Best PlayStation 5 Exclusives You Should Play in 2026

“Exclusive” gets messy these days because a lot of PlayStation’s biggest games also land on other platforms, particularly the PC, and sometimes, even the Xbox, much later on. Still, there’s a very real difference between a game that feels built around PS5 hardware and a multiplatform release that just happens to run well on it.

For this list of the best PlayStation 5 exclusives, we’re sticking to games you can play on a PS5 right now that are either PlayStation console exclusives or part of the PlayStation first-party orbit, even if a PC version exists. However, our focus is on the former.

Also, a quick note before we dive into the best PlayStation 5 exclusives available today. If you’re about to disappear into a 60-hour story game or a sweaty multiplayer grind, your controller is going to feel every hour of it. If stick drift is already creeping in, it’s better to sort it early and have it serviced rather than fight your own crosshair.

Just Missed the Cut

God of War Ragnarök

It’s not PS5 only, but it belongs on any PS5 library shortlist. It hits that sweet spot between cinematic story and combat that stays fun long after the credits. If you want a big single-player game that feels like it had a serious budget behind it, this is the pick.

Horizon Forbidden West

This is the “fine, I’ll just explore for a bit” game that steals your entire weekend. Horizon Forbidden West looks ridiculous in the best way, with landscapes that feel like they were built to show off what the PS5 can do. The real win, though, is how it balances big set pieces with quieter moments. You can chase story beats, hunt machines, or just roam until you forget what you were supposed to be doing.

It couldn’t quite stick the landing with how outlandish it became, but hey, it’s a game with robot dinosaurs set in the future yet people are somehow both more primitive than us a millenia ago yet there’s technology exististing that’s way beyond our wildest imagination. Go figure.

Sackboy A Big Adventure

This is the easy recommendation when you want something lighter, friendlier, and co-op ready. It’s charming without being cloying, and it’s a great “play with someone who doesn’t live in shooters” option

ASTRO’s Playroom

The pack in that keeps overachieving. It’s part celebration of PlayStation history, part tech demo that accidentally turned into a really good platformer. If you somehow skipped it, you already own it. Fix that.

Returnal

Returnal is intense, weird, and a little bit addictive in the “fine, one more run” way. It’s also one of those games where the controller feedback does real work. You don’t just see danger, you feel it in your hands. It’s one of the best PlayStation 5 exclusives if it’s your cup of tea. Too bad it isn’t for everybody.

Honorable Mentions

Rise of the Ronin

This one is a great pick if you like open worlds but don’t want your combat to feel floaty. Rise of the Ronin drops you into a war-torn version of 19th-century Japan and lets you choose how honourable, chaotic, or opportunistic you want to be. The fun is in the duels and the moment-to-moment fighting. When it clicks, you start chasing that “one more mission” feeling hard.

Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy XVI is for anyone who wants their fantasy messy, dramatic, and loud. It’s a proper single-player RPG with an action-first combat style that keeps fights moving, even when the story slows down to let the politics and character drama breathe. It’s also one of those games where you’ll finish a big boss fight, put the controller down, and realise you’ve been clenching your jaw for ten minutes straight.

Horizon Call of the Mountain

If you own a PS VR2 (and you should get one, by the way), this is still one of the best reasons to plug it in. Best paired with the PlayStation 5 Pro, the game sells scale in a way that the mainline duology (so far, at least) can’t quite match up with, especially when a machine is towering over you, and you realise you’re not the main character anymore. It’s a different flavour of “exclusive,” but it’s a great one.

The Last of Us Part I

Even if you already know the story, this remake is still worth your time if you want the cleanest way to experience it on PS5. It’s a heavy game, emotionally and mechanically, but it’s also the kind of narrative that sticks in your head long after the credits roll. If you’re the type who plays one story game and needs a breather afterward, this is exactly that kind of ride.

The Best PlayStation 5 Exclusives

Gran Turismo 7

If you want a PS5 game that makes you sit up a little straighter, this is it. Gran Turismo 7 is part racer and part rabbit hole. You can spend an evening shaving tenths off a lap time, then somehow lose another hour tweaking a car you swore you’d leave stock. It’s also one of those games where the DualSense feedback actually matters with the level of polish that makes the entire package feel premium. You feel traction changes and braking mistakes in your hands, not just on-screen, and it could just as easily become your next obsession even if you never touch the online races.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

One of the earliest and best PlayStation 5 exclusives, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the easiest way to answer the question, “what does the PS5 actually do?”

The whole dimension-hopping idea isn’t just a gimmick. It keeps the pacing sharp, throws you into new spaces without that long-loading lull, and makes every big set piece feel like it’s showing off without trying too hard. It’s also an easy recommendation when you want a fun game that looks expensive, sounds great, and never drags.

Demon’s Souls

If you want a PS5 game that feels like a statement, this is it. It’s punishing, yes, but it’s also one of the most satisfying “learn the rules, get rewarded” games on the platform, which is surprising considering it’s a launch title. The reason it holds up is that it doesn’t need tricks. The world design is confident, the combat is honest, and every win feels earned. It’s also a great gateway if you’ve been curious about Souls games but wanted to start with something polished and not as difficult as Bloodborne.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Some games are “best of the year” because they’re deep. This one is “best of the year” because it’s just ridiculously fun to play. This sequel is one of the best PlayStation 5 exclusives because of the latter. Swinging still feels perfect, switching between Peter and Miles keeps the pace lively, and the whole thing knows how to deliver those blockbuster moments without forgetting the smaller personal ones. It’s also a great PS5 showpiece that doesn’t feel like homework. You start playing, and suddenly it’s midnight.

Just an aside before we hit the top five. If you’re grinding anything fast-paced and your camera starts drifting when you’re lining up a shot, don’t power through it out of stubbornness. That’s how controllers ruin good games. Our custom PS5 controllers are here when you need them.

ASTRO BOT

If you liked ASTRO’s Playroom even a little, ASTRO BOT is the “oh, so this is the full meal” version. It’s a proper platformer, not just a cute pack-in, and it leans into that classic PlayStation energy without feeling like it’s living off nostalgia. The big reason it belongs here is how it makes the PS5 feel fun. The DualSense is baked into movement and little interactions, so you’re constantly getting small feedback that helps the game feel alive in your hands. It’s pure joy, and it earns the hype as one of the best PlayStation 5 exclusives. period.

Stellar Blade

One of the best PlayStation 5 exclusives happens to come out of nowhere. A flashy single-player action game with bite, Stellar Blade rewards attention. You’re not just mashing through fights. You’re reading enemies, timing your responses, and getting that “okay one more try” itch when you mess up. It also lands in a sweet spot for PS5 owners because it’s built for the console from the start. No “this feels like a port” aftertaste. If you want something stylish that still makes you work for the win, this is it.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered

This is one of those games people argue about because it swings hard, and it does not apologise for it. As a PS5 package though, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is stacked. You get the main story with upgrades, plus the kind of extra mode you actually keep coming back to. “No Return” is the big one, because it turns the combat sandbox into a repeatable run-based challenge that’s perfect for quick sessions when you don’t want to commit to heavy story beats. If you want a PS5 exclusive that feels like it respects your time, this remaster does a better job than most.

Helldivers 2

Even if you never touch a competitive shooter, Helldivers 2 still has that “text your friends right now” pull. It’s co-op chaos with structure. You’re dropping into missions that can go clean or go completely sideways, and half the fun is how you recover when things start spiralling. It also keeps evolving with updates and new content, so it doesn’t feel like a game you finish and shelve.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

If the first Death Stranding felt like a weird, calming hike that occasionally turned into a panic sprint, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach leans further into that vibe and polishes the edges. Bigger and more flexible than the first game, Death Stranding 2 lets you deal with obstacles head-on, sneak around them, or avoid danger altogether, and that freedom is exactly the point. Much like with Returnal, Hideo Kojima’s latest masterpiece isn’t trying to be everyone’s comfort game, but it’s easily one of the best PlayStation 5 exclusives because it commits to how outlandish and different it is from the rest without comforming any bit.

Ghost of Yotei

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s is one of those games where you’ll tell yourself you’re going to do “one mission” and then you’ll look up and it’s suddenly dark outside. The sequel recaptures that feeling, and then some.

If you loved the mood and swordplay of Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is the kind of follow-up that makes sense without leaning on the same protagonist. The hook is that it’s built around player choice, letting you decide who to hunt first rather than forcing a strict order, all the while being set in 1600s rural Japan, following Atsu on a revenge path through the rugged north.

One last tip before you jump into the best PlayStation 5 exclusives. If you want your controller to feel better across long sessions, start with small tweaks you can actually feel. We put together a guide full of PS5 controller tips that help with comfort and control without turning your setup into a science project.