5 Best PS5 Launch Titles, Ranked

The PS5 is a revolutionary bit of kit, that's for sure. It's also Sony's flagship product, and one that proudly hoists the colors for the brand's ever-evolving arm of technological innovations. The fact that it has sold well over 20 million units in its two-year lifespan, of course, speaks volumes for its popularity, and how one product can change the face of the gaming world.

Anyway, one of the reasons for its overwhelming success is the abundance of launch titles that it released with, along with the awfully generous PS Plus Essentials collection, which initially came free with the purchase of every console. But which games were the best, and which of them still hold their spot today as PlayStation 5's best-selling launch titles? Well, here's how we see it.

5. Astro's Playroom

Astro's Playroom is a 3D platformer that claims its place as being PS5's introductory video game. Like a tour guide, its purpose is to navigate players through a series of levels, all completely PlayStation-themed, and showcase the power of the console and all its functions. For this reason, it's almost assumed that new owners of the console will dive right into it before exploring other worlds. And they'd be right to, as the cutesy platformer has more to offer than most other games in its genre.

Astro's Playroom provides you with a hub to not only hone your newfound skills, but store and discover countless trinkets and collectibles. By completing various actions and levels, you will have the chance to build a cabinet full of historical artefacts and untold stories from PlayStation's primitive years. Basically, it's an all-in-one communal area for die-hard fans of the brand. And let's face it, that's everything anyone could want and more — especially to help raise the hype before embarking on quests beyond the hub.

4. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Call of Duty is in receipt of some of the biggest and most ambitious first-person shooters of all time, and we know for a fact that anyone who's ever grazed a pad will have played at least one of them at some point. Due to its outstanding reputation as one of the genre's torchbearers, it was only natural that the PS5 received its presence come launch day. And it did, with Black Ops Cold War lighting the way for a new generation of war-themed tales.

Black Ops Cold War brings a fresh lick of paint to a dying art, using the PS5's phenomenal performance to showcase the spoils of war in their rawest form. With a relatively short but compelling campaign to bolster its famous multiplayer front, the game fires on all cylinders as the next first-person shooter masterpiece in motion. It's effortlessly flawless, and thanks to Sony's impeccable design and attention to detail, it shines brightest on the PS5.

3. Watch Dogs: Legion

Ubisoft's hackable universe, Watch Dogs, passed over to the new generation with flying colors, complete with a major graphical overhaul and a number of technical enhancements. Legion, being the third instalment in the timeline, capitalized on the series' award-winning formula by turning the whole of London into an open world jungle, where millions of citizens could be recruited and played as.

Watch Dogs has seen a plethora of changes over the years, a lot of which have helped to develop the niche it tries so desperately hard to hone. All of this eventually came together with the latest entry, and The Big Smoke of the UK enveloped all of the greatest qualities in one comprehensive package. The PS5, of course, was just a vessel for such quality.

2. Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered

Marvel's Spider-Man is hands down one of Sony's most sought-after exclusives of all time. It's also the reason why countless Xbox users have parted ways with their primary consoles and established a home away from home with the PS4, and eventually, the PS5. Though, of course, it's incredibly easy to see why, as the open world action-adventure title boasts some of the cleanest graphics and combat mechanics in modern gaming. And that's just putting it lightly.

From the slinkiness of the web-slinging maneuvers to the treasure trove of action-packed activities, Marvel's Spider-Man brought countless jaw-droppingly invigorating features to the table, all of which helped to solidify the PlayStation 5's newfound reputation. And even today, four years after its debut, the game still plays remarkably well on base consoles. As if we ever had any doubt.

1. Assassin's Creed Valhalla

For every pre-release there's a poster child, one that often sways the verdict by showcasing the technical aspects of the hardware in question and its newly established functions. For the PS5, many would say it was Assassin's Creed Valhalla that presented its key qualities. And to be fair, they'd be right to think that, as it was, at least at the time, the best-looking game on the market.

Of course, Ubisoft knows all too well which ingredients are needed to brew an award-winning broth, and going by that, Valhalla is conjured by what can only be described as culinary giants. It is, without a doubt, the sharpest open world games on the PS5, made even more impressive by the near-perfect combat, engrossing narrative, and historical accuracies that the series has been celebrated for since the dawn of the brand.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.