With each new home console generation, developers have become more and more adept at crafting compelling narratives for players to enjoy. This has benefited many different genres, but perhaps none more so than the humble RPG. After all, role-playing games have always relied on their stories to draw players in and keep them playing, and a more immersive and more engaging narrative can definitely help in this regard.
The PS5 is home to many great role-playing games, some of which can only be played on Sony’s latest home console. The best PS5 RPGs find ways to push the console to its limits, providing players with an engrossing experience that is unlike anything else that came before it. For fans of the genre, the PlayStation 5 has an awful lot to offer, with many more big-budget RPGs expected in the coming months and years.
18 Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Metacritic Rating: 76 (PS5)
It’s difficult to think of too many stories that have been retold quite as many times as Dragon Ball Z‘s. Since the original manga and its anime adaptation, there have been countless video games based on the series, ranging from more traditional one-on-one fighting games to fully fleshed-out RPGs. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an example of the latter, and a pretty good one at that.
As its name might suggest, the game allows players to relive every saga of Dragon Ball Z; starting with the Saiyan saga and ending with the Majin Buu arc. Pretty much every major fight and character is included, with more available via the game’s two DLC season passes. The PS5 port of the game doesn’t offer much in the way of improved visuals, but it does drastically cut down on loading times, making it the definitive version of the game in the eyes of many.
17 Lost Judgment
Metacritic Rating: 82 (PS5)
The Yakuza series has changed a lot in recent years, with the series’ eighth installment switching to a more traditional JRPG-style turn-based combat system despite most other long-running RPG franchises having ditched the system in favor of a more fluid approach to battles. Thankfully, for Yakuza fans who prefer action RPGs, there are still plenty of alternatives, one of which is the excellent Lost Judgment spin-off.
Like the first Judgment game, Lost Judgment places players in the shoes of Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer who now works as a private detective. The crimes and mysteries that they’ll need to solve are both engaging and entertaining, and, in true Yakuza fashion, the game is full to the brim with side content that should keep players busy for countless hours.
Lost Judgment
$24 $60 Save $36
- Released
- September 24, 2021
- Metascore
- 82
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
16 Disco Elysium – The Final Cut
Metacritic Rating: 89 (PS5)
Few PS5 role-playing games can compare to Disco Elysium when it comes to narrative, with the 2019 title boasting some of the best video game writing of all time. The original script contained over one million words, which the game’s developers ZA/UM used to paint one hell of a picture. This is a title that eschews tropes and tradition at just about every chance it gets, leading to one of the most singular RPG experiences in recent memory.
Players are placed into the shoes of Harrier “Harry” Du Bois, who, after a drunken two-day bender, wakes up in a trashed hotel room with a killer hangover and no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. The game sells itself as a detective RPG, but most of its mechanics are lifted right out of table-top games as opposed to traditional point-and-click titles as one might expect. This all works surprisingly well though and ensures that no two playthroughs are exactly alike.
Disco Elysium
- Developer(s)
- ZA/UM
- Publisher(s)
- ZA/UM
- Released
- October 15, 2019
- Metascore
- 91
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
15 Tales of Arise
Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS5)
Bandai Namco’s Tales series has been around since the mid-nineties and, together with the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, was one of the most popular and most prolific JRPG franchises throughout the early two-thousands. After a five-year hiatus, the series returned in 2021 with the highly anticipated Tales of Arise, which many consider to be one of the best Tales games of all time.
Players take control of Alphen, a mysterious masked man with no recollection of his past. Together with the rag-tag group of misfits that he encounters throughout his journey, the ashen-haired protagonist must bring down a series of powerful enemies in order to free the people of Dahna from their Renan overlords. The plot can be a bit wacky in places, but the gameplay remains thoroughly enjoyable throughout.
Tales of Arise
- Released
- September 10, 2021
- Metascore
- 87
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
Metacritic Rating: 73 (PS5)
When Skyrim was ported to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles in late 2021, it became one of only a handful of games that have been released across three different console generations. Sadly, the release was not without its issues, with an assortment of bugs and an overall lack of polish leading to negative reviews from both players and critics alike.
However, while it’s certainly true that more could have been done to make The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Anniversary Edition feel like a true next-gen title, there’s still an awful lot to like about this timeless classic. It’s one of the best RPGs ever made, and although the PC version is undoubtedly the best way to play it, it still ranks pretty high when it comes to the best role-playing games on the PS5.
Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
- Metascore
- 96
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
13 Octopath Traveler 2
Metacritic Rating: 86 (PS5)
The first Octopath Traveler game is a must-play title for any true JRPG fan, exploring ideas and concepts first introduced decades prior in games like Live A Live, while also serving as a poignant reminder that there’s still a place for well-implemented 2D graphics in the modern age. The sequel improves upon the original in most areas, with even more impressive visuals and a more refined combat system.
Like its predecessor, Octopath Traveler 2 excels in the narrative department and boasts an equally loveable cast of characters. The soundtrack is top notch too and perfectly complements some of the game’s more impactful story beats. It’s certainly not without its flaws, most of which relate to pacing, but the good parts more than make up for the bad and help to make this one of the best RPGs on the PS5.
Octopath Traveler 2
$40 $60 Save $20
- Released
- February 24, 2023
- Metascore
- 84
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
12 Cyberpunk 2077
Metacritic Rating: 75 (PS5)
In the years to come, Cyberpunk 2077 will continue to serve as a cautionary tale of what can happen when a game is rushed out of the door. At the same time, though, it will also be remembered as a fantastic role-playing game, with a series of post-release patches and hotfixes having helped to completely transform the title into something that might actually have been worthy of some of the pre-launch hype.
With its branching storyline unfolding in the incredible open-world setting of Night City, Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most customizable video games of all time. Not only can players tweak and tailor just about every little detail concerning the playable character’s appearance, but they’ll also have access to a wide variety of builds, some of which can completely transform the overall experience.
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
- Metascore
- 75
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
11 Diablo 4
Metacritic Rating: 88 (PS5)
After the egregious monetization found throughout Diablo Immortal, Blizzard needed something special to repair the series’ ailing reputation. Diablo 4 is exactly that: special. It masterfully builds upon the foundation of its predecessors, offering up one of the finest dungeon-crawling RPG experiences to ever grace PC or console.
If the developers support the game even half as well as they did Diablo 3, it seems likely that people will be playing it for years to come. Better still, the monetization in Diablo 4 is actually fairly well thought out, suggesting that Blizzard may have actually listened to the intense criticism of Diablo Immortal‘s microtransactions.
Diablo 4
$56 $70 Save $14
- Released
- June 6, 2023
- Metascore
- 88
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
10 Hogwarts Legacy
Metacritic Rating: 84 (PS5)
Fans of the Harry Potter franchise had been screaming out for a true RPG set in the wizarding world for years prior to the release of Hogwarts Legacy. Despite the game taking place a century or so prior to the events of the popular book and movie series, most will likely conclude that Hogwarts Legacy more than delivers.
Hogwarts Legacy: Complete Guide & Walkthrough
A complete guide to Hogwarts Legacy, featuring main story walkthroughs, tips and tricks, and information about every side quest and collectible.
Spell-based combat works surprisingly well, while the additional lore built into the game’s narrative does an excellent job of bringing new life to the wizarding world. Granted, the lack of a Quidditch mini-game is a little disappointing, and the narrative does start to run out of steam toward the end. However, it’s still a fantastic game that is well worth checking out.
9 Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Metacritic Rating: 86 (PS5)
The decision to switch to a turn-based combat system in Yakuza: Like a Dragon was met with some skepticism by certain members of the Yakuza fan base. However, most ended up finding the change to be incredibly refreshing, with the new system helping to breathe new life into the long-running Japanese franchise.
Turn-based combat isn’t the only new addition in Like a Dragon either, with main series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu also being replaced by Ichiban Kasuga. The latter is joined by a delightful cast of characters, each of whom helps to strengthen the game’s fantastic narrative. It’s all still as whacky as ever though, with an excellent selection of mini-games for players to enjoy in their downtime.
8 Demon’s Souls
Metacritic Rating: 92 (PS5)
The idea of a remake of a decade-old game being used as a system-selling launch title for Sony’s latest console probably seemed a little strange to some gamers. However, for those who had played the original Demon’s Souls, the decision to remake it was likely viewed as a stroke of genius, and the end result certainly backs up this line of thinking.
The original release helped to lay a lot of the foundations for the Soulslike genre and served as a spiritual predecessor for the hugely popular Dark Souls series. The Demon’s Souls remake manages to recapture a lot of what made the original so great, allowing a whole new generation of gamers to experience the FromSoftware classic in a whole new light.
Demon’s Souls
- Released
- November 12, 2020
- Metascore
- 92
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
7 Final Fantasy 16
Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS5)
Final Fantasy 16 makes a lot of changes to the series’ tried and tested formula, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, in the eyes of many, the game’s revamped combat system is a lot better than the ones found in some of the more recent Final Fantasy games, and the decision to stick with just a single playable protagonist arguably made for a much more personal experience.
Of course, the game is not without its flaws, with its story dragging on a little toward the end and many of the side quests feeling like little more than busy work. Even so, despite some of the RPG elements feeling a little thin, the game is a highly enjoyable one and offers up a fairly decent assortment of side content through the Notorious Mark hunts and the side quests that are actually worth doing.
6 Horizon Forbidden West
Metacritic Rating: 88 (PS5)
Despite being overshadowed by Elden Ring due to the two titles releasing so close to one another, Horizon Forbidden West is still an excellent game. It does a fantastic job of building upon both the gameplay and the world of its predecessor, introducing players to a wide range of new locations, mechanics, and characters.
Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Guide & Walkthrough
A complete guide for Horizon Forbidden West, featuring main story and side quest walkthroughs as well as information on the Burning Shores expansion.
Although the game’s narrative is arguably its biggest strength, that’s not to say that a cool concept is all that Horizon Forbidden West has going for it. Combat is fun and varied, map traversal is incredibly fluid, and the many puzzles that players find scattered throughout this new world should provide players with just the right level of challenge.
Horizon: Forbidden West
$30 $70 Save $40
- Released
- February 18, 2022
- Metascore
- 88
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
5 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Metacritic Rating: 89 (PS5)
When it comes to popular RPG franchises, they don’t come much bigger than Final Fantasy. For years, fans begged Square Enix to remake the series’ seventh installment, and, at E3 2015, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake project was finally announced. The first part of the remake trilogy arrived on the PS4 some five years later, with a PS5 version being released the following year.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is definitely the definitive way to experience the first part of the remake, though some series fans may not be completely happy with some of the creative liberties taken by Nomura and Co when it comes to the game’s narrative. That aside, the combat is excellent, the story is enjoyable, and everything looks fantastic; particularly when playing the game on PS5.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
$41 $60 Save $19
- Released
- June 10, 2021
- Metascore
- 89
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Metacritic Rating: 94 (PS5)
The Witcher 3 is far from the only fan-favorite RPG to receive a PS5 port. Unlike Skyrim Anniversary Edition though, the PS5 version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt improves the experience in just about every measurable way, helping to provide both new and returning players with an incredible adventure that is well worth experiencing.
The game’s open world is teeming with both life and death, with a plethora of memorable monsters and NPCs for players to encounter. The main story is excellent too, but it’s arguably The Witcher 3‘s side quests that help to elevate it from good to great, ensuring the game’s place among the very best RPGs on the PlayStation 5.
3 Elden Ring
Metacritic Rating: 96 (PS5)
Those who have played Elden Ring shouldn’t be at all surprised to hear the game being mentioned when it comes to the best PS5 RPGs. That’s because pretty much everything about the game is fantastic, from the lore behind the Lands Between and those who dwell within them to the fantastic action RPG combat that’s on offer to players.
Like in many previous FromSoftware games, players are given an impressive degree of freedom as to how they choose to tackle the challenges that they face. Certain builds can completely transform the gameplay experience, not just in terms of difficulty, but also when it comes to the optimal strategy for taking down some of the game’s many powerful enemies.
Elden Ring
$40 $60 Save $20
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- Metascore
- 96
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
2 Persona 5 Royal
Metacritic Rating: 91 (PS5)
Persona 5 is one of the best RPGs of the past decade, if not the very best of all time. Persona 5 Royal is an enhanced version of the 2016 classic, with improved performance, new characters, and extra story content. It’s also far more accessible than the original game, having been released across six different platforms as opposed to just two.
Those looking for a traditional JRPG adventure that will keep them busy for hours on end can definitely find that here, with around 100 hours of content packed into this well-presented package. The game’s Confidants system serves as an evolution to the series’ iconic Social Links mechanic, while its high school setting provides a certain degree of structure that helps to keep players focussed on their goals.
Persona 5 Royal
$45 $60 Save $15
- Released
- March 31, 2020
- Metascore
- 95
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
1 Baldur’s Gate 3
Metacritic Rating: 96 (PS5)
The Baldur’s Gate series was always popular, but few could have predicted the success of Baldur’s Gate 3. Larian Studios did an exceptional job of dragging the franchise back into the spotlight, ultimately creating something capable of rivaling the original titles developed by BioWare around the turn of the century.
As far as Western RPGs go, it’s been a while since the world has been treated to one quite as good as this. Baldur’s Gate 3 is easily one of the best role-playing games on the PlayStation 5 and a must-play for both fans of the genre and anyone who enjoys Dungeons & Dragons. It’s surprisingly accessible too, so those unfamiliar with the franchise needn’t be put off or intimidated.
Baldur’s Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- Metascore
- 96
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
