Best Adventure Games On PS5

Adventure games revolve around exploring new environments, collecting objects, and deciphering puzzles. As if that wasn't enough, they also tend to feature fascinating plots that drive the gameplay. Since the release of Sonys PlayStation 5, though, players have been able to experience better gaming action and responses in a whole new and unique way, mostly with the DualSense controllers. The PlayStation 5 also has a lot of advanced features, like haptic feedback, high-resolution graphics, and adjustable triggers. Together, these things are so effective that they can wholly immerse players in a game's world.

The console has plenty of great titles that are worth checking out, but the best PS5 adventure games are the ones where players will get the most out of their gaming experience. These titles make it a point to open a gateway for gamers to get into as they escape into fantastical landscapes with amazing stories, wondrous exploration, compelling characters, or a combination of all three. Regardless of which adventure game players get their hands on, they can rest assured that these games will leave them wanting for more.

Updated on October 25, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: PlayStation always offers a strong portfolio of story-driven games, and fortunately, a significant number of the company's highly popular IPs are indeed adventure games, inviting players to breathtaking journeys in massive worlds.

Adventure games often come with simplified gameplay systems with less control over the details, but sometimes they do get inspiration from RPG titles to expand the gameplay and provide more complexity to the experience, just like the evolution of gameplay in The Last of Us: Part 2.

No Man's Sky

An Infinite Universe To Explore With Continuous Content Support And Lots Of Gameplay Opportunities

No Man's Sky will imply a true sense of adventure, as players are free to explore the star systems, discover new planets, and find themselves in dangerous situations. This is an open-world adventure with multiple gameplay scenarios that can satisfy combat lovers as much as landscape explorers. While there are missions to complete and stories to follow, players can create their own history in the universe by following the activities they enjoy the most.

There's no denying that No Man's Sky deserved the criticism it received upon release, especially after months of immense hype. The game's procedurally generated worlds and creatures were ugly and lifeless, and many promised features were absent from the game at launch.

However, over time, Hello Games released a wealth of updates. These updates slowly added more content to the game, both promised and otherwise. As of now, players wanting to get lost in a massive space odyssey will be more than pleased with what No Man's Sky brings to the table. For fans of sci-fi or space adventures, playing No Man's Sky on the PS5 is a must.

Sea Of Thieves

Running Pirate Gangs In The Golden Age Of Piracy

When looking at the big picture, Sea of Thieves and No Man's Sky look quite similar, but they offer two distinct types of adventure. Sea of Thieves also delivers a big world of opportunities for players to grow as pirates, explore oceans, discover treasures, and beat rival gangs to secure that.

Sea of Thieves also offers a bunch of quests to get players on board with the gameplay mechanics, but once they are fully familiar, they need to run their pirate gang and start their unique adventure, in a world where no one would tell them what things to do, or limit them on how to do things.

A Plague Tale Series

The Story Of Two Siblings Surviving A War-Torn, Plague-Ridden Medieval County

A Plague Tale series started with a deeply story-driven adventure between two siblings, and with the sequel, the developers made things bigger and bolder than ever before. The adventures of Hugo and Amicia are both enthralling and heartbreaking at the same time, with players loving the risks taken in the narrative.

Sure, some people love the intimacy in the first game and how a lower budget made the claustrophobic environments all the more memorable, but that's a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things. A Plague Tale: Requiem is a must-play for anyone who likes the plot and characters of Innocence. Players can certainly check this title out for themselves and enjoy it to an extent, but it's highly recommended to check out the first game before getting into this improved sequel.

A Plague Tale offers a more linear adventure style, as players almost have no access to deadly weapons, nor they are skilled warriors. So, everything mostly relies on outsmarting enemies and finding a way to slip away.

Stray

Exploring A Dystopian Cybercity From The Perspective Of A Cat

Stray follows the adventures of a cat in a dystopian world. A rather linear adventure that comes with incredibly detailed cat behaviors, pretty much familiar to everyone who owns a cat at home. This made Stray a memorable experience, while also providing a puzzle-based gameplay that entertains players to a good extent.

The contextual button prompts led to the gameplay feeling rather bare bones, but that's a small issue in the grand scheme of things. Players who like imaginative adventure games will love what this title strives to accomplish.

Resident Evil Village

Facing The Horrors Within A Terrifying Cult Village

One of PlayStation gaming's most consistent franchises is Resident Evil, created by Capcom. Undoubtedly, the adjustable triggers on the PS5's DualSense controller contribute to what makes Resident Evil Village better virtually, but the major impact is noticeable when switching munitions while gaming. Furthermore, when players wear earplugs, the PlayStation 5's digital audio features improve the game's sound design and make the horror feel more realistic.

The game balances horror and anxiety by providing a decent amount of action and adventure. The story follows Ethan Winters, who was kidnapped along with his daughter, Rose, by a character from the earlierResident Evil games, Chris Redfield.

Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown

Exploring The Rich Persian Myths With A Reiterated Gameplay System

Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of the best 2D adventure-platformer experiences out there that also comes with significant difficulty for those looking for a challenging journey. The game follows the story of Sargon, as he is sent on a journey to bring back the taken prince.

Aside from the story, The Lost Crown is an enjoyable journey through a wide variety of worlds that each comes with significant complexity. Exploring every hidden corner of each world and figuring out how to unlock each secret entry, makes this game a worthy adventure that keeps players engaged to the very end, thanks to a masterful map design.

The Forgotten City

A Mind-Bending Story Hidden Behind A Mysterious Adventure

It's amazing to see how modding lets aspiring developers transform their passion projects into bonafide video games that are a joy to play through. Such is the case with The Forgotten City, a time-loop adventure that started out as a Skyrimmod before eventually becoming an original title that discarded its Dwemer roots to become an original adventure set during the time of the Roman Empire.

In every loop, players will slowly piece together the puzzle before eventually figuring out the central mystery of The Forgotten City. It's an amazing game that deserves all its plaudits, and playing through the title just once will make it clear why this game has been praised to the moon and back.

Returnal

Unforgiving Journey On A Hostile Alien Planet

Designed by Housemarque, Returnalis a third-person shooter roguelike. It's a diverse and remarkable game with a shiny aesthetic, smooth gameplay, and an intriguing sci-fi mystery. It's a wonderful game that tests players' resilience and keeps things exciting and entertaining in difficult conditions. Players take on the role of Selene, whose ship crashed in a distant world, with her mission being to investigate the loop to determine its cause and end it.

The PS5's DualSense Controller and Tempest System make planet Atropos' unusual sounds and rumbles feel real. Returnal is a future game and one of the PS5's most beautiful titles. It also runs at 60 fps in 4K with ray tracing enabled. Returnal blends such concepts into a third-person shooter mixed with action/adventure elements.

Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut

Exploring History Of Japan With A Story About Loyalty And Dedication

Ghost of Tsushima is one of the PlayStation 5's best adventure games. Its immersion is unbeatable, and the insight that it provides into Japan's history is incredibly interesting. The game casts players as an unsettled Samurai named Jin Sakai, allowing them to use a range of samurai weapons in its intense battle system.

With the game's director's cut, Sucker Punch added more content to keep things updated and used the PS5's new features to boost the aesthetic and the overall gaming experience. The game's narrative follows Jin's journey to re-establish the clan and regain control of Tsushima Island.

Devil May Cry 5

Concluding A Generation-Long Story By Returning To The Origins

The Devil May Cryseries had been dormant for some time, and the attempts to reboot the series didn't sit right with many fans. So, when Devil May Cry 5 was announced, fans were glad to see the old Dante make a comeback but weren't sure if he would retain the mojo that made him such an enigmatic and beloved protagonist in the first place. The first few hours of Devil May Cry 5 make it clear that Dante's beloved swagger is here to stay.

With Devil May Cry 5, players will engage in some of the best hack-and-slash combat in a video game to date. It takes players on a wild ride and is easily one of the best PS5 adventure games that gamers can get lost in. The gameplay can be a bit challenging to wrap one's head around, but players need only spend a few hours to master the mechanics before enjoying one of the most cinematic action-adventure games ever made.

Uncharted Series

Going After Ages-Old Artifacts With A Lovely Team Of Treasure Hunters

The Unchartedfranchise was the reason why Naughty Dog made a name for itself before becoming even more popular for The Last of Us. Unchartedis a true adventure game and the direct competitor to the Tomb Raider franchise, but with better storytelling and deeper characters.

Unchartedhas received four mainline entries and one spin-off so far, and all of them strictly focus on a journey to discover treasures while deepening the bounds between characters with each new entry. Unlike other adventure games, Unchartedhas never added elements from other genres to enrich the gameplay, which is probably a reason why it is a pure and lovely journey. The gameplay spins around third-person shooter combat, platforming challenges, and brief puzzles.

Cocoon

Travel Between Worlds Within Each Other And Solve Mind-Bending Puzzles

When fans heard that Playdead's co-founders were splitting apart, most of them felt like the age of games like Limboand Insidewas drawing to a close. The designer of both games, Jeppe Carlsen, worked on Cocoon, with many people waiting with bated breath for a title that toyed with some interesting concepts. Upon release, Cocoonwowed everyone with its incredible art direction and innovative puzzle-solving.

The concept of worlds within worlds is carried out brilliantly in Cocoon, giving the puzzles a unique flavor that can't be replicated in any other game. While it's a shame that this game is so short, most people would argue that this isn't a bad thing at all. Cocoonexperiments with unique concepts and doesn't overstay its welcome, which is more than what most people want from a good video game.

Horizon Series

When The Worlds Of Centries-Old Tribes And Otherworldly Robots Collide

The Horizonfranchise is one of the relatively new IPs in PlayStation's portfolio that almost delivers a handful of Sony success in each genre. While the core of the game is about defending nature against hostile robotic creatures that mimic real animals, the gameplay has a significant amount of RPG elements.

With Horizon Forbidden West, not only did the developers solidify the core features but also managed to expand the world and offer new exploration methods to players to add more context to the adventurous side of the game, while still keeping the story engaging and compelling.

Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart

A Classic Adventure Elevated With Modern Tech

It's no exaggeration to say that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apartis one of the best adventure games on the PS5, let alone one of the best exclusives for the console. Players can instantly switch between dimensions mid-game, creating a dizzying cosmic experience with a contagious sense of pleasure. Insomniac Games developed a universe that is different and unique from the one gamers are used to, with quality in the models of weapons used and also in the characters' interactions.

In Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, there is no loading screen. When it is played in 4K, the game's stunning visuals show off the PS5's capabilities. Moreover, players can make use of the fantastic DualSense pad to improve shooter gameplay with its entertaining and immersive sound effects.

Dave The Diver

Searching The World Under The Water And Discovering Amazing Life

One of the most unique indie PS5 adventure games that players can check out, Dave the Diver enticed gamers with its beautiful pixel art and impressed everyone with a healthy mix of fishing and simulation gameplay. It's a laid-back game where the scuba-diving action isn't too oppressive and lets players relax and run a sushi restaurant after a hard day of catching some high-quality fish.

Exploring the underwater zones of this game is an adventure of its own, with the experience being surprisingly zen. Still, players should be careful and maintain Dave's oxygen level if they don't want their fishing endeavors to be for naught.

Marvel's Spider-Man Series

Feeling The True Sense Of Being A City's Only Hope

Most people were waiting with bated breath for Marvel's Spider-Man series by Insomniac Games to knock their socks off, and the game didn't disappoint. The sequel may not feel as fresh as the first game, but most players won't mind thanks to the depth of Miles and Peter's amazing adventure. The addition of Venom elevates the quality of this title to new heights, with this sinister symbiote serving as a sinister antagonist that takes center stage in the latter half of this amazing adventure.

Before Marvel's Spider-Man 2, however, Insomniac proved how deep an open-world adventure game could go in delivering meaningful side-missions in a city that feels alive. Of course, the story limits players' impactful action on changing fate, but the game offers a great journey to becoming the city's only savior.

The Last Of Us Series

Surviving The Harsh Zombie-Apocalypse With Little Hopes Of Finding A Cure

Naughty Dog's most critically acclaimed franchise so far is indeed one of the best adventure experiences, not only on PS5 but also in the entire gaming industry. The Last of Us series follows the journey of Joel and Ellie in a zombie apocalypse.

The series offers a pure adventurous experience overshadowed by heartfelt storytelling. Over the span of two games, players survive a lot of deadly situations, mostly by relying on the third-person shooter gameplay elements. The sequel, however, added a few RPG elements to make exploring the hidden corners of the world more rewarding, though the game still remains an excellently executed adventure experience.

God Of War Series

Going Head To Head With The Norse Gods In An Epic Adventure

In one of gaming's most emotional adventures, players can use legendary weapons to beat tough enemies and find old artifacts that hold lost knowledge. God of Wars scope also introduces players to an insightful and responsible Kratos. The game boasts amazing art, visuals, and quality gameplay with good speed and cinematic elements.

Santa Monica Studio shows a world that is real and always changing, in which players can explore the realm by fighting challenging foes and solving simple puzzles with great plots. God of War is particularly thrilling to play on Sony's PlayStation 5 because it gives players haptic feedback based on how they move and helps to emphasize Kratos' immense strength.

Elden Ring

A Tale Of Suffering, Misery, And Cruelty Told Through A Long Journey

Elden Ring is a great, creative, and epic RPG. It is a game that can make players feel overwhelmed, no matter how skilled they may be. It's a true open-world adventure with a huge map and almost unlimited ways to explore.

At its core, Elden Ring is an adventure. The story has players progress through multiple distinct regions with certain purposes in mind. The joy of discovering new regions, new dungeons, and new enemies in Elden Ring is on par with the joy of defeating them after so many tries. The hunger to see what each new region will deliver is one of the biggest motivations in Elden Ring to keep players engaged with the game, even if some bosses seem unbeatable at some points.