Here are the first 5 games to play on your new PS5

On December 25, 2024By Littum

If you just picked up (or were gifted) a PS5 (or PS5 Pro) console this holiday season, welcome to the club! You’re a little late to the PS5 party, but that’s actually a good thing. Over the past four years, Sony’s flagship console has built up a very strong library of the best PS5 games, including choices to suit almost every gaming taste, so you’ve got plenty to look forward to. And that’s before you consider that the PS5 is compatible with (almost) all PS4 titles.

Once you’ve connected your PS5 console to your television and completed the initial startup process (a strangely enjoyable experience, in this writer’s opinion), it’s time to decide which PS5 games to play first. But knowing where to start can be overwhelming with so many choices. That’s why I’ve created this guide covering five essential PS5 games that provide an ideal starting point.

These are not only PS5 games worth playing, but each showcases the console’s capabilities in some way, making them great introductions to the world of PS5 gaming. So let’s dive into the five PS5 games you should play on your new console first…

Astro Bot

Astro Bot screenshot

(Image credit: Sony)

Every PS5 comes with a pre-installed copy of Astro’s Playroom. This two-hour experience is an effective taster that showcases the console’s performance and the unique features of the DualSense controller. But if Astro’s Playroom is the appetizer, then Astro Bot is the full meal. This recent winner of Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024 is not just a celebration of all things PlayStation, but a phenomenal platformer that rivals even Mario’s best.

You play as the pint-sized hero on a mission across the galaxy to pay back your robot friends (some dressed as iconic game characters), and each different level is bursting with creative ideas and secret collectibles to find. Most exciting are the stages with the theme of a specific PlayStation title such as God of War or Uncharted. Astro Bot’s colorful visuals also look fantastic on PS5, and the DualSense controller is again used to great effect, simulating different sensations from walking across sand to the rumble of an active volcano. Regardless of age, Astro Bot is a must-play PS5 game that serves as a reminder of how joyful gaming can be.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 2 screenshot

(Image credit: Sony)

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a supremely confident sequel. Developer Insomniac Games made not just one of the best superhero games ever, but one of the best pieces of Spidey media ever. Building on the framework laid out by its PS4 predecessor, Spider-Man 2 lets you play as two Spider-Man – Peter Parker and Miles Morales – as they grapple with some of their toughest challenges yet, including the appearance of a mysterious symbiote suit that offers destructive new powers, but at a severe personal cost to Parker.

The biggest draw of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the highly cinematic campaign that packs a bit of everything from playful comedy to dramatic character moments. And when you’re not locked in a battle against Kraven the Hunter and Venom, you can explore a newly expanded New York City. Swinging through the skyscrapers of Manhattan is still exciting, but now you can glide through Brooklyn and Queens with your trusty web wings. If you’re new to PlayStation’s take on the webhead, make sure you play Spider-Man Remastered and Spider-Man Miles Morales first.

The last of us part 1

The Last of Us Part I screenshot

(Image credit: Sony)

If you’ve upgraded to a PS5 from a PS4 (or even a PS3), then you’ve probably already played The Last of Us. This 2013 Naughty Dog-developed title is often listed among the best video games ever made and was already remastered for Sony’s fourth generation console. But, The Last of Us Part 1 is the definitive way to experience Joel and Ellie’s journey across the country, and believe me, it bears repeating. A decade later, it’s still a definite masterpiece.

The Last of Us Part 1 is a remake from the ground up of the original. There are no narrative additions (although the excellent Left Behind DLC chapter is included), but almost every visual aspect of the game has been improved. Additionally, there are some minor gameplay changes to make battle encounters smoother than ever. I’d call this remake an essential experience even for veteran TLOU players, but it’s even more of a must-play for newcomers who haven’t had the chance to endure (and survive) The Last of Us before.

Return

Return image

(Image credit: Sony)

Returnal is one of the PS5’s true console exclusives and a seriously underrated game in the system’s library. Players looking for a challenging experience (it’s not Demon’s Souls) will want to pick up this sci-fi shooter that combines a rogue-lite structure with bullet-hell gameplay. And yes, that mix is as intoxicating in practice as it sounds on paper. But just be warned, Returnal struggles and will punish players without quick reaction times.

In Returnal, you play as an astronaut who has crash-landed on a mysterious hostile planet. If being stranded in an alien world full of nightmarish creatures wasn’t bad enough, you’re also stuck in a time loop. Each time you die, you reawaken at the scene of the crash and must once again set out to tackle the planet’s many threats and get closer to the truth in the loop. The ambiguous story will frustrate some players, but even if the narrative doesn’t grab you, the fast-paced gameplay that involves dodging leon-bright bullets will.

Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 screenshot

(Image credit: Arrowhead)

Helldivers 2 was one of the breakout hits of 2024, and the obvious choice for any PS5 owner looking to get in some co-op action on their shiny new console. A sequel that’s bigger and better than its small-scale predecessor in almost every way, Helldivers 2 sees you team up with up to three other players and plummet to the surface of various sprawling planets to complete randomly generated objectives, which contributes to a large-scale war effort.

Developer Arrowhead has mastered the fundamentals of third-person shooters. Assembling a powerful rifle and firing a volley of bullets feels satisfying. What makes Helldivers 2 so special, however, is its penchant for mayhem. Friendly fire is enabled by default, and you’ll often end up doing more damage to your allies than enemies when you call in an airstrike to destroy your enemies. But instead of this being frustrating, it’s all part of Helldiver 2’s immense charm. Plus, you’ll be forced to play this one for dozens of hours as there are tons to unlock, including weapons, outfits, base upgrades, and more.

Do I need PlayStation Plus?

PlayStation Plus Collection feature

(Image credit: PlayStation)

When you boot up your PS5, one of the first questions you’ll be greeted with is whether you want to sign up for PlayStation Plus. There are three unique tiers, but the base tier is PlayStation Essential at $10 per month (or $79 per year). Essential membership gives you access to online multiplayer (you can play offline without PlayStation Plus), cloud storage features, exclusive PlayStation Store discounts and a rotating selection of monthly games.

The next tier is Extra ($15 per month, $100 per year), this gives you all of the above along with access to a huge catalog of over 400 PS5 and PS4 games, including The Last of Us Part 1 and Returnal . Finally, there’s Premium ($18 per month, $120 per year), which gives you all that, along with the “Classics Catalog,” which includes select PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP games all playable on PS5 (although some only via cloud streaming).

PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium offers a great way to access hundreds of games for a single monthly price, but newly released games usually take a while to find their way into the subscription library (if at all). If you want a more comprehensive breakdown of the differences, you can see our full overview PlayStation Plus Essential vs. Extra vs. Premium guide.