Best PS Plus PS4 Games

In 2022, Sony reshaped PlayStation Plus, combining the original subscription with PS Now. Ever since then, PS5 and PS4 owners have been able to commit to three subscription tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. While the former is required for most multiplayer experiences and provides a few free giveaways per month, the latter two feature game libraries that number in the hundreds. PS Plus Extra contains PS5 and PS4 games, while Premium adds classic PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSP titles to the mix, along with some PS4 remasters.

As the PS5 has been out for some years, that console's games tend to hog the spotlight when it comes to PS Plus; however, the service has a massive selection of PS4 titles, most of which hold up well. Due to the PS5's backward compatibility, owners of that system can also play the best PS4 PS Plus games, granting them access to hundreds of projects from the last decade. While most of these titles are not as exciting as new PS5 releases or nostalgic PS1 classics, they are generally good quality.

Updated June 7, 2024: A few big PS4 games have been added to PS Plus in recent weeks, including a title that is only available during June 2024.

PS Plus Essential: Streets Of Rage 4

Metascore: 82

Beat 'em ups are both timeless and an acquired taste. The genre's glory days were the '90s, with most arcades being packed to the brim with staples that are still fondly remembered to this day. Out of all those IPs, Streets of Rage is arguably the most iconic, with the original three entries holding up as gaming greats irrespective of genre. Consequently, Streets of Rage 4 had big shoes to fill, especially since it debuted during a time when beat 'em ups were not particularly mainstream. Fortunately, it is amazing. Regardless of whether someone grew up in arcades or is taking their first steps into this world, they should check out this PS Plus PS4 game while it is part of the Essential tier.

The sequel adheres very closely to tradition, delivering a tough campaign that blends accessible controls with surprising depth through its combos, character variety, weapons, and enemies (including consistently fantastic bosses). SOE4's combat is delightful, with each attack landing with a satisfying thud and every move holding importance. New players might wish to spend some time in the training mode before jumping into the story, although the game has quite a few difficulty levels to cater to most experience levels.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Metascore: 97

Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 might just be the best open-world PS4 game; in fact, an argument could be made that it is the best PS4 game period. While most interested parties have probably played through this Western already, people who have been on the fence about diving into this long and emotional journey can finally do so without risking anything, except for a bit of time and bandwidth.

Even after all these years, RDR2's visuals, storytelling, attention to detail, and side quests are still top-notch. Set during the dying days of the Wild West, the campaign follows Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang who is very much part of an obsolete generation. Touching upon themes of regret, change, guilt, and sacrifice, RDR2 tells a heavy but moving tale while deeply immersing players in a unique historical era.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

Metascore: 87

PS Plus Extra subscribers can jump into two Dragon Ball games: Xenoverse 2 and FighterZ. While they might share a franchise, they are wildly different experiences. An arena fighter with light RPG elements, Xenoverse 2 is probably the better pick for Dragon Ball fans searching for a single-player title; however, FighterZ is overall the superior project.

Crafted by Arc System Works, FighterZ is a deep fighting game that does a fantastic job of bringing to life the source material's over-the-top battles. Arc's own properties have a reputation for being overwhelmingly complex, but Dragon Ball FighterZ is far more accessible than Guilty Gear or BlazBlue.

Kingdom Hearts 3

Metascore: 83

PS Plus Subscribers who have never dipped into Kingdom Hearts have more than 150 hours of gameplay at their fingertips, a figure that easily doubles if each game's side content is taken into consideration. Newcomers should start from the first game found in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix and steadily work their way through the story, especially since Kingdom Hearts 2 and Birth by Sleep are often cited as the franchise's highest points. As those titles debuted on the PS2 and PSP respectively, they cannot be classified as full-blown PS4 releases.

A long-time coming, Kingdom Hearts 3 finally debuted in 2019, garnering a generally positive reception. While not perfect, the action RPG delivers highly enjoyable fast-paced hack and slash combat and gorgeous visuals that bring to life a few of Disney and Pixar's recent movies. The story has pacing issues, but it does end on a high note.

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Metascore: 87

Several Wolfenstein games are part of PS Plus and they nearly all rank among the service's best first-person shooters. In the grand scheme of things, The New Colossus sticks very close to The New Order's blueprint; however, it opts to go down the "more is more route", a decision that pays off spectacularly.

MachineGames' reboot series offers corny but largely entertaining stories with awesome villains, tightly designed levels that allow for some player agency, and satisfying gunplay that comes with a side of stealth. None of these elements are particularly unique, but The New Colossus executes them to near perfection. The campaign is simply a fun and over-the-top romp that contains nothing resembling a dull moment. Forget the FPS genre, Wolfenstein 2 is simply among the best PS Plus PS4 games.

Two Point Hospital: Jumbo Edition

Metascore: 85 (Switch)

PS Plus Extra only has a couple of simulation games, and they cover quite a wide range of subgenres. Two Point Hospital is, at the bare minimum, a top contender for the service's best sim, and the title is a good pick for both beginners and veterans. While business sims have earned a reputation for being unapproachable and dense, quite a few modern projects have sought to ease the barrier of entry for casual players, and Two Point Studios' efforts rank among the most successful in this area. Two Point Hospital also runs well on PS4, which is hardly a given for a genre known for its micromanagement and data-heavy gameplay.

Inspired by Theme Hospital, Two Point Hospital is surprisingly funny and lighthearted, rarely taking itself too seriously. However, this mentality does not stretch to the gameplay itself, which offers players plenty of options and decisions. The game throws out quite a few sites and scenarios as players will have to build different hospitals to suit a location's needs. If someone prefers a more free-flowing approach, they can also try sandbox mode.

Tales Of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

Metascore: 81

PS Plus Subscribers have quite a few Tales games at their disposal, all of which are native to the PS4. Technically, Tales of Zestiria is the only proper "PS4" release on the service, with the other titles either being remasters of older generation projects or cross-gen PS5 titles; however, Zestiria is extremely polarizing and should not be somebody's first exposure to the franchise. Consequently, Vesperia is a far better candidate, especially since the Definitive Edition brought the game to Western PlayStation owners after the PS3 iteration was left as a Japanese exclusive. Also, Vesperia is a top contender for the best Tales game ever, and it has aged very well in nearly every area.

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Due to utilizing gorgeous cel-shaded visuals, the original version of this game still looks fantastic, and the same can (obviously) be said for the remaster. More importantly, Vesperia tells a gripping story that features a fantastic all-around roster of characters, including perhaps the franchise's best protagonist. While not quite as complex as some other entries in the series, the JRPG's real-time battle system is generally fun and deep enough to remain interesting during the 30-hour campaign. Like the story, the combat starts fairly simple, but it gradually blossoms into a multi-layered and satisfying system. Vesperia also supports co-op, and that is the best way to experience this brilliant PS4 PS Plus game.

Dreams

Metascore: 89

Media Molecule's Dreams is unlike any other PS4 game on PS Plus Extra. Designed as an entry-level video game creator, the 2020 release gives users all the necessary tools to produce experiences of their own, a goal very few developers have tried to deliver for the console market. Dreams is fairly limited compared to other applications of this type, but it works brilliantly as a way to ease children or fledgling developers into the industry. Even if someone has no intention of pursuing a career in this field, they might still enjoy messing around with the project's features.

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Dreams also allows players to surf experiences created by other users, along with a few games designed by Media Molecule. Most of these options are short novelties rather than fully fleshed-out titles, but they are still impressive considering they were conceived specifically using the PS4.

Horizon Zero Dawn – Complete Edition

Metascore: 84

As Aloy, players traverse a post-apocalyptic world overrun with robotic dinosaurs and featuring pockets of humanity who are less than welcoming to the protagonist. Horizon Zero Dawn is a gorgeous open-world game, a technical masterpiece that pushes the PS4 to its limits and seldom falters in the process.

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The combat is exceptional, particularly when it involves Aloy taking on metallic behemoths that could rival quite a few towering beasts from the Monster Hunter franchise. The story takes a while to pick up steam, but once it gets going, Horizon Zero Dawn doesn't let up.

Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age

Metascore: 91

Dragon Quest 11 brought the series back to home consoles in the West after a long hiatus, and the wait was worth it. At its heart, this is a traditional turn-based JRPG, and that extends to both the gameplay and story. The latter is a straightforward but charming "good vs. Evil" narrative, one that is elevated by a decent roster of characters.

The combat system should not hold too many surprises for anyone familiar with the franchise or JRPGs from the '90s and 2000s, and that is not a criticism. DQ11 wisely opts to stick to the formula that has proven successful for over three decades, all the while modernizing just enough elements to not come across as dated. The "S" version is the definitive way to experience this game, and it even comes with a 16-bit mode.