We’re a few weeks into the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set, and things are starting to settle down as we head into (you guessed it) another set.
That’s right, Edge of Eternities is right around the corner, but before the space-themed set arrives, there have been yet more price fluctuations in the world of Magic: The Gathering.
Crashers: Vivi Drops Again
Vivi Ornitier was around $70 a week or two ago, but is now at around $45. He’s still incredibly popular, but he is dropping off.
Vivi’s synergies are also dropping. Harmonic Prodigy reached $13 but has started to roll downward, closing in on the $10 mark.
Perch Protection from Bloomburrow is also down, now as low as $8 for all you Chocobo lovers. It’s still up, but it’s lower than it has been.
Remember when Tifa, Martial Artist was absolutely flying at around the $50 mark? She’s seen a steep drop, likely because she’s included in the FF7 Commander precon.
She’s down to under $4 now, when just a few weeks ago she’d have set you back $50 (although she’s great fun to use in a game).
Climbers: Cloud Nine
For the first few weeks of the Final Fantasy set, a big focus was on counters thanks to Tidus’ Final Fantasy X deck, but now Cloud is our spiky-haired boy of the week.
The former lets you cast equipment as if it had Flash (and is up to over $20 from $3 in the last 3 months), while Sword of the Animist is up to $14 and lets you rack up land like there’s no tomorrow.
Finally, Panharmonicon gives you extra triggers, meaning you could build an absolutely savage board state very quickly indeed. Interestingly, Pnaharmonicon is sitting at around $5 still. I might have to invest.
Sticking with Cloud, the Kaldheim set’s Halvar, God of Battle is up to around $30 It gives equipped (and enchanted) creatures Double Strike, lets you mix and match equipment, and turns into the Sword of the Realms which can power up a card and protect it from death by sending it back to your hand. Not bad, Halvar.
Finally, another clash of Universes sees the RMS Titanic from the Doctor Who set rising in prominence. Why? Because the now $5 card is likely to be a big winner for the new rules in Edge of Eternities, which will see vehicles become more important since they can be used as Commanders.
MTG Sealed Sets
Everything else Final Fantasy is pretty hot right now, so if you manage to find anything in stock, it might be worth picking up ASAP to avoid disapointment.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He’s a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife’s dismay.
GameFly is running an impressive sale right now on PS5 and Xbox Series X games, plus Blu-ray movies. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking to save money on recent AAA games. You can get PS5 deals like Elden Ring Nightreign for $27.99 and Doom: The Dark Ages for $39.99. You’re not likely to find those kinds of discounts anywhere else for quite a while on new copies of those games, especially after Prime Day.
The caveat is that all of the games are pre-played (more info on that below). You can shop the whole sale here, or read on for our picks.
Save Up to 50% Off Pre-Played Games at GameFly
Elden Ring Nightreign is a fun twist on the From Software formula perfected in the original Elden Ring. It turns the game into a three-player co-op roguelite. It might not be for everyone (see our review for details), but $27.99 makes it much more palatable.
Doom: The Dark Ages may be available for Xbox players on Game Pass, but that doesn’t apply to PS5 owners. So this is a great way to play through it at significantly less than the new game MSRP. Check out our 9/10 Doom: The Dark Ages review for more info on that.
Also on sale are Civ 7, Monster Hunter Wilds, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and many more. You can even save cash on Blu-rays like Mickey 17 and Mufasa: The Lion King. Lots of savings to go around.
Is GameFly a Good Place to Buy Used Games?
Everything you buy from GameFly is “pre-played,” meaning it’s been sent out to GameFly customers. That said, everything GameFly sells in these sales is in good condition. It also comes with brand-new new cases and inserts where applicable. I’ve bought games in previous GameFly sales, and I never would’ve guessed they were used, aside from arriving without shrink wrap.
All of these games are also “100% guaranteed,” so if you have any problem with them, you can get a full refund. Buying pre-played games is a good way to pick up recent games at way cheaper than new pricing. And this sale knocks even more money off the pre-played discount, which is essentially stacking a deal on a deal.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
Cyberpunk 2077 update 2.3 launches on July 17, CD Projekt has confirmed, across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox — but not Nintendo Switch 2.
In a livestream, CD Projekt developers said the studio needs more time to work on patch 2.3 for the Switch 2 version of the game. No release date was mentioned.
Paweł Sasko, Cyberpunk 2 Associate Game Director, said this patch focuses on vehicles and customization. Adrien Jouannet, Lead Designer at support studio Virtuos, which has helped CD Projekt with Cyberpunk 2077 updates, confirmed 2.3 adds three new cars and one new motorcycle, which is the first customizable motorcycle in the game. The new vehicles are each unlocked by completing a small quest. Sasko said it will be “intuitive” to trigger the quests. The new quests do not contribute to 100% completion for achievement hunters.
Elsewhere, update 2.3 adds the new AutoDrive feature, which lets you drive vehicles hands free. In-universe, AutoDrive hits all the vehicles in the game via a software update. You can set a marker, sit back and let the car drive there for you. (It’s worth noting to use AutoDrive you have be driving on a road.) There’s also a wandering mode, where the vehicle will drive automatically endlessly in free roam, which sounds fun for explorers. Helpfully, the Delamain AI taxi company can be hired for AutoDrive, so he can just drive you around if you’d like.
This, accompanied with the cinematic camera you can activate while driving, will let you see Night City in a much more cinematic way. This, Sasko said, was inspired by fan-made videos of driving around Night City for hours on end. You can use Photo Mode while using AutoDrive.
Speaking of Photo Mode, there’s a lot of new features with 2.3. You can now change the time of day and the weather for the scene. There are 27 new NPCs for Photo Mode, too, as well as new outfits and natural poses for the main characters. CD Projekt teased a new Photo Mode contest for fans.
On the technical side, PC gamers can expect AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3.1 (FSR 3.1) support with 2.3 tomorrow. Cyberpunk 2077 will support FSR 4, Sasko said, but it will arrive alongside an AMD driver release. HDR10+ gaming is now properly supported. VRR is coming to the console versions of Cyberpunk 2077.
And finally, CD Projekt talked about the already-announced Mac version of Cyberpunk 2077, which launches alongside 2.3 tomorrow, July 17.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
The Pokémon TCG’s Destined Rivals expansion has been as elusive as any of the others, but the coveted Elite Trainer Boxes are back in stock at Amazon and ready to order right now. The only reason that this isn’t sold out already, though, is that they’re being sold for a massive mark-up.
While being advertised on its product page at “11% off from $99.99”, Amazon is now selling Destined Rivals ETBs for an inflated $88.95. As a reminder, that’s $38.96 up from the base price of $49.99, which it’s usually sold for at other retailers like Best Buy.
You’ll still get the exact same contents featured in the Destined Rivals ETB in this case. For the uninformed, this includes nine boosters, a full-art foil promo Team Wobbuffet, 45 Energy Cards, 65 card sleeves, a player’s guide, damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, condition markers, four dividers, and the collector’s box to keep it in.
Unfortunately, this increasingly seems to be one of the strategies implemented by retailers to combat bots and scalpers instantly scooping all of the stock as soon as it’s available.
While Amazon UK has implemented the invitation system for Destined Rivals, keeping the price at RRP as it should be, Amazon US and Walmart have instead jacked up the price, presumably to scare scalpers off, but still take the money from whoever’s willing to pay.
Granted, both are keeping in line with the price points that seem to have become standard. While you can save a few dollars with sealed Destined Rivals ETBs on eBay, for as cheap as $84-85, dedicated storefronts like TCG Player have listings going for three times the price.
Be that as it may, if you’re dead set on buying one of these Elite Trainer Boxes no matter the cost, Amazon and Walmart are still your best bets in terms of retailers.
Although, you can go through eBay to save a few bucks, if you’re feeling trusting enough in the wild west that is the current world of the TCG.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
So, I hear you want a new 3D Mario. If that means you’re looking for a console-defining platformer with satisfying, expressive movement, innovative mechanics that constantly grow and evolve, and expertly crafted challenges that unleash the interactive potential between said movement and mechanics, then I’m beyond thrilled to share that Donkey Kong Bananza is all of that and so much more. Bananza is no mere “side project” from the team behind Super Mario Odyssey – it’s a brilliant successor to that masterpiece, a tremendous reinvention for one of Nintendo’s original mascots, and a groundbreaking adventure in every sense of the word.
Every breakable corner of DK’s world (which is most of them) is bursting with timeless Nintendo magic and equally fresh ambition. Bananza wonderfully balances honoring its star’s various incarnations over the decades – with lovely nods to both Shigeru Miyamoto’s seminal arcade original and Rare’s classic Donkey Kong Country trilogy – while also fearlessly punching through a mountain to forge its own path. It also tells a light, sweet story about DK and his spirited sidekick Pauline pursuing an underground legend that will allegedly grant them one wish (Pauline hopes to return home, and DK just wants more bananas, of course), and the deeper the pair dives toward the Planet Core, the deeper the gameplay becomes. Bananza is a constant crescendo across its 20-hour campaign that hits its pinnacle with an unforgettable finale that cements this as one of the best 3D platformers I’ve ever played.
Nintendo builds each new 3D Mario around one big idea: Sunshine’s water pack, Odyssey’s body-snatching hat, and so on. Mario is nowhere to be seen here but, in that same tradition, Bananza’s fully destructible environments suit a hulking, rampaging gorilla far better than the Mushroom Kingdom’s usual leading man, and this exciting concept is truly fit for a Kong. Practically everything in this world is designed for Donkey Kong to punch and break, and the extent to which Bananza commits to letting you tear through its environment is both technically impressive and a ton of fun. It’s refreshing to experience a Nintendo 3D platformer with an almost completely new toolkit, and DK’s set of abilities is endlessly enjoyable and fulfilling to pull off. Donkey Kong is powerful, and that’s regularly reflected across his moves.
The simple action of tearing a chunk from the ground – which you can do almost anywhere – leads to so many dynamic possibilities: DK can hurl it at airborne enemies, swing it to break through walls, bounce off it to double jump, or surf on it to get around faster and safely cross dangerous terrain. When he’s empty-handed he can punch in any direction, slap the ground to instantly gather loose gold and reveal nearby collectibles, and perform a satisfying roll-jump-roll combo cut from the same cloth as Mario throwing Cappy and bouncing off him for distance. Plus, he takes a page out of Link’s book and can climb basically any non-slippery surface, granting an extra sense of freedom to the entire journey.
Crunchy sound effects that change depending on the material DK’s interacting with make it even more entertaining to wreck stuff – like the loud crumble of breaking down a sturdy wall of stone, or the juicy splash of tearing into a watermelon. The controls for doing all of this are so polished, and when you chain together a combo (like tearing a chunk out of the ground, smacking it into an enemy to weaken them, and slamming into it with a roll to finish the job) everything sings together in perfect harmony.
Bananza is one of the best 3D platformers I’ve ever played.
To slightly misquote Shrek, Bananza is like an onion – its levels are called layers, and each one is a sprawling playground constructed to maximize the potential of DK’s destructive abilities. There’s so much to find both on their surfaces and tucked away in hidden caves and tunnels you find by bashing your way through the environment. But Bananza rarely relies on mindless destruction for the sake of it, so you almost never have to stumble onto random discoveries just by beating the snot out of everything. Instead, it excels at rewarding discoveries by way of smart destruction, and it’s remarkable how intentional and well-designed its dense, vertical layers are. Visual cues masterfully draw your eye to areas worth exploring, similar to how veteran Zelda players know to place a bomb in front of any suspicious crack. See a tantalizing gold piece or fossil embedded in the wall? Chuck an explosive Boom Rock at it and there’s a good chance you’ll reveal a new path to explore.
Sure, the open-world nature of these maps means you can occasionally happen upon a collectible by skipping the intended puzzle entirely and just carving a tunnel straight to it. In my experience as I played naturally, though, it didn’t happen that often, and it fits in with modern Nintendo trends seen in games like Tears of the Kingdom where the designers don’t care how you get from point A to point B as long as you have fun doing it. On the other hand, there are limits to that freedom: Bananza smartly walls off most of its main objectives behind terrain the nefarious Void Kong has turned indestructible in order to force you to go through the proper steps of the story, so it’s not like DK can just punch his way straight down to the end credits. That said, I can’t wait to see how speedrunners will find ways to optimize their routes through different levels – I’m sure there are some crazy demolition techniques and shortcuts waiting to be found.
What’s interesting about how the world and objectives are designed is that Bananza isn’t really about destroying everything. Instead, it’s about exploring, platforming, fighting, and collecting in a vast world where you can destroy everything, which is an important distinction. It never feels like a gimmick or the only tool you have to solve every problem, but rather one integral part of Bananza’s larger game design philosophy. I was rarely asked to create random tunnels underground with no guidance like you might in Minecraft, and DK’s upgradeable sonar ability helped me find buried collectibles hidden to the naked eye. And, Pauline helps out with the search, too, as using her singing ability reveals waypoints to collectibles marked on your map, making it easy to pick your next destination. That keeps the hunt for completion focused and fun, even if the camera occasionally struggles with the weird angles you force it into when digging yourself a nice hole. Of course, if you want to rip an entire level down to the studs for the fun of it, you can do that, too.
Romping around the sublevels hunting for treasure is a blast, and the fact that I still felt totally in control of the action even with so much fast-paced chaos unfolding on screen at any given time is an impressive feat. I love how the world crumbles around DK when I’m on a rampage: it makes everything feel more alive and really sells the weight and heft of this character, like the way he leaves a crater when crash landing after a high jump off a cliff (there’s no fall damage, naturally). To some extent, it’s made returning to past Mario games feel less dynamic in comparison – what do you mean Mario’s ground-pound doesn’t shatter the terrain around him?
There was some pre-launch concern that the world’s malleable nature might leave each layer feeling like a palette swap of one big underground region, but fortunately, that’s not the case. Every world has something unique to offer both visually and mechanically, from the Freezer Layer’s icicles you have to knock down to create platforms, to the Resort Layer’s tropical vibes and Liftoff Ore that sends DK soaring into the sky when you grab a chunk of it.
Bananza never stops pulling fresh ideas right off the vine.
And Bananza never stops pulling fresh ideas right off the vine over its 20+ hours. Without spoiling anything, I was stunned at the ingenuity on display as I dove to some of its deeper, late-game layers. There are tons of different material types that make up the world, and there are set rules to how they all interact with each other. A simple example is how throwing ice onto lava creates a hardened rock platform, but the chemistry and interplay between different elements gets more complex as you progress, and learning these relationships and using your knowledge of them to solve increasingly smart puzzles is supremely gratifying.
Those puzzles are often found in standalone challenge rooms, the entrances to which are scattered across each layer. There’s a nicely curated mix of fights, logic puzzles, and platforming sequences that offer a welcome change of pace from the open-ended, explorable layers themselves, and I was consistently impressed with how the challenges take full advantage of the systems Nintendo built for Bananza. After more than 50 hours, I’m still finding new challenge rooms that mix and match enemies, materials, and abilities in brand-new ways. Some of the best examples are sections of blue and pink slime that are inverses of each other: If the blue slime section is completely full, its pink counterpart is totally empty; destroying part of the blue slime fills in the matching part of the pink slime area. Bananza builds several brilliant puzzles off this one idea, and gets similar mileage out of every toy in its toybox. It’s astonishing how frequently I discovered clever challenges that forced me to think about something I’d already seen before in a new way.
On its own, exploration is gratifying, but it helps that there are great rewards for finding Bananza’s heaps of collectibles as well. Fossils are used to buy region-specific outfits that add different perks to DK and Pauline – like increasing your chances of finding a treasure chest – and it’s also just fun to give them both a fresh look. You’ll also collect mountains of gold, and while I was swimming in cash for the first several hours, I eventually had to pay for some optional content that ran my wallet dry. Trust me when I say collecting as much gold as you can will be worth it in the end.
Of course, the main collectible in Bananza is its Banandium Gems, which are comparable to Odyssey’s Power Moons in that they’re plentifully stashed around the levels in places that are often challenging to reach. Unlike Odyssey, though, Bananza doesn’t require you to gather a certain number of Gems before moving onto the next area. Instead, the main story relies on its own linear set of objectives (which often reward you with Gems anyways), while collecting five earns DK a skill point which can be used to upgrade his health, moves, and Bananza transformations. The skill tree doesn’t have a ton of surprises that’ll radically change your playstyle, but it’s nice knowing that grabbing a Gem is always working toward a specific short-term goal, whereas Odyssey’s Moons didn’t really serve a purpose after the credits rolled other than unlocking the far-off final challenge or for the simple sake of being a completionist.
There are tons of Gems to find. I had found literally hundreds by the time I cleared the main story after 20 hours, I’ve spent 30 additional hours collecting hundreds more, and likely have double-digit hours left to reach 100% completion. Going for 100% is a massive undertaking, but with how enjoyable Bananza is to play, I’m not slowing down until I’ve collected every last one. And, unlike Mario Kart World’s lackluster Free Roam map, it’s easy to track your progress this time with a helpful list of your Gems in each layer and a really cool 3D map that accurately reflects the current state of the terrain you’ve destroyed.
Bananza looks great, with expressive animations and colorful environments.
Unfortunately, that map does occasionally suffer from minor framerate drops, as does the rest of Bananza. The action generally stays at a solid 60 fps both while docked on the TV and when playing handheld, but it can briefly dip below that when you’re going crazy with the destruction or when you first drop into a brand new level. It’s not great that we’re already talking about performance issues on Nintendo’s brand new console, but it’s never too noticeable or distracting, either. It’s easier to forgive the occasional dropped frame when it’s because so much beautiful chaos is happening at once, and the ambition of this fully interactable, destructible world is definitely worth that tradeoff.
Bananza really does look great, with amazing, expressive animations for DK himself and colorfully detailed environments, NPCs, and enemies. It also constantly pulls inspiration from DK history, such as the opening level being littered with fallen girders from the original Donkey Kong arcade game and sidescrolling segments that reference classic Donkey Kong Country levels, including a lovely new arrangement of Stickerbush Symphony that’s just one tune in Bananza’s awesome soundtrack. This may be from the 3D Mario team, but Bananza regularly pays respects to all of DK history and, at times, feels like a modern follow-up to Rare’s golden era from the SNES and N64. Even the friendly rocks with googly eyes look as if they were plucked right from Banjo-Kazooie.
Some of the flashiest moments happen during DK’s Bananza transformations: a variety of powered-up, time-limited states that are unlocked as you progress deeper into the planet. Kong Bananza is essentially a souped-up version of DK himself who can disintegrate the harder materials you’d usually need a Boom Rock to break through. Zebra Bananza is all about speed, where you can run over terrain that would crumble underneath DK’s ordinary giant feet, while Ostrich Bananza lets you glide through the air. The character design is hilarious, and each Bananza is accompanied by a catchy tune performed by Pauline, so it’s always fun to mutate into one of these fierce forms. They all feel fleshed out and great to control, and even better, you can instantly swap between the Bananza transformations when you’re in the powered-up state, giving you even more flexibility in how you want to tackle challenges.
If I had to say something critical about the Bananza powers, it’s that sometimes they’re too powerful. You can only enter a Bananza if you have enough Bananergy, which is a meter filled by collecting gold, so in theory, the Bananzas should be somewhat limited. However, gold is so plentiful that you’ll pretty much always earn enough Bananergy to transform almost immediately after spending it. This can sometimes trivialize otherwise interesting puzzles in the overworld – for example, if there’s a Gem surrounded by poison water and the “intended” route involves creating your own path to it using vines, you can instead just skip the whole challenge by gliding to it as Ostrich Bananza. That’s admittedly still a real solution that fits in with Nintendo’s recent love of designing puzzles where any answer that works is a correct one, but having that power so readily available can feel cheap compared to the fun actually figuring an obstacle out. I was usually able to restrain myself from using the most streamlined options Bananzas sometimes provided, but if you’re someone who was unable to resist relying on Tears of the Kingdom’s convenient-but-boring hoverbike, I could see them being a dangerous temptation.
The gloves truly come off during the post-game content.
The sheer power of Bananzas also come into play during the boss battles, which are cool but pretty easy for the most part. The decision to give the big bads a traditional health bar instead of using the “expose the weak spot, hit it, and repeat three times” Mario template fits DK’s brawler-focused style perfectly. Still, thanks to the Bananza powers, that meant I defeated some of newcomer Grumpy Kong’s earlier creations in less than 30 seconds. The bosses all have exciting designs and are very fun to look at, like a giant stone squid made up of dozens of smaller squids that feels clearly inspired by Splatoon, so I would have liked if they had been able to take a few more punches before being ground into the dirt. That said, it does eventually right the ship: some of the late-game bosses put up much more of a fight, so I had few complaints on that front by the end.
Even so, it’s fairly simple to reach the end credits of Bananza if that’s all you’re looking to do. As with most Nintendo games, much of the enjoyment comes from surprise, delight, and poking around for secrets rather than white-knuckle difficulty. That’s not a complaint, given how fantastic the mechanics are and how many optional challenges Bananza presents off the beaten path for veteran players. For example, the platform challenge rooms each hold three Gems within. One is usually not that tough to reach, but the other two are often hidden in shrewd places you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to spot. It strikes a great balance where most people should be able to get to the end of the story (especially since there’s an optional Assist Mode that increases DK’s health if needed, and a two-player mode great for letting younger players help out by firing Pauline’s vocal projectiles using the Switch 2 Joy-Con’s mouse controls) while still offering plenty to keep hardcore fans entertained. And the gloves truly come off during the post-game content, which continues to push the mechanics in more extreme, exciting ways.
Bungie has confirmed it is “actively re-recording” some of the dialogue in Destiny 2 to restore the voices of characters like Vanguard Ikora Rey.
With the launch of The Edge of Fate, the first expansion in the Year of Prophecy content lineup, fans noticed Ikora Rey, originally voiced by Gina Torres, sounded a lot like Savathun from The Witch Queen. That’s because Ikora Rey’s most recent voice actor was replaced by Debra Wilson, who plays Savathun.
In its defense, Bungie did notify players that changes would be coming for the English casting of Orin, Chioma, and Ikora back in May, but yesterday (July 15) confirmed that while the voice cast had initially been “unavailable to record lines for The Edge of Fate,” it was now “actively re-recording lines for affected characters.” There’s no firm date for when this will happen, but Bungie said it was “aiming for a future update.”
Until then, players will continue to bump into unfamiliar “temporary” voices, or even encounter silent characters. In those instances, much like Destiny 2: Heresy, subtitles for story content will be enabled.
Though Bungie didn’t explicitly reference the SAG-AFTRA game performers’ strike, it did acknowledge there had been “conflicts” and these had now “been resolved,” which just-so-happens to coincide with SAG-AFTRA suspending its strike over AI protections. The SAG-AFTRA strike was instigated back in July 2024 after the union and the major game companies — Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games — that sit on the board failed to agree on AI provisions. Over 98% of members subsequently voted to strike.
Bungie recently unveiled what’s coming up in Destiny 2, including two new expansions and major seasonal and core game updates coming for both paying and free players, all badged under the “Year of Prophecy.” Year of Prophecy is the first year to boast four “major content beats,” with two paid expansions and two major updates. The former is paid content while the latter will be available to all players.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Switch 2 owners will be able to take upcoming Nintendo exclusive Drag x Drive for a test run next month — but only with an active Switch Online subscription.
This morning, Nintendo confirmed a two-day Drag x Drive “Global Jam” event on August 9 and 10, the weekend before the game’s August 14 arrival.
To date, Nintendo has said surprisingly little about Drag x Drive, which is set to follow Donkey Kong Bananza as the company’s next Switch 2 exclusive. A multiplayer sports game with mouse controls, the game has only been briefly glimpsed so far — despite it launching in less than a month.
“Eager to hit the court in Drag x Drive? Get a sneak peek with the Drag x Drive: Global Jam demo event!” Nintendo wrote today, announcing the game’s upcoming public trial. “This event takes place on August 9 and 10, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 for Nintendo Switch Online members.”
If you’re interested, you’ll be able to download and try the game’s Global Jam demo between 3am and 7am Pacific, then 5pm and 9pm Pacific on August 9, plus 9am and 1pm Pacific on August 10.
While Drag x Drive is a multiplayer-focused experience, some fans have said it is surprising to see the game’s demo limited to those with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. There is no local multiplayer option within the game, Nintendo has previously noted, but surely the company would want this demo to be available to as large a Switch 2 audience as possible?
Eager to hit the court in Drag x Drive? Get a sneak peek with the Drag x Drive: Global Jam demo event!
This event takes place on Aug 9 and 10, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 for Nintendo Switch Online members. pic.twitter.com/1OVNAHdC3u
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 16, 2025
A previous demo for the game, available to play as part of the Switch 2’s in-person pre-release events, revealed Drag x Drive to be a three-versus-three sports title with gameplay similar to wheelchair basketball. Players must propel themselves across the game’s neon courts and perform a throwing action in order to pass the ball, or shoot it at a basketball hoop.
Exactly which modes will be available in the full game, or indeed this Global Jam offering, remain to be seen. Nintendo has however said that Drag x Drive will be a budget price release, costing $19.99 / £16.99, and an eShop-only digital title.
Within 20 minutes of implementing unpopular changes to the violence and nudity in VOID Interactive’s shooter Ready or Not, a mod was available to retcon the changes.
Yesterday (July 15), VOID Interactive proceeded with changes introduced to controversial shooter Ready or Not despite widespread condemnation from fans who believe the developer is “censoring” the game’s gore and violence by “appeasing console market regulators.”
VOID said it had to adjust levels of gore, nudity, violence, and the “mistreatment of children” ahead of the July 15 console release, and rather than “maintaining multiple versions with different assets and mechanics” that would “increase the likelihood of bugs,” some aspects of the PC version have also been revised. At the time, VOID insisted the changes were “small enough that most people here wouldn’t notice if we didn’t say anything,” but it “wanted to be transparent” with its players. Players disagreed, and the news caused Ready or Not’s Steam user review rating to plummet to “mostly negative” for recent reviews.
The mod — which says it “reverts (to the best extent we can) the high profile ‘censorship’ changes to [Ready or Not] caused by the Los Sueños Stories/Console update” — restores the ability to dismember dead people, strips clothing from some in-game character, and rolls back other changes made by the developer to satisfy console makers as the game finally jumped from PC to Xbox Series X and S and PS5.
“All ‘Uncensored’ files are either reused files (from the Dark Waters version of the game, and may also be modified slightly) or modified files of the current version, both originally made by VOID Interactive,” mod creator Eman734 wrote.
“We do not claim to be their original authors and do not claim to have legal ownership or IP rights. VOID Interactive retains legal/IP rights to their assets, and we will comply with any takedown request (though they have stated they do not have intention of doing so).”
The mod has been downloaded almost 7,000 times since it launched yesterday, and racked up 78 endorsements.
VOID Interactive responded to player backlash after it made changes to the PC version of its controversial shooter Ready or Not in order to secure a console release, citing “misconceptions and misinformation” about the amendments, but it was not enough to curb player ire.
It’s not the first time VOID Interactive has courted controversy. It parted ways with its original publisher, Team17, one day after the developer shared it would have a school shooting level. Ready or Not was also briefly hauled offline in 2022 after a takedown request was issued due to a trademark dispute. The issue related to a level that depicted a mass shooting at a nightclub called Prysm, which was released on the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Blood Line, a video game spinoff for Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, finally launched today as the Netflix movie series it’s based on remains with an uncertain future.
Subscribers may have been surprised to see Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game show up as a playable game on their mobile devices today. Developed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate studio Super Evil Mega Corp, this spinoff of the sci-fi universe that Snyder kicked off in 2023 allows players to drop into the Rebel Moon universe with isometric, twin-stick shooter gameplay.
“Take on intense combat missions in this multiplayer action game,” an official description for Blood Line says. “Build a rebellion against the Motherworld and fight for your planet’s freedom.”
With friends or alone, Blood Line tells a standalone story completely separate from the tale spun in Rebel Moon parts 1 and 2. What’s more is that Netflix Games and Super Evil Mega Corp promise their video game spinoff will “expand and evolve across regular post-launch updates.” With more challenges and rewards yet to be revealed, Blood Line’s future seems much more secure than the film series it originates from.
Rebel Moon: Part 1 – A Child of Fire set the stage for a new world from Snyder when it premiered in late 2023. After propping it up as a big-budget sci-fi epic with lots of moving parts, Rebel Moon Part 1 failed to impress, scoring a 22% from critics and 56% from fans on Rotten Tomatoes (we gave it a 4/10 in our review). Rebel Moon: Part 2 – The Scargiver attempted to get the new universe back on track upon its release in April 2024 but faced a similar landing with a 16% from critics and 47% from fans (we also gave it a 4/10).
Snyder Cut versions of both Rebel Moon films eventually made their way to Netflix in August 2024 and received more positive reviews from audiences, but Netflix has been quiet about how the story may continue. Snyder spoke about his work with Netflix during a recent interview with Variety. While Rebel Moon and its characters remain on the Man of Steel director’s mind, it sounds like he’s got other projects he’ll be tackling first.
“I got sidetracked into this — not sidetracked, it’s all uptown problems, as they say — for Netflix, I’m working on an LAPD SWAT movie,” Snyder said. “So I was like, OK, well, I’m gonna just sort of let that Rebel Moon world boil for a minute, and I’m gonna go do this. And frankly, it was a very exhausting, long process doing the two movies together. So it was nice to have a bit of a break from it. I love it like crazy, but it’s nice to have a bit of a break. So yeah, we’ll see after I finish this, when I come back, where we are with everything.”
Snyder adds that there are “tons of stories” to tell from the Rebel Moon, but he still needs to determine how the universe could expand, “if at all.” While we wait to see how Blood Line might continue to build on Snyder’s world, you can read up on how the negative reviews affected Rebel Moon star Sofia Boutella. You can also check out our gamescom 2023 interview with Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder, where we learned more about how Netflix planned to build its universe at the time.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
We’re more than halfway through 2025, making it an excellent time to revisit our list of the best of what the PlayStation 5 has to offer. We’ve added several new games this time – which means a few old favorites got bumped. (We still love them, though!)
But what do we mean by “best?” To be very clear, this is not an attempt at an “objective” ranking that will indisputably line up with the tastes of gamers of all types. That, sadly, cannot exist; when one person’s epic RPG masterpiece is another’s boring and impenetrable slog, they’ll never see eye to eye on where that game should rank against others of different genres. Even the personal lists of two people who love the same types of games will rarely line up exactly.
This is not an attempt at an “objective” ranking.
Instead, this is a list of games that IGN’s crew of PlayStation gamers recommend as a group, ranked using our Face-Off tool so that everybody got to weigh in equally on which games they thought should be placed above others. It’s presented in the spirit of recognizing games we love, and encouraging others to try them if you haven’t.
With only 25 slots to fill, there are tons of amazing recent games that didn’t float to the top – but that doesn’t mean we don’t think they’re awesome, too! Everybody who participated in voting has tons of personal favorites that didn’t gain quite enough traction with the group to make the cut, which is inevitable when there are this many games and so many different perspectives.
Bear in mind that while the PS5 is a powerhouse that can play any PlayStation 4-compatible game, for the sake of clarity our criteria for this list narrowed the pool down to focus on games that have PlayStation 5-specific versions. So while we still love games like the 2016 Doom, God of War, Minecraft, Red Dead Redemption 2, and many, many more, until they get that update they’re relegated to the PS4 list – and of course many will have a spot on our list of the Top 100 Games of All Time.
Most importantly, remember that this list is just our group’s perspective and is no more “right” or “wrong” than a list that you create yourself. Speaking of which: if you have your own ranking you’d like to put out into the world, we’d like to invite you to make your own top 25 (or top 100!) list of PlayStation games using ourPlaylist tool and share it in the comments.
Most recent game updates were made on July 15, 2025.
Even with all of its imitators, there’s still nothing quite like a Devil May Cry game, and Devil May Cry 5 stands tall not only as not only one of the best in its own series but one of the best character action games ever created – full stop. No other game offers the same level of creativity and expression through its combat, whether you’re playing as Nero and bouncing foes around in the air with your Gerbera Devil Breaker, slashing them while precisely timing revs of your sword to charge up your Exceed meter; or chilling out as V while your summoned familiars fight all around you; or hot-swapping between an entire arsenal of weapons and fighting styles as Dante. The depth of DMC5’s combat is near bottomless and endlessly fun to play around in, with finely tuned difficulty options to meet you wherever your skill level is at.
24. Returnal
Returnal is a trailblazer of sorts. Roguelikes have long been one of the most popular genres on the indie scene, with games like Spelunky 2, Dead Cells, Enter the Gungeon, and The Binding of Isaac leading the charge, but we’ve never really seen anything quite like Returnal. Returnal combines Housemarque’s expertise in intense, arcadey bullet hell shoot-em-ups, with deep roguelite mechanics and a dense, chilling atmosphere, resulting in an unforgettable sci-fi experience. Returnal’s one issue on release was the inability to suspend its lengthy runs and save your progress, but since that’s been patched, it’s hard to find flaws in this incredibly bold and ambitious take on the action roguelite.
23. Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy 16 may have been a dramatic departure for one of the most well-known and beloved RPG series of all time, moving it closer to the realm of a pure-blooded action game – but that action does not take away away from its excellently told, brilliantly acted, dark, and captivating tale or its memorable characters. Its combat. meanwhile, is best-in-class among other action-RPGs, and is paired with an unbelievable soundtrack that enhances every emotion that it successfully attempts to pull from you. Taken all as a whole, Final Fantasy 16 is a very special game that proves that action games can also be 50-plus-hour-long epics, and that Final Fantasy games can also be action games.
22. Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West builds on the already impressive foundations of Horizon Zero Dawn to tell a deeper, more thrilling story that amps up the series’ explosive fights against complex robotic foes and blockbuster action sequences, while also adding lively settlements and thoughtful, intriguing sidequests to the world. The Forbidden West itself is absolutely gorgeous on PS5 – ranging from the incredibly detailed faces of the people you meet and costumes they wear to sweeping and frequently stunning landscapes. There’s a genuine sense of exploration, and loads of completely involving worldbuilding to uncover as well for those wanting to learn more. A triumphant combination of enthralling combat, top-tier creature and character design, and a captivating open world, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute blast and fantastic showcase for the power of the PS5.
21. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Much like the second Star Wars movie, Respawn’s second Star Wars Jedi game vaulted over the original. Survivor trusts us with control of a version of Cal Kestis who’s now a full-fledged Jedi Knight rather than reverting to a Padawan, so it gets off to a running start and never slows down. Over the course of this adventure he grows into a master of superhuman mobility who can thrive in fantastic and challenging combat using multiple lightsaber styles.
With a new set of larger, more diverse, and densely packed worlds to explore and a memorable cast of new and returning characters, Survivor tells a story that may be predictable but is still fun and at times emotional to watch play out. Launch performance issues aside, it’s a sequel that does virtually everything better than the original – which was already an exceptional Star Wars game.
20. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Describing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth sounds a bit like a fever dream: it’s a collection of minigames stuffed inside of larger activities inspired by classics like Crazy Taxi, Pokémon Snap, Pokémon, and Animal Crossing… and all of that is wrapped up inside of a life simulator, which is itself inside of a 50-hour turn-based RPG. Miraculously, this somehow all works together and balances honoring the roots of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series while continuing to propel it forward. This can be seen in almost every aspect, most obviously that a huge portion of the story takes place outside Japan, and instead has you exploring Hawaii.
Meanwhile, turn-based combat makes a return from Yakuza 7, boasting even more jobs (tennis ace OP!) and a ton of small refinements that vastly increase the amount of control and customization in combat while remaining true to Yakuza’s traditional beat em’ up style. In a series known for heartfelt stories, Infinite Wealth’s is arguably the most emotional, paying homage to the franchise’s classic characters with a plot driven by the values and actions of the new cast. Mixing the old and new characters is something that often backfires in a long-running series, but RGG Studios expertly blends Kiryu’s and Ichiban’s stories, pulling off one of the best legacy stories anywhere.
19. Balatro
Like Slay the Spire before it, Balatro is the kind of game you might not see coming, but when it gets its hooks in you and you start to wrap your head around how its many joker cards interact and synergize it might never let go. The fact that this deckbuilding roguelite uses what initially appears to be a standard deck of playing cards means that it’s a fairly easy game to get the basics of if you know anything about poker. However, from there it takes you down rabbit hole after rabbit hole as you figure out how to maximize your score multiplier and specialize your deck to aim for certain types of high-payout hands. Its pixelated 2D graphics set it apart from everything else on this list, but you could very well spend more hours playing it than even the biggest, most expansive RPGs.
18. Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut
When Ghost of Tsushima was released on the PlayStation 4, it already felt like a next-gen game thanks to its stunning graphics and impressive map; it was clear Sucker Punch had learned a lot about creating an engaging open world since its (admirable for the time) efforts on the Infamous franchise. But the Director’s Cut is the definitive take on Ghost of Tsushima, and it’s all the better on the PS5.
This robust package, even as a refined PS4 game, makes great use of the DualSense in both exploration and combat. Add in new lip sync for Japanese voice over, and, somehow, visual and performance improvements, and you’ve got what is the must-play version of a must-play PlayStation game.
Sucker Punch’s next project is a sequel,Ghost of Yotei, and there’s a Ghost of Tsushima movie in the works. Directed by Chad Stahleski (John Wick), it will be a retelling of the game’s story.
17. Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake II is a standout single-player adventure that seamlessly shifts from slow-burn psychological terror to frantic survival-horror action, from gorgeously rendered game worlds to masterfully directed full-motion video sequences, and from morbid murder investigations to show-stopping musical surprises. It features uniformly immaculate art direction and audio design, and reinvigorates the series’ signature light-based shooting as though it’s been locked and loaded with a fresh pack of Energizers. It’s bloody, it’s bonkers, and for the most part it’s utterly brilliant.
Alan Wake II is a superb survival-horror sequel that makes the cult-classic original seem like little more than a rough first draft by comparison, and it’s genuinely unlike any other adventure currently available on the PlayStation 5.
16. Resident Evil 4
Simultaneously one of the newer games on this list and also the oldest, the 2023 remake of 2005’s Resident Evil 4 took everything that made the original a standout action-horror classic and modernized it to thrill present-day gamers just as much as it had those who always saw it through rose-tinted glasses. Rebuilt from the ground up, it builds tension with high-intensity combat against a ferocious cast of creatures and brings the Resident Evil world to life with rich detail as the story rapidly guides you through a series of unwaveringly impressive action sequences. There’ve been many games that have attempted to evoke RE4’s style over the years, but none that nailed it quite as well as this.
Related: Capcom has announced Resident Evil Requiem, AKA Resident Evil 9, will be released on February 27, 2026.
15. Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 has earned a spot on our Best PS5 Games list, marking a spectacular recovery after its disastrous launch on PlayStation 4 in 2020. While it was arguably great on PS4 Pro, it wasn’t until CD Projekt Red launched the major 2.0 patch and the Phantom Liberty expansion in 2023 that you didn’t really have to argue anymore. Even more gorgeous than ever and with years of polish and refinement to its combat and skill systems, exploring the gleaming yet seedy open world of Night City stands apart from anything else out there.
Out of the box you’re in for more than 30 hours of the original story alongside Keanu Reeves as rockstar radical Johnny Silverhand, but when you include the spy-themed Phantom Liberty expansion you get another 20 starring Idris Elba as sleeper agent Solomon Reed. This chapter brings with it new and more interesting themes as it explores the intersection of capitalism, police states, and the mind-warping effects of near-future technology and human augmentation.
As a sequel in a spectacular series, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a showcase for the PlayStation 5. Its story of two Spider-Men is a great time and a Spidey fan’s dream to play through as comic book tussles with Venom and Kraven the Hunter are brought to life, elegantly walking the tightrope between light humour and heavier themes. Meanwhile, Insomniac refines a successful formula of combat and web-swinging without revolutionising either in major ways, making them comfy and familiar with just enough new tweaks and abilities to elevate them to fun new heights.
It also makes use of the power of the PS5 like very few other games, providing blockbuster action moments that are a spectacle to behold, near-instant load times, and a best-in-class pinpoint fast travel system. It’s another thrilling Spider-Man adventure that delivers Insomniac’s best tale yet, and a consistently fun superhero power trip.
13. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered
Yes, The Last of Us Part 2 only launched on PlayStation 4 a few years ago, in 2020. Yes, that’s pretty quick; it certainly doesn’t feel like long enough to justify a standalone remaster. Heck, IGN’s users have tended to agree – particularly when the already incredible-looking existing PS4 version of The Last of Us Part 2 had already received a 60 frames-per-second performance update for the PS5.
However, if your next question is, “Is this the best way to experience The Last of Us Part 2?” then the answer is also undoubtedly yes. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, this is absolutely the place to play it. An ambitious and sweeping sequel that significantly expands the world of the masterful original, The Last of Us Part II is an impeccably assembled stealth action game that hits like a haymaker and is hard to forget.
The heavy spotlight on revenge, hate, and self-destruction is emotionally sapping at times, but there remains room to breathe within a story that escalates, pivots, eases, and ultimately explodes again, playing out like two whole seasons of premium TV. (Which, incidentally, it is also doing on HBO.)
Grand Theft Auto V’s sprawling yet meticulously detailed map is still the high bar to which most open-world games aspire. Not only is it huge, it’s incredibly dense with excellent content – not just the driving and shooting and three-protagonist story that make up its campaign, and not limited to the numerous side activities, but all the sights, sounds, and bustling activity you’d expect to find in a city teeming with humans – seedy underbelly included. With so much to do, explore, and play with, both as a single-player PC game and Grand Theft Auto Online, plus great creative tools and mods, it’s truly amazing on multiple levels.
As for what’s next, Rockstar has confirmed GTA 6 will be released on May 26, 2026. It will feature a return to Vice City and star the series’ first female playable character in a Bonnie & Clyde-inspired adventure.
11. Hades
Hades is the current gold standard of the roguelite genre, and it isn’t even close. From its exhilarating combat, to its incredible soundtrack, to its clever and well-written story with characters that seemingly never run out of meaningful things to say, all the way to its deep and innovative post game that keeps you wanting to come back for more even after beating the last boss.
It may be incredibly difficult, but it never feels punishing in defeat. Dying is part of the fun, and actually comes with its own rewards in the form of new conversations with its fascinating cast of characters, new opportunities to purchase game changing upgrades, and an opportunity for a brand new run with a completely new set of godly boons that dramatically alter how you approach combat. Hades is a masterclass of roguelite design, and just another example of how Supergiant Games just doesn’t miss.
Hades 2 Early Access is now available on Steam, and is expected to launch on consoles sometime in 2025.
10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition
Everyone has heard of The Witcher 3 by now. One of the best RPGs of the last generation and the game that firmly cemented CD Projekt Red as one of the world’s premier game developers. While critics have heralded the game’s visuals, storytelling, and gameplay, the same can hardly be said about The Witcher 3’s technical performance. The new Complete Edition with a bevy of current-gen updates fixes most, if not all, the technical shortcomings that we had to caveat back when it first arrived on PlayStation 3 and Xbox One. With a smooth frame rate, 4K textures, and loads of other fixes, The Witcher 3 on PS5 is the definitive version of one of the best RPGs of all time.
9. The Last of Us Part 1
The Last of Us Part I is arguably the best way to experience the story Naughty Dog was initially told back in 2013. While there is a point of contention on whether this remake was necessary overall, the improvements and changes introduced are enough to warrant this as a great first way to experience this decade-old classic that launched a game series and a breakout hit HBO drama. The improved character models and facial animation are the biggest praises for this remake, making the phenomenal acting done by the cast more meaningful and realistic.
The Last of Us has an incredible and emotional story, and the updated technology allows even the most touching scenes to hit the closest to home. The use of the PS5’s DualSense controller also greatly improves the gameplay and is one of the best showcases of what the controller is capable of to date. The haptic feedback you can feel in every weapon used, from melee to firearms, and the fact that environmental effects such as the sensation of falling rain help immerse you into this ravaged and desolated world.
The one caveat is that the remake does not include the multiplayer mode found in the 2013 original – though that was never the main appeal of this very story-focused experience.
8. Final Fantasy VII Remake/Intergrade
Final Fantasy VII Remake/Intergrade was the pipe dream that many fans hoped would happen but didn’t believe would see the light of day until the moment they played it for themselves. Seeing the first chapter of FFVII remake in crisp 4K and fully voice-acted not only made the day for those who tout it as the best in the franchise but also for those who may have missed out in the PS1 era. It’s a shining example of how far gaming has come in the five generations of PlayStation.
This remake updated more than graphics, opting for a completely different combat system that swaps the turn-based battles of the original for faster real-time action that rewards skill and preparation (while still allowing anyone who wants the traditional turn-based combat a way to choose that option as well). Because you never leave Midgar in this portion of the story, Square Enix improved and added to the side stories with the other members of Avalanche, your time in Wall Market, and added a few more areas to expand upon the original.
The Intermission expansion puts Yuffie front and center and gives her a chance to shine before you jump into the next part of the story. It includes arguably the best and most engaging combat via her elemental ninjutsu, synergy attacks, and other ninja skills. Both the core game and the Intermission DLC add to the context of the world and lead into the events of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. It’s well worth a try for first-time and longtime fans of Final Fantasy games.
Until the past few years brought on a series of impressive challengers, Persona 5 Royal had very little true competition in the contest for the best JRPG of all time. Its endlessly stylish art and unforgettable, jazzy soundtrack create a vibe it’s hard not to fall in love with. And that’s before we even get to the cast of iconic, endearing characters and an unexpectedly deep, thought-provoking story that only grows more relevant with every year since it was originally released in 2016. Nobody does this style of turn-based, small-party combat better than Atlus, and P5R is the ultimate refinement of everything great about the franchise’s earlier adventures.
All of that could be said of the original 2016 version, too, but with Royal, just about everything – from the dialogue to the story to dungeon exploration – has been made bigger and better. It’s far from just a remaster with some neat extras; it’s almost like getting another entire game on top of an already fantastic one.
6. Astro Bot
For decades, Mario reigned unchallenged as the king of the 3D platformer. Few if any games came close to Nintendo’s level of creativity and polish in this extremely popular genre. Astro Bot, however, changes things: this adorable robotic mascot can easily go toe-to-toe with games like Super Mario Odyssey as it takes us through a multitude of hyper-colorful and lively worlds, all overflowing with both imaginative level design ideas and countless loving references to PlayStation history. Each new world gives you a fantastic and surprising new ability to play with that sets its puzzles and challenges apart from everything that came before it, and few other games make such excellent use of the unique capabilities of the PS5’s DualSense controllers.
5. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
As a middle chapter of a trilogy that retells one of gaming’s most beloved stories, threading the needle of standing on its own while being a continuation of an ongoing story was a delicate task for Square Enix. Rising to the occasion, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth does this extremely well as an evolution of the principles established in 2020’s FFVII Remake; there’s still a grand sense of adventure within a beautiful recreation of the original FFVII’s world. Each character is given the chance to grow meaningfully over the course of a 70- to 80-hour journey and become greater versions of their beloved originals. It hits hard, even if you never touched the 1997 classic.
The way Rebirth adds tactical layers on top of the action-RPG formula that Remake began is nothing short of amazing. It retains traces of the feeling of the original’s turn-based RPG even in its real-time combat, but having characters like Yuffie, Cait Sith, and Red XIII added to mix open up new possibilities. Especially when you take advantage of the new Synergy abilities and unique partner attacks, pairing up your favorite party members offers satisfying ways to stagger enemies before hitting them with a nasty Limit Break. When you establish a flow, there’s just nothing like overcoming the toughest bosses with your favorite characters while the nostalgic boss themes inspire victory.
4. God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok is hands down one of the easiest games to recommend to anyone asking what game they should play first on their PS5. The gameplay is an immensely satisfying combination of combat, puzzle solving, and exploration that is bound together with a heartwarming story of family, adolescence, and letting go. The combat rewards players for experimentation and precision but also is versatile enough that even using a fraction of the moves at your disposal feels effective and rewarding. Each moment is bolstered by its fantastic soundtrack that elevates everything from the smallest interaction to the most impactful moments in the story. The world’s jaw-dropping landscapes feel organic and filled with life (except forHelheim, of course), but it’s hard not to stop and admire it every step.
Its story, gameplay, soundtrack, and nearly every other part of the game culminate masterfully to live up to expectations for a flagship PlayStation game. Some may take issue with the pacing in certain parts of the game, but the next chapter in Kratos and Atreus’s saga is filled with heart, charm, and humor. With the combination of the improvements from God of War (2018) and the path it’s carved out for itself among other action-adventure games, God of War: Ragnarok is one of the benchmarks for what PlayStation exclusives can do on the PS5.
3. Metaphor: ReFantazio
2. Baldur’s Gate 3
This 2023 Game of the Year nominee may have narrowly lost that award to Tears of the Kingdom, but it triumphantly takes the one of the top spots in 2025’s Best PS5 Games list. Baldur’s Gate 3’s massive roleplaying adventure is both enormously ambitious in its scope and yet endearingly old-school in its style. Its storytelling is epic, stocked with memorable characters rendered in impressive detail, and a multitude of meaningful choices to make along with them. Its tactical combat is a throwback to the turn-based BioWare RPGs of old and loyal to its Dungeons & Dragons roots to the point where it can be quite intimidating to get into, but when you do you’re in for over 100 hours of all-thriller, no-filler questing.
1. Elden Ring
Whether you’re a longtime fan of FromSoftware’s notoriously challenging games or intrigued by the constant buzz, Elden Ring is a fantastic starting point for seeing what the soulsborne genre is all about. Its streamlined introduction, versatility in accommodating your choice of playstyle, and open-world design all work to alleviate the “brick wall” dilemma of getting stuck on a difficult boss in Dark Souls games. It’s that elasticity that makes this FromSoftware adventure a (slightly) friendlier one, while still being full of godlike bosses looking to snuff out your life, threateningly large maps, and intriguing NPCs rife with charm, mystery, and tragedy.
It’s since been kicked up a notch thanks to the outstanding Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion, which serves as a condensed version of the main game that’s absolutely jam-packed with secrets, valuable treasures, ultra-challenging boss battles, and horrific monstrosities to face of against at every turn. When you stack that on top of the main game, it’s an incredible quantity of high-quality tests of your soulslike mettle.
Mafia: The Old Country comes out August 8, 2025, followed by Madden NFL 26 on August 11, Dying Light: The Beast on August 22, Gears of War Reloaded on August 26, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater on August 28, Borderlands 4 on September 12, Silent Hill f on September 25, Ghost of Yotei on October 2, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 and Jurassic World Evolution 3 on October 31. There will be more this year, too – we’re still waiting on dates for this year’s Call of Duty, Battlefield 6, Hades 2, and probably a bunch of other surprises.
What Is the Best Game on PS5?
It can really depend on what types of games you like to play, but if you are looking for recommendations on the for what to play on the PS5, we recommend picking up a copy of Elden Ring. If you’re looking specifically for a PlayStation Exclusive game, God of War: Ragnarock is also a very good option you can’t play anywhere else.
What are the Best Games on PS Plus?
If you happen to have PlayStation Plus Extra or PlayStation Premium than you have access to some of the best games on the console. A few of the best PS Plus games include Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Bloodborne, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Red Dead Redemption 2.
Updates: On July 15, 2025 our best PS5 games list was updated. Rankings were also updated to reflect the opinions of IGN staff.
