What Are the Best PS5 Games Right Now? A Practical Breakdown by Play Style
Share
Every "best PS5 games" list has the same problem: it assumes everyone plays the same way. One person's perfect Friday night is a deep solo story with a controller in hand and no interruptions. Another person's is trash-talking a friend over a basketball sim. These aren't the same game, and pretending they are is how you end up with a $70 disc you play for two hours and shelve.
So instead of ranking games against each other, here's a more honest approach: figure out how you actually like to play, then match a game to that. Four play styles. Four concrete picks. Let's get into it.
If You Want Deep Strategy and a Story That Keeps You Thinking
2K Marvel's Midnight Suns Enhanced Edition (PS5) is the pick here — and it's probably the most underrated game in the Marvel catalog. The cover says it all: a dark, gold-accented roster of heroes (Wolverine, Iron Man, Blade, Ghost Rider, and others) that looks nothing like the bright MCU you're used to. This is Marvel going full tactical RPG, and it works.
Midnight Suns plays like a card-based tactics game where you build a team, manage relationships between heroes, and execute turn-based combat that rewards planning over button-mashing. If you've ever enjoyed XCOM-style gameplay or just want something that demands actual thought between fights, this is the PS5 game that will eat your weekends. The Enhanced Edition brings PS5-specific improvements to the experience.
It's not for everyone. If you want instant action, look elsewhere. But if you're the kind of player who reads ability descriptions and actually enjoys the between-mission downtime, Midnight Suns delivers something most superhero games don't bother with: genuine strategic depth.
If You Live for Sports and Competitive Play
There's a reason NBA 2K24 — Kobe Bryant Edition (PS5) exists as its own distinct release. The Kobe Bryant Edition isn't just a cosmetic variant; it's a tribute to one of basketball's most iconic players, with Bryant featured prominently on the cover in his Lakers number 8 jersey, mid-flight in a layup that captures exactly the kind of hang-time he was known for.
As a game, NBA 2K24 is the sports sim for players who want the full basketball experience — franchise management, MyCareer story mode, and the fast-paced competitive multiplayer that the 2K series has built its reputation on. The PS5 version takes advantage of the hardware for smoother gameplay and faster load times, which matters more than it sounds when you're deep into a playoff run and don't want to sit through loading screens between quarters.
If your PS5 mostly comes on for sports nights with friends or solo franchise grinding, this is the obvious choice in this lineup.
If You Want the Most Realistic Racing Experience on Console
Assetto Corsa Competizione — Day One Edition (PS5) is not a casual racing game. The cover makes that clear: a full GT3 livery race car — black, green, and orange — shot close enough that you can see the Pirelli branding on the tires and the sponsor decals across the hood. This is a sim racer built around the real GT World Championship, and it's as close to actual motorsport as you'll get on a console.
ACC, as the community calls it, models tire degradation, fuel loads, track conditions, and car setups with a level of detail that punishes sloppy driving and rewards patience. The Day One Edition includes the 2020 GT World Challenge Pack DLC, which adds additional content from the official championship. If you've ever watched Le Mans or SPA and thought "I want to actually drive that" — this is your game.
Fair warning: the learning curve is steep. This isn't Gran Turismo's more forgiving on-ramp. But for driving enthusiasts who want a challenge that feels earned, nothing else on PS5 comes close to this level of simulation.
If You Want Co-op Chaos With a B-Movie Twist
Crime Boss: Rockay City (PS5) takes a different approach entirely. The cover art looks like a pulpy movie poster — a full ensemble of larger-than-life characters rendered in a retro illustration style, set against a neon city skyline. The game leans into that energy completely: it's a co-op heist shooter set in a fictional Florida city, and it knows exactly what it is.
Crime Boss is built for multiplayer. You and up to three other players plan and execute heists, manage a criminal empire, and deal with rival gangs — all wrapped in a tone that doesn't take itself too seriously. It includes the Tactical Weapon Pack in this edition. If your gaming sessions are mostly about getting a group together and causing mayhem, this scratches that itch without requiring the commitment of a 60-hour RPG.
It's not the most polished game in this list, but polish isn't the point. The point is a chaotic Friday night with friends, and for that, it delivers.
The Quick Reference
- Solo strategy + story depth: Marvel's Midnight Suns Enhanced Edition
- Sports sim + competitive multiplayer: NBA 2K24 Kobe Bryant Edition
- Hardcore racing simulation: Assetto Corsa Competizione Day One Edition
- Co-op heist action + group fun: Crime Boss: Rockay City
None of these is objectively "the best" PS5 game. Each one is the best game for a specific kind of player on a specific kind of night. That's the only framework that actually helps you spend your money well.
Browse all PS5 games in stock at GameX24 and find your next play — whether that's a tactical Marvel epic, a basketball dynasty, a GT championship, or a chaotic co-op heist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marvel's Midnight Suns Enhanced Edition worth it if I've never played a tactics game before?
It depends on your patience for learning new systems. Midnight Suns does a reasonable job of easing you into its card-based combat, but if you've never played a turn-based tactics game, expect a few hours of adjustment. Players who enjoy RPG progression and strategic thinking tend to click with it quickly; pure action gamers often find the pace slower than they'd like.
What makes the NBA 2K24 Kobe Bryant Edition different from the standard edition?
The Kobe Bryant Edition is a specific variant of NBA 2K24 that features Kobe Bryant as the cover athlete, presented in his Lakers number 8 jersey. It's a tribute release for fans of Bryant and the Lakers era he defined. For gameplay content differences between editions, check the product listing directly, as edition-specific bonuses can vary.
Is Assetto Corsa Competizione playable if I'm not a hardcore sim racing fan?
It's a genuine simulation racer, so casual players will find it challenging at first. It models real GT racing physics closely, which means you'll need to learn brake points, tire management, and car setups to be competitive. That said, you can adjust assists to make it more approachable — but if you want an arcade-style racing experience, a different title would suit you better.
Can Crime Boss: Rockay City be played solo, or is it strictly a multiplayer game?
Crime Boss: Rockay City does offer a single-player mode, but the game is designed with co-op in mind and tends to shine most in multiplayer sessions. Solo play is functional, but if you're buying it primarily as a single-player experience, it may not deliver the same level of engagement as the other titles in this list that were built around solo play from the ground up.