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PS4-to-PS5 game updates chewed on

This month we’ve reviewed more PS5 upgrades than usual. Devs are enhancing games in ways that mean a mere patch won’t suffice – they need full-fat upgrades. Here are some more where the devs have created definitive versions of older games on PS5.

Despite PlayStation 5’s curvy outer shell, you absolutely shouldn’t use it as a makeshift board to grind rails. Which is a shame, as you just know it’d be able to shred pretty hard. But there is one way to ride the rails using your PS5 that won’t result in a mess of computer chips when it hits granite: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. The upgrade is a big overhaul too, offering two visual modes to pick from: 1080p/120fps (on TVs that support it); and native 4K/60fps. That’s some smooth skateboarding. Visual enhancements continue into improved textures, sharpened dynamic shadows, lens flares, and reflections. And we haven’t even mentioned how it uses the SSD to load quickly into runs (you barely have to wait to kickflip), haptic feedback support on the DualSense, reworked spatial audio, or use of the Control Centre’s Activity cards and game help. With cross-gen progression meaning you dive right in, it’s landing a clean 970 onto PS5.

But perhaps you want to trade that skater cap for a fedora? No, we’re not suggesting you play a PS5 cringe dating sim, we’re referring to cosmic horror detective romp The Sinking City. The upgrade collects together additional cases for Charles Reed to investigate as he explores Oakmont. You’ll enjoy improved loading times, and 4K/60fps resolution plus improved visuals to really enhance the creeping sense of dread. DualSense support and Activity cards come together to create a detective game that feels like it belongs on the console. While the original release was something of a mixed bag, this technical improvement allows the story to shine.

And you can delve deeper into the realm of nightmares in the PS5 version of DARQ: Complete Edition, which is a free upgrade for people who own the Complete Edition on PS4. This trippy puzzler challenges you with escaping a lucid nightmare, and it looks better than ever in the cinematic mode that hits 4K/30fps, though a performance mode at 1800p/60fps is also available. It even adds in some DualSense haptics support so you can finally feel like you’re having a hands-centric nightmare yourself.