The next generation of consoles is now officially in full swing, with PS5 players everywhere hungry for exciting experiences that showcase the power of the latest tech. We are now over 3 years into the PlayStation 5’s lifecycle it’s obvious that this is a platform perfectly capable of catering to solo-driven players as well as those looking to duke it out online. That said, you may still be asking: what are the 10 best single-player PS5 games available to play in 2024?
The crop of these story-centric titles is ever-growing and there are plenty of engrossing narratives and characters worth investing in on PlayStation 5. Whether you’re in the mood to become a wizard at hogwarts, swing through the New York city streets as a superhero or fancy a trip through the Nordic world during Fimbulwinter, this is the perfect ranking list for you. These are in our opinion the best single-player PS5 games currently out there, keep in mind there are plenty more games we could have included so we're sorry if your favourites didn't make the list.
10. Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy lit the world on fire when it was released in February 2023 and with good reason. Potter fans had been waiting for their dream game for too long, some of the movie tie-in games were okay at best but nothing captured the magic of Hogwarts and the wizard world, but that changed with Hogwarts Legacy. You'll start your adventure as a fifth-year wizard set around 100 years before the events of the Harry Potter series but don't worry you'll still see plenty of familiar locations and notorious magical beasts.
Simply put if you love Harry Potter, this game is a must-buy as you can engage with potion-making, mastering spells and even having your own menagerie of creatures akin to what we see in the Fantastic Beasts movies. An entirely single-player game that works brilliantly on PS5, so get that sorting hat on and explore your own Hogwarts story.
9. Returnal
After single-handedly dominating the twin-stick shooter genre with its efforts in the last generation of consoles, Housemarque chose to take a different route with PS5. Returnal is an explosive shooter that still tests your ability to survive in bullet hell, only now it takes place entirely from a third-person view and with light rogue-lite elements sprinkled in. You play as rogue space marine Selene, who must traverse the volatile planet of Atropos while fending off legions of enemies in the hopes of escaping.
Every run in Returnal you start out with basic weaponry and a finite number of resources. From here you’ll work your way through the various different biomes, defeating bosses and discovering answers as to this time loop you’re stuck in. This repetitive nature lends itself well to the type of shooter Housemarque has perfected, letting you approach scenarios differently each time to always keep the action fresh. No one playthrough of Returnal is ever quite the same, hence why it makes our list of the 10 best single-player PS5 games.
8. Resident Evil 4
I don't think it'd be fair to have a list of the 10 best single-player games on PS5 without mentioning one of the Resident Evil entries which have all been stellar lately from Capcom. The latest of these was the Resident Evil 4 remake which takes us back to everybody's favourite cop Leon Kennedy who this time must travel to a strange European village where the president's daughter is being held following her kidnapping. Of course, this village is plagued with all sorts of horrors and it's your job to shoot your way through in this daring rescue mission.
This modernisation of classic overhauls everything with some incredible visuals on display as well, the survival horror genre gets another excellent entry. Whether you played the original or not thanks to a reimagined storyline this one will keep you guessing until the end.
7. Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy XVI is one of the most cinematic games I've ever played with multiple boss fights that had my jaw on the ground. This entry into the legendary series took a darker turn with a story of betrayal and complex political power struggles something akin to Game of Thrones. Each political power has its own Dominant, a person who can take on the power of the Eikons like Titan, Ifrit and more. Protagonist Clive is the dominant of Ifrit and after a great betrayal in his family finds himself on a journey of revenge and tragedy.
Brilliant game with a great story, combat is fluid and fun and the Eikon battles are just insane cinematic fights that everyone should get to experience. My only issue with the game is that the side-missions did feel like an afterthought, they reminded me of old MMO quests from years gone by, this however was not enough of an issue to ruin what was a fantastic single-player game on PS5.
6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition
The oldest game on our list is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This is one of my favourite games of all time, so I feel like I have to put it on this list. Although older and available on PS4 etc this game now has a complete edition on PS5 which has a visual upgrade for the console and contains all the DLC. The story of Geralt and his hunt for Ciri is a great one but where Witcher 3 excels are its incredible side stories that can be just as impactful as the main narrative. The DLCs maintain this sentiment with two of in my opinion the best DLCs ever made, they are absolute must-play pieces of content for fans of action RPGs.
If you're a fan of open-world RPGs and you haven't played The Witcher 3 I envy you because exploring this world for the first time is a delight and you get to play it in the best way possible with the enhanced visuals of the complete edition alongside all the DLC on PS5 as a brilliant single-player title. Toss a coin to your Witcher and play this absolute masterpiece on PS5.
5. Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
Ghost of Tsushima Sucker Punch's epic action RPG is an unbelievably enjoyable solo experience which has only been enhanced on PS5 thanks to its Director's Cut which includes visual enhancements and all the DLC including the Iki Island.
Ghost of Tsushima has one of the most gorgeous open worlds we've seen to date with its take on Feudal Japan as protagonist Jin Sakai must defend Tsushima from the Mongolian Invasion. With satisfying Samurai combat and plenty to explore this is a must-play PlayStation exclusive which plays best on PS5.
4. Marvel's Spider-Man II
Insomniac have now released three Spider-Man games and all of them have been loved by PlayStation fans. Another completely single-player experience continues the story of Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they now come into contact with the legendary Venom. This time the pair must partner up with players able to swap between the two characters each with their combat abilities and styles. New York's been expanded upon and so have your traversal abilities thanks to the new wing-suit making moving around New York feel better than ever!
Before release, there were worries about this game not being able to elevate the experience of the previous two titles but Insomniac immediately hushed that theory on release with critics and PlayStation fans loving the latest exclusive and universally agreeing it was a great improvement on the already very good Spider-Man titles.
3. God of War: Ragnarok
This list is tough to make and honestly, any of the top 3 could be 1st but this is all based on my personal opinions. God of War Ragnarok is an exceptional game, it builds on the beautiful foundation of God of War (2018) and delivers an unbelievable story about father and son through Kratos and Atreus during the ancient prophecy of Ragnarok. This was a game I couldn't put down when it was released blasting through it in a week because I just had to know what happened next with its take on Nordic mythology and the Gods that are involved.
On top of its obvious story merits is its unbelievably satisfying combat. One of the great things about Ragnarok compared to its predecessor was that it addressed the issue of enemy variety with the sequel having way more bosses and different enemies to take on. Easily one of the best PS5 exclusives and the greatest solo experiences available on the platform.
2. Baldur's Gate 3
Well, there was no way we could leave out the 2023 game of the year Baldur's Gate 3. Spending years in early access on PC Baldur's Gate 3 was anticipated to be a great title with Larian's previous Divinity Original Sin games having critical success but I don't think anyone expected it to be quite as incredible as it ended up being. A cRPG with over 17000 endings where player choice is at the forefront, combat is turn-based and heavily inspired by 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons rules, which could be a dealbreaker for some but making those dice rolls and hitting a natural 20 to turn the tide of a battle will soon change your mind.
Baldur's Gate 3 can be played co-op but the majority of players have played this one solo, myself included as making your own choices and deciding the fate of your party just feels right. Can't recommend this game enough, it's a behemoth with a lot of replayability and could easily take 150 hours or more to finish.
1. Elden Ring
Single-handedly revolutionising how modern gamers come to think of action role-playing games, Fromsoftware has proven that with every release they simply get better and better at their craft. The latest title was of course Elden Ring which is nearly 2 years old now but for me is simply one of the greatest solo experiences a player can enjoy.
The game has so much replayability thanks to its 100s of weapon types and the sprawling world filled with so many bosses, dungeons and unbelievable locales. Elden Ring can be enjoyed entirely solo but does have some online capabilities with the ability to summon allies if bosses get a bit too tough. If you've never played a Soulsborne title Elden Ring is the best place to start, you will struggle and you will die but overcoming those challenges holds so much satisfaction. The Lands Between are truly a joy to explore, with so much hidden. I know Soulsborne games can be intimidating but I implore you to give this one a fair try and it may just become one of your favourite titles on PS5.
So there you have it, our favourite single-player experiences on PS5. Did we miss your favourite? Let us know down below in the comments.
