What are the best adventure games on PS5? An adventure is described as an "exciting or daring experience", and while most video games tend to tick this box, there's a specific subset of releases that span this genre. Typically, adventure games tend to boast a mixture of mechanics, spanning everything from exploration to problem solving, with a focus on narrative and story-telling. Often, there'll be a blend of combat and puzzles, which may expand to dungeons and open worlds.
However, there can be different types of adventure game, some without any combat at all. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a more text-heavy take on the genre than Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, for example, which combines a hearty broth of gunfighting and environmental conundrums. A game like Horizon Forbidden West, meanwhile, revolves around its role-playing systems, but feels like a grand adventure in terms of scope and scale, as you navigate sprawling cities like Las Vegas and San Francisco.
A lot of adventure games will boast open worlds, but they can be more linear and smaller in scale. A game like A Plague Tale: Innocence, for instance, takes you on a very controlled excursion through Paris, as you work your way through the French capital and discover its secrets. The same can be said of Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which represents a smaller-scale, indie production compared to some of the higher profile blockbusters you'll find on this page.
As always, we've ordered these games based on your votes, so that they best reflect your personal opinions. If you want to have your own say, then you can search for a specific title using the box below, or simply rate any of the titles you find on this page. As time advances, this list will continue to grow and evolve, so that it's always representative of your opinion of the best adventure games on PS5.
It's worth noting that a game will need at least 50 ratings before it makes its way onto this page. If your personal favourite adventure is missing, it could be that it just hasn't been rated enough times yet.
Best PS5 Games
- Best PS5 Games
- Best Action Games on PS5
- Best Free Games on PS5
- Best Single Player Games on PS5
- Best Co-Op Games on PS5
- Best FPS Games on PS5
- Best Open World Games on PS5
- Best RPGs on PS5
- Best Sports Games on PS5
- Best Indie Games on PS5
- Best Puzzle Games on PS5
- Best Horror Games on PS5
- Best Racing Games on PS5
- Best PS5 Exclusive Games
- Best Arcade Games on PS5
With all that said, let's get to our list of best adventure games on PS5, as determined by you.
30. Alan Wake Remastered (PS5)
Originally released for the Xbox 360 all the way back in 2010, Alan Wake cultivated cult status for its unorthodox Twin Peaks-inspired storytelling and unique horror gameplay loop. With light playing a significant role, you need to use a torch in combination with traditional weapons in order to defeat the Taken and restore order to the fictional Washington town of Bright Falls. First published by Microsoft, developer Remedy was able to wrangle back the rights to the series in 2019, which paved the way for this spruced-up PS5 remaster – and a sequel unsurprisingly named Alan Wake 2.
29. Dying Light 2 (PS5)
The original Dying Light game might have gone under the radar critically, but it certainly sold impressively well on PS4. As such, expectations were high for this PS5 sequel, with developer Techland promising all sorts of narrative choices and intriguing story beats. And while the finished product didn't live up to those claims, the actual open world title is still a fun one. Looking for something to turn your brain off to and start slicing and dicing the undead? You can't do much better than Dying Light 2. Complete with an awesome parkour moveset, traversal has never felt this good.
28. Assassin's Creed Valhalla (PS5)
In a lot of ways, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is like a blend of Origins and Odyssey. Like Origins, there's much more focus on storytelling in this epic Viking saga. But like Odyssey, Valhalla leans heavily on expanded RPG mechanics, such as levelling up, equipment, and skill trees. You play as Eivor, a vision-haunted Viking warrior who leaves Norway to establish a new home in 9th century England. Featuring a lush open world stuffed with all kinds of landmarks and secrets, Valhalla is a real time-sink of a game, but its story-driven acts offer up some of the best characters and narrative beats in the entire series.
27. The Pathless (PS5)
The Pathless lives up to its name with a gorgeous open world to explore, but it's how you get around that sets this adventure apart. Playing as an archer, firing arrows at targets dotted throughout the map provide you a speed boost, letting you blitz through the natural environments and mysterious ruins with amazing flow. This traversal leads you to discover the secrets of a corrupted world, and you'll solve puzzles and tackle fearsome creatures in your quest to cleanse the land. A beautiful game in many ways, this is quietly one of PS5's best.
26. Immortals Fenyx Rising (PS5)
Developed primarily by the team that crafted the gigantic Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Immortals Fenyx Rising is an open world fantasy RPG with an emphasis on fluid combat and puzzle solving. You play as the customisable Fenyx — a hero tasked with ridding the realm of a corruption spread by Typhon — a key figure in Greek mythology. In fact, Immortals is heavily based on Greek myth, but the story's told through humorous character interactions and offbeat narration. As such, it can be a fun adventure for players of all ages.
25. Stray (PS5)
Playing as a lost cat in a mysterious underground cybercity, Stray is a truly unique title. This is a short but sweet adventure game that emphasises exploration and investigation from a feline perspective, and it works wonderfully. Linear levels are punctuated by more open areas that are a real treat to explore with your catty dexterity, letting you meet robotic buddies as you weave through the streets and rooftops of a decaying town. While you're busy scratching up furniture and knocking things over, an intriguing sci-fi narrative unfolds around you. Gorgeous art direction and brilliant animation are the icing on this adorable cake.
24. A Plague Tale: Innocence (PS5)
A Plague Tale: Innocence is the best kind of surprise: an unexpectedly strong historical outing with a likeable cast of characters and unique stealth mechanics. The fantasy underpinnings may not be to everyone’s tastes – especially as the tale somewhat limps to its conclusion – but Asobo Studio’s outstanding use of the PS5 hardware, including the DualSense, make it a must play for fans of story-based adventures.
23. Kena: Bridge of Spirits (PS5)
This is the debut game from developer Ember Lab, and it's a strong first effort. Kena: Bridge of Spirits gets top marks for its animation and visual flair, but it's also a very enjoyable action platformer. It puts us in mind of PS2 classics such as Jak & Daxter; you're traversing a sort-of open world environment, collecting things, solving puzzles, and engaging in simple yet surprisingly challenging combat. Those lovable Rot creatures and some tricky boss battles further cement this as a cult hit.
22. Like a Dragon: Ishin! (PS5)
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is set during the late 1800s, when Western powers were starting to encroach on Japan. On the brink of a civil war, you play as historical figure Ryoma Sakamoto, a skilled swordsman who embarks on a bloody quest for revenge. It's typically brilliant storytelling from RGG Studio, coupled with an intense combat system. Since it's a standalone spinoff, Ishin is a great place to start if you're new to the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series, and you'll even be introduced to an entire cast of characters whose faces and voice actors have been plucked directly from other entries. An all-star hit.
21. A Plague Tale: Requiem (PS5)
Better than its predecessor in virtually every way, A Plague Tale: Requiem is a proper sequel that improves its familiar gameplay mechanics and couples them with stunning PS5 visuals and an engaging story. It doesn't completely rewrite the script, but taking a page from the Naughty Dog playbook, this is a cinematic adventure more than worth your time.
Comments (28)
Ghost of Tsushima is the right answer
No Ratchet and Clank? Excuse me?
Ghost of Tsushima vs Elden Ring...not an easy choice. I'd probably choose Elden Ring but Ghost is right up there too. Both are excellent games.
Forbidden West is the right answer. At least for me.
Ghost is top of another list, it's just the best game.
I’m surprised Spiderman made it to the top 3. While the gameplay was amazing when it came out for the PS4, the remaster doesn’t do enough to warrant it a top 3 spot on a PS5 list IMO.
Ghost of Tsushima and Elden Ring deserve their thrones. Horizon Forbidden West should have been in the top 3 with them.
Horizon Forbidden West for sure!
Bruh… where is Rift Apart? 🤣
The only PS5 adventure game I need right now is Return to Monkey Island. A true adventure game!
While waiting for that, Horizon is my number 1 for sure, though I am yet to play Elden Ring.
Many of those are considered primarily Action-Adventure games, I don't see why are they even mentioned.
Was expecting quite a different list...
To each his own genre categories I guess.
I was really hoping Elden Ring would be higher than Ghost Of Tsushima but its fine nevertheless
None of those are adventure games. Action-adventure maybe even though they are mostly action.
Clue: barely any of those games have any puzzles at all and if they do - like Uncharted - they are few and far between. In actual adventure games it is all about puzzles.
Maybe not rewrite genre definitions?
@Nico_D We actually do have a genre definition internally that we use to attribute to games. You're obviously welcome to disagree with it, but it is what it is.
Thanks for reading, though!
@get2sammyb
It's not as much about whether I agree or not, I just don't think genres are something everybody can just go and redefine however they will. Or of course they can but I don't really see the point in that. Using genres or whatever terms means for others to understand what is being said and to be able to put things in context.
If these are adventure games, what are the "other" adventure games? Games like Thimbleweed Park being a modern example?
Why name the adventure games and make a list based on such a genre definition instead of calling them "action-adventures" or just "action" as they mostly are? What makes these games more adventure than action? Because they are adventurous?
According to this article, the downside to Elden Ring is too many load screens. I thought PS5 is supposed to eliminate loading screens for the most part? Isn’t that the selling point? I have not bought Elden Ring yet but it is on my list to buy at some point.
@Nico_D I'd argue you're doing exactly what you're accusing us of. Of course adventure games include those traditional point-and-click titles (you'll notice we've included Disco Elysium), but for many people a franchise like Tomb Raider is also a type of adventure game.
Like I said, you're free to disagree.
Newer games get more recognition. Ghosts of Tsushima was a good game but game for game not as good as Uncharted 4. Not that it means everything but GOT was an 83% on metacritic.
@Nico_D u said “None of those are adventure games. Action-adventures” - Dude Action-ADVENTURE is a type of Adventure game, It’s right in the name. That’s like whining about top “racing games” - because they have a bunch of “off road racing”— that’s not racing that’s off-road racing. That’s not a car it’s a sports car. you’re funny 🤷♂️🙃
@JuggaloRazzam That's not what I was saying and your analogy is poor. Calling these kinds of games "adventure games" instead of "action-adventure" is more like calling Forzs Horizon off-road racing game.
You wouldn't call a 4 by 4 with a plough tractor? Because it's not. It may have parts and functions which are the same as tractor but it's not a tractor.
@Nico_D #1 keep in mind this list was based on people’s votes not the writer’s opinion. My perspective is they used the base word “Adventure” which leaves it wide open to all/ANY adventure type games whether it’s text-adventure, puzzle-adventure, action-adventure etc.
If they said best “video games” ANY game right, best “puzzle game” well that could be Tetris or Uncharted - ANY game with puzzles, best shooter could be Call of Duty OR atari 2600 space invaders (it technically involves “shooting”. Anyway ✌️
So what category would Ratchet and clank RA be in? To me, thats an adventure game with alot of action in it and its defenately one of the best on the ps5. Cant believe its not on the list let alone top 5.
Tsushima definitely belongs up there! Elden Ring on 7 is fair. The game is great, but the overall worship? Matter of taste I guess.
@Kidfunkadelic83 Just think what makes it tough to categorize games - so many have combined genres. I agree Ratchet could be called an adventure game, technically it’s an Action-Platformer / 3rd person shooter.
@Korgon Extremely easy choice. Cool combat, beautiful story, lot's of side content. The Ghost wins.
@GusBH
I mean literally all of those points apply to Elden Ring as well so yeah its still a tough choice. I'd probably still give the edge to Elden Ring due to the higher build diversity options but Ghost is cool too.
This just reads like a list of best PlayStation games?!
I realise the term "adventure game" has been expanded over the years but the roots of the genre are in the old point and click games with emphasis on a puzzle solving alongside an immersive story.
Resident Evil Village as an adventure game? Why not go all out and include God of War?
A strange list indeed.
Final Fantasy XII is the greatest adventure game that I've played on my PS5.
Nooo, God of War maybe great, but Ghost of Tsushima is better.
What remains of Edith finch ... I would not say adventure, it is a drama movie.
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