PlayStation Plus has gone through several iterations and changes since it was first introduced. Originally, the service wasn’t required for online play at all and rewarded subscribers with extra discounts and free monthly games. Once the PlayStation 4 generation began, it was required for online play, but still offered those same benefits.
Now, PS Plus is divided into three different tiers of subscriptions. The basic tier, PS Plus Essential, still gets three games per month added, while the Extra and Premium tiers will have a varying number of games added to their catalogs. With hundreds of games already and more coming and going all the time, even the most dedicated gamer won’t be able to play everything on offer. To help you get the most bang for your buck, and so that no hidden gems go under your radar, here are all the best games to play on PS Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium right now.
Best PS Plus Essential games
As is usually the case, everyone with the lowest tier of PS Plus gets three games this month, two with PlayStation 5 versions and one with a PS4 version. Here’s what you can play this month:
Saints Row
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Deep Silver Volition
Publisher
Deep Silver
Release
August 23, 2022
The big headliner for September is the Saint’s Row reboot. While initially criticized for rough performance at launch, multiple updates and patches have helped this game’s performance out quite a bit in the year since it initially launched. Playing as a new gang in the desert playground of Santo Ileso, you and your team will take on wild and over-the-top missions to build your criminal empire and take down rival gangs. Packed with cars, guns, and an open world to explore either alone or in full co-op, this game has a ton to keep you occupied if you’ve got an itch for a big open world game.
Read our full Saints Row review
Black Desert: Traveler Edition
T
Platforms
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Role-playing (RPG)
Release
May 08, 2020
If you want a different flavor of open world, perhaps more of the MMO style, then Black Desert – Traveler Edition will fit the bill. This MMORPG has quietly become one of the most popular in the genre over the years. Sporting some of the best graphics in an MMO, the action is really where Black Desert shines. With years of content already included to dive into, as well as quests, PvP, fishing, trading, cooking, crafting, and all the different classes to try out, you can easily get hooked and lose yourself in this magical world.
Generation Zero
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Systemic Reaction
Publisher
Systemic Reaction
Release
March 26, 2019
Rounding out the list is an entry for you FPS fans. Generation Zero is yet another open-world game, but this one mixes FPS and survival elements in an alternate universe 1989 Sweden. In this world, massive robots have waged war against humans — and are winning. You play as a teenager who returns home after a trip to find their home completely overrun by the robotic menace. You must attempt to survive the dangerous world, figure out how to fight back against the robots, and discover exactly what happened to the people of your hometown
Best PS Plus Extra games
The Extra tier is where you can download and play a massive library of both PS4 and PS5 titles. These games cycle in and out every month, though you never know how many will be added or removed at a given time. Here are some of the best ones available right now:
Demon's Souls
M
Platforms
PlayStation 5
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Bluepoint Games
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
November 12, 2020
Souls games have never been more popular, and this is a remake of the game that really started it all. Not only is this remake just astoundingly beautiful to look at, but is as mechanically faithful to the original as possible. The only changes are to quality-of-life features, leaving the challenge of besting the levels, and bosses, all on your shoulders. It’s a little clunky in some ways but holds up remarkably well for a game over a decade old thanks to the new coat of paint.
Bloodborne
M
Platforms
PlayStation 4
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
FromSoftware
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
March 24, 2015
Sticking on the Souls train, we have the other PlayStation exclusive from developer FromSoftware, the fan favorite that they refuse to update in any way: Bloodborne. This title is much more focused on aggression than the others in the series, as well as boasting a unique and detailed world that just oozes with mysteries and intrigue. You usually can’t tell where a Souls game’s story is going anyway, but this game goes places you’d still never guess.
Death Stranding: Director's Cut
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
Genre
Adventure
Developer
Kojima Productions
Publisher
505 Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
September 24, 2021
Hideo Kojima’s first game after breaking up with Konami was about as off the wall as everyone expected it to be. While some dismiss it as a walking simulator, the act of walking, climbing, scrambling, and tumbling across treacherous, but stunning, landscapes is actually far more engaging than it may look. In many ways, it is quite a therapeutic experience, so don’t come expecting a high-action thriller (though there are moments of it here and there). The story is uneven, but the highs are very high, making it a journey worth taking.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Naughty Dog
Publisher
Naughty Dog, Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
January 28, 2022
If you somehow missed the latest Uncharted titles on PS4, you’re in luck because the two latest entries, Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy, have been bundled together and given a brand new coat of paint (plus some additional frames) for the PS5. Granted, this is the conclusion of the series, so it may not be the best place to start from a story perspective, but even with no prior knowledge, you can still enjoy the rollercoaster set pieces and swashbuckling adventure these titles provide.
It Takes Two
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Hazelight Studios
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
March 25, 2021
Winner of many game of the year awards, It Takes Two is the best example of a co-op game we’ve ever played. Playing as a couple on the verge of divorce who are turned into their daughter’s toys, you and your partner will need to work together to navigate the world at your new scale to try and get back to normal. And when we say need to work together, we mean it. Unlike many other co-op games, teamwork is required here since each player has a different skill or ability in each segment of the game that can’t fully function without the other player’s. It may be a little long, but it is never boring since the mechanics change so frequently.
Horizon Forbidden West
T
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Guerrilla Games
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
February 18, 2022
Perhaps the biggest new IP of the PS4 generation, this is the perfect way to get caught up on this robot-dinosaur-hunting adventure. Even though it’s from 2017, this game still looks amazing. You get a nice, big open world to explore, although there are some frustrating limitations on just how far you’re allowed to carve your own path, along with hours of quests and tasks to complete. Once you’re done, the even more expansive and breathtaking 2022 sequel is right there waiting for you to download. Continue Aloy’s journey into a brand new environment, full of new threats to take down, and even more mysteries to solve. The story really ramps up here now that the world has been established, and you won’t believe the twists and turns it takes. With every game available, you’ll be ready for the VR spinoff.
Read our full Horizon Forbidden West review
Kingdom Hearts III
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Square Enix
Publisher
Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios
Release
January 25, 2019
As massive Kingdom Hearts fans, it was once very difficult to recommend the series when so many important entries were scattered across platforms. Now, not only are they all in convenient bundles, plus remastered and include each game’s Final Mix content, but all of them are included on PlayStation Plus Extra. That makes it the easiest it has ever been to go through this epic crossover series from start to finish (at least until Kingdom Hearts 4 comes out).
Read our full Kingdom Hearts III review
Doom Eternal
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
March 19, 2020
The Doom franchise ripped and tore its way back into the limelight with its 2016 reboot, and the sequel, Doom Eternal turns the volume up to 11. The action is faster, the enemies deadlier, and your arsenal more varied. Doomguy has never felt so good to control, and the methods for you to dismantle the demonic enemies have never felt so disgustingly satisfying. If you’re an first-person shooter fan, there’s no excuse not to jump into this game and let off some steam.
Red Dead Redemption 2
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Rockstar Games
Publisher
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games
Release
October 26, 2018
If you ever wanted to know what it was like to live in the Old West, Red Dead Redemption 2 would probably be the closest you could get to that experience. Set before the events of the previous game, you play as Arthur Morgan, a member of Dutch’s old gang. Being a Rockstar title, you can expect a fantastic, albeit very guided, main story across dozens of hours, locations, and mission varieties. On the other hand, the entire open world is yours to explore on horseback, soaking in the beauty of an untamed west.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Adventure
Developer
Insomniac Games
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
June 11, 2021
The classic PS2 franchise made a huge first impression on the PS5 with Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. This game really shows what the new hardware can do in all aspects. The graphics are on the level of an animated feature comet to life, the frame rate is rock solid, and the resolution is beautiful and even offers ray tracing, but the real showpiece are the rifts. The whole concept of this title is that the dimensions are falling apart, allowing Ratchet, and new protagonist Rivet, to seamlessly move from one dimension to the next. It is a trick so amazing that you may not believe it’s real. Oh, and it also helps that the game itself is a fantastically fun shooter with tons of personality and creative weapons and enemies.
Rogue Legacy 2
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Platform, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Developer
Cellar Door Games
Publisher
Cellar Door Games
Release
April 18, 2020
Despite coming out a year prior on other platforms, your reward for being so patient waiting for Rogue Legacy 2 is that it is coming free with the Essential tier day one! Just like the original, you will be navigating a constantly shifting castle full of ghouls and monsters attempting to kill you. And they will. However, you will then choose an heir — each with their own special skills and traits — to try again and again until you eventually best the castle’s challenges. Between runs, spend your gold to upgrade your character, unlock new classes, vendors, and other buffs. Once you get into the flow, this will be a hard game to put down.
Sea of Stars
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, Indie
Developer
Sabotage
Publisher
Sabotage
Release
August 28, 2023
A rare day-one release on the service, Sea of Stars is exactly what any fan of Chrono Trigger or the 16-bit JRPGs of the SNES has been dreaming of. This is a turn-based game, but it incorporates the time-based elements from something like Mario RPG and all the more modern quality-of-life features you expect. The story is gripping, the environments beautiful and diverse, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. If you’ve been a bit disappointed with modern JRPGs and want a taste of what made you fall in love with them in the first place, you can’t do better than this.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genre
Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Insomniac Games
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
November 12, 2020
As it turns out, this slightly smaller-scale Spider-Man tale is the perfect size for a game like this. Acting as an introduction to playing as Miles’ Spider-Man, this game redecorates the entire map from the base game in a winter setting, adds new side missions and events, plus a gripping and personal story that could only work for Miles’ character. Everything you loved about the first game is back, from the swinging, combat, and upgrades to collectibles and suits to unlock. This is a full-on Spider-Man experience in a tight package that doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Yakuza 0
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Ryū Ga Gotoku Studios, Sega
Publisher
Sega
Release
March 12, 2015
The first three games in the Yakuza timeline are hitting all at once, with the remaining to be added later in 2022. This lets players begin Kiryu and Majima’s story in 0, then experience the original first two games via their Kiwami remakes for PS4. All three of these games are brawlers set in the criminal underworld of Japan. The level of mystery, drama, and politics involved are on the level of the best of prestige TV writing, but with the unique Yakuza flavor that you won’t get anywhere else.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Square Enix
Publisher
Square Enix
Release
June 10, 2021
Aside from being an absolute mouthful to say out loud, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is the best way to play one of 2020’s best games on your PS5. This already graphically impressive PS4 title has been upgraded to take advantage of your PS5 by doubling the frame rate to 60, improving lighting and textures, and cutting down load times. Plus, this version also comes with the Intermission DLC starring Yuffie which takes place during the events of the main game. With Rebirth looming on the horizon, this is the perfect way to catch up on how the story is changing.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
M
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Sucker Punch Productions
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
August 20, 2021
It’s reductive to say, but if you wanted an Assassin’s Creed-style game set in Japan, you need to check out Ghost of Tsushima. The game is so much more than that, however, thanks to a strong narrative with strong characters and an open world that doesn’t waste your time with hundreds of collectibles and repeated side content. The main point of discussion this game brought up was its use of a guiding wind to direct players rather than waypoints and mini-maps. By simply following the direction of the wind, you can fully focus on your samurai quest across the stunning island of Tsushima.
Assassin's Creed Origins
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
October 26, 2017
While we did rag on Assassin’s Creed games a moment ago, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a time or place for them. Assassin’s Creed Origins was the first to break the series’ established formula and become essentially a full western RPG. Set in ancient Egypt, which is as faithfully recreated as any setting from the series, you will learn the origins of the legendary Assassin order as well as follow the personal tale of the new protagonist Bayek.
Hollow Knight
E10
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Team Cherry
Publisher
Team Cherry
Release
February 24, 2017
The competition for best indie game is essentially impossible to determine, but Hollow Knight would no doubt be on the shortlist for contenders. This game mixes a hand-drawn art style with buttery smooth movement, Souls-like combat, narrative, and boss fights, and a massive Metroidvania map. This is a game you can get to an ending in within 20 hours, or spend twice that exploring every inch and tackling every challenge it has to offer. While it is a world of insects, it plays and looks so good you won’t want to leave it.
Returnal
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Housemarque
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
April 30, 2021
Coming from developer Housemarque’s arcade shooter roots, Returnal transplants the gameplay of a bullet-hell game into a third-person shooter with rogue-lite elements. That may sound like a little bit of a mess, but it all comes together in a smooth, satisfying but testing game. Running through randomly generated rooms, you will blast some of the most bizarre creature designs ever animated in fluid 60 FPS action, picking up new tools, slowly completing each zone, and learning a bit more about the story. Runs are not as short as your traditional rogue-lite, and there isn’t a huge amount of synergies to discover, but the core movement and shooting are so good you’ll be pulled through to see Selene’s journey to the finish.
Read our full Returnal review
Best PS Plus Premium games
The Premium tier’s exclusive games are all the PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 games you can download and stream. The lineup of PS1, PS2, and PSP games was fairly limited at launch but will grow as new games are added monthly. For that retro hit, here are the best games from past generations to try out.
Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits
T
Platforms
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, Adventure
Developer
Cattle Call
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
March 20, 2003
Arc the Lad is a long-running, but criminally overlooked JRPG series. The PS2 entry, Twilight of the Spirits, is a great game with an amazing concept: You play as two brothers who are each human-deimos hybrids raised in different parts of the world. Deimos are the monster society of the world that uses magic, while humans use technology, but both racially judge the other. The journey swaps back and forth between these two perspectives, each overcoming their own plots until they finally intersect and have to put their biases aside to face a true evil. It’s great JRPG storytelling with a fantastic battle system.
Twisted Metal 2
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation, PlayStation 3
Genre
Fighting, Shooter, Racing
Developer
SingleTrac
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
October 31, 1996
Whether you’re anticipating the TV adaptation or not, the original two Twisted Metal games are absolutely worth going back to. This is where car combat really started, and it’s arguably still the best. Each character you play as has a unique story as they attempt to win the titular tournament with the promise of any wish being granted upon victory. However, those wishes are never quite granted in the way the characters expect, making it a treat to play through the game to see how their words are twisted.
The Sly Collection
E10
Platforms
PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Sucker Punch Productions
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
November 09, 2010
Sly Cooper was one of the biggest PS2 franchises and mascots for the system at the time, right up there with Ratchet and Jak. This trilogy brings the entire comic-themed, noir-styled, and charmingly witty series together. Start from the humble beginnings of the Cooper Gang in the first entry, see the evolution into a less linear style with the second, and experience the culmination of it all with even more members in the final chapter (made by SuckerPunch, anyway). This is one series worth reliving from start to finish.
Ape Escape
E
Platforms
PlayStation, PlayStation Portable
Genre
Platform
Developer
SCE Japan Studio
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
May 31, 1999
One of the first games to require the dual analog controls of the original DualShock controller, Ape Escape is a charming action-puzzle game that helped put PlayStation on the map in its infancy. You run around trying to recapture escaped apes using various tools to snare them. Of course, this is still a PS1 game, so don’t expect the visuals to hold up, and the controls are slightly clunky but completely serviceable. You may not be so engrossed that you beat the whole thing, but it is certainly worth a download for nostalgia’s sake.
Tekken 2
Platforms
Legacy Cellphone, Zeebo
Genre
Fighting
Developer
Namco Bandai Games
Publisher
Namco Bandai Games
Release
November 02, 2006
OK, it may not be Tekken 3, but it is basically the next best thing. When fighters started to go in the 3D direction, the Tekken games paved the way and showed the rest how it was done. The roster of characters remains not only iconic but wildly diverse and fun. This fighter is deep but also very approachable for those who aren’t veterans of fighting games since you don’t have to memorize tons of motions or commands to have a good time.
Wild Arms
E
Platforms
PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Role-playing (RPG)
Developer
Media.Vision
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
December 20, 1996
JRPGs with an Old West setting are basically nonexistent, but Wild Arms paved the way for this odd mishmash of cultures in a fantastic JRPG that old-school fans will absolutely love. You play as a trio of characters, letting you get to know each of them intimately. Each one has their own ability to use outside of battle for traversal and puzzle-solving. It features a classic turn-based battle system, but with a dynamic camera thanks to being in 3D, and plenty of strategy and deptht It isn’t the longest game, either, making it an easy entry point to JRPGs as a whole. If that unique blend of West and East worked for you, then the only real way to scratch that itch is with the sequel. Wild Arms 2 features a brand new cast, but is set in the same world. This time around, you control a larger party of six, but they’re all just as deep and important as the core three from the first game.
Ico
T
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Team Ico
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
September 24, 2001
The first game by the developer of the same name, ICO is cited more than almost any other game as being a primary inspiration to some of the biggest games today. This game came before the same developer’s Shadow of the Colossus, and because of that is often overlooked But it’s just as emotionally resonant and will give you that same sense of loneliness, wonder, and curiosity. You play as a horned boy who is locked away in a castle as a kind of sacrifice, only to attempt to escape with a young girl you find there. Neither of you speaks the same language, so you travel around holding hands and fending off shadowy monsters with not much more than a stick trying to find a way to freedom.
F.E.A.R.
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Monolith Productions
Publisher
Sierra Entertainment, Vivendi Universal Games
Release
October 17, 2005
This one is for all you FPS lovers out there. F.E.A.R. is a strange concept of a horror FPS where the shooting is actually some of the best still to this day. This is all thanks to the implementation of slo-mo, which is not as rare as it was when this game first came out, but even now some shooters still get the feel of it wrong. In F.E.A.R., every bullet, every impact, animation, dust particle, and crack of your gun just looks and feels amazing. The environments are a bit bland by today’s standards, but only because they’re so reactive to everything you do in them. If you want to shove a shotgun into an enemy soldier’s gut, flick on slow-mo, and watch them turn into a cloud of red mist, F.E.A.R. remains the best way to do it.
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