The PlayStation 5 released back in November, and while there have been some new releases in the time since, plenty of titles have been put on hold for the time being. And one genre that seems to be somewhat dying out is that of the gangster game. Back in the day, on older consoles, fans were blessed with choices aplenty. Now, however, it seems like developers around the globe are focusing their efforts on other types of shooters instead.
So, with this the case, here are the best gangster games to play on the PS5 according to Metacritic. That is, if ruling cities and intimidating NPCs is your thing.
Honorable Mention: The Grand Theft Auto Trilogy
The Grand Theft Auto trilogy was remastered for the PlayStation 4 and, because of the PS5's backward compatibility features, it means fans are able to play Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in all of its remastered splendor.
Metacritic hasn't actually got round to reviewing the trilogy itself on the newer consoles, which is why it deserves an honorable mention. All three games scored 97, 95 and 94 respectively when they were reviewed on older consoles, though, and while the remasters do suffer from bugs, they're still worth picking up nonetheless.
Empire Of Sin: 43
Strategy games are probably best played on the PC, rather than on consoles. And that perhaps explains why Empire of Sin scored just 43 percent, with the title faring far better for the PC version, with a higher score of 63.
It is hailed for its fantastic idea at its core, while the soundtrack is also praised. Yet the game is often called a technical mess with bugs aplenty, a complicated menu and questionable visuals. It's good for those who don't want to necessarily get their own hands dirty, but there are certainly better titles out there.
Mafia II Definitive Edition: 56
Mafia II was first released on the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in 2010. It followed the story of Sicilian immigrant Vito Scaletta, who returns home from the war to find himself struggling. He then ventures into a life of crime, spending some time in jail before eventually getting his revenge on all who have wronged him. It's quite a list, too.
Yet while the original version of the game scored highly, at 74, the PlayStation 4 version chalks up a rating of just 56. Bugs and glitches are prominent throughout, while it's also condemned for the lack of attention and care that went into the remaster. It's still just as good as before but, when it comes to upgrading things, you'll certainly want more bang for your buck.
Mafia III: 68
The story in Mafia III is majestically handled. Following the journey of Lincoln Clay, a Black man in 1968's New Bordeaux, the game doesn't shy away from exposing the racism in the city, in the slightest. It's gritty and dark as Lincoln is regularly treated badly by the powerful white people around him and it ends with him taking charge of the city, having beaten multiple rival gangs.
A score of 68 is nothing to be sniffed at, but there's a sense that the game doesn't entirely live up to its vast potential. Again, glitches hinder the whole experience, and graphically, it's not as stellar as it should be. For the story, however, it's definitely worth picking up.
Mafia Definitive Edition: 76
Instead of giving fans Mafia 4, the team over at 2k Games decided to remaster the very first game instead. And it gave the 2002 game, that released on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, the glossiest treatment possible. The title was effectively remade from scratch and it's clear a significant amount of care and time went into crafting the world, even if there's not much to do outside of the main story.
76 seems a fair score from Metacritic, with critics hailing it for its visuals and impactful story. What ultimately lets it down, however, is how short the entire thing is and the lack of activities to do in free roam. When it comes to the latter, there's no point even bothering, and the world is lifeless, which is a crying shame.
LA Noire: 76
Also scoring a respectable 76 is LA Noire. It's another remaster, originally coming out on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in 2011. It follows the story of Cole Phelps, who returns from World War II determined to make the city of Los Angeles a better place. He solves multiple cases, rising up through the ranks to become the number one detective in the entire city.
The remaster boasts improved visuals and audio and it's far smoother than it was before. Yet some felt this wasn't sufficient to warrant paying full price and that's its biggest shortcoming. It's one to pick up if you've never played the game before but, if you have, it's probably wise to save cash for something else instead.
Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition: 77
The risk of Sleeping Dogs when it first came out in 2012 is that it was yet another alternative to Grand Theft Auto. However, years on, and it certainly stands on its own two feet. The original games for the older consoles were both great but, once remastered for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, it scaled new heights. Graphically better, the newer machines certainly enhance everything positively.
Again, Metacritic marks it down for its repetitiveness and lack of new features. However, playing it is a blast, with things looking good, playing good and sounding good. It isn't quite on the level of the Yakuza series, but its hand-to-hand combat is brilliant and right up there with the very best.
Yakuza Like A Dragon: 86
There have been so many Yakuza games over the years, it's hard to keep track. But, in recent years, the franchise has gone from strength to strength. And taking the bronze medal when it comes to this list is Yakuza: Like A Dragon, which allows you to step into the shoes of Ichiban Kasuga who, after spending many years in jail, comes out to find he's been betrayed and his clan destroyed.
It's been remastered for the PlayStation 5 and that's why it scores so highly, with critics impressed by its higher resolution, better frame rate and faster loading times. It's not necessarily the best entry in the series, but it deserves every ounce of recognition it gets.
Yakuza 6 Song of Life: 87
Another Yakuza game to make the list, Yakuza 6: Song of Life takes home the silver. Coming out on the PlayStation 4, at first, it's playable on Sony's newest machine thanks to the backward compatibility feature. And its high mark of 87 means it's definitely worth picking up.
It garners praise for being an excellent ending to Kazuma Kiryu's story, wrapping up things in style, while also being dubbed a
"masterpiece." With a strong story and excellent gameplay to boot, it's arguably the pinnacle for the series - which is quite something when you consider how many titles have been pumped out over the years.
Grand Theft Auto V: 97
Grand Theft Auto V was always going to come out on top of this list. Originally released on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, it was remastered for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One back in 2014. And Rockstar Games aren't done with the product just yet, with yet another new makeover for the PS5 and Xbox Series X set to follow later this year.
Los Santos is a perfect city, Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips and Franklin Clinton are all great fun to play, and the shooting has never felt better. The story is weaker than its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto: IV, but it is still impressive if a little predictable. Whether GTA 6 can trump it when it's finally released is something only time will tell.