road trip adventure ps5

Decoding Season, PS5 and PC's Mysterious Road Trip Adventure

“when i'm reading the youtube comments, people seem to either think that it's like breath of the wild, or that it’s like journey. and it’s in between.”.

Much to his surprise, Kevin Sullivan has been reading all the comments recently. As the creative director and writer on Season – the gorgeous, Ghibli-esque ‘adventure bicycle road trip game’ teased at The Game Awards last month – he has every reason to. Underneath IGN’s upload of the trailer alone, you’ll repeatedly see words like “stunning”, “amazing”, “captivating”, and “getting a cozy apocalypse vibe”. If you were showing your cozy, apocalyptic game for the very first time, it’s more or less exactly what you’d hope for.

“The response has been super generous, and really friendly, and quite touching,” Sullivan tells me on a video call. “Because there's not a lot of context and the teaser is basically a minute long.” He laughs and gives an unexpectedly neat explanation of quite how good those comments have been: “My mom reads the comments on Season stuff. I don't think people on the internet are thinking that these people's moms are reading this.”

He stops himself for a moment and adds some sage advice: “Before you post the comment, imagine that the person's mom reads it.”

Delighted mothers aside, perhaps the most interesting thing about that warm reception, though, is how little was shown of the game itself to provoke that response. From the teaser, the official website from developer Scavengers Studio, and a PS Blog post , we can surmise that Season revolves around cycling through a world on the brink of a cataclysm, and recording its culture and nature using a video camera, a tape recorder, and a sketchbook. That’s about it.

And that haziness of concept is what makes up what you might call the second layer of Season comments – people love the vibe, and the suggestions as to what it might be, but they also really want to know what kind of game Season will be beneath that sun-dappled veneer (myself included, thus the call).

Sullivan’s noticed a very particular split in the guesses around that gameplay: “When I'm reading the YouTube comments, people seem to either think that it's like Breath of the Wild, or that it’s like Journey,” he explains. “And it’s in between.”

“We're an indie studio, the emphasis is really more on the quality. Everything you're doing has a heightened attention in the way of, like, a Journey, but it's not that linear, or that strict. It's not a AAA open world game and it's also not a corridor art game. It's in between.” The idea (and this is more intuition from me than information from Sullivan) seems to be that you’ll be travelling through a world with a start, and end, and a road to travel down, but with the ability to take your own detours along the way.

Another common response to the teaser has been to guess that this will be something like Gone Home, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, or other games about soaking up the story of a world, more than interacting with it. Sullivan’s far more straightforward about that perception:

“I guess I'd say, given that we made [Battle Royale game] Darwin Project , we have a lot of gameplay-oriented developers on the project. It's not going to be a walking simulator – as much as I love those games where there's no gameplay.”

Season - 9 Screenshots

As if to prove that this is a mechanically sound game as much as it is a story to tell, Sullivan tells me he’s been working on this idea since 2016 and that the team, “just did whatever we could to try to articulate what the game would be like even before stepping into the engine at all.” Sullivan created video essays to convince his colleagues of its base idea, built mood videos out of movie influences to set tone, and even went as far as working with the production director to build a fully functional board game version, to demonstrate how it could work in practice. “It got to the point where it was almost D&D style,” he explains. “I needed to be there administering the board game.”

That doesn’t mean it’s merely a case of bringing that physical game to virtual life, however. Sullivan makes extremely clear, repeatedly, that Season is mid-development, and that many ideas are still being finessed and worked out behind the scenes at Scavengers. However, he offers enough details to build a much clearer picture of what this could end up looking like.

While story specifics remain unknown, you’ll set off through Season’s world, exploring its various locations, meeting its inhabitants and using the aforementioned recording tools to document what you find – each of which will require different gameplay mechanics to use. You’ll also have choices to make along the way that will determine what you can record. The quest at the heart of all of this is to learn the history of this world, uncover its hidden stories, and preserve them after the end of the titular season, when a still-unspecified catastrophe arrives and, according to the game’s website, “washes everything away”.

Sullivan says the game was partly inspired by his own travels through Asia, trying to make sense of places he visited and things he saw, while being unable to speak the language. “There's basically these levels of mystery and story that are going on that you're trying to unfold and understand,” he explains. “Your mission of recording stuff and talking to people is how you uncover that history. There's things that are happening in the present that are important, and there are things that have happened there in the past that are important, and you're uncovering that. As much as it is like a road trip, it's more like the idea of being a stranger in a strange land and trying to understand and do something there. It's not just blowing past stuff on a bike and being like, ‘That looks cool. That looks cool.’”

It’s also been inspired by a real-world fear of climate change, and how the very places he’s travelled to, and the things he saw there, could one day be washed away themselves, leaving only memories and chosen recordings behind. Sullivan refers to Season as a pre-apocalyptic game, and you might think the incoming cataclysm, and the in-built time limit implied by the game’s name, could make this something like a narrative roguelike, asking you to make choices, find new things, and piece together the world’s story over multiple runs.

“That's definitely not the core idea,” says Sullivan when I put that interpretation to him. “We're attentive to people's time and trying to just get to what we want people to feel as directly and strongly as possible. If you play through it once, you'll get what you're supposed to get, but there are definitely choices you'll make where you want to know what would happen otherwise.” He stops for a second and jokes, “Given the theme of the project, ideally the game would delete itself off of your computer when you play it once.”

Season - Art and Concepts

Everything Sullivan tells me builds a picture of a one-off idea built out of true passion for the subject – something he’s thought about making for half a decade, drawing up ideas in the gaps allowed between other work. “We spent a long time building the world of Season,” he tells me, “and then everything came together to make it a reality in the last few years.” So, after all that planning, what made now the right time?

That choice comes down in part to Scavengers’ current choice of platforms, with next-gen tech allowing for Season to emerge without the compromise it might have required a year or two ago (although, it must be said, Sullivan doesn’t rule out thinking about other platforms down the line).

“We're focused on the PS5 and the PC because it really will let us give the best experience possible,” he explains. “There's always a tradeoff in everything, especially in a game that's visually oriented in a lot of ways and also has exploration in it. Having the processing power of a PS5 is a huge relief because it changes everything with optimization and the way we're able to lay out the maps. We want to make the best looking, smoothest and most immersive experience we can.”

It will likely be some time before we get to play through that experience ourselves – Sullivan and Scavengers are very much not talking about a release date right now – but it’s been an encouraging start for the team making Season.

“It's scary to put something out into the world that doesn't have a lot of context,” says Sullivan, thinking back to the feeling of seeing that first teaser go out, “because the mystery of it could be construed in all kinds of different ways – but people seem to really get what we were hoping it would establish, which is the tone, the mood, and the feeling that we're trying to evoke.”

Given what we’ve now learned about Season, it feels almost appropriate – almost like practice – that so much of its introduction to the world has involved decoding messages about the kind of game it aims to be. I can’t help but think that, when Scavengers can show more, we’ll be revelling in more clues, more mysteries, and getting closer to the heart of where this adventure will take us, and what we’ll discover along the way.

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In Open Roads, you either explore everything or miss out

The good news is that it’s not hard to explore everything

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There are some secrets that feel too big or too painful to share. It’s easier to take on the burden yourself, you say, to withhold knowledge in the desperate desire to prevent someone else’s pain. Open Roads , the Gone Home -style road trip game published by Annapurna Interactive, is about those secrets, and what happens when those secrets slip — no, explode — out into the world.

Open Roads begins at home — specifically, a home that once held three generations of women: the grandmother, Helen, recently deceased; her daughter, Opal; and Opal’s daughter, Tess. Much of the simple, two-story house has been picked through by estate sale shoppers by the time the game begins, but the stuff left behind reveals a whole lot of secrets. Players begin in Tess’ room, where you’re encouraged to pack up her things, since with Helen gone, the house will be sold.

It’s also where developer Open Roads Team defines the next two hours. Like Gone Home before it, this story rewards curiosity, because the narrative is told mostly through the objects you pick up. You’ll learn about the family by checking out items in Tess’ room, and then elsewhere in the house — namely, the basement and attic — many objects untouched by strangers’ hands. Helen was a single mother and an accomplished potter, and she kept her business close to her chest. Opal, on the brink of a divorce, is struggling to keep her community theater alive. Tess has a different idea of success than her mother and, like most teenagers, feels misunderstood. Each of these women has her own secrets that define her, but it’s one major revelation, discovered in an old suitcase in the attic, that sets Opal and Tess out on the titular highways.

For a game called Open Roads , you don’t spend much time physically on the road. Each small but important location — the secret family summer house, a mobile home, a motel room, and a houseboat — is stitched together with a brief segment in the car, where you, as Tess, fiddle with your phone and talk (or argue!) with your mom. While these moments are just a small part of the two-hour experience, they’re at its core. Through text messages to Tess’ friends and father, we learn about her and her mom’s strained relationship and, again, those secrets. Sometimes, Opal and Tess work through things during their road trip stops, but at other times, they seem to be talking through each other, unable to fully understand the other’s perspective.

You’ll have a lot of stuff to pick up at each of these locations, but the most important items will often provide a “Hey mom!” option, which lets Tess call Opal over. Opal’s role in these situations is to provide context about her childhood, how she experienced the past, and what these items (and the secrets that come with them) do to color those memories. They’re all essential conversations related to the big, overarching mystery, but they sometimes feel stilted; the “Hey mom!” button gets repetitive, making all the potential sincerity feel cheapened.

There are very few items in Open Roads that you have to pick up. Those are largely keys, which are what literally unlock a lot of the story’s secrets. If you aren’t curious enough to pick up other items, let alone call your mom over, then you’ll miss some of the crucial context that builds out Tess’ and Opal’s worlds. Open Roads rewards that curiosity, both for the player, who gets a more nuanced story, and narratively, with Tess’ and Opal’s understanding of each other. For instance, in Tess’ room, there’s a printout of a forum post about how to cope with a grandparent’s dementia; Open Roads Team, therefore, didn’t have to say anything about the last several years of Helen’s life, with Tess and Opal caring for her.

One of the best usages of this sort of gameplay comes when Tess is alone at the motel while her mother is picking up takeout. Playing as Tess, you move around the room alone, rifling through your mom’s things. If you’ve got your flip phone on you, you can text your best friend about your discoveries: I found some pills in my mom’s bag. What do you think it’s for? If you choose to snoop and get this moment, it widens the split between mother and daughter, with Tess feeling like her mom doesn’t trust her. But for the player, it’s also some important context: The pills are antidepressants, and they set the tone that Opal is struggling, too. The game is about picking things up, but it’s also about choice. Because you found the antidepressants, you’ll later be able to ask Opal about them. But, again, you don’t have to — there’s another option to turn the conversation toward a different secret.

The tension between the two characters — and what the player knows but the characters don’t — is both poignant and mundane. Most people with strained parental relationships will see the authenticity of the conversations, played out with brilliant voice acting by Kaitlyn Dever ( Booksmart ), who plays Tess, and Keri Russell ( The Americans ), who plays Opal. (Unfortunately, Open Roads ’ conversations are only semi-animated, so eventually mouths will stop moving while the voice actors talk over a static screen. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it can be jarring.) It’s so rare for a video game to explore the nuanced, everyday experiences of women, let alone a mother and daughter. The video game industry has spent a lot of time thinking about fathers and sons , but very little about mothers and daughters. Regardless of how they pan out, Open Roads ’ car scenes are short, but crucial. I almost wish they were longer and more drawn out, allowing you to revel in the boredom, tension, and awkward moments. (I may be alone in this conclusion!)

At just two hours long, Open Roads moves too fast through its most impactful moments. Still, it’s a game that I’m so glad exists. It’s a touching, sweet introspection on the relationships between mothers and daughters, and the secrets that families keep from one another. It can be a bumpy road at times, both narratively and control-wise — playing on Nintendo Switch, I found it hard to find the exact right place to trigger a prompt to pick things up. But at the end of the trip, it’s easy to look back at the game and know that Open Roads ’ sentimentality was worth the ride.

Open Roads was released March 28 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The game was reviewed using a pre-release download code provided by Annapurna Interactive. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here .

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Pacific Drive Review (PS5)

Pacific drive review: man’s new best friend.

Cars these days are so common and ubiquitous that it’s easy to overlook how reliant we are on them. Some see them as fashion statements, others as a tool to get from point A to point B. But not me, no. For me, a car is a partner, a friend that goes with you everywhere. You etch in as many memories on your cars as you do the homes you live in. But what if that car is the only thing keeping you alive? Better yet, what if it’s the only thing keeping you alive in a world that really wants you to be anything but? Ironwood Studios asked that question, and the answer comes in the form of Pacific Drive , the wildest road trip you’ll ever take. So, stock up on parts and buckle up because this is one hell of a journey.

Halfway between a Mad Max reject and a DeLorean I bought off Craigslist, but by God, she’s got spirit! And cool racing stripes!

In 1947, a new staging ground for the latest and greatest technology emerged in the Pacific Northwest. And by staging ground, I mean the place in which we decided to use science to poke God in the eye and see what happens. The Olympic Excursion Zone happened, a stretch of northwestern wilderness that didn’t abide by the laws of physics anymore and had to be walled off in 1955, then completely sealed off 30 years later. Unfortunately, your character wanders a bit too close to the Olympic Excursion Zone, and something within decides to scoop you up and plop you inside. You now have storms of radioactive instability to escape and only a beat-up old bucket of clunking parts vaguely resembling a station wagon to do it with. Guided by a few voices over the radio, you make it to a singular auto shop that’s managed to stay stable and safe, where the story starts unfolding, and you start surviving.

There’s a small band of characters you’ll get to know and learn from that chime in from the radio. I’d have to say that, while they’re nothing complicated or fancy, I was thoroughly surprised at just how well they’re voiced, being realistic and interesting enough that you’ll probably keep the dialogue channel open. But the biggest and best figure here with loads of character development and emotional resonance? Your beloved clunker-bucket of a car that’ll literally never leave your side. When you first find this thing, it looks like it’s already done hard time in the junkyard, but it’s the only running vehicle in probably the entire Olympic Excursion Zone. It’s your sole sanctuary on this road, the only thing keeping the nastiness outside at bay. The more you fix up this clunker, the more it develops quirks. Stuff like the horn sounding if you shut the trunk or the hood popping open when you reverse.

It’s so interestingly humanizing, as some of this is stuff that, more often than not, actually happens to cars. I’m sure a lot of us have owned real cars that have strange quirks to them like this. While you can fix your rusty station wagon in-game through a guess-and-check diagnostic minigame, the fact that they develop naturally as parts wear down and get roughed up really adds to this “car”-aracter’s development. It’s even referenced in the universe that these so-called Remnants do a number on someone’s psyche, making people become unnaturally obsessed with them. If you’ve ever known a tried and true gearhead in real life, you’ll probably notice some interesting parallels, and in-game, that prophecy is kind of self-fulfilling within the lore. I’d bet money many of those playing probably fix up their cars long before they patch up their characters.

Driven to Survive

When gearing up, much of the relevant information will be there for you. If it’s red, a storm’s going on, and that’s when shit starts getting ugly.

Interestingly enough, the core gameplay of Pacific Drive isn’t too different from your normal rogue-likes, but how it works with your station wagon is where the spice comes in. When you’re at your garage, you can fix up, fuel up, charge up, and stock up your station wagon, upgrading it using materials you’ve gathered from loot containers or using various tools to extract it. There’s also an outfitting station you can get later for upgrades to your squishy human half of this equation. You pick a route from the map, chart it, and then set off, heading to a randomly instanced chunk of roads, abandoned buildings, and a whole lot of anomalies out to tear your car up. Road trips typically have things like junctions and highways in between your intended destination, but one thing’s certain: you’ll need to utilize local resources to get out alive.

See, before the world up and shifts around again due to the instability of the area, there are things called Anchors that help keep things a bit more stable while you’re scootin’ and lootin’. The problem here is you need to pluck out these Anchors to power the thing that lets you teleport back to safety through something called a Gateway. Certain routes and areas will require specific amounts of Anchor juice, called kLIMs, so not only will you be fighting the environment, you’ll be fighting time too. Unless a location is marked as Perpetually Stable, you have a certain amount of time to look around and loot before an instability storm closes in that’ll start ravaging your station wagon. Different Zones will feature different problems and resources, but the one you start the game in can be very vertically inclined, and that station wagon doesn’t have much oomph in her engine just yet, so you’ll need to pay close attention to your routes, as well as where you’re actually going. Anomalies can vary wildly from what they do, from Bunnies that like latching on to your vehicle to make the electronics go haywire to Left-Rights that’ll straight up take control of your car and drive you wherever the hell it feels like.

When doing my first non-story run, I picked a place just a few hours away. It seemed pretty stable and filled with enough cars that I could front the gas and components and come back home with a small load. The first thing I was greeted with was fog, lots and lots of it. But what scared the outright hell out of me was what I can only describe as asphalt gophers that spin through the ground like buzzsaws. I had to time when I crossed because the last thing I wanted was an actual buzzsaw to rip my car in half. Combine that with exploding mannequins that look like humans frozen in time which move when you aren’t looking, UFO-like floating machines that patrol areas and tow your car away when you aren’t looking, and floating pockets of rocks everywhere, and you get what I consider the rawest feeling of being somewhere you are not supposed to be in. I’ve seen many movies and games capture that feeling of a somber car pulling up in an abandoned world where nothing seems right, fog rolling in, and odd sounds in the background.

Pacific Drive thrives on this vibe and even goes as far as to weaponize it, making you paranoid of whatever ghastly noises are coming from the background. Is it another pillar or dirt and asphalt rising or lowering at random? Is it a Shock Tower arcing electricity at something? Who knows. All you need to know is to finish up your business and get the hell out of Dodge. Make no mistake, though; I absolutely loved this hotpot of sci-fi creatures and experiments, where getting logs and encountering creatures feels like an audience-participation safari sponsored by the SCP Foundation . Everything done for the lore-building here is done after the fact; there are no humans around other than you, but it works well in a simple, easily digestible way. Very little in the logs explicitly states what some of these things do, just showing a segment of dialogue from usually random people recounting their experiences with whatever oddity you’re looking up. That checks out because you’re out in the middle of nowhere running off a spotty database that isn’t going to magically spin up exactly what it does. Thus, it’s your job to learn things as you go, and that feeling comes as organically as it gets.

Your Mileage May Vary

Why, yes, they do like to move around while you aren’t looking. Thank you for asking!

For all this hostility in your hustle, you’re probably wondering how the difficulty measures up. I will say that Ironwood Studios knocked it out of the national park with their accessibility features, from stuff like colorblind modes and toggling if pausing really pauses the game, to making where you don’t ever have to worry about running out of fuel or battery. You really can make the game as easy or hard as you want. Do you want Quirks to pop up more often? There’s an option for that. You can even make them more consistent, should you choose. It’s so great to see options available for all types of gamers. I was a bit wary of its rather fierce difficulty spike, but after a slew of changes and tweaks done via patch, I don’t really feel that it’s any more difficult than most rogue-likes. If anything, once you get to grips with what you’re fighting, the looting process and storm-dodging process are natural and don’t feel intrusive. As you scan and encounter things, your route map at the auto shop home will adjust accordingly, letting you see just how much Anchor energy is visible, how much you’ll need to escape, what Anomalies you can encounter, and how many you’ll see, amongst other information. If you’re going somewhere with the Eerie Darkness perk, maybe bring along some side floodlights. If you’re going somewhere with lots of Shock Towers, it’d be wise to insulate your panels and doors with a few upgrades. All of it feels fair once you’re a couple of trips in. The only complaint I can see coming up is that I feel there needs to be a bit more clarity on how to find and harvest environmental resources and a few others. I wondered for a while where I got Lead Platelets or ThermoSap Crystals until I put two and two together through Anomaly hunting.

Before I finish here, I really want to give a big thumbs up to the audio department. The sound design in terms of FX is eerie and harrowing while also being very crisp and clear. Putting on my headphones and killing the radio drastically upped the creepy factor to the point that I had a hard time deciding whether or not to drive with the tunes on. Speaking of which, the radio is not only filled with quite a collection of catchy, appropriate songs of a wide variety of genres, but the radio occasionally dips into picking up strange stuff like people playing a very distorted guitar to how to skin a pheasant. The immersion building here is immaculate, and to hit that immersion on all fronts like this shows a dev team that’s endlessly passionate about building this horrifying world. Adding to that immersion is the absolutely stellar utilization of the DualSense controller. When your wheel pops off, you best believe the controller will let you know immediately. Every bump and pothole feels realistic and immersive, and I’d argue its utilization is on par with Sony’s first-party titles. If a PSVR2 mode was added in, I do believe I’d find the funds to go get one that very day.

The New Weird’s Best Roadtrip Ever

Developer Ironwood Studios’ first go at the rogue-like genre has not only come out fresh as it gets but also put such a unique spin on a classic crafting/survival formula that I sincerely hope the term “road-lites” takes off. Hardly a pothole was hit riding along the anomalous, unstable ridgelines, with a perfectly-tuned balance of cautious material gathering, intense and atmospheric car treks, and wild sci-fi worldbuilding. I was absolutely enamored by the “car”-acterization of the humble station wagon that’s your mobile base, with the Quirk system being a highlight of the various gameplay mechanics that made Pacific Drive’s number one character stand out, just as it should. Truly, I felt like it was me and my clunker-bucket against the world, or, at least, this hellish sci-fi melting pot we were stranded in. Ironwood Studios has a sunny, clear road ahead for them, so here’s hoping they keep on truckin’, knowing their first IP went off without a hitch.

Final Verdict 5/5

Available on: PS5 (Reviewed), PC; Publisher: Keplar Interactive; Developer: Ironwood Studio; Number of Players: 1; Released: February 22nd, 2024; MSRP: $29.99

Full disclosure: A copy of Pacific Drive was provided by the publisher.

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Unravel the gameplay loop of Pacific Drive, launching on PS5 Feb 22

Ironwood Studios breaks down the anatomy of a well-tuned vehicle and carefully planned road trip.

Hello again, everyone. Blake from Ironwood Studios here. Today, we’re discussing what goes into a road trip in the Olympic Exclusion Zone and the fantastic news that Pacific Drive is coming to PlayStation 5 on February 22, 2024.

Our gameplay loop has multiple stages – repairing and upgrading the car, planning your routes, and making it back in one piece after raiding the Zone. As you get deeper into the forests, swamps, and other areas of the Olympic Peninsula, you’ll build the knowledge and skills you need to survive. Let’s talk about what goes into planning your road trips.

Repair, tune-up, and upgrade your vehicle

Hopefully, you’ve made it back to the garage in one piece after your last harrowing adventure, and you can start fixing the car before your next outing. Take a minute to assess the damage – getting a good look at your car’s individual parts will often tell you what needs the most work. It’s possible you have a flat tire that needs to be repaired with a sealing kit, or you can make an entirely new wheel. If a panel is dangerously close to broken or flat-out missing, you can craft new ones from the scrap metal and other materials you gathered on your last trip. If you’re lucky, some of these might even be upgrades. It’s not just body panels either; your headlights, engine, and wheels can all take damage from the Zone (or your driving), and it’s also a good idea to look them over.

It’s time for the fun stuff once your car is back in one piece. Spray on a slick new coat of paint, or apply some racing stripes using consumable decals. You can even swap out the bobblehead that adorns your dashboard. There are a few different ones to choose from, so keep an eye out the next time you’re looting containers in the Zone. You should also take care of the essentials like gas and charging your batteries once you’ve made your upgrades. There’s a gas pump in the garage to fill up with – if you’ve got the optional and beneficial side-mounted gas tanks, those can get topped off, too. Flip the switch on the desk to recharge your car instantly, and you’re good to go.

Plan your next road trip

Well – you’re not leaving just yet. You need to make a stop at the route planner, a giant map on the wall that tracks your progress through the Zone, and it gives you essential information about what you might need on your next run. Hover over locations to reveal information about where you’re headed before selecting your final destination. It’s not all about where you end up, though – you’ll be making stops on your trip along these abandoned highways, so knowing a little bit about the journey ahead of you is a good idea, too. Check for atmospheric shifts, radiation density, potential Anomaly encounters, availability of resources, and more. At the same time, you look at stops on the road – you’re still able to modify the car while in the garage, too, so take this opportunity to adapt the vehicle to your route if needed.

Keys in the ignition? Is the parking brake off? Great. Hit the gas, and let’s finally get out and into the surreal world of the Olympic Exclusion Zone.

Generally, you’ll pass through a few different biomes on the way to your final destination. Forest biomes have a lot of foliage multiple types of road surfaces, and changing weather can make driving through trickier sections a little difficult. Swamp biomes feature a little more open space, but there are watery sections that will slow the car down and majorly impede your progress. You’ll pass through towns and research stations on your way forward that contain valuable items if you know where to look. There’s a variety of lootable containers, some harder to get into than others – but that’s why you brought your trusty crowbar, right?

You’ll also be collecting Anchors – artifacts originally meant to contain the expansion of the Zone. These glowing orbs provide you with a special energy that you can use to upgrade the car and escape from the Zone – more on that later. Eventually, you and the car will come upon a wall hundreds of feet high and clearly there to keep the more dangerous parts of the Zone isolated. However, that’s not a problem for someone equipped with the best 80’s wood-paneling and sci-fi gadgetry. You’ll find your way through the wall and into deeper parts of the Zone, but stay vigilant because things can only grow wilder from here.

Hit the road and dodge hazards

Once you’ve gathered your resources and have enough Anchors – it’s time to leave. Assess your surroundings and look at your in-car map before you select one of many available exits – but be smart. Some exits will be easier to get to than others. As you choose, a Zone Storm will start to close in on you; from then on, it’s a race to safety. Crash through the foliage, fishtail through the mud, and try to keep the wheel pointed straight towards the giant pillar of light ascending into the sky because that’s where you’re headed. Anomalies and other hazards don’t give up just because you’ve found an exit, so make sure to dodge the Abductors, Bunnies, and Can Openers – it’s going to hurt if you get caught in the storm’s radiation. As you take that final drive of faith through the illuminated pillar, everything will go white as you leave the Zone behind.

As the light fades, you’ll find yourself warped back to the safety of your garage. Ready to gas up and pick the next location to investigate in this strange and wonderful world. After a healthy amount of repairs and upgrades, of course. Maybe even some painted-on flames.

Pacific Drive will be available for PlayStation 5 on February 22, 2024.

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Video Game News, Lists & Guides

60 Of The Best PS5 Action Adventure Games

Looking to become the main character of a new story? We've got you covered! Check out our list of the top 50 best action adventure games for your PS5.

#60 Rise of the Ronin

#59 the last of us part ii remastered, #58 prince of persia: the lost crown, #57 marvel’s spider-man 2, #56 bomb rush cyberfunk, #55 assassin’s creed: mirage, #54 red dead redemption, #53 remnant 2, #52 like a dragon: ishin, #51 star wars jedi: survivor, #50 the elder scrolls v: skyrim, #49 far cry 6, #48 infamous: second son, #47 the elder scrolls v: skyrim special edition, #46 uncharted: nathan drake collection, #45 assassin’s creed valhalla, #44 wolfenstein ii: the new colossus, #43 control, #42 watch dogs 2, #41 destiny 2.

• #40 Shadow of The Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

#39 Superhot

#38 deus ex: mankind divided, #37 battlefield 1, #36 bloodborne, #35 dark souls 3, #33 star wars jedi: fallen order, #32 rise of the tomb raider, #31 final fantasy vii remake, #30 final fantasy xv, #29 fortnite, #28 uncharted 4: a thief’s end, #27 marvel’s spider-man remastered, #26 monster hunter: world, #25 horizon forbidden west, #24 horizon zero dawn, #23 fallout 4, #22 nier: automata, #21 batman: arkham knight, #20 batman: arkham collection, #19 god of war, #18 metal gear solid: phantom pain, #17 apex legends, #16 the witcher 3: wild hunt, #15 call of duty: warzone, #14 metro exodus, #13 returnal, #12 ratchet & clank: rift apart, #10 red dead redemption 2, #9 elden ring, #7 doom eternal, #6 grand theft auto v, #5 dying light 2: stay human, #4 call of duty modern warfare 2019, #3 middle-earth: shadow of mordor, #2 the last of us part 2, #1 the last of us remastered.

Looking to jump into an expansive new world? We’ve compiled a list of 50 of the best Action-Adventure games for you to play on your PS5 console. Some of these games are from the previous generation but still run beautifully on the PS5, either with performance or graphical upgrades.

Traverse the planes of Horizon Zero Dawn , dive into the emotional story of The Last of Us , or become a treasure hunter in the Uncharted series. We’ve got a big selection of games to choose from so let’s get started!

Platform: PS5 Release Date: March 22, 2024

PlayStation

Japan is at the crossroads of fate, and a lone Ronin is all that stands between great change and great calamity.

In Rise of the Ronin, you’ll play that lone Samurai who will have it within them to alter the future of the nation. But what path will you take on your quest? With deep choices to make, the story will shift depending on what you do.

Then, you’ll engage in deep sword-style gameplay to fight foes, assassinate targets, and get out of perilous situations.

Do you have the ability to shape Japan in the right way? Or will you merely stoke the flames of war even more?

Platfrom: PS5 Release Date: January 19, 2024

Now that  The Last of Us Part II Remastered  is out, there are many things that gamers are going to enjoy from top to bottom. But one thing that Naughty Dog ensured with both the original version and the remastered version is that the action is top-notch.

As you play Ellie and a certain other character, you’ll have to brutally make your way from place to place, fighting off both humans and infected alike. You can’t give them a single inch, or else you’ll be the one on the ground dead.

Plus, there’s a new “No Return” mode where you’ll see the action cranked up even higher! So give that a shot if you’re feeling lucky.

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S Switch PS4 Xbox One Release Date: January 18, 2024

Epic  |  PlayStation  |  Xbox  |  Nintendo

One of the Ubisoft franchises is back via  The Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown  and a new tale is ready for you to partake in! The game puts you as Sargon, a prodigy who has become part of the prince’s guard of well-trained warriors.

However, events lead to the prince being kidnapped and taken to a strange land. You’re separated from your companions and must fight your way out of this mysterious place while also unlocking the powers that resonate within you.

With platforming, intense action, and tons of ways to fight, you’ll have plenty to do in the title. So jump in and start your adventure!

Platform: PS5 Release date: October 20, 2023

The follow-up to Insomniac Games’ massive hit on PS4,  Marvel’s Spider-Man 2  will continue the adventures of Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Now a unified “Spider Unit,” the two seek to protect New York City from numerous threats.

Such as what? Well, the arrival of Kraven the Hunter will put them to the test. He’s seeking the ultimate challenge and wants nothing more than to test himself against the Spider-Men and see if they’re worthy of the hunt.

But that’s not all! The Symbiote will get its claws into Peter, and Venom will soon emerge! Will the two be able to withstand the might of the Symbiote and the Hunter?

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S Switch Release Date: August 18, 2023

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo

Well, we all know how the LAST big game to be set in a “Cyberpunk” world went, so we’re all hoping that this one is a bit better at launch, right?  Bomb Rush Cyberfunk  is a unique game that acts as a kind of “spiritual successor” to a cult classic game from ages ago.

Long story short, you’re going to lose your head, literally, get it replaced with a robot head, seriously, and then join a crew to help tag the city and more your claim to it.

You’ll be bounding all over the city so you can graffiti the place up, down, left and right.

Platform:- PC PS4 PS5 Xbox One XSX|S Release Date:- October 05, 2023

Epic  |  PlayStation  |  Xbox

Welcome back to the past once more, as  Assassin’s Creed Mirage  will take you to the 9th century and into the city of Baghdad, where many things are afoot.

The title takes place in the earliest days of the Brotherhood, as they’re still exerting their influence on the world. You are Basim, who has been brought into the Hidden Ones to try and learn their skills and seek out the truth behind the visions that you’re having.

The future of Basim has already been written, but what led him to make the decisions he did? You’ll have to put on the hood of the assassins to find the truth.

Platform: PS4 Switch – August 17, 2023 Release Date: Xbox 360 PS3 – May 18, 2010

PlayStation  |  Xbox  |  Nintendo

When it comes to Rockstar Games titles, you know there will be plenty of action for you to participate in. The only question is, how much fun will you have along the way?

Red Dead Redemption  offers action on numerous fronts as you’re thrown into the age of the Wild West and tasked to take down a group of outlaws. The twist is that these outlaws were your friends; taking them down is the only way you’ll have piece.

In the recent rerelease of the game, you’ll also get access to the “Undead Nightmare” storyline, where you’ll get to face off against zombies! As we all know, there are plenty of things to do and shoot when zombies roam around.

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S Release Date: July 25, 2023

Steam  |  Playstation  |  Xbox

Are you ready to once again help lead humanity against unbelievable foes?  Remnant II  follows up the hit co-op title that’ll put you and others in a fight for all of existence! We mean that literally as your foe wishes to destroy all of reality!

So yeah, you should probably stop them from doing that.

Whether you play alone or with others, you’ll outfit your character to be the best fighter they can be. Use new systems and a foray of weapons to take the fight to them. Don’t be afraid to mix and match what you can access, as it might be the key to taking down future foes!

Platform: PC PS4 Xbox One PS5 XSX|S Release Date: February 21, 2023

Samurai stories aren’t just about the swordfights they partake in or the wars they are a part of. For many Samurai, the journey is most important in many respects.

In  Like A Dragon: Ishin , you’ll partake in the journey of Sakamoto Ryoma. His journey will lead him to Kyoto in the 1860s. In this period of Japanese history, everything is teetering on the edge of a sharp knife, waiting for someone to send it in one direction or another. That could be you.

Your personal mission is to find the person who killed your father. But along your journey, you can bring justice to Kyoto in ways that those in power won’t.

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S Releease Date: April 28, 2023

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

The story of Cal Kestis is about to continue! Set five years after the events of the first game,  Star Wars Jedi Survivor  sees Cal trying to do all he can to defeat the Empire and prove they’re not invincible. But new events will make him question his place in the galaxy and reunite him with old friends along the way.

Enjoy the classic style of lightsaber battles from before, mixed in with some new techniques, Force powers, and more. The galaxy far, far away has never looked more beautiful and has never been this expansive. So wander around and see what it has to offer you!

This 11-year-old game still holds merit in its original form. It’s a masterfully crafted RPG with heaps of lore, places to see, enemies to kill, and weapons to plunder. It’s all about how you play. Do you follow the storyline to uncover your Dragonborn origins or do you quest off becoming your own person? The game, while dated will still offer tons of exploratory fun. Create your character, level up your magic abilities, quest for money and gear while traversing the dangerous world of Tamriel.

Far Cry , Ubisoft’s premier sandbox series has covered many locales in its lifetime. From jungles and beaches to middle America, each place gave players plenty of things to do. In its sixth main installment, players are greeted with the beauty of the Caribbean.

While the general tone of each game is similar to the previous games, Far Cry 6 adds a new leveling system to encourage players to get out and do more, rather than just cruise through the story. Previously players would have the usual skill tree that would give them new abilities. With Far Cry 6 you will need to scrouge for gear that gives special bonuses, for example a headpiece which allows you to be more resistant to gas or clothing allowing you to swim faster.

Visually the game is stunning, gunfights, explosions, car chases, and everything in between look absolutely vibrant, offering a massively manic playground to sink hours into against the backdrop of Zany Giancarlo Esposito’s brutal dictatorship. Lock and load.

Infamous: The Second Son is an anti-hero third-person action-adventure from Sucker Punch studios. It’s the third game in the Infamous series and is a play on morality and choices. Delsin, is a powerful conduit who is able to shape the world in either good or bad ways. Healing civillians and doing drug busts while change your jacket white, while killing civillians and not appreading criminals will turn it red.

As you play through the game you’ll collect shards to shards to spend on different elements in the game. Neon, video, concrete and smoke. Depending on your playstyle you’ll level up each of these elements.

Infamous: The Second Son is made for consoles, using the dualshock controller you to really feel like you are traversing through the city of fictionalized Seattle.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition remasters the 2011 RPG adding special effects such as volumetric God rays, dynamic depth of field, and screen-space reflections, and adds better support for mods, allowing players to experience new areas, armors, quests, and abilities throughout the community. The PS5 version brings a 4K update and a locked 60FPS. There are also 4 DLC packs that come with the game:

• Saints and Seducers – A couple of new quests.
• Rare Curios – New items that can be used in alchemy.
• Survival Mode – Adds a survival system where you’ll have to eat, drink, sleep, and stay warm.
• Fishing – Adds fishing, obviously!

I played briefly Skyrim on PS4 with some friends and found the game quite dated. The walking is buggy and the AI can be quite stupid. But the immersive world, exciting quests, and selection of weapons and magic that one can use makes the grafting worthwhile. I played through it with two friends when there was time and really enjoyed it as a social experience.

The Uncharted Nathan Drake Collection brings 3 of the Uncharted games under one umbrella collection of PlayStation titles. Each of the games a remastered for the PS4 annd PS5. The first game while very dated is a classic and (in my humble opnion) could be comparable to Spyro in the sense of basic controls and exploration. It doesn’t offer much in todays termss but still has enough action to keep it going.

The second game ramps up the ante. With epic destruction scenes, more weapons, and a story that spans the continent of Europe and Asia.

The third game is set two years after its predecessor and follows the story of Nathan Drake as he and his venture off to discover the legendary lost city of the Iram Pillars.

If you are a fan of Naughty Dog’s productions the this is definetly a game to have in your collection.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla follows the story of Eivor (in either a male or female form) as they begin to leave Norway and raid Englad. What’s quite cool with this game is that it features a base-building segment giving it a bit of an RTS feel. You’ll build barracks, shops, shipping rigs and more to either give you more quests or to build up and army to raid for more resources. The game pushes stealth aspects slightly more than Odyssey or Origins , mainly based around the fact that you can scope out the potential raids, blending in and thinning out the resistance before calling in your army.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a first-person action shooter set in an alternative reality where the Nazis end up winning World War 2. B J. Blazkowicz, the series’ bulky, head-heavy strong man makes a return in the game, this time with dual-wielding weapons. Players can dual-wield most weapons, allowing for double damage but at the cost of accuracy. Attachments can also be equipped onto guns to allow for special attacks.

What’s quite interesting is with this game theres a cover system that allows you to learn around or over cover. The game is filled with Nazi jokes, quirky characters, and old but futuristic enemies reminiscent of Fallout. If you are looking for a fictious World War type of game, pick this one up.

From the developers of Quantum Break comes Control , a supernatural shooter with a mysterious storyline. You take on the role of Jesse who enters the premises of the FBC, an agency where paranormal things happen. As the story progresses, she figures out that “the hiss” is behind the paranormal activities possessing individuals and changing the architecture of the building.

While the storyline works really just to progress the game, the star of the show is your supernatural abilities. Much like Quantum Break , you can levitate, fling objects across rooms, and control enemies all while shooting your shape-shifting pistol. The pistol can take on multiple forms such as a machine gun, shotgun, sniper, or charging round.

Watch Dogs 2 is easily comparable to GTA 5. There are a lot of similarities but what GTA 5 lacks is the interconnectivity of tech devices that are themed throughout Watch Dogs 2 .

Watch Dogs 2 pushes more of a stealth playstyle especially with the main character, Marcus, being able to practically hack through any device. Watch Dogs 2 has more vivid colors, and it’s more challenging to get to particular areas which makes it more rewarding when the player does reach said area. It’s perfect if you are a tech-savvy person like myself.

Because this game is now free-to-play (somewhat), there’s no con in downloading it to see if it’s your thing. The PS5 version of Destiny 2 benefits from its increased performance, boasting 60fps in PvE and 120fps in PvP. Destiny 2’s mechanics and gameplay are fun, the futuristic space environments are engaging, and the rewards for grinding can be incredible– though too much can get boring very quickly. Still, this game continues to find players logging in daily.

#40 Shadow of The Tomb Raider : Definitive Edition

Lara Croft makes a return as female Rambo in the final entry in a trilogy of rebooted Tomb Raider Games. In Shadow of The Tomb Raider Lara has her usual bow and arrow (with other unlockable types) different side arms, and access to rifles and to shotguns. She’ll make use of her firepower while exploring the tropical regions of Central America in search of the legendary lost Incan city of Paititi. In a race against time and an enemy organization called Trinity, Lara will explore exhilarating Mayan and Aztec ruins, solve complex puzzles, and have one-on-one fights with actual Jaguars.

Superhot is an incredibly trippy first-person shooter. Most of you probably have already seen this game being played by popular streamers when it was first released back on the 25th of February 2016. The concept is simple and fun: time moves only when you move. This lends its hand to epic melee and weapon battles, close-call bullet dodges, and furious fist fights – all in a slick white, black, and red aesthetic. The storyline is based around a user (you) who downloads an unknown game from a user on a chatroom. As you progress reality slips and the game becomes real life. Or is it still a game?

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided was praised for its brilliant narrative and unique approach to worldbuilding. Similar to previous entries in the series, Mankind Divided puts you in the shoes of Adam Jensen, a man equipped with various cybernetic implants. The game can be played in a variety of ways, with the player’s actions having a direct influence over certain outcomes in the main story. For instance, you can play the game lethally, killing everyone and everything, or as a pacifist, using dialogue to persuade people that violence isn’t the answer. Obviously, being stealthy is the key to the latter. What I really liked in this game are the fun side missions. Breaking into a lofty apartment to hack into a politician’s computer while avoiding getting detected really makes you feel like a cybernetic badass.

From EA comes the first dive into World War 1. Fight on the iconic gorges of Italy, the deserts of Sinia, the beautiful city of Champagne-Ardnese, and more. Soar the skies with spite-fire fighter planes, pilot terrifying tanks, and race into the war with a horse all while using a myriad of interesting WW1-era weaponry and gear.

Battlefield 1 is on par with Battlefield 4 (my personal favorite in the series) it’s stylish, bug-free, and has an emotional single-player offering insight into each side of the War – which I find quite cool as more often than not the German perspective gets neglected in World War games.

FromSoftware’s Bloodborne is a 3rd-person hardcore action RPG inspired by HP. Lovecraftian horror and Victorian elements. You’ll fight terrifying creatures and make use of guns and cleavers, dodging, shooting, and slicing enemies in your through the ancient city of Yharnam plagued by an all too mysterious disease.

Bloodborne has raving reviews with critics and gamers alike praising it for its challenging foes, intricate fighting mechanics, and fascinating world.

FromSoftware Dark Souls 3 is a hard-core fantasy RPG similar to Bloodborne. You will fight a multitude of difficult grunts and bosses with dual-wielding weapons, using a sword and shield combination or equipping powerful but slower two-handed weapons.

In this game magic also plays a role in making your character more useful. Equipping Chimes allows you to heal yourself, buff yourself or deal damage. While there are different classes to choose from it does look like the Knight class is the strongest and magical classes such as Clerical or Pyromancer are generally weaker.

The knight class’s starting weapons and armor allows you to play the game for a good 15 hours without needing to switch. So if you are looking for the right class to begin with the basic knight class is the best. On the PS5 it runs in a boosted mode with 4k graphics and a 60FPS framerate.

Have you seen any Park Chan-wook movies? Snowpiercer, Oldboy? Sifu is similar in the vein of these movies as it stars a one-man vs the world Kung-Fu student on a journey of revenge, hunting down the murderers of your family.

The game’s action is what really takes the forefront in this game, you have combos, light attacks, heavy attacks, and blocks which you will need to use skillfully to defeat difficult martial arts bosses. Our hero has a medallion that revives you each time you get killed. That being said, there is a cost. Each time you get revived you will age, getting older and older until the medallion breaks. Once it breaks you will have your last run, either resulting at the end of the game or your glorious victory

The same team that brought you Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends comes Star Wars Jedi: The Fallen Order , a third-person action-adventure title. The story comes 5 years after the events of Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith , where Cal Kestis a Jedi padawan who survived Anakin’s culling is being hunted down by two Sith sisters trained by Darth Vader. 

Gameplay-wise, it’s a platform explorer action game. You’ll be taking down a not-so-large variety of enemies (unfortunately) using your lightsaber, parrying enemies, deflecting lasers, and doing cool action takedowns (kind of similar to Shadow of Mordor but not as violent). There is a skill tree system that sees you level up your character through playing and cosmetics for both your player and your lightsaber (although finding lightsaber components can prove tough)

Rise of the Tomb Raider is a 2016 released action-adventure game from Crystal Dynamics studios. The game has a very Unchartedy feel, placing Lara on a quest to discover the legendary city of Kitezh. Lara will traverse the icy locales of Siberia and explore deep sunken ruins in Syria while taking on the dangerous Para-military group, Trinity.

The game also features a Zombie DLC called Lara’s Nightmare .

From Square Enix comes the remake to the 1997 PS1 classic game Final Fantasy VII . Set in a Dystopian Cyberpunk world, you play as Cloud Strife, a defected Shinra Soldier who joins an eco-terrorist group to fight the Shinra corporation which has been using the planet’s energy for their own selfish gain. The game is a real-time action RPG with strategic elements. There are open-hub scenes in addition to fight scenes giving you enough space to explore. If you aren’t familiar with Final Fantasy, this game was a smash hit when it was released in the 90s. It’s just as fun as when it was released all those years ago.

Final Fantasy XV is a JRPG from Square Enix Studios. Taking a decade long to develop and having switched names and Leadership, the game finally arrived in 2016 with considerably positive reviews. The game follows the story of Prince Noctis and his three companions as they do an epic road trip through the open world of Eos defeating the evil Niflheim in order to take back the crystal which Noctis and his family have possessed for centuries. The gameplay is fun, the combat is intuitive and the graphics are stunning. One of the biggest drawbacks however, is that the side missions can be quite repetitive, and disconnected from the main game.

The Battle-royale sensation, Fortnite came out on PS4 in 2017 making it one of the first games to bring Battle-royale to consoles. Since having been released the game has become a massive sensation resulting in collaborations with Star Wars, Marvel, and even with big musicians such as Marshmellow and Travis Scott. Currently, Fortnite is in it’s 7th season and shows no signs of slowing down. Unfortunately, because the game has been out for some time right now, the learning curve is quite steep for newcomers. Don’t expect to reach the top place within a week or two of stepping in. My roommate and I used to play this game one for one. Whoever died before 50 would have to drink some very cheap wine. Hey, student life.

From Naughty Dog comes the 4th installment in the Uncharted series. This epic journey sees Nathan Drake making once again a come-back in the series. This time the story brings both the Drake brothers in a mission around the world to find the hidden Captain Henry Avery’s long-lost treasure. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End brings more mobility into the action game. This time around Nathan has a grappling hook that allows him to swing from playing field to playing field. Nathan also has explosives, and one or two-handed weapons, and the combat system has been reworked to be more fluid and to remove any quick time events.

Having initially released two years ago for the PS4, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered offers the original game, but with updated visuals at 4K and a buttery-smooth framerate of 60FPS. The game also capitalizes on the PS5’s adaptive triggers giving players web-slinging haptic feedback. As usual Peter Parker is back at it again trying to save the city from the Classic Spider-man villains such as Doc Ock, Electro, and Rhino while keeping his real life separate from his superhero life. Things get tricky when the worlds collide as Peter struggles to balance the two. The game features Spider-man’s Protogee Miles Morales as a playable character and also Mary-Jane. 

Initially released on PS4, Xbox One and PC Monster Hunter World is an open-world adventure RPG developed by Capcom. The game tasks a hunter with quests on taking down giant monsters. The more monsters one defeats the more resources one gathers in order to craft new gear and weapons to take down larger monsters.

From what I’ve heard, the grinding loop is fun and rewarding. Players will find themselves most of the time in two phases of the game: The preparation and the actual hunt. The preparation involves getting the right gear and utilities, while the hunt is a singular long Epic quest on taking down a boss Monster. The game can be played either solo or in co-op. As usual, it’s recommended to play in a group rather than solo.

Horizon Forbidden West sees the return of Aloy in a larger more expansive world, filled with new awe-inspiring beasts to take down and interesting factions to either wage war against or forge impeccable alliances with. Horizon Forbidden West expands on the original game adding in a new underwater exploration dimension to the game. The game runs at a smooth 60FPS with a targeted 4K framerate.

Horizon Zero Dawn is a fascinating third-person action-adventure experience from the same developers behind Killzone . follows the story of Aloy, who lives in a world resemblant to the prehistoric ages, except that it’s populated by dangerous mechanical beasts. Having lived most of her life as an outcast, Aloy intends to uncover the danger of her existence and the mystery surrounding the robotic dinosaurs. You’ll make use of a host of weaponry and take down giant mechanical beasts while leveling up your character.  

The Fallout games are the retro Sci-Fi cousins of the Elder Scrolls series. Anyone who likes those games will certainly love Fallout. The game is set in the year 2287, hundreds of years after a nuclear war practically destroyed the planet. As a vault dweller, the protagonist survived the war by gaining access to a nuclear bunker at the last minute. Cryogenically frozen, players wake up hundreds of years later to find that their son has been kidnapped and the vault abandoned. Set out into this radioactive wasteland for one of the best experiences in gaming.

NieR: Automata is set in the same universe as Nier, which itself is a spin-off of the Drakengard series of games. It is set in the midst of a proxy war between automatons created by invaders who are trying to kill off what’s left of humanity, who’ve also created machines of their own to fight in their stead. Players take on the role of a combat android named 2B and her customizable companion 9S. The gameplay (depending on sequences) is resemblant to different genres of games ranging from shoot ’em up to text to adventure.

Developed by Rocksteady games and published by Warner Bros, Batman: Arkham Knight is a third-person action-adventure set in Gotham City. Scarecrow has made a return and this time around has brought his whole crew of supervillains to terrorize the city. There are many gadgets to select from and fist fighting feels very brawly, with bulky combos and takedowns. The batmobile makes an arrival for the first time in the game in both it’s a mobile form where the player is able to drive the vehicle through Gotham City, and in a mobile tank form whereby the vehicle drives slower but has gattling cannons and a tank blaster. The City which one can explore is gorgeous and expansive, you’ll spend hours flying around and taking down bad guys. It’s got a very unique New-York gothic vibe to it.

Batman: Arkham Collection brings all the Batman: Arkham games under a single umbrella package including the DLCs. The first two games have been tactfully remastered with stunning visuals. Progress through the stories of each of the games and fight off Batman’s most evil nemesis while aiming to keep the peace in Gotham City.

The 2018 God of War reboot has been a game that has had an exciting build-up. Fans of the series have been curious as to where Kratos finds himself. It’s been a challenge for the team at Santa Monica studios to evolve Kratos with Norse Mythology but has essentially created a stepping stone to a new universe. 

God of War 2018 is different from the earlier games, it’s slower, and Kratos is bulkier but more powerful. There are still combos to remember but it’s not as expansive as the previous games. Personally, I got quite bored playing God of War. Why? Because there is a small selection of foes to best, who are just repurposed per area this means you essentially face the same grunts and giants just with different elemental auras and abilities.

The mundanity or graft of fighting the same foes is made up for by the RPG elements of the game, the nods towards the previous games (towards the end you fight a boss who is similar to God of War 3’s fight with Gaia), and the deep mystery of Kratos past in Norseland.

Metal Gear Solid: Phantom Pain is unfortunately the only Metal Gear game that I’ve played (boohoo) but! I can say that I’ve had so much fun playing this iteration in the series. While I never played any of the previous games, I know that Hideo Kojima is a big deal in the gaming world and has very creatively used Sony’s consoles with his games. This was his last game before he left Konami. While the gameplay can get a little bit monotonous, the selection of mechanical arms, weapons, companions and the general wackiness of the characters and companions (Special Forces dog with a knife in its mouth FTW!) makes the action consistently fun. At its core, it’s a third-person military shooter, with base-building RPG elements. I can’t really comment much on the story but it’s got some strange sci-fi elements to it which backdrops the realistic military feel to the game.

The game is very self-aware that it is a game, which means that fun is prioritized over everything else. Go in with this perspective and you’ll end up loving it.

From EA and the creators of the epic and highly underrated first-person shooters Titanfall and Titanfall 2 comes the role-based, comical Battle Royale shooter, Apex Legends . The gameplay is fluid and dynamic, different characters with their own unique abilities keep the game fresh and exciting (one could compare this game perhaps the League of Legends MOBA.) as each character brings its own playstyle to the game along with weaponry that suits them.

Apex Legends also features a deathmatch game mode called Arenas which is an enjoyable switch-up to the tired Battle Royale format.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt adds more beef and an in-depth feel compared to the first two games..

I loved the interesting monsters which you can take down, the backstory lore which you uncover as you begin a hunting quest, and the mystery of Geralt’s Witcher past which makes him a powerful outcast in this fantasy world. The game’s main storyline is linked with Geralt’s past as he tries to locate his protegee, Ciri.

My single qualm with this game is that human combat can get quite boring and repetitive. There are about 3-5 takedowns which make the fighting feel a bit stiff – this is where Shadow of Mordor and Doom succeed because there just are so many takedowns that make your character feel less of a man and more like an unstoppable God.

Other than that you can level up Geralt as you like focusing on magic combat or agility. There’s a relatively in-depth crafting system encouraging trading for supplies to upgrade your gear as well as a world to be foraged to craft potions and spells.

Call of Duty: Warzone offers the modern first-person shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for free in a Battle Royale setting. You’ll either drop into Verdansk for Battle Royale or to grab cash in Plunder. Both game modes allow you to pre-set loadouts which can be equipped in-game.

For a free-top-play experience as well as cross-play options, Warzone is a must-have for first-person fans!

The first two Metro games were great, but largely on rails (pun intended). By the time the third game came around, 4A was looking to expand, and an open-world setting seemed to be the next progression. It’s not a completely open world, mind you– think more of Mass Effect hub areas as your train takes you on to the next plot area.

4A made a good-looking game the first time around, but on the PS5, it looks even better. It’s honestly one of the best-looking post-apocalyptic games ever, and that’s not hyperbole. The threat of radioactive death feels paltry when you want to go exploring in the nuclear wastelands.

You don’t have to have played the first two (although it wouldn’t go amiss), as Exodus recaps them both and tells its own contained story. It’s hard to feel despair when the apocalypse looks this good.

What happens when death itself isn’t enough to take you away from where you are? In Returnal , you are a space pilot who has been stranded on an alien planet. The location is constantly changing and has all sorts of mysteries hidden within it. But, the real twist is that for you, death isn’t the end. Instead, it just moves you to another part of the planet and forces you to try to push on without dying again. Your journey in this roguelike title will very much be based on how well you do in each run, and all the while, you’ll need to learn the truth about the planet, yourself, and how it all ties together.

From Insomniac games comes another reimaginement of our favorite iconic duo (step aside Jak and Daxter.) Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart shares a similar vein to The Avengers, in the sense of two dimensions closing in on each other, causing cataclysmic events. Clank, being the genius he is, repairs a weapon called the Dimensionater. During an attack by Doctor Nefarious, Rachet accidentally shoots the dimensionator causing rifts between the two worlds. Clank awakes in a new world to a female Lombax named Rivet in a completely different dimension. The game was partly inspired by the 1946 Christmas film “It’s a Wonderful Life”, where different life choices affect the outcome of a person’s life. What would Ratchet and Clank look like in a different universe? Instead of going the usual route of an evil nemesis, the creative team decided to imagine alternate worlds.

From Rockstar Games comes the second GTA iteration in the wild, wild west, Red Dead Redemption 2 . John Marston from the first game makes a come-back in this third (and first-person) shooter experience. There are rival gangs, crooked governmental forces, and other bad guys to take down. Similar to GTA V the game features a bounty system, ensuring that you don’t do any funny business (or keep it to a minimum) while traversing the fictional wild-west.

There is also a morality system that rewards players based on doing good deeds. You will get unique treatment at stores and get special items. A Low moral scale also rewards the player with more loot on dead bodies. The game is jam-packed with stuff to do, quirky characters to interact with and epic quests to undertake. When you aren’t doing any of that, there is a massive open world for the player to traverse through.

With contributions by George R. R. Martin, Elden Ring is a spectacular game. FromSoftware’s latest RPG brings all the medieval action and magic from Dark Souls but in a massive open-world setting. Your lonely Tarnished soldier will have to fend for themselves learning the secrets of the world in between. Your goal? Repair the Elden Ring and become an Elden Lord.

Ah yes, there has been a game in the past few years quite like Doom Remake? It’s not really a remake, rather it’s a completely new game, but still possesses the pizazz that made the first game fun – that is, arcadey fast-paced action. When played on the harder difficulties the game becomes quite strategic and take-downs become essential to gain well-needed ammo and health packs. The little easter eggs and strategic routes make the game replayable – that and just generally becoming better at the game! It’s well made and the takedowns feel very rewarding,

Doom Eternal comes 4 years after the original Doom game. This time around Hell has spilled out onto the earth and has left our blue planet in shambles. Once again it is up to the Doom Slayer to equip his multitude of weapons to take down the forces of Evil. The Doom Slayer has new weapons in his Arsenal. The Supershotgun has a grappling hook which allows for better mobility and grappling takedowns, there is an Energy Sword from the previous game, a retractable blade, the Sentinel Argent Hammer, and a shoulder-mounted grenade launcher. The PS5 version beefs up either the game’s graphics or the frame rate which is up to the user to choose.

GTA V is the highest-grossing video game of all time, reaching $1 billion in sales within 3 days of its release. But does that mean it’s a good game? In terms of expansivity, things to do, storyline, open-world multiplayer, DLC, free updates, and still ever-consistent player base (despite the game releasing just shy of 10 years ago.) My response? A resounding yes!

Play as Trevor, a manic nudist drug addict, Micheal De Santa, a retired bank robber who allegedly died 9 years ago, and Frank Clinton a gang member who now works as a repo man for a car dealership. Each of these worlds collides to create an outrageous storyline. My favorite thing to do in GTA V? Play in first-person mode and run rampant through the city taking on the entire police force.

Dying Light 2 expands on the first game, in a larger and bigger environment. There a new tools like a paraglider and new melee weapons. And as usual, takedowns feel awesome. You can push enemies off cliffs, jump over them, and kick them. Slice off arms. The combat feels intuitive and rewarding.

The map is way bigger than the previous games with Skyscraper buildings and apartment blocks which are explorable. The first Dying light also had a massive map but was nowhere near the same as the first one in terms of vertical height. For PS5 you can either choose a performance mode that locks the game at 60fps or other resolution modes which make the game look nice, but lowers the framerate considerably.

Released back in 2019, Call of Duty Modern Warfare had one of the best campaigns. It was developed by Infinity Ward who brought back the trust of gamers with classic gameplay and great visuals. Playing it is an intense reminder of the current affairs of today. Its modern setting parallels the world today and the feel of a brewing war in our midst. Despite its controversies, it’s still great and robust. Dive into story mode first before multiplayer modes, it helps focus and you get more feel of the game.

A seeming sleeper hit Middle: Earth Shadow of Mordor is a 2014 released action-adventure third-person from Warner Bros that is absolutely killer. Seriously, this game and The Last of Us are two of my favorite third-person experiences ever. With it’s interwoven lore in the Lord of The Rings Series, stunning takedowns, and enjoyable relic hunting (I feel like with most exploration games I don’t enjoy relic hunting that much, but with this game, the law and the unrecoverable areas made me WANT to head out and collect all the relics) fun stealth system and almost God-like battles which make the Uruks run away from you in Terror. You’ll have tons of fun sinking hours into this game. What’s more, it just makes sense as a console game. I played the second one on PC and was not nearly enthralled as the first one due to the keyboard and mouse set-up

The long-awaited sequel to The Last of Us: Part II was released 2 years ago. This time Ellie and a new playable character, Abby take the forefront. Since the events of the original The Last of Us, Joel and Ellie find refuge in Jackson Wyoming. While the relationship is already strained between two, things turn from bad to worse when Joel and Ellie rescue Abby, the daughter of a murdered surgeon in the previous game.

The game has an atmosphere of desperation, violence, and survival at all costs. The melee combat is brutal and violent, ammunition is scarce, and most of your weapons and items have been either crafted or found in the decaying city of Seattle.

Quite possibly one of the best games that I’ve ever played. The Last of Us Remastered is an intense emotional rollercoaster and fun-packed survival third-person shooter. It tells the tale of Joel a smuggler tasked with escorting, Ellie through a post-apocalyptic zombie Warzone. Humans have been infected by a type of Fungi inspired by Cordyceps, some are worse than others and have been completely blinded by the fungus relying only on sound to locate its prey. And if that isn’t bad enough, there are other survivors on the loose looking to capture Ellie for their own gain. Why is Ellie such a prize? Well, that’s something you’ll have to figure out yourself as you play through the game.

The Last of Us Remastered is an exceptionally well-crafted game and deserves your time and attention. The cover-based action feels reminiscent of the newer Splinter Cell games, the melee attacks feel rewarding and violent and the environment as a whole is very reactive to your character. There is never a dull moment in this game, and you’ll likely play this emotional joyride in a single sitting (it’s like a book you can’t put down)

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Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure Review – Head Out on the Lake, But Be Home by 3!

By Jenni Lada

Good fishing games can be as elusive as the legendary fish that appear in them. It might even be more common to find good fishing minigames in major titles like Final Fantasy XV, than stand-alone titles. It probably doesn’t help that many are budget titles that offer the most rudimentary sort of experience. Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure is one of those basic sorts of experiences, but attempts to dress things up with RPG elements and styles borrowed from other games. Unfortunately, it ends up being more of a tedious grind than a great game for enthusiasts.

Saving the Lake and a Legend

As with all Reel Fishing games, everything begins with a legendary fish. Alice, Neil, and Sean, three students in an after school club who enjoy fishing, are looking for a school project. After happening across a painting of a colossal fish and meeting a mysterious man, they decide to make it the focus of their group project.

The problem is, the Legend’s natural habitat is incredibly polluted. The mystery man, Mr. Shopman, has been hoping to generate interest in it and restore the waters around the area it called home, but he’s only one (somewhat elderly) man.

So, the Fishing Club has a new mission. They’ll explore the area and try and make it a better place. Sean will fish and take pictures of his catches, to catalog them for Mr. Shopman. (He’s not practicing catch and release, though, so maybe it isn’t the best move for an already precarious environment?) Neil will gather the garbage and recycle the pieces into materials for new lures, reels, and rods. Alice, well, she’ll support the guys by cooking dinners and preparing snacks.

Taking Cues from Persona and Final Fantasy

You wouldn’t expect two of the more popular RPG series out there to have an influence on a fishing simulator, but here we are. Perhaps the idea is to make fishing “cool” again by injecting personality and style. However, adopting a poppy UI, focusing on a cast of young people, and turning it all into a camping adventure doesn’t really help much.

More recent Persona games might be the first thing that comes to mind once you set sail into Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure’ s waters. Alice, Neil, and Sean all have character portraits drawn in that series’ signature style, the UI has color schemes that may call to mind Persona 4 , and they’re even participating in this whole fishing endeavor for a school club. Generic, jaunty, jazzy music plays in its store. Sean reminds me a bit of Persona 5’ s Morgana. Except, instead of insisting that I should turn in for the night, he is convinced that it is getting so dark that we absolutely must return to Mr. Shopman’s shop at 3pm.

Once you actually head out to camp, it feels like you’re on a road trip with Noctis and Ignis. Every evening concludes with the trio around the campfire, enjoying a meal cooked by Alice that has an effect on the group’s performance the next day. The trio talks about the experience and their life. Once you head to bed, you even see a level screen similar to Final Fantasy XV’ s, with each person’s actions tallied up to show if they have leveled up and earned more skill points. The only difference is, you probably will never even come close to caring as much about these kids as you did about the crown prince and his guards.

Grinding for Gar

The thing about Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure is that, no matter how you dress it up, it doesn’t make things any more exciting. Each day is much like the last. You get assignments to catch certain fish. (You start out with one, but eventually need to catch two different ones.) After having Neil craft the lure needed to catch it, you head to its natural environment. You stare at an aquatic scene and cast the lure as far as you can, then reel it back in constantly by holding down the R1 button. A fish will inevitably hit on it. You press a right trigger to hook it, fight with it for a bit, maybe engage in a QTE or two, then catch the fish. You then repeat this until 3pm, watching as Neil automatically acquires materials as you do, until it is suddenly “getting late” and you head back.

Initially, this is pretty easy. Once you start getting two quests at a time and head into the second chapter, things ramp up. It isn’t so much that the pattern changes. Rather, the strength of all the fish and their endurance goes up. You only realize you have hit a wall when suddenly your line keeps breaking, even when you’re doing everything right. At which point, you make sure Neil has earned enough skill points from collecting and crafting to level up and learn to make better reels and rods. Maybe you also earn some new recipes for Alice, so you have more stamina-recovering items in the moment.

There are some attempts to help keep things from being too unproductive. Each lure tends to apply to two fish, so it isn’t like you’ll be pulling in a lot of things unrelated to your current objective. Alice’s food can do things like boost your experience or stamina, to speed things up. But it doesn’t help that you spend a lot of time engaging in the same repetitive motions in an attempt to unlock the next quest so you can do it all over again. I suppose you could fortunately say there are only about 10 locations and 20 kinds of fish, so at least you won’t have to spend too much time waiting to catch the Legend.

Definitely a Budget Experience

Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure is a rather rudimentary game. It doesn’t have a huge array of fish, and its locations aren’t exactly packed with personality. It borrows ideas and looks from games that are much brighter and more engaging, then pales in comparison. It isn’t a terrible game, but it feels very bland and eventually feels like you’re going through the motions just so you can keep engaging in the same activities over and over again.

Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure review code provided by Natsume. Version 1.00 reviewed on a standard PlayStation 4. For more information on scoring please see our Review Policy .

• It includes RPG elements to encourage you to improve characters and participate in activities
• You won't spend a lot of time waiting to catch fish
• The controls are uncomplicated
• Environments are very bland
• There aren't very many fish
• You'll eventually need to spend time grinding for experience and materials
• The characters are as exciting as its environments

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Road 96 Review (PS5) – A Stirring And Evocative Road Trip You’ll Never Forget

John-Paul Jones / April 14, 2022

Road 96 PS5 review . It’s certainly fair to say that no other game has managed to quite capture the romanticism and freewheeling chaos of a good old fashioned road trip. Road 96 however, from French developer Digixart (the same hugely talented folks that brought us the superb Valiant Hearts and 11:11 Memories Retold ), not only manages to achieve this, but goes above and beyond; deftly interweaving themes of political turmoil, escapism, family and freedom to fashion one of the most intriguing games of the year – albeit one that reaches its end a little faster than I would have preferred.

Road 96 PS5 Review

A beautifully freewheeling road trip odyssey that will linger long in the heart & mind.

Unfolding within the confines of Petria, an authoritarian regime on the brink of real political change, Road 96 casts you as a teenage drifter in the Summer of 1996, leaving the comfort of home in order to make it to the border and attempt to escape the stifling country that has suffocated your dreams for so long. A dynamic narrative driven adventure that is told from a first-person perspective, Road 96 isn’t prescriptive at all about how you should get to the border – only that you should take care of your wayward teenager and ensure that they don’t die or get captured along the way. A road trip is an immensely personal pilgrimage and Road 96 gets that.

Essentially, Road 96 has you travelling from point to point, encountering different situations and then based on the decisions that you make, your route to the border (and how you make your escape beyond it) changes accordingly. Each of these areas that you’ll stop at might be relatively small, but the sheer amount of freedom that you’re offered helps to make each situation feel impactful and compelling.

The very first situation you’ll encounter in the first episode for example, has you helping a stranded police officer who has lost a relative to the war and then after that, leaving it up to you how you make your way to the border. Do you hitchhike and risk getting into the car of an unsavoury individual and save a chunk of change in the process, or do you hop on the bus, wasting valuable money as a result but also gaining a measure of safety in the process? No matter which you choose, each choice generously blossoms out into a lush tree of opportunity as you meet new faces, acquaintances and learn new skills and abilities as you inch your way toward the border.

As such, Road 96 really taps into why road trips hold such a powerful place in our psyche. That sensation of thundering onward into the enticing unknown, discovering new places, meeting new people, hearing their stories, sharing in their experiences, gaining their friendship and making an indelible mark on those acquaintances that you make along the way is all captured here.

Rather than being an entirely handcrafted affair, Road 96 is actually procedurally generated effort which essentially guarantees something approaching a completely fresh experience each time you play. However, despite the lack of personality that procedural design sometimes inspires, Road 96 nonetheless feels like a very personal and intimate venture.

Each time you manage to get one of Petria’s wayward teens across the border, you not only gain some tricks and new abilities to use next time, but you begin in an entirely different area of the country, meeting familiar faces from previous playthroughs at different points within their respective timelines. Learning a lockpick skill might allow you, for example, to gain access to a truck that is crossing the border and attempt to gain access that way. While another way to achieve a similar result (and there are so, so many ways that you can go about this) could be to simply climb over and hike across the mountains to freedom – a risky exploit that drains away huge amounts of health in the process.

Quite simply, Digixart have done a commendably fantastic job of threading together the fates of all the characters and events in Road 96 that the whole affair coalesces together as a much more heartfelt and personable experience than its procedural design would otherwise suggest. Much more than just a road trip though, Road 96 wraps a much larger macro narrative around that of its freedom seeking protagonist and it’s here that the notion of freedom of choice really comes into play.

As mentioned at the top of this review, Petria – the country in which Road 96 takes place (a culturally kaleidoscopic hodgepodge of Canada, the United States and some eastern European territories) is an authoritarian state and while seeking your freedom is the ultimate goal, you will come into contact with those who are sympathetic to the current leader (who has their own propaganda news show, no less) and those who aren’t.

In the case of the latter a group of rebels known as The Brigade are fighting back, but a seeming act of terrorism which apparently caused the death of many innocent folks ten years prior, has cast the group in a bad light – and this is something that the mammoth Petrian propaganda machine wastes no time in exploiting. Where the idea of choice comes in here, is in how you express your own political views and how others react to them.

Vandalising posters of either side will elicit appropriately hostile and warm responses from the loyalists and rebels alike, while many opportunities arise to help the Brigade, or the authorities, both directly and indirectly. And this is the thing – because you can play a key role in helping to overthrow the current government or maintain it everything that you do in Petria as you make your way to the border feels worthwhile; not least because Petria feels like a truly lived in place, rather than some faceless sandbox that is devoid of personality or uniqueness.

Audiovisually, Road 96 is something of an attractive, if restrained treat. Though the game does affect a look similar to that of the Telltale Walking Dead games (especially where its character designs are concerned), it nonetheless shines through with a vast array of vibrantly realised locales that stretch across the width and breadth of Petria itself. The audio side of things is equally up to task, belting out a series of easy-going earworms that wonderfully underscore free-form narrative that Road 96 espouses.

If Road 96 has something analogous to an Achilles Heel it would be that it isn’t quite as long as I would have liked. In Petria, developer Digixart have crafted an immensely compelling realm stuffed full of interesting characters and situations that in many cases feel lovingly influenced by the silver screen (particularly the works of The Coen Brothers) and so it’s a shame that once all the different characters have been played through and all the scenarios completed that there isn’t more to do beyond that 15-20 hour completion time.

I know it sounds like I’m being greedy (after all a 15-20 hour playthrough for a game like this is wholly acceptable – and often preferable to the multi-hundred hour, open world epics that are routinely shoved down our throats), but I’d say it’s more of a testament to the world building of Road 96 that I simply never wanted to see it come to an end.

Deeply emotive, intimately crafted and bursting with freedom, Road 96 takes interactive storytelling to a whole new frontier and provides players with a timely reminder that developer Digixart is one of the most underappreciated studios in the industry today. Road 96 is essential and its only real folly being that, well, it ends quicker than I would have liked and as far as flaws go in a game like this, there are arguably many worse maladies to have than that. Count me for being on tenterhooks for whatever it is that Digixart do next because if Road 96 is any indication, this is one developer close to their apex of their craft.

Road 96 is out now on PS5 and PS4.

Review code kindly provided by PR.

The Final Word

Deeply emotive, intimately crafted and bursting with freedom, Road 96 takes interactive storytelling to a whole new frontier and provides players with a timely reminder that developer Digixart is one of the most underappreciated studios in the industry today.

Decoding Season, PS5 and PC's Mysterious Road Trip Adventure

“when i'm reading the youtube comments, people seem to either think that it's like breath of the wild, or that it’s like journey. and it’s in between.”.

When I'm reading the YouTube comments, people seem to either think that it's like Breath of the Wild, or that it's like Journey. And it's in between.

It's not going to be a walking simulator – as much as i love those games where there's no gameplay., people seem to really get the tone, the mood, and the feeling that we're trying to evoke..

Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter . Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected] .

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The 21 Best Adventure Games for PS5

We’ve come a long way since the Spiderman, Final Fantasy, and Resident Evil games on the PlayStation 1 and the original Xbox console.

These games have developed into full-blown series over the years, getting fresh new updates with each new-gen console release and consistently serving up the best adventure gaming experience while at it.

Now, gaming has evolved to an almost unrecognizable extent, particularly in terms of visuals and performance. The levels of immersion in these adventure games are at an all-time high as studios fight for a share of the gamers’ attention.

With so many titles out there now, it can be difficult to randomly pick a good game with no prior research.

No worries though, I’ve done the dirty work (as usual) and compiled this guide to the best PS5 adventure games. It’s a fairly lengthy read, so let’s get right into it.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

• Genre:  RPG, Adventure, Fighting
• Developers:  Ubisoft
• PlayStation Release Date:  March 2022
• Buy from:  PlayStation ,  Amazon
• Multiplayer:  No
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  70 hours, 30 minutes

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla is a stunning game on the PS5. Granted, it was already a good-looking game on the PS4, but that 4K resolution at a smooth 60fps just gives it an extra bit of polish. The details, the colors, and the visual effects all look vibrant and extra-sharp.

Also, there have been complaints in the past about annoyingly long loading times on the PS4, but that is less of an issue on the PS5 as a result of the faster SSD. Loading times are not pretty much halved.

On paper, these upgrades may not sound as impressive as they do in reality. In my experience, getting a quality gaming experience from a title – especially one involving a lot of action – has a lot to do with performance.

An adventure game with a great story and fantastic gameplay is wasted if performance is poor, and that felt like the case sometimes with this title on the older-gen PS4.

Speaking of gameplay and stories – just in case you’re not already familiar with Assassin’s Creed, Valhalla is set in the year 873 AD, and the story is centered around a Viking raider named Eivor.

Eivor’s adventure is a mission to England to expand the influence of his/her clan (you can choose a gender). As the adventure unfolds, you will traverse carefully plotted, expansive locations that are visually stunning but also hold the bizarre and downright evil, ready to halt your stride.

Horizon Forbidden West

• Genre:  Action, RPG
• Developers:  Guerilla Games
• Release Date:  February 18, 2022
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  28 hours, 30 minutes

Horizon Forbidden West is not only one of the best adventure games for PS5, it is also one of the best-looking games ever released on a gaming console.

“4K HDR” and “60fps” are words that get thrown about a lot when PS5 games are being discussed, but if there’s a game that really takes advantage of the upgrades on the newer-gen console, it is this one.

The environment is stunning and so realistic, you can quite literally see the shimmer and reflections in streams as water flows from one end to the other. The haptic feedback has also been put to very good use, and you will enjoy the difference it makes particularly during battle actions.

Stunning visuals are not all that Forbidden West has got going for it though. There is a genuinely solid story behind all the glitz, and it’s a worthy sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn.

The story here follows your character, Aloy, along with a group of companions on a mission to find the source of a plague that has infected their land.

Over the course of their journey, they discover that there are a lot more sinister problems lying in wait across largely unexplored lands, including a horde of deadly machines that have been tamed by a tribe of nomadic raiders.

As you can already tell, there are quite a few twists and turns to the story, but the immersive experience encouraged by the stunning visuals ensures that there is no dull moment in Horizon Forbidden West.

Demon’s Souls

• Developers:  Bluepoint Games
• PlayStation Release Date:  November 2020
• Buy from:  PlayStation
• Multiplayer:  Online PvP, Online co-op
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  23 hours, 30 minutes

When Demon’s Souls was first released in 2009 , it was already a fan favorite. It was only the first game in the Souls series, but it remains the one that has received the most positive feedback from fromSoftware’s catalog.

However, 2009 is a long time ago, so it was welcome news to hear that the developers were working on a remake. That remake is so thorough that it’s a little surprising to see the core of the game still retained.

Visually, there has been a complete overhaul. Details have all been carefully repainted, music has been re-recorded, cutscenes and animations have been replaced with smoother, more vibrant ones, and load times are much faster too.

It really feels like a decade of improvement between the previous iteration and this one, and I’m all here for it.

The story follows a hero brought to the kingdom of Boletaria. The kingdom is overrun with the force of a dark, supernatural being known as “The Old One”, and the mission of the hero is to kill the kingdom’s fallen king and pacify The Old One.

On the PS5, you can play Demon’s Souls in cinematic mode or performance mode. Cinematic mode offers more detail with native 4K at 30fps, but performance mode favors smoother gameplay with upscaled 4K at 60fps.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Deluxe Edition

• Genre:  Action-adventure
• Developers:  Ember Lab
• PlayStation Release Date:  September 21, 2021
• Multiplayer:  No
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  10 hours

I’ve heard some talk about the fact that Kena: Bridge of Spirits is unoriginal. Comparisons have been drawn to The Legend of Zelda , but while this is a similar premise, it is far from unoriginal.

Bridge of Spirits is the first video game release from Ember Lab , but the refined nature of the game – especially visually – belies the relatively little experience of its developers. To be fair, Ember Lab started out as a digital content and animation studio, so the polished nature of the art direction in Bridge of Spirits is not completely surprising.

Admittedly, parts of the game feel like the result of mashed-up elements from some other games, but this is still a very enjoyable and challenging game.

The story is centered around a character that sets out into a world enveloped with darkness. Your mission is to restore the glory of the ancient village sitting at the center of the land and uncover the details behind its initial collapse.

Adventure is all about exploration, and there’s a lot to see in Bridge of Spirits. The world is expansive, and there are enough puzzles to solve and enemies to defeat while you’re on your way.

In the beginning, your skills will be very limited, but as you progress, collecting currency and upgrading, your skillset gets upgraded as well. Soon enough, you’ll be busting multiple moves to take the head off any bad guy that comes your way.

Puzzles and combat are the heart of the gameplay on Bridge of Spirits, and while they can feel repetitive after a while, they are engaging enough to make this one of the best adventure games for PS5.

Death Stranding: Director’s Cut

• Genre:  Action-adventure
• Developers:  Kojima Productions
• Release Date:  September 24, 2021
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):   36 hours

How would you like to explore the future?

Death Stranding : Director’s Cut is a product of Sony Entertainment , and it was published nearly two years after the release of the standard edition of the game.

Don’t let the name fool you, nothing was “cut” in this version, they’ve just added some extra content that wasn’t in the initial version, alongside a couple of visual and performance updates.

Oh also, if you’re looking for a game that actually uses the PS5’s DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and improved 3D audio, then that’s another reason to take a look at Death Stranding.

If Kena sounds too basic for you, then it doesn’t get a lot more unique than Death Stranding.

The story is the same in this version as the last – your character is stuck in post-apocalyptic America and is tasked with delivering supplies to the people that don’t want to take the risk of leaving their homes. Sounds Covid-19 inspired, but the story was ideated before that actually happened.

Those people that don’t want to leave their homes have a good reason for it, as you’ll find out when you start taking on missions. I’ll just say, be ready for anything.

On the PS5, Death Stranding is buttery smooth. You have the option of running the game in performance mode or quality mode. The former is locked at 60fps to ensure consistently smooth gameplay while the latter is not locked but offers more detail in terms of visual quality.

It looks good, it runs pretty well, it is immersive, and the gameplay is diverse.

• Genre:  Roguelike, Shooter
• Developers:  Housemarque
• Release Date:  April 30, 2021
• Multiplayer:  Online co-op
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  19 hours

Returnal has made many “best of” lists since its release by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2021. In fact, if you go on platforms such as Reddit where these games are discussed at length, you’ll see many Redditors list this as their Game of the Year .

That’s an impressive CV, and it shows the versatility of Returnal in terms of the genres that it cuts across. This is a game that was built specifically for the PS5, and you can tell from how well the console’s features are utilized in the gameplay.

Your character, Selene, is stuck in a time loop on a strange planet that her ship has crash-landed on. She sets out to discover the secrets of the planet, in hopes of uncovering the rationale behind the loop and putting a stop to it.

The DualSense Controller and Tempest Engine of the PS5 really pull their weight here, making you feel every rumble and tumble, and hear every distinct strange sound on planet Atropos.

Above all, this is an absolutely visually stunning game. Yes, it’s 4K, and yes, it runs at a smooth 60fps, but this thing really pushes the power of the PS5. Every bit of detail in the environment is high quality, and you may find yourself just admiring it sometimes. Just don’t get caught by surprise!

• Developers:  Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
• PlayStation Release Date:  April 23, 2021
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  27 hours, 30 minutes

Judgment is another title that was initially released for the PS4 but then remastered for the PS5. It is a Yakuza-style game, but also fits right in that “Adventure” category.

Your adventure is led by a private detective named Takayuki Yagami. Yagami is a former defense attorney that fell off three years before the events of Judgment. Now, he’s a low-key private hand that takes jobs on a case-by-case basis.

That structure is perfect for any gamer looking for shorter stretches of multiple adventures rather than one long stretch of a single one. If you’re a fan of organized crime, diving headfirst into criminal underworlds and bringing crooks to justice, then you’ll love Judgment .

However, if you still somehow get tired of the episodes, then you can temporarily switch your attention to one of the minigames available, such as drone racing.

The PS5 remaster looks really good, as expected. Lighting generally looks much better than it did on the PS4, and it makes for a glorious night city view when you’re roaming the streets of Kamurocho. Combat and other burst-of-action scenes are really smooth too, running at 60fps.

If you played the original version, then you’ll enjoy the visual updates, but there’s not much else that is new. However, if you’ve never played the game, then this remastered version is an absolute dream and one of the best adventure games you can play on PS5.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

• Developers:  Cloud Strife, Square Enix
• PlayStation Release Date:  June 10, 2021
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  38 hours

Square Enix had already released a Final Fantasy VII Remake in 2020, and fans of the series had a swell time with it. However, there were some grumbles and mumbles about the repetitive nature of the side quests.

Fast-forward to the release of the PS5, the studio decided to release a refreshed update – Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade .

This version comes with upgrades and additional content, in addition to the visual upgrades that come with the improved capabilities of the newer-gen console. The game runs smoothly at 60fps, but it is a bit disappointing to see that the DualSense controller has not really been used to full effect.

The story is the same as the original Remake , but there’s a twist if you get the Intermission DLC. There, Yuffie is the only playable character in combat, so you can’t take control of anyone else – not even Sonon, her partner.

The Yuffie DLC is exclusive to the PS5, which is a bit hard to understand because there are no real gameplay additions that require the exclusive use of a PS5 feature. Regardless, if you do have the console, then this is one of the best PS5 adventure games that you can try.

The Last of Us 2

• Genre:  Action-adventure
• Developers:  Naughty Dog
• PlayStation Release Date:  June 19, 2020
• Buy from: PlayStation , Amazon
• Multiplayer:  No
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  24 hours

The storyline of The Last of Us 2 divides opinion among the critics and gamers, which I believe is mostly a case of suffering from success for the developers.

The original Last of Us was very well-received and widely acclaimed to have one of the best storylines on PlayStation adventure games. This sequel, with its next-gen update, is also more than capable.

The PS5 update is not a full release, and the only real visual update is that 60fps is now the default frame rate. This is not a bad thing in any way, considering the fact that even the PS4 version already looked pretty good in terms of detail and art direction.

The story is based on events that happened five years after the first Last of Us release, and it follows the lives of Ellie and Abby, two characters trying to survive in the post-apocalyptic United States.

Ellie is immune to the fungal zombie virus that has overrun the planet, and it initially appeared that her immunity would help develop a cure to save the world, but that plan went bust when we found out that she had to die to make it happen.

The series of events that follow come with a mix of resignation, violence, betrayal, and death. I won’t go into more detail (no spoilers here!), but it is that roller-coaster of emotions that makes Last of Us 2 one of the most memorable and best adventure games for PS5.

Resident Evil: Village

• Genre:  Survival horror
• Developers:  Capcom
• PlayStation Release Date:  May 7, 2021
• Buy from:  PlayStation ,  Third Party
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  9 hours, 30 minutes

The Resident Evil franchise has been one of the most consistent franchises in console gaming for years. Resident Evil: Village is part 8 of the series, and this PS5 version was published by Capcom in 2021.

This game was made by horror fans, for horror fans. I mean, get a load of that screenshot up there – and it doesn’t even tell a quarter of the story.

If the typical vibrant adventure across an open world of lush greenery and a few monsters is not adrenaline-pumping enough for you, then Resident Evil: Village should do very nicely.

The plot follows your character, Ethan Winters, whose wife, Mia, is murdered in cold blood by Chris Redfield (a character from older versions of Resident Evil ). He is then kidnapped alongside his 6-month-old daughter Rose, and they are brought to the “Village”.

Ethan then sets out to find where Rose is being held in the village and to avenge the death of his wife too.

On the PS5, Resident Evil: Village looks much better. That’s expected, at least visually, but this is also one of the games that take the most advantage of the PS5’s Tempest 3D audio technology.

Horror is a lot more immersive when the sound selection and quality are excellent, whether it’s in a video game or a movie, and this game really comes to life with the spatial audio of the PS5, especially with headphones on.

The DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers also make a significant difference that is most noticeable when you’re switching between a variety of weapons.

Perhaps one drawback is the fact that once you complete Village the first time, there’s no real motivation to go back for another round anytime soon after. It’s a thrill while it lasts though, and that should be good enough for many.

Marvel’s Guardians of The Galaxy

• Developers:  Eidos-Montreal
• PlayStation Release Date:  October 26, 2021
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  17 hours, 30 minutes

Square Enix did not exactly light up the world with The Avengers, so I already had my reservations when I heard that they got the rights to Guardians of the Galaxy. However, the game has been a pleasant surprise in terms of how well it has been received in the gaming world.

The game is centered around the GOTG team, obviously, but your point of view will be from the Star Lord’s (Peter Quill) perspective. You’re pretty much in charge as you and your team (Gamora, Rocket, Drax, and Groot) embark on an adventure that involves doing odd jobs to pay the bills, getting captured, and eventually saving the galaxy.

On the PS5, you can play GOTG in two graphics modes – performance or quality. Performance mode runs the game at 1080p, but the framerate is really smooth at 60fps. Quality mode focuses on rich details with 4K, but it runs at a reduced framerate of 30fps.

Personally, I’d take the 1080p that performance mode offers just because of the smoother framerate. I just think that’s a better option for games like this where fast-paced combat is commonplace.

However, I can also understand why anyone else would prefer quality mode – it looks gorgeous. That’s not to say the 1080 alternative is low quality – far from it. Regardless of the mode you chose to play in, this is one of the PS5’s best adventure games.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

• Genre:  Platformer, Shooter
• Developers:  Insomniac Games
• Release Date:  June 11, 2021
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  10 hours

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is one of the best games on the PS5, period. It was released exclusively by Sony Interactive in the middle of 2021, and it follows the adventures of the popular duo across multiple galaxies.

If you’re not familiar with Ratchet and Clank, they are fictional characters that have been traveling across planets within various galaxies since the first iteration of the game was launched for the PlayStation 2 in 2002.

In Rift Apart , your key battles are against Dr. Nefarious and Emperor Nefarious. However, you will encounter several other characters – good and bad – as you journey across these multiple planets.

Make no mistake, this is a visually stunning game. It follows the same pattern of games that were built specifically with the PS5 in mind, and developers Insomniac Games have really outdone themselves here.

There is so much detail and variety in the locations, choice of weapons, characters, and the way that the NPCs react to your actions mid-combat. It’s not really about realism this time, but it’s a lot of eye candy.

Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut

• Developers:  Sucker Punch Productions
• PlayStation Release Date:  August 20, 2021
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  25 hours

The original release of Ghost of Tsushima arrived before the release of the PS5, and it was already a fantastic game then.

Wonderful visuals complemented an immersive story and exciting combat, so it would have been understandable if Sucker Punch Productions had left things the way they were, even after the PS5 was released.

However, they’ve gone one step further and released this Director’s Cut , adding new content to freshen things up and using the new features on the PS5 to improve the visuals and overall gaming experience.

As such, Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut runs at 60fps with 4K visuals. It also includes DualSense integration for improved haptic feedback and the effects of the PS5’s adaptive triggers.

Story-wise, the game follows the journey of Jin Sakai. Jin belongs to a clan that has been attacked by Mongolian invaders, leaving most of them dead. As a result of that, he shoulders the responsibility of rebuilding the clan and taking back their island, Tsushima.

For gamers that have already played the original release, the addition of Iki Island is enough to warrant a revisit.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

• Developers:  Respawn Entertainment
• PlayStation Release Date:  June 11, 2021
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  17 hours

Star Wars is probably better recognized for its sci-fi characteristics , but the story in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is compelling enough to warrant a shout as one of the best PS5 adventure games.

Your character, Cal Cestis, is a runaway Jedi. He joins the resistance in search of answers about the secrets of the force, but his journey across the galaxy only raises more questions instead. More importantly, it turns out that his alliance with his new “friends” may not be what he expected.

Graphics-wise, this is a solid game. It’s not a massive upgrade from simply playing the PS4 version in backward compatibility mode, but you do get native 4K with upgraded textures, even though it only runs at 30fps. If you want 60fps, you have to dial back the quality to 1440p.

A bigger motivation to get the PS5 version would be the huge difference in loading times. It is one of the more popular complaints that people had about the PS4 version, so it may be worth getting this alternative for that alone.

Marvel’s Spiderman: Miles Morales

• Release Date:  November 2020
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  24 hours, 30 minutes

Insomniac Games really get the hang of building stunning worlds in PS5 games. Marvel’s Spiderman: Miles Morales is a quality audition for the new-gen console, which is fitting because Spiderman is also one of the most popular titles out there.

This expansion picks up from where the 2018 original version of the game left off, following the story of Miles Morales who now has superpowers as a result of a radioactive spider bite.

Peter Parker has taken it upon himself to be Miles’ mentor, showing him how to be a superhero by involving him in missions around New York.

In the beginning, there’s a nice little bit of “training” for you when Peter and Miles have to chase a villain, Rhino, through the streets of the city and bring him back to the prison convoy that he’s escaped from.

From that point, you begin to get familiar with the controls of the game if you’re not already.

As I said, this is a visually stunning game on the PS5. The environment and characters are incredibly detailed, and the addition of ray tracing is a game-changer.

Lighting and reflections look extremely realistic, which is a nice change of pace from the vague, foggy details that old-gen consoles offer. Additionally, load times are seriously quick.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though. The game feels a bit too short, and some challenges are repetitive.

It puts a huge question mark on the replay value of Spiderman: Miles Morales, but I still think the good bits are enough to earn a place on this list of the best adventure games for PS5.

Deliver Us The Moon

• Genre:  Platform
• Developers:  KeokeN Interactive
• PlayStation Release Date:  June 23, 2022
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  5 hours

If you’re looking for the best adventure games on PS5 with a bit of puzzle solving and a dash of space exploration, then Deliver Us The Moon is worth checking out.

The game was originally published by KeokeN Interactive in 2018, but a PS5 version hit the shelves in 2022 to bring 4K visuals and stunning ray-tracing to what was already a visually well-done game.

The adventure is centered around an astronaut sent to the moon sometime in the future. His objective is to find a way to help humanity avoid extinction following the severe scarcity of natural resources that aid normal life on planet Earth.

The game switches between first and third-person perspectives on occasion, depending on the specific thing you’re doing at any given point in time. You’re not at risk of getting attacked by aliens or other living enemies of any sort, but you do have to worry about getting gameplay sequences right or you’ll die and have to retry.

The game does well to progressively increase the difficulty of the puzzles, starting off with simpler tasks that are really just there to familiarize you with the controls and how puzzles generally work going forward.

Once you get the hang of it, things get increasingly complex, but not so much that you’ll be forced to frustratingly quit the game. It’s a good balance.

There is perhaps more focus on the puzzle elements of this game than the adventure, but there is enough in the story and space exploration to qualify it as one of the best adventure games on PS5.

• Genre:  Interactive drama, Survival horror
• Developers:  Supermassive Games
• PlayStation   Release Date:  June 10, 2022
• Multiplayer:  Local/Online multiplayer
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  9 hours

Where Deliver Us The Moon expanded its adventure offering by including puzzle elements, The Quarry ‘s most obvious additional gameplay element is interactive horror.

If you’re looking for an adventure that will spook you and your friends to no end, then The Quarry should be around the top of your list. Oh yes, it is best enjoyed in multiplayer mode with friends.

I say this because, in The Quarry , there are several characters that you can take control of at the same time. This does not necessarily mean you have to play online because even if you want couch co-op, you can simply pass the controller around when it is each player’s turn to make an action or decision.

The Quarry was published by 2K Games in 2022, so the developers had a fair bit of time to build something that could take advantage of the PS5’s capabilities.

Unfortunately, we do not really see these used to significant effect, but it really does not make the game any less enjoyable or spooky.

The adventure follows nine teenage counselors at a summer camp. These counselors are faced with unexpected supernatural creatures and violent locals, and they must work together to figure out a way to survive their final night at the camp.

Your decisions are crucial here because any player can die before the end of the game. Dialogue choices and action decisions must therefore be treated with careful thought before execution.

• Genre:  Adventure
• Developers:  DigixArt
• PlayStation Release Date:  April 14, 2022
• Buy from:  PlayStation ,  Amazon
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  7 hours, 30 minutes

Speaking of interactive story games , Road 96 is another option that offers a satisfying experience enough to qualify as one of the best adventure games on PS5.

In fact, the game shares another similarity with The Quarry in the sense that you’re also involved with a bunch of teenagers.

However, this time, the teenagers are trying to escape a country under a tyrannical dictatorship and not supernatural creatures. To be fair, the former could be as bad as the latter in some cases.

The country that your characters are trying to escape from is a fictional one called Petria. Before the end of the game, your choices will lead you to a point where a crucial decision has to be made – influence the elections back home or cross the border.

Over the course of the adventure, you will encounter seven NPCs, and each playthrough will yield procedurally generated interactions with these NPCs, so there’s a bit of variety in that sense.

Road 96 is not a multiplayer game, so you only control one player character. However, the weight of your decisions is just as heavy because the game has multiple possible endings that determine the fate of the country you’re running from.

Chicken Police – Paint it RED!

• Genre:  Adventure, Mystery
• Developers:  The Wild Gentlemen
• PlayStation Release Date:  2020
• Buy from:  PlayStation , Amazon
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  6 hours, 30 minutes

Chicken Police is a graphic, noir adventure that served as the first effort of developers, The Wild Gentlemen when it was released in late 2020.

At the time, the game was launched on PCs, but it arrived on next-gen consoles in March 2022.

Point-and-click visual novels such as Disco Elysium have received very high praise from the gaming world and rightly so, but we also have hidden gems such as this one that also offer quite a lot despite going relatively under the radar.

At first glance, the premise of Chicken Police sounds ridiculous – it’s a game about police officers who are…chickens.

However, if you know anything about video games, then you’ll know that some of the most ridiculous of premises have also turned out to be some of the most enjoyable games ever released, and this one is no different.

Your character is a private detective named Sonny Featherland that gets thrown headfirst into a case involving a dead body that turned up out of the blue at the weekend house of a nightclub owner.

Point and click your way into gathering clues and piecing together all the information needed to crack the case. You’re also going to be interviewing other animal characters, so it helps that the game is fully voiced.

Away from the detective work, exploring the world that the game is set in is actually pretty captivating too. The art style stands out, and it’s very easy to get carried away just enjoying the view.

The Wild Gentlemen also did very well to implement DualSense controller support – brilliantly, I might add. You really feel the impact of playing the game on a next-gen PS5, and what more could an adventurer ask for?

Paradise Killer

• Developers:  Kaizen Game Works
• PlayStation Release Date:  March 16, 2022
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  12 hours

Paradise Killer was originally published by Fellow Traveller in September 2020. The initial release only supported Windows PCs and the Nintendo Switch, but other consoles including the PS5 finally received the game in 2022.

Like Chicken Police , this game also has a detective story, but it is neatly done in an open 3D world that has all the bells and whistles when it comes to visual quality and performance on the next-gen console. That fictional world is called Paradise Island.

Your character, Lady Loves Dies, has several cases that you can dip your hands into, and you have the option to bring your cases to trial at any point if you feel that you have gathered enough evidence.

Of course, if it turns out that you were wrong, you’ll have to go back and try again, so it is important to make sure that you have actually gathered all the clues that you absolutely need to make a conviction.

Like Road 96, Paradise Killer also has multiple possible endings, so you can always go back and replay certain beats to achieve a different outcome.

It is still a linear story at the end of the day, but these multiple endings and the open world that the game is set in add enough to the game to make that fact less obvious.

The Forgotten City

• Developers:  Modern Storyteller
• PlayStation Release Date:  July 28, 2021
• Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives):  5 hours, 30 minutes

I really like the premise of The Forgotten City .

It’s a fun mystery adventure game that was published by Dear Villagers and Film Victoria , and it is also an adaptation of the similarly-named Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim mod that you’ve probably heard about.

The game is set in Ancient Rome, 2000 years into the past. It is a time when the city you find yourself in has a really weird rule.

The “Golden Rule” is that nobody can sin, and the punishment for breaking it is damning – everyone turns to gold. Well, everyone except you.

There is also an infinite loop that ensures that every time something goes wrong and the citizens turn to gold, you get to restart the day complete with all the knowledge you’ve gathered from speaking to NPCs in the city.

Every character has their own story, and speaking to them is the key to helping you to understand what in the world is going on. Maybe you can save these people, or maybe you’re not supposed to.

Oh, this is yet another game with multiple possible endings, so you can go back and replay after your first playthrough for a different outcome.

It’s a pretty unique take on a Groundhog Day-type mystery, and easily one of the best adventure games on PS5.

If you’re the type of gamer that enjoys a lot of action alongside your adventures, check out our guide to the best action-adventure games for more recommendations.

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One fine fall day, Tess Devine and her mother, Opal, discover a cache of old notes and letters carefully stashed away in the attic of their house. Hints of deep-rooted family secrets, decades-old burglaries, a lost treasure somewhere near the Canadian border... What they uncover suggests a much darker mystery, best left well enough alone. But that’s not going to happen. In Open Roads, Tess and Opal embark on a road trip adventure to explore a series of long-abandoned family properties, unearthing the past. They’ll search the ruins of these places that hold buried memories, things Opal has tried for years to forget. And in this search, they'll discover not just the truth they've been seeking, but each other. Featuring star performances by Keri Russell (The Americans, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker) and Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart, Uncharted 4). Features: - Experience the story of Open Roads as 16-year-old Tess Devine, on a road trip with her mother to discover what has been left behind in evocative places forgotten to time. - Bask in classic road trip vibes as you chill in the car en route to your next destination, fiddling with the radio and chatting with your mom. - A groundbreaking art style melds detailed first-person environments with beautifully hand-animated characters, bringing the adventure to life. - A unique and engaging interactive dialogue system moves the narrative along, exposing character flaws, secrets, and buried truths. - A mother-daughter road trip adventure from Fullbright, the award-winning creators of acclaimed story games Gone Home and Tacoma.

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Playstation 2 hidden gems that need ps5 reboots.

The PlayStation 2 had hundreds of iconic titles during its lifespan, but here are three hidden gems that desperately need to be rebooted on the PS5.

The PlayStation 5  offers some fantastic titles and mind-blowing tech that take gaming to the next level, but there are still games from PlayStation's past that deserve new life on current-gen consoles. While PlayStation 4 games are already getting PS5 updates , and PlayStation 3 games are getting completely remade, the PlayStation 2 has a few hidden gems that need to be rebooted. While the PS2 era offered hundreds of worthwhile titles, this article will discuss three obscure PS2 games that need a second chance.

Sony's PlayStation 2 was launched in the year 2000, and over the next 10 years some of the greatest games would be produced for the system. The PS2, original Xbox, and GameCube era is considered the golden age of gaming by many due to the significant titles that were released during this time. The number of titles and companies producing quality games made this period in gaming a very nostalgic time for adult gamers today. Series that were created during this time are still popular, and new installments in those franchises continue to be released for every generation of consoles.

Related:  When Is PlayStation 6 Coming?

But there are still some games that have been left in the past which still hold a special place in the minds of gamers. The PlayStation 2 is littered with great titles that didn't make it past their generation for one reason or another. Some developers merged with larger companies, while others went defunct. Regardless of why they didn't make it off the system, here are three PS2 hidden gems that need PS5 reboots.

Road Trip On PS2 - A Racing Adventure Game

Road Trip is an anomaly of a video game, as it mixes the racing and adventure genres in a very unique way. Players control a highly-customizable sentient car that travels around a large open world. The main quest focuses on winning a series of races to become the president, but that's only the beginning of what Road Trip has to offer. There are 100 stamps to collect which act as side quests, hundreds of parts to purchase from body shops, beautiful locations to explore, and tons of mini-games. Whether players want to gamble at a casino, deliver pizzas, or play car soccer (sound familiar?) Road Trip has a lot to offer players.

With the technology that developers have now, remaking Road Trip would be a dream for fans of both the racing and adventure genres. Road Trip is a game that defies a lot of gaming's stereotypes, and it would be a breath of fresh air for gamers today. Players wouldn't have to choose between racing in the World Grand Prix or going deep-sea diving. Road Trip allows the players to do both.

Graffiti Kingdom On PS2 - Action RPG Character Creator

Character creation is always a fascinating element of video games as it allows the players to put a part of themselves into the game. However, most character creators not made by Epic Games are very limiting and only allow the players to make a humanoid person. Graffiti Kingdom gave players the tools to make any character imaginable, one that could be customized down to its move set. By using a series of brushes and shape tools, players could create a 3D character to platform and fight their way to reclaiming the canvas kingdom.

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A remake of Graffiti Kingdom would work well in the current-gen space as character creation seemingly captivates gamers. SoulCalibur VI proved that a good character creation system can boost a game's notoriety, and Graffiti Kingdom would offer what no other game has.

We Love Katamari on PS2 - Superior To Damacy

We Love Katamari is the sequel to Namco's Katamari Damacy , and it is superior in every way. However, Damacy has been re-released on the PS4 and Nintendo Switch without any mention of We Love Katamari . The sequel has a far better hub world, soundtrack, and level design. They are both relatively the same in terms of gameplay, but We Love Katamari has a better coat of polish that makes it the superior title.

We Love Katamari deserves the same treatment, if not better, as  Katamari Damacy . The remaster could be titled We Still Love Katamari , and if it received the same level of support as when it originally released, it would be a hit. All three of these titles could be popular in modern-day gaming, and they need to be rebooted sooner rather than later. Game development is costly and takes a lot of time, but these games are well-worth the time and money it would take to bring them back from the early 2000s.

Next:  Super Mario 64 Runs On PlayStation 2 Thanks To Modders

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Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure - PlayStation 4

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• A tried and true franchise with over 10 titles in 20 years!
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• 30 fresh and saltwater fish in full detail from a wide range of fishing locales!
• Unlock unique abilities with each character and earn ability points based on their actions.
• Create your own fishing rods and bait!

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Do you remember the very first time you went fishing? The fresh air, the soothing sounds of nature all around you, the tranquility of the water... Three college friends set off on a summer road trip to find the elusive fish of whispers and Rumors. Working together, these friends will unlock all these mysteries and more in reel fishing: road trip adventure!

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Fun games to pass the time on your next roadtrip.

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Road trip games can pass the time on a long trip.

Roadtrips are an enjoyable way to see changing scenery, a chance to stay overnight in retro roadside motels, and an excuse to pull over to see the quirky roadside attractions that you’ll only find in small town America.

But road trips also mean long stretches of flat highway where the oohs and ahhs slow down, the snacks run out, and you need a break from the podcast you’ve been streaming.

Pass the time in the car with a game of 'Would You Rather?'

Enter road trip games. They’ll help you pass the time between stops and hopefully squash any questions like “are we there, yet?”.

From games that can be played among a group of friends or couples to road trip games to entertain kids, these games will help keep you entertained on the road.

Top 7 Road Trip Games to Play

1. table topics.

Table Topics is a deck full of fun conversation starter cards. The game is recommended for ages 12 and up, and the cards can spur conversation between a couple or a group. The deck has 135 cards and questions range from: “Is it more important to be book smart or street smart?” and “If you could have front-row seats to any concert who would you like to see?”

Apple Issues New Spyware Attack Warning To iPhone Users

Nyt strands hints spangram and answers for friday april 12th, juiced o j simpson once had a hidden camera prank show and made stabbing jokes on it, 2. mad libs.

The scribe in charge of the Mad Libs tablet will be prompted to ask participants for verbs, adjectives, nouns, and so on, which will then be put into a short narrative. The catch: No one knows the context that the words they toss out will be put in, so the story ends up being a goofy one. This is a great game for kids in elementary school who are starting to learn the ins and outs of nouns, adjectives and the like.

3. “Would You Rather?”

You could come up with your own scenarios for a game of “Would You Rather” where you pit two outrageous scenarios against one another. But the “Would You Rather” deck of cards is loaded with pre-set predicaments: “Would you rather own a machine that makes any food you want or prints $50 per week?” The family edition has 200 cards that were made with multi-generation road trips in mind.

4. License Plate Game

A road trip classic, and a fun one to play with kids, the license plate game challenges everyone in the car to collectively spot license plates from all 50 states. Pro tip: Print out a map of the United States to keep track of all the states you’ve collected.

When the karaoke is over, play a round of song trivia.

5. License Plate Word Scramble

When you’ve already done your Wordle for the day, you can engage your fellow passengers with a game of word scramble. Just look at a plate in a nearby lane and extract the letter — then challenge everyone to come up with a word with the letters in the plate. For example, if the license plate has the letters NKE in it, the word could be “Banker.”

6. Song Trivia

Every great road trip has a good playlist. But turn your tunes into a game by seeing who can name the singer, song title, and, for a bonus round, the year the song came out. You can set up a playlist in advance for this game or just scroll through the stations.

7. The Geography Game

If you loved social studies as a kid, this game is for you. One person starts the game by throwing out a geographic location (i.e. city, state, mountain region, river, etc.). Let’s say the starting word is California. The next person then comes with a location that starts with the last letter of the previous name, so, in this case, the letter “A,” which could be Alaska, Appalachians, Atlanta, and so on. You could mix up the themes, too, or narrow the categories, too. Other categories could be types of food, animals, countries, or band names.

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Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure Trophy Guide PS4

• Easy platinum trophy, takes around 16h
• There's a total of 28 trophies to earn
• Included in PS Plus Extra

How to Get the Platinum Trophy in Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure?

Welcome to the Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure Trophy Guide! Below you will find all the trophies for this game. There is a total of 28 trophies to get in this game, including a platinum trophy. It's a rather short and quite easy platinum. You are looking at around 16 hours to get every trophy of the game.

Guide Overview

Trophy roadmap.

• Complete the tutorial
• Play the game, collectables
• Miscellaneous trophies

Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure Trophies

Most of the trophies are quite easy to unlock. The easiest trophy you will get at the beginning is 'It's a Hit!' (First successful hit). The last trophy you will earn is 'Master Craftsman' (Craft all tackle). Of all players only 10.0% managed to get this very rare trophy.

Platinum Trophy (Very Rare)

Master Angler

Unlock all trophies.

Common Trophies

Use Angler's Focus successfully 5 times.

It's a Hit!

First successful hit.

Little Lunker

Catch a fish bigger than 50 cm.

Novice Angler

Catch 10 fish.

Novice Caster

Catch 3 kinds of fish.

Novice Craftsman

Craft 5 times.

Collect 1,000 in total money.

Rare Trophies

Novice Chef

Make 5 kinds of dishes.

Novice Quester

Complete Quests 1 though 5.

Focus Harder!

Use Angler's Focus successfully 50 times.

Freshwater Fisherman

Catch all freshwater fish.

Large Lunker

Catch a fish bigger than 3 m.

Money in the Bank

Collect 5,000 in total money.

Make 15 kinds of dishes.

Tutorial Tenacity

View all of the Tutorials.

Veteran Angler

Catch 50 fish.

Veteran Caster

Catch 10 kinds of fish.

Veteran Quester

Complete Quests 6 though 12.

Expert Angler

Catch 100 fish.

Expert Caster

Catch all kinds of fish except the Legendary Fish.

Expert Quester

Complete all Quests.

Very Rare Trophies

Lure Master

Craft all lures.

Reel Master

Craft all reels.

Craft all rods.

Another Ending

See the true ending.

Make all dishes.

Master Craftsman

Craft all tackle.

Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure (PS4)

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