Most years, the summer tends to be one of the slower seasons for marquee game releases, but the same can't be said about 2025. This week alone has seen the launch of several new games, many of which are cross-platform releases either debuting on the PS5 or making their way to Sony's hardware for the first time. Ahead of what's set to be a busy August, PS5 owners are flush with options for great games to play, and there's arguably no better time to dive into a new title for the first time than on the weekend.
Our picks for the games to play on PS5 this weekend focus both on new titles dropping this week, as well as some older games to help prep players for some of August's most exciting new releases. There are 2D action-platformers, Metroidvanias, first-person psychological horror games, and more, and these 5 titles are just a very small sample of what's on offer for PS5 this weekend ahead of the arrival of some of 2025's more anticipated games.
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Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Blasphemous developer The Game Kitchen's Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound arrives today, and it's already making a splash as one of July's biggest and most critically-acclaimed releases. Ragebound is the first new 2D game in the Ninja Gaiden series in 34 years and exhibits many of the same characteristics as both Blasphemous games — stunning pixel art and animations, fantastic combat, and a steep yet rewarding challenge. It's a fantastic continuation of the Ninja Gaiden series' 2D legacy and a worthwhile title to pick up for anyone who enjoys fast and frenetic games with plenty of action.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
- Released
- July 31, 2025
- Developer(s)
- The Game Kitchen
- Publisher(s)
- Dotemu
- Franchise
- Ninja Gaiden
WHERE TO PLAY
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- July 31, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- July 31, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- July 31, 2025
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- July 31, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
9 Years of Shadows
Underrated Metroidvania 9 Years of Shadows has been out on other platforms for well over a year, but the title finally made its way to the PS5 this week. Despite some middling review scores, 9 Years of Shadows has a stronger 79% "Mostly Positive" player reception on Steam, where most of the reviews praise the title for its eye-catching pixel art and fun, yet simplistic, take on the Metroidvania genre. If players happen to have already beaten Shadow Labyrinth or Primal Planet and are looking for a new Metroidvania game for their PS5 library, they should look no further than 9 Years of Shadows.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 74 /100 Critics Rec: 64%
- Released
- March 27, 2023
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Halberd Studios
- Publisher(s)
- indie.io
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unity
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- PC Release Date
- March 27, 2023
- PS5 Release Date
- July 31, 2025
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- November 9, 2023
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
- How Long To Beat
- 9 hours
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1
One of August's biggest releases is the much-hyped Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, making now a perfect time to replay the entire trilogy before it drops on August 28. The current best way to play the first several chapters in the Metal Gear saga is the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which contains the MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, as well as the first three games in the Metal Gear Solid series. Over the weekend, you could breeze through the original Metal Gear Solid and then keep that stealth-action train rolling throughout the month before Delta releases.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 73 /100 Critics Rec: 62%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Stealth
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Dying Light
Another franchise that's making its triumphant return in August is Dying Light, with original protagonist Kyle Crane returning as the star of the upcoming Dying Light: The Beast. Before The Beast launches on September 19, it'll be worth getting a refresher on the start of Crane's story with the original Dying Light, which still holds up as one of the best open-world zombie games out there. Best of all, Dying Light's Definitive Edition is currently available on PSN for a sizable discount, sweetening what's already a pretty great deal for the original game and all its DLC.
Dying Light
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 74 /100 Critics Rec: 49%
- Released
- January 27, 2015
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Techland
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Brothers Games
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Chrome Engine 6
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Sequel(s)
- Dying Light 2 Stay Human
- Franchise
- Dying Light
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- January 27, 2015
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- October 19, 2021
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
- How Long To Beat
- 18 hours
Luto
Last week's release calendar was pretty much dominated by the launch of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, which meant that Luto went under a lot of players' radars. Luto is a first-person psychological horror game with some truly mind-bending puzzles and genuinely unnerving moments that any fan of the genre should definitely check out. Considering we'll never get an official release of P.T., it's nice to see a game like Luto release that scratches a similar itch.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
- Released
- July 22, 2025
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Broken Bird Games
- Publisher(s)
- Broken Bird Games, Selecta Play
WHERE TO PLAY
Luto is a psychological horror experience where you take on the role of someone unable to leave their home. Every attempt to escape will lead you deeper into the unknown, where nothing is as it seems and everything will test your senses.
What lies behind loss: feel the void left by the absence of a loved one, where despair grows, fed by anxiety and depression. Day after day...
Between reality and fiction: delve into an enigmatic place and explore its labyrinthine paths full of secrets. The truth has many faces, and you might not like the one you find.
Will not let you go: experience unsettling terror that envelops your senses, with fears lurking around every corner. Darkness does not only dwell in shadows.
Never.
- PC Release Date
- July 22, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- July 22, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- July 22, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 3 Hours