Hey guys! If you're like me, you're always on the lookout for the best action-adventure games to sink your teeth into. The PlayStation 5 has truly delivered an amazing lineup in 2022, and I’m super stoked to share my top picks with you. These games are packed with thrilling storylines, stunning visuals, and gameplay that keeps you hooked for hours. So, grab your controller, get comfy, and let’s dive into the must-play PS5 action-adventure games of 2022!

1. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute masterpiece and a top contender for the best action-adventure game on the PS5 in 2022. Guerrilla Games has truly outdone themselves with this sequel. The game picks up Aloy's story as she ventures into the dangerous and mysterious Forbidden West to uncover the source of a deadly blight threatening all life. The narrative is compelling, filled with twists, turns, and emotionally resonant moments that make you genuinely care about Aloy's journey and the characters she meets along the way. The world-building is exceptional, creating a rich and immersive experience that keeps you invested from start to finish. Graphically, Horizon Forbidden West is a showcase for the PS5's capabilities. The environments are breathtaking, with lush forests, towering mountains, and stunning underwater sequences. The level of detail in the character models and the machines is incredible, making every encounter visually spectacular. The vibrant colors and dynamic lighting further enhance the game's beauty, creating a truly stunning visual experience.

Gameplay-wise, Horizon Forbidden West builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, adding new mechanics and refinements that make the combat and exploration even more engaging. Aloy's arsenal of weapons and abilities has been expanded, giving you more options to tackle different enemies and challenges. The introduction of the Pullcaster and Shieldwing adds new layers to traversal, allowing you to reach previously inaccessible areas and navigate the environment with greater ease. The machine combat is still a highlight, requiring you to strategically target weak points and utilize different elemental attacks to overcome your robotic foes. The variety of machines is impressive, each with its unique behaviors and attack patterns, keeping the combat fresh and challenging throughout the game. Beyond the main story, Horizon Forbidden West is packed with side quests, errands, and activities that offer hours of additional content. These side quests are not just filler; they often feature interesting characters and storylines that add depth to the game's world. Exploring the Forbidden West is a joy, with hidden secrets and valuable resources to discover around every corner. Whether you're hunting machines, completing quests, or simply taking in the sights, Horizon Forbidden West offers a wealth of content to keep you entertained.

2. Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a monumental achievement in the action RPG genre, and it easily earns its place as one of the best action-adventure games on the PS5 in 2022. FromSoftware has crafted a vast and intricate open world filled with danger, mystery, and unparalleled freedom. The game's challenging combat, deep lore, and incredible sense of exploration make it a truly unforgettable experience. The story of Elden Ring is shrouded in mystery, gradually revealed through item descriptions, environmental details, and cryptic conversations with NPCs. You play as a Tarnished, tasked with restoring the Elden Ring and becoming the Elden Lord. The narrative is intentionally ambiguous, encouraging you to piece together the lore and create your own interpretation of events. This approach to storytelling adds to the game's sense of mystery and intrigue, making every discovery feel significant. The world of Elden Ring, known as the Lands Between, is a sprawling and diverse landscape filled with crumbling castles, dense forests, and treacherous swamps. The open-world design allows you to explore at your own pace, discovering hidden dungeons, challenging bosses, and valuable resources along the way. The sense of freedom is exhilarating, as you can choose your own path and tackle challenges in any order you desire. The world is also incredibly atmospheric, with stunning vistas and hauntingly beautiful environments that create a sense of awe and wonder.

The combat in Elden Ring is notoriously difficult, requiring patience, precision, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. Each enemy encounter is a test of skill, demanding that you master your character's moveset and exploit your opponent's weaknesses. The game features a wide variety of weapons, armor, and spells, allowing you to customize your character to suit your preferred playstyle. Whether you prefer to be a heavily armored knight, a nimble rogue, or a powerful sorcerer, Elden Ring offers the tools to create a character that fits your vision. Boss battles are a highlight of Elden Ring, each one a unique and challenging encounter that will test your skills to the limit. These battles are not just about brute force; they require you to learn the boss's attack patterns, identify openings, and exploit their vulnerabilities. Overcoming these challenges is incredibly rewarding, providing a sense of accomplishment that is unmatched in other games. Elden Ring is a game that demands patience and perseverance, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Its challenging combat, deep lore, and incredible sense of exploration make it a truly unforgettable experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

3. Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut

Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is an enhanced version of the already phenomenal action-adventure game, making it a must-play on the PS5 in 2022. Sucker Punch Productions has delivered a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience that immerses you in the world of feudal Japan. With improved graphics, new content, and enhanced gameplay features, this is the definitive way to experience Jin Sakai's journey. The story of Ghost of Tsushima follows Jin Sakai, a samurai warrior who must abandon his traditional ways to protect his home island of Tsushima from a Mongol invasion. The narrative is a compelling tale of honor, sacrifice, and the cost of war. Jin's internal conflict between his samurai code and the need to adopt unconventional tactics to defeat the Mongols is a central theme, adding depth and complexity to the story. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships with Jin are believable and emotionally engaging. The game explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions, making it a thought-provoking and impactful experience.

The world of Ghost of Tsushima is a visual masterpiece, brought to life with stunning graphics and breathtaking environments. The landscapes are diverse and beautiful, ranging from lush forests and serene bamboo groves to towering mountains and windswept plains. The attention to detail is remarkable, with every location feeling authentic and lived-in. The game's art style is heavily inspired by traditional Japanese paintings, creating a visually striking and immersive experience. The Director's Cut enhances the game's visuals with improved textures, resolution, and frame rates, making it even more stunning on the PS5. The combat in Ghost of Tsushima is fluid and engaging, blending traditional samurai swordplay with stealth and archery. Jin can switch between different combat stances to effectively counter different enemy types, adding depth and strategy to the battles. The game also features a variety of gadgets and techniques that Jin can use to gain an advantage, such as smoke bombs, kunai, and poison darts. The combat is challenging but fair, requiring you to master your skills and adapt to different situations. The Director's Cut includes the Iki Island expansion, which adds a new area to explore with its own unique storyline, characters, and challenges. Iki Island is a visually distinct region with a darker and more mysterious atmosphere than Tsushima. The expansion delves deeper into Jin's past, exploring his trauma and inner demons. The new content adds hours of gameplay and provides a deeper understanding of Jin's character.

4. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an electrifying action-adventure game that showcases the power of the PS5. Insomniac Games has delivered another incredible Spider-Man experience, this time focusing on Miles Morales as he steps into the role of Spider-Man and protects New York City from new threats. With stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and a heartwarming story, this is a must-play for any superhero fan. The story of Miles Morales is a coming-of-age tale that explores themes of identity, responsibility, and community. Miles must learn to balance his personal life with his duties as Spider-Man, while also dealing with the challenges of being a young hero in a world that is not always accepting. The narrative is well-written and emotionally resonant, with relatable characters and meaningful relationships. Miles's journey is inspiring, and his struggles and triumphs will resonate with players of all ages.

The world of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a vibrant and detailed recreation of New York City, brought to life with stunning graphics and dynamic lighting. The game takes place during the winter season, with snow-covered streets and festive decorations creating a cozy and immersive atmosphere. The city feels alive, with pedestrians going about their daily lives and cars zooming through the streets. The level of detail is remarkable, with every building and landmark meticulously crafted. The PS5 version of the game features improved graphics, including ray tracing and enhanced textures, making it even more visually impressive. The combat in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is fast-paced and acrobatic, building upon the foundation of the original game with new abilities and gadgets. Miles has his own unique powers, such as venom blasts and camouflage, which add new layers to the combat and traversal. He can also use his web-shooters to swing through the city, zip to enemies, and create web-based attacks. The combat is challenging but rewarding, requiring you to master Miles's moveset and utilize his abilities effectively. The game also features a variety of side missions and activities, such as stopping petty crimes, completing challenges, and collecting hidden items. These activities provide hours of additional content and allow you to further explore the city and its inhabitants. Whether you're swinging through the streets, battling villains, or helping out the community, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales offers a thrilling and engaging superhero experience.

5. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a visually spectacular and incredibly fun action-adventure game that truly showcases the capabilities of the PS5. Insomniac Games has delivered another fantastic entry in the Ratchet & Clank series, with stunning graphics, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a heartwarming story. This is a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike. The story of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart follows Ratchet and Clank as they travel through different dimensions to stop the evil Dr. Nefarious from destroying the multiverse. The narrative is lighthearted and humorous, with plenty of witty banter and memorable characters. The game introduces Rivet, a female Lombax from another dimension, who becomes a valuable ally to Ratchet and Clank. The story is engaging and well-paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you entertained. The characters are endearing, and their relationships with each other are believable and heartwarming.

The world of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a visual feast, with vibrant colors, detailed environments, and stunning special effects. The game takes full advantage of the PS5's hardware, with near-instantaneous loading times that allow you to seamlessly travel between different dimensions. Each dimension is unique and visually distinct, with its own set of enemies, challenges, and secrets to discover. The attention to detail is remarkable, with every location feeling alive and interactive. The game's graphics are among the best on the PS5, with ray tracing, enhanced textures, and smooth frame rates. The combat in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is fast-paced and chaotic, with a wide variety of weapons and gadgets to use against your enemies. Ratchet and Rivet can wield an arsenal of creative and destructive weapons, such as the Burst Pistol, the Topiary Sprinkler, and the Blackhole Storm. The combat is challenging but rewarding, requiring you to master your weapons and utilize your abilities effectively. The game also features a variety of puzzles and platforming challenges that test your skills and reflexes. Whether you're battling hordes of enemies, solving puzzles, or exploring new dimensions, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart offers a thrilling and engaging gameplay experience. The game is also packed with collectibles and secrets, such as gold bolts, armor pieces, and CraiggerBears. Collecting these items unlocks new content and provides additional challenges for completionists.

These games really highlight what the PS5 can do, offering hours of entertainment and stunning gameplay. Whether you're into exploring vast open worlds, mastering challenging combat, or just enjoying a great story, there's something here for everyone. Happy gaming, and I hope you enjoy these adventures as much as I have!