The PS5 has been available for nearly three years now. In that time, it’s been hard to actually get your hands on a console for the most part thanks to a chip shortage restricting supply. We’ve also had to deal with Coronavirus, which has put stress on game development and a whole lot more. Despite everything though, the PS5 already has a vast library of games, many of which use its power to deliver absolutely beautiful visuals. “But which games are the best-looking?”, you might find yourself wondering. Or to put it another way, which PS5 games have the best graphics?
After all, if you’ve managed to get your hands on a PS5, you’ll no doubt want to see what it’s truly capable of. And while we might still be a few years away from games making full use of its power, there are already plenty that offer spectacular visuals that just wouldn’t be possible on previous-gen consoles, as well as smoother frame rates and lighting fast load times.
So, what are the best-looking games on PS5? Read on to find out.
1. Horizon Forbidden West
When Horizon Zero Dawn launched on PS4 in 2017, it wowed players with its stunning visuals and unique setting. Now, in 2022, Horizon Forbidden West is doing it again.
It may be available on PS4 and PS5, but don’t you go thinking that it being cross-gen is holding the PS5 version back; Horizon Forbidden West is perhaps the best-looking game available on any format right now. Its world is densely packed with realistic flora and fauna, truly bringing it to life. Meanwhile, character models and animation are beyond anything else we’ve seen so far. It makes every conversation and story scene fascinating.
Of course, Horizon Forbidden West is also filled with immaculately-created mechanical beasts. As you make your way around its world, you’ll enjoy studying them to identify their weaknesses, before engaging them in challenging combat. A 60fps option makes that more fun than ever, too. And the visuals still look great. Needless to say, if you want a game that really shows what your PS5 can do, Horizon Forbidden West is a must.
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2. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
The latest entry in the Ratchet & Clank series is undoubtedly the best yet, with plenty of third-person shooter action mixed with platforming and a whole lot more. It’s also arguably the best-looking game on PS5 so far, with visuals that are pretty much Pixar quality.
Put the graphics in quality mode and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart really does look like an animated movie. The fur on Ratchet and co. is clearly defined, while ray-traced reflections and other advanced visuals effects immerse you in its lush, densely packed worlds like never before. We can’t but feel that performance mode with ray-tracing is the best way to play though, offering 60fps gameplay with just a bit of a hit to overall picture quality.
In any case, if you have a PS5 and want a game that’s fun to play and will really please your eyeballs, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a must have.
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3. Returnal
It’s hard to believe that Returnal is Housemarque’s first AAA game. Putting players in control of a astronaut stranded on an alien planet after crash landing, it not only has fast and furious third-person shooter gameplay, but also an engrossing story and sublime visuals.
Trapped in a loop, as Selene you have to battle your way through numerous biomes in order to make it off the planet Atropos alive. Returnal is very challenging, and so if you die (which you will, many times) you’ll find yourself back at your ship, forced to try again. The dynamic nature of Atropos means that each attempt to escape is different from the last, however, while the thick atmosphere of your surroundings makes exploration alluring yet also a little foreboding.
It’s when you get into battle that Returnal really impresses though, with unique enemies attacking you with a cavalcade of projectiles. It’s like playing the most expensive bullet-hell shooter ever made, and it’s absolutely exhilarating. Running at a solid 60fps, the particle effects are out of this world, and overall Returnal is just a feast for the eyes.
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4. Demon’s Souls
Many consider Demon’s Souls to be one of the greatest games of all time, though its challenging nature means that it’s not for everybody. Those that are up to the task, however, are likely to be overjoyed by this PS5 remake.
Bluepoint Games has painstakingly recreated Demon’s Souls to be as faithful as possible when it comes to gameplay, while making just one or two minor quality of life changes to improve the overall experience. Native PS5 features such as 3D sound and haptic feedback have also been implemented, further immersing you into the game’s dark world like never before.
It’s the visuals that impress the most, though. Textures are ultra detailed, and many effects are used to create areas that are just dripping with atmosphere. There’s a choice of two graphics modes: quality, which emphasises graphical quality at the expense of frame rate, and performance, which runs at a steady 60fps while still providing plenty of eye candy.
Demon’s Souls may have been a launch game, but it’s still easily one of the best-looking games on PS5. It’s likely to stay that way for a while, too.
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5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Released as a launch title for the PS5, Miles Morales gave us our first taste of what the PS5 was capable of.
Nearly three years later, here we are with a fully-fledged sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man, and once again it pushes the bar. Jump into Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and you’ll find that it has a much greater level of detail. Perch yourself high up on a building and look into the distance and your breath will be taken away. New York City looks and feels alive.
There are more cars on the roads, more people on the sidewalk. And despite all this, Insomniac Games has also been able to increase the quality of textures, lighting and ray-tracing, making each and every scene more natural and realistic-looking than ever before. There are gameplay enhancements too, of course, with combat being notably improved and you now being able to glide through the air thanks to your web-wings. Needless to say, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a technical showcase on PS5, with visuals that will blow you away. But don’t buy it for that, buy it for the fact that it’s simply a phenomenal game.
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6. The Last of Us Part 1
Released on PS3, remastered for PS4 and now remade for PS5, The Last of Us Part 1 is one of the best games ever made.
Was a remake of The Last of Us necessary? Not really. But are we glad for it? Hell yes. This remake for PS5 is the ultimate way to experience this classic, with developer Naughty Dog keeping most aspects as they were in the original release while dramatically improving the game’s visuals and tweaking some gameplay mechanics. You’ll find that The Last of Us Part 1 uses the original voice acting, then, but it now also uses advanced facial animation tech to make characters convey those words with much more emotion.
Those that have never played this game before are in for a genuine treat with The Last of Us Part 1 on PS5. Though even those who are familiar with the game might want to pick it up again. It’s just a shame that its multiplayer mode isn’t included. In any case, if you’re after games on PS5 that really show off what the hardware can do; the best-looking games with the most spectacular graphics, this is a must-have. Well, it’s a must-have in general, really.
Read our review of The Last of Us Part 1
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7. The Callisto Protocol
Love horror games? The Callisto Protocol was created by some of the talent behind the original Dead Space. And while it’s available on all formats, it’s particularly impressive on PS5.
In The Callisto Protocol you take control of a pilot by the name of Jacob, who suddenly finds himself in a very bad situation. Thrown into a prison, that’s just the beginning of his troubles and its soon overrun by grotesque creatures. Unlike in Dead Space, Jacob doesn’t have access to a wealth of ranged weapons to defend himself, either. At least not at the outset, anyway. Instead, he primarily needs to rely on melee weapons to save his skin.
It’s because of this that every encounter in The Callisto Protocol feels like a true battle for survival. Add into the mix stunning visuals that make your enemies truly terrifying and the environments thick with atmosphere, and you’re onto a winner. So, if you’re after the best-looking games on PS5 and have nerves of steel, be sure to check The Callisto Protocol out.
Read our review of The Callisto Protocol
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8. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
While the best-looking games on PS5 are exclusive to the format, made to take full advantage of its power, some third-party games can have their moments, too.
Take Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, for example. It may be a cross-gen game available on nearly every format under the sun, but there are times where its visuals are simply breath-taking. Its character models might not be the most detailed, and it’s a bit rough around the edges in general at times. Head on out into the countryside, however, and all of that is forgotten on PS5.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla‘s fields, hills and mountains are simply gorgeous to look at, especially when you also factor in the game’s brilliant lighting and atmospheric effects. And so, while you might be tasked with hunting down an order member and taking their life, chances are you’ll spend more time pushing the photo mode button so you can line up the perfect screenshot.
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9. Metro Exodus
Ray-tracing is considered to be one of the biggest advantages of next-gen when it comes to visuals, and no game demonstrates it better then Metro Exodus.
Originally released on PC, Xbox One and PS4 in 2019, Metro Exodus was enhanced for next-gen consoles and PC in 2021, fully leaning on the power of ray-tracing to provide a more immersive experience. On PS5, Metro Exodus Enhanced has ray-traced global illumination and a whole lot more, resulting in a game that truly looks next-gen. And it does this while also running 60fps – double the frame rate of the PS4 version.
If you own the PS4 version of Metro Exodus, you don’t even need to take our word for it. A free PS5 upgrade allows you to play the PS5 version at no extra cost, and if you put the two side-by-side the improvement is obvious. Astounding, even. So, if you have a PS5 and are looking for the game with the best graphics to wow you, make sure you give Metro Exodus a try.
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10. Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the first game from Ember Lab, and that makes it all the more impressive considering its absolutely phenomenal visuals. Though it perhaps becomes a little more understandable when you learn that the studio has been creating high-quality animated commercials, and more, for a number of years.
Combining old-fashioned adventure-platforming with healthy portions of puzzles and combat, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an absolute joy to play. There’s no denying, however, that its utterly gorgeous visuals are the main draw. Kena herself is a wonderfully animated character who gains the companionship of over 100 little creatures called Rot on her journey. They come in very useful, too, helping her traverse the environment and overcome enemies.
Chances are you’ll fall in love with Kena: Bridge of Spirits within minutes of beginning to play. Its detailed world draws you in, and there’s an emotional story at its hearts that grips you. Factor in the enjoyable gameplay and stupendous visuals, and you not only have one of the best-looking games on PS5, but also one of the best games available on it overall.
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