It’s true, Xbox Game Pass has revolutionized the way consumers gain access to games. Much like Netflix, players can pay a monthly fee to gain access to a massive library of titles, and while Game Pass is certainly the leading service, there are other subscriptions worth checking out. To compete with Game Pass, Sony totally revamped its PlayStation Plus offering.
Depending on which version of PlayStation Plus you have (either Essential, Extra, or Premium), you have access to a diverse lineup of games. These are the 12 best PlayStation Plus games you can try right now.
12. Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection
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As part of March 2023’s PS Plus lineup, players now have access to the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection. This package contains Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, both for PS5. These are some of the best games in the acclaimed series, capping off Nathan Drake’s story in a heartfelt way.
11. Ghostwire: Tokyo
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Also joining the fray in March 2023 is Ghostwire: Tokyo, a first-person action game with horror elements. It comes to us from Tango Gameworks, the team behind The Evil Within. Ghostwire Tokyo is a unique adventure that focuses on ghost-hunting, allowing players to use different magic spells to take down spirits.
10. Batman: Arkham Knight
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The finale of the acclaimed Arkham trilogy is an explosive, action-packed adventure full of twists and turns throughout. Batman: Arkham Knight is easily among the greatest superhero games ever created, with tight, satisfying gameplay, impressive visuals, and plenty of variety to keep the player invested.
9. Demon’s Souls
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Developer BluePoint Games knocked it out of the park with the Demon’s Souls remake. The original PS3 game had a solid foundation but felt outdated when the PS5 launched in 2020. But the remake not only modernized the hit RPG, but it also added a slew of fantastic new features that brought in a new audience, as well. Without Demon’s Souls, the Dark Souls series wouldn’t exist, so FromSoftware fans owe a lot to this game.
8. Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
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Hideo Kojima is known for his outlandish stories, as evidenced by the Metal Gear Solid series. But following his departure from Konami, Kojima was finally able to do exactly what he wanted, and that’s what we got with Death Stranding. In it, your job is to reconnect the United States by delivering packages across the country. This sounds horribly boring, but it’s incredibly well-executed thanks to its presentation and ridiculous story. The Director’s Cut adds improvements and new features for PS5.
7. Horizon Forbidden West
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One of Sony’s best games is Horizon Forbidden West, the sequel to 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn. Hailing from Guerrilla Games, Forbidden West improves upon its predecessor in numerous ways, giving players a gorgeous open world to explore, along with refined combat. In it, you play as Aloy, a hunter tasked with battling mechanical animals in a post-apocalyptic version of the western United States. Something about demolishing robot dinosaurs just never gets old.
6. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
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Not only is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart one of the most beautiful games on PS5, it’s also among the most fun. Variety is this shooter-platformer’s greatest strength, as there’s no shortage of weapons and gadgets to use against your foes. The interdimensional travel also keeps things fresh and works surprisingly well, tying nicely to the overall story.
5. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
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Capcom took a huge risk with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, a game that launched after the disappointing Resident Evil 6. In RE7, players returned to a more claustrophobic setting, with far less action, just like the original games. Though the biggest change is that it’s presented from a first-person perspective, which might’ve alienated fans, but instead, was exactly the refresh the series needed at the time.
4. Returnal
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Returnal is certainly one of Sony’s most original projects in recent years. It sends players to the fascinating planet of Atropos, an ever-changing world that capitalizes on the roguelike systems in place. This shooter is a major departure for developer Housemarque, but the studio nailed everything, from presentation to the story, and gameplay. It’s equal parts thrilling, terrifying, and downright challenging, but there isn’t anything quite like it.
3. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
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Remaking one of the greatest games of all time likely came with an immense degree of scrutiny, but Square Enix delivered and then some with Final Fantasy VII Remake. It simultaneously recaptures the magic of the original, while implementing modernizations to keep things fresh. It even throws new story segments in to surprise longtime fans, serving as one of the best remakes ever made. The Intergrade version includes extra content and enhancements for PS5.
2. Untitled Goose Game
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When it comes to off-the-wall ridiculousness, few games even come close to Untitled Goose Game. As its name suggests, you play as a goose in this game, and your job is to cause minor inconveniences to the villagers around you. It sort of plays like a puzzle-stealth game, wherein you must sneak around to complete objectives. While the entire game is enjoyable through and through, we highly recommend sticking around to the very end because of the satisfying payoff it offers.
1. Marvel's Spider-Man
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While the Batman Arkham series redefined what a “good” superhero game could be, Marvel’s Spider-Man certainly took it to a new level. Both games — Marvel’s Spider-Man and Miles Morales — are full of heart, with incredibly fun gameplay to match. Everything from the story, to the performances of the characters, to even smaller details like the wide array of costumes you have at your disposal are top-notch. We’re eagerly anticipating Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but in the meantime, the first two entries are must-plays.
