Those who have been gaming for a while would undoubtedly have fond memories of booting up countless demo discs that came bundled with magazine subscriptions or were given out as a part of some promotion even during the days of PlayStation 1 and 2. Sure, not every demo might have been a blast – but everyone certainly got some pleasant surprises every now and then which had us playing them over and over again.
While demo discs have faded away from mainstream popularity in recent years, more and more developers are starting to give fans a taste of the final product through demos – both free and otherwise. To that end, we present some of the best PS5 demos that we have all played time and time again.
Astro’s Playroom
Astro’s Playroom comes pre-installed with every PS5, and it’s highly likely that it was the first game that you booted when you unsheathed your shiny new console. And while it’s meant as a showcase of the PS5’s DualSense capabilities, it ends up being so much more than that. In so many ways, Astro’s Playroom is a celebration of everything PlayStation – and those who have grown up with the brand would surely have been overcome with nostalgia as they explored every nook and cranny of 4 sprawling levels set in the console’s internals. Astro’s Playroom is filled to the brim with mementos of the past and easter eggs for some of the best PlayStation games of all time.
But even those who haven’t grown alongside PlayStation would have a fun time regardless since the platforming is pretty fun as well with well-designed controls and fun level design. And then of course, there’s the impeccable use of the DualSense’s haptics which alter vibrations to reflect the intensity of an incoming sandstorm or the shattering of a glass among other things. Despite the short runtime of less than an hour – it ends up having a long-lasting impact on the player.
Ghostrunner
Ghostrunner is one of the most mechanically sound games of the last couple of years, and this journey through the rain-soaked streets of Dharma City constantly throws new challenges on top of its already brutal one-hit one-kill design. The short demo takes you through the opening moments of the game, and it’s a perfect introduction of Ghostrunner’s parkour elements and combat mechanics.
Ghostrunner is a game that demands mastery of its mechanics to be better at the game, and replaying the same sections over and over really pays off as you gain a better understanding of the encounters and your cyberninja’s moveset and pull off slick stunts that you previously thought were impossible. And then it becomes a well-earned power fantasy.
Outriders
While Outriders may not have been the game that many might have expected it to be, its demo slice of gameplay was a really fun one. People Can Fly’s latest shooter featured plenty of content for a free demo, and it comes with the entire first chapter of the game. This means you get the much-needed exposition alongside plenty of main missions and side missions which help you get a taste of the gameplay and build out your character better as you prepare for the final encounter.
But then Outriders’ gameplay changes significantly with your player class, so once you get through the roughly 3-hour demo with one class – you could do it again with a different class to see how that shakes up things and see what suits your style for your full playthrough.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Ninja Theory is evolving its signature take on the Souls formula with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, a new game set against the backdrop of the Han Dynasty. The demo gives you access to a giant area where you must make your way through hordes of enemies to the final boss. While that may sound limiting in scope, it’s anything but. The starting area is vast in scope, and you get to face different kinds of enemies and even a couple of mini-boss encounters before facing the big baddie – which by the way has 2 different phases and swift attacks.
The fast-paced combat feels like an evolution of Nioh’s combat system, and new elements like the Morale Rank system and companion beasts are useful additions to the experience. Plus, you also get to experiment with different weapon combinations and classes which also encourage you to go through it all over again.
Destroy All Humans!
Black Forest Games’ Destroy All Humans! successfully translates this cult classic experience into something that’s more palatable for the modern generation. The demo is inarguably the best way to get a taste of the full game. The visuals look superb and the changes to the gameplay really add up for a wonderful experience, and while the content may be on the shorter end of the stick with only the first mission being available in the package – it’s quality stuff regardless. But on the more positive side, you also get a bonus challenge to play as well.
Resident Evil: Village
Much like Astro’s Playroom that we discussed before, Resident Evil: Village is a celebration of everything Resident Evil as it effortlessly dances between different shades of horror ranging from psychological to survival to full-blown action. And while the game’s demo might not be as versatile as the final game, it’s really amazing nevertheless. You start out in a dimly-lit dungeon in Castle Dimitrescu which is undoubtedly one of the best sections of the game, and you make your way through it all by solving puzzles.
The game constantly plays on your fear of the unknown, with abnormal sounds and spooky notes about the dungeon’s inhabitants – but in actuality, you don’t face any mortal threats throughout the short duration of the demo. And when you reach the end, you see Lady Dimitrescu towering above you like a giant and you know it’s not going to end well. And this was just the one PS5 exclusive Maiden demo, and other demos that were released prior to launch are equally fun and scary as well.
Forspoken
Forspoken isn’t out until early next year, but it already has us excited about what’s in store – thanks to the recently released demo. It puts you in the middle of the action after a short tutorial, and you need to complete five different objectives to complete the demo. These range from combat encounters to crafting to open-world activities, and these tasks help you in getting a feel for how the combat, traversal, and player progression works.
Of course, you’re free to roam around these landscapes as well – and veering away from the main path will reward you with treasure boxes and useful resources for upgrading Frey. And once you are done with the main objectives, you also get a final boss encounter as a bonus which is just like an icing on the top of this cake. It only takes around an hour to complete if you rush through it, but you could easily stretch it to much longer if you want.
Tormented Souls
Tormented Souls is a love letter to the original Resident Evil games, and everything from the tank controls to spooky mansions to item-based puzzles is the game carrying that influence proudly on its sleeves. The demo takes you through a small slice of the game, but it’s enough to prove the sheer love and appreciation that the developer has for the source material. And since we couldn’t wait for the final release back then, we were playing through it over and over again.
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