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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat are the best PS5 games to play in December 2025? There is no single official top 25: PlayStation’s player-voted awards recognize standout new releases, while its Store charts show which games were downloaded most in particular regions. This editorial selection brings together 25 PS5 picks across those signals and broader play styles; it is not an official PlayStation ranking, and download popularity is not a measure of quality.
The clearest award signal is Ghost of Yōtei, which won Platinum in PlayStation Blog’s 2025 Best PS5 Game category. For popularity, the regional picture differs: ARC Raiders led December downloads in the US and Canada, while EA SPORTS FC 26 led in the EU. The award was restricted to games newly released during 2025, so it cannot rank the full PS5 library.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Marvel's Wolverine PS5 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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007 First Light - Specialist Edition - PlayStation 5 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 – PS5 Standard Edition | $44.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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MLB® The Show™ 26 – PS5™ | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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THE BLOOD OF DAWNWALKER: Day 1 Edition - PlayStation 5 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
How this top 25 is selected
This is an editorial shortlist, not a numbered ranking from PlayStation. The 25 games below are organized by the kind of experience they offer, with official award recognition and Store visibility called out where the available evidence supports it. PlayStation’s 2025 award results help identify celebrated new releases; its download charts add a separate popularity signal. Neither source establishes a definitive order for all PS5 games.
The award category covered titles newly released during calendar 2025. PlayStation’s December 1 announcement set November 30 as the nominee cutoff and excluded older games that received updates; later releases would fall into the next awards cycle. The results, published December 18, reflect player votes, not critics’ scores. PlayStation Blog reported nearly 1.5 million votes across all 19 award categories, not just Best PS5 Game. Read the category rules and see the award results.
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- Marvel’s Wolverine is a new action-packed adventure from Insomniac Games
- Play as Wolverine and Ravage enemies with explosive brutality and unleash razor-sharp adamantium claws to deploy fast, fluid attacks and overcome impossible odds
- An Original, Emotionally Charged Story. Beneath Wolverine’s gruff exterior and violent temperament is a man fighting for a cause greater than himself
- A Global, Adrenaline-Fueled Journey where you slice into enemies across detailed locales such as the frosted Canadian Wilderness, the narrow streets of Tokyo, and the high and low districts of the island nation of Madripoor
December and annual Store charts are also regional download lists, not a global ranking, review score, or sales tally. The December 2025 chart, published January 7, 2026, put ARC Raiders first in the US/Canada and EA SPORTS FC 26 first in the EU. The 2025 annual charts, published January 14, listed Ghost of Yōtei, ARC Raiders, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in both regions. PlayStation says its charts exclude upgrades, and notes that game names can differ by region. View December’s regional charts and the 2025 annual charts.
25 PS5 games to consider
Story-led adventures and action
- Ghost of Yōtei — The strongest pick for players drawn to a cinematic samurai adventure. It won Platinum in PlayStation Blog’s player-voted 2025 Best PS5 Game category. PlayStation Blog credited its win to a new story, cast, and features building on the first game.
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach — A fit for players who want an unusual, story-forward journey and are open to unconventional systems. It placed Silver in the same award category; PlayStation Blog highlighted its new and retooled mechanics.
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 — A superhero action choice for players who want a prominent comic-book world and fast-moving traversal.
- God of War Ragnarök — Consider it for mythic action and a character-centered story in the God of War series.
- Horizon Forbidden West — A large-scale science-fiction adventure for players who enjoy exploration, machine encounters, and a detailed open world.
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — A substantial role-playing adventure for players invested in the Final Fantasy VII story and party-based combat.
- Resident Evil 4 — A survival-horror option for players who want tense encounters and action with a horror edge.
- Astro Bot — A bright, approachable platforming pick for players looking for a playful single-player adventure.
Role-playing games and expansive worlds
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — A story-rich role-playing choice for players curious about a distinctive take on turn-based combat. It placed Gold in PlayStation Blog’s 2025 Best PS5 Game vote, which also praised its combat approach, story, and world. It appeared in both regions’ annual PS5 download charts.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 — A strong match for players who want a deep role-playing campaign, consequential choices, and tactical party combat.
- Elden Ring — For players who enjoy challenging action, exploration, and discovering a world without constant direction.
- Cyberpunk 2077 — A science-fiction role-playing choice for players drawn to a dense city setting and character-driven missions.
- Hogwarts Legacy — An accessible open-world option for players who want to explore a wizarding setting and take on quests at their own pace.
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — A character-led role-playing game for players who like turn-based battles, eccentric side activities, and a long campaign.
Multiplayer, competition, and repeat play
- ARC Raiders — A multiplayer pick for players seeking cooperative extraction-style tension. It placed Bronze in PlayStation Blog’s 2025 Best PS5 Game vote and led the December 2025 US/Canada PS5 download chart; it also appeared in both regions’ annual charts. PlayStation Blog noted the rapid attention it drew after its late-year release.
- EA SPORTS FC 26 — The football choice for players who want a current-season sports game. It topped the EU PS5 download chart for December 2025.
- Helldivers 2 — A cooperative action option for groups who enjoy coordinating missions and handling escalating combat together.
- Gran Turismo 7 — A racing pick for players who want a broad car-focused driving experience, from casual play to more demanding competition.
- Street Fighter 6 — A fighting game for players who want competitive one-on-one matches, whether learning the basics or refining advanced play.
- Tekken 8 — Another strong fighting-game option, particularly for players interested in a long-running series and its character roster.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — A shooter choice for players looking for both competitive multiplayer and a campaign experience.
- Fortnite — A widely played free-to-start option for players who want ongoing online modes and a social game to revisit with friends.
Distinctive, atmospheric, and smaller-scale picks
- Alan Wake 2 — A moody narrative horror game for players who value atmosphere and psychological unease.
- Silent Hill 2 — A psychological horror choice for players seeking a slower, more oppressive mood and unsettling exploration.
- Balatro — A compact, highly replayable option for players who enjoy card-based strategy and building clever combinations.
Which game should you choose?
- For an award-recognized 2025 release: start with Ghost of Yōtei, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, or ARC Raiders. These are the four placements in PlayStation Blog’s 2025 Best PS5 Game category, in Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze order.
- For a cooperative session: consider Helldivers 2 or ARC Raiders; they suit different approaches to playing with others.
- For a long solo role-playing campaign: compare Baldur’s Gate 3, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by story style and combat preference.
- For horror: choose between the psychological dread of Alan Wake 2 or Silent Hill 2 and the more action-oriented survival horror of Resident Evil 4.
- For sport or competition: look to EA SPORTS FC 26, Gran Turismo 7, Street Fighter 6, or Tekken 8, depending on whether you want football, racing, or fighting.
Store rankings can help identify what other players downloaded in a given region and period; they cannot establish which game is best for an individual player. Similarly, award placements apply to that year’s eligible new releases rather than every game available on PS5. Use the list’s genre and play-style descriptions to narrow the choice, then check the specific PS5 edition and format that suit you before buying.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Day 1 Edition includes the Base Game Disc, Steelbook, and World Map.
- Make The Story Your Own - Experience and shape the plot the way you want. Embark on the quest to save your family, or swear revenge on your sire and destroy everyone standing in your way. Discover ancient secrets lurking in the valley. Rush in head first or risk taking time to prepare. Go alone or search for friends and forge unlikely alliances.
- Day And Night - Experience two different gameplay loops, offering distinct abilities to choose from, mysteries to uncover, and varying ways to achieve your goals. Experiment with different approaches and discover how the world reacts to your actions.
- Every Action Matters - Every action - and inaction - shapes the world around you. Your family’s days are numbered, and every time you take on a quest, time moves forward, compelling you closer to the end. Choose carefully whom to help and whom to leave behind. You will not have time for everyone. The world waits for no one. And neither does the villain.
Rank #4
- MLB The Show 26 Full Game on PlayStation 5
- Includes 5 The Show Packs
- NEW Road to Cooperstown & Expanded Amateur Years Career
- Build your ultimate fantasy team with a new Red Diamond rarity tier and World Baseball Classic player cards featuring elite game-changing players
- NEW Revamped Front Office Experience Play the nail-biting key matches and moments of your Franchise GM career with streamlined seasons and Custom Game Entry
Rank #3
- Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, return for an exciting new adventure in the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise. Swing, jump, and utilize the new Web Wings to travel across Marvel’s New York, quickly switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales to experience different stories and epic new powers, as the iconic villain Venom threatens to destroy their lives, their city, and the ones they love.
- An evolution of the Spider-Man story: The incredible power of the symbiote forces Peter and Miles to face the ultimate test of strength, both inside and outside the mask, as they balance their lives, friendships, and their duty to protect those in need.
- Experience two playable Spider-Men: Quickly swap between both Spider-Men as you explore an expanded Marvel’s New York. Experience Peter’s new symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric venom powers, and discover upgradeable, high-tech equipment that enhances the combat experience for extensive gameplay depth and variety.
- Battle iconic Marvel Super Villains: Fight against a variety of new and iconic villains, including an original take on the monstrous Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and many more!
Rank #2
- ONLY AT AMAZON - SPECIALIST EDITION
- EARN THE NUMBER - Discover a new James Bond origin story, and the events that led a young maverick to become the best MI6 agent.
- A THRILLING ESPIONAGE ADVENTURE - Embark on missions in breathtaking locations, drive iconic vehicles, and dive into a cinematic adventure in pursuit of a rogue agent who’s always one step ahead.
- SPYING, YOUR WAY - Go silent or go loud. Whether fighting with fists or firepower, using gadgets to infiltrate, or bluffing your way past guards, the approach is entirely up to you.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
