Games

The Best PS5 Licensed Games, Ranked

Published

38 seconds ago

January 17, 2025

Christoph Rediske

star wars jedi survivor marvel s spiderman 2 jurassic world evolution 2

Summary

Table of Contents

The article highlights the success of TV shows and movies adapted into games, showcasing how compelling storytelling can translate between mediums.
Examples of successful licensed games on the PS5 include The Karate Kid: Street Rumble, Evil Dead: The Game, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
These games capture the essence and nostalgia of their respective franchises while offering unique gameplay experiences for players to enjoy.

Some of the finest characters and stories the world has ever seen have come from the world of gaming, from the tear-jerking story of The Last of Us to the great character-building done in the Fallout franchise. Those franchises have been adapted into TV shows with varying degrees of success, further cementing the importance of these stories as they are shared by wider audiences through their adaptations.

The same can be said for other mediums being adapted into gaming, with many games licensed from movies and TV shows, with examples being the Disney classics Aladdin and The Lion King or the Spider-Man games based on Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man movies. The movie game tie-in has changed a lot over the last few decades, becoming less commonly seen. However, games based on the characters and worlds of movies and TV have continued to be popular.

7

The Karate Kid: Street Rumble

A 2D Retro Beat ‘Em Up, Set In The Universe Of The 80s Classic

The Karate Kid: Street Rumble

Action

Arcade

Beat ‘Em Up

Franchise: The Karate Kid
Released: September 20, 2024
Publisher(s): GameMill Entertainment
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OpenCritic Rating: Weak

Perhaps the most quintessentially 80s movie – The Karate Kid showcased the story of Daniel Le Russo as he learned to combat his bullies with the help of his karate sensei Mr. Miyagi. The Karate Kid spawned three sequels, a reboot, and a smash hit TV show, Cobra Kai, focusing on the later lives of Le Russo and his bully Johnny Lawrence.

There have been many games based on the Karate Kid franchise released and The Karate Kid: Street Rumble is a 2D beat ’em up retelling the story of the original Karate Kid trilogy. The game leans into the nostalgia of the franchise, with its gameplay feeling like it was ripped straight out of the arcade. Players are given the choice of four playable characters from the series, a fun combat system, and entertaining mini-games based on moments in the movies, like catching a fly and the famous wax on wax off scene. With a fun retro arcade feel and engaging visuals, The Karate Kid: Street Rumble is one of the best licensed games on the PS5.

6

Evil Dead: The Game

An Asymmetric Survival Horror Game In The Evil Dead Universe

The Evil Dead franchise began in 1981 and has featured two sequel movies and a TV show, as well as a terrifying reboot and the latest entry, Evil Dead Rise. The original movie starred Bruce Campbell as the protagonist, Ash Williams, as he faces off against “Deadites” controlled by the Kandarian Demon.

8 Beginner Tips For Evil Dead: The Game
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Evil Dead: The Game is an asymmetrical horror game that pits Ash and co. against all sorts of demons. Here are some things to know.

Evil Dead: The Game follows the formula of games like Friday The 13th and Dead By Daylight as players become either part of a team of survivors looking to complete a ritual to banish evil from the map or a demon on the hunt with an army of “Deadites” at their disposal. With a detailed progression system for each character and a fun mix of survival horror and battle royale looter and combat gameplay, Evil Dead: The Game is a great addition to this list.

5

Aliens: Dark Descent

A Strategy Game Set In The Alien Franchise

Systems

Released: June 20, 2023
Developer(s): Tindalos Interactive
Publisher(s): Focus Entertainment
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Alien defined a generation of horror, with its famous tagline “In space no one can hear you scream”. The franchise continued to grow and evolve with more action-centric entries becoming popularized, toeing the line between science-fiction, action, and horror.

Aliens: Dark Descent is set 19 years after the original trilogy, following a squad of colonial marines as they attempt to survive and clear the threat of rogue agents and Xenomorphs. The top-down strategy gameplay sees players command the squad in battles to survive. Players are able to upgrade their Marines in between missions and revisit areas to discover everything the game has to offer. Aliens: Dark Descent captures the feel of Aliens in an inventive way and is one of the best licensed games on the PS5.

4

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

A Charming Retelling Of All Nine Star Wars Episodes In Lego Form

Released: April 5, 2022
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Star Wars is one of the most lucrative movie franchises of all time, with nine mainline entries, multiple spin-offs, TV series, and expanded media. With three movie trilogies to explore Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga retells the series in a comedic and thoroughly entertaining way.

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Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga features five missions from each episode in the Skywalker movies, beginning with The Phantom Menace and ending with The Rise of Skywalker. The game brings hours of entertainment in this retelling with hundreds of collectibles and objectives whilst retelling the Skywalker movies with the humor only the Lego games franchise can do. From the expansive worlds featured from Naboo to Hoth, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a culmination of all the excellent progress the Lego games have made over the years.

3

Jurassic World Evolution 2

An Excellent Management Simulator Packed With Dinosaurs

Systems

Franchise: Jurassic World Evolution
Released: November 9, 2021
OpenCritic Rating: Advertisement

Strong

The Jurassic Park franchise began in 1993, now featuring six movies with a seventh to be released in 2025. The eponymous Jurassic Park is a theme park created to showcase dinosaurs to the public, but when aiming to keep huge predators captive, things always go wrong.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 gives players the opportunity to make their very own park and are tasked with creating the ultimate theme park, whilst also preventing any catastrophes that could occur when keeping dinosaurs, like escapes during a storm, in an attempt to keep guests safe. The game excels with its ability to let players tour the park they’re building and examine the dinosaurs up close whilst unlocking all the available species.

2

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

An Original Story Set Between The Events Of Revenge Of The Sith And A New Hope

Systems

Released: April 28, 2023
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues the story of the Jedi, Cal Kestis, following the ending of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, with Cal fighting the Empire to stand as a beacon of hope in a galaxy far, far away.

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Best Boss Fights

These bosses offer the best fights in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

The Star Wars Jedi franchise combines excellent action gameplay with stellar storytelling. In its second entry, Cal Kestis undergoes many trials and tribulations with twists and turns along the way. The story of Jedi Survivor is where the game shines, with Cal reuniting with his crew from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to stop the villainous Rayvis. The game also shines with its combat and level design, with six planets to explore.

1

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

A Superb Sequel For The World-Famous Web-Slinging Superhero

Systems

Released: October 20, 2023
Publisher(s): Sony Interactive Entertainment
OpenCritic Rating: Advertisement

Mighty

Spider-Man is one of the most popular superheroes of all time, with appearances in comics, TV, movies, and games. The Marvel’s Spider-man franchise began with Marvel’s Spider-man on the PS4 and was followed by Marvel’s Spider-man: Miles Morales, and with the third entry into the franchise, they created the best-licensed game on the PS5 to date.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 builds on the excellent free-flowing combat system present in its previous two entries, combining it with epic boss fights against Sand-Man and Kraven the Hunter. The game excels in its story and open world, with a fully explorable New York City with huge numbers of collectibles and side objectives to complete. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 presents a new story that hits emotional heights for both Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and their alter-egos learning to trust each other and confront their demons. With superb storytelling and exciting action set pieces, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the best-licensed game on the PS5.