Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2025 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 action game of 2025.
Bronze Trophy: Elden Ring Nightreign
Condensing Elden Ring's robust mix of combat styles down into a breakneck multiplayer experience is no easy feat, but Elden Ring Nightreign somehow manages to pull it off.
While this is quite clearly a case of FromSoftware squeezing its open world RPG dry, Nightreign does end up feeling like its own thing thanks to a roster of distinct playable characters and reworked boss fights.
And again, the sheer pace of each gauntlet can't be underestimated — especially once you've got to grips with the game's initially chaotic flow.
The bottom line here is that it's still hard to top the Japanese developer's sense of grandiose action, and Nightreign's got that in spades.
Read our Elden Ring Nightreign PS5 review through the link.
Silver Trophy: Ghost of Yotei
Expanding on Ghost of Tsushima's battles by handing lead character Atsu a bunch of different weapons instead of sword-based stances, Ghost of Yotei feels like a measured but impressive upgrade in the action department.
Sucker Punch's samurai cinema combat may not have the mechanical depth of its competition, but it's slick, stylish, and undeniably satisfying. Atsu's dances of death feel fantastic to unravel, and the ability to hurl discarded weapons at unsuspecting opponents will simply never get old.
But we think it's the boss fights that elevate Yotei. The developer knew that Tsushima's one-on-one duels were highlights of the experience, and so it doubled down on them in the sequel to great effect.
Read our Ghost of Yotei PS5 review through the link.
Gold Trophy: Ninja Gaiden 4
Ninja Gaiden 4 may not have the best storytelling or level design of the games on this list, but that's not necessarily a problem when the action is just so damn good.
Obviously this is a franchise that's always revelled in brutality — both from a difficulty and animation perspective, and this latest instalment doesn't shy away from either. You'll be hard pressed to find a bloodier game on PS5 — and we mean that in the best possible way.
When you're in the zone, there's nothing quite like a good Ninja Gaiden; it's a pleasure to see its relentless brand of action return in such fine form after so many years.
Read our Ninja Gaiden 4 PS5 review through the link.
Platinum Trophy: Monster Hunter Wilds
You just can't beat Monster Hunter when it's firing on all cylinders, and Monster Hunter Wilds nails the long-standing formula. There are some truly epic clashes to behold in Capcom's latest effort.
At its core, this series has always been about mastering both your chosen weapon and the beasts that stand before you. Granted, Wilds was perhaps a little... easy at launch, with the developer worried that a tricky story campaign could push new players away.
But we're now four major title updates down the road, and Wilds is the place to be if you really want to put your monster slaying skills to the test.
It's got to be one of the most rewarding games on PS5; the thrill of finally being able to go toe-to-toe with a foe that once seemed insurmountable is unmatched.
Read our Monster Hunter Wilds PS5 review through the link.
Do you agree with our picks for the best PS5 action game of 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments below and check out more of our Game of the Year coverage through the link.
Comments 20
Capcom does combat best
With Monster Hunter Wilds still having performance issues it should be excluded from the list.
@Oram77 If games with performance issues got excluded then most games wouldn't make the cut, even E33 had some issues on PC, even Silent Hill F which you hold in high regard has performance issues on PS5.
Had a blast with Monster Hunter Wilds and the combat is always the highlight of these games as it's always done so well.
Should’ve been Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Despite the performance woes, MH Wilds does still have that great MH gameplay that we all know and love.
@UltimateOtaku91 You mention Silent hill f and yet it hasn't shown up on any list so far
Wow wow y'all couldn't be so right. At least someone's gets it, that MH Wilds' combat action is crazy! It gets overlooked cause y'know "just another Monster Hunter again." I can say with confidence it's the best out there in the way of animations and monster behaviour. Nobody does monsters like MH and this takes it up a notch, all the environmental effects when fighting monsters like Rey Dau, Uth Duna, Arkveld faaaaacckkk! And the way your character moves....so sublime! I played this for like 30hrs straight not playing no other games.
@TheArt Rey Dau might be one of my favourite monsters to fight in any Monster Hunter game to date, and that's saying a hell of a lot.
Eternal Strands was the best action game I played this year, by a wide margin.
Never could get into MH. I really tried with World but it's just not for me. Ghost of Yotei or Ninja Gaiden for me. Shinobi would probably be number 3 the combat in that game was pretty solid if a bit too straightforward at times.
@ShogunRok The effects just had me wowing and wowing I couldn't even focus on actually fighting him. It's crazy!
@Korgon I implores you like Bill Williamson to keep trying, it's going to click. I mean you love Street Fighter, it's the same action with cool moves hidden in different weapons only fighting monsters this time.
@Oram77 still don't know the performance issues people talk about, I hear it's largely on PC and they've overblown it. Anyhow considering the amount of action going on on screen at the same time, the effects and rapid realistic animations in high quality graphics, any game would struggle.
A game called 63 days.
Nothing of above, especially Elden Fortnite or Tsushima 1.5. The best action of 2025 for me without a doubt was Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, the combat was simply stellar. That was one heck of the debut, can't wait to see what those guys will do next.
Where are First Berserker Khazan or Lost Soul Aside?
Both were far superior to all the games on this list except GoY.
MHW and ERN had (and I believe still have) severe performance issues and should not have been included.
I voted Shinobi but NG 4, Ragebound, and Yotei also deserves my vote.
Next year will have a lot of potential banger like Onimusha, Saros, Wolverine, Pragmata, Phantom Blade Zero, Nioh 3, W40K Boltgun 2, Crimson Desert, First Light etc.
First Berserker seems worthy of a nomination.
Shinobi art 🥷 of vengeance is such a good game. Word up son
Enjoyed Wilds and am enjoying Nightreign despite both having disappointing aspects to them. They're still a ton of fun. I might have to go with Nightreign as my best action game cause I get that one more run feeling
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