PlayStation Plus has been more popular than ever due to the merging of PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now. This merger consists of three tiers: basic, extra, and premium. The PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers are, in many ways, a response to Xbox’s GamePass.
PlayStation has been stacking up the lineup heavily with new releases each month. With the Yakuza series making its way to PlayStation Plus’s game catalog alongside Yakuza: Like A Dragon being offered as the free PlayStation Plus title for August, now is the best time to grab the subscription. Given the extensive lineup the subscription offers, here our picks for the best games available on PlayStation Plus: Extra’s game catalog that every player should consider downloading.
Assassins Creed Black Flag
Assassins Creed: Black Flag is an essential AC title every gaming fan should check out. A gorgeous open-world setting of the Caribbean sea, a strong story, and excellent gameplay make AC: Black Flag a great title. AC: Black Flag features a story both newcomers and returning fans are bound to enjoy, one that dives deep into the struggle between the Assassins and the Templars. Alongside its excellent gameplay and narrative-driven storyline, AC: Black Flag also features arguably the strongest ship battles in the series.
Assetto Corsa: Competizione
Assetto Corsa: Competizione is a thrilling sim racer for fans of motorsports and the automotive industry alike. Featuring tense, accurate gameplay alongside some of the world’s most beloved cars and tracks, Assetto Corsa: Competizione is a game everyone who is into Sim Racing should download first upon getting PlayStation Plus: Extra.
Assetto Corse: Competizione also happens to be a great game for fans of arcade races and newcomers to check out the world of Sim racing. While it may seem unwelcoming and has a learning curve, sticking through to the end is worth it for, alongside tons of fun, you get to learn a lot about cars and greater insight into motorsports. Many newcomers might end up being fans of the automotive industry if this title ends up appealing to them.
Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) and Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Insomniac’s Spider-Man games did something incredible. For years, fans had wanted a Spider-Man game where they could be the superhero in all his glory. Sure, there have been good Spider-Man games in the past, such as Ultimate Spiderman and Spider-Man 2, but they were all far from perfect.
Insomniac did what we fans had been desiring for the longest time. Featuring smooth web swinging one can get lost in for hours, accurate Spider-Man attack combos with a lot of variety, an incredible open world, and stories that are both true to character and are masterfully written, the Spider-Man games on the PlayStation consoles are truly an experience every game should go through and are not only some of the best games on PlayStation Plus: Extra, but arguably some of the best Playstation has to offer.
Mortal Kombat 11
Fans of 2D fighting games are very well acquainted with Mortal Kombat. For years, Mortal Kombat has stood amongst the finest the genre has to offer. Mortal Kombat 11 only expanded on the series’ legacy with its smooth gameplay, strong graphics, and engaging story. All this, alongside it arguably being one of the best local two-player experiences in the last decade, makes Mortal Kombat 11 one of the best games on PlayStation Plus: Extra.
Demon’s Souls Remake
Demon’s Souls is the oldest game in the SoulsBorne genre. With every FromSoftware release, more and more fans wanted to try Demon’s Souls. Many people could not do so due to it being available only on the PlayStation 3 and being a little aged. The popularity of the Souls game made newcomers ask for a remaster or remake of Demon’s Souls more and more.
Alongside the announcement of the PlayStation 5, a remake of the iconic game by bluepoint was announced that showcased the power of the PS5. It is safe to say that it delivered in every front and ended up being a selling point of the PS5 for many people (it certainly was for me). Demon’s Souls Remake offers some of the best graphics on the PlayStation 5 and is a fresh way for fans of the genre to experience the beginning of it all. Everyone with a PlayStation Plus: Extra subscription should download Demon’s Souls Remake.
Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding was released to a lot of controversies. Fans and critics alike were very divided, with some people thinking it to be nothing more than a walking simulator while others called it one of the greatest games of all time. I personally think Death Stranding is a brilliant game featuring some of the most unique gameplay in recent times.
It is a game where the terrain is your enemy, and the walking here is more engaging than action sequences in many games. Death Stranding also has stunning graphics and locations and Kojima’s masterful writing. If one thing is clear, it is that Death Stranding is a very interesting game and one everyone should check out, if only to be on one end of the crowd of opinions. The vast content in the game, alongside the bonus content in the Director’s Cut, makes it one of the best games in the PlayStation Plus: Extra library.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
Ghost of Tsushima had millions of gaming fans intrigued worldwide. With its reveals featuring graphics rarely seen before and an unconventional take on gameplay such as the wind being our guide, no HUD, et cetera, fans were eagerly awaiting the release of GOT. It was ultimately released to mass critical acclaim. The emphasis on realism, alongside arguably some of the strongest sword combat in gaming and an emotional story based on values and traditions, made GOT a game every PlayStation 4 owner considered.
The Director’s Cut of Ghost of Tsushima added some more features such as an Island expansion, better graphics for the PlayStation 5, in-game rendered cutscenes, and Japanese lip sync. All this, alongside GOT’s base game itself being an exceptional title, makes it a PlayStation Plus: Extra title everyone should check out.
Returnal
Returnal is a roguelike by Housemarque. Much like Demon’s Souls Remake, Returnal was one of the earliest titles on the PS5 and was a showcase in many ways. Returnal is just as challenging as it is fun. Featuring fast-paced gameplay, impeccable level design, intense gunplay, and a very intriguing and complex plot, Returnal is a game every fan of challenges should go through at least once. Returnal is the kind of game I start knowing I will spend at least 4 to 5 hours per session. With its recent introduction of co-op, Returnal is now a game you can enjoy with a friend and have a lot of fun. The amount of fun to be had from Returnal is limitless, and despite the many challenges, the exceptional gameplay alone makes it among the best PlayStation Plus: Extra titles.
Red Dead Redemption 2
This list would be incomplete without a mention of Red Dead Redemption 2. There isn’t much to be said about this game that already hasn’t been saying. RDR2 is considered by many to be the greatest game ever released, and for good reason. When I first booted RDR2, I was in awe of how beautiful the game looked. The fact that it was on a PlayStation 4 made it all the more impressive. Even after almost four years, it stands as a title few can challenge in terms of art style and fidelity.
Going forward, RDR2 featured a story that had me in tears more than once. This is the kind of game where a seemingly shallow side quest can end up being backed by a deep, emotional backstory. Everything from the gameplay to the characters is near perfect. All I can say is that this title will make even those who detest both the western and RPG genres alike fall in love with them. RDR2 is easily one of the best games on PlayStation Plus: Extra and is a strong contender for being the best.
Other Notable Titles In PlayStation Plus: Extra
- Stray
- Injustice 2
- Far Cry 4
- Control: Ultimate Edition
- Hollow Knight
- Horizon: Zero Dawn
This concludes our list of the best PlayStation Plus: Extra titles. The games mentioned here are my what I believe to be the best and this list is in no way an objective one. Let me know what you thought in the comments.
Playstation Plus’s tiers will keep growing over time and I strongly recommend every owner of a PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 system to subscribe to the Extra tier. Happy Gaming!