Best PS Plus Essential Games 2025

My friend and I have been PlayStation Plus subscribers for a long time, and with the service constantly evolving, it’s easy to lose track of which games have been great and which haven’t. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag over the years.

By 2025, the number of games available was already overwhelming, and it only continued to grow, adding to our ever-increasing list of games to play. While the Extra subscription tier often gets new additions, it’s the Essential tier that really determines whether a month is considered good or bad for most players.

I’ve put together a list of the most enjoyable PS Plus Essential games from 2025 – the ones that really made the subscription worthwhile. But was 2025 a great year for the Essential tier overall? I’ll let you decide. Let’s take a look.

10. High On Life

Peak Edgelord Humor

Let’s start with High on Life, scheduled for release in February 2025. The game really stands out because of its quirky, funny, and often ridiculous writing, which is heavily inspired by the style of Rick & Morty. Of course, humor is subjective, and what one person finds funny another might not.

The game plays like a standard first-person shooter – it gets the job done, but isn’t groundbreaking. What makes it interesting is the weapons: they’re not just guns, but living alien beings, each with a distinct voice and personality. This adds a lot of fun and character to the experience.

The game moves at a good pace, and exploring offers some funny moments and extra jokes. Plus, it’s relatively short, so getting the Platinum Trophy is definitely achievable, like I found out!

The game isn’t difficult or complicated; that’s actually what makes it so appealing to PlayStation Plus members. It’s perfect for relaxing and unwinding after a long week – you can just switch off and enjoy it.

9. Neon White

Speed’s The Name Here

You might not have heard of Neon White, and that’s understandable – it’s a unique game that easily gets overlooked. It’s a fast-paced, first-person game where you’ll need to be precise with your movements and master platforming. The main way you progress is by using ‘Soul Cards’ to navigate challenging levels that require both skillful parkour and quick thinking.

Okay, so each card isn’t just for attacking – I can use them to defend too, which is awesome. They also give me cool abilities like double jumps, dashes, and even explosive speed boosts! It makes every level feel like a super fast puzzle where I’m constantly moving and fighting. Honestly, if you’re new to speedrunning and want something easy to pick up and learn the ropes, Neon White is perfect. It’s calling my name, and probably yours too!

If you really get into perfecting your level times, you’ll find a dedicated community still working to get the fastest runs. And while the story is a bit odd and might not appeal to everyone, it doesn’t take away from how enjoyable the game is.

8. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

Jet Set Radio Lives On

If you’re familiar with and enjoyed the Dreamcast game Jet Set Radio, you’ll likely love Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. It’s heavily inspired by that classic and carries on its spirit.

Although the story and goals aren’t always deep, Cyberfunk is still incredibly fun, particularly if you play in short bursts. The gameplay – grinding, doing tricks, speeding through the city, and tagging graffiti to boost your gang’s reputation – feels more fluid and modern than the quick, arcade-style gameplay of Jet Set Radio.

The game’s upbeat and funky soundtrack, similar to Jet Set Radio, is a major plus, with music from both indie artists and the renowned Hideki Naganuma. Its inclusion on the basic PS Plus tier also made it accessible to many players, letting them try out a distinctive indie game without needing to subscribe to the more expensive Extra tier.

7. Stray

A Purr-fect Freebie

Originally available to PlayStation Plus Extra subscribers, the popular game Stray will be added to the Essential tier in November 2025. Even though the gameplay is fairly simple, it’s a fantastic experience – especially for cat lovers! As someone who enjoyed earning the Platinum Trophy at launch, I highly recommend giving it a try.

Although the idea of playing as a cat could have been explored more fully, the game still shines with its imaginative and detailed dystopian world and the stories told through the environment. For the most part, it’s a brief, pleasant, and relaxing experience, except for a few sections that feel surprisingly stressful – a little much for a cat, really.

Okay, so this game? It’s seriously amazing. You play as a little cat trying to escape this huge, walled city, and honestly, it’s super emotional. You’re not alone though – you’ve got this little robot buddy, B-12, who helps you along the way. Together, you’re trying to get the cat back to the outdoors, and it’s a really heartwarming journey. It’s a feel-good game where you and B-12 really bond as you work towards a happy ending.

6. Viewfinder

All About Perspectives

Adding to the growing list of popular indie games available through PlayStation Plus, Viewfinder is a short, puzzle-focused adventure. It’s often compared to Portal, and features a unique and inventive core mechanic that makes it stand out.

The game’s core idea is cleverly simple: you solve puzzles by using photos and drawings as bridges, platforms, and paths. As you progress, you’ll gain access to a camera that lets you experiment and discover the perfect solution, creating those satisfying “aha!” moments that are often missing in other games.

Since the game was available as part of the basic PS Plus subscription, players could easily try it out without a big time commitment – just a few hours would give them a good feel for it, even if they hadn’t considered it before.

5. Balatro

Your Worst Gaming Addiction

It’s hard to deny how popular this game is, and for good reason – many players found it incredibly addictive. That’s high praise for Balatro’s fantastic and engaging gameplay!

If you haven’t heard about its growing popularity, it might seem like a simple poker game. But even without considering that popularity, the unique combination of deckbuilding and roguelike elements is incredibly captivating.

Okay, so you still play poker like normal – making your hands with pairs, straights, flushes, and all that – to try and win chips each round. But here’s the twist: instead of battling other players, you’re actually trying to beat set ‘blinds’ to keep your game going. It’s a totally different way to play!

Once you start playing, you’ll find yourself spending hours learning the different Joker Cards and Deck combinations, leading to a game with incredible replay value in 2025.

4. Jusant

A Lone Wanderer’s Voyage

Let’s keep talking about great indie games! I want to highlight Jusant, a really clever puzzle-platformer that was recently available as a free PlayStation Plus Essential title. It uniquely combines challenging mountain climbing with a compelling story told through the game’s environment.

The game challenges you to climb a huge tower divided into different environments. As you ascend, the climb gets harder, requiring you to carefully manage your energy. Luckily, you won’t be climbing alone! A helpful and adorable companion named Ballast will offer hints and reveal new routes to help you on your journey.

If you got this game through PlayStation Plus, I definitely recommend trying it out. It might take a little while to get the hang of the gameplay, mostly because it’s a fairly long game. Plus, if you’re into collecting things, getting the Platinum Trophy is very achievable.

3. Psychonauts 2

The Cult Classic Platformer’s Resurgence

I recently replayed the original Psychonauts on PS2, and I can tell you that Psychonauts 2 is a fantastic modern action-platformer you shouldn’t miss. It’s the work of the incredibly talented Tim Schafer.

The sequel built upon the first game’s mind-bending and intricate level design, and significantly deepened the story through both its world-building and writing.

Raz’s latest game takes players on a journey into the minds of others, creating strange and beautiful worlds to explore and puzzles to solve. The writing is consistently funny and surprisingly thoughtful, dealing with difficult topics like insecurity, worry, and the challenges of being human – all without feeling heavy-handed. This combination makes the game both emotionally resonant and genuinely fun, something few platformers manage to achieve.

2. Lies Of P

Just a Normal Day For Pinocchio

When Lies of P was offered as a free PlayStation Plus Essential game in August 2025, it quickly became clear it was a bigger title than the other two games available that month, and many players agreed.

This game is one of the best in the ‘Souls-like’ genre, and many fans feel it captures the spirit of Bloodborne with similar quality. It offers a dark and unique take on the classic Pinocchio story, set in a beautifully grim, turn-of-the-century world filled with dangerous mechanical puppets who ravage the city of Krat.

Honestly, the fighting in this game is amazing! What I really love is how risky but rewarding it is – you’re constantly deciding whether to guard or perfectly time a parry, and pulling it off feels so good.

Beyond all that, the game features a unique weapon system where you can customize blades to create a playstyle that suits you best. Plus, recent updates have added difficulty settings, letting players who want a less challenging experience adjust the game to their preference.

1. Alan Wake 2

Follow You Into The Dark

Last October, we unexpectedly received a standout horror game, Alan Wake 2, as part of the Essential lineup – it might be one of the best horror adventures available!

This sequel, eagerly anticipated after the original’s release in 2010, lets you play as both Saga Anderson and Alan Wake, with their stories cleverly connected. As a huge fan of Remedy’s interconnected universe, I thought this was a strong contender for Game of the Year when it came out.

Alan Wake 2 offers solid third-person gameplay, but it truly shines through its incredibly well-crafted story. It requires focus, but richly rewards players with exceptional writing – some of the best in gaming. Plus, the survival horror aspects are surprisingly accessible, making it enjoyable even if you don’t typically like the genre.

Even if you don’t normally play games like this, it’s worth trying – and the same goes for other titles from Remedy Entertainment, such as Control. They all share a similar, ambitious approach to storytelling.

2025-12-16 18:42