sequel to Supergiant Games' roguelike action hit, refines the brilliance of its predecessor. It features crisp combat, exquisitely balanced randomized boons, and a perfectly judged progression system. The game's characterful take on Greek mythology, complete with its signature bickering characters, solidifies its position as a top-tier indie offering.
Capcom's Pragmata is highlighted as an unexpected gem in the sci-fi action genre. The game blends modern blockbuster sensibilities with deep, old-school video game vibes, focusing on themes of fatherhood and AI threats. Its gameplay innovation comes from the android companion, Diana, whose hacking ability is presented as a grid-based minigame that integrates compelling quickfire puzzles into the third-person shooting.
Alan Wake 2 is described as a survival horror masterpiece and a meta-mystery. Remedy Entertainment expands on the original game's premise with a dual-protagonist setup, allowing players to switch between Alan Wake and FBI agent Saga Anderson. The game skillfully transitions between methodical detective thriller and reality-bending cosmic horror, signaling a new generation for blockbuster horror gaming.
Astro Bot has elevated Team Asobi to the top tier of Sony's developers. Expanding on Astro's Playroom, this full-fledged platformer stands alongside Nintendo's greatest, showcasing DualSense controller capabilities through stunning visuals, haptics, and sound design. It is a celebration of PlayStation history, honoring past creations while establishing its own spirit for the future.
Baldur's Gate 3 has achieved significant critical and commercial success. Larian Studios' Dungeons & Dragons-based RPG has adapted well to the PS5, offering strong storytelling, memorable characters, and immense player agency. The PS5 version further enhances the experience with split-screen co-op, solidifying its place as one of the best role-playing games available.
Blue Prince offers a unique blend of walking simulator, puzzle game, roguelike, and deck-builder. Players explore an ever-shifting mansion, picking the next room from randomly dealt blueprints. It's a game that rewards exploration and understanding individual room mysteries over pure logic, resulting in a bewitching experience of chance and discovery.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a bewitching and rewarding RPG that echoes the era of Final Fantasy XIII with its lush visuals and epic storylines, combined with an old-school turn-based battle system. Developed by ex-Ubisoft staff at Sandfall Interactive, the game features an excellent combat system, endearing characters, imaginative art, and a moving storyline, making it a true original.
