ThePlayStation 5’srelease came with its fair share of successful games, having some unique narratives, worlds, and gameplay mechanics. Not only that, the console also came with remastered adaptations that were made even better by its unique attributes like the immersive adaptive triggers and detailed haptic feedback, which can make any adventure more intense.
Although there have not been a lot of PlayStation 5 exclusives at the time of this writing, the quality of the games is undeniable, asSony has published some amazing adventuresfor players to immerse themselves in. While some of them are family-friendly adventures, likeRatchet and Clank: Rift Apart, the console has some more difficult iterations as well. With some literal and figurative uphill battles, PS5 gamers have quite the task in their hands with somechallenging Sony games on the consolethat will definitely have players wanting to throw their controller.
Ranking among thebest PS5 RPGs, the sequel toHorizon Zero Dawnwas able to double down on everything that made the first game so good, including in its overall difficulty. Building on the gameplay, world, characters, and mechanics of the first game,Horizon Forbidden Westcompletely immerses the player in Aloy’s post-apocalyptic world.
The game has a great narrative and an original world filled with mechanical beasts, each with their own weaknesses and strengths. Not only are there varied combat mechanics that require players to adapt their gameplay, the game includes a wide world filled with quests, puzzles, and challenges that bring an extra layer of difficulty to the series.
A brutal world with a heavy story and carefully crafted combat,Ghost of Tsushimaprovides players with a balance of finesse and difficulty that is hard to find elsewhere. Even so, the PS5 version of the game heightens the stakes from the PS4 original with incredible haptic feedback and more details in the game’s breathtaking locations.
The emotional turmoil in the game makes it so thatGhost of Tsushima: Director’s Cutbrings a different kind of difficulty along with the intense duels and epic invasions. Regular game difficulty aside, this game offers a realistic mode where players can die with one hit in true samurai fashion, making this one of, if not thehardest Sony open-world game.
Kratos and Artreus' adventure through a mythological Norse world is not an easy one. Considered by manythe best single-player game on PS5, this sequel offers so much in the span of one game. Wrathful gods, unique myths, a breathtaking world and, of course, epic battles are all a part of what makesGod of War: Ragnarokso beloved.
The game’s accessible yet intense combat allows fans to dive deep into a story that can be played on different difficulty settings. The ‘Give Me God of War’ setting, however, proves how hard this game can actually be. This is a game mode made forGod of Warexperts with fast reflexes. Once players select this difficulty, they will not be able to switch it throughout their playthrough, making it one of the hardest experiences on the PS5.
Back when the firstLast of Usgame was released, it brought a level of horror and difficulty that, alongside its narrative, helped establish its pristine status in the gaming community. Yet the second game doubled down on everything that made the first game such a frantic third-person experience.
Despite its more controversial story beats, the second game in the franchise is even more unforgiving than the first, with more terrifying types of zombies. Already considered one of thehardest PlayStation 4 games, the remastered version ofThe Last of Us Part IImakes for an even tougher experience, with haptic feedback and a new roguelike mode that make this a scary hard post-apocalyptic adventure.
It is not hard to see whyGran Turismo 7is regarded asthe best PlayStation 5 racing game, as it brings utterly realistic visuals and amazing gameplay, with a world-class car selection, and circuits that offer a simulated racing game that brings the challenge to life.
Realistic and beautiful, the game offers players hard missions and tests that push racers to perfect their in-game driving to a staggering level. Despite its not-so-great launch, this racer offers a bumpy ride for players with realistically challenging circuits and races.
Not only one of the hardest games published by Sony,Demon’s Soulsis one of thehardest PlayStation 5 RPGsout there. The 4k visuals and smooth 60 fps might ease the original game’s combat to a degree, yet it still presents the same challenges and unforgiving nature ofSoulsgames.
Demon’s Soulshas some hard as nails enemies, labyrinthine level designs, and a World Tendency system that adapts to the player’s interactions to increase the difficulty, making it an extremely punishing journey. This can even result in an experience where players get less health, enemies more health, and less loot to help in this unforgiving experience.
The firstNiohgame was already highly regarded for its difficult nature and brutal combat, yet the second game aimed even higher when it came to difficulty. The game uses a Soulslike formula, but joins it with a fast-paced combat system that relies on lighting-quick reflexes. Not only that, enemies deal huge chunks of damage with every attack, raising the stakes in every fight.
The powerful bosses and the variety of enemies with unique fighting patterns makes this an unforgiving journey with highly frustrating combat. Overall,Nioh 2gives players very little room for error as they are launched on a long yet fulfilling campaign through a dangerous world.
Being stuck in a time loop on a scary planet filled with terrorizing aliens is definitely not for the faint of heart, especially when navigating difficult horror-like memories in the process.Returnalfeatures a distinctive environment that is filled with unyielding enemies and interconnected areas that change with each playthrough, which ranks it as one of thehardest Sony-published games ever made.
Every encounter is a desperate and overwhelming fight for survival that intensifies as the protagonist struggles to free herself from this horrific planet that seems to taunt her at every turn. With multiple projectiles flying from every direction, players will continuously struggle to stay alive thanks to the inhospitable forces that seem to drive the player to frustrating depths and deaths on every run.
