It’s been a while since PlayStation Plus offered more than two games in a single month, and even longer since it offered more than two games for a single system. July 2020 marks a shift in Sony’s normal PS Plus strategy, even if it is just because the service turned 10 on June 29.
July’s lineup is a little more diverse than the ones featured in May (Cities: Skylines, Farming Simulator 19) and June (Call of Duty: WWII, Star Wars Battlefront 2), including a sports game, an action-adventure game, and an interactive adventure game.
Here’s what you can expect when the lineup refreshes on July 7.
NBA 2K20
NBA 2K20 is the latest release in the long-running franchise that started all the way back in 1999 with NBA 2K. As with many sports games, NBA 2K20 iterates on the franchise formula with new controls and upgraded systems.
It sees the return of fan-favorite modes, such as MyCareer, MyTeam, and MyGM, and notably, the game includes every team from the WNBA, though they are only available in a single mode.
Generally praised by critics, NBA 2K20 was mostly critiqued for its reliance on microtransactions. However, it sold exceptionally well during its launch month, and it has continued to perform well, with Take-Two reporting in February that the game had sold some 8 million copies.
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Edition
Rise of the Tomb Raider is the second installment in Square’s Tomb Raider reboot series. This time, Lara’s adventures take her to Syria and Siberia in search of Kitezh and the source of everlasting life. It continues the story that began in Tomb Raider (2013).
Gameplay is largely unchanged in Rise when compared to its predecessor, including many of its crafting and RPG elements. However, the world of Rise is much larger, and it affords for increased combat and exploration options. Challenge tombs also make their debut, which are grandiose puzzles reminiscent of the original Tomb Raider titles.
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Edition includes the base game, as well as all previously released DLC. It also includes new story missions, co-op features, skins, and PSVR support for the new single-player content (not the full game, unfortunately).
Erica
Erica is a narrative-driven FMV game along the lines of Her Story, except this time you’re unraveling the mystery of what happened to Erica’s father, all while dealing with the trauma of her childhood. Oh, and did we mention it’s all wrapped in occultism?
With a roughly two-hour running length, Erica may not take long to complete, but its story will stick with you well after the credits roll. Featuring multiple paths and endings, as well as some truly disturbing imagery, Erica is well-worth replaying multiple times and shows that FMV games still have a lot to give.
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All of these games hit PS Plus on July 7, giving you another week to pick up Call of Duty: WWII and Star War Battlefront 2. Aside from the Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more on PS Plus.
