0person shooterPlayStation 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.
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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 PS5 versions and one with a PS4 version. Here’s what you can play this month:
For you adrenaline junkies out there, Grid Legends is sure to get your engines going. What sets this game apart from your typical racing fare is the focus on telling a fully fleshed-out story, even going so far as to bring in esteemed actor Ncuti Gatwa. Experience a true-to-life career as a racer as you form alliances, build rivalries, and rise through the ranks in this documentary-themed experience. When that’s done, you can look forward to challenging your friends, and the world, in a robust online suite of races.
If you’re more of a manual racer, then take a plunge into Descenders. Tear down the track in this exhilarating downhill bike racer that rewards those who can master realistic physics systems. Are you confident enough to land that jump or cut that corner? With maps being procedurally generated every time you play, the only way to win is to master your rider. Experiment with unlocked abilities and bikes to dominate the competition, and show off some fancy outfits that make you look good while doing it.
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:
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 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, 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) in the thrilling conclusion. This is one series worth reliving from start to finish.
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