The PlayStation Plus program offers a reliable way to unlock tons of excellent games on both your PS5 and PS4 consoles. Let’s check out the 25 best games on PlayStation Plus.
On a budget, you can choose the Essential package, which offers a few great games each month. However, the true treasure trove hides behind the Extra and Premium packages that grant you access to the Game Catalog. This is a massive collection of tried-and-true PlayStation games, and I’m going to point out some of my favorites in no particular order. Here are some quick links to each entry if you want to just read about the ones you’re most interested in yourself.
- Children of Morta
- Devil May Cry 5
- Soulsborne
- The Assassin’s Creed franchise
- Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
- Hollow Knight
- XCOM 2
- God of War (2018)
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Marvel’s Spider-man: Miles Morales
- It Takes Two
- Returnal
- The Final Fantasy series
- The Dishonored series
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Shadow of the Colossus
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- The Talos Principle
- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- The Uncharted series
- Doom (2016) & Doom Eternal
- Warhammer: Vermintide 2
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
- PlayStation Plus Games: Honorable Mentions
December 2023’s 25 Best Games on PlayStation Plus
Before we dive into the Game Catalog list, December 2023 brings us three exciting claimable Essential titles. This month, they are:
- Sable: A highly immersive post-apocalyptic choose-your-own-adventure game where you’ll be riding around ancient desert temples on your trusty air-glider bike.
- LEGO 2K Drive: Everything you love about racing games but in a LEGO open-world setting with online cross-play.
- PowerWash Simulator: A weirdly satisfying game about cleaning and blasting away grime with high-pressure water around various areas such as amusement parks, subways, temples, and more
As we mentioned, Essential titles change each month, so you have the opportunity to always claim new games. In contrast, the Game Catalog in the Extra and Premium package is a much larger collection. Both are available permanently as long as you have a PS Plus subscription. Let’s dive into some of the best games on PlayStation Plus
Children of Morta
Children of Morta is arguably one of the best co-op roguelites ever. It has an incredibly mystical world and story along with excellently written characters in the form of the Bergson family. Each run you’ll unlock new family members, discover their stories and abilities, and explore the entrancing dungeons of the world. Along with Hades, I’d say this is one of the best isometric combat roguelites out there.
Devil May Cry 5
Speaking of combat, the Devil May Cry series has pioneered stylish spectacle-fighting combos enhanced by demonic power and weaponry. Activate your devil trigger and experience the peak of DMC’s story and combat system in the fifth installation of the game. There’s something here for each Dante, Vergil, and Nero fan separately. However, as in the Devil May Cry 3, you’ll have to beat the game first for Vergil.
Soulsborne Games
Between titles like the overhauled Demon’s Souls and the eldritch horrors of Bloodborne, a PlayStation Plus subscription is an excellent gateway into the Soulsborne franchise. Demon’s Souls features remastered graphics in its slow and tactical combat while Bloodborne has some of the fastest combat in any Soulsborne game. Either way, you get to explore some of the peaks of dark fantasy worldbuilding in video games.
Assassin’s Creed Franchise
Whether you’re a veteran of the franchise or are looking to dip your toes in the Assassin’s Creed series, there are a lot of them in the PS Plus Game Catalog. Among almost a dozen AS titles, I recommend Odyssey as a relatively newer one due to its beautiful Greek mythology world. Moreover, if you haven’t played the classics then the Ezio Collection, especially AC2 is a must-try. Assassin’s Creed Mirage is not yet in there but it will be eventually.
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium is one of those games where you feel like you’re reading a masterfully crafted choose-your-adventure novel. There are tons of games out there that promote the infamous “Choices Matter” tag, but here, your agency is actually valued. The gameplay style is akin to a point-and-click adventure with a detailed and complex investigation and social interaction system.
Hollow Knight
There are several great Metroidvania games in the Games Catalogue, like Blasphemous and Bloodstained Ritual of the Knight (both of which are great titles). But we ended up choosing Hollow Knight due to the sheer originality of the game world and character designs. Hollow Knight truly captures that sense of Metroidvania wonder as you explore its gloomy yet comforting world with Souls-like elements. I can’t wait for Silksong.
XCOM 2
If you’re a fan of tactical turn-based RPGs and haven’t played XCOM 2 yet, the PS Plus collection has you covered. Similar to Darkest Dungeon, XCOM 2 will force you to face both moral choices and decisions that can get your characters killed permanently. All of this is wrapped up in a gritty turn-based ranged combat system and an alien-takeover storyline filled with mystery and drama.
God of War (2018)
Boy, is this arguably one of the best storylines ever written for video games. In true God of War fashion, the combat system is superb with various Ice and Fire abilities and combinations. That said, I feel everyone remembers God of War for the beautiful narrative about the trials and sacrifices of being a parent. It helps that the game features some masterful voice acting, as well.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Upon release, lots of Marvel video game fans were skeptical about Guardians of the Galaxy due to the subpar response to Marvel’s Avengers. However, Marvel’s GoG proved to be a highly entertaining action-adventure game filled with humor, quips, and tons of combat variety. Plus, they nailed what many of us imagined playing as Star-Lord would feel like.
Horizon Forbidden West
As a huge fan of this post-apocalyptic machine-dino-infused world, I am quite happy to say that both the sequel and Horizon Zero Dawn are available in the PS Plus Game Catalogue. There’s something so primal yet futuristic about knocking cyber arrows and fighting mecha kaiju dinosaurs in thrilling one-on-one combat. But this is only the tip of the iceberg as HZD offers an expansive open-world experience with a great story to explore.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
I had to include another Marvel title and Miles Morales as Spider-Man is the only web-slinging game available in the Game Catalog. That said, this is one of those new-gen Spider-Man games that pioneered the system behind the recent Spider-Man 2. The game perfectly captures that feeling of slinging across the world at incredible speeds and fighting off bad guys. Lots of Spidey games have done that in the past but this one just has that modern polish to it.
It Takes Two
I may be biased but It Takes Two is probably one of the greatest co-op experiences in general not bound by genre. Let’s put the beautiful and genuinely wholesome story about healing a broken marriage aside, It Takes Two’s co-op mechanics are legendary. You and your co-op partner will feel like you’re playing a new mini-game or experiencing a new mechanic constantly as you progress through the adorable world of the game. Also, Doctor Hakim is a treasure. “Cooooperationnn!”
Returnal
Do you like third-person shooters, a haunting sci-fi story, and bullet hell goodness? Well then you may have to try Returnal. This gloomy yet oddly colorful roguelite experience will keep you coming back for one more run every time. Each death unlocks another secret about the world and each victory feels earned. This isn’t an easy game, but a hell of a rewarding one.
The Final Fantasy Series
There are around ten different Final Fantasy games for you to channel your nostalgia and enjoy a good old JRPG combat system. Furthermore, there are even titles here that transcend the traditional gameplay system like the relatively new Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Feel free to browse around the various FF games and find the right one for you.
The Dishonored Series
Take the mantle of Corvo Attano or his daughter Emily Kaldwin, two Eldritch power-infused assassins seeking justice and retribution. Dishonored offers you a choice: engage in the decently implemented stealth system of the game or go wild and cause brutal chaos and carnage with your powers. The story shifts depending on your playstyle, but is always a good time.
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is one of those games that could just as well be a walking simulator in different circumstances. Tsushima is a beautifully rendered region and the gameplay is actually similar to Dishonored in some respects. You’ll be mastering stealth tactics but also developing your katana and bow fighting skills. At the end of the day, you can also sit down and compose a wonderful haiku poem.
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
There are several great horror games in the PlayStation Plus package like Outlast 2 and Alien: Isolation. We chose Biohazard both due to the legacy of Resident Evil games and the immersive story behind the Baker family. This is an all-around good but terrifying time and it seems like a natural fit for any horror video game lover.
Shadow of the Colossus
Speaking of legacy, this is one of those blast-from-the-past nostalgia jewels. The mystifying world and ambiance of Shadow of the Colossus is available today as a remastered game with improved graphics. The various Colossi have never looked better and the gameplay, though simplistic, is timeless. Countless games today own their boss-climbing combat mechanics to Shadow of the Colossus.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Granted, some readers may produce an exasperated sigh at this entry but it’s nonetheless an important one. The Elder Scrolls games are a huge part of our open-world RPG culture and Skyrim is the most accessible and expansive one. It’s here on this list for one reason only, if you haven’t tried it yet or you feel like getting back in, it’s available on PS Plus.
The Talos Principle
One of the best first-person puzzle games with a sci-fi philosophical theme. If you want to dive into a deep story with gameplay that isn’t mechanically-demanding, The Talos Principle is perfect. Solve puzzles, explore ancient ruins and advanced technologies, and uncover the deep secrets of the game world. Also, Talos Principle 2 is just around the corner.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War are easily one of the most well-developed Tolkien-inspired games out there. With Assassin’s Creed platforming and Arkham Knight/City combat, the game becomes a masterpiece when these elements merge with a great RPG system and Tolkienesque story. Build an army of orcs and march on that gloomy, ring-making, elf-deceiving, hobbit-hating Sauron bastard.
Uncharted Series
When it comes to pure exploration and adventure games, the Uncharted series is hard to beat. You can find the full series in the Game Catalog to experience whenever you want. It’s simply an overall thrilling game with plenty of exciting, action-packed sequences and decent acting.
Doom (2016) & Doom Eternal
Welcome to the new age of first-person shooters ladies and gentlemen, get ready to rip and tear. Doom (2016) and especially the Eternal sequel is, without a doubt, one of those high-octane FPS games that both veterans and newcomers to the series will enjoy. It has so many entertaining elements like the shotgun grapple hook, first-person demon executions, incredible art style, and, of course, that soundtrack. Mick Gordon, the composer of the OST, is a virtuoso with a synth-aided eight-string. Furthermore, its DLCs are incredible.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Speaking of ripping and tearing, Vermintide 2 allows you to do just that — but in online 4-player co-op. Unlock various heroes and their unique abilities and wade through a horde of ratmen and demons with your buddies. It’s a blend of the Warhammer Fantasy universe and Left-4-Dead-style gameplay that will keep your group playing for hours.
Sid Meier’s Civilization 6
Last but not least, fans of 4X games will rejoice that Civilization 6 is available in the Game Catalog. Explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate while advancing your empire’s story. If you love turn-based strategy and haven’t tried Civ VI yet, this is a no-brainer.
PlayStation Plus Games: Honorable Mentions
As we mentioned, all of the games in our list above are presented in no particular order. That said, there are plenty more great games in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. That’s why I wanted to include some honorable mentions in the following genres:
- Horror: Alien Isolation, Prey, and Outlast 2.
- FPS: Ghostrunner, Fallout 4, and Payday 2.
- Strategy: Bad North, Battle Chasers Nightwar, Frostpunk, and Cities Skylines.
- RPG: Blasphemous, Bloodstained Ritual of the Night, Rain World, and Disgaea 5.
- Roguelites: Inscryption, Slay the Spire, and Dead Cells.
- Fighting Games: Mortal Kombat 11 and Tekken 7.
- Adventure: Brothers A Tale of Two Sons, The Tomb Raider Series, and Elite Dangerous.
We hope you enjoyed our list of the 25 best games on PlayStation Plus. All of them are unlocked for you permanently for as long as your Extra or Premium subscriptions last. For more articles like this, check out our other gaming lists.
