PlayStation Plus has undergone several iterations and changes since its introduction. 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 fly 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:
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake
76%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Purple Lamp Studios
Publisher
THQ Nordic
Release
January 31, 2023
Are you ready, kids? SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake is the newest adventure in Bikini Bottom, but plays very much like the classic PS2 game Battle for Bikini Bottom. Join SpongeBob and Patrick on a quest through space and time to save the entire universe after a wish goes horribly wrong. All the iconic characters and humor from the show appear here in a more family-friendly 3D platformer. Each level has a unique theme and costume for SpongeBob to wear, plus tons of collectibles to reward those who go off the beaten path.
AEW Fight Forever
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Fighting, Sport
Developer
Yuke's
Publisher
THQ Nordic
Release
June 29, 2023
Wrestling fans have had a rough few years, but AEW: Fight Forever finally revives the excitement of playing as your favorite superstar back to its former glory. This title brings the mechanics back to the arcade games of the past, but is updated with the current roster. There are plenty of match types to test out, such as tag team, ladder matches, and even exploding barbed wire deathmatches alongside the awesome Road to Elite career mode. It’s easy enough to pick up and learn some awesome moves, but deep enough to have some fun tactics and strategies. Or you could spend hours just customizing your own wrestlers.
Streets of Rage 4
81%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
Genre
Fighting, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Indie, Arcade
Developer
DotEmu, Guard Crush Games, Lizardcube
Publisher
DotEmu, Yooreka Studio
Release
April 30, 2020
Anyone who was fortunate enough to wander through arcades in the 1990s will recognize the name Streets of Rage. This very late, but welcomed, fourth entry changes up the artstyle from the originals but not much else. And that’s a good thing. This is still a side-scrolling beat ’em up with cool characters, power-ups, weapons, and tough bosses. It isn’t as unfair as the old quarter-munchers, but playing on the harder settings may trigger some of those memories. Even if you have no nostalgia for the originals, this is one of the best-feeling and best-looking games of this style you can get on modern platforms.
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
86%
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 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
92%
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
89%
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 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
85%
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.
Monster Hunter Rise
82%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Capcom Development Division 2
Publisher
Capcom
Release
March 26, 2021
Originally a Switch exclusive, now all us PlayStation fans who got a taste of the Monster Hunter games with World can jump into the latest entry before Wilds comes out next year. The formula isn’t changed much in Rise, but it’s as addicting as ever. You will be a new hunter tasked with taking down bigger and deadlier monsters as you collect materials and parts from them to upgrade your armor and gear. Aside from the return of the adorable Palico companions, Rise introduced a wolf mount named the Palamute to help you explore the new zones. As always, you can hunt alone or with friends in co-op.
Horizon Forbidden West
87%
4/5
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 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.
Kingdom Hearts III
75%
4.5/5
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 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).
Doom Eternal
85%
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
93%
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
90%
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 showpieces 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 is a fantastically fun shooter with tons of personality and creative weapons and enemies.
Lego The Hobbit
70%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Traveller's Tales
Publisher
WB Games, MGM Interactive
Release
April 08, 2014
All the major franchises have gotten Lego adaptations, but Lego The Hobbit might be the only one where the game is better than the films. If you’ve played one Lego game, you already know the loop here. The story will follow the same beats as the film, only with a lighter tone and some kid-friendly gags thrown in. You’ll play as Bilbo, Gandalf, the dwarves, and dozens of other characters from that universe while collecting millions of bricks. This is a perfect game to play together with younger kids who love the books or films, but are still a little new to games or not old enough for the more violent interpretations.
Sea of Stars
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 are 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
81%
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.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
88%
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 has changed.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
94%
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
83%
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 and follow the personal tale of the new protagonist Bayek.
Hollow Knight
92%
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
86%
4/5
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.
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.
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
79%
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Sucker Punch Productions
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
September 23, 2002
The Sly trilogy on the PS2 was one of the most influential and unique games on the platform. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus introduced us to Sly, Bently, and Murray as a gang of thieves portrayed with a striking cel-shaded art style and comic book-inspired cutscenes. The gameplay of sneaking through levels with tons of movement abilities made you really feel like a stealthy raccoon on the prowl. The later games built on and improved everything this first game started, but that doesn’t mean the original should be skipped.
Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits
80%
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
75%
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
81%
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
78%
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 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
80%
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 its 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 depth. 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
85%
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.
81%
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 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.
