God games are generally considered to be games where your influence on the variables of the story progression or sequence of events is almost god-like.
Take, for instance, one of the games in this guide where you can literally build an entire species on your own, just like a god would. Or another where you have total control of the lives of the characters, and you can pretty much do with them as you please.
God games are becoming rarer with every new generation of video game consoles, so there is a small pool to select the best from. Due to that fact, I have given myself the license to adjust the definition just a tad.
Here, I have included a couple of games where you don’t just have god-like influence, you’re literally a god – or at least something close to it. The guide briefly reviews seven of the best god games on PS5. Enjoy!
Reus
- Genre: god game, Simulator
- Developers: Abbey Games
- Release Date: October 2016
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
- Multiplayer: No
- Average Playtime: 8 hours
Reus is a single-player god-style simulator that was published by indie studio Abbey Games in 2013. At the time, the game was only available on Windows PCs, but it’s been released on other platforms over the years.
The game came to the PlayStation in 2016, but it could not arrive at a better time as it seemed god games were going out of fashion. For the few who still wanted the experience that this sort of game can provide, it was a welcome introduction.
In this game, the player directs four giants that have godlike powers, giving them the influence to change the very nature of the planet that they are on. These giants can create life, alter genes, terraform, and do other pretty neat stuff.
When you start out, there’s barely anything to work with, so you pretty much have to create from scratch. The four giants have different physical characteristics and abilities, so you want to pay attention to the types of tasks that you assign to each one as you do not control them directly.
There is a tree giant, a swamp giant, a water giant, and a rock giant. Based on this information alone, you should know how best to utilize each one.
The gameplay mechanics in Reus are simple. You simply select a task and select the giant that you want to complete the task. The menu in which these selections are made is pretty intuitive so you don’t have to spend too much time rummaging around before you find what you need.
Visually, Reus will not blow you away – even on the PS5. However, its simple, albeit archaic art and animation look decent enough to not be an issue.
Once you have everything you need and you begin to grow your tribe, more problems such as war will arise, and you have to handle the situation.
Although it is done on a relatively small scale, Reus manages to present enough of a challenge and complexity in its interpretation of the god complex. I imagine that it will remain one of the best god games on PS5 for some time still.
Niche – A Genetics Survival Game
- Genre: Simulation, god game
- Developers: Stray Fawn Studio
- Release Date: January 9, 2021
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation
- Multiplayer: No
- Average Playtime: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Niche – A Genetics Survival Game already offers spoilers in its title alone. It is another god-style game from an indie studio that presents an interesting take on the genre.
In a way, one might say the game took one aspect of the gameplay in Reus and broadly expanded on it to make an entire standalone game.
Again, like Reus, the game was first made available for PCs and did not arrive on the PlayStation until years had passed.
To start the game, you must select between one of three modes: story mode, tutorial mode, or sandbox mode. It’s pretty self-explanatory, I believe, but I’ll expand further on the story and sandbox modes.
Story mode is most recommended for new players because the game holds your hand and tries to lead you through the experience by subtly teaching you all the basics to prepare you for creating and taking charge of your species.
Sandbox mode is broken down into four difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Killer Island. This mode is a lot more customizable to allow you to play the game exactly the way you want it.
You can adjust settings that influence the duration of pregnancies, the damage levels that enemies can inflict, the effects of healing, the effects of hunger, etc.
You have to ensure that each animal you build has the right selection of DNA properties to thrive in the environment that you plan to put them in, and you also have to watch, feed, and generally take care of them every day if you want them to survive.
One thing that really stands out in Niche is the attempt at building realistic gameplay. It deploys a genetic gaming experience that follows the rules that apply in real life.
If you doubt that fact, then maybe the fact that biology teachers around the world use the game’s genetic system to teach students will convince you.
The game simulates over 100 genes that help the player to broadly develop a sufficiently varied set of animals within each species created, ensuring that each one is unique enough with detailed physical characteristics and other distinguishing physiological factors.
For players that enjoy a little bit of the nerd factor, this is one of the best god games on PS5 for you.
Frostpunk
- Genre: City-building, Survival
- Developers: 11 bit Studios
- Release Date: October 11, 2019
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
- Multiplayer: No
- Average Playtime: 10 hours, 30 minutes
At its core, Frostpunk is a city-builder with a bit of a twist. There are certain elements that qualify it to be considered a god-style game as well.
The game was published by 11 Bit Studios for Windows PCs in 2018 before a PS4 version was launched the year after that.
As I said, Frostpunk is a city-builder, but its survival elements and the role that you play in that aspect make it feel like a god-style game at times.
Your character, the “Captain”, is the leader of a people in a city set sometime in the late 19th century, and it is your duty to build and maintain that city while the world around you succumb to the effects of volcanic winter.
Normally, you’re expected to manage resources and ensure that everyone is well taken care of, but in reality, you have the power of life and death in your hands.
You determine how and if the people survive, and you have complete control over the tasks that they are expected to complete in their contribution to the development and sustenance of the city.
If you follow a certain path, it will get to the point where you become an “absolute leader”. Then, you can execute enemies or unbelievers in a number of terrible ways, even if it’s only to get the people to become more compliant.
Do you see where the god complex comes from?
If you like being a dictatorial leader who answers to no one (or at least, only the elements), then Frostpunk is one of the best god games on PS5 for you.
Hades
- Genre: Roguelike, Action, RPG
- Developers: Supergiant Games
- Release Date: August 13, 2021
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox
- Multiplayer: No
- Average Playtime: 22 hours
Hades is one of the more popular games on this list of the best god games on PS5. The game was published by Supergiant Games for the Nintendo Switch and PCs in 2020, but PlayStation users had to wait a year extra to enjoy the game on the PS4/PS5.
Remember what I said at the start about games where you’re literally a god? This is one of them. If you’re familiar with Greek mythology to a basic degree, then you must know of Hades, the god of the dead and the king of the underworld.
In this game, you control the son of Hades, Zagreus, who is by blood technically also a god. That “god” factor is further boosted by the fact that Zagreus in this game is bestowed with gifts from Olympian gods, gifts that give him special abilities.
The story is centered around Zagreus’ attempts to escape the Underworld and reach Mount Olympus. Over the course of each run, you will encounter many enemies and attempt to defeat them with the hack-and-slash combat system that is featured.
The game is also roguelike, so each time you die, you simply resurrect back in the Underworld and have to try again. It can get pretty intense and frustrating, so you have to be mentally prepared for exhaustion.
However, there is a certain satisfaction that comes with defeating these enemies and making progress. It makes you feel truly like a god, and that’s what you’re looking for, isn’t it?
God of War (2018)
- Genre: Action-adventure, Hack and slash
- Developers: Santa Monica Studio
- Release Date: April 20, 2018
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation
- Multiplayer: No
- Average Playtime: 20 hours, 30 minutes
God of War needs absolutely no introduction.
This is one of the longest-running and best-selling franchises of all time, and the familiar face of Kratos hacking and slashing his way across Midgard is stuff that hardcore gamers’ dreams are made of.
This is one of the best hack-and-slash games on PS5. However, it also features in this guide for the same reasons that Hades does – just look at the title!
God of War was published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is one of Sony’s most popular triple-A titles and it definitely shows that off as soon as you boot up the game.
The story follows Kratos and his son, Atreus, as they journey to try and fulfill the wish of Atreus’ dead mother to have her ashes spread at the highest peak of the nine realms. If you’re familiar with the franchise, then you’ll know that even a seemingly simple task like that will end up being a mission to Hell.
It’s a nice story, but God of War also brings much more to the table with stellar world design, music, graphics, and an incredibly satisfying combat system.
If you’re playing on the PS5, it gets even better with the Enhanced Performance Experience that features 4K checkerboard resolutions and 60fps performance. For an action-heavy game like this, that framerate boost makes the world of difference!
This is definitely one of the best god games on PS5, and perhaps one of the best games on the platform overall.
Everything
- Genre: god game, Simulation
- Developers: David OReilly
- Release Date: March 21, 2017
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation
- Multiplayer: No
- Average Playtime: 3 hours
The dreamlike state of everything in Everything enhances the “god-like” feel of the game. You’re never really going to be a god, but in the right environment, you may be convinced otherwise. That right environment is this game.
Everything is a simulation game that is the brainchild of solo developer David O’Reilly. The game was published by Double Fine Productions in 2017 and this time, PlayStation users were the first set of gamers to lay their hands on the full version.
In this game, you are everything and everything is you. You can control and modify life forms or inanimate objects as you please while exploring the procedurally generated world that the game is set in.
There is only one goal, and that is to occupy as many objects and things as you can, with the occasional thought bubble penetrating your thoughts with quotes from philosopher Alan Watts.
It’s a pretty bizarre game, but it lets you play god, and that’s what we’re here for. If you want a quiet, almost passive interpretation of the genre, then Everything is the game for you.
Cult of the Lamb
- Genre: Roguelike, Action-adventure
- Developers: Massive Monster
- Release Date: August 11, 2022
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation
- Multiplayer: No
- Average Playtime: 14 hours
Cult of the Lamb is a roguelike game published by Devolver Digital of Enter the Gungeon fame.
There’s a slight twist to the “god-style” approach here in the sense that the actions of the character that you’re playing are actually influenced by a god rather than the character being the “god” itself. I’ll explain.
You play as a lamb that was saved from slaughter by a strange deity, and now you must repay your debt to that deity, helping it to amass power by building a cult following.
In your mission to recruit your “flock”, you’re stacked with god-like powers that enable you to defeat other gods, provide the needs of your followers, and build structures all over your base.
It all sounds a bit weird if I’m being honest, but if you like to play games where your powers are pretty much unrivaled, then this is an option.
If you like the rogue-like premise of the game but not the creepy ritualistic sacrifices and other weird stuff, then you should check out our list of the best roguelikes on PS5. You’re bound to find something that’s less disturbing in there.
