The PS5 is the best place to play action games that want fast loading, instant restarts and a responsive DualSense, from cinematic Sony blockbusters to punishing duels and stylish character-action brawlers. The library mixes first-party spectacle with excellent third-party combat games, so whether you want sword fights, superhero traversal or roguelike runs, there is something that feels great in the hands. Each entry below notes one honest drawback.
1. God of War Ragnarök#
Santa Monica Studio released God of War Ragnarök in November 2022 as the sequel to the 2018 reboot. Kratos and his son Atreus travel across the nine realms as Fimbulwinter ends and Ragnarök closes in. The Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos and Draupnir Spear give combat real variety, and boss fights are huge. Performance and visual modes run smoothly on PS5, and the haptic feedback makes each axe throw feel weighty. It is long, and some puzzles and side content feel padded. Newcomers should play the first game first to get the most from the story.
2. God of War#
Santa Monica Studio reinvented the series in April 2018, swapping the fixed camera for an over-the-shoulder view that never cuts away. Kratos, now a father in Norse lands, fights with the Leviathan Axe that returns to his hand on command, and the combat feels heavy and precise. The single-shot camera, world design and father-son story set a standard for the genre. It was released on PS4 and plays on PS5 with smoother performance through backward compatibility. Its combat has less enemy variety than the sequel, and the Valkyrie bosses are a tough optional spike.
3. Elden Ring#
FromSoftware and author George R.R. Martin built Elden Ring's Lands Between, released in February 2022. It brings the Souls formula into a vast open world, where you can tackle bosses in almost any order and ride Torrent across the map. Build variety is enormous, from dexterity swords to sorceries and summoned spirits, and exploration constantly rewards curiosity. On PS5 it loads quickly, which softens the sting of dying. The difficulty spikes at some bosses and there is little explanation of its systems. Those who want a guided story should look elsewhere, but it is a landmark action game.
4. Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut#
Sucker Punch released Ghost of Tsushima in 2020, and the Director's Cut followed on PS5 in August 2021. As samurai Jin Sakai, you fight the Mongol invasion of 1274 through duels that reward stance changes and perfectly timed parries, and later switch to stealth as the Ghost. The island is stunning, and the wind guiding you to objectives is a neat touch. The Director's Cut adds the Iki Island expansion and Legends co-op. Open-world checklists are familiar, and the story rarely surprises. It is still one of the most elegant sword games available.
5. Black Myth: Wukong#
Chinese studio Game Science released Black Myth: Wukong in August 2024, including on PS5 at launch. You play the Destined One in a loose adaptation of Journey to the West, using a staff and transformations to fight elaborate mythological bosses. Its boss designs and visuals are spectacular, and the combat rewards dodging and using spells at the right moment. It is linear, with chapters rather than an open map. The difficulty can be steep, some encounters are uneven, and the story leans on knowing the source material, but it is a striking debut.
6. Marvel's Spider-Man 2#
Insomniac Games released Marvel's Spider-Man 2 in October 2023. You switch between Peter Parker and Miles Morales across a larger New York, swinging, gliding on web wings and taking on Kraven and Venom. Combat flows well, with parries, gadgets and flashy finishers, and the DualSense adds tactile feedback. Loading is almost instant on PS5. Some side activities repeat, and the Venom arc feels rushed. It is still a polished, confident superhero action game that lets you play the way you want.
7. Hades#
Supergiant Games' Hades arrived on PS5 and PS4 in August 2021, after launching on PC in 2020. You play Zagreus, prince of the Underworld, fighting out of Hades through randomized rooms with boons from Olympian gods. Combat is fast and readable, weapons feel different and every run adds to the story through dialogue. It is brilliantly replayable and rewards experimenting with builds. The roguelike structure means you repeat content, and if you dislike dying and restarting you may tire of it. For anyone who likes short, tense runs with memorable characters, it is essential.
8. Resident Evil 4#
Capcom's 2023 remake of the 2005 classic rebuilds Leon S. Kennedy's rescue mission in rural Spain with modern controls, better enemy AI and a knife that parries attacks. Survival-horror tension meets action set pieces, and encounters with the Ganados and Chainsaw man are as exciting as ever. On PS5 it looks excellent and supports DualSense triggers. Some of the cheesy tone of the original was toned down, and the inventory can feel cramped. It is a very polished action game that is also a strong way into the series.
9. Doom Eternal#
id Software released Doom Eternal in March 2020, and a free PS5 upgrade arrived in June 2021 with modes for 120fps and ray tracing. As the Doom Slayer you keep moving, using the chainsaw, flame belch and glory kills to restock health, ammo and armor. It turns shooting into a fast, demanding puzzle of resource management. The platforming and a heavy lore presentation slow the pace, and the first hours can feel overwhelming because of the many systems. It remains one of the most intense first-person action games around.
10. Hi-Fi Rush#
Tango Gameworks released Hi-Fi Rush in January 2023, and it reached PS5 in March 2024. You play Chai, a would-be rock star whose attacks and the environment sync with the beat of the music. Hitting on rhythm makes combos hit harder, and the comic-book look and licensed soundtrack are full of personality. It is forgiving and approachable, with plenty of humor. Combat can get repetitive in longer stretches, and players who struggle with rhythm may find it frustrating. It is a creative and joyful character action game on PS5.
11. Stellar Blade#
Shift Up's Stellar Blade launched in April 2024, first on PS5. You play Eve, a soldier who reclaims an Earth overrun by monsters, using a sword and drone to parry, dodge and unleash beta skills. The combat rewards timing in the style of Sekiro and Nier, and boss fights are a highlight. Environments look impressive and the soundtrack is strong. The story is familiar, exploration is uneven, and the character styling has divided some players. The combat itself is precise and satisfying, and a great fit for anyone who likes hard-hitting melee.
12. Sifu#
Sloclap's Sifu came out in February 2022 and puts you in a kung fu revenge story where you age each time you fall. Fights are built on martial arts, with blocks, dodges, structure breaks and improvised weapons. It feels like a playable Hong Kong action film, and mastering each level is very rewarding. The aging system is the main gimmick: die too often and you can run out of time to finish. It is short, the camera can struggle in tight spaces, and the difficulty is high. Fans of skill-based combat will love it.
13. Returnal#
Housemarque released Returnal in April 2021 as a PS5 exclusive at launch. Selene crash-lands on the hostile planet Atropos and relives the same cycle whenever she dies, in a third-person shooter roguelike with bullet-hell patterns. It makes great use of the DualSense, with adaptive triggers for different fire modes, and 3D audio adds atmosphere. The pace is thrilling, and mastering weapons feels great. Early versions lacked save options, and the difficulty can be punishing, though a later update added suspend saves. It is an intense showcase for the hardware.
14. Lies of P#
Neowiz Games and Round8 Studio released Lies of P in September 2023, a soulslike reimagining of Pinocchio in a dark Belle Époque city. Combat revolves around perfect guards that build up damage, and modular weapons let you combine blades and handles. The setting and boss designs are fantastic, and it is one of the best Souls-like games outside FromSoftware. Some of the difficulty curve is uneven, enemy variety thins late, and the story relies on familiar beats. It is well worth playing if you want a hard action game with style and confident combat.
15. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales#
Insomniac Games released Miles Morales in November 2020 as a PS5 launch title. Miles takes over Manhattan in winter, with his bioelectric Venom powers and camouflage adding a stealth and brawling twist. Swinging is fast, combat is tight, and the ray-traced reflections showed what the new console could do. It is a shorter, more personal story than the main games. It reuses a lot of Spider-Man's map and mechanics, and the campaign is brief. As a compact, joyful superhero game, it is great value for PS5 owners.
16. Ninja Gaiden 4#
Team Ninja and PlatinumGames developed Ninja Gaiden 4, released in October 2025. Newcomer Yakumo stars alongside series icon Ryu Hayabusa, and the two play quite differently, with Yakumo using a Bloodbind style. Combat is fast and aggressive, built on dismemberment, combos and quick counters, with a difficulty that punishes button-mashing. Platinum's influence shows in fluid movement and big set pieces. It is very linear, and some critics felt the levels were repetitive. Series fans and anyone who wants a high-skill character-action game will enjoy it on PS5.