Best Mature Rated Games On PlayStation 5

Summary

• PlayStation 5 has seen many critically acclaimed M-rated games, offering mature themes and immersive experiences.
• Top PS5 RPGs like Sifu, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and Elden Ring deliver challenging gameplay and deep narratives.
• Recent releases like Helldivers 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 showcase compelling live-service games and robust RPG experiences.

The PlayStation 5 entered store shelves on November 12, 2020. While acquiring one has not been the easiest of tasks, those lucky enough to get their hands on one have been enjoying countless hours of gaming. Since then, the latest PlayStation system has seen a number of critically acclaimed games worth pouring hours into. Among these many acclaimed games have been countless M-rated games, full of somber themes, excellent gameplay, and, at times, a lot of violence.

Ultimately, the worth of a title will vary for every individual, but these PlayStation 5 releases have enjoyed much critical praise and are sure to grip a mature audience. Sony is known for pushing games with adult themes and strong motifs, propelling this notion from the very moment they entered the gaming landscape to combat with the likes of Nintendo during a time when games weren’t really associated with anything too mature.

Updated on December 19, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: PlayStation 5 might not have the biggest launch titles for a new console’s release, but as we moved further from its launch, more impressive games were released on Sony’s latest flagship gaming hardware.

Among these great games, a vast majority have been rated for mature audiences for a plethora of reasons. Having a mature tag doesn’t make a game necessarily better, but it leaves the developers free to implement anything that would make the experience more immersive and maybe more impactful.

Only games with native PS5 versions will be considered.

25 Sifu

Master Martial Arts In Challenging Fights Against Hordes Of Enemies

Sifu is a game that forces players to adapt to its combat system by making them eat dirt over and over again. Players who don’t realize when to dodge and parry will find themselves having a pretty hard time with this game indeed. Mastery in Sifu is obtained through repetition and skill unlocks that can prove to be quite helpful indeed.

It’s not the easiest game around, but beating down a boss after the tough time they can give makes for one of the more rewarding gaming experiences to come out in recent times. Of course, there’s always an easy mode for players who just want to experience the engaging setting, story, and characters of this martial arts action game without being frustrated by its difficulty.

24 Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6

A Much-Anticipated Return To The Origins With Lovely Campaign

After multiple failures since the reboot of Modern Warfare back in 2019, Call of Duty finally managed to deliver something that really fascinated the community, reminding them of the golden age of the franchise.

Black Ops 6 is almost flawless in every part. It comes with an incredibly epic and mature story in the campaign, an old-school Zombies mode with gory fights, and some new multiplayer innovations to satisfy the competitive players. It’s a perfect package from Treyarch and new blood in the series.

23 Grand Theft Auto 5

A Mature Story With Strong Sarcastic References To The American Dream

A lot of people weren’t exactly thrilled to see Grand Theft Auto 5 on the current generation of consoles, with many fans exasperated with Rockstar’s insistence on focusing solely on the Online component instead of letting players enjoy a single-player experience. Thankfully, it seems that Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming sooner rather than later, which has satiated the demands of most players in this department.

Context aside, there’s no denying that Grand Theft Auto 5 is a game that has aged like a fine wine and still looks impressive, despite the original game launching all the way back on the PS3 in 2013. The massive open world, unique cast of characters, and action-packed story are all reasons why this title became such a rage and continues to hold a lot of players’ attention to this day.

22 Helldivers 2

Co-Op Shooter With Scary Mutated Insects And Bloody Battles

Live-service games have a stigma that makes it hard to market these experiences, so players are glad to see developers trying to make long-lasting titles full of passion in a subgenre of gaming that has been rather controversial as of late. Helldivers 2 is a great example of a live-service game done right.

The mission structure of this game coupled with its satirical and intentional over-the-top patriotism makes it one of the best third-person shooters that fans can get their hands on right now. Battles are cinematic and teamwork is downright necessary for some of the game’s toughest missions. With the player base of this title expanding every day, it’s easy to see why Helldivers 2 has such a bright future, with its successful launch serving as a wake-up call for Sony’s previous insistence on exclusivity at all costs.

21 A Plague Tale: Requiem

Surviving A Brutal War And A Deadly Disease

A Plague Tale: Innocence was a surprisingly engaging adventure game with its fair share of stealth and action elements. The title takes the backdrop of a rat plague and weaves a brilliant story around it, with its sequel improving upon the formula in every way.

The narrative-driven experience of A Plague Tale: Requiem is perfect for PlayStation fans who expect their games to have riveting stories to accompany a fun gameplay loop. The scope of this title has been increased massively, making it a perfect sequel in almost every department.

20 Metro Exodus

When Mutated Creatures Rule The Surface

The biggest and most visually stunning installment in the Metro saga, Metro Exodus released to great critical acclaim. Players get to play as Artyom and traverse this foreboding post-apocalyptic world, in a desperate search for survivors. It’s a story-driven first-person shooter that sees the protagonist journey through multiple fantastically realized locations and fight a variety of hideous creatures.

The brutal and dark world of Metro Exodus is full of blood, exploration, and top-tier first-person gameplay. Its impact may have been diluted by familiarity by the time of its PlayStation 5 release, but it is still one of the finest experiences the console has to offer and quite possibly the best single-player FPS narrative in recent years.

19 Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

A Gory Battle Against Blood-Thirsty Creatures

As one of the long-awaited sequels, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 nails it with the atmosphere and world-building. The setting of the game is dark and gory. There is no sense of mercy. It’s all about killing or getting killed.

The game features an abundance of weapons that add to the brutality of the overall experience. If bullets don’t kill the enemies, then sawing off their heads will surely do it. Space Marine 2 has everything expected from an epic war.

18 Resident Evil: Village

Discovering Mysteries Of The Past In An Ill-Fated Village

The second installment in the Ethan Winters saga of Resident Evil games improved upon almost everything set up by Resident Evil 7, an already great title. Resident Evil: Village brought with it next-gen visuals, improved gameplay, and a truly haunting, unique setting (similar to that of Resident Evil 4).

The world of Resident Evil: Village is atmospheric and terrifying. With gory, intense gameplay and chilling set pieces that can scare even the bravest players, Resident Evil: Village has it all. Though its gunplay has its detractors, the narrative, atmosphere, and visuals make Resident Evil: Village an amazing experience. Only those who can stomach the horror genre should apply, though.

17 Control: Ultimate Edition

Trapped Inside A Possessed Office With Otherworldly Forces

As if the 2019 original was not enough, Remedy’s brilliant title Control got a next-gen upgrade in 2021. The upgrade brought with it a 60 FPS performance mode and a 30 FPS quality mode, featuring arguably some of the best ray tracing yet seen on next-gen consoles.

Alongside its beautiful visuals, Control has unique and engaging gameplay and a very deep and complicated story. Control also features a wonderful world design, with fluid and vicious combat to boot. While Control’s story may not be as solid as some of the system’s other mature titles, it does its absolute best to complement the dark and bleak setting.

16 Death Stranding

A Complex Story Set Within A Post-Apocalyptic World

Death Stranding is a unique game that only someone like Kojima could’ve thought of. The very act of walking is turned into a compelling gameplay dynamic where players need to balance their packages and ensure that they don’t lose too many goods by being ambitious with their dropoffs.

The game has a great story that will take some time for players to wrap their heads around, what with all the confusing jargon that comes out at times. It looks absolutely gorgeous on the PS5 and is a worthwhile title that fans can check out.

15 Dragon’s Dogma 2

A Fantasy World With Lots Of Unique Stories

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a massive evolution in the franchise, taking everything to the next level compared to the original game in the series. At the core, the game is an adventure in a fantasy world with dragons, giants, and lots of evil creatures.

What makes Dragon’s Dogma 2 more enjoyable is the incredible story missions and the unexpected narratives. There are many different quests to complete in this game, and most of them get quite intriguing as the player progresses through the quests.

14 Cyberpunk 2077

A Corrupted Future For Humans In A World Where Money Is Everything

After a rocky launch, a steady stream of updates and patches has turned Cyberpunk 2077 into a solid experience. With significant improvements like smoother frame rates, ray tracing, better and more responsive crowds, new weapons, and the ability to buy more apartments, pouring hours into Night City has never been easier or more irresistible.

Cyberpunk 2077 does not hold back, going all out with profanity and tackling the darkest and most disturbing of themes. Despite the minor bugs that still plague Cyberpunk 2077, it is still an excellent experience on the PlayStation 5. The Edgerunners update added even more content, paving the way for the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion. The latter two served as the completion of the game’s rehabilitation.

The Witcher 3
has made the jump to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and it is obviously one of the
best M-rated games
on both consoles. However, it will be omitted from this discussion since it is fairly old by this point, so it feels like a stretch to describe it as a PS5 game.

13 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

A Much-Needed Refresh In The Series With Strong New Characters

The latest entry in the mainline Yakuza series maintained the series’ high praise. Receiving almost universal acclaim, Yakuza: Like A Dragon is one of the finest M-rated games around. Despite its controversial turn-based style of action gameplay, Yakuza: Like a Dragon maintained the energy of previous installments in the series and brought with it an engaging story and a very energetic Yokohama.

While the combat system and mechanics of Yakuza: Like a Dragon certainly aren’t for everyone, fans of the series and turn-based battles alike will find it an experience that offers exceptional storytelling. Its plot boasts an excellent mixture of dark and satirical themes. From distinctly adult gratuitous violence to dancing minigames, Yakuza: Like a Dragon has it all, earning its mature rating.

12 Final Fantasy 16

An Epic And Gory Battle Against The Evils

Final Fantasy is a legendary series that needs no introduction, with the sheer number of titles in this franchise truly boggling the mind. As the gaming landscape has evolved over time, so has the need for Final Fantasy games to remain at the very top of their game and adopt the latest industry trends in a manner that is befitting of this franchise’s esteemed legacy.

Final Fantasy 16 marks a massive shift in the series, switching over to a real-time combat system without any party members whatsoever, which is a pretty huge risk indeed. Thankfully, for the most part, this gamble paid off in the eyes of many. Final Fantasy 16 is a very mature game that has seemingly grown along with the audience that loved it so many years back, even if some people feel that the game lacks a palpable sense of challenge.

11 Ghost Of Tsushima Director’s Cut

The Life Of A Ruthless Warrior Who Defends His Homeland

The PlayStation 5 upgrade of the brutal 2020 original brought with it many improvements. Ghost of Tsushima was already an exceptional game that garnered very high praise due to delivering an excellent open-world adventure bustling with life and a great story.

The PS5 upgrade, called the Director’s Cut, added in quality-of-life improvements like in-game cutscenes, Japanese lip-sync, and improved graphics. On top of all this, it brought with it DLC known as the Iki Island expansion. The combat of Ghost of Tsushima is seamless and heavy on bloody realism. The plot tackles ideas like revenge, loyalty, family, and living by a code, executing them to thought-provoking perfection. Despite being a re-release of a recent PS4 title, Ghost of Tsushima is one of the best games on the PlayStation 5.

10 Deathloop

An Incredible Gameplay Loop To Break Out Of A Remote Island

Arkane Studios’ latest title, Deathloop, has proven to be something of a sensation. It’s a first-person roguelike with a very intriguing plot. Deathloop has become known for its unique gameplay, with engaging level design and multiple ways to tackle every scenario. The recent Golden Loop Update has added to this game’s allure, featuring everything from new abilities to an extended ending sequence as well!

Deathloop also features some of the best implementations of DualSense’s haptic feedback and triggers to date. Since the game is centered on violent gun battles with the plot revolving around assassinations, it’s an intense M-rated experience. Fans of the roguelike genre will find it to be an experience that offers unique gameplay with a lot of variety, an engaging plot (with plenty to do afterward), and a challenge worthy of the genre.

9 Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate

A Gore-Infested Bloodbath For Fighting Lovers

Mortal Kombat 11 was released as a worthy successor to Mortal Kombat 10, an already excellent title. Mortal Kombat 11 is arguably the series at its finest, with the smoothest gameplay and the best visuals the series has ever seen. This latest release boasts cool finishers, great characters, a solid story, and ample customization options.

With some of the most brutal and gory combat in gaming history, Mortal Kombat 11 is not for the faint of heart. While it does not add much to what Mortal Kombat 10 gave fans, gameplay-wise, it refines an already excellent title. With some of the most enjoyable multiplayer on the PS5, both online and local, Mortal Kombat 11 is a great title for fans of fighting games.

Mortal Kombat 1
is also, obviously, M-rated and has fantastic combat that some might argue tops its predecessor. However,
MK11
is a more complete package at the moment.

8 Dead Space

Dealing With The Unknown In Deep Space

Most people wondered if Dead Space even required a remake, given how great the original game still looks. However, EA more than justified its existence by upping the visuals to the max and letting players experience Isaac Clarke’s first journey in the best manner possible.

The protagonist is voiced now, and some of the USG Ishimura’s areas and increased in size & scope. This makes Dead Space a blast to play through, with the gory horror title feeling more incredible and awe-inspiring than ever before.

7 The Last of Us Part 1

Depicting How Cruel Humans Can Be When The World Is Collapsing

Most people can argue for hours whether The Last of Us Part 1 deserved a remake or not, which is an important question to ask given how beautiful the title already looks with a remaster. Once again, this context must be discarded if players want to appreciate this game for what it is, which is a brilliant and meticulously crafted single-player survival horror game with a focus on an excellent story, and the same graphics, if not better, than Part 2.

Joel and Ellie will quickly become two of the best characters in gaming for players who check out this masterpiece for themselves. With The Last of Us Part 2‘s remaster also hitting store shelves in 2024 and the HBO series currently in the middle of producing the second season, there’s no better time to be a fan of this amazing franchise.

6 Demon’s Souls

Amazing Reimagination Of The Souls Franchise With Impressive Visuals

Released alongside the PlayStation 5, the remake of the classic PlayStation 3 title was a means of showcasing the new system’s capabilities. To call Bluepoint’s remake visually impressive would be an understatement. It is arguably one of the best-looking PS5 games to this day, all while maintaining the gameplay of the original.

Demon’s Souls offers great combat, photorealistic visuals, and a remarkable setting. The world of Demon’s Souls is full of death and NPCs that often have haunting pasts and dark, engaging side quests. Demon’s Souls was very well received by many, and while its difficulty might deter a few players, putting in hours and getting acquainted with the combat of Demon’s Souls is very satisfying.