8 GREAT GAMES FOR YOUR NEW 2021 PLAYSTATION 5

Although the PlayStation 5 was released in November 2020, it is still extremely difficult to obtain. The chip shortage has made ordering one from your preferred retailer's website practically hard. In other words, amid the very large number of people who desire a PS5, just a small percentage are able to obtain one these days.

• DEATHLOOP

In this first-person shooter from Arkane, creator of Dishonored and Prey, you take control of Colt, who is attempting to break free from a vicious temporal loop. He has no recollection of who he is, where he is, or what he's trying to do at first, but you'll discover the game's various secrets and learn how to reclaim control.

Despite being yet another time-looping adventure in which some of your progress is reset after each run, Deathloop seems fresh. The gunplay is enjoyable, and the difficulty will keep you grasping the controller, but it is not overly demanding. To provide a more tactile experience, it makes use of the DualSense controller's adjustable triggers and haptics.

This game normally costs $60, but recent reductions have brought it down to $40 or less, so keep a look out for bargains.

• MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES ULTIMATE EDITION

If you're searching for a game that will make you feel good about your PS5 purchase, look no further than Miles Morales Ultimate Edition. It not only includes the expansion that allows you to play Miles Morales, but it also includes a remastered, PS5-ready version of Marvel's Spider-Man from 2017. It's just a great deal all around, and it's easy to suggest because swinging from building to building is so much fun.

If you've played any of the Batman: Arkham games, the controls and combat in these Spider-Man games should be familiar to you. The freeform fighting will have you marveling at all of the incredible combos that characters like Peter Parker and Miles Morales can pull off as you traverse through this fictitious representation of New York City.

This bundle was initially $70, but frequent promotions have brought it down to roughly $50.

Returnal is a challenging yet rewarding action third-person shooting game. The game's design will have you repeating the same stages, dodging waves of bullets (presented in an appealing bullet-hell style) and attempting to defeat powerful adversaries. Early on, it can feel like a slog, but you'll gain knowledge, perks, and unique weaponry that should keep you interested.

This game emphasizes rapid movement and strategic use of your in-game skills and items, so it's not just a run-and-gun affair (though it can feel like one when you're doing well). Returnal features some of the most amazing art designs in a recent game, and its sound delivers some melancholy tunes, in addition to enjoyable gameplay.

This game originally cost $70, but it's now available for approximately $50.

The aesthetic style of Insomniac Games' latest Ratchet & Clank adventure, which was designed particularly for the PS5, has strayed even more in the direction of Pixar movies, with expressive characters and beautifully detailed settings. Of course, because it's based on the previous Ratchet & Clank games, you can expect a fun, lighthearted frolic in which you'll pull crazy acrobatics and upgrade a bizarre array of weapons. Unlike many of the games on our list, Rift Apart is a great game for people of all ages to play, and it's entertaining enough to merely watch someone else play it.

This game normally costs $70, but it has recently gone on sale for as little as $50.

• FFVII REMAKE INTERGRADE

The Intergrade update, which includes an extra focused on the Yuffie character (which would ordinarily cost $20 on its own), brings Square Enix's authentic yet thorough reworking of Final Fantasy VII to PS5. Returning FFVII fans will find a lot to love here, as many of the same story beats from the original 1997 edition have been reintroduced with a fresh layer of PS5-grade gloss. Note that this title does not cover the entirety of the events in the original game (it finishes when you leave Midgar), but it is still a terrific adventure that will keep you entertained for dozens of hours - even more if you plan to play through the expansion.

Recently, the price of this game has dropped dramatically, and it can now be found for as little as $40.

• GHOST OF TSUSHIMA: DIRECTOR’S CUT

Originally released for PS4, Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is the definitive edition of the game, which includes the new Iki island expansion with new quests and enemies, as well as taking advantage of PS5 features (including DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers, as well as fully tapping into its extra graphical horsepower).

Ghost of Tsushima is a third-person open-world sword combat game in which your character attempts to stop the Mongolian invasion of Japan. The story follows your character's mission of seeking revenge and protecting innocent lives while attempting to do so without breaking the samurai code.

This game originally retailed for $70, and given how new it is, you may not be able to locate many discounts. However, it has been reduced in price several times, most recently to $50.

• ASTRO’S PLAYROOM

Astro's Playroom is the simplest game to recommend for your PS5 because it came as a free download with your console. PlayStation Studios created this action platformer that plays like a 3D Mario adventure game, with you sprinting across carefully constructed stages and collecting PlayStation-themed items along the way. It's a brief game that only takes a couple of hours to complete for skilled players. However, for people who are new to gaming, this is the ideal title to keep them occupied for a while.

• DEMON’S SOULS

Sony's PlayStation Studios has completed a full recreation of FromSoftware's now-classic Demon's Souls, which was first released on the PlayStation 3. It has all-new graphics and a reworked soundtrack, and the PS5 version loads and plays like a dream. You'll enjoy this game if you enjoy challenging games that need patience and innovative thinking (at worst, the way these Souls games can beat you up can feel like a grind). There's a lot of leeway in terms of how you construct your character's strengths and how you approach the game's many levels.

This game was originally priced around $70, but recent promotions have brought it down to roughly $50.