🚨 SHOCKING #1 STEALS GOTY from Death Stranding 2 & Ghost of Yōtei… but #15’s TWIST will HAUNT you FOREVER! 😱 2025’s PS5 lineup EXPLODED—Metacritic masterpieces, awards drama, games that BROKE the internet. You’ll CRY if you miss these 15… Who’s YOUR top pick? 👇 Full list that’ll RUIN your sleep! 🔥

As 2025 draws to a close on December 28, the PlayStation 5 library has solidified its status as a powerhouse, delivering some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially dominant titles in gaming history. Fueled by Metacritic’s rigorous scoring—where multiple games cracked the 90+ barrier—and fan-voted awards from PlayStation’s own blog, this year saw turn-based RPGs evolve, Metroidvanias reach new heights, and open-world epics push hardware limits. From indie darlings to blockbuster sequels, these 15 standouts represent the pinnacle of PS5 excellence, blending innovative gameplay, stunning visuals, and narratives that linger. Critics and players alike hailed them as must-plays, with sales figures and trophy unlocks reflecting their grip on the community. Here’s the definitive countdown, ranked by a consensus of Metascores, awards, and cultural impact.

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Metascore: 92) Sandfall Interactive’s turn-based RPG emerged as the undisputed champion, topping Metacritic’s PS5 list for 2025 and snagging gold in PlayStation Blog’s Best PS5 Game and Best Art Direction categories. Released April 24, players step into a Belle Époque-inspired fantasy where Expedition 33 races to slay the Paintress before she erases everyone aged 33. Real-time dodges, parries, and combos elevate traditional JRPG combat, while emotional character arcs and surreal landscapes deliver 40+ hours of addictive depth. “A love-letter to JRPGs,” GameSpot raved, praising its polish and heart. With Platinum trophy rates soaring, it’s the game that defined 2025’s storytelling renaissance.

2. Hollow Knight: Silksong (Metascore: 92) Team Cherry’s long-awaited Metroidvania sequel, out September 4, tied for the year’s highest score and earned bronze in PS Blog’s Best Art Direction. As Hornet, players navigate a silk-infested kingdom, battling bugs and unraveling lore in a vast, haunting world. Silky-smooth combat, intricate map design, and secrets galore make it a 50-hour masterpiece. IGN called it “the relief we all needed,” cementing its status as a technical and artistic triumph.

3. Forza Horizon 5 (Metascore: 92) PlayStation’s April 29 debut of Playground Games’ racing juggernaut shattered platform barriers, matching the top score with Mexico’s vibrant open world and 500+ cars. Dynamic weather, seamless multiplayer, and PS5-enhanced haptics turned skeptics into converts. “A momentous cross-platform win,” per GameSpot.

4. Split Fiction (Metascore: 91) Hazelight’s March 6 co-op adventure from It Takes Two creators blends sci-fi and fantasy, trapping writers Mio and Zoe in their stories. Genre-hopping chaos—cyber ninjas to dragon-taming—delivers endless surprises and friendship-forging fun.

5. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Metascore: 89) Hideo Kojima’s June 26 sequel, silver in PS Blog’s Best PS5 Game, Audio Design, and DualSense use, expands Sam’s delivery saga to a ghostly Australia. Absurd yet profound, its traversal and themes gripped players.

6. Ghost of Yōtei (Metascore: 86) Sucker Punch’s feudal Japan sequel swept PS Blog awards—Platinum in Best PS5 Game, Graphical Showcase, Art Direction, Audio, DualSense, and Accessibility. A polished open-world of beauty and brutality, it outshone predecessors.

7. Monster Hunter Wilds (Metascore: 88) Capcom’s February 28 entry refined hunting with dynamic environments and pack-hunting monsters, February’s sales king.

8. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Metascore: 88) Warhorse Studios’ February 4 RPG immerses in 15th-century Bohemia with reactive quests and brutal realism.

9. Dispatch (Metascore: 89) October 22’s superhero comedy from Telltale vets has players rehabbing villains as a downed hero—witty writing shines.

10. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Metascore: 88) MachineGames’ April 17 adventure captures Indy’s whip-cracking essence in a globe-trotting mystery.

11. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (Metascore: 88) Falcom’s September 19 remake modernizes the JRPG classic with 3D visuals and hybrid combat.

12. Sword of the Sea (Metascore: 88) August 19’s serene sword-surfing through wave-swept ruins offers meditative exploration.

13. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (Metascore: 88) Square Enix’s September 30 remake polishes tactical battles with voice acting and QoL.

14. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Metascore: 87) Lizardcube’s August 29 ninja platformer revives Sega’s legacy with fluid combat.

15. Arc Raiders (Metascore: 86) Bronze in PS Blog’s Best PS5 Game, this extraction shooter hooked with smart AI and replayability.

2025 proved PS5’s enduring dominance, with cross-platform hits like Forza and indies like Clair Obscur proving Sony’s ecosystem thrives on diversity. These titles not only dominated charts but redefined genres, from co-op innovation to haptic masterpieces. If your backlog skips them, regret awaits—dust off that DualSense and dive in before 2026’s slate eclipses them.