What are the best PS5 RPG games? While some of them are simply upgrades from the PS4, others are built from the ground up to take full advantage of the speed and power of the PlayStation 5, leading to game-changing experiences.
Unsurprisingly, given how popular the genre is, RPGs make up many of the best PS5 games released on the console so far. Whether its something dark and gritty, colorful and fun, dripping in futuristic sci-fi, or set in a sprawling fantasy world, all of the entries on this list will let you control the narrative with your decisions, craft builds to suit your playstyle, or spend way too much time in the character creator. Some of the best RPGs ever made are sitting here on this list, and we’ll be sure to keep adding to it when new PS5 games arrive that you role-playing fans will want to know about.
These are the best PS5 RPG games:
1. Baldur’s Gate 3
Chances are you’ve probably seen and heard a lot about Baldur’s Gate 3 already – the praise, the review scores, the awards, the questionable scenes involving a bear… However, if you’re not a seasoned veteran when it comes to big RPGs, the sheer size and scale of BG3 might be something that’s holding you back. We also recognize that the fantasy setting and connections to the Dungeons and Dragons universe could also put some players off. Well, we’re here to tell you to ditch any concerns you have – BG3 is an RPG on PS5 that players need to play.
Yes, you’ll have to go through 46 subclasses when trying to figure out the best Baldur’s Gate 3 class. Yes, you’ll probably have to sink in 50-60 hours to clear just the main story. And yes, the turn-based combat – entrenched in DnD rules – can be hard to pick up initially.
However, with some amazing characters voiced by stellar talent, a great narrative with multiple endings based on your choices, and the ability to play cooperatively with up to three other friends, it’s one of the most complete and deep RPGs ever made.
2. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
While it’s certainly a name that doesn’t roll off the tongue, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is a must-play for RPG fans, whether you’ve played the original 1997 game or not, especially before the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth release date arrives.
In FF7RI, to make things easier, you play as Cloud Strife, a former member of SOLDIER, a group of warriors owned by the Shinra Electric Power Company. Following the advice of his childhood friend, Cloud becomes a mercenary hired by Avalanche, an eco-terrorist organization, but things quickly go south when Cloud witnesses flashbacks of another former SOLIDER and villain of the game, Sephiroth.
This remake isn’t a true 1:1 recreation of the original game, delivering real-time action combat over the 1997’s turn-based combat, as well as the fact that FF7RI only recreates the Midgar portion of the original, yet extends it to around a 40-hour experience. Those aren’t the only things that FF7RI changes about the original, with some reality-shifting events you’ll want to witness yourself…
3. Final Fantasy 14
Another Final Fantasy game, but one that is very different this time around, Final Fantasy 14 is an MMORPG for the series, one that delivers hundreds of hours of content with some incredible expansions that are worth playing.
If you were one of the unfortunate souls to play the original version of FFXIV, you’ll be pleased to know that things have positively changed a lot, with the MMO now being touted as one of the best in the market. For those unaware, you create a custom character, pick a starting class, and enter the persistent multiplayer world of Hydaelyn.
As you progress and reach higher levels, you’ll unlock new skills, get better gear, and watch a great story unfold. There are a few expansions to enjoy too, with Endwalker concluding the Hydaelyn–Zodiark arc and the upcoming Dawntrail expansion in 2024.
4. Final Fantasy 16
When it comes to the best PS5 RPGs, it’s impossible not to talk about Final Fantasy 16. Our FF16 review from our very own Callum Self called it “the best PS5 exclusive yet” when it was released in the summer of 2023, and for good reason.
FF16 is a brutal, epic tale that spans the realms of Valisthea, blending great character and story moments with intense action combat in a way we haven’t seen in Final Fantasy before. When it comes to clearing the main story, you’re looking at 35-40 hours of action, which includes some truly remarkable and enormous Eikon battles that really are a sight to behold.
It’s “a completely fresh take on the series”, in Callum’s words, and while FF16’s approach has upset some long-time Final Fantasy enjoyers, there’s no escaping the fact that it is a brilliant RPG. And for those looking to see more of the story, a story DLC was released in December 2023, and an upcoming expansion will arrive in Spring 2024.
5. Horizon Forbidden West
Plenty of big triple-A RPGs have come out since Horizon Forbidden West, but hardly any have managed to trump it when it comes to sheer visual beauty. Regardless of platform or genre, this is one of the most stunning games you can play right now – but Forbidden West isn’t just a beauty.
This sequel builds and improves on every aspect of the first game, resulting in a very accomplished third-person action RPG. Aloy’s journey this time around takes place in a far bigger world, features more refined combat, and introduces some excellent new characters to fight alongside and against her. Don’t believe us? Give our Horizon Forbidden West review a read.
On the PS5, Horizon Forbidden also makes excellent use of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback, and as mentioned before, it is completely jaw-dropping to look at. There’s also the Burning Shores DLC out now as well, in case you just can’t get enough after playing the base game.
6. Elden Ring
Elden Ring has its names in the stars at this point. With FromSoftware taking its tried and tested formula and dropping it into one of the best PS5 open world games, there’s honestly nothing this title can’t do.
Our Elden Ring review awards the game a rare 10/10 and goes over all the reasons to play this incredible game. In a nutshell, though, it comes down to scintillating and challenging combat, a sprawling open world, incredible boss encounters, and a ridiculous amount of customization and agency when it comes to crafting builds and upgrading your character.
If you’re a fan of Soulslikes, you need to play Elden Ring – hell, you probably already have. But even if you’re not a big Souls fan, or are relatively new to big RPGs, Elden Ring is still definitely worth your time. You should also start playing before the Elden Ring DLC release date comes around.
7. Diablo 4
Aiming to be both a premium-priced RPG with regular live service seasons as well, Diablo 4 is certainly ambitious. The base game and the story within are exceptional, but its first seasonal storyline and activities left a lot to be desired. However, developer Blizzard has definitely corrected course, and seasonal content is certainly looking far more promising and engaging since that early slip up.
Diablo 4, continuing on from past entries in the series, is a dark isometric RPG that mainly focuses on loot chasing, dungeon crawling, and of course upgrading your character over time. However, Diablo 4 also innovates by giving players a fully open world for the first time in the series and developing proper PvP elements.
For fans of the top-down style, or for anyone who indulged in earlier Diablo games, then there’s no reason why shouldn’t hop into Diablo 4. For those less accustomed to this style, it may take some getting used to, but there’s no doubt that Diablo 4 is an epic RPG for PS5 players.
8. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
The upgraded version of the original Disco Elysium, which was already something of a masterpiece anyway, belongs on every best PS5 RPG games list – and probably best games list on any platform, for that matter.
You take control of a detective with a powerful inner monologue who has to either succeed or fail their way through a strange world filled with horrible and delightful characters.
Whereas a lot of the games on this list are combat-heavy, Disco Elysium leans more on dialogue, decision-making, and some detective work, of course. There are plenty of moments – including some that alter the outcome of the story – that involve dice-rolled decisions, so making sure your character is suitably equipped with the skills needed to pass these checks is key. It’s strategic, it’s gripping, and it’s great to look at too – Disco Elysium is a must-play RPG, even if it’s a bit unusual compared to others on this list.
9. Tales of Arise
The Tales of series is not dissimilar to the Final Fantasy series. It’s been going on forever, you don’t need to play any of the previous games to understand the latest one, and everyone in these games has a high probability of being hot.
Unlike Final Fantasy though, the Tales games are purely action RPGs. The latest entry has you playing as an amnesiac with a mysterious metal mask, who has to try and stop the enslaving of a group of people by those who have arrived from another planet. It’s beautiful, fun, and probably the best the series has ever been.
10. Judgment
Judgment is a spin-off from the Yakuza games and features the same overwhelmingly charming writing, characters, and general distractibility that makes the series so strong.
Rather than playing as a Yakuza member though, you take control of Takayuki Yagami, a private investigator looking into a serial murder case. The world is corrupt though, and you’ll need to not only use your head but also your fists and feet to figure things out. Lost Judgment, the sequel, is also a solid game, but the original is stronger on the story front.
11. Yakuza Like a Dragon
Speaking of Yakuza, the latest entry takes the series away from the action format and into a world of turn-based battles thanks to a new protagonist called Ichiban Kasuga.
Rather than the mighty Kiryu, Ichiban is a low-level grunt in the organization who’s been left to die by a friend. Your job is to guide Ichiban and the friends he makes along the way as you seek out your revenge, while also doing all kinds of truly absurd things in classic Yakuza fashion.
12. Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut takes the powerful tale of Jin Sakai, a samurai who has to figure out if it’s worth trying to hold on to crumbling morality as he tries to protect his home, and makes it shine even brighter on the PS5.
This open-world RPG will have you riding around and getting into duels, discovering secrets, and unlocking powerful new skills as you try and stand your ground. Ghost of Tsushima often flies under the radar during discussions about amazing RPGs, and that’s totally unjustified, with excellent combat and a strong narrative all taking place in a graphically gorgeous world.
It’ll also make you cross your fingers that Sucker Punch will one day bless us with a Ghost of Tsushima 2 release date.
13. Cyberpunk 2077
Despite one of the most infamous launches in videogame history, Cyberpunk 2077’s redemption arc is complete. These days, CD Projekt Red’s futuristic and gritty RPG plays brilliantly, dazzles on the PS5, and has an excellent expansion (titled Phantom Liberty) as well.
As protagonist V – who is having a slightly problematic time with their cybernetic brain implant – you aim to explore and navigate your way through Night City from a first-person perspective. As with all good RPGs, it’s up to you to choose exactly how you’d prefer to do that – the art of persuasion, hacking and manipulating the city around you, or by spilling some blood. There are also alternate endings to the main storyline, so there’s also some inherent replayability with Cyberpunk 2077 too.
So, if you’ve always been put off by those horror stories of mountains of bugs and the game being temporarily removed from the PS Store, it’s time to move past that – Cyberpunk 2077 is great.
14. Genshin Impact
This is arguably one of the best free PS5 games right now, and the fact a free-to-play title is appearing alongside so many premium-priced behemoths is a testament to how good HoYoverse’s Genshin Impact is. With a cast of colorful characters that’ll win you over in an instant and a deep upgrade system, there’s plenty here for RPG fans to enjoy.
While there are plenty of paid elements to Genshin, it isn’t pay-to-win like other titles. Most of the Genshin Impact characters can be picked up without much effort, giving you the best possible chance to enjoy the game for what it is. to try it out.
15. Lies of P
If you’ve grown up on a diet of Disney classics and Soulslike bangers, then Lies of P is going to feel surreally familiar. As Pinocchio (known in the game simply as ‘P’), you are a mechanical puppet that, fortunately, is skilled in the art of swordplay. Why is this fortunate, you ask? Well, as it turns out the abandoned tech utopia, Krat, has a small cohort of murderous mechs – including some pretty hefty Lies of P bosses – that you have been tasked to dispatch.
A twist on the souls-like formula that we declare “enjoyable, satisfying, if sometimes frustrating” in our Lies of P review, this is an adventure you should definitely look to embark on if you’re a fan of the genre.
16. Honkai Star Rail
You thought HoYo was done cooking? Well, if the sprawling open worlds of Genshin Impact aren’t your kind of deal, how about a solid turn-based PS5 RPG instead?
Honkai Star Rail puts you in the shoes of the Trailblazer. Imbued with the power of a Stellaron – a seed of universal destruction – you have mastery over the numerous Honkai Star Rail elements and must use your power to travel between worlds, repairing the pathways between them with the Honkai Star Rail characters aboard the Astral Express.
If you’re not quite sold, be sure to check out our Honkai Star Rail review for our expert thoughts on HoYo’s latest release. Or you can download Honkai Star Rail for free here
So there you have it, our list of the best PS5 RPG games available right now. Of course, if you also have a lean green machine, you might want to check out the best Xbox RPG games too – there are some tasty exclusives on that list that you don’t want to miss.