Since the all-new PS Plus system was introduced last year, it has provided a super delicious Game Catalog for gamers to try out hundreds of big titles on a monthly subscription fee. PS Plus is currently in a three-tier structure: Essential, Extra, and Premium, with an Essential plan offering the same benefits as the previous standard PS Plus service.
The new tiers Extra and Premium, though with a higher subscription fee, include additional access to 100s of PS4 and PS5 games, plus classic games throughout PlayStation’s history. Personally speaking, the PS Plus Extra Tier is more than enough if you want to try out its star-studded lineup of up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games to play.
The Premium tier does add it up with 340 classic PS3, PS2, PSP, and even original PlayStation games. But if you are not particularly interested in the classic catalogue, it may not give you enough reasons to pay a much higher subscription fee.
That being said, as of March 2023, the PS Plus Extra tier has over 400 games to choose from and it can be daunting to make the choice. If you’ve decided to subscribe to the service, here are 15 selections that you should not miss from the North American PS Plus catalogue with some good reasons.
15 PS Plus Extra Games You Shouldn’t Miss in 2023
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
Dragon Quest is a good game, periodically. Dragon Quest XI S holds up well with full voice acting and a more optimized performance compared to its initial launch in 2017. If you’re a fan of the series or a new one wanting to give it a shot, this eleventh entry encompasses all the good things in this long-running series.
In Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age, the Luminary and his unique band of loyal companions work together to survive an onslaught of enemies and overthrow the dark forces that plot to plunge the world of Erdrea into chaos.
Detroit: Become Human
Set in a distant feature where androids are commonplace, Detroit: Become Human has you decide the fate of mankind and androids, making tons of choices that may very well affect society along the way.
Detroit: Become Human may be a game from 2018, but it still holds up as a marvelous interactive action-adventure game even for now. Developed by Quantic Dream, which is known to be the expert in interactive storytelling, the game uses virtually every single input of the PS4’s controller, from the touchpad to the speaker. Get ready for an immersive experience starring an interesting cast of androids in a far-future reality where AI has become a standard.
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY!
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY! is an enhanced port of a Wii game under the name of Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon. Players play as Chocobo and must find out the truth behind the ominous bell that erases people’s memories after a while.
Released back in 2017 in Japan, Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon takes the dungeon crawling aspect and implements it with familiar Final Fantasy mechanics. It is deceptively hard, due to how some dungeons can have 40 or even 50 floors, but I recommend anyone who’s been itching for a well-designed dungeon crawler.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a really beautiful retelling of the story of what is perhaps the most iconic game of the series. Even though it is only the first part of the epic story, you’re highly recommended to play on PS Plus Extra especially when the Rebirth sequel is coming next winter.
Both the full game and the Integrade DLC are available through PS Plus, and it feels right at home on the PlayStation system. And if you got the PS5 version, you can enjoy a variety of additional features including haptic feedback and insanely beautiful graphics.
Horizon Zero Dawn & Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Zero Dawn is an open-world adventure game where you follow Aloy, a young hunter in a world overrun by machines, who sets out to uncover her past. Being one of the best options in its genre, Horizon comes with stunning graphics and a smooth gameplay experience for you to explore its vast realm with no shortage of things to do.
Both Zero Dawn, and its sequel, Forbidden West, are available on the PS Plus Extra service, and you’re easily looking at over 100+ hours of content if you’re the type to completely wring all the game has to offer.
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Builders has been a popular entry since it first came out in 2016, especially when it appealed to both Dragon Quest and Minecraft fans alike. And despite having ‘2’ in its name, this sandbox action role-playing game maintains its quality to suit both newcomers and game veterans.
Compared to its predecessor, Dragon Quest Builders 2 allows players to build bigger, more complex creations than ever before, thanks to the limitless bag feature. The game also keeps its Dragon Quest tradition with a good main story as you build structures in your own ways.
Scarlet Nexus
Bandai Namco.’s Scarlet Nexus offers a rather intoxicating sci-fi story that centers on two elite psionics talented with psychokinesis in a Brain Punk future. It may not have the best soundtrack, but the dual protagonist system allows you to dive into its unique world from two different perspectives. And this also means that you’ll have to at least play it twice to experience the entirety of the game.
The PS5 version also allows you to truly feel its combat hecticness as the controller vibrates and the triggers lock up whenever you lift things with Yuito and Kasane’s abilities.
Stray
Stray has taken the world by storm since its release last year, earning nominations for several different awards. You play as a stray cat who falls into a walled city populated by robots, machines, and mutant bacteria and sets out to return to the surface with the help of B-12, your drone companion.
While the story can be cleared in a relatively small amount of time, this game really shows that short and sweet games can also be charming, especially when compared to 100+ hour experiences that might make you tired.
Kingdom Heart Series
If you were thinking of getting started into the Kingdom Hearts rabbit hole, the only viable way of playing the Kingdom Hearts games was by purchasing the Story so Far collection or praying the games went on sale.
But now, all of the Kingdom Hearts compilations, including the recently released Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory, are all included in the PS Plus service, with the only exception being the now-defunct Union Cross mobile game. One word of caution, however, a month might not be enough to experience the entirety of this series.
Star Ocean -First Departure R-
While searching for the cure to a new disease, mankind’s last stand comes into contact with a space-faring federation that is locked in a war with another galactic power. Using advanced technologies and time travel, the group attempts to uncover the cause of the war and find a cure for their planet. That’s the premise of Star Ocean -First Departure R-, the first game in the series.
If you’re like me who adore the sci-fi setting and charming characters of the Star Ocean series, you’d be happy to find that First Departure R is the one that sets the standard. Although its graphics might be a bit dated from its PSP soul, I would argue that if you were wanting to get into the series by order of release, this one is the right place to go.
Tetris Effect: Connected
You might be wondering: Why the heck did you include a Tetris game? And you’d agree with my selection after learning how this Tetris game has been taken to the next level with colorful and vibrant graphics and a beautiful soundtrack.
Furthermore, if you own the PlayStation VR headset, you can enjoy an immersive experience, and even play with your friends online to see who comes out on top.
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure open-world game played from a third-person perspective. It offers a variety of gameplay options to reach various objectives. Being one of the best open-world games, your options are endless. The title also offers high compatibility with PS5 in various facets, such as reduced loading times and haptic feedback.
One of the things that instantly drew me to the game was the Japanese aesthetic of its worldview, and how the overall presentation makes it a great experience with a taste of ancient Japan.
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
This next-gen edition of Devil May Cry 5 may be limited to PS5 owners, but it manages to take the already beautiful game into an even more graphically realistic title, with PS5-exclusive features such as ray tracing, 3D audio, haptic feedback, and more. And let me tell you–this game looks absolutely stunning with ray-traced reflections.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
In Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, the Red-Haired Adventurer Adol Christin awakens shipwrecked and stranded on a cursed island. There, he and the other shipwrecked passengers he rescues form a village to challenge fearsome beasts and mysterious ruins on the isolated island
The charming cast combined with the open combat system was so greatly implemented that I couldn’t stop playing. It was also my introduction to the Ys series of games, and I would argue that it’s a good starting point for Ys fans.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
In this latest iteration of the Ys series, Adol is cursed and becomes a Monstrum. With his newfound powers, he must stop the Grimwald Nox from consuming the city. While its gameplay vastly differs from Ys VIII, its story touches on darker themes as you find out the truth behind the Grimwald Nox, and explore the city of Balduq with a selection of abilities from the many party members that join Adol in his journey.
