While it would be unfair to say that multiplayer doesn’t have a place in gaming, it is equally pig-headed to say that gaming needs multiplayer. Some of the best experiences in gaming can only be had in single-player. Whether you are climbing the highest heights of New York in Spiderman or trudging through the barren wasteland left behind by the outbreak in The Last of Us, these experiences are solely reserved for those of us who delight in our own company and in direct story-telling.
1. Demon’s Souls
The remake of the original 2008 Souls game which kicked off the Dark Souls world, and reinvented the notion of difficult games. Remaking a game that was only released on one platform and over ten years prior, may at first seem insane but playing Demon’s Souls (remake) proves this is wrong.
Demon’s Souls doesn’t just re-deliver the original story in better resolution and with an advanced framerate, it delivers and rebuilds the original into something much greater than it could have been originally.
It captures, and recaptures, the original games feel while also allowing a new generation of gamers to visit the lands of Boletaria.
Demon’s Souls is often seen as the ugly duckling of the Souls series, but with this instalment, its existence has finally been validated and confirmed as part of the Souls timeline and atmosphere, as it always should have been
2. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
One of the best sequels of all time, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is undoubtedly an amazing experience for all web-heads and non-believers alike. Spiderman 2 largely features the same things which made the first game so successful; fast-paced combat, Spidey’s signature sense-of-humour and the trials and tribulations of the day-to-day of being the witty web-slinger. As we know, fighting the likes of Green Goblin and Venom are only half of the battle, Spidey also has to contend with relationships.
Spiderman 2 changes the formula slightly by introducing the idea of playing as 2 protagonists throughout the campaign. We saw this most recently in the first instalment with Mary Jane and her intrepid investigation missions, however Marvel’s Spiderman 2 takes this idea and fleshes it out into alternating and intricate mix of playing as Miles Morales and the OG Peter Parker.
Spiderman 2 allows you to play as whatever type of Spiderman suits you best by offering the 2 distinct personalities in each. The introduction of Venom adds a 3rd layer and we finally get to see the darker side of Peter Parker – thankfully there is no eyeliner or dancing on show.
Spiderman 2 takes everything that Spiderman did, and offers a very subtle feeling of ‘hold my beer’ as it meets and beats all expectations of a sequel. Possibly the best sequel since the Iron Man movies…don’t @ me.
3. Horizon Forbidden West
Originally, Sony took a big gamble with Horizon: Zero Dawn, despite their renown for creating iconic first-person shooters. This gamble has paid off, as the game has become one of the best examples of Sony’s unrivalled excellence in 1st party games.
Horizon: Forbidden West continues where Horizon: Zero Dawn finishes with Aloy and the enigmatic Silus (voiced by the iconic late-Lance Reddick), as they try to learn more about the far Zeniths.
Forbidden West also introduces a selection of mechanics to the series not seen before, such as being able to dive underwater. Doing so introduces the beauty of the above-surface, to the below surface in a way that only the tech under the hood of the PS5 can deliver.
We all remember our first time experiencing and being introduced to the main-stay icon, Aloy in 2017. While she may have undergone design changes since the original, and some more with the remaster, Aloy still is the icon she always was. This instalment is no different, and will go down as one of the best sequels ever brought to gamers.
4. No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky offers a true sense of adventure, allowing players to explore star systems, discover new planets, and navigate dangerous situations. This open-world adventure caters to both combat enthusiasts and landscape explorers, with multiple gameplay scenarios. While there are missions to complete and stories to follow, players have the freedom to create their own history in the universe by pursuing the activities they enjoy the most.
It’s undeniable that No Man’s Sky received well-deserved criticism upon its release, especially after months of intense hype.
The game’s procedurally generated worlds and creatures were initially ugly and lifeless, and many promised features were missing at launch.
However, over time, Hello Games released numerous updates, gradually adding more content to the game, both promised and otherwise. As of now, players looking to immerse themselves in a massive space odyssey will be more than satisfied with what No Man’s Sky has to offer. For fans of sci-fi or space adventures, playing No Man’s Sky on the PS5 is a must.
5. Lords Of The Fallen
At first glance, Lords of the Fallen might seem like just another Soulslike game, but it puts its own distinct spin on the genre, allowing it to shine among the plethora of similar titles released in recent years.
Players who crave a game that closely follows the Dark Souls formula will feel right at home with Lords of the Fallen, though it bears more resemblance to DS3 than DS1. The hallmark feature that sets Lords of the Fallen apart is the interplay between the Umbral and Axiom realms, two interwoven worlds.
When players die in the Axiom realm, instead of returning to a Vestige (the game’s equivalent of a Bonfire), they revive in the Umbral realm, a world inhabited by the dead and spirits. Only upon dying in this realm do they lose their souls and return to the Vestige.
The Umbral realm is brimming with traversal puzzles and hidden items, providing players with ample reasons to switch between the two realms.
6. Dead Space (2024)
There is an argument to be made about remakes and remasters being wholly superfluous especially when the original game was only released a short time ago. However, I am not here to make that point.
You may see it as the easier option in contrast to developing and creating new IPs, however when the title(s) in question have the same reputation as games like Dead Space and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, it often makes sense.
Dead Space is one of – if not – the best horror games ever made. It combines the claustrophobia of the Alien series, with the atmospheric action which many EA games of the late 200’s era drip with. The 2023 remake recaptures the beautiful beastly brilliance of the original, while adding new features (some superficial) to the game which were not available at the time of release.
The time has come to return to the Ishimura and to dismember our way across one of the best campaigns ever coded into existence.
7. Elden Ring
Elden Ring is the perfect culmination of over a decade of work. It is amazing on every level. The aesthetics are as beautifully bleak as we have come to expect from the Soulsverse.
The combat is familiarly fluid and the Lands-between lore is as expansive as you would expect with the likes of George R.R. Martin helping out behind the scenes.
Elden Ring takes everything we know and love about the Dark Souls world and feel and cranks it up to eleven. The character builds are more intuitive and flexible, and this allows for a myriad of play-styles to counter any challenge the game will throw at you.
Adding all of this to the fact that Elden Ring also features a very serviceable multiplayer makes it one of the 10 best single player games on PS5.
8. Ghost Of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
Taking its inspiration from iconic Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, Ghost Of Tsushima is a mind-blowing stunning RPG from Sucker Punch studios which follows Jin Sakai’s story across the often overlooked beautiful vista of Tsushima as he carves his revenge into the invading Mongol army.
The director’s cut offers haptic feedback, higher resolution support and much higher frame rates that were not previously achievable on the PS4.
The Iki Island DLC enhances the wonderfully compelling story included in the Director’s Cut.
Seeing Jin go from an inexperienced samurai, to embracing the titular ghost style which eventually offer him the upper hand in the invasion has never looked and felt so good.
9. Grand Theft Auto 5
Grand Theft Auto 5 is the most successful videogame ever released, playing it for any amount of time displays why this is the case. While GTA 5 may not be as revolutionary as it was in 2013, it has aged like a fine-wine or a great cheese.
The PS5 version offers the 4K resolution as standard and a stable 60 FPS. Grand Theft Auto is one of the most iconic series available on any platform.
The entire GTA 5 experience was lauded when it was first released as it delivered the most immersive, interesting and nail-biting campaign the series has seen so far.
GTA 5 offers hundreds of opportunities for fun and hours of gameplay and the visual improvements really do make the game feel like a totally different experience, and there has never been a better time to revisit this over-50 hour campaign and see that iconic climax all over again.
10. Red Dead Redemption 2
Taking place before the events of the first game, Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption follows the exploits of the Van Der Linde gang. The Van Der Linde gang are a notorious outlaw band robing and killing their way through the twilight days of the old west.
We view the story through the eyes of Arthur Morgan and his – often – misanthropic worldview. Throughout the story, we get to know his friends, foes and family alike. Arthur is an affable character, from is views on cross-dressing (which are remarkably progressive for the time) to his familial brotherly connection with a young John Marston, it’s hard not to love him.
Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a ‘Sergio Leone‘ experience throughout the main narrative, but if that doesn’t satisfy you then stray off the beaten track into the side-missions, mini-games and activities strewn about the play area. Here you will find fishing, hunting, robberies, horse racing and more. Definitely enough to keep you busy if you ever find yourself without an internet connection.
And there we have it, the next time your internet connection goes down, or the next time you get sick of multiplayer, dive into some of these games and be sure to let us know what you think. Once your wifi or data roaming are back up and running, you can get stuck into your usual favourites again on PS5 or keep the single player fun via iGames online here.
