Choosing the best PS5 games 2023 gave us the kind of problem every gamer secretly loves: too many great games, not enough hours, and a backlog staring from the corner like a disappointed gym coach. The PlayStation 5 library exploded in 2023 with superhero blockbusters, terrifying remakes, massive RPGs, stylish fighting games, brutal mech battles, and enough cinematic drama to make your controller ask for a vacation.
This list focuses on the PS5 games to play right now if you want the most memorable releases from 2023. Some are full PS5 exclusives, some are multiplatform giants that shine on Sony’s console, and some are remakes so polished they feel less like nostalgia and more like a brand-new haunted house with better lighting. Whether you want a 100-hour role-playing epic, a tight horror experience, or a game where two Spider-Men treat New York like a giant trampoline, these are the titles that defined the year.
How We Chose the Best PS5 Games of 2023
To build this ranking, we looked at critical reception, player buzz, genre variety, technical performance, replay value, award recognition, and how well each game uses the PS5 experience. A good list should not be ten identical “serious men walking through sad weather” games, even if PlayStation does sadness with incredible lighting. The final selection balances RPGs, horror, action-adventure, fighting, sci-fi, fantasy, and Soulslike challenge.
Most importantly, every game here is still worth playing now. These are not just “remember when?” picks. They remain excellent entry points for new PS5 owners and strong recommendations for players wondering what to install after staring at their home screen for twenty minutes.
1. Baldur’s Gate 3
Best for: RPG fans, choice-driven storytelling, co-op chaos
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the rare role-playing game where “you can do anything” is not marketing confetti. Larian Studios built a deep, choice-heavy fantasy adventure based on Dungeons & Dragons systems, then somehow made turn-based combat feel dramatic, funny, and wildly personal. On PS5, it gives console players access to one of the richest RPGs of the modern era.
The magic of Baldur’s Gate 3 is not just its size, though it is absolutely massive. It is the way small decisions ripple outward. Talk your way through a problem, shove an enemy off a ledge, befriend a strange companion, anger a god, romance the wrong person at the wrong timethe game keeps reacting. It makes you feel clever even when your plan goes completely sideways, which is basically the dream version of tabletop gaming without needing six friends to agree on a schedule.
It deserves a top spot because it offers enormous replay value, fantastic characters, tactical depth, and a sense of freedom that few PS5 games can match. If you only play one RPG from 2023, make it this one. Then apologize to your calendar.
2. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Best for: superhero action, fast traversal, cinematic adventure
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is one of the most obvious must-play PS5 games of 2023, and sometimes obvious is fine. Pizza is obvious. Weekends are obvious. Swinging across New York as Peter Parker and Miles Morales is extremely obvious and extremely fun.
Insomniac Games expanded the formula with faster movement, web wings, two playable Spider-Men, new districts, intense set pieces, and a darker story centered on Venom and the symbiote. The result is a slick superhero adventure that understands what players want: emotional stakes, spectacular fights, and traversal so smooth you may forget fast travel exists.
The combat is familiar but sharper, mixing gadgets, powers, parries, finishers, and character-specific abilities. Peter brings symbiote-fueled aggression, while Miles delivers electric style and speed. The story occasionally tries to juggle more emotional plates than a superhero dinner party, but the overall package is thrilling, polished, and proudly PS5.
If you want a game that shows off the console while remaining easy to enjoy after a long day, Spider-Man 2 is a perfect pick. It is blockbuster comfort food with excellent animation and just enough drama to keep your popcorn emotionally invested.
3. Alan Wake 2
Best for: psychological horror, bold storytelling, atmosphere
Alan Wake 2 is not just one of the best PS5 games of 2023; it is one of the strangest and most confident big-budget games in years. Remedy Entertainment returned to its cult horror series with a sequel that blends survival horror, detective fiction, surreal television, live-action segments, and a musical sequence that feels like someone turned a fever dream into premium content.
The game follows Alan Wake and FBI agent Saga Anderson through two connected nightmares. Saga investigates ritualistic murders in Bright Falls, while Alan tries to escape the Dark Place through writing, memory, and reality-bending terror. The dual-protagonist structure gives the game variety and lets Remedy play with pacing, mystery, and psychological dread.
Alan Wake 2 is slower and moodier than a typical action game. It wants you to inspect scenes, read clues, conserve supplies, and absorb its atmosphere. That may not fit everyone’s taste, but for horror fans, it is a feast. The lighting, sound design, and environmental detail are outstanding on PS5, creating a world where every hallway seems to know something you do not.
Play this if you want a game that takes creative risks. Just maybe avoid playing it alone at 2 a.m. unless your hobby is mistaking laundry piles for monsters.
4. Final Fantasy XVI
Best for: cinematic fantasy, action combat, dramatic boss fights
Final Fantasy XVI brought the long-running RPG series into darker, more action-focused territory. Set in the war-torn world of Valisthea, it follows Clive Rosfield through political betrayal, family tragedy, magical conflict, and battles between colossal Eikons that make most boss fights look like polite disagreements.
The combat is fast, stylish, and accessible, leaning heavily into real-time action. Clive unlocks Eikon abilities that let players build flashy combos and adapt to different enemies. It may not satisfy fans looking for classic party management, but as an action RPG, Final Fantasy XVI is intense and spectacular.
The PS5 presentation is a major part of the appeal. The cutscenes are lavish, the music is thunderous, and the large-scale battles deliver the kind of “how is this still going?” spectacle that makes you sit forward on the couch. The game can be melodramatic, but that is part of the charm. Final Fantasy has never been shy about big emotions; this one simply adds more fire, steel, and shouting.
If you enjoy fantasy stories with political tension, cinematic boss battles, and combat that rewards rhythm and timing, Final Fantasy XVI is one of 2023’s essential PS5 titles.
5. Resident Evil 4 Remake
Best for: survival horror, action tension, classic remake quality
Resident Evil 4 Remake had a dangerous job: modernize one of the most beloved action-horror games ever made without breaking what people loved in the first place. Capcom somehow pulled it off. The 2023 remake keeps the core journey of Leon S. Kennedy, Ashley Graham, hostile villages, creepy castles, and parasite-fueled panic, while updating the controls, visuals, combat, and tone for modern players.
The remake feels tighter and more grounded than the original, but it still knows when to be ridiculous. Leon remains the king of cool one-liners, even when surrounded by things that would make most people immediately move to a safer franchise. Combat is tense because enemies push forward, resources matter, and every shot counts. The knife parry adds a brilliant layer of risk and style, letting skilled players turn disaster into a highlight reel.
On PS5, the atmosphere is richer, the environments are more detailed, and the horror lands with renewed force. It is scary, funny, stressful, and satisfying in exactly the right amounts. For new players, it is a polished modern horror-action game. For returning fans, it is a respectful renovation of a classic mansionexcept the mansion is full of things trying to bite you.
6. Street Fighter 6
Best for: fighting game fans, local battles, online competition
Street Fighter 6 gave the legendary fighting series a fresh burst of confidence. Capcom delivered deep competitive systems, strong online play, expressive visuals, and smart onboarding for newcomers. That last part matters. Fighting games can be intimidating, like walking into a gym where everyone can do backflips and speaks only in frame data.
Street Fighter 6 makes the door easier to open without flattening the skill ceiling. Modern Controls help beginners start throwing fireballs and landing combos quickly, while Classic Controls remain there for veterans who want full precision. The Drive system adds strategy, pressure, defense, and comeback potential, giving matches a lively rhythm.
The World Tour mode is not just a tutorial; it is a goofy single-player adventure where your custom character learns from iconic fighters and wanders through a colorful world of punches, kicks, and fashion choices that would concern any reasonable tailor. Battle Hub adds a social arcade vibe, while ranked matches provide serious competition.
If you want one PS5 fighting game from 2023, Street Fighter 6 is the easy recommendation. It is welcoming enough for casual players and deep enough to keep competitive fans busy for years.
7. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Best for: Star Wars fans, lightsaber combat, exploration
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues Cal Kestis’s story with bigger worlds, better combat options, and a more confident adventure structure. Respawn Entertainment expanded the ideas from Jedi: Fallen Order, giving players more traversal tools, more lightsaber stances, more customization, and more reasons to explore every corner of the galaxy.
The game works because it understands the fantasy. You are not just watching a Jedi do cool things; you are actively chaining wall-runs, Force powers, parries, dodges, and lightsaber attacks while trying not to fall off a cliff for the third time. The combat is flexible, with stances that change how you approach enemies. Double-bladed, dual-wield, crossguard, blastereach style has a different rhythm.
Its planets feel more open and layered than before, and the story gives Cal more emotional weight as he faces the cost of survival under the Empire. There were performance concerns around launch, but the core adventure remains one of the strongest Star Wars games available on PS5.
For players who want cinematic action with exploration and lightsaber duels, Jedi: Survivor is a strong pick. Also, yes, you can customize Cal’s beard. This is important lore.
8. Dead Space
Best for: sci-fi horror, atmospheric tension, remake fans
Dead Space returned in 2023 as a full remake of the classic sci-fi survival horror game. Motive Studio rebuilt the USG Ishimura with modern visuals, improved audio, updated controls, and expanded storytelling. The result is a terrifying PS5 experience that proves space is not peaceful; it is mostly dark hallways, metal groans, and creatures who skipped anatomy class.
You play as Isaac Clarke, an engineer trapped aboard a mining ship overrun by Necromorphs. Unlike many shooters, Dead Space teaches you not to aim for the head. Instead, you dismember enemies using mining tools, carefully managing ammo, health, and nerves. The combat remains uniquely stressful because enemies move unpredictably and the ship itself feels hostile.
The remake adds stronger immersion through improved lighting, sound design, and seamless exploration. Isaac is now voiced, which helps connect him to the story and surrounding characters. The Ishimura feels like a place with history, systems, and secrets rather than a simple haunted corridor collection.
Dead Space is one of the best PS5 horror games from 2023 because it respects the original while making it feel modern. It is perfect for players who enjoy dread, resource management, and the exciting experience of whispering, “Absolutely not,” at their television.
9. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Best for: mech combat, customization, intense boss fights
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon marked FromSoftware’s return to its long-running mech series, and it arrived with the studio’s modern reputation for challenge fully intact. This is not Dark Souls with robots, though it shares the same respect for boss fights that politely introduce themselves by destroying you.
The heart of Armored Core VI is customization. You build a mech from parts that affect speed, defense, weapons, energy usage, movement, and combat style. A mission that feels impossible with one setup may become manageable after swapping weapons, legs, boosters, or defensive tools. The game rewards experimentation, which makes the garage almost as important as the battlefield.
Combat is fast, vertical, and explosive. You dash through industrial ruins, rain missiles across enemy squads, stagger bosses, and constantly adjust your approach. It can be demanding, but the learning curve is part of the satisfaction. When a build finally clicks, you feel less like a pilot and more like a very expensive problem with rockets attached.
For PS5 players who want a sharp action game with deep mechanical customization, Armored Core VI is one of the standout 2023 releases.
10. Lies of P
Best for: Soulslike fans, gothic atmosphere, precise combat
Lies of P sounds like a joke when summarized too quickly: a dark Pinocchio Soulslike set in a gothic city. Then you play it, and the joke turns into one of the best action RPG surprises of 2023. Developed by Round8 Studio and published by NEOWIZ, Lies of P takes fairy-tale inspiration and twists it into a grim, elegant, mechanical nightmare.
The city of Krat is filled with puppets, plague, secrets, and architecture that practically whispers, “Something terrible happened here, but at least the lighting is gorgeous.” Combat is deliberate and punishing, asking players to master dodges, guards, perfect blocks, weapon assembly, and enemy timing. It is challenging without feeling like a cheap imitation of its influences.
One of the smartest systems is weapon customization. Blades and handles can be combined to create different move sets and scaling options, encouraging experimentation. The lie/truth choices also add personality to the story, giving the Pinocchio concept more weight than expected.
Lies of P is not the easiest PS5 game on this list, but it is one of the most rewarding. If you enjoy gothic worlds, boss fights, and the sweet sound of finally beating an enemy after many humbling attempts, this belongs in your library.
Honorable Mentions
Several excellent PS5 games from 2023 barely missed the top ten. Diablo IV delivered addictive loot-driven action and dark fantasy atmosphere. Hogwarts Legacy gave fans a huge wizarding-world adventure. Mortal Kombat 1 rebooted its universe with flashy violence and a new Kameo fighter system. Sea of Stars offered retro-inspired RPG charm, while Dredge mixed fishing with creeping cosmic horror. In a lighter year, any of these could have climbed higher. In 2023, the competition was simply monstrous.
Which 2023 PS5 Game Should You Play First?
If you want the biggest, deepest game, start with Baldur’s Gate 3. If you want a polished exclusive that immediately shows off the PS5, choose Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Horror fans should pick between Alan Wake 2, Resident Evil 4, and Dead Space, depending on whether they prefer psychological weirdness, action-horror, or sci-fi dread. Competitive players should grab Street Fighter 6, while challenge seekers should look at Lies of P or Armored Core VI.
The best choice depends on mood. Some nights call for a 90-hour RPG. Some nights call for a two-hour boss fight against a robot the size of a municipal building. Gaming is balance.
Player Experience: Living With the Best PS5 Games of 2023
The most interesting thing about the 10 best PS5 games 2023 is how differently they fit into real life. Not every great game asks for the same kind of energy. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a weekend-devouring feast. You do not “quickly play” Baldur’s Gate 3 any more than you quickly reorganize your entire house. You sit down to finish one quest, then two hours later you are negotiating with a suspicious creature, changing your party lineup, and wondering whether your digital romance choices say something about you.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the opposite kind of comfort. It is perfect when you want immediate fun. You can swing around New York, stop a crime, complete a side mission, upgrade a suit, and feel satisfied in thirty minutes. That makes it one of the easiest PS5 games to recommend to busy players. It respects short sessions while still offering blockbuster momentum.
Alan Wake 2 and Dead Space are better treated like horror movie nights. Dim the lights, wear headphones, and accept that every sound in your apartment will suddenly become suspicious. Alan Wake 2 is more cerebral, like being trapped inside a haunted novel that has strong opinions about television production. Dead Space is more physical and claustrophobic, all metal corridors and survival panic. Resident Evil 4 sits between them, mixing pressure, action, and campy charm. It scares you, then lets Leon say something cool enough to restore your confidence.
Street Fighter 6 is a different beast because it grows with repetition. The first night may be button-mashing chaos. The second week, you start understanding spacing. A month later, you are calmly explaining Drive Impact to someone who did not ask. Its strength is that improvement feels visible. Even losing can be fun when you recognize why you lost.
Final Fantasy XVI works best when approached like a prestige fantasy series with spectacular interactive battles. Some players will miss traditional party systems, but the emotional drama, music, and Eikon fights create a memorable ride. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is great for players who enjoy exploration with recognizable mythology. It gives you the simple joy of walking into danger with a lightsaber and pretending this is a healthy conflict-resolution strategy.
Armored Core VI and Lies of P are the games to play when you want challenge with structure. They can be frustrating, but they are rarely empty frustration. Each defeat provides information: change the build, learn the timing, stop panicking, maybe stop trying to heal directly in front of a boss who clearly objects. Beating them delivers that classic “I am a genius” feeling, even if the previous forty minutes suggested otherwise.
Together, these PS5 games show why 2023 felt special. It was not just a year of big releases; it was a year of distinct experiences. The best game for you depends less on rankings and more on what you want from your next evening: freedom, fear, speed, mastery, spectacle, or a beautifully animated superhero commute.
Conclusion
The best PS5 games of 2023 prove how strong the PlayStation 5 library became in a single year. Baldur’s Gate 3 gave players unmatched role-playing freedom. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 delivered superhero joy with premium polish. Alan Wake 2 pushed blockbuster storytelling into strange, brilliant territory. Final Fantasy XVI brought cinematic fantasy thunder, while Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space reminded everyone that remakes can feel fresh when handled with care.
Street Fighter 6, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Armored Core VI, and Lies of P rounded out the year with competitive depth, galaxy-spanning adventure, mech customization, and gothic challenge. Whether you are buying your first PS5 or finally cleaning up your backlog, these are the 2023 PS5 games to play right now. Just remember: finishing them all may require snacks, patience, and a respectful conversation with your sleep schedule.
