The Most Graphically Demanding PS5 Games

Summary

• PS5 games are pushing boundaries - from Spider-Man 2's city detail to Death Stranding's horror experience and more.
• Returnal and Stray stand out for their stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, showcasing indie studios' power on the PS5.
• From Ratchet & Clank's fast loading to Horizon Forbidden West's cross-gen improvements - PS5 games set a new standard in gaming quality.

The PS5 has been out for quite some time now, proving itself to be quite the graphics powerhouse in the process. When Mark Cerny, the console's lead system architect, initially detailed its capabilities during a GDC presentation in 2020, many found it hard to visualize just how capable the hardware would prove once they brought it home.

19 Best Metroidvanias You Can Play On PS5

Metroidvanias are a classic, and a genre making a huge return in recent years. Here are some of the best you can play on the PS5.

While there are still countless gamers yet to get their hands on the console due to supply constraints, those lucky enough to own one can attest to its ability to deliver truly next-gen experiences - but the hardware itself can only go so far without the games required to push it to its limits. As more and more titles that fit that criteria get released, here are some of the most graphically-demanding games currently available on the PS5.

Updated on June 12th, 2024, by Jon Eakin: The PS5 continues to release games that push the boundaries of what was thought technically possible only a few short years ago. Visually impressive games are always a sight to behold, so we thought it was time to update this list with new entries and fresh features.

17 Spider-Man 2

Super Sequel

Developer

Insomniac Games

Genre

Action Adventure

Release Date

October 20, 2023

Spider-Man 2 built on the work of the first game and the Miles Morales midquel, expanding the city of New York map significantly and adding new levels of detail. That was all great, but the developers at Insomniac went further by increasing the speed Miles and Peter could traverse the city at, meaning all of this extra detail had to be constantly available in any direction.

New visual effects to convey the slick, oozing tendril effects of Venom symbiotes sell the alien nature of the primary antagonist, while extra attention paid to hair and fur texture effects go a long way toward making Kraven's forces look genuine.

16 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Powered By Mako

Developer

Square Enix

Genre

Action JRPG

Release Date

February 29, 2024

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a real marvel, the impossible fever dream of fans made real. Remake and Rebirth are the sort of game that if you took a time machine to show people 20 years ago their jaws would hit the floor. Partly because you used a time machine for something so trivial, but also because Rebirth in particular is stunning to look at.

Seeing characters that were once just a collection of fuzzy blocks that gave the impression of people now fully realized, in an extremely gorgeous fashion to put it lightly, will never get old. The locations are also lovingly recreated, looking brand new while still immediately conjuring up memories of how they looked in the originals.

15 Elden Ring

A Console Defining Release

Developer

FromSoftware

Genre

Action RPG

Release Date

February 25, 2022

After years of anticipation, Elden Ring was released to critical acclaim. With countless awards, including Game of the Year 2022, this spiritual follow-up to the Soulsborne games from FromSoftware gave fans a whole new world to explore and challenge themselves with.

All of the FromSoft games are beautiful and stylistic in their own ways, but Elden Ring reaches for new levels of impressive design. With various locations to explore, mountains to climb, dungeons to delve into, and the towering Erdtree shining its light on everything you can see, this game remains a visually impressive title that will make use of that PS5.

14 Returnal

An Early Gem

Developer

Housemarque

Genre

Roguelike

Release Date

30 April 2021

Returnal is one of the standout titles on the PS5, especially in its early days. This roguelike is pretty challenging, with rewarding combat and an interesting story that doesn't shy away from venturing into the realm of horror.

Best Action Games On PS5

Slash, dash, shoot, and dodge your way through these outstanding action games on PS5.

It helps that the game looks absolutely stunning as well. Sony's backing has certainly helped developer Housemarque craft an amazing roguelike title that shows just how far the studio has come from its humble beginnings on the indie scene, now dominating the current-gen scene.

13 Death Stranding Director's Cut

Divisive But Beautiful

Developer

Kojima Productions

Genre

Action Adventure

Release Date (PS5)

24 September 2021

Death Stranding is a title that left people in the dark all the way to its launch. While widely perceived as a walking simulator, the game offers up a certainly unique horror experience that does things no other game has.

It polarized players and critics alike, but has garnered a better reputation over time. With the release of Death Stranding Director's Cut, PS5 players can enjoy this beautiful game as it was meant to be - with unique new features that could only come from the mind of Hideo Kojima.

12 Ghost Of Tsushima: Director's Cut

Feels Like Cinema

Developer

Sucker Punch

Genre

Action Adventure

Release Date (PS5)

20 August 2021

Ghost of Tsushima is a brilliant game that fans will have a great time with. The engaging combat and open-world exploration make for a great time, and fans of the classic Kurosawa films will love this experience - especially as you can play it in Kurosawa mode, black and white, styled like a classic movie.

The Director's Cut enhances this world's beauty, and players will have a fantastic time with the breathtaking sights. The Director's Cut also takes Jin to Iki Island, where he must face off against a mysterious new threat brought on by the Mongol invaders, with even more impressive visuals to appreciate.

11 Ghostwire: Tokyo

Lighting Makes The Game

Developer

Tango Gameworks

Genre

Action Adventure

Release Date

25 March 2022

Set in an abandoned and haunted version of Japan, Ghostwire: Tokyo sets you free to roam as you gain new magic powers you can use to fight against the spirits that have overtaken the city. The story is intriguing and will keep you engaged, but the graphics will draw you in even more.

With such a dense city, it really shines through in an eerie nighttime setting. Dim fog, neon signs and lamps, and puddles everywhere to reflect them - there's even an option for ray tracing on the PS5. This all looks great already, but then you get to see all the effects of the magic powers as you battle spirits - truly stunning to play through.

10 Cyberpunk 2077

The Game Chromed Up

Developer

CD Projekt Red

Genre

Action RPG

Release Date (PS5)

15 February 2022

Cyberpunk 2077 is a title that is very much a victim of rushed development and over-promising. The legacy of this game has been forever tarnished by its poor launch. However, after many updates, tweaks, and improvements, Night City looks absolutely stunning on the PS5, with its neon glow and dark shadows.

12 Best Open-World Games On PS5

There are some vast worlds to explore on the PlayStation 5.

Recent updates have done a great job of making Cyberpunk 2077 playable on modern consoles. It looks amazing on the PS5, and it's a shame that many people failed to enjoy its story because of technical problems. Perhaps with the updates and DLC, it can be sent off in a better light.

9 Stray

Top Cat Simulator

Developer

BlueTwelve Studio

Genre

Adventure

Release Date

19 July 2022

An indie game that won people over immediately, Stray puts you in the... paws? of a cat. You fall into an old city of robots and must find your way back to the outside world. Help out the robotic inhabitants and traverse with your little droid friend as you discover the story of this whole city.

The game does a lot to show just how great games can look, especially from smaller studios. The city looks incredible, the lighting is fantastic, and the style and animations of the cat itself are spot-on. If you haven't played it yet, it's worthwhile just to explore a beautiful location. As a cat. You get to play as a cat.

8 Kena: Bridge Of Spirits

Animation Excellence

Developer

Ember Lab

Genre

Action Adventure

Release Date

21 September 2021

Originally unveiled during a PlayStation showcase in 2020, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the debut game by animation studio, Ember Labs. The first thing that struck viewers about the game during that showcase was just how gorgeous it looked.

The indie developer certainly put its animation background to good use while crafting the game, having previously worked on the hauntingly beautiful The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask animated short film, Terrible Fate. The game boasts the same level of detail and expressive characters seen in that film, except most of it was now being rendered in real-time using the processing power of the PS5.