The best PS5 action-adventure games released in 2024 and 2025 all share one or more of the following attributes: riveting stories, thrilling action scenes and memorable mechanics. From The Last Of Us Part II to Another Crab’s Treasure, the games may be varied but they share in their respective excellence.
1. The Last Of Us Part II (Remastered)
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date: 19/01/2024
Following on from the events of The Last Of Us. Ellie’s world lays shattered and she seeks revenge for the events of the end of the first game. Elsewhere, Abby looks to escape from her own life, which is full of its own challenges and conflict.
Just as with the first game, there were sections where you play as both main characters, TLOU2 allows us to play as both Abby and Ellie on their individual journeys.
You can utilise many combat abilities including explosives and rifles at each encounter with the ghastly infected, or you can use Ellie’s signature stealth to creep past enemies.
Just as with the first game, you traverse many locales including; skyscrapers, wild waterways and abandoned buildings throughout. The gameplay is just as immersive as it was in the first game, and the story punches with no less force.
The Last Of Us Part II is an iconic return to form, if slightly polarising in some circles, which belongs in every PS5 owners catalogue.
2. Silent Hill 2
Developer: Bloober Team
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: 07/10/2024
Originally releasing in 2001, Silent Hill 2 is one of the most iconic psychological horror experiences available. This time completely rebuilt for the PS5 with atmospheric audio and visceral visuals, Silent Hill 2 has never looked better.
Once again, we guide James Sunderland throughout the titular town as searches for clues about his wife’s death after a mysterious letter is delivered, seemingly from her.
Relive iconic experiences like the first time we saw the gargantuan Pyramid Head as you trudge your way through the eerie and dimly-lit locales throughout the mind-warping campaign.
Never before has Silent Hill 2 felt like it does. Every encounter feels fresh, every mind-altering experience bludgeons the senses and, as with before, we find ourselves wondering, “did that mannequin just move?”
3. Rise of the Ronin
Developer: Team Ninja/ Koei Tecmo Games
Publisher: Koei Tecmo/SIE
Release Date: 22/03/2024
Unfairly lambasted as a “Ghost of Tsushima rip-off”, Rise of the Ronin is an epic journey across 19th century war-torn Japan in the midst of the lead-up to the Boshin War as the Tokugawa Shogunate and the various anti-shogunate factions clash in bloody and visceral battles.
We follow the story of the Blade Twins – whose gender you get to choose – and their involvement in the Veiled Edge group. The Veiled Edge were a resistance group who mobilised after their family was murdered by Oniwaban – a group of government sanctioned undercover agents.
The story is full of twists and turns, as is to be expected from the studios behind Nioh and Ninja Gaiden respectively.
The combat in Rise Of The Ronin is immersive, deep and layered. Somehow still manages to be accessible with a variety of weapons. Whether you are a close-combat killer or a long-range legend, Rise Of The Ronin has you covered with era-authentic firearms.
The collapse and beginning of the new era is something to behold and the combat and exploration make this a game worth coming back to again and again.
4. Dragon’s Dogma 2
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: 21/03/2024
First seeing life in 2012, Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma is hack ‘n’ slash RPG that focuses on the Arisen – a fully customisable character – as they explore and try to restore order to Gransys. Originally conceptualised by director Hideaki Itsuno and created with a team of 150 members who counted Street Fighter and Devil May Cry alumni among their ranks.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a direct sequel that sees you take on the role as the Arise once again, having been chosen by a dragon which you then spend the rest of the game hunting. It’s a completely narrative-driven adventure that allows you to choose your own experience and vocation from a range of available options.
Along with your main character, the AI Pawn system makes a return to aid in your quest throughout battle in the kingdoms of Vermund and Battahl. The interesting thing about the regions is that the way in which the Arisen is viewed changes, depending on which one you are currently in.
The combination of tactical and cutting-edge combat is something which needs to be seen first-hand and – along with the rich narrative – makes Dragon’s Dogma 2 one of The Best PS5 Action-Adventure Games Released In 2024/2025.
5. Black Myth: Wukong
Developer: Game Science
Publisher: Game Science
Release Date: 20/08/2024
The folklore of the Chinese culture is storied in many mediums but always seems to fall short in the gaming arena. Luckily, Black Myth Wukong has you covered. Inspired by the Chinese novel, A Journey TO The West. In Black Myth Wukong, you play as a staff-wielding monkey, the Destined One, as he embarks on a journey to recover six relics corresponding to the Monkey King’s – Sun Wukong – own senses.
Originally seeing release on PS5 and Windows – an Xbox Series X/S is coming late. The game is played from a third-person perspective as features elements characteristic of the Soulslike sub-genre. The main weapon you employ is the staff, which is heavily based on Ruyi Jingu Bang, which is a magical staff originally wielded by the immortal Monkey King (Sun Monkey). In combat, the staff shrinks and extends, employing different stances – smash, pillar and thrust. Each stance gives the ability to change your combat-style on-the-fly and can be used alongside the spells in the game when the aforementioned spells are on cool-down.
The realm in which you play, is filled with mystical mysteries and challenges and wonders, all while uncovering the variety of the characters throughout the game. The enemies in the game – while not necessarily varied – do offer challenge to anyone unfamiliar with the Soulslike framework but can often be dispatched quickly by utilising all of the tools available to you.
Black Myth Wukong stands among no others as an entirely Eastern story, based on a renown narrative and giving a fresh-take on combat with a focus on multi-tasking rather than simply routinely smashing an enemy with the same two weapons until there is nothing left but a red paste. Definitely worth your time if you love an action-adventure game.
6. Another Crab’s Treasure
Developer: Aggro Crab
Publisher: Aggro Crab
Release Date: 25/04/2024
Another striding the line between Soulslike and Action-adventure Another Crab’s Treasure is the interesting tale of Kril, a hermit crab who sees himself stripped of his shell due to not paying his taxes. Throughout the game he dons anything and everything as a new shell – each with a perk/disincentive specific to that item.
Kril upgrades himself by – controversially – using microplastics. Upon death he loses all of his microplastics (are you seeing the Soulslike theme now?) and must travel back to where he perished to recover the lost microplastics.
With its vibrant colors and upbeat soundtrack, Another Crab’s Treasure is a playful, family-friendly adventure, attempting to tell a societal conversation via a charming medium.
Another Crab’s Treasure embraces its Soulslike influences with pride, delivering hours of entertainment if you’re willing to dive in. Just don’t expect it to take itself too seriously—it’s all about fun, and enjoying one of The Best PS5 Action-Adventure Games Released In 2024/2025.
7. Astrobot
Developer: Team Asobi
Publisher: SIE
Release Date: 06/09/2024
It’s not very often that a mascot game becomes anything other than a vapid attempt at humanising a corporation who wouldn’t throw you a penny for your bus-fare, but Astro Bot does exactly that.
The fifth instalment in the Astro Bot series, starting with The Playroom in 2013, Astro Bot is the latest foray for the platform personality that is Astro.
The game is a 3D platformer which heavily focuses on puzzling and platforming elements rarely seen in the AAA space in recent times. Astro utilises 15 new abilities as he retrieves the parts for his PlayStation 5 mothership, originally destroyed by the nemesis Nebulax.
The game is a charming collection of homage and apery for the lifetime of the PlayStation platform, featuring cameo levels from the likes of Horizon, Uncharted and God Of War. Astrobot is a beautiful and friendly foray throughout PlayStation’s history that lends itself to many laughs and a few tears throughout its – relatively – short campaign. This game deserves to be in any PlayStation owners catalogue, adn should definitely have a place in you casual rotation.
8. Helldivers 2
Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios
Publisher: SIE
Release Date: 08/02/2024
Helldivers 2, may not be the first game you think of when you consider the term, action-adventure, but is a worthy action-adventure title along with being a standout in cooperative gameplay. Arrowhead Studios return-to-form Helldivers 2, could not be more different than it’s predecessor.
Where the first game was played from a top-down perspective, the sequel instead places the campaign and multiplayer chaos into a third-person shooter. It offers intense action and strategic depth, rarely seen in shooters.
Building on its predecessor, it ups the ante with tougher missions, varied environments, and expanded customization. Tighter controls and seamless multiplayer which helps to make the necessary teamwork effortless, while new weapons, vehicles, and abilities keep each mission fresh.
Wearing it’s obvious Starship Troopers inspiration proudly on it’s sleeve, Helldivers 2 is a visually stunning, immersive co-op action-adventure shooter. The minimal interface allows you to focus on the action, while not overbearing the screen with necessary – and uneccessary – details.
Helldivers 2 delivers thrilling gameplay and is endlessly replayable. It is a must-play for fans of cooperative shooters and action-adventure games.
9. Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden
Developer: Don’t Nod
Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Release Date: 12/02/2024
A good action-adventure game needs a riveting narrative to hold up the frame-work of the gameplay. Luckily, Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden has you covered in this field. In Banishers you play through a tense action story with heavy horror elements as you investigate the haunted town of the titular New Eden. Both protagonists are fleshed-out characters, and you will almost definitely find one that endears you to them.
The meat of the game is a role-playing game that sees you take control of the two ghost hunters, as they utilise conventional weaponry and spirit abilities in combat. Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden lives and dies on it’s story which runs through the game, like blood through a vein, and relies heavily on your choices influencing the narrative.
Though it didn’t receive the recognition it deserved at launch, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden has recently become a cult hit, earning its place among the The Best Action-Adventure Games Released In 2024/2025
10. Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Release Date: 21/02/2025
In the latest Like A Dragon, you step into the boots of amnesiac Goro Majima as he reinvents himself as a pirate. Throughout the – often – hilarious and heartfelt campaign, you must lead your crew in a search of your lost memories while battling for survival on the high-seas.
The game utilises two combat styles which allow you to switch up your play-style on the fly, by choosing between the speedy and precise Mad Dog style and the pirate-themed dual-wielded short swords and pirate tools. The Like A Dragon games always offer a wonderfully weird play, and Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is no different.
As you travel through the campaign and fight your way across the oceans, you build a crew and upgrade your ship and blow your way through various enemies, and collect more treasure than you know what to do with.
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is an exciting new step in a strange direction and pays off with a curious campaign that shows that this games deserves to be on the list of The Best PS5 Action-Adventure Games Released In 2024/2025.
While it may have started out slow, the PS5 has gone from strength to strength. Will the PS5 Pro be a harbinger for the end of the console or will it be the breath-of-fresh-air that will bring new life into the games on this list? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, why not tell us, what your favourite action-adventure games on the PS5 are that saw life in 2024/2025?
