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TOP OF THE DROPS

The best PlayStation Plus games on PS4 and PS5 in 2024

Our top picks for Sony's money-saving subscription service!

PlayStation Plus header (best PS Plus Games)
Connor Makar avatar
Guide by Connor Makar Staff Writer
Additional contributions by Kelsey Raynor, and Rebecca Jones
Updated on
UPDATE: Unfortunately, Ghostwire Tokyo is now leaving PS Plus's monthly lineup of games. That said, It Takes Two has taken its place on this list, with the co-op game arriving on the service as of 3rd December.

There is a massive selection of brilliant games available on PlayStation Plus, for both those with the trusty PlayStation 4 or a brand new PlayStation 5.

However, with multiple different libraries of games available to people depending on what level of subscription they sign up for, picking out the best from the range of games available can prove a time consuming venture.

With PlayStation Plus, there's way more available than the three free monthly games. You've got the games catalogue, the classics catalogue, as well as a selection of Ubisoft and free-to-download PS4 titles.

Whether it's some of the best PlayStation exclusives released over the past few years, or a vast collection of AAA releases that you've missed, there's plenty to get your hands on thanks to PlayStation Plus.

Without further ado, here are our picks for the top games on PlayStation Plus, in no particular order.

Game Catalogue

Assassin’s Creed Unity

  • Developer: Ubisoft
  • Release Year: 2014
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

There is a massive selection of Assassin’s Creed games available on PS Plus, but Assassin’s Creed Unity is probably the most engaging game of the selection. Set in revolutionary France, it’s the series at its best with all the jumping, stabbing, and stealth you could ever want.

Bloodborne

  • Developer: From Software
  • Release Year: 2015
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

A legendary PlayStation exclusive, Bloodborne is FromSoftware bringing its experience with the Dark Souls series to a gothic horror setting. The result is fantastic, a dark and blood curdling adventure where you slice through all manner of man and monster. It’s brilliant, and still has people begging for a proper Bloodborne PC port all these years later for a good reason.

Celeste

  • Developer: Extremely Okay Games
  • Release Year: 2018
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

An indie platformer with an equal measure of heart and quality. Celeste is an excellent title for anyone with even a passing interest in the genre, with a compelling story to tie together a treacherous climb up a perilous mountain. Be sure to grab those strawberries.

Dead Cells

  • Developer: Motion Twin
  • Release Year: 2018
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

Speaking of indies, Dead Cells is the best metroidvania game released in years: no contest. Combining snappy, exciting combat with roguelike stakes and a family platter of weapons that drastically mix up your playstyle, Dead Cells is a game you can’t put down for long.

DOOM (2016)

  • Developer: id Software
  • Release Year: 2016
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

If you’re looking a for gory, heart-pounding, first person shooter there really is no better choice than DOOM. Created by id Software, Doom is a monolith all of its own, and one of the best FPS games of all time, providing a rush you can’t really get from any other shooter out there. A must play for PS Plus subscribers.

Devil May Cry 5

  • Developer: Capcom
  • Release Year: 2019
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

Devil May Cry 5 is probably the best character action game ever made. Following the controversial and largely disappointing DMC reboot, Dante makes their grand return alongside Nero and new playable character V in the most stylish action game out on the market right now. As a free download, it’s a no brainer.

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE

  • Developer: Square Enix
  • Release Year: 2020
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

A top to bottom remake of one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time, Final Fantasy VII Remake is the first act in an excellent retelling of Cloud and co’s adventure through a world ravaged by corporate greed. If you’ve been curious about getting into one of them ost legendary games of all time, this is a great place to start.

God of War (2018)

  • Developer: Santa Monica Studios
  • Release Year: 2018
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

God of War was a bit of a shocker when it first dropped back in 2018, lifting Kratos from Greece and his character action roots and dropping him into a third person action RPG. However, Santa Monica Studios pulled it off, creating an amazing narrative adventure that still packs a punch like the classic God of Wars did back in the day.

Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition

  • Developer: Team Cherry
  • Release Year: 2017
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

In the pantheon of indie game masterpieces, Hollow Knight is one of more recent additions. However, this metroidvania truly opens the door to a jaw dropping world, with challenging combat and a dark and mystical vibe that few other games can match. Buckle up and give it a go if you’ve got a taste for a proper adventure.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - Ultimate Edition

Pillars of Eternity 2 key art
  • Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
  • Release Year: 2018
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

Here’s a game that’ll bring some of you older folk out there back; Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a classic party-based RPG, ported to PlayStation. It’s a good thing it was too, since this game is probably one of the best RPGs to come out in recent years. You don’t have to play the prequel to set sail and enjoy what it’s got below deck, so download it and give it a shot!

Shadow of the Colossus

The player aims their bow at a large enemy in Shadow of the Colossus
  • Developer: Team Ico
  • Release Year: 2005
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

No PlayStation list of any kind is complete without mentioning this classic, and thanks to PS Plus you can download Shadow of the Colossus for free and experience firsthand what all the hype is about. Without giving it away, there are giant creatures that you and your trusty horse must go out and defeat with nothing but a sword and some crazy grip strength. What could go wrong?

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

  • Developer: Bethesda
  • Release Year: 2011
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

Look, a million jokes have been written about the constant porting of Skyrim, but it’s continuously revamped for modern systems for a reason. It’s brilliant. Bethesda at their best, and probably the most effective time vampire you’ll ever download. Whether it’s with strength, magic, or busted sneak builds, there’s a world of possibilities awaiting you in Skyrim.

Trials Rising

  • Developer: Red Lynx
  • Release Year: 2019
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

There’s nothing out there with quite the charm, silliness, and sense of accomplishment as Trials Rising. It’s a true test of patience of skill, shaken cocktail style with some of the most bizarre slapstick humour in gaming right now. With Trails Rising, you get the series at it’s peak. Give it a download and tear your hair out (in a good way).

Until Dawn

  • Developer: Supermassive Games
  • Release Year: 2015
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

Time for something a bit spooky. Until Dawn set a new standard for narrative horror titles, putting you in the shoes of several young adults in a mountain cabin as all manner of terrifying events ensue. It’s straight out of the movies, in the best way. Until Dawn is a game you absolutely must play at least once, and is damn hilarious making game-changing decisions with friends and family if they can stomach it.

UNCHARTED 4: A Thief’s End Digital Edition

  • Developer: Naughty Dog
  • Release Year: 2016
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

Uncharted is a series synonymous with PlayStation for good reason. Nathan Drake has been scouring the world for treasure and looking good doing it for many, many years now. But it’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End that masterfully sends the series off on a high note. The rest of the series is on PS Plus too, so either go through those first or jump straight into this. Either way, you’ll have a blast.

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Wolfenstein: The new order official art
  • Developer: id Software
  • Release Year: 2014
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

In the same vein as DOOM which we mentioned above, Wolfenstein: The New Order is a reboot of the classic shooter that took everything that made the original great and turned it up to eleven. Past eleven even, Wolfenstein is absolutely nuts, and the story of BJ Blazkowicz carving his way through the Reich is something every FPS fan should experience for themselves.

XCOM 2

  • Developer: Firaxis Games
  • Release Year: 2016
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

Aliens have taken over, and they’re bastards! In XCOM 2, you fight back against a controlling extraterrestrial force that has the majority of the planet under their thumb. It’s a tactical turn-based game filled with nail-biting last stands and a real sense of urgency threaded throughout every aspect of the experience. Want some advice? The 90%+ chances to hit will betray you.

It Takes Two

Cody and May hang from a flower in It Takes Two artwork
Image credit: Hazelight
  • Developer: Hazelight Studios
  • Release Year: 2021
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium / Extra

It Takes Two is a co-op game, so you'll need a close friend to play this one with (fortunately, the game comes with a Friend's Pass so you can invite whomever you please to join you). I recommend picking a friend who is near and dear, but not too close, as this game can both make and break friendships!

You'll play as couple, Cody and May, who's relationship is on the rocks. The pair then end up shrunk down to the size of insects, and must complete multiple challenges - testing their relationship and your patience - if they want to return to normal.

It's a beautiful game that wholly deserved 2021 Game of the Year, and if you haven't yet played it, you need to!

Death Stranding Director's Cut

  • Developer: Kojima Productions
  • Release Year: 2022
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Extra

The first game to be released following Hideo Kojima's messy split with Konami was Death Stranding, seeing Kojima attempt to forge his own 'strand' genre in the world of gaming. Playing as glorified postman, Sam Porter Bridges, players must navigate this wasteland using the traces others have left before them.

This courier is what bridges gaps between various isolated communities across this post-apocalyptic world, and this game of simple premise soon becomes much more complex than you first think. If you've time to kill and the patience of a saint, Death Stranding will certainly keep you busy. Let's not forget there's Death Stranding 2 on the horizon for keen Kojima fans, also!

Sifu

  • Developer: Kepler Interactive
  • Release Year: 2022
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Essential

If you fancy a martial-arts challenge, Sifu is just that. This third-person beat 'em up is equal parts satisfying and stylish to experience, allowing players to engage in some brutal, impressive hand-to-hand combat with foes in modern-day China as you strive to track down your family's assassins.

Martial artists fight in Sifu
Image credit: Sloclap, Kepler Interactive

Sifu is not without consequences however, as time goes on and you rack up deaths, your character will age and your transform as they do. The older they are, the more powerful they become, but this also comes with less HP to play around with... So, as you embark on a journey to master Pak Mei Kung Fu and seek revenge in Sifu, you'll want to tread carefully.

Dave the Diver

  • Developer: MINTROCKET
  • Release Year: 2023
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Extra

Dave the Diver launched last year, inviting players to a world of deep-sea exploration and restaurant management. That's right. You'll spend your days as Dave diving deep into the underground, catching fish and discovering their secrets. By night, however, you'll be turning your catches into cuisine while helping to run a sushi restaurant.

How to catch tuna in Dave the Diver: A white-haired man is standing on the deck of a pixel boat floating in bright blue water
Image credit: MINTROCKET

With a distinct, vibrant art-style and some very groovy music, Dave the Diver is equal parts stimulating and relaxing. When you're not hunting for specific fish species or rushing around to deliver sushi to customers, you're guaranteed to still find joy in Dave the Diver's simpler moments, seeing what lurks deep in the ocean.

Tunic

  • Developer: TUNIC Team
  • Release Year: 2022
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Extra

Described by editor-in-chief, Dom Peppiatt, as the "perfect ‘palate cleanser’ game in a year of huge releases" during 2022, Tunic still remains refreshing as ever in 2024. An isometric action game set in a beautiful world that you get to explore thoroughly, you play as a small fox destined to conquer some very big monsters.

You can expect a range of environments to trawl through, plenty of loot to discover, and some larger-than-life beasts to battle with throughout Tunic, all while collecting pages to rebuild a 'sacred book'... If you're keen for a gorgeous, serene adventure that has dozens of sheer moments of joy packaged away inside it, give Tunic a whirl.

Tomb Raider: Legend

  • Developer: Crystal Dynamics
  • Release Year: 2006
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Premium (Classics)

Tomb Raider: Legend is the seventh game in the Lara Croft series, but rather than offer up a direct sequel, this one was a reboot of Croft's beginnings, seeing her strive to track down a sword known as the Excalibur. There's definitely better Tomb Raider games out there, but Tomb Raider: Legend wasn't a disappointment by any means.

Lara Croft can be seen looking towards a waterfall in Tomb Raider: Legend
Image credit: Crystal Dynamics

A tad dated now, for sure, but you can still expect the usual Lara Croft chaos: exploration of tombs and temples and other archaelogical sites of interest, fighting it out with beasts and familiar faces, and an insight into Lara Croft's past.

Dredge

  • Developer: Black Salt Games
  • Release Year: 2023
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Extra

Dredge is a fishing game, and if that's not your thing, that's okay, but hear me out. This fishing game is much more than that, with threats to consider and a mysterious story to uncover. You even get to enjoy a Resident Evil attache case style way of arranging your catches, which is a neat mechanic.

A lighthouse on a rock looms against a sky of black clouds and windswept dark forests, while a small fishing boat struggles on a choppy green sea. Below the surface of the water, a red-eyed fish with dangerous-looking sharp teeth draws close to the boat.
Image credit: Black Salt Games / Team 17

As you keep fishing and sell off your hard-earned wares, you'll be able to upgrade your boat and gear, slowly giving you a better chance against the sea monsters you'll run into and the mysterious relics you'll also find yourself trying to track down. It's much more than a fishing sim, with a dark, curious story that'll surprise you.

The Plucky Squire

  • Developer: All Possible Futures
  • Release Year: 2024
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Extra/Premium

While you will have to wait for 17 September to play The Plucky Squire on PS Plus, that wait looks to be worth it. The adventure game starts with a story-book, but before long, these bite-sized characters find themselves in the real world, Toy Story-style, where they must navigate various challenges.

The Plucky Squire is set to be a storybook adventure that jumps between 2D and 3D worlds.

Jumping back and forth between both 2D and 3D gameplay, The Plucky Squire looks to be equal parts charming and adorable as you turn its pages and strive to rescue your friends from the villainous Humgrump, who's the fella trying to banish you from the storybook in the first place. You can box with badgers too, which is one thing to certainly look forward to.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

  • Developer: Team Salvato
  • Release Year: 2021
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Extra/Premium

If you like visual novels, and happen to like horror, Doki Doki Literature Club should be right up your alley. Don't be fooled by the jovial appearance of this array of characters and their passion for poetry, however, as Doki Doki Literature Club has a few dark secrets up its sleeve. If you've somehow managed to avoid being exposed to spoilers in the time since it's release, then give it a whirl and check out Doki Doki's twists and turns for yourself.

The characters featured in Doki Doki Literature Club are all shown
Image credit: Team Salvato

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! has some additional benefits for fans too, with the upgraded version featuring better graphics, more music (plus the choice of what music you listen to), new art-work to unlock, and some additional side stories to explore.

It Takes Two

  • Developer: Hazelight
  • Release Year: 2021
  • PlayStation Plus tier: Essential

If you're looking for a relatively short co-op game to entertain you over the festive season, then It Takes Two is a no-brainer. Following May and Cody, a couple on the brink of divorce who have been transformed into bite-sized puppets, the pair must navigate an array of challenges with Dr. Hakeem - the Book of Love - trying to remind the pair why they got together in the first place.

Cody and May hang from a flower in It Takes Two artwork
Image credit: Hazelight

Don't let the story of a struggling relationship put you off, either. It Takes Two is an amazing time regardless of who you play it with. Sure, some levels might have you at each others throats, and the minigames can quickly get very competitive, but all in all, It Takes Two is a really fun time. It's hilarious at points, too!

For more of the best games out there, check out the best games for PS5, as well as the best games for PS VR2.

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