Best Adventure Games On PS5

Adventure games revolve around exploring new environments, collecting objects, and deciphering puzzles. As if that wasn’t enough, they also tend to feature fascinating plots that drive the gameplay. Since the release of Sony’s PlayStation 5, though, players have been able to experience better gaming action and responses in a whole new and unique way, mostly with the DualSense controllers. The PlayStation 5 also has a lot of advanced features, like haptic feedback, high-resolution graphics, and adjustable triggers. Together, these things are so effective that they can wholly immerse players in a game’s world.

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The 35 Best Single-Player PS5 Games, Ranked (January 2025)

The best single-player games on the PlayStation 5 are typically narrative-driven affairs, built around compelling characters and fantastic storylines.

The console has plenty of great titles that are worth checking out, but the best PS5 adventure games are the ones where players will get the most out of their gaming experience. These titles make it a point to open a gateway for gamers to get into as they escape into fantastical landscapes with amazing stories, wondrous exploration, compelling characters, or a combination of all three. Regardless of which adventure game players get their hands on, they can rest assured that these games will leave them wanting for more.

Updated on January 28, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat: While most mainstream titles usually combine heavy action elements with the adventure genre, a pure adventure experience can indeed deliver peaceful gameplay with more focus on exploration or storytelling rather than shooting and killing.

PlayStation 5 has been a safe haven for any type of adventure game in recent years, be it Sony’s own first-party experiences like the Uncharted series, or some of the creative indie adventure with unique gameplay mechanics.

23

No Man’s Sky

An Infinite Universe To Explore With Continuous Content Support And Lots Of Gameplay Opportunities

No Man’s Sky will imply a true sense of adventure, as players are free to explore the star systems, discover new planets, and find themselves in dangerous situations. This is an open-world adventure with multiple gameplay scenarios that can satisfy combat lovers as much as landscape explorers. While there are missions to complete and stories to follow, players can create their own history in the universe by following the activities they enjoy the most.

There’s no denying that No Man’s Sky deserved the criticism it received upon release, especially after months of immense hype. The game’s procedurally generated worlds and creatures were ugly and lifeless, and many promised features were absent from the game at launch.

However, over time, Hello Games released a wealth of updates. These updates slowly added more content to the game, both promised and otherwise. As of now, players wanting to get lost in a massive space odyssey will be more than pleased with what No Man’s Sky brings to the table. For fans of sci-fi or space adventures, playing No Man’s Sky on the PS5 is a must.

22

Venba

A Tiny Cooking Game Telling A Deep Story

At first glance, Venba is a small indie game about cooking Indian meals with a beautiful visual style, but the game actually goes deeper than that when it comes to storytelling, exploring the real-life experiences of many immigrants who find themselves in difficult emotional situations.

Vanba follows the story of an Indian family that migrates to Canada. The gameplay revolves around surfing dialogues and cooking some delicious Indian meals, but these are just the tools to depict the cultural struggles the family faces, especially while raising their son. The Indian parents find it difficult to teach their native culture to their son, with everything outside looking quite different to him.

21

Sea Of Thieves

Running Pirate Gangs In The Golden Age Of Piracy

Systems

Released

March 20, 2018

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

When looking at the big picture, Sea of Thieves and No Man’s Sky look quite similar, but they offer two distinct types of adventure. Sea of Thieves also delivers a big world of opportunities for players to grow as pirates, explore oceans, discover treasures, and beat rival gangs to secure that.

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Open-world gaming provides players with a level of freedom like no other genre, and these are some of the best ones available on PlayStation 5.

Sea of Thieves also offers a bunch of quests to get players on board with the gameplay mechanics, but once they are fully familiar, they need to run their pirate gang and start their unique adventure, in a world where no one would tell them what things to do, or limit them on how to do things.

20

Immortality

Solve The Mystery Behind The Disappearance Of A Young Actress

Systems

Released

August 30, 2022

Developer(s)

Sam Barlow

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Following the success of Her Story and Telling Lies, Immortality is the third game by Sam Barlow that uses similar gameplay mechanics. This time, players must figure out the mysteries behind the unusual career of the young actress, Marissa Marcel, who’s gone missing after starring in three unreleased movies.

The player will simply get to watch clips of all three movies along with some behind-the-scenes footage to put together the related pieces and uncover the truth. The game gives full control over each clip, even allowing the player to pause and click on characters or other points of interest to unravel more information.

19

A Plague Tale Series

The Story Of Two Siblings Surviving A War-Torn, Plague-Ridden Medieval County

A Plague Tale series started with a deeply story-driven adventure between two siblings, and with the sequel, the developers made things bigger and bolder than ever before. The adventures of Hugo and Amicia are both enthralling and heartbreaking at the same time, with players loving the risks taken in the narrative.

Sure, some people love the intimacy in the first game and how a lower budget made the claustrophobic environments all the more memorable, but that’s a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things. A Plague Tale: Requiem is a must-play for anyone who likes the plot and characters of Innocence. Players can certainly check this title out for themselves and enjoy it to an extent, but it’s highly recommended to check out the first game before getting into this improved sequel.

A Plague Tale offers a more linear adventure style, as players almost have no access to deadly weapons, nor they are skilled warriors. So, everything mostly relies on outsmarting enemies and finding a way to slip away.

18

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Solve Puzzles By Unleashing Color To A Cute Little World

Painting is an enjoyable hobby for many, and Chicory: A Colorful Tale uses this simple tool as the core gameplay mechanic and builds a world full of puzzles around it. Explore the pale white world of the game and give it a fresh life by drawing vibrant colors.

Aside from being a puzzling-solving adventure, the game also has a neat story about the main character and the animals they meet throughout their exploration. Each NPC comes with a different story and different puzzles to solve, encouraging the player to find the answers and continue the exploration in new regions of the world.

17

Stray

Exploring A Dystopian Cybercity From The Perspective Of A Cat

Systems

Released

July 19, 2022

Developer(s)

BlueTwelve Studio

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Stray follows the adventures of a cat in a dystopian world. A rather linear adventure that comes with incredibly detailed cat behaviors, pretty much familiar to everyone who owns a cat at home. This made Stray a memorable experience, while also providing a puzzle-based gameplay that entertains players to a good extent.

The contextual button prompts led to the gameplay feeling rather bare bones, but that’s a small issue in the grand scheme of things. Players who like imaginative adventure games will love what this title strives to accomplish.

16

Resident Evil Village

Facing The Horrors Within A Terrifying Cult Village

One of PlayStation gaming’s most consistent franchises is Resident Evil, created by Capcom. Undoubtedly, the adjustable triggers on the PS5’s DualSense controller contribute to what makes Resident Evil Village better virtually, but the major impact is noticeable when switching munitions while gaming. Furthermore, when players wear earplugs, the PlayStation 5’s digital audio features improve the game’s sound design and make the horror feel more realistic.

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The best PS5 horror games don’t just rely on the console’s power, with their settings, characters, and gameplay mechanics also playing a pivotal role.

The game balances horror and anxiety by providing a decent amount of action and adventure. The story follows Ethan Winters, who was kidnapped along with his daughter, Rose, by a character from the earlier Resident Evil games, Chris Redfield.

15

Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown

Exploring The Rich Persian Myths With A Reiterated Gameplay System

Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of the best 2D adventure-platformer experiences out there that also comes with significant difficulty for those looking for a challenging journey. The game follows the story of Sargon, as he is sent on a journey to bring back the taken prince.

Aside from the story, The Lost Crown is an enjoyable journey through a wide variety of worlds that each comes with significant complexity. Exploring every hidden corner of each world and figuring out how to unlock each secret entry, makes this game a worthy adventure that keeps players engaged to the very end, thanks to a masterful map design.

14

The Forgotten City

A Mind-Bending Story Hidden Behind A Mysterious Adventure

It’s amazing to see how modding lets aspiring developers transform their passion projects into bonafide video games that are a joy to play through. Such is the case with The Forgotten City, a time-loop adventure that started out as a Skyrim mod before eventually becoming an original title that discarded its Dwemer roots to become an original adventure set during the time of the Roman Empire.

In every loop, players will slowly piece together the puzzle before eventually figuring out the central mystery of The Forgotten City. It’s an amazing game that deserves all its plaudits, and playing through the title just once will make it clear why this game has been praised to the moon and back.

13

Returnal

Unforgiving Journey On A Hostile Alien Planet

Systems

Released

April 30, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Designed by Housemarque, Returnal is a third-person shooter roguelike. It’s a diverse and remarkable game with a shiny aesthetic, smooth gameplay, and an intriguing sci-fi mystery. It’s a wonderful game that tests players’ resilience and keeps things exciting and entertaining in difficult conditions. Players take on the role of Selene, whose ship crashed in a distant world, with her mission being to investigate the loop to determine its cause and end it.

The PS5’s DualSense Controller and Tempest System make planet Atropos’ unusual sounds and rumbles feel real. Returnal is a future game and one of the PS5’s most beautiful titles. It also runs at 60 fps in 4K with ray tracing enabled. Returnal blends such concepts into a third-person shooter mixed with action/adventure elements.

12

Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut

Exploring History Of Japan With A Story About Loyalty And Dedication

Action-Adventure

Open-World

Systems

Released

August 20, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Ghost of Tsushima is one of the PlayStation 5’s best adventure games. Its immersion is unbeatable, and the insight that it provides into Japan’s history is incredibly interesting. The game casts players as an unsettled Samurai named Jin Sakai, allowing them to use a range of samurai weapons in its intense battle system.

With the game’s director’s cut, Sucker Punch added more content to keep things updated and used the PS5’s new features to boost the aesthetic and the overall gaming experience. The game’s narrative follows Jin’s journey to re-establish the clan and regain control of Tsushima Island.

11

Devil May Cry 5

Concluding A Generation-Long Story By Returning To The Origins

Systems

Released

March 8, 2019

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The Devil May Cry series had been dormant for some time, and the attempts to reboot the series didn’t sit right with many fans. So, when Devil May Cry 5 was announced, fans were glad to see the old Dante make a comeback but weren’t sure if he would retain the mojo that made him such an enigmatic and beloved protagonist in the first place. The first few hours of Devil May Cry 5 make it clear that Dante’s beloved swagger is here to stay.

With Devil May Cry 5, players will engage in some of the best hack-and-slash combat in a video game to date. It takes players on a wild ride and is easily one of the best PS5 adventure games that gamers can get lost in. The gameplay can be a bit challenging to wrap one’s head around, but players need only spend a few hours to master the mechanics before enjoying one of the most cinematic action-adventure games ever made.

10

Uncharted Series

Going After Ages-Old Artifacts With A Lovely Team Of Treasure Hunters

Action

Adventure

Third-Person Shooter

Systems

Released

October 9, 2015

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The Uncharted franchise was the reason why Naughty Dog made a name for itself before becoming even more popular for The Last of Us. Uncharted is a true adventure game and the direct competitor to the Tomb Raider franchise, but with better storytelling and deeper characters.

Uncharted has received four mainline entries and one spin-off so far, and all of them strictly focus on a journey to discover treasures while deepening the bounds between characters with each new entry. Unlike other adventure games, Uncharted has never added elements from other genres to enrich the gameplay, which is probably a reason why it is a pure and lovely journey. The gameplay spins around third-person shooter combat, platforming challenges, and brief puzzles.

9

A Space For The Unbound

A Heartfelt Story About Love And The End Of The World

This is one of those adventures to share some tears. The gameplay itself might be a challenge to even rookie gamers, but it’s all about a well-written and well-narrated story that puts two high-school students in a difficult situation that could change their fate forever.

Filled with emotional moments, the gorgeous pixelated visuals of A Space For The Unbound make it a worthy adventure that is even hard to pause, regarding the story’s excellent beat that always keeps the player in suspense about what will happen next.

8

Cocoon

Travel Between Worlds Within Each Other And Solve Mind-Bending Puzzles

When fans heard that Playdead’s co-founders were splitting apart, most of them felt like the age of games like Limbo and Inside was drawing to a close. The designer of both games, Jeppe Carlsen, worked on Cocoon, with many people waiting with bated breath for a title that toyed with some interesting concepts. Upon release, Cocoon wowed everyone with its incredible art direction and innovative puzzle-solving.

The concept of worlds within worlds is carried out brilliantly in Cocoon, giving the puzzles a unique flavor that can’t be replicated in any other game. While it’s a shame that this game is so short, most people would argue that this isn’t a bad thing at all. Cocoon experiments with unique concepts and doesn’t overstay its welcome, which is more than what most people want from a good video game.

7

Horizon Series

When The Worlds Of Centries-Old Tribes And Otherworldly Robots Collide

Systems

Released

February 18, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The Horizon franchise is one of the relatively new IPs in PlayStation’s portfolio that almost delivers a handful of Sony success in each genre. While the core of the game is about defending nature against hostile robotic creatures that mimic real animals, the gameplay has a significant amount of RPG elements.

With Horizon Forbidden West, not only did the developers solidify the core features but also managed to expand the world and offer new exploration methods to players to add more context to the adventurous side of the game, while still keeping the story engaging and compelling.

6

Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart

A Classic Adventure Elevated With Modern Tech

Platformer

Third-Person Shooter

Systems

Released

June 11, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

It’s no exaggeration to say that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is one of the best adventure games on the PS5, let alone one of the best exclusives for the console. Players can instantly switch between dimensions mid-game, creating a dizzying cosmic experience with a contagious sense of pleasure. Insomniac Games developed a universe that is different and unique from the one gamers are used to, with quality in the models of weapons used and also in the characters’ interactions.

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Ratchet & Clank: All The Games, Ranked

The Ratchet & Clank series has been around for two decades and seems to withstand the test of time. Naturally, some games are better than others.

In Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, there is no loading screen. When it is played in 4K, the game’s stunning visuals show off the PS5’s capabilities. Moreover, players can make use of the fantastic DualSense pad to improve shooter gameplay with its entertaining and immersive sound effects.

5

Dave The Diver

Searching The World Under The Water And Discovering Amazing Life

Systems

Released

June 28, 2023

Developer(s)

Mintrocket

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

One of the most unique indie PS5 adventure games that players can check out, Dave the Diver enticed gamers with its beautiful pixel art and impressed everyone with a healthy mix of fishing and simulation gameplay. It’s a laid-back game where the scuba-diving action isn’t too oppressive and lets players relax and run a sushi restaurant after a hard day of catching some high-quality fish.

Exploring the underwater zones of this game is an adventure of its own, with the experience being surprisingly zen. Still, players should be careful and maintain Dave’s oxygen level if they don’t want their fishing endeavors to be for naught.

4

Marvel’s Spider-Man Series

Feeling The True Sense Of Being A City’s Only Hope

Open-World

Action-Adventure

Systems

Released

October 20, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Most people were waiting with bated breath for Marvel’s Spider-Man series by Insomniac Games to knock their socks off, and the game didn’t disappoint. The sequel may not feel as fresh as the first game, but most players won’t mind thanks to the depth of Miles and Peter’s amazing adventure. The addition of Venom elevates the quality of this title to new heights, with this sinister symbiote serving as a sinister antagonist that takes center stage in the latter half of this amazing adventure.

Before Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, however, Insomniac proved how deep an open-world adventure game could go in delivering meaningful side-missions in a city that feels alive. Of course, the story limits players’ impactful action on changing fate, but the game offers a great journey to becoming the city’s only savior.