20. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (PS5)

Disco Elysium stands as a truly great achievement in role-playing. Attempting to crack a dangerously suspicious murder case as an amnesiac cop, you're tasked with interrogating the locals while trying to work out just who the hell you're supposed to be. Engrossing from start to finish, Disco Elysium is built on a foundation of fantastic writing and brilliant characters, as you carve your own unique path through the atmospheric city of Revachol. Its methodical pace won't be for everyone, but if you're looking for a deep and brain-bending RPG, you won't find anything better on PS5.

19. Persona 3 Reload (PS5)

As far as faithful remakes go, Persona 3 Reload is right up there with the best you'll find on PlayStation. The original Persona 3 is an undeniable classic, but Reload greatly improves the experience by modernising its turn-based combat and expanding its storytelling. What's more, it's an utterly gorgeous revival, boasting incredible art direction and some of the most stunning presentation you're ever likely to see in an RPG. A must for existing fans, and for newcomers, a perfect introduction to the Dark Hour.

18. Star Ocean The Second Story R (PS5)

Star Ocean The Second Story R is a fantastic remake of a classic RPG. It remains faithful to the original game's tone and atmosphere, but brings so many quality of life improvements to the table alongside an impressive visual overhaul. As a result, this is the best version of a beloved adventure — the core gameplay of which holds up shockingly well after all these years. A huge win for both nostalgia-driven fans and newcomers alike.

17. Final Fantasy XVI (PS5)

The Final Fantasy series has never been one to sit still, and with Final Fantasy 16, it's moved away from its turn-based traditions entirely. The first true action RPG in the mainline games, it's quite the departure from the norm, but it's an excellent entry nonetheless. Featuring a gripping story delivered by brilliant performances, incredibly fun combat, and some of the most spectacular scenes imaginable, this is a fantastic game that pulls out all the stops.

16. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (PS5)

Yakuza: Like a Dragon barely feels next-gen as it’s very much rooted by Ryu ga Gotoku Studio’s dated engine and game design principles, but it’s bursting with personality and one of the most varied releases on this list. At its core, it’s a traditional, turn-based (a first for the franchise) role-playing game built around an engaging and relatable party of core characters, but it’s so much more: this small but densely populated open world harbours go-karts, an entire business management minigame, and more wacky side-quests than you can shake a massage wand at. This is one of the most unique and time consuming titles on PS5.

15. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (PS5)

The first Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a demanding historical RPG that slowly became a cult classic over the course of years — and this sequel sticks rather rigidly to its predecessor's blueprint. Having said that, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 improves on just about everything; it's a bigger, much more dynamic open world adventure, stuffed with captivating side quests and fantastic characters. It's also a deeply immersive experience, forcing players to survive and eventually thrive within a punishing recreation of 15th century Europe. If you can gel with it, Deliverance 2 is easily one of the most engrossing role-playing experiences that you'll find on PS5.

14. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS5)

With the best turn-based gameplay, the biggest and best cast of characters, and the most gripping story in the series so far, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is comfortably the greatest Yakuza game to date. Ichican and Kiryu hit up the new destination of Hawaii in search of the former's long-lost mother, but their quest really is just the tip of the iceberg. Improved combat makes fights more engaging than ever, upgraded graphics bring new life to classic locations like Kamurocho, and deep and fascinating characters both new and old mean you won't want to stop playing until the credits roll. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth really is RGG Studio at its peak.

13. Unicorn Overlord (PS5)

"Vanillaware doesn't miss" — a statement that grows more and more meaningful with every game that the talented Japanese studio releases. Unicorn Overlord takes the developer in yet another new direction, channelling the spirit of strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem to create one of the finest examples of the genre that you'll find in modern gaming. Growing a huge army of characters and finding unique ways to squad them up is the crux of the experience, and it only gets increasingly addictive as the adventure continues. Couple that with Vanillaware's amazing, trademark art direction, and you've got a surefire recipe for role-playing success.

12. Hogwarts Legacy (PS5)

Taking place hundreds of years before the events of Harry Potter, Hogwarts Legacy finally lets fans live out their dream of attending the eponymous school. While there's an intriguing story to follow that takes you far beyond the castle itself, this RPG's strengths are all in the smaller things. The school is a joy to explore, as are the surrounding grounds, because of an obsessive attention to detail that really does imbue the open world with magic. Layer on top solid spell-based combat, flying on your broom, and even rearing magical creatures, and the result is a real crowd-pleaser — and definitely the best game in the franchise.

11. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (PS5)

There's no denying that Final Fantasy VII Remake is one of the best Final Fantasy games in years, and Intergrade is the icing on the cake. Yes, it's only one part of the story, and yes, a few of the, er, changes are going to annoy some fans forevermore, but there's a healthy helping of Final Fantasy VII magic at the heart of Remake. Whether it's in the way that the characters have been re-realised or the outstanding boss fights (and excellent combat system), charging through Remake is a rewarding experience — especially if you're big on nostalgia.