Updated July 2026. By DailyGameScore Staff.

Best PS5 Exclusives in 2026: 12 Games Ranked

The best PS5 exclusives in 2026 are Astro Bot, God of War Ragnarok, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2, three games that sit at the top of nearly every critic ranking and show what the hardware can really do. Astro Bot leads the pack: it holds a Metacritic score of 94 and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. If you own a PlayStation 5 and want the titles that justify the box, start with the list below.

This guide ranks 12 standout exclusives you can play right now, tells you the genre and score of each, and separates the true PS5 exclusives from the timed and cross-platform releases that often get lumped in. Everything here is available today, not a trailer or a promise.

The 12 best PS5 exclusives at a glance

Here is the full ranked list with genre, release year, exclusivity status, and Metacritic score. A quick scan tells you where to spend your money first.

Rank	Game	Genre	Year	Exclusivity	Metacritic
1	Astro Bot	3D platformer	2024	True PS5 exclusive	94
2	God of War Ragnarok	Action adventure	2022	Console (also PS4, later PC)	94
3	Marvel's Spider-Man 2	Action adventure	2023	Console (later PC)	90
4	Final Fantasy VII Rebirth	JRPG	2024	Timed (later PC)	92
5	Demon's Souls	Action RPG	2020	True PS5 exclusive	92
6	Death Stranding 2: On the Beach	Action	2025	Console exclusive	90
7	Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart	3D platformer	2021	Console (later PC)	88
8	Gran Turismo 7	Racing sim	2022	Console (also PS4)	87
9	Ghost of Yotei	Action adventure	2025	True PS5 exclusive	86
10	Returnal	Roguelike shooter	2021	Console (later PC)	86
11	Helldivers 2	Co-op shooter	2024	Console (also PC)	82
12	Stellar Blade	Action	2024	Console (later PC)	81

What is the single best PS5 exclusive?

Astro Bot is the single best PS5 exclusive. Team Asobi's platformer launched on September 6, 2024, earned a Metacritic score of 94, and swept Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024, the 21st British Academy Games Awards, and the 28th D.I.C.E. Awards. It is a showcase for the DualSense controller, using haptics and adaptive triggers in ways no other game matches. At roughly 12 to 15 hours it is also one of the most joyful, tightly designed games on the console. If you buy one exclusive, buy this one.

What is the best new PS5 exclusive in 2026?

Ghost of Yotei is the best recent PS5 exclusive to reach players. Sucker Punch released it on October 2, 2025, and it holds a Metacritic score of 86 with OpenCritic reporting that 94 percent of critics recommend it. It sold roughly 1.6 million copies in its first week and passed 3.3 million units by November 2, 2025, making it one of the top-selling PS5 games of the year. The follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima trades feudal Tsushima for the land around Mount Yotei and a new lead, Atsu, with sharper combat and a bigger open world.

Forbes writer Paul Tassi noted that Ghost of Yotei's reviews landed "better than Tsushima," a rare feat for a sequel to a game that already sold more than 10 million copies.

Are PS5 exclusives worth buying the console for?

Yes, for most players the exclusives are the strongest reason to own a PS5. The library now spans a Game of the Year platformer, two of the best-reviewed action games of the generation in the God of War and Spider-Man series, a beloved Souls remake, and racing, roguelike, and co-op standouts. Half of this list scores 90 or higher on Metacritic, which is unusually deep for a first-party lineup. If you already own a strong gaming PC, note that several of these games, including God of War Ragnarok and Spider-Man 2, eventually came to PC, so check the exclusivity column before you decide.

Which PS5 games are true exclusives versus timed or cross-platform?

This is where a lot of lists mislead readers, so here is the honest breakdown. True PS5 exclusives that you cannot play anywhere else include Astro Bot, Demon's Souls, and Ghost of Yotei. Console exclusives that also appear on PS4 or later reach PC include God of War Ragnarok, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Gran Turismo 7, and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was a timed exclusive before its PC release, and Helldivers 2 launched on PS5 and PC at the same time. If you want games that are locked to Sony's hardware, weight the true exclusives at the top of your list.

Best PS5 exclusives by genre

• Platformer: Astro Bot, then Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.
• Open-world action: Ghost of Yotei, God of War Ragnarok, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
• RPG: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Demon's Souls.
• Racing: Gran Turismo 7.
• Multiplayer and co-op: Helldivers 2.
• Something different: Returnal for roguelike shooters and Death Stranding 2 for slow-burn, cinematic exploration.

Best PS5 exclusives for newcomers

If you just bought a console and want a smooth entry point, start with Astro Bot for its accessibility and charm, then Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for a blockbuster action story that is easy to pick up. Save Demon's Souls and Returnal for later, since both are demanding. For a family setup, our guide to the best PS5 games for kids in 2026 pairs well with this list, and Astro Bot appears on both.

How this ranking was built

We ranked these games on critical reception, staying power, how well they use PS5 hardware, and how essential they feel to the platform. Scores come from Metacritic aggregate ratings, and sales and award figures come from Sony Interactive Entertainment and The Game Awards. For a wider view of the current library beyond first-party titles, see our roundup of the best PS5 games in 2026. If you also game on Nintendo hardware, our best Switch 2 games guide covers the other side of the console war.

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest-rated PS5 exclusive?

Astro Bot is the highest-rated PS5 exclusive, with a Metacritic score of 94. It was the highest-rated game of 2024 on the platform and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024.

Is Ghost of Yotei a PS5 exclusive?

Yes. Ghost of Yotei is a true PS5 exclusive from Sucker Punch, released on October 2, 2025. It is not available on PS4 or PC.

How many true PS5 exclusives are there?

The number of games locked entirely to PS5 is smaller than most lists suggest. Standout true exclusives include Astro Bot, Demon's Souls, and Ghost of Yotei, while many other Sony titles also appear on PS4 or eventually reach PC.

Are PS5 exclusives coming to PC?

Some are. Sony has brought several former console exclusives to PC over time, including God of War Ragnarok and Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Newer first-party exclusives usually stay on PS5 for a period before any PC release, if one happens at all.

Which PS5 exclusive should I buy first?

Buy Astro Bot first. It is the best-reviewed exclusive, works as a showcase for the DualSense controller, and suits players of every age and skill level.

Sources: Metacritic, PlayStation.com, and Sony Interactive Entertainment sales figures.