PS5's Top Downloads of 2025 Revealed: Forza Horizon 5 Stuns in Europe

PlayStation has officially unveiled the most downloaded PS5 games of 2025, releasing separate top 20 charts for the United States/Canada and Europe. The data, published on 15 January 2026, reveals a fascinating mix of perennial favourites and a few significant surprises, highlighting shifting trends in the console gaming landscape.

Sports Titles and Familiar Faces Lead the Charge

As has been the case for many years, annual sports franchises proved their enduring popularity. In the US and Canada, NBA 2K26 claimed the number one spot, while across the Atlantic, EA Sports FC 26 topped the European chart. Other established blockbusters like Grand Theft Auto V and Minecraft continued to pull in massive download numbers on both continents, demonstrating their seemingly limitless appeal.

The recently released military shooter, Battlefield 6, also performed strongly, securing a position within the top five in both regions. This indicates a successful launch for the title, which faced stiff competition from other major releases throughout the year.

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The Rise of Multiplatform and a European Surprise

The most striking story from the data comes from Europe, where Forza Horizon 5 raced to an impressive fourth place. This is particularly notable because the racing title was once a flagship exclusive for Microsoft's Xbox platform. Its high ranking on the PS5 chart—especially when compared to its 14th-place finish in North America—underscores the growing success of Xbox game ports on Sony's console.

In a direct comparison that will raise eyebrows, Forza Horizon 5 even outperformed Sony's own major exclusive, Ghost of Yotei, in Europe. This occurred despite Forza not having a physical PS5 edition available, suggesting a strong preference for digital purchases among European gamers for this title.

Notable Omissions and Industry Implications

While the charts celebrate the year's biggest hits, several highly anticipated games failed to make the top 20 cut. Fan favourites such as Hollow Knight: Silksong, Death Stranding 2, and the Kingdom Come: Deliverance sequel all missed out, likely due to late-year releases or exceptionally fierce competition.

The strong showing of Forza Horizon 5 serves as a clear validation of Microsoft's multiplatform strategy. It is little wonder that the 'Green Team' is continuing this approach with upcoming titles like Avowed, launching next month, and the anticipated Halo: Campaign Evolved, due later in the year.

Here are the full rankings for the most downloaded PS5 games in 2025:

US/CANADA