Upcoming PS5 Games You Need to Play

With changing release dates, surprise announcements, and an ever-fluid development landscape, it can be a challenge to keep track of every single video game coming out in a given year. 2024 may not have titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Spider-Man 2 on the horizon, and Sony has confirmed it won’t be releasing any new installments from its major franchises before 2025, but there are still plenty of noteworthy games coming to the PS5 that are worth checking out in the coming months.

To help keep things straight, we’ve put together a handy little guide here of the upcoming games that PS5 owners should keep an eye on in 2024.

Grounded

Obsidian Entertainment – April 16

The Xbox game with major Honey I Shrunk the Kids vibes is finally coming to the PS5 this year. Grounded follows a group of four teens who have been inexplicably shrunk down to the size of an ant. They now must traverse the backyard and the new dangers that lurk within in order to find a way to make themselves normal size again. As a single player experience, or with up to three friends in cross-platform co-op, the player must navigate the treacherous surroundings, help the teens build a base of operations with appropriate defenses, and discover the secrets hiding within the backyard.

Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide

Square Enix – April 18

In the Final Fantasy XVI DLC, The Rising Tide, Clive and his companions heed the call of an unmarked letter with a curious request: journey to the hidden land of Mysidia and rescue the Dominant of Leviathan, the long lost Eikon of Water. With new places to explore, quests to complete, and skills to unlock, the next chapter of Final Fantasy XVI looks like it will be a fun addition to this world. It’s important to note that this DLC is only playable after completing the quest “Priceless” in the main campaign.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Surgent Studios and Electronic Arts – April 23

This Metroidvania style game follows Zau, a Warrior Shaman who sets off on a journey to bring back his father by helping the God of Death, Kalunga, obtain the spirits of three monsters. As Zau, the player channels the energy of the sun and the moon to take on these monsters as well as other spirits and creatures in this mystical realm. Inspired by Bantu tales and creator Abubakar Salim’s own struggles with grief, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a story of love and loss that also happens to have some incredibly fun looking gameplay. 

Sea of Thieves

Rare – April 30

PS5 owners will be able to take to the high seas this spring with the release of Sea of Thieves. This cross-platform game allows you to become the pirate of your dreams either solo or with friends, and has plenty to explore both on land and at sea. You can create an intimidating fleet to become the most feared pirate lord on the seas or you can simply hang out on an island with a bunch of cats – the game has a lot of flexibility for those with different play styles, and actively encourages you to make the experience your own.

Stellar Blade

SHIFT UP – April 26

Formerly known as Project EVE, Stellar Blade is a PS5 exclusive third-person action-adventure game set in Earth’s not-too-distant future. After an alien race known as the NA:tive invaded the planet, the surviving humans fled to outer space, forming what is known as the Colony. Years later, a woman named Eve and her squad of friends and fighters are tasked with returning to the devastated planet to try and reclaim humanity’s home once and for all.

Eve is dedicated to her mission, but as she explores the ruins of Earth and learns more about how the planet fell to these mysterious beings, she discovers that this herculean task is far from straightforward. As Eve, the player gets to immerse themselves in this post-apocalyptic world and engage in “graceful yet brutal” combat as they traverse the ruined planet.

System Shock

Night Dive Studios – May 21

After 30 years, the groundbreaking sci-fi game System Shock finally got that remake. The PC version came out last year to favorable reviews, and now this May, console gamers will get to experience the updated version of this classic game. Set in 2072, this first-person game follows a nameless hacker who becomes entangled in the villainous AI SHODAN’s plot to first take over Citadel station, then the world. The player must face off against SHODAN’s army of robots, cyborgs, and mutants in order to save humanity. Whether you played the original or are giving the game a try for the first time, the System Shock remake is perfect for sci-fi lovers.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape

Bungie Inc. – June 4

Destiny 2: The Final Shape is the final chapter of a years-long saga in the world of Destiny 2. This campaign is the end of the “Light and Darkness” saga, and is set to follow the player’s Guardian as they enter the Pale Heart of the Traveler, take down The Witness, and stop the Final Shape from ending all life in the universe. For Destiny 2 fans, this story has been seven years in the making, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to dive into this world if you just want a really solid fantasy shooter to sink your teeth into. The PvP modes alone are quite good.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

FromSoftware – June 21

The long-awaited Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree is set to arrive this summer with a brand new land for players to explore. In this DLC, the Tarnished is guided by Empyrean Miquella to journey beyond the Lands Between to the Land of Shadow – a dark and mysterious realm obscured by the Erdtree. The Land of Shadow is full of secrets, and the Tarnished will meet others brought to this land by Miquella during their time there, though not all of them will share the player’s motives.

While in the Land of Shadow, there’s a plethora of new weapons, equipment, skills, and magic to uncover as well as new bosses, dungeons, and more to explore. Players will also have the ability to seamlessly travel back and forth from the Lands Between to the Land of Shadow once the DLC launches.

Elden Ring has a cult following for a reason, so if you’re looking to jump into this fantasy world, there’s no better time than when Shadow of the Erdtree drops in June.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

Square Enix – July 2

Final Fantasy fans have even more to be excited about this year with the release of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. In this expansion, the Warrior of Light has reunited with their comrades for an unexpected mission on the continent of Tural. Dawntrail not only features new quests, new areas to explore, and new characters to meet, it also includes new jobs like Viper and Pictomancer as well as female Hrothgar as a new playable race. Dawntrail has a lot to offer with this update, and is sure to keep players coming back for more.

Black Myth: Wukong

Game Science – Aug. 20

Based on the 16th century novel Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG with deep roots in Chinese mythology. As “The Destined One,” Sun Wukong, the player will go on a journey to uncover the secrets of immortality and confront their destiny. Built in Unreal Engine 5, Black Myth: Wukong features gorgeous scenery befitting the fantastical story that developer Game Science is telling. The combat in this game is rumored to be challenging, with a variety of formidable foes for Wukong to face off against throughout his journey, but has a lot to offer for fans of Soulslike games.

Star Wars: Outlaws

Ubisoft – Aug. 30

Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Outlaws is the galaxy far, far away’s first open-world video game. Playing as outlaw and scoundrel Kay Vess, you get to explore both new and familiar planets across the galaxy, as Vess tries to start a new life for herself. As one of the most wanted criminals in the Outer Rim, Vess must fight, steal, and talk her way out of a variety of scenarios in order to gain the peace she so desperately craves.

Each planet has unique landscapes, rewards, and adventures for Vess to encounter as the player shapes her journey. Gameplay allows for a variety of travel methods along her journey, including speeders and even the ability to pilot Vess’s ship The Trailblazer.

The expectations are high for Outlaws as a brand-new Star Wars franchise, but there’s certainly a lot of potential here, and we can’t wait to spend hours exploring all of its planets.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment – Sept. 9

A sequel to 2011’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, this video game once again follows Captain Titus, who has now been demoted to Lieutenant after the events of the first game caused him to be arrested and investigated for heresy. Set in the same world as the popular tabletop game Warhammer 40,000, Space Marine 2 takes place in the 42nd Millenium, where the Imperium of Man fights against the Tyranids (insect-like creatures) and the forces of Chaos across the galaxy as they try to reclaim worlds once lost to this alien race.

Combat in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a combination of third-person shooter and melee combat, and features an optional co-op multiplayer mode as Titus is accompanied by fellow Space Marines Chairon and Gadriel throughout his mission. For Warhammer fans, this game looks to be an exciting addition to this universe, but even if you know nothing about this world, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 generally looks like a fun solo or co-op militaristic fighting game.

Until Dawn Remaster

Supermassive Games – TBD

Nearly a decade after the original took the world by storm, the popular interactive horror game Until Dawn is returning, but this new version of the game is more than just a remaster. According to developers, Until Dawn has been entirely rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 and enhanced for the PS5. Using a broader cinematic tonal color palette and new perspectives, the goal was to take the story that people know and love and make it more “nuanced and emotional.”

This updated version of the game also includes a third-person camera, contextual character movement animations, and a brand new score by composer Mark Korven to help further immerse the player in the experience of this fateful night at Blackwood Mountain and the horrors that befall this young group of friends. This playable horror movie is a classic for a reason, so it will be interesting to see how much the story is enhanced by these changes.

Whether you’ve played this game a dozen times or are looking for a reason to dive into this world, this updated version of Until Dawn looks sure to be a terrifying time.