There are a lot of different game genres to love, but those who appreciate thinking through their combat options and experiencing massive stories surely love RPGs. Some systems may be lacking in the RPG department, but that isn’t the case for the PS5, and that’s especially true when it comes to quality.
Since the RPG genre is so varied, you might prefer one style over another, and luckily, it’s easy to highlight the many styles available. Thanks to all the power the PS5 boasts, some of the best RPGs on the console are also some of the best-looking games available right now.
Serving as a modern update to the 1997 classic,Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergradebrought one of gaming’s most iconic cities to life in ways many longtime fans hoped we might one day see. Midgar is so well-realized that Square Enix can be forgiven for dedicating the entire first game in the remake trilogy to its domain.
Featuring a smart action-based combat system that weaves in plenty of what makes the turn-based classic FF7 work so well, FF7 Remake toes the line between “old” and “new” in ways which largely satisfy both audiences. The excellent visuals shine on PS5 in ways that the PS5 version of Remake couldn’t quite match, and the inclusion of the new Yuffie-centric chapter makes Intergrade a compelling package.
A rough launch gave this one a rocky start, but it’s hard not to suggestCyberpunk 2077now. Between the ample updates and excellent expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 has largely left behind its initial shortcomings, delivering on a rad promise of a (fittingly) cyberpunk world to lose yourself in with robust skill systems and a rock-solid storyline.
Playing Cyberpunk 2077 on the PlayStation 5, you’ll have a fairly smooth time of things. Make sure you go in with the Phantom Liberty expansion installed - it adds a robust overhaul to many of the core mechanics.
Elden Ringtakes the steep challenge and slam-dunk atmosphere of other From Software games, applies it to an open world, and gives players the widest canvas of “go forth in whichever direction; be amazed” that the creators of Dark Souls have yet delivered.
The world of Elden Ring is hauntingly beautiful; the music is gorgeously melancholy. The combat system is sublime. It’s everything a Soulslike fan would hope for and more. Unless the subgenre really isn’t your cup of tea, Elden Ring’s a must-play.
Much like another game on this list,The Witcher 3can often feel like it will never fade away. Geralt’s quest to find Ciri and protect her from the Wild Hunt has been a love of RPG fans for years.
The draw to this game is its massive and winding story filled with countless sidequests –or if you’re the card-playing type, Gwent. You do have some control over Geralt’s choices and dialogue options, allowing you to tailor your playthrough to what you think Geralt should do.
Well, more than tailor it - you’re shaping the fate of the world in ways both sweeping and small.
Skyrimis eternal. If you were an Elder Scrolls fan prior to its release in 2011, you’ll doubtless recognize the difference in mainstream perception of the franchise before and after the dragon-centric chapter stormed the gaming world. Morrowind was reasonably popular. Oblivion turned plenty of heads. Skyrim was a paradigm shift.
There’s just something about that setting, isn’t there? The snow-capped mountains, the majestic score (Jeremy Soule’s finest, we’d say). The way the game felt so “alive” in so many ways back then, and still manages to impress to a decent degree today.
The amazing modding community has done a lot of the heavy lifting in keeping Skyrim “relevant” through the years, but even if you play it on its own, the game’s magical.
2018’s Octopath Traveler introduced us all to the “HD-2D” style, a retro engine that works exactly as the name suggests. It’s been used at Square Enix several times since, to wondrous effect. But while Octopath Traveler looked great, and had some equally great ideas, it fell a little short in some ways.
EnterOctopath Traveler 2, the 2023 sequel that’s got it all in spades. Fantastically charming characters (we’re partial to Partitio, but they’re all grand); a clever evolution of an already-nifty turn-based battle system; and content galore. Not to mention a sensationally eclectic soundtrack.
We hope Octopath Traveler 2 doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of time, because it’s a blast.
If you want an RPG that is going to impress you through its style, music, and gameplay, all in unique ways,Persona 5 Royalis an experience you need to have. It’s already become known as one of the greatest RPGs ever made, so of course, it had to be on this list.
Controlling Joker, you play through this half-social simulator half-dungeon-crawler RPG while you try to balance school, friends, and the thievery of people’s hearts. The unique blend and balance of gameplay mechanics ensures Persona 5 Royal never gets stale, despite its nearly 100-hour runtime.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, continuing Cloud’s journey; this time, the party will explore the world beyond Midgar. Rebirth transitions the series into an open-world structure, where you’re able to explore different areas at your leisure, which provides a nice degree of freedom compared to the fairly linear structure of the first Remake.
Speaking of which, there’s tons of optional and side content to do in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, not least of all the Gold Saucer, where you may partake in different mini-games. Like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth provides an expansive recreation of the original Final Fantasy 7, offering a new take on a classic that doesn’t fail to deliver.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
A lot of people are fans ofall those anime fightersthat come out but crave a deeper experience, andDragon Ball Z: Kakarotprovides exactly that. You can experience the Dragon Ball Z story and even some of the aspects of Dragon Ball Super in a single game.
Rather than mindlessly slapping buttons, you’ll have to carefully build your character, decide on special attacks, and even manage items in the middle of battle. The combat isn’t as deep as some other RPGs, but the ability to experience the Dragon Ball Z story in its glory is likely more than enough of a bonus to make up for that.
If you’re looking for something without super deep RPG mechanics, Final Fantasy 16 may be a good place to start. While it may be simplistic on the RPG front, its fulfilling combat and story will pull you through the game.
Clive’s adventures in Valisthea are a breath of fresh air for the Final Fantasy series, but fans of the previous games will still have tons to appreciate here. The mature story and characters present in Final Fantasy 16 set it apart from other games in the series, but it still has that classic Final Fantasy feeling that connects all the games together.
