Best PS5 Games for New Owners, Ranked From Worst to Best

 

Astro Bot is the best PS5 game for a new console owner because it immediately demonstrates what makes the hardware different while remaining accessible to almost anyone. It is followed by Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Gran Turismo 7, Demon's Souls, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

Buying a PS5 can be confusing if you are looking at the entire PlayStation library at once. There are PS4 games that run on PS5, cross-generation releases, PC ports, remasters, remakes, and newer games designed specifically for current hardware.

This ranking focuses on the games that make the strongest first impression on a new PS5 owner. The goal is not simply to identify the best PlayStation games ever made. A great first game should show off the console, offer a clear introduction to its controls and features, and give the player a good reason to keep exploring the library.

The ranking was updated in August 2026.

How We Ranked the Best PS5 Games for New Owners

A new PS5 owner does not necessarily need the hardest game, the longest RPG, or the most expensive release. The first game should demonstrate what the console can actually do.

We considered five main factors: gameplay quality, PS5-specific features, accessibility, technical presentation, and long-term value. Games that work especially well for newcomers receive an advantage over titles that require extensive knowledge of previous entries.

That last point matters. A game can be excellent while still being a poor introduction to a console. Someone who has never played a Souls game, for example, may appreciate Demon's Souls, but it asks much more from a new player than Astro Bot does.

Rank	Game	Genre	Best For	PS5 Focus
1	Astro Bot	Platformer	First-time PS5 owners	Excellent
2	Marvel's Spider-Man 2	Action	Open-world players	Excellent
3	Gran Turismo 7	Racing	Driving fans	Excellent
4	Demon's Souls	Action RPG	Challenge seekers	Excellent
5	Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart	Action platformer	Families and casual players	Excellent
6	Returnal	Third-person shooter	Experienced players	Excellent
7	Final Fantasy VII Rebirth	RPG	RPG fans	Very strong
8	Stellar Blade	Action RPG	Combat fans	Very strong
9	Horizon Forbidden West	Action RPG	Exploration	Strong
10	Helldivers 2	Co-op shooter	Multiplayer	Strong

10. Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 is the best multiplayer choice for a new PS5 owner who wants to play with friends. It is also one of the easiest games on this list to understand within the first few minutes.

You choose a mission, select equipment, drop onto a planet, complete objectives, and try to extract. The simplicity of that structure hides a surprising amount of depth because weapons, enemy types, mission objectives, and team decisions constantly change the situation.

Friendly fire makes things even more unpredictable. A poorly placed orbital strike can destroy the same squad that called it in, and that kind of chaos is part of the game's appeal rather than a mistake in the design.

The biggest limitation for a first PS5 game is that it does not showcase every hardware feature as directly as Astro Bot or Ratchet & Clank. It is also built around online cooperation, so its value depends heavily on whether you want a multiplayer experience.

9. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West is a strong introduction to PlayStation's large-scale action RPGs. Aloy's journey combines exploration, ranged combat, machine hunting, crafting, and a large open world.

The machine encounters are the highlight. Different machines have identifiable weaknesses, armor components can be removed, and players can approach battles with bows, traps, elemental effects, and other tools.

The PS5 version also benefits from faster loading, detailed environments, high frame rate options, and DualSense features. Those improvements make the game feel more responsive than the PS4 version.

It ranks ninth because Horizon Forbidden West is a cross-generation game. It was designed to work on PS4 as well as PS5, so it does not demonstrate the hardware as aggressively as some games higher on this list.

Still, for someone who wants a large adventure after trying the console's smaller showcase games, it is an excellent next step.

8. Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade is a particularly good recommendation for new owners who want action rather than exploration.

The combat system is built around attacks, dodges, blocks, parries, and counters. Enemies have recognizable patterns, and stronger encounters require players to understand timing rather than simply increase their character level.

The game also uses the DualSense controller well. Combat feedback and environmental effects help make the controller feel connected to what is happening on screen.

Its story and presentation may not appeal to everyone, but that is not the reason it ranks here. The game gives a new PS5 owner a clear example of a modern action title built around fast combat and detailed character animation.

7. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the longest game on this list and one of the strongest choices for anyone buying a PS5 specifically for a major RPG.

The game expands the remake project's world considerably, moving the characters beyond Midgar and into a much wider journey. Exploration, side activities, combat, character relationships, and mini-games all contribute to a much larger experience.

The combat system combines real-time attacks with commands and abilities. Players can switch between party members during fights and coordinate abilities through the Active Time Battle system.

There is one major warning for newcomers. Rebirth is the second game in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, so starting here means missing important context from Final Fantasy VII Remake.

That prevents it from ranking higher as a first PS5 game. If you already know the remake project, however, this becomes one of the strongest choices on the entire console.

6. Returnal

Returnal is the game I'd recommend when a new PS5 owner says, "I want something difficult."

Selene's journey is built around repeated runs through an alien world. Death resets much of the immediate progress, but players learn enemy patterns, improve their movement, understand the environments, and gradually unlock permanent progression.

The shooting is fast and precise. Players need to move constantly, dodge projectiles, manage weapon modifiers, and pay attention to multiple threats at once.

The DualSense implementation adds detailed feedback, while the PS5's SSD keeps the transition between gameplay sections quick.

Returnal is not higher because it can be a poor first choice for someone unfamiliar with roguelikes. It demands patience. If you enjoy that learning process, it can become one of the best games in your library.

5. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is one of the safest recommendations for a new PS5 owner because it combines accessible controls with clear demonstrations of the hardware.

The dimensional rifts are the obvious example. Characters can move between locations almost instantly, creating transitions that would have been difficult to reproduce in the same way on older hardware.

The weapons are another strength. Each one changes the way you approach combat, and the game constantly introduces new tools rather than giving players a single dominant weapon.

The DualSense controller also plays a major role. Adaptive triggers provide different resistance depending on how weapons are used, while haptic feedback adds more detail to movement and environmental effects.

Rift Apart also works well for players who do not know the franchise. You can enjoy the story without having played every previous Ratchet & Clank game.

4. Demon's Souls

Demon's Souls is an excellent PS5 showcase, but it requires more commitment than the games above it.

Bluepoint's remake rebuilt the original PlayStation 3 game with modern visuals while retaining its demanding combat. Every enemy encounter can teach you something, and careless decisions are punished quickly.

The game also demonstrates the value of fast loading. Death is part of the design, so waiting through long loading screens after failure would have been particularly frustrating.

New players should understand what they are getting into. Demon's Souls does not explain everything clearly, and its systems are designed around experimentation. That is part of the appeal for experienced players, but it can make the game a rough first experience.

For someone who wants to understand the Souls formula while seeing what the PS5 can do, though, it is hard to beat.

3. Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo 7 is the best first PS5 game for racing fans and one of the most technically focused games available on the console.

The driving model rewards precision rather than simply pressing the accelerator. Braking points, racing lines, tire behavior, vehicle setup, and track knowledge all affect performance.

The PS5 version supports detailed cars, high-resolution visuals, fast loading, 3D audio, and DualSense feedback. The controller can communicate road surfaces and braking effects through its haptics and triggers.

Another advantage is longevity. A new owner can spend a short session completing a race or become deeply involved in collecting cars and improving lap times.

Gran Turismo 7 launched on PS4 as well as PS5, which keeps it below the most hardware-focused games in this ranking. The PS5 version is still the best way to play it.

2. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is one of the strongest first games for someone who wants to see the PS5 handle a large action blockbuster.

Players control both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, and the game lets them switch between the two heroes during parts of the campaign. Their abilities overlap in some areas but remain distinct enough to give combat variety.

Traversal is arguably the game's biggest strength. Swinging through New York is fast, responsive, and satisfying, while the PS5's SSD allows the game to move between large areas with minimal interruption.

Combat also benefits from the DualSense controller. Different abilities produce different forms of feedback, and the controller helps communicate movement and attacks without requiring constant attention to interface elements.

It ranks second because it gives new owners a stronger taste of the large-budget PlayStation experience than almost any other game. It also works reasonably well as a standalone adventure, although players who know the earlier games will get more context from its characters and story.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 launched on PS5 in October 2023 and later received a PC version in January 2025. That PC release means it is no longer a PS5-only game, but it remains one of the strongest games to demonstrate the console's capabilities.

1. Astro Bot

Astro Bot is the best PS5 game for new owners. It is short enough to avoid overwhelming someone who has just bought the console, yet inventive enough to demonstrate features that many larger games barely use.

Team ASOBI built more than 50 planets around different platforming ideas, enemies, environments, and power-ups. New mechanics appear frequently, so the game rarely settles into one repetitive pattern.

The DualSense controller is central to the experience. Haptic feedback communicates surfaces and actions, while adaptive triggers respond differently depending on what Astro is doing.

The game also acts as a celebration of PlayStation history. Players can rescue hundreds of Bots based on characters and franchises from across the platform's history. Those references are optional fun rather than required knowledge.

That makes Astro Bot unusually effective as an introduction. A player who has never owned a PlayStation can enjoy the platforming. A longtime PlayStation fan can spend hours noticing references.

The critical response backs up the quality. Astro Bot holds a 94 Metascore on Metacritic based on 136 critic reviews. ([metacritic.com](https://www.metacritic.com/game/astro-bot/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

More importantly, it answers the question a new PS5 owner is really asking: "What can this console do that my old system could not?" Astro Bot gives a clear answer through gameplay.

What Each Game Shows About the PS5

Game	Loading	DualSense	Visual Upgrade	Best Reason to Start Here
Astro Bot	Strong	Excellent	Strong	Best all-around introduction
Marvel's Spider-Man 2	Excellent	Strong	Excellent	Big-budget action
Gran Turismo 7	Strong	Excellent	Excellent	Racing
Demon's Souls	Excellent	Strong	Excellent	Challenge
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Family-friendly action
Returnal	Excellent	Excellent	Strong	Hardcore action
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth	Strong	Strong	Excellent	Large RPG
Stellar Blade	Strong	Strong	Excellent	Combat
Horizon Forbidden West	Strong	Strong	Excellent	Exploration
Helldivers 2	Strong	Strong	Strong	Co-op

What Didn't Make the Cut

Several excellent PlayStation games were left out because this list is specifically about the best first experiences for a new PS5 owner.

God of War Ragnarök is an excellent game, but it works better after playing God of War from 2018. The same logic applies to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which assumes knowledge of the previous remake.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is another strong PS5 showcase, but its slower structure and unusual systems make it a less obvious first recommendation. It is better suited to players who already know they enjoy Hideo Kojima's style.

Bloodborne remains one of PlayStation's most famous games, but its PS4 origins and lack of a native PS5 version make it a poor answer to the specific question of what a new PS5 owner should play first.

Which PS5 Game Should You Play First?

If you want one answer, start with Astro Bot. It is the easiest way to understand the DualSense controller, fast loading, modern PlayStation design, and the type of platforming Team ASOBI can build around PS5 hardware.

After that, the choice depends on what you enjoy. Choose Spider-Man 2 for open-world action, Gran Turismo 7 for racing, Demon's Souls for difficulty, Ratchet & Clank for accessible action, Returnal for demanding combat, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for a huge RPG.

You do not need to start with the biggest game. A good first PS5 game should make you want to see what else the console can do.

FAQ

What is the best PS5 game for a new owner?

Astro Bot is the best first PS5 game for most new owners. It is accessible, uses the DualSense controller extensively, has fast and varied gameplay, and does not require previous PlayStation experience.

Which PS5 game shows off the console the most?

Astro Bot and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart are among the strongest demonstrations of PS5 hardware. Both make substantial use of fast storage, DualSense features, detailed environments, and quick transitions.

What PS5 game should I play if I am new to PlayStation?

Astro Bot is the safest starting point because it does not require knowledge of PlayStation history. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is another strong choice, although playing the previous Spider-Man games gives its story more context.