9 great 2020 games for your new PlayStation 5

If you are one of the lucky few who has gotten a PlayStation 5 since it launched in early November – congratulations. Securing a state-of-the-art console, especially Sony’s, was not an easy task, and there is no way of knowing whether buying one will not involve a crazy online race that is basically no different from a chaotic lottery.

If you have protected a PS5, you are probably wondering what exactly can play on it. After all, next generation consoles are rarely released with rich libraries of new games. Instead, game console manufacturers tend to reserve a handful of release titles to keep first users up to at least a year or more in the device’s lifecycle, when the development of new titles really starts to pick up.

The good news is that the new consoles from Microsoft and Sony are compatible with previous versions of next-generation hardware. This means that you have a lot of old games and multi-generation titles available, some of which have been optimized for the faster solid-state drive on new hardware and a more powerful processor. And it’s worth mentioning that Sony has some console exclusives, all of which are mandatory games if you’re a new PS5 owner.

Here is an analysis of the nine best games to play on your new console during the holiday season.

We’ve put together our favorite and most used games, apps and entertainment. Check out our app choices for iPhones, Android Phones, Windows PCs, and Macs equipped with M1; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our best choices for Gaming PCs, a PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo Switch, and VR. We also list our favorite streaming programs on the Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, and Netflix; some great science fiction books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: the price was correct at the time of publication, but may change.)

Marvel Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition

Image: Sony / Insomniac Games

An independent continuation of Insomniac Games’ excellent 2018 Spider man restart, Miles Morales has a lot going for it. It was developed natively for the PS5, which means that its visuals are breathtaking and takes full advantage of the benefits of the new hardware. So it has almost nonexistent load times and a full range of performance and visual modes that you can use to personalize your experience, with a newly introduced “RT performance” mode that achieves lightning stroke at 60 frames per second.

It is also the first major studio game to feature the Black superhero in the role of Spider-Man, and his stellar writing and cinematic scenes make it a narrative worthy of a continuation of the original, as well as being just a blast to play. In addition, the final edition includes a fully remastered version of the 2018 release, now with the option to upload your saved file from PS4.

Demon’s Souls

Image: Sony

FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls holds a special place in the hearts of FromSoftware fans everywhere. It was the first of many souls games, establishing the Japanese studio as a creator of some of the most punishing and captivating action RPGs ever made. The remake, from Bluepoint Games, is honored to be one of the only exclusives of the next generation at launch, and its stunning look helps bring the unique and brutal combat of the 2009 classic to a modern screen.

Astro’s Playroom

Image: Sony

Astro’s Playroom join Demon’s Souls to be one of the few next-generation releases to arrive with the PS5 this fall. It is preloaded on the console for each user, so you don’t have to pay for it or even download it. It is ready to work as soon as you boot the device. And appropriately, it’s basically a love letter for the PlayStation platform and the PS5 itself in the form of a cute video game.

The game takes place in the bowels of the new console, with different areas dedicated to various components of the PS5 and various parts of the game acting as a technical demonstration for the impressive new DualSense controller. But that doesn’t mean Astro’s Playroom it’s not fun to play. It is, in fact, an explosion and you should treat it as much more than a simple pre-loaded demonstration.

Bugsnax

Bugsnax

Bugsnax is the latest enigmatic eccentricity from independent developer Young Horses, best known for creating Octodad: Dadliest Catch. It is best described as something between Pokémon and a standard adventure game, with an island full of snack-like creatures like strawberries with eyes and caterpillars made from waffles.

The game is strange, but it also has an unusually engaging narrative due to its subject. It also has many activities to keep you busy, the most quintessential of which involves catching up to 100 species of edible insects. Equal to Astro’s Playroom, Bugsnax was a free PS5 release on launch day, thanks to an agreement between Sony and Young Horses that made it part of the PlayStation Plus subscription plan. It is still available as part of the subscription (or $ 25 without PS Plus) until January 4, 2021, so act quickly to redeem it if you are interested in visiting Snaktooth Island.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Image: Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla it’s the latest game in Ubisoft’s massive historical fiction series, which pits secret orders against each other in an attempt to take over the world … or something. Okay, so the series is no longer about assassins against Templars, and that’s okay. The last two games in the series, Origins and Odyssey, addressed ancient Egypt and Greece with impressive results; critics praised Ubisoft’s new open-world RPG approach, which makes these games much more massive and engaging than they used to be.

Now, Valhalla it is here with a Nordic tale of revenge set during the age of the Vikings, and it is equally incredible and engaging. It is also one of the few major cross-gen studio games to arrive in time for the PS5 launch. Like many of the other titles for the new consoles, Ubisoft has released some necessary patches to improve its performance and help you feel closer.

Persona 5

Image: Atlus

The last entry in everyone’s favorite series “animate the video game”, Persona 5 it’s not exactly a new entry in the iconic life simulation RPG crossover series. But, keeping with tradition, the developer Atlus has managed to keep it alive and fresh since its launch in 2017. The developer has done so by releasing an expanded version of the game called Persona 5: Royal earlier this year. The new version added new characters, gameplay additions and improved quality of life to the design of the original.

You now have a choice to make. Persona 5 is included for free in the PlayStation Plus Collection series, a new library of older games that Sony is offering as part of its annual subscription to PS5 owners. But the collection includes only the standard version of the game, not the Real 1. Hard to Kill Persona fans will tell you to play Real, so it might be a good idea to use your PS Plus collection to try out the game and buy the Real version looks like something you’ll want to dedicate tens (or even hundreds) of hours to.

Fifteen days

Image: Epic Games

Epic’s hugely successful battle royale Fifteen days it’s still going strong over three years after launch, and it only got better with the launch of next generation consoles. On Sony’s PS5, Fifteen days is rendered in 4K and 60fps, with a new 120 Hz mode that will increase the frame rate even more if you have the TV to support it. The game is free to play, making it simple if you are looking for an online multiplayer game for your new console. Epic and Microsoft also just added areolaMaster Chief, in addition to some Star Wars characters with their newest season.

Tsushima’s Ghost

Image: Sucker Punch Productions

Sucker Punch Productions’ Tsushima’s Ghost is the rare game that manages to look familiar and new at the same time. It’s a standard open-world game with many of the trappings of the genre: a lonely, empty world occasionally dotted with parallel searches and collectible items and traversable mainly on horseback. But where Tsushima’s Ghost shines in its visual beauty, deep sword fighting and the peaceful moments it provides the player as he pilots samurai Jin Sakai in his quest for revenge – like composing haikus on the edge of a cliff or following birds to mystical fox sanctuaries.

It is not an innovative game, but it is adorable to play. It is greatly aided by player-friendly gestures, such as instant quick travel, no microtransactions to speak and personalization of fantastic characters. On PS5, Tsushima’s Ghost it runs at 60fps, which, when added to its top-notch performance and quality, effectively makes it a launch game for anyone who skipped or held it last summer.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Image: Square Enix

The remake of the RPG classic Final Fantasy VII it could have gone wrong in many ways and yet, surprisingly, it arrived last April as a complete and fully formed experience that has great success in what it sets out to do. Sure, it’s just a small slice of the original’s overall story, but it delivers in every way imaginable, spanning the line between nostalgia for the source material and genuine advances in the evolution of turn-based RPGs for the modern day. In addition, it has some narrative additions outside the left field that turned the whole plot upside down.

While not fully optimized for the PS5, FFVII Remake you get a slight increase in performance through backward compatibility, primarily to help keep your frame rate stable. Otherwise, it is a mandatory game for any Final fantasy fan who did not choose this for the PS4.