Player Two Co

The Best PS5 Games to Give as a Gift

The PS5 has a genuinely spectacular library, and a few traps for gift buyers. Here's what to give, who it suits, and the age rating on every single one.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

The PlayStation 5 is one of the easiest consoles to buy a game for, because its best-known titles are visually spectacular in a way that’s obvious even to someone who doesn’t play. Hand over any of the top picks here and it looks and feels like a proper present.

There are two things to check first, though, and both catch people out. Confirm it’s a PlayStation 5 and not an older PlayStation 4 — the two look quite different (the PS5 is a large white console) and several games here are PS5-only. And check whether their PS5 has a disc drive. Sony sells a Digital Edition with no disc slot at all, and a boxed game is useless to someone who owns one. If you can’t confirm that, a PlayStation Store gift card is the safe route.

The other thing this page does that most don’t: every game shows its official ESRB age rating. The PS5 library skews more adult than the Nintendo Switch, and the difference between an E10+ family game and an M-rated one is significant if you’re buying for someone else’s teenager. We’ve sorted the list so the all-ages picks come first.

How this is funded: Player Two Co earns a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gift we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked for who they suit and how safe a gift they are. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t hands-on-tested these — here’s exactly what we do instead.

#GiftBest forPrice
1
Sony Astro Bot

Sony Astro Bot

The most joyful game on the PS5 and a recent Game of the Year. It's bright, easy to love, and works for a kid or an adult — the standout gift for any PlayStation 5 owner.

Best for anyone
2
Sony Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Sony Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

A dazzling, family-friendly action-adventure that looks like a Pixar movie. Colorful, funny and easy to enjoy — a great-value PS5 gift for kids and adults alike.

Best for families
$39.94 · See it on Amazon

$69.9943% off

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Sony Gran Turismo 7

Sony Gran Turismo 7

The definitive PlayStation racing game, and an easy gift for anyone who likes cars — you don't need to know anything about gaming to know whether the person in your life would enjoy driving hundreds of real cars.

Best for a car fan
$42.90 · See it on Amazon

$69.9939% off

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Sony Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Sony Marvel's Spider-Man 2

A blockbuster superhero adventure that's as fun to watch as to play. If your teen or partner loves Marvel or big action games, this is the crowd-pleasing PS5 gift.

Best blockbuster
$45.49 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Sony Horizon Forbidden West

Sony Horizon Forbidden West

A gorgeous open-world adventure about hunting robotic creatures in a green, overgrown future America. It's one of the best-looking games on the PS5 and a safe pick for a teen or adult who likes exploring.

Best open world
$43.50 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Electronic Arts EA Sports FC

Electronic Arts EA Sports FC

The annual football (soccer) game — formerly FIFA. If the person you're buying for follows football at all, this is close to a guaranteed hit, and it's the game their friends will already be playing online.

Best for a football fan
$42.77 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

7
Sony God of War Ragnarök

Sony God of War Ragnarök

One of the most acclaimed PlayStation games ever made — a cinematic, emotionally heavy Norse adventure. This is the prestige gift for an adult gamer, and it's usually well under its launch price now.

Best for adults
$38.25 · See it on Amazon

$69.9945% off

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

8
Electronic Arts It Takes Two

Electronic Arts It Takes Two

An award-winning game built entirely for two people to play together, start to finish. It's the perfect gift for a couple — even if one of you barely games — and a genuine joy the whole way through.

Best to play together

Every pick, explained

#1Best for anyone

Sony Astro Bot

The most joyful game on the PS5 and a recent Game of the Year. It's bright, easy to love, and works for a kid or an adult — the standout gift for any PlayStation 5 owner.

Great because

  • Universally loved — a recent Game of the Year
  • Cheerful and approachable for all ages
  • Shows off everything the PS5 controller can do

Keep in mind

  • PS5 only — won't run on a PS4
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
PlayStation 5 only
Good for
Ages 10 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip if they only have a PS4 or a different console.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#2Best for families

Sony Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

A dazzling, family-friendly action-adventure that looks like a Pixar movie. Colorful, funny and easy to enjoy — a great-value PS5 gift for kids and adults alike.

Great because

  • Looks stunning and plays like an animated film
  • Fun and forgiving for younger players
  • Often discounted — great value

Keep in mind

  • PS5 only
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
PlayStation 5 only
Good for
Ages 10 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip if they don't own a PS5.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#3Best for a car fan

Sony Gran Turismo 7

The definitive PlayStation racing game, and an easy gift for anyone who likes cars — you don't need to know anything about gaming to know whether the person in your life would enjoy driving hundreds of real cars.

Great because

  • Perfect if you know they love cars — no gaming knowledge needed to choose it
  • Hundreds of real, licensed cars
  • Rated for everyone, so it suits any age

Keep in mind

  • Some features need an internet connection
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
PlayStation 5 (and PS4)
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they have no particular interest in cars — it's a specialist's game.

Details read from the product listing on August 10, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#4Best blockbuster

Sony Marvel's Spider-Man 2

A blockbuster superhero adventure that's as fun to watch as to play. If your teen or partner loves Marvel or big action games, this is the crowd-pleasing PS5 gift.

Great because

  • Cinematic, thrilling and easy to get into
  • Swinging through the city never gets old
  • A showcase PS5 title

Keep in mind

  • PS5 only; rated Teen for comic-book action
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
PlayStation 5 only
Good for
Teens & up
Age rating
T (Teen)

Skip it if: Skip for a young child — it's a Teen-rated action game.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#5Best open world

Sony Horizon Forbidden West

A gorgeous open-world adventure about hunting robotic creatures in a green, overgrown future America. It's one of the best-looking games on the PS5 and a safe pick for a teen or adult who likes exploring.

Great because

  • Visually stunning — a genuine showcase for the console
  • Huge world with plenty to do
  • Teen-rated, so it suits a wider age range than most blockbusters

Keep in mind

  • Long and involved — not a casual pick-up-for-ten-minutes game
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
PlayStation 5 (and PS4)
Good for
Teens & up
Age rating
T (Teen)

Skip it if: Skip if they prefer short, quick games; this asks for real time.

Details read from the product listing on August 10, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#6Best for a football fan

Electronic Arts EA Sports FC

The annual football (soccer) game — formerly FIFA. If the person you're buying for follows football at all, this is close to a guaranteed hit, and it's the game their friends will already be playing online.

Great because

  • An obvious win if they follow football
  • Their friends are likely already playing it online
  • Easy to pick up for a casual player

Keep in mind

  • A new edition arrives every year, so it dates quickly
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
PlayStation 5
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they aren't into football, or if they already bought this year's edition.

Details read from the product listing on August 10, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#7Best for adults

Sony God of War Ragnarök

One of the most acclaimed PlayStation games ever made — a cinematic, emotionally heavy Norse adventure. This is the prestige gift for an adult gamer, and it's usually well under its launch price now.

Great because

  • Among the highest-rated PlayStation games of the generation
  • A gripping story as much as a game
  • Excellent value now it's a few years old

Keep in mind

  • Rated Mature — strong violence, not for children
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
PlayStation 5 (and PS4)
Good for
Adults (17+)
Age rating
M (Mature 17+)

Skip it if: Skip for anyone under 17 — this is an M-rated game with graphic combat.

Details read from the product listing on August 10, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#8Best to play together

Electronic Arts It Takes Two

An award-winning game built entirely for two people to play together, start to finish. It's the perfect gift for a couple — even if one of you barely games — and a genuine joy the whole way through.

Great because

  • Designed 100% for two-player co-op
  • Won Game of the Year — it's that good
  • Approachable for a non-gaming partner

Keep in mind

  • Needs two people — not a solo game
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
One disc covers PS4 and PS5; also on Xbox, PC & Switch (buy for their device)
Good for
Teens & up
Age rating
T (Teen)

Skip it if: Skip if they mainly play alone; this needs a second player.

Details read from the product listing on August 29, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

Match the game to the person

Buying for a family or a child? Astro Bot and Ratchet & Clank are the two to look at — both rated E10+, both bright and joyful, and both technically impressive enough that adults enjoy watching. Astro Bot in particular won Game of the Year and is about as universally liked as a game gets.

Buying for a teenager? Spider-Man 2 and Horizon Forbidden West are the safe blockbusters, both rated T for Teen. Spider-Man is the more immediately thrilling of the two; Horizon is the bigger, slower one for someone who likes exploring.

Buying for an adult? God of War Ragnarök is the prestige pick and one of the finest games on the console — but it’s rated M for Mature, with graphic combat, so it’s firmly a gift for a grown-up.

Buying for someone with a specific hobby? This is the underused shortcut. If they love cars, Gran Turismo is a near-guaranteed hit. If they follow football, EA Sports FC is the game their friends are already playing. You don’t need to know anything about gaming to know whether someone likes cars or football — which makes these two the easiest picks on the page for a complete outsider.

Understanding the ratings in one line each

E means suitable for everyone. E10+ means roughly ten and up. T is aimed at thirteen and over. M is seventeen and over, and genuinely means it — M-rated games contain content that most parents would not want a younger child playing. When in doubt, stick to E and E10+.

Disc or download?

A boxed disc is easier to wrap, can be lent or resold, and doesn’t require you to know their account details. The one catch is the Digital Edition console mentioned above, which has no disc drive. If there’s any doubt at all, a PlayStation Store gift card sidesteps the whole question and lets them pick — and since PlayStation has no direct game-gifting button, a card is the standard way to give digital PlayStation content anyway.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best PS5 game to give as a gift?

Astro Bot is the safest single pick — a recent Game of the Year, bright, joyful and rated E10+, so it suits almost anyone. For a teenager, Spider-Man 2; for an adult, God of War Ragnarök.

How do I know if their PS5 can play a disc?

Sony sells a Digital Edition with no disc drive, so a boxed game won't work on it. Check whether their console has a disc slot before buying physical — if you can't, a PlayStation Store gift card avoids the problem entirely.

Will a PS5 game work on a PS4?

Not always — several PS5 titles are PS5-only. Some games ship in versions that cover both, but you shouldn't assume it. Confirm which console they own first; the PS5 is the larger white one.

Which PS5 games are suitable for children?

Astro Bot and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart are both rated E10+ and are the strongest family picks. Gran Turismo 7 is rated E. Avoid M-rated titles like God of War Ragnarök for anyone under 17.

Can you gift a digital PS5 game directly?

There's no direct 'gift this game' button on the PlayStation Store. The standard way to give digital PlayStation content is a PlayStation Store gift card, which they redeem toward whatever they want.

Sources

  • ESRB — Ratings Guide — The Entertainment Software Rating Board's official age-rating definitions: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+) and the content descriptors printed on every game box (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • PlayStation — PlayStation Gift Cards — Sony's own gift-card page: PlayStation Store gift cards add wallet funds a recipient can spend on games, add-ons and PlayStation Plus — the standard way to gift PlayStation content, since the Store has no direct game-gifting button (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • ESRB — Ratings Search — ESRB's official database for looking up any game's age rating and content descriptors before you buy (accessed July 22, 2026)

Keep browsing