The best RPGs for PS5

Not only were we blessed with a fantastic, yet brutal, RPG right at the PS5’s launch, but it also just happened to be a remake of the cult hit that essentially birthed the souls-borne genre. Demon’s Souls Remake is both the most accessible, and inaccessible souls game for different reasons, but stands as a must-play for just about everyone. Yes, if you know what type of game a Souls game is and aren’t into it, this game probably won’t change your mind. If you love the difficult, slower, and more methodical style of RPG then this is the perfect one to start with, or experience for the first time if you missed it on PS3. Obviously, this game is a remake of the old 2009 game, but BluePoint didn’t just give it an almost unbelievably good-looking new coat of paint but also sanded down some of the original’s sharper edges. Gameplay-wise, Demon’s Souls Remake is nearly identical to the original, save for multi-directional rolling and a few other minor tweaks. As an RPG, this one fits the genre more for how it allows you to build your character. Sure, you can influence the story in numerous ways, in fact, more ways than you would think or even know without a guide, but the gameplay is the main draw here. You can build yourself to be a quick spear user, smash enemies with a giant two-handed sword, or cast spells or miracles from a distance. The world is such a beautifully bleak place, and designed so specifically, that you’ll want to give a new build a try just to go through it all again.

The original version of Ghost of Tsushima came out just months before the PS5 would launch. Despite the older hardware, it was still one of the most graphically impressive games we’d ever seen. The entire island of Tsushima was massive, detailed, and absolutely dripping with color and atmosphere unlike almost any open-world game before it. Many hoped we would see an enhanced version for the PS5, and Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut gave us everything we could’ve wanted. The game now hits an astounding 60 FPS, supports 4K resolution, and the already quick loading times are essentially eliminated. Technical upgrades aside, Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut is a tale worth going on. Based loosely on actual historical events, you play as Jin, a samurai during a Mongol invasion of his home. As he attempts to fight back the invading forces and rescue his uncle, his last surviving family, he must slowly resort to tactics viewed as dishonorable among the samurai. The story here is almost totally crafted here, with no real way to impact the events until the very end, but considering how much more personality we get from Jin as a result, it is a much tighter narrative. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut also includes an entire expansion to further detail Jin’s story and past, plus give you more open-world activities to take on.

We already mentioned one FromSoftware game, but Elden Ring is an entirely different beast. This game took the world by storm when it was released, captivating fans of the Souls genre and newcomers alike with its impeccable design. Yes, it is still based in the tough, methodical combat sensibilities of a Dark Souls game, but that’s paired with the freedom and open-ended nature of an open-world RPG. What this results in is a game that allows you to have much greater control over the difficulty than a normal Souls experience. If you’re finding a boss too hard, there are at least a dozen other places to go, bosses to fight, items to find, and secrets to uncover while you get stronger. The addition of Ashes to summon for help and the return of co-op further increase accessibility. This is also by far the largest, longest, and most content-rich experience the studio has ever created. With so many build possibilities, this is one game that absolutely lives up to the hype.