In June 2022, Sony unleashed its new PlayStation Plus. Split into three tiers, the service offers subscribers access to hundreds of games from across PlayStation’s history, including PS1 and PSP projects. Along with showing love for the brand’s history, PS Plus also covers most genres, be it horror, platformers, RPGs, or strategy. Unsurprisingly, PS Plus does not skimp out on open-world games either.
Whether searching for a PlayStation exclusive or a third-party juggernaut, PS Plus Extra and Premium should have most players covered. With so many titles to pick from, knowing where to start can be challenging, and that extends to open-world projects. PS Plus covers this genre quite extensively, including everything from first-person shooters to survival and role-playing games. Therefore, let’s take a look at the best open-world PS Plus games.
While every upcoming game is on PS Plus Premium, some titles are not part of the Extra tier.
Updated April 6, 2024: PS Plus Essential’s April 2024 lineup includes one open-world game. Despite not having a universally positive reputation, this title is nevertheless a solid option for anyone itching to explore a new map.
Minecraft Legends (PS Plus Essential – April 2024)
Metascore: 71
Minecraft Legends
- Released
- April 18, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Mojang , Blackbird Interactive
- How Long To Beat
- 9 Hours
Minecraft is arguably the most popular sandbox game of all time, and its success naturally spawned two spin-offs. Minecraft Legends tries to combine ideas from its parent with the real-time strategy genre, creating an experience that can be fun despite its many issues. For the most part, Legends can be somewhat difficult to wholeheartedly recommend since it does not excel in any one area. The strategy elements are too simple for their own good, and they are muddied by a focus on action that results in a hectic but not always captivating gameplay loop. Meanwhile, the open-world and crafting mechanics do not offer the same level of freedom as Minecraft, making it a hard sell for fans of the original who want something capable of scratching a similar itch.
Minecraft Legends: Where To Find All Mounts
Minecraft Legends players can acquire a total of four mounts, but not all of them are easy to find.
For all its flaws, Minecraft Legends is still overall decent and a respectable option for new players who are just starting to dip their toes into the strategy genre. More importantly, the spin-off is part of PS Plus Essential’s April 2024 lineup, alongside Immortals of Aveum and Skul: The Hero Slayer, and it is a perfect fit for the platform. While not for everyone, Minecraft Legends is one of those projects that quite a few people might have been tempted to try, only for them to hold back due to its middling critical reception. As the game is (temporarily) free, interested parties have nothing to lose.
Also, while not quite on the same level as its superior predecessor, Minecraft Legends‘ open-world is still quite large, relatively beautiful, and a joy to mess around in. It is just not an all-time great sandbox.
Although not open-world,
Immortals of Aveum
merits a mention since its campaign is divided into moderately open areas that provide some room for exploration. Like
Minecraft Legends
,
Immortals of Aveum
is pretty good.
Horizon Forbidden West
Metascore: 88
Horizon Forbidden West
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- February 18, 2022
- How Long To Beat
- 29 Hours
Approximately a year following its debut, Horizon Forbidden West was added to PS Plus Extra. Besides being a big get for the platform, this announcement could provide some indication of how Sony plans to treat first-party titles when it comes to its subscription service.
Best New Gameplay Mechanics Introduced In Horizon Forbidden West – Burning Shores
Horizon Forbidden West’s expansion, Burning Shores, has introduced some new features for Aloy to use. Here’s how they change up the gameplay.
Guerrilla Games’ sequel sees Aloy heading west, visiting areas that were once part of Utah, Nevada, and California, just to name a few featured states. Horizon Forbidden West retains what worked in Horizon Zero Dawn, which is also on PS Plus Extra, all the while expanding on a few things that could have been improved upon. While the 2017 release has a beautiful and impressive open-world, its sequel fills it with more interesting side content and micro stories. Consequently, HFW‘s map feels slightly more alive. When it comes to combat, the game delivers thrilling encounters that pit Aloy against both humans and robots. The latter is undoubtedly the campaign’s highlight.
Horizon Zero Dawn
is also on PS Plus Extra.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Metascore: 78
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- April 23, 2013
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 33 Hours
Part of PS Plus Extra and Premium’s November 2023 lineup, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is the upgraded version of a cult favorite open-world game that has garnered enough love to warrant Capcom to announce and develop a sequel. While the original title is still impressive to an extent, Dark Arisen is the definitive version since it adds a whole new area, one that naturally comes with a range of fresh equipment. More importantly, Bitterblack Isle is far harder than the base content, especially since the latter has a somewhat challenging opening but becomes fairly easy as it moves along.
Best Games To Play If You Enjoyed Dragon’s Dogma
Dragon’s Dogma fans should check out these other fantastic RPGs.
Dragon’s Dogma is all about its combat and customization, which both emphasize build variety and player freedom. While overpowered, the game’s magic system is impressive and satisfying, especially once players really start to fine-tune and personalize their setup. Pawns are also one of the game’s selling points, as these are AI-controlled support characters that players create and can share with other users. This mechanic allows players to form well-rounded parties as they can pick Pawns that make up for their own character’s blind spots.
When it comes to the open-world itself, Gransys is not particularly big, nor is it especially unique from a visual standpoint. However, the map can seem more expansive than it is due to limited fast travel and a lack of hand-holding. Dragon’s Dogma‘s world is nothing special, but it does not detract from the things the game excels in.
Metascore: 81
Skyrim
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- November 11, 2011
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
Debuting in 2011, Skyrim was a massive hit right out of the gate, and its popularity has not waned over the last decade. The Special Edition is the definitive way to experience Bethesda’s masterpiece on consoles, as it improves the visuals and provides support for mods (which have played a huge part in extending the RPG’s lifespan).
Skyrim‘s open-world approaches perfection as it encourages exploration and discovery. The main storyline is fine, but the game’s success lies in its immersive locations, customization options, and character writing. Even as the years continue to pass, Skyrim still comes across as a big deal, and its addition to PS Plus Extra makes the service seem far more complete.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
is also on PS Plus Premium (but not Extra).
The Elder Scrolls Online
is on PS Plus Extra.
Fallout 4
Metascore: 87
Fallout 4
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- November 10, 2015
- How Long To Beat
- 27 Hours
Bethesda’s latest single-player Fallout is on offering with PS Plus for players who are looking to patrol through the wastelands. With a map that’s even larger than Skyrim‘s, Fallout 4 gives players tons of areas to explore, with a multitude of sidequests to complete and secrets to uncover. Those looking for an FPS-style RPG with a myriad of areas to conquer should definitely fall in love with the iconic release.
The franchise has been going strong, offering players a multitude of great open-world adventures and Fallout 4 is no exception. Players can expect to put some serious time into this game if they want to “see and do everything possible,” and that’s not even counting the DLC add-ons.
Fallout 76
is also on PS Plus Extra, while
Fallout 3
and
New Vegas
are on PS Plus Premium.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
Metascore: 84
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- October 29, 2013
- How Long To Beat
- 24 Hours
PS Plus Extra has a plethora of Assassin’s Creed games, including fairly recent releases such as Odyssey and Valhalla. Subscribers can readily spend half a year playing through the franchise’s PS Plus projects, allowing them to explore a wide range of historical worlds. Picking a favorite will likely come down to a person’s preferred setting; someone might gravitate toward Syndicate‘s UK aesthetic or feel more at home in Origins‘ Ancient Egypt. The latter is a good entry point since the game acts as something of a soft reboot, along with having one of the franchise’s best open-worlds.
However, Black Flag should not be ignored either, especially since the game stands on its own quite well. Set during the height of piracy, Black Flag takes place in the West Indies, a map filled with diverse locations, three central cities, and lots to discover. The campaign quickly puts the player behind the wheel of a ship and gets them out on the water, encouraging them to explore to their heart’s content. Black Flag is, first and foremost, a pirate game rather than an Assassin’s Creed sequel, and this helps differentiate it from everything that came before and after.
The following open-world
Assassin’s Creed
games are on PS Plus Extra:
- Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection
- Assassin’s Creed 3: Remastered
- Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered
- Assassin’s Creed Unity
- Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered
- Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry
- Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
- Assassin’s Creed Origins
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Ghost Of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
Metascore: 87
Ghost of Tsushima
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- July 17, 2020
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
The PS4’s swan song as Sony’s main console, Ghost of Tsushima transports players back in time to the 13th century as the Mongols invade Japan’s Tsushima Island. After failing to stop the invasion and almost meeting his end, Jin Sakai goes on a quest to recruit fighters that could help turn the tide of battle.
The Best Open-World Games On Xbox Game Pass (April 2024)
Looking for an open-world adventure to crack into on Xbox Game Pass? These are the best open-world games currently available on the service.
Ghost of Tsushima‘s open-world is gorgeous, be it on the PS4 or the PS5. Tsushima Island is lavish, varied, and breathtaking. The same can also be said about Iki Island, the location of the expansion that is included in the Director’s Cut. Within this map, players can look forward to engaging in intense samurai-themed battles and decent side quests with memorable NPCs.
Lost Judgment
Metascore: 82
Lost Judgment
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- September 24, 2021
- How Long To Beat
- 24 Hours
Like a Dragon might be all about turn-based combat nowadays, at least the main entries, but the Judgment spin-off series has kept the franchise linked to its beat ’em up roots. While a third entry does not seem all that likely, both games are great fun, and they are available on PS Plus Extra. Newcomers should start with 2019’s Judgment, which introduces Takayuki Yagami, a lawyer who quit the business to become a private investigator. Known to take on risky cases, Yagami gets dragged into a challenging murder case in the original game, which eventually puts him in contact with the Yakuza.
The sequel does not deviate too far from its predecessor’s ideas, but it does fine-tune some elements to craft a superior overall package. For instance, both games incorporate lackluster detective-style mechanics, but the sequel spreads them out a bit more to try and make them less annoying. The melee combat is fast-paced and satisfying in both titles, and it should hit the spot with fans of Kiryu’s Yakuza era; however, Lost Judgment just adds a tinge more depth to the system.
While all of that is great, Lost Judgment‘s main selling points are its storyline and world, the latter of which comes packed with side quests and minigames. Like quite a few entries in this license, the game is set in Kamurocho, which is inspired by Tokyo’s Kabukicho district. The reused map might get tiresome for long-time Yakuza fans, but the open-world is great in isolation. Story-wise, Lost Judgment focuses on bullying, a touchy subject that the game treats seriously but also struggles to explore with nuance. Nevertheless, the campaign produces more than a few awesome moments.
Saints Row 2
Metascore: 82
Saints Row 2
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- Released
- October 14, 2008
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
PS Plus has three Saints Row games: Saints Row 2, Saints Row 4, and Gat Out of Hell. Despite falling within the same franchise, all three games are fairly different from each other. Saints Row 4 and its spin-off, Gat Out of Hell, are unapologetically over-the-top to the point that they bear almost no resemblance to reality. They play somewhat similar to Crackdown, and they cast players as superhero-style characters who have abilities that make most of the conventional components of an open-world game like vehicles and weapons obsolete. Saints Row 4 is fun, provided players know what they are getting into.
On the other hand, Saints Row 2 is more down to earth, while nevertheless leaning into parody and comedic territory. Set in Stillwater, the story tasks the protagonist with reforming the Saints, which naturally means they will need to take on other gangs that have gotten a foothold in the city. Even if it is not as absurd as later entries in the franchise, the sandbox game still gives players all the tools they need to spread mayhem on the street. It just happens to be accompanied by a pretty good story and some great characters.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Metascore: 85
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- November 12, 2020
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man is arguably the Wall-Crawler’s greatest game, although it does have stiff competition from a few older titles. Unfortunately, the 2018 release is not available on PS Plus Extra, having been removed in May 2023; that said, superhero fans yearning to swing through New York City can jump into Miles Morales, a spin-off that maintains the main entry’s high standard of quality.
Even though it ties into Spider-Man in a few ways, Miles Morales can be treated as a standalone experience since it has a fairly self-contained story. As its subtitle suggests, the game swaps Peter Parker for Miles, who is still in his infancy as a hero. Both games do splendid jobs of recreating New York City, and while it is not overly packed with memorable side content, the open-world is nevertheless fun to explore due to Miles Morales‘ satisfying movement. Compared to other games of this ilk, Insomniac’s spin-off is on the short side as it can be readily completed in under 10 hours, which is a decent enough length for a PS Plus game.
Jak 3
Metascore: 84 (PS2)
Jak 3
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- Released
- November 9, 2004
- Genre(s)
- Platformer , Action-Adventure
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
By the time 2004 rolled around, Naughty Dog’s Jak & Daxter franchise has morphed into a very different beast. While still utilizing platforming as a core mechanic, Jak 2 and 3 greatly ramped up the action and replaced The Precursor Legacy‘s (fairly) linear levels with larger and more open-ended areas. Jak 3 really emphasizes its free-roaming element, encouraging players to explore its two cities and wasteland as much as possible.
Compared to its predecessors, Jak 3 can come across as unfocused and disjointed; however, it is still one of the better action-adventure games on the PS2. As far as its open-world is considered, Jak 3‘s map is not nearly as expansive or diverse as some of its high-profile contemporaries like Grand Theft Auto 3. That said, the core gameplay is strong enough to keep things interesting for the relatively short campaign.
Death Stranding
Metascore: 82
Death Stranding
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- November 8, 2019
- How Long To Beat
- 40 Hours
A Hideo Kojima project is always going to be something special, and Death Stranding‘s bizarre reveal and early trailers instantly made that apparent. Set in a post-apocalyptic version of the United States, players portray Sam, a person charged with traveling across the country delivering packages and establishing communication points.
Death Stranding is very much about the journey; in fact, Sam has to carefully plan his trips and every step he takes along the way. Barren landscapes dominate the scene, and the gameplay can be quite meditative once players get used to its rhythm.
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
Metascore: 82
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- March 15, 2019
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
The Division 2 has been out for more than four years, and while things have not always been smooth sailing, Ubisoft’s game has cemented itself as one of the better live-services games on the market.
Set in Washington D.C., Ubisoft’s title envisions a post-apocalyptic alternate reality filled with warring factions and nature-covered landmarks. The series has quite a realistic presentation, although the sequel is slightly more colorful than its predecessor. The Division 2 has plenty of multiplayer-focused content, including PvP and an extensive endgame, but the story can be played solo and experienced as a single-player game.
Tom Clancy’s The Division
is also on PS Plus Extra.
Days Gone
Metascore: 71
Days Gone
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- April 26, 2019
- How Long To Beat
- 36 Hours
Although hardly hated, Days Gone launched to a fairly meek response compared to other PS4 exclusives, which caused the game to slip by the wayside after a while. Nowadays, Bend Studio’s release is relatively forgotten, and while garnering some online support, it hardly seems destined to become a modern cult classic. By 2019, open-world games had grown so commonplace that they were threatening to become tried; meanwhile, zombie stories had already faced some backlash due to overexposure. Basically, Days Gone was fighting an uphill battle from the start, and debuting with a myriad of technical issues certainly did not help. The story can also be difficult to get into since the protagonist, Deacon St. John, starts out as rather unlikable, and he does not really improve until a good few hours into the campaign.
Days Gone: 10 Melee Skills You Need To Unlock As Soon As Possible
There are 15 melee skills in Days Gone and some of them are worth unlocking as quickly as players can.
If someone looks past Days Gone‘s uneven reputation and pushes through the narrative’s slow early moments, they will eventually find themselves playing a refreshingly intense open-world experience. The game’s main selling point is its zombie hordes, and a run-in with these armies of Freakers never fails to be exciting and terrifying. Although it might not seem that original, Days Gone‘s world is fairly impressive, and it is filled with minor details that provide context for society’s current situation. The project does a good job of populating its map with small events that add an element of spontaneity, and this goes beyond just zombies as there are plenty of humans running about as well.
Untitled Goose Game
Metascore: 80
Untitled Goose Game
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- September 20, 2019
- Developer(s)
- House House
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle , Stealth
- How Long To Beat
- 3 Hours
Untitled Goose Game is a borderline open-world project since players won’t have access to the full map at once, although they are free to rampage through a specific area while they are in it. Consequently, the campaign is a bit more restrictive than most releases in the genre, all the while still offering thrills associated with it. More importantly, Untitled Goose Game is simply a fun time. Cast as a normal goose, players are unleashed on an ill-prepared English village, with their goal being to annoy people and ruin a few days. That’s largely it. The goose has a few objectives they need to accomplish in each area, which provides players with some direction on how to proceed. Otherwise, they can do whatever they want, and they are encouraged to explore the sandbox and cause as much havoc as a goose can cause.
Untitled Goose Game does not take itself very seriously and has a strong sense of humor. Silly as the concept sounds, the game works because it is fairly grounded, at least in the sense that this scenario could realistically play out in quaint villages. The setting is quite idyllic, making it prime for an influx of mayhem caused by a mischievous animal. Unlike many traditional open-world projects, Untitled Goose Game can be completed in a few hours and has very little “fluff” content. This makes it an ideal candidate to slot in between lengthier games that take weeks or months to complete.
Lego City Undercover
Metascore: 77
Lego City Undercover
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch , PS4 , Microsoft Windows , Wii U
- Released
- March 18, 2013
- Genre(s)
- Action , Platformer , Fighting
- How Long To Beat
- 16 hours
Lego is primarily associated with licensed games, but the franchise occasionally releases standalone projects with no ties to other brands. Lego 2K Drive, Bricktales, Brawls, and Worlds are somewhat recent names that saw the IP branching into fresh territories and genres, and they are all enjoyable. Out of the many games released during the 2010s, Lego City Undercover garnered arguably the most love, and it represents a high point in the franchise’s legacy. Unlike some of the series’ other original titles, this project largely sticks to the formula present in the licensed Lego games, providing players with a comedic action-adventure romp through a sandbox filled with collectibles and secondary content.
Best Open-World Lego Games, Ranked
LEGO games have been an iconic staple of gaming culture, and if players are looking for an open-world brick adventure, these are some great choices.
CityUndercover tends to be cited as Lego‘s take on GTA, and while its world is nowhere near as stuffed with content as most of Rockstar’s later releases, this comparison is not unfounded either. Lego City’s design emphasizes variety, offering a wide selection of districts that each have their own flavor. The side quests and optional activities are relatively rudimentary and traditional for a Lego game, but the city itself is fun and relaxing to explore. The main story is also a blast, playing out like an action blockbuster ripped right out of the ’80s. Lego City Undercover might be the best PS Plus Extra open-world game for kids, and older players could get a kick out of it too.
Unturned
Metascore: N/A
Unturned
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- July 7, 2014
- Developer(s)
- Smartly Dressed Games
- How Long To Beat
- 50 Hours
Unturned takes a few pages from Minecraft and throws zombies into the mix. After loading into a map, players are mostly left to figure things out for themselves, regardless of whether they are offline or tagging along with some friends.
The survival element takes a familiar form, demanding the monitoring of resources and meters while strategically planning out actions to avoid attracting unwanted attention. There is even a base-building mechanic. Unturned provides an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. It is not the most graphically impressive or unique open-world game on PS Plus, but Unturned has its charm.
Far Cry Primal
Metascore: 76
Far Cry Primal
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- February 23, 2016
- How Long To Beat
- 15 Hours
PS Plus Extra has a couple of Far Cry games, including the most recent entry. Although not especially well-received, Far Cry 6 has the best gunplay in the franchise so far, and its open-world is impressively big. If someone has never played a Far Cry project, they will likely have a blast with the sixth entry since one of its main criticisms is its map’s visual similarities to its numbered predecessor. Far Cry 3 Classic Edition is also a decent option, but the beloved game shows its age by this point.
Far Cry Primal takes place during an era when (gaming) conflicts were solved with bows and clubs rather than machine guns. The prehistoric setting was a refreshing change of pace in 2016, and that is still the case all these years later. While not a full-blown survival experience, Primal incorporates more elements from the genre than the license’s modern main entries, and it strikes a nice balance between a traditional Far Cry experience and a more experimental adventure.
The Long Dark
Metascore: 75
The Long Dark
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- August 1, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Hinterland Studio
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 22 Hours
The world finds itself in a post-apocalyptic era, leaving the player stranded in a freezing Canadian wasteland. The Long Dark has a story mode in the form of Wintermute, which guides players through a largely straightforward path that teaches them the basics of survival. Although this option is fine, it is merely an appetizer to The Long Dark‘s Survival mode. As its title implies, this section is all about persevering for as long as possible against the overwhelming challenges offered by the weather, cold, and wildlife.
Best PS4 Games On PlayStation Plus Extra & Premium (March 2024)
PS Plus Extra and Premium have hundreds of PlayStation 4 games, but which ones are the best?
The Long Dark is at its best when it just lets its users do their own thing. With death lurking around every corner, the game creates a constant sense of tension as players desperately attempt to keep their meters healthy in an environment that feels tailor-made to destroy them. The Long Dark is far from an easy game, although it does come with a variety of difficulty settings so that players can customize their experiences.
Gravity Rush 2
Metascore: 80
Gravity Rush 2
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- January 20, 2017
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
The underappreciated sequel to Gravity Rush, Gravity Rush 2 gives Kat a bigger playground to jump across. In this universe-swapping adventure, players will be taken to multiple locations, although the majority of their time will be spent in Jirga Para Lhao and Hekseville.
Gravity Rush 2‘s open-world is beautiful, large but not overwhelmingly so, and diverse. Like its predecessor, the sequel’s gravity-driven traversal system enhances the game’s world as it provides a unique way to interact with its highs and lows.
Gravity Rush Remastered
is on PS Plus Premium.
Immortals Fenyx Rising
Metascore: 77
Immortals Fenyx Rising
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- December 3, 2020
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
Ubisoft has cornered a slice of the open-world market. The publisher’s franchises, mainly Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, tend to stick fairly closely to a formula, although each entry tweaks a few things. While these are all good games, by this point, someone likely knows whether they are for them or not. As Ubisoft’s games tend to share a few common traits, people who are not fans of the company’s biggest IPs might be tempted to just ignore Immortals Fenyx Rising, an open-world game that was added in March 2023 to PS Plus Extra.
While not completely removed from Ubisoft’s other projects, Immortals Fenyx Rising definitely has its own identity, especially since the title is clearly inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Beyond sharing a visual style, the game utilizes a flashy hack and slash combat system that blends melee with ranged options. The campaign also has quite a few optional puzzles, and while there are several side quests, they are not overabundant. Immortals Fenyx Rising is a fun footnote in Ubisoft’s legacy.
Prey
Metascore: 79
Prey
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- May 5, 2017
- How Long To Beat
- 16 Hours
Set on a space station, Prey puts players in Morgan Yu’s shoes as he investigates the Talos 1 after it has been invaded by an alien threat. Combining elements of horror, stealth, and Metroidvania gameplay, Prey doesn’t handhold players, allowing them to explore the environment at their own risk.
Every Game By Arkane Studios, Ranked
Arkane Studios has been behind some gems that gamers hold dear to their hearts.
Talos 1 is not as big of a location as some other open-world games, but it serves as a detailed and immersive sandbox filled with secrets to uncover and challenges to take on. Arkane’s project has a tense sense of atmosphere, along with the confidence to encourage players to think for themselves to solve predicaments.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Metascore: 73
Dragon Ball Z Kakarot
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- January 16, 2020
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a special case as it can only be recommended to die-hard fans of Akira Toriyama’s manga and anime. In a vacuum, CyberConnect2’s open-world experience is rather basic. The world is largely static and filled with repetitive busy work that does not have much depth. While not devoid of side quests that link back to the manga, most of the content boils down to forgettable fetch quests or fights. The game has a couple of mini-games like fishing, but they are unlikely to keep players entertained for very long.
Therefore, Kakarot is not a great open-world game, and it has very little to offer people who are not already enamored with Goku’s story. However, fans who grew up with Dragon Ball Z are another story entirely. Despite cycling through a narrative that has been done to death by gaming, Kakarot‘s open nature sets it apart from the Budokais of the world by granting fans an opportunity to immerse themselves in this iconic universe like never before. And, while not dense, the world is visually stunning and a faithful recreation of the source material.
Just Cause 3
Metascore: 73
Just Cause 3
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- November 30, 2015
PS Plus Extra has Just Cause 3 and 4, two games that launched to fairly mixed receptions. The latter is largely regarded as the most disappointing entry in the series due to offering more limited destruction, while the former’s negativity stems from its underbaked launch state. However, technical issues aside, Just Cause 3 serves as a prime example of just how fun a sandbox experience can be.
Every Just Cause Game, Ranked
Just Cause is a series that is well-known for its over-the-top gameplay and beautiful visuals, but some games have held up better than others.
Dropped into the fictional Medici, players are just cut loose and told to cause as much mayhem as possible, and the game gives them all the tools they need to bring wanton destruction to this island. Just Cause 3 is satisfying in an almost fundamental way, and it is an absolute blast.
Infamous: Second Son
Metascore: 80
inFAMOUS Second Son
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- March 21, 2014
- How Long To Beat
- 10 Hours
All the Infamous games on PS Plus Premium are worth playing. While Cole’s entries are highly rated, Second Son tends to get overlooked due to its (relatively) early release in the PS4’s lifecycle. Despite coming out within a year of the console’s launch, Infamous: Second Son is still one of the best-looking games on the PS4, and its iteration of Seattle is incredible.
As Delsin Rowe unlocks new powers and ways to interact with the world, Second Son grows into something truly special. This is also a pretty short open-world PS Plus game, presenting a nice alternative to something like Horizon Zero Dawn or Ghost of Tsushima.
Infamous: First Light
is also on PS Plus Extra, while
Infamous
,
Infamous 2
, and
Infamous: Festival of Blood
are on PS Plus Premium.
Batman: Arkham Knight
Metascore: 87
Batman: Arkham Knight
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Released
- June 23, 2015
- How Long To Beat
- 17 Hours
PS Plus has Batman fans well-fed. Rocksteady’s full Arkham trilogy, Arkham Origins, and the maligned Gotham Knights are available on the Premium tier; meanwhile, Extra-level subscribers can play Arkham Knight and Gotham Knights. While the latter has some positives that make it not a complete write-off, the former is undoubtedly the superior package, and it is not particularly close. In 2015, Arkham Knight garnered some controversy due to its terrible PC launch and the heavy inclusion of the Batmobile, resulting in a positive reception that did not quite live up to Arkham Asylum and Arkham City‘s best-of-all-time standards.
Nevertheless, Arkham Knight is an impressive achievement, and it features arguably gaming’s best rendition of Gotham to date. Even nearly a decade later, the game’s open-world remains a sight to behold – it is visually striking, dense with architecture, and dripping in style and personality. Putting aside the polarizing Batmobile sections, Arkham Knight is generally fantastic and features the deepest combat system in the franchise.
Arkham Asylum
and
Arkham City
are available on PS Plus Premium, but they are the
Return to Arkham
PS4 versions. While still worth playing, these versions are not perfect.
10:34
The Best Games On PS Plus Premium & Extra
PS Plus Extra and Premium have some of the best PlayStation games from across the console brand’s history.