9 great games of 2020 for your new PlayStation 5

If you are one of the lucky few to own a PlayStation 5 since its launch in early November, congratulations. Securing a next-gen console, especially Sony’s, has not been an easy task, and there is no telling when to buy one won’t involve a mad race online that is basically no different than a chaotic lottery.

If you’ve secured a PS5, you’re probably wondering what exactly you can play on it. After all, next-gen consoles rarely launch with rich libraries of new games. Instead, game console makers tend to reserve a handful of launch titles to retain early adopters until at least a year or so into the device lifecycle, when development of new titles really begins to accelerate. .

The good news is that the new consoles from Microsoft and Sony are compatible with the latest generation of hardware. That means you have a ton of older games and cross-generation titles available to you, some of which have been optimized for the fastest SSD in new hardware and the most powerful processor. And it’s worth mentioning that Sony has a few console exclusives, all of which are must-play games if you’re a new PS5 owner.

Here’s a breakdown of the nine best games to play on your new console during the holiday season.

We’ve rounded up our favorite and most used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCand M1-equipped macs; our favorite mobile games from Apple arcade and Google Play Pass; and our best options for Gaming pc, the PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo switchand VR. We’ve also included our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plusand Netflix; Some great science fiction books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: pricing was accurate at time of publication, but may change.)

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition

Image: Sony / Insomniac Games

An independent follow-up to Insomniac Games’ excellent 2018 Spiderman restart, Miles Morales has a lot going for it. It was developed natively for the PS5, which means its visuals are impressive and it takes full advantage of the new hardware. So it has almost non-existent load times and a full range of performance and visual modes that you can use to customize your experience, with a recently introduced “Performance RT” mode that achieves ray tracing at 60 frames per second.

It’s also the first major studio game to feature superhero Black in the role of Spider-Man, and its stellar writing and cinematic scenes make it a worthy narrative follow-up to the original, as well as being a marvel to play. Additionally, the latest edition includes a fully remastered version of the 2018 version, now with the option to transfer your save file from PS4.

The souls of the devil

Image: Sony

Of software The souls of the devil holds a special place in the hearts of FromSoftware fans everywhere. It was the first of many Souls games, establishing the Japanese studio as the creator of some of the most captivating and punishing action role-playing games ever created. The remake, from the studio Bluepoint Games, is honored to be one of the only next-gen exclusives at launch, and its stunning visual makeover helps bring the brutal and unique combat of the 2009 classic onto a modern canvas.

Astro Game Room

Image: Sony

Astro Game Room Unions The souls of the devil to be one of the few next-gen releases to arrive with the PS5 this fall. It’s preloaded on the console for each user, so you don’t have to pay or download it. It is ready to go as soon as you start your device. And as appropriate, it is more or less a love letter for both the PlayStation platform and the PS5 itself in the form of a cute video game.

The game takes place within the guts of the new console, with different areas dedicated to various PS5 components and various parts of the game acting as a technical demonstration of the impressive new DualSense controller. But that doesn’t mean Astro Game Room it’s not fun to play. In fact, it’s a blast and you should treat it as much more than just a preloaded demo.

Bugsnax

Bugsnax

Bugsnax is the latest enigmatic rarity from indie developer Young Horses, best known for creating Octodad: the daddy catch. It is best described as somewhere between Pokemon and a standard adventure game, with an island full of snack-like creatures like strawberries with eyes and caterpillars made of waffles.

The game is strange, but it also has an unusually fascinating narrative given its theme. It also has plenty of activities to keep you busy, the most essential of which is catching up to 100 species of edible insects. Similar to Astro Game Room, Bugsnax It was a free PS5 release on launch day, thanks to a deal between Sony and Young Horses that made it part of the PlayStation Plus subscription plan. It’s still available as part of the subscription (or $ 25 without PS Plus) until January 4, 2021, so act fast to claim it if you’re interested in visiting Snaktooth Island.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Image: Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the latest game in Ubisoft’s massive historical fiction series that pits secret orders against each other in an attempt to take over the world … or something like that. Okay, so the series is no longer about assassins versus templars, and that’s fine. The last two games in the series, origins and Odyssey, approached ancient Egypt and Greece with impressive results; Critics praised Ubisoft’s new open-world RPG approach that makes these games much more massive and engaging than they used to be.

Now, Valhalla it’s here with a Norse revenge story set during the Viking Age, and it’s equally amazing and immersive. It’s also one of the few major cross-studio games to arrive in time for the PS5 launch. Like many of the other titles for the new consoles, Ubisoft has released some much-needed patches to improve its performance and help it feel more next-gen.

Person 5

Image: Atlus

The latest entry in everyone’s favorite “anime the video game” series, Person 5 It’s not exactly a new entry in the iconic sim-RPG crossover series of life. But following tradition, developer Atlus has managed to keep it alive and fresh since its 2017 release. The developer has done so by releasing an expanded version of the game called Person 5: Royal at the beginning of this year. The remake added new characters, game additions, and quality of life improvements to the original design.

Now you have to make a decision. Person 5 is included for free with the PlayStation Plus Collection series, a new library of older games that Sony gives away as part of its annual subscription to PS5 owners. But the collection includes only the standard version of the game, not the Real one. Intransigent Person fans will tell you to play Realso it might be a good idea to use your PS Plus collection to test the game and buy the Real version if that sounds like something you’ll want to spend dozens (or even hundreds) of hours on.

Fortnite

Image: Epic Games

Epic Massive Battle Royale Success Fortnite it’s still going strong over three years after launch, and it’s only gotten better with the release of next-gen consoles. On the Sony PS5, Fortnite it renders in 4K and 60fps, with a new 120Hz mode that will increase the frame rate even more if you have the TV to support it. The game is free to play, so it’s a no-brainer if you’re looking for an online multiplayer game for your new console. Epic and Microsoft also just added auraMaster Chief plus some Star Wars characters with their last season.

Tsushima ghost

Image: Sucker Punch Productions

Sucker Punch Productions’ Tsushima ghost it’s the rare game that manages to feel familiar and fresh at the same time. It’s a standard open-world game with many of the genre’s pitfalls – a lonely, empty world, occasionally peppered with side quests and collectibles, and mostly traversed on horseback. But where Tsushima ghost It shines in its visual beauty, deep sword combat and quiet moments for the player as he pilots samurai Jin Sakai on his quest for revenge, such as composing cliffside haikus or following birds to mystical fox sanctuaries.

It is not an innovative game, but it is lovely to play. It’s been a big help thanks to player-friendly gestures like instant speed travel, no microtransactions to speak of, and fantastic character customization. On the PS5, Tsushima ghost It runs at 60fps, which, when added to its already top-tier performance and quality, makes it a launch game for anyone who missed it or was delayed last summer.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Image: Square Enix

The remake of the classic role-playing games Final Fantasy VII It could have gone wrong in so many ways, and yet surprisingly, it came last April as a fully formed, fully-formed experience that is extremely successful in what it sets out to do. Sure, it’s just a small part of the overall story of the original, but it delivers in every way imaginable, straddling the line between nostalgia for the source material and genuine advancements in the evolution of turn-based RPGs for the game. present. Plus, it has some off-field narrative additions that change the entire plot.

While not fully optimized for the PS5, FFVII remake You get a slight performance boost through backward compatibility, primarily to help keep your frame rate stable. Otherwise it is a must have game for any Final Fantasy fan who didn’t pick this up for the PS4.