Though we love our consoles and console games, we have to admit that the one problem with new and better versions of our favorite consoles coming out every few years is that older games (physical copies) are often not playable on new consoles. Granted, cloud gaming and subscription services are slowly alleviating the problem of physical games that won’t play on more recent consoles.
Still, some of us are a little attached to those special releases, the box set versions of our favorite games that we stood in line to get. There’s a certain sentimentality to owning a physical copy of a game, and for those of us who don’t want to part with them, there is a little light at the end of the tunnel. Many popular games, even though they are older releases, are backward compatible and play perfectly on the new PS5 console. Whether you like games that feature an online casino, an exciting range of beasties for you to tackle, or a war for you to fight, there’s something that you can take with you to the new console.
1. Horizon Zero Dawn
This 2017 action RPG came to us from Guerilla Games and Sony. You play as a young huntress, Aloy, who finds herself in a world completely overrun by enormous, beautiful machines. You have to rely on yourself to combat these usurpers, using nothing but your spear and stealth. This open world was beautifully created and is a joy to explore; you can follow the main quest or try little side ones along the way.
2. God of War
God of War loosely follows Greek and Norse mythology. You play as the titular God, Kratos. He is a fearsome spartan warrior who later becomes a god. He was tricked into murdering his whole family by the original God of War, Aries. This violence sets off a chain reaction that leads to war between the pantheons of gods. In the Greek era, Kratos seeks vengeance against the Olympian Gods. In the Norse period, we meet his son Atreus who becomes a secondary protagonist while Kratos seeks redemption.
3. Last of Us Part 2
After the success of the first Last of Us game, it’s no surprise that people want to keep on playing part 2 as long as they can. This action-adventure title from Naughty Dog and Sony lets us see life through the eyes of two lead characters. One is Ellie; she is out for blood and revenge after suffering a terrible tragedy. The other is Abby, who is a soldier caught between the militia and a dangerous religious sect. Part 2 takes place five years after the original game but delivers just as much action.
4. Red Dead Redemption 2
Western swagger is the name of the game in Red Dead 2. The wild west is no longer as wild as it was, but things in Blackwater are still going plenty wrong for the inhabitants. After a failed robbery, the infamous Arthur Morgan and his posse, the Van der Linde gang, are sent on the run. It’s your job to ensure that they stay out of the clutches of the bounty hunters hot on their heels. Steal and pillage your way across America while you try to keep your gang together and decide where your loyalties really lie.
5. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition
Geralt is back again in the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This incredibly popular game series that became a Netflix series is based on a set of Polish books which take place in a world of Slavic mythology. Geralt is on the hunt for his ward, Princess Ciri. He needs to keep The Wild Hunt at bay while he finds her. He must face many dangers, and he’ll need all his Witcher potions and abilities to stay alive long enough to find Ciri. You could end up in one of three scenarios, depending on how you play the game.
6. Death Stranding
This is definitely one of the creepiest releases of the last decade. In Death Stranding, you find yourself in America after some cataclysmic event of epic proportions. You play as Sam Porter Bridgers, voiced to perfection by Norman Reedus. You’re a courier whose job is to get supplies safely to communities that have no other way of providing for themselves. You also need to keep them connected via a wireless network. The cast is genuinely incredible, featuring actors like Lindsay Wagner, Mads Mikkelsen, and Troy Baker.
7. Apex Legends
If you played Titanfall, then you’ll already know the universe in which Apex Legends is set.
Before your match begins, you and the other players about to be dropped in must form either two or three-player squads. You can choose from Battle Royale mode, which sees up to 20 three-person teams or 30 two-person squads compete to survive an all-out battle. You could also try the Arenas mode, in which players must form three-person units and battle 3v3 against another team.
Wrap Up
All of these titles are waiting for you to jump onto your PS5 and play!
