PS5 Pro’s Top Games Show Real Next-Gen, But Many Fall Short

There’s something unforgettable about cracking open a new console—the kind of moment that sticks with you for years. My big eye-opener came in the mid-’90s when my cousin set a beaten-up PlayStation on my lap and declared, “You’re not ready for this.” Fast-forward to 2025: I’m unboxing the PS5 Pro, heart racing, wondering if this is the point when next-gen finally lives up to the hype—or if it’s just another marketing sleight of hand.

When Next-Gen Actually Feels Next-Gen (and When It Doesn’t)

• Real 60 fps, dazzling ray tracing, and near-instant load times can feel magical—if studios put in the effort.
• Titles like Spider-Man 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Black Myth: Wukong genuinely transform on Pro hardware.
• Too many “enhanced” releases barely tip the scales—unlocked frame rates or upscaling done by rote.
• We need clearer standards and more pressure on developers to earn that “Pro Enhanced” badge.

I’ve sat through every “Pro” refresh since the PS4 Pro, slogged through stutters and slapdash visuals. But the PS5 Pro forced me to admit that hardware can matter—when games are built to take full advantage. My bar is brutal because it’s earned: if I’m dropping £70 and a weekend of playtime, it better feel like something completely new.

The Transformers: Games That Earn Their Pro Badge

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 swings in as the gold standard. Performance RT at a locked 60 fps turns New York into a neon symphony—real-time reflections, richer crowds, and a DualSense that truly haptics. When I flipped between Peter and Miles with zero hitch, puddle reflections so lifelike I paused to stare—that was next-gen.

Baldur’s Gate 3 punched my expectations out of the park. After 120+ hours on vanilla PS5, I moved to Pro and never looked back: stable 60 fps, split-screen co-op without a hint of lag. When a sprawling RPG runs flawlessly, you can’t ignore the leap in immersion.

Black Myth: Wukong is the wildcard champion. Soulslike combat choreographed to fire-and-forget visuals, giant particle storms, and art design that stops you in your tracks. Pro’s instant loads and sharper animations feel essential, not optional—a true case for next-gen.

Not So Transformed: The Half-Baked Fixes

Then there are the titles that slap on “Enhanced” like a bumper sticker. EA SPORTS FC 25 looks crisper, sure, but under the hood it’s the same match-day grind. Resident Evil 4 Remake gets moody lighting tweaks but skirts the edge of true transformation. If you’re serious about next-gen, these don’t cut it.

Holding the Bar High in 2025

Let’s be honest: seeing 120 fps in Apex Legends on Pro was the first time I didn’t feel like console FPS took a step back from PC. Instant loads? They’re revelatory when you’ve been staring at loading screens for hours. But half-baked patches shouldn’t earn us praise. If developers just bump a frame cap and call it “next-gen,” they’re cheating us—and so is Sony, for not enforcing a clear standard.

Ask yourself: if only one in five Pro games feels truly next-gen, isn’t that a colossal waste of performance? We deserve—and must demand—titles that couldn’t exist on PS4, games that look, play, and load better by design.

TL;DR: My Raw Verdict on PS5 Pro’s Best (and Worst) in 2025

• The Good: Spider-Man 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Black Myth: Wukong – these are transformative experiences that justify the Pro leap.
• The Bad: Titles doing “just enough” for a badge—EA SPORTS FC 25, Resident Evil 4 Remake, some big shooters—are riding on Pro’s coattails.
• The Hope: If we refuse to settle for half-measures, the next wave of blockbusters could finally fulfill next-gen’s promise.

I’m here for the ride—as long as developers meet us halfway. Don’t let “Pro Enhanced” become an empty label. When hardware and art collide, it’s electric. And every gamer with standards should feel that spark.