The best PS Plus games to download

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-12-17 19:30:17

Opening your PS Plus game library can feel like staring into a digital abyss. The monthly additions, the back catalog of classics, the Essential vs. Extra vs. Premium tiers—it's a fantastic value, but it's also paralyzing. You have access to hundreds of games, but which ones are actually worth your limited time and hard drive space? You don't want to waste hours downloading a "meh" title when a masterpiece is buried a few menus deep.This isn't just a list of good games; this is a strategic, curated guide to the absolute best experiences available across all PS Plus tiers (Essential, Extra, Premium) as of Spring 2024. We've filtered out the filler to highlight the games that define the service's worth—from the monthly Essentials you must claim to the heavy-hitting classics and modern gems in the Game Catalog. Whether you're a new subscriber or a veteran deciding what to play next, this guide will point you directly to the downloads that make PS Plus indispensable.

PS Plus Tiers: A Quick Refresher

PS Plus Essential: The base tier. You get 3 monthly games to "claim" and keep in your library as long as you're subscribed, plus online multiplayer.
PS Plus Extra: Includes Essential, plus access to the Game Catalog—a large, rotating library of PS4 and PS5 games (like a Netflix for games).
PS Plus Premium: Includes Extra, plus Classics Catalog (PS1, PS2, PSP, PS3 games via streaming), game trials, and cloud streaming.

This guide will highlight the best across all these categories.

The Essential Downloads: What to Grab RIGHT NOW

Category 1: The Unmissable Monthly Essentials (Claim These!)

These are the games given away this month that you must add to your library before they're gone.*Check the "Monthly Games" section on your PS5 immediately. The games below are examples of high-quality past offerings. Always claim your monthly games, even if you don't download them yet!*

Recent High-Value Examples (Always check for new ones!):
- Destiny 2: Lightfall (When offered): A major expansion to a live-service titan.
- Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition: A masterpiece Metroidvania.
- EA Sports FC 24: The latest soccer sim.
- Minecraft Dungeons: A fun, family-friendly dungeon crawler.
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite: A solid co-op shooter.

Rule #1 of PS Plus: ALWAYS claim your monthly Essential games. You never know when you'll want to play them, and they're yours as long as you're subscribed.

Category 2: The Game Catalog Crown Jewels (PS Plus Extra/Premium)

These are the flagship modern titles that make the Extra/Premium tiers worth the price.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Genre: Open-World Action-Adventure
- Why It's Essential: The pinnacle of superhero gaming and a system seller. Swinging through a breathtakingly realized New York as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales is pure, fluid joy. The story is emotional, the combat is spectacular, and it's a visual showcase for the PS5. Having this in the catalog is a massive win.
Horizon Forbidden West
- Genre: Open-World Action RPG
- Why It's Essential: Guerrilla Games' follow-up to Zero Dawn is a massive, beautiful, and deeply polished adventure. Hunting robotic dinosaurs in a stunning post-apocalyptic world has never felt better. The Burning Shores DLC is also included, making this the complete, definitive experience.

Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut
- Genre: Open-World Action-Adventure
- Why It's Essential: One of the most aesthetically beautiful games ever made. Its samuraifantasy, respectful storytelling, and incredibly satisfying combat makeit a must-play. The Director's Cut includes the excellent Iki Islandexpansion and the standalone Legends co-op mode.
Returnal
- Genre: Roguelike Third-Person Shooter
- Why It's Essential: A punishing, mysterious, and utterly captivating PS5 exclusive. Itsrogue-like loop is perfectly married to a mind-bending sci-fi horrorstory. The gameplay is tight, the 3D audio is best-in-class, and theDualSense implementation is phenomenal. A tough but unforgettableexperience.
Demon's Souls (2020)
- Genre: Action RPG / Souls-like
- Why It's Essential: Bluepoint's remake is a technical marvel and the most accessible entrypoint into the Souls genre. It's visually stunning, retains theoriginal's brilliant (if brutal) level design, and is a must-play to see the power of the PS5.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Genre: 3D Platformer / Third-Person Shooter
- Why It's Essential: A pure, joyful, and visually spectacular showcase of the PS5's SSD.It's a hilarious, heartwarming, and incredibly polishedaction-platformer that feels like playing a Pixar movie.

Category 3: The Perfect Co-op & Multiplayer Catalog Games

Best enjoyed with friends, all included in your subscription.

It Takes Two
- Genre: Co-op Adventure
- Why It's Essential: The best co-op game ever made, bar none. Designed exclusively for twoplayers, its constantly inventive gameplay and heartfelt story make it a mandatory playthrough with a partner (couch or online).
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
- Genre: Chaotic Co-op Cooking
- Why It's Essential: The ultimate friendship test and a recipe for hilarious, organizedchaos. The definitive collection of the beloved kitchen disaster sim.
Deep Rock Galactic
- Genre: Co-op FPS / Mining
- Why It's Essential: The gold standard for class-based co-op. Mine procedurally generatedcaves, fight bug swarms, and shout "Rock and Stone!" with up to threefriends. Endlessly replayable.
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge & Streets of Rage 4
- Genre: Beat 'Em Up
- Why They're Essential: Perfect modernizations of the classic arcade brawler. Fantastic pixelart, crunchy combat, and a blast with up to 6 players online (TMNT). Instant nostalgia.

Category 4: The Acclaimed Indies & Hidden Gems

Smaller in scope, but colossal in creativity and impact.

Hades
- Genre: Roguelike / Action
- Why It's Essential: A perfect game. Incredible combat, a genius story that unfolds overdozens of runs, and art and music that are best-in-class. One of thehighest-rated games of all time for a reason.
Dead Cells
- Genre: Roguelite / Action-Metroidvania
- Why It's Essential: The king of the "roguevania." Lightning-fast combat, deep buildvariety, and years of massive free updates make this one of the mostcontent-rich and satisfying games in the catalog.
Celeste
- Genre: Precision Platformer
- Why It's Essential: A masterpiece of challenging platforming paired with a beautiful,empathetic story about mental health. Its assist mode makes itaccessible to all.
Inside & Limbo
- Genre: Puzzle-Platformer / Atmospheric Horror
- Why They're Essential: From Playdead, these are minimalist storytelling and atmospheric dreadat their finest. Short, unforgettable experiences that will stick withyou.

Category 5: The Classics Catalog Highlights (PS Plus Premium)

A taste of gaming history, available via streaming or download.

The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver series (PS1)
- Why It's Essential: A landmark in gothic storytelling and vocal performance. Its shiftingbetween the spectral and material realms was revolutionary.
Ape Escape (PS1)
- Why It's Essential: The game that demanded the DualShock controller. A brilliantlyinventive and charming 3D platformer about catching monkeys with a net.
Ghosthunter (PS2)
- Why It's Essential: A cult-classic action-adventure with a great buddy-cop vibe and clever ghost-capturing mechanics.
Puppeteer (PS3 - Stream Only)
- Why It's Essential: A tragically overlooked PS3 gem. A theatrical 2D platformer withincredible visual style, humor, and creativity. Worth streaming for itsunique charm.

Strategic Download & Management Tips

Prioritize "Leaving Soon" Games: Always check the "Last Chance to Play" section in the Game Catalog. Play the high-priority titles here first (e.g., Red Dead Redemption 2 if it appears).
Use the PS App: Manage your library, claim monthly games, and remotely download games to your console from your phone.
Filter by Interest: In the Game Catalog, use filters like "Co-op," "Local Multiplayer,""Metacritic Must-Plays," or "Under 10 Hours" to find exactly what youwant.
Don't Sleep on the "Collection": PS5 owners get the PlayStation Plus Collection (until it phases out), which includes all-time greats like God of War (2018), The Last of Us Remastered, Bloodborne, and Uncharted 4. Download these immediately if you haven't played them.
Stream to Try Before You Download (Premium): For large games or Classics, use cloud streaming to get a quick feel before committing to a massive download.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do games really leave the PS Plus Game Catalog?
A: Yes, regularly. Sony removes games every month, usually with a month's notice. This iswhy it's crucial to prioritize games in the "Leaving Soon" section.

Q: Which tier is worth it for me?
A: Essential is for online multiplayer players who want a few free games. Extra is the sweet spot for most, offering a massive, high-quality modern library. Premium is for hardcore enthusiasts who want to stream classics and replay PS3 games.

Q: I have limited time. What are the best short games?

A Short Hike (~2 hrs, Catalog)
What Remains of Edith Finch (~2 hrs, Catalog)
Cocoon (~5 hrs, may be in Catalog)
Venba (~2 hrs, Essential claim)
Inside (~4 hrs, Catalog)

Q: What's the #1 game I should download first from the catalog?
A: If you haven't played it: Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (for blockbuster fun) or Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut (for an immersive masterpiece). For co-op: It Takes Two. For a challenge: Returnal or Demon's Souls.

Q: Can I download PS3 games from the Classics Catalog?
A: No. Due to the PS3's complex architecture, these games are streaming-only. You need a stable internet connection to play them.

Conclusion: Your Playstation's True Potential, Unlocked

PS Plus transforms your PlayStation from a single-game machine into anall-access pass to a curated museum of modern and classic gaming. Thevalue isn't just in the quantity, but in the quality of the experiencesnow at your fingertips.

Stop feeling overwhelmed by choice. Use this guide as your curated menu.Claim your monthly Essentials, then dive into the Catalog and downloadone of the masterpieces listed above. Your next favorite game isn't a$70 purchase away—it's already included in your subscription.

Ready to finally get your money's worth? Turn on your console, navigate to the Game Catalog, and search for thefirst title on this list that calls to you. Hit download. The best partof your PlayStation is waiting to be unlocked.

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