The evolution of video games kicked up when Super Nintendo came out with its 16-bit visuals and blew everyone away. Since then, there have been many advancements in the gaming industry, from the introduction of 3D graphics to the growth of genres such as first-person shooters, role-playing games, etc. Fast-forward to 2024, and video games have leaped such a distance that it is sometimes hard to tell them apart from real life. It’s no stretch that gaming is one of the fastest-evolving industries right now, with the sheer amount of money involved in developing true AAA games being nothing short of exhausting.
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Moreover, companies such as Sony have made some great features to enhance the flavor of their games. One such add-on is the adaptive triggers in PlayStation 5, which make the already realistic games more lifelike. Many PS5 titles utilize this technology optimally, which makes for a more immersive experience indeed. Given how the touchpad in the DualShock controllers was labeled as nothing more than a gimmick that a lot of developers didn’t take advantage of, fans can only hope that the same issue doesn’t plague this groundbreaking controller as well.
Updated on April 17, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The DualSense is one of the best introductions to the new generation of gaming, with the PlayStation brand showing how effective controllers can be to convey a unique, modern game-feel that makes a title feel even more memorable. While most people would assume that only proprietary Sony games have made the most of this technology, this isn’t necessarily the case. Several amazing third-party games have done a great job of integrating the DualSense’s adaptive triggers into the game, with the results being pretty spectacular.
23 God Of War: Ragnarok
Context-Sensitive Actions Feel Better With The Triggers Making Things Feel More Immersive
God of War: Ragnarok
- Released
- November 9, 2022
The next chapter in God of War‘s reboot was something that fans were waiting for with bated breath. The story of Kratos encountering various iconic figures from Norse mythology as he and Atreus journeyed to scatter Faye’s ashes was an epic tale that needed to be cranked up to the max for the sequel, which was exactly what happened.
Watching the heroes prepare for Ragnarok steers the story in an epic direction that is pretty incredible to witness. Kratos continues to be one of the most fascinating characters in gaming, with this reimagining being a joy to witness and something that elated fans to no end. The gameplay is improved upon considerably, and the integration of the adaptive triggers makes actions in combat even more enthralling.
22 The Last Of Us Part 2 Remastered
Combat Is Visceral And More Immersive With The Integrated DualSense Support
The Last Of Us Part II Remastered
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
While some people may argue whether The Last of Us Part 2 even needs a remaster, there’s no denying that the addition of a 60 FPS mode was enough to sell the experience to most fans. This makes combat even snappier than before, making for a great time as players engage with one of the most engaging and visceral combat systems in a third-person shooter.
The adaptive triggers add weight to Ellie and Abby’s actions, making every aspect of the game more engaging than ever. The Last of Us Part 2‘s story may be as divisive as they come, but it’s the engaging gameplay that holds this experience together till the very end, and the PS5 remaster is an excellent improvement on this front.
21 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Swinging And Combat Is A Blast With The Adaptive Triggers
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a great continuation of Peter and Miles’ stories as Spider-Men, tackling many dangers along the way as new foes step into the picture. The improvement of the game’s traversal and combat made this game a blast to play through, and switching between the Spider-Men is as seamless as can be.
The technical brilliance of this game makes things feel even better, with the adaptive triggers doing a great job of making every aspect of the game feel as immersive as can be. Feeling the tautness of the web Spider-Man is swinging on is a feeling that never gets boring no matter how many times players swing through the boroughs and districts of New York.
20 Ghostwire: Tokyo
Combat Feels Better With Adaptive Triggers
The work of Tango Gameworks is pretty unique, and Ghostwire: Tokyo is a great first-person open-world game with elements of the supernatural. While the game’s visual design was a thing of beauty, most people felt that the game was slightly underwhelming in other areas.
The combat itself feels dated, but PS5 players will love how the DualSense controller elevates this aspect of the game. Battles feel satisfying when the DualSense gives proper feedback to the many moves players can pull off. Despite some of its faults, Ghostwire: Tokyo is one of the most impressive third-party titles around when it comes to showing off the true capabilities of the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.
19 Grand Theft Auto 5
Even More Immersive With DualSense Support
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the greatest video games ever made. This title continues to capture the minds and hearts of players even now. Most people familiar with how Rockstar operates know that this studio always prioritizes console releases before PC.
It’s easy to see why this reputed studio went all out for GTA 5‘s re-release on PS5. The DualSense integration is a thing of beauty, making it the perfect title to check out for players who want to sense how this controller feels. It’s perfect for engaging in criminal acts in GTA 5. Sure, another re-release of this game made people groan, but fans willing to look past this fact will find themselves enjoying what is arguably the best way to play this amazing game.
18 Borderlands 3
Shooting Feels Snappy And Responsive As Triggers Mimic Recoil
Borderlands 3
- Released
- September 13, 2019
Many feel Borderlands 3 dropped the ball. The game’s writing was all over the place and didn’t hit the right notes. Most players felt that the game lacked the spark that made the first two Borderlands games and the Pre-Sequel such a blast to play through. While the shooting and gameplay were tight in their way, Borderlands 3 didn’t do a lot to change up the formula.
Regardless of the game’s disappointing release, there’s no denying that the integration of adaptive triggers and haptic feedback is truly impressive. Shooting guns feels more immersive than ever before along with a host of other actions that make the most of the DualSense’s technology to great effect.
17 Call Of Duty: Vanguard
Uses The Triggers Exactly How They Should
Call of Duty Vanguard
- Released
- November 5, 2021
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
It’s a given that many first-person shooters would do a great job integrating haptic feedback into their games. Call of Duty: Vanguard is no exception to this golden rule. The game may not be the greatest title in the series, but fans of Call of Duty will get a kick out of checking the action-packed campaign while the tried-and-tested multiplayer is as fun as most people would expect.
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Vanguard‘s use of adaptive triggers is about as great as most people would expect, with the act of shooting the game’s many guns feeling as fun and unique as ever. The game is a blast to play through and ensures that players will never get bored of the countless hours they can spend shooting both human and AI foes.
16 Death Stranding
The Haptics Immerse Players In The Haunting, Beautiful World
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
The news that Death Stranding is coming to the iPhone 15 shows just how powerful Apple’s latest lineup of products is. Players love going through Death Stranding and immersing themselves in a game that turns the simple act of traversal into a compelling gameplay loop. A lot of people didn’t understand the title when it launched but slowly warmed up to it over time, finally understanding Kojima’s greatness when it came to this title.
Death Stranding‘s use of DualSense technology is ingenious. The game is about long and arduous journeys across a variety of terrain, and the use of haptic feedback genuinely allows players to feel the strain of this journey. Even the simple act of Sam traversing in the rain can be felt via the controller’s vibrations, which do an immense job of keeping players immersed in this amazing game.
15 Cyberpunk 2077
Combat Feels Satisfying With Triggers And Haptics
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
Cyberpunk 2077 endured a rough launch before picking up the pieces and polishing most of the issues present in the title. The result is a great game with an emotionally gripping story that is an absolute blast to play through.
The strengths of Cyberpunk 2077 are more than apparent with the latest version, and PS5 players can enjoy this title with its DualSense implementation. Everything from shooting guns to slicing through enemies feels great with this responsive and immersive controller.
14 Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
The Use Of Adaptive Triggers Is Sublime
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Released
- November 13, 2020
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is another fun title in this long-running FPS series, featuring an action-packed story campaign and multiplayer that is quite fun to play through. The game also has a great implementation of the DualSense controller, with the adaptive triggers being especially impressive.
The game went above and beyond to ensure that each weapon has a unique feel on the DualSense, and this effort is quite apparent. There aren’t many other games that are a perfect display of what the next-gen controller is capable of than Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
13 Deathloop
Gunplay And Combat Come To Life
Deathloop
- Released
- September 14, 2021
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Deathloop is another great title by Arkane that continues its legacy of creating amazing modern immersive sims. The game’s time loop is pretty interesting and leads to players carrying out a near-perfect run as they strive to finish the game’s core objective of killing all eight Visionaries in the game.
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Missteps are common and a part of Deathloop‘s core gameplay. The DualSense integration of this game is also pretty great and adds a ton of weight to the many weapons and powers players can use in the game.
12 Far Cry 6
The Shooting Helps Elevate The Action Sequences
Far Cry 6 was a title with a ton of promise that ultimately failed to deliver. The game lacked inspiration and modernity, choosing to adhere to the template set by its predecessor instead of trying to reach new heights of excellence.
That being said, Far Cry 6 is far from a bad game, and players can have a ton of fun if they look past the game’s many missteps. The DualSense integration is quite impressive, with the controller’s adaptive triggers making the action-packed gameplay feel pretty impressive indeed.
11 Hitman 3
Feels More Tense When The Triggers Kick In
Hitman 3
- Released
- January 20, 2021
- Genre(s)
- Action , Puzzle , Simulation
Hitman 3 is a great game that continues the modern revival of the Hitman series. The levels in this title are massive and offer players several options to break into the premises and take down their target.
Hitman 3‘s action and stealth become even more immersive with DualSense integration. Each shot that players fire will feel all the more impactful courtesy of this great controller.
10 Astro’s Playroom
A Celebration Of What The DualSense Controller Can Achieve
Astro’s Playroom
- Released
- November 12, 2020
- Developer(s)
- ASOBI Team
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Astro’s Playroom is a launch title for PlayStation 5 and comes pre-installed on the console. The game was released alongside Sony’s PS5 in November 2020 and was a sequel to a paid PSVR game titled Astro Bot Rescue Mission. At its core, Astro’s Playroom is a three to four-hour game that is intentionally a tech demo for the features of PlayStation 5.
Hence, it does a great job of making use of everything, including the DualSence controller’s adaptive triggers. Despite its short length, Astro’s Playroom is a must-play for anyone who gets a PS5, even in 2022.
9 Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart
Makes The Most Of The DualSense’s Advantages
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
- Released
- June 11, 2021
- Genre(s)
- Platformer , Third-Person Shooter
Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart is the latest entry in Sony’s long-running Ratchet And Clank series. This beautiful game stands apart for its stunning visuals that look like animated movies and its new gameplay mechanics that take advantage of the PlayStation 5’s internal Ultra-High Speed SSD.
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Moreover, the game is one of the highest-rated PS5 exclusive titles on the market, thanks to its Pixar-like quality. Unfortunately, not many people talk about Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart’s amazing adaptive trigger implementation, which makes each weapon feel different.
8 Ghost Of Tsushima
The Bow, Grappling Hook, And Sword Feel Great
Unlike Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart, Ghost Of Tsushima isn’t a PlayStation 5 exclusive title. However, it is a Sony exclusive that initially came out in 2020 for PS4 and later made its way to the next-gen console in 2021. Ghost Of Tsushima is an excellent samurai game that wows everyone with its stunning visual style and painting-like aesthetics, even on the older system.
However, the PlayStation 5 version kicks it up a notch by making use of the adaptive triggers. The game on the newer console can make players feel the tension of drawing a bow, the weight of Jin’s grappling hook, and the strike of each sword slash.
7 Demon’s Souls
Swinging A Weapon In A Soulsborne Game Has Never Felt Better
Demon’s Souls
- Released
- October 6, 2009
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike , Action RPG
Demon’s Souls is an action role-playing masterpiece on PlayStation 3 and the first game that started the mainstream souls-like genre. The FromSoftware game was such a hit and memorable title that Sony decided to remake it and release it as one of the first launch titles on PlayStation 5.
Demon’s Souls remake came out in 2020 alongside PS5 and utilized the next-gen hardware to showcase different features. From graphics to gameplay, it was critically acclaimed for its attention to detail and faithfulness to the original. The game also utilizes adaptive triggers to add tension to the buttons, so players can feel each strike.
6 Control
Destructive Combat Becomes Even More Immersive
Whenever developer Remedy comes out with a game, it gets a lot of praise for the writing, gameplay, and overall design. The same happened with Control, which emerged in 2019 and quickly became one of the most popular games. The action-adventure third-person shooter won multiple awards for the next two years and came out on Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia, and PlayStation 5.
The Control Ultimate Edition on PS5 has many new features, including better resolution support, 60fps, ray-tracing, and more. Additionally, it utilizes adaptive triggers, which makes The Service Weapon in the game pop, and the haptic feedback only adds to it.
5 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Swinging And Combat Are A Blast
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Released
- November 12, 2020
When Marvel’s Spider-Man first came out in 2018, it blew everyone away with its quality. From a touching storyline to villains, the game had it all. However, the best thing in the game was the new and improved web-swinging, which still feels just as good four years later.
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The spin-off to the original game Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales takes the same web-swinging one step further by adding “The Exaggerated Swagger of a Black Teen” to the mix. Moreover, the PlayStation 5 version of the game uses adaptive triggers that add weight to each swing.
4 Returnal
One Of The Best Games To Display The Dualsense’s Immersive Features
Returnal
- Released
- April 30, 2021
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Returnal is another PlayStation 5 exclusive that came out a few months after the console’s launch. The third-person shooter game offered a roguelike gameplay design but provided the players with more accessibility than other similar games. The game also offered breathtaking visuals and unique art direction and utilized PS5’s hardware optimally.
Additionally, Returnal showcased many outstanding features, including a ray-tracing-enabled 60fps mode, fantastic haptic feedback on the DualSense controller, and an intriguing adaptive trigger implementation that enhances the overall experience.