Loot games are heavily centered around rewarding gamers for completing specific objectives or tasks within a game.

Those rewards may include power-ups, abilities, money, spells, weapons, equipment, or other useful stuff to boost the threat of the playable character.

Without a doubt, there is a lot of satisfaction to be gained from being rewarded for completing any task – some sort of dopamine shot, if you will. I personally like to be hand-fed with little treats on days that I take the trash out.

It’s the same rationale behind loot games. However, some games in this genre struggle to find a loot system that balances providing enough to keep the player motivated and overpowering the character to the point where the game becomes too easy.

That said, if you’re looking for the best looting games for PS5, it is natural to favor options that have a well-balanced loot system over those that do not, even if the rest of the gameplay is otherwise solid. That’s what this researched guide is for, so let’s get right into it.

Outriders

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Credit: PlayStation Store
  • Genre: Shooter, Action, RPG
  • Developers: People Can Fly
  • PlayStation Release Date: April 1, 2021
  • Buy from: PlayStationAmazon
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 16 hours

In my review of the best third-person games on PS5, I mentioned the fact that Outriders did not get a lot of love when it was initially launched by Square Enix.

The game had major issues at the time, ranging from offline servers to in-game bugs. It is still not perfect, but the experience has vastly improved with the updates that have been rolled out since then.

However, one thing that has been consistently great even when Outriders was struggling in other important areas is the loot system.

When you play the game for the first time, it can feel extremely difficult coming up against enemies that seem way more powerful than your character.

But, if you stick with it, familiarize yourself with the game’s crafting system, and learn to experiment, you’ll uncover the secret behind maximizing the potential of your player with loot.

There are five levels of rarity in Outrider‘s loot system, including White, Green, Blue, Purple, and Gold. As the level of rarity of the loot increases, so do the tiers of the mods that you get with each loot. White and Green do not come with any mods though.

Don’t be fooled, rarity does not run parallel to value here. You will find that sometimes, it is possible to get higher value from loot in the lower levels of rarity than those in the higher levels.

On the one hand, it can be annoying. Imagine coming up on Legendary loot which is extremely hard to find, and it turns out to be unusable.

On the other hand, the seeming randomness of the whole thing greatly increases the need for creativity and experimentation, which is the entire concept of making the most of Outrider‘s loot system.

Personally, I don’t mind the approach as it offers something different from what we typically see in looter shooters of this nature. I like it when developers try to be innovative, and People Can Fly has made a decent attempt here.

With the boosted visual performance of the PS5, Outriders is definitely one to give a whirl.

Borderlands 3

borderlands
Credit: PlayStation Store
  • Genre: Action, RPG, Shooter
  • Developers: Gearbox Software
  • Release Date: November 12, 2020
  • Buy from: PlayStationAmazon
  • Multiplayer: Local/Online co-op
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 23 hours

Borderlands 3 is one of the best action role-playing shooters out there, and it is a solid loot game to boot.

As you complete missions in the game, you earn rewards in the form of equipment within a wide range of efficiency. Away from these missions, you can also scavenge for this equipment from the enemies you’ve killed.

As is usually the case with looter shooters, there are tiers of rarity with the equipment, and in Borderlands 3, the rarer an item is, the better it usually turns out to be too.

Like Outriders, there are also five levels of rarity in Borderlands 3 – White (Common), Green (Uncommon), Blue (Rare), Purple (Epic), and Orange (Legendary). As you may have guessed, the legendary loot is where the juice is at, but don’t expect to see them too often.

One of the treats in Borderlands 3 is that you never really know what you’re going to get with a new gun. There are loads of guns in the game, and each one has a unique way of functioning. For instance, a machine gun named “Love’s First Kiss” fires acid bullets.

A notable update to the loot system in this game compared to the older titles is that loot is no longer shared between all players in a team. If a gun is dropped for you, it is unique to your game only.

The reactions to this update were a bit of a mixed bag, so I guess it’s a good thing that there’s an option to turn it off and run with the old system if you prefer that.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

the division 2 1
Credit: PlayStation Store
  • Genre: Action, RPG, Tactical shooter
  • Developers: Massive Entertainment
  • PlayStation Release Date: March 1, 2019
  • Buy from: PlayStation, Amazon
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op/multiplayer
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 26 hours

With Title Update 6, The Division 2 got a targeted loot system that allows players to go for specific slots, brands, and gear sets. This targeted loot does not replace the regular loot drops. Rather, they are added on top of the normal loot you earn from missions.

When you get to World Tier 5 on the game, or you get to level 40, you’ll have a new method of targeting specific loot. Every named zone and mission has specific types of loot attached to them, so you know exactly what your options are each time.

At that stage, you can activate the “display targeted loot” option so you see the exact location for each loot drop.

The system is an upgrade because it gives you more to work with and requires less effort. That way, you can spend more time actually enjoying the game instead of messing around in inventory.

Gameplay-wise, The Division 2 also delivers on the PS5. The experience is boosted with visual upgrades such as 60fps and 4K resolution, which contribute to making this otherwise-aging game still very relevant.

Nioh 2 Remastered Complete Edition

nioh 2 complete edition 1
Credit: Steam
  • Genre: Action, RPG, Hack and slash
  • Developers: Team Ninja
  • PlayStation Release Date: February 5, 2021
  • Buy from: PlayStation
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 44 hours

Nioh 2 was a fantastic adventure that became even more so with this remastered complete edition.

This version came with all three DLC expansions that had been released as of early 2021, plus dynamic 4K and 120fps performance on the PS5.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve played the game before, these new additions are significant enough to give it another go for a whole new and upgraded experience.

Nioh 2 Remastered Complete Edition belongs to the hack-and-slash genre, and it also includes a fairly straightforward loot system where you gain loot drops from the enemies that you defeat during your journey.

With these loot drops comes a wide selection of customization options for your gear, further expanding the possibilities of what you can do with weapons.

Without a doubt, Nioh 2 Remastered Collection is the best way for anyone to experience Nioh games. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the game or you’re a seasoned pro, this is one of the best loot games for PS5 out there.

Remnant: From the Ashes

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Credit: PlayStation Store
  • Genre: Action, RPG, Soulslike, Shooter
  • Developers: Gunfire Games
  • PlayStation Release Date: May 13, 2021
  • Buy from: PlayStationThird-Party
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 13 hours, 30 minutes

Remnant: From the Ashes is not exactly the newest kid on the block. The game was initially released in 2019, but it’s still a really fun option to try on the PS5, especially since a PS5 upgrade was released in 2021.

That looting system is fairly unique too. It’s not a slugfest where you grind endlessly to get the most basic rewards, but it’s not exactly the dopamine-inducing system of Division 2 either.

According to Gunfire Games, their approach to rewarding players with loot is how other games treat their legendary loot. You’re not going to be overwhelmed with it, but when you do get it, it’ll be something that is actually useful and unique.

Personally, I think this system should get more love from seasoned gamers. It can be annoying to get rare loot that turns out to be useless after hours of grinding for it, and it can also be annoying to get the same basic items most of the time.

Remnant’s approach finds a nice balance between the two, and it is for this reason that I think the game is one of the best looting games for PS5.

It does help that there is an upgrade patch for the PS5, so the game is not lagging behind too much when it comes to graphics either, despite being a 2019 release.

The patch arrived in 2021, and with it, you can run the game in quality mode or performance mode. This means that you can play at 4K resolution and 30fps, or 1080p resolution at 60fps.

Warframe

waframe screenshot
Credit: PlayStation Store
  • Genre: Action, Shooter
  • Developers: Digital Extremes, Panic Button Games
  • PlayStation Release Date: November 26, 2020
  • Buy from: PlayStation
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op/multiplayer
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): N/A

Speaking of dated games, titles like Warframe walked so that others like Remnant could run.

Warframe was released in 2013 by publisher Digital Extremes and back then, it was one of the more enjoyable role-playing shooter games on the PS4 and other 8th-gen consoles.

Fast-forward to the release of the PS5 in 2020 and the developers rightly decided to launch an update to bring the game up to speed with the levels that newer releases were at that time.

This, alongside the tons of other content and expansions that have been released since the initial launch, makes the game still worth playing.

To be completely honest, Warframe is not exactly an audition for the PS5 because the developers barely used the new-gen features (such as the DualSense controller), but the visual upgrade of 4K resolution and 60fps was still a very welcome addition.

In multiplayer mode, loot drops are mostly personal and not shared. Energy, health, ammo, blueprints, mods, and crafting materials are all for the player that picks them up.

Every team member can pick them up, so they’re not single-use, but you do have to pick them up yourself.

Also, you may not get exactly the same thing that the next player gets, particularly when it comes to mods. However, when any player picks up credits, the rest of the team automatically gets the same amount too.

Destiny 2

Destiny 2
Credit: Steam
  • Genre: MMORPG
  • Developers: Bungie
  • PlayStation Release Date: December 8, 2020
  • Buy from: PlayStation
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op/multiplayer
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 12 hours

Here’s another game that got a PS5 update around the same time that the console was released. The PS5 version of Destiny 2 arrived as a separate application, not an update to the PS4 version, so in that sense, it was a native upgrade.

One of the immediate differences that you’ll notice is the addition of native 4K visuals and 60fps performance. It’s fairly standard for most games that got a PS5 update, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless because it looks really good and runs so well.

If you played the PS4 version, you will also notice that the developers have added an option to increase your field of view in the PS5 update. It gives you a wider peripheral view, which is nice.

Apart from these, Destiny 2 on the PS5 does not take advantage of any PS5-specific features. That means no DualSense support, hence no enhanced haptic feedback or adaptive triggers.

One thing that is a bit annoying about the loot system in Destiny 2 is that you have to pick up every loot that you find regardless of whether you want it or not, unlike games such as The Division and Borderlands.

Apart from that, the loot will usually come in one of three forms – weapons, armor, or Engrams which are colored hexagonal crystal balls that usually contain random weapons or armor too.

Weapons come with random stats and perks. If you get a good one, you’ll want to keep it for future use but if you get a bad one, you can dismantle it and get money in return or resources to use for other things.

Armor works in a similar manner, except that instead of perks, there are empty slots where you can slot in your armor mods as you go.

Destiny 2 on the PS5 feels like a whole new gaming experience compared to the PS4 version, despite the lack of new-gen features. The core improvements (and hopefully more future updates) should be enough to keep the game relevant for a fair number of years yet.

No Man’s Sky

no mans sky
Credit: PlayStation Store
  • Genre: Action-adventure, Survival
  • Developers: Hello Games
  • PlayStation Release Date: November 2020
  • Buy from: PlayStationAmazon
  • Multiplayer: Online multiplayer
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 30 hours, 30 minutes

If the lack of new-gen features in Destiny 2 is too much of an omission for you to look past, then consider this release from Hello Games.

No Man’s Sky was originally released in 2016, but the PS5 update came in 2020 with the expected visual upgrades and aforementioned PS5-specific features.

You get 4K support, 60fps, and DualSense controller features such as enhanced haptic feedback. These are the basic makings of a visually pleasing game, but there’s more to No Man’s Sky than the visuals.

The game is based on the concept of planetary exploration, as your character will be traveling across various procedurally generated planets that present you with various challenges and enemies.

To overcome these challenges, your weapons need to be in top shape, and effective enough against the increasingly powerful enemies that you’ll encounter.

One way to make money and upgrade your equipment faster is by collecting loot. When you get the hang of the game, you’ll see that you can collect valuable loot if you know where to look.

For instance, each planet contains caves in different spots across it in varying sizes and numbers. Inside some of these caves, you will find some rare items that can be sold for a good amount of money, which can then be used to upgrade stuff.

With frequent updates and other welcome changes made to the base game, No Man’s Sky has only gotten better since its release. If the developers continue in that manner for a bit longer, it should be a good investment for anyone looking for the best looting games for PS5.

Deep Rock Galactic

deep rock galactic
Credit: Steam
  • Genre: First-person shooter
  • Developers: Ghost Ship Games
  • PlayStation Release Date: January 4, 2022
  • Buy from: PlayStation
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op/multiplayer
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 54 hours

Deep Rock Galactic is a co-op first-person shooter with a very interesting premise.

Your character is one of four dwarves whose purpose in the game is to mine resources on a hostile alien planet named Hoxxes IV.

These dwarves work for an interplanetary corporation named Deep Rock Galactic, and it is this corporation that has sent you on a mission which you’re almost certain to not return from – at least not on the first try.

For each mission, you will be exploring whichever planet you’re on at the moment, trying to dig tunnels and mine their resources while the creepy little monsters that reside there do all they can to stop you.

Looting is fairly basic on Hoxxes IV. Apart from the regular mining, there are “cute” little loot bugs that will drop minerals and other resources when you kill them.

When I say cute, I mean the kind of cute that makes you want to stomp and squash them. The Golden loot bug, in particular, is extremely satisfying to kill because of the explosion of massive amounts of gold that follows its complete annihilation.

Yeah, I hate bugs of any kind as you may have guessed.

On the PS5, DRG runs at 60fps and there is support for the DualSense controller so that haptic feedback really kicks in nicely in specific moments (when your pod is landing or taking off, for instance).

The Ascent

The Ascent
Credit: Steam
  • Genre: Action, RPG, Shooter
  • Developers: Neon Giant
  • PlayStation Release Date: March 24, 2022
  • Buy from: PlayStation, Amazon
  • Multiplayer: Local/Online co-op
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 12 hours

The Ascent is a cyberpunk-style shooter whose story seems to be the coming to life of a popular movie plot in game form. The game is centered around events that happen in a city run by the Ascent Group.

The city is inhabited by all types of creatures in the galaxy, and there is a class system that separates the inhabitants into various levels. When the Ascent Group shuts itself off from the slims and residential areas that depend on it for survival, everything goes to hell.

As would be expected in such a scenario, the lower levels are the most affected by the change, and soon enough, gangs and other problematic groups spring up.

That’s the backstory, and that’s where your mission is borne from. Your character is one of the inhabitants of the city that has been affected by the actions of Ascent Group, and you have to fight your way through the city to survive and unravel the mystery behind the whole situation.

This mission will have you blasting through structures, facing off against enemies that are just as frustrated as you are, and taking on side missions that will help you to upgrade your equipment and gear much quicker.

When you kill any of these enemies, you can loot weapons and armor from their corpses. The stronger the enemy, the better the loot.

However, even if you get a weapon with poor stats from the get-go, the loot system ensures that there is the possibility of upgrading that weapon to the point where it becomes very potent. This way, no loot is ever really completely useless.

Additionally, your progress will also be marked by a progression system that lets you level up and use experience points to upgrade your character in various areas.

In co-op mode, loot is shared if it’s gear and augments. However, credits, health, energy, and grenade refills are not automatically shared.

On the PS5, The Ascent plays in 4K resolution with 60fps, and there is DualSense support as far as new-gen features go.

Elden Ring

elden ring screenshot
Credit: PlayStation Store
  • Genre: Action, RPG
  • Developers: FromSoftware
  • Release Date: February 25, 2022
  • Buy from: PlayStationAmazon
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op/multiplayer
  • Average Playtime (Main Story/Objectives): 55 hours, 30 minutes

Elden Ring offers one of the best loot systems that you’ll get from PS5 games in the PlayStation Store. It’s also one of the greatest games ever released, but we’ll focus on the looting aspect here.

Most of that quality is in the fact that there is just so much variety to the loot. There is so much to find that you’re certain not to discover it all in your first couple of tries completing the game.

This means that when it comes to looting, each player is likely to get a unique experience in the way that they find loot and the point of the game where they do.

FromSoftware has been able to achieve this because of the way that the gameplay in Elden Ring is set up. The open world is almost completely without restrictions, and the order in which you tackle each area will affect which items you find first and which ones you find later.

Despite the volume of loot in the game, there are a good number of unique items to be found in specific places that won’t be found anywhere else. All of this contributes to making Elden Ring‘s looting system arguably the most varied and engaging one there is at the moment.