This PS Plus August 2025 Day One Title is a Spiritual…

PlayStation Plus continues to have a strong half of the year. Sony has been celebrating the subscription service's 15th year nearly this entire summer, and PS Plus members have been treated to a variety of extras and exclusive deals since the Days of Play event began at the start of the season. Since then, each month's selections have had some great picks, with Neowiz's popular Gothic Soulslike, Lies of P, being praised as part of August's Essentials batch. But an upcoming Day One release for the Extra tier, Sword of the Sea, also has a good deal of buzz behind it, and for great reasons. Sword of the Sea will soon be surfing onto PS Plus, and its pedigree makes it the de facto heir to one of the most recognized indie games of all time.

Day One PlayStation Plus Extra August 2025 Game, Sword of the Sea, Promises Plenty of Journey Vibes

Journey is an Enduring and Innovative Indie Classic

Journey, by developer Thatgamecompany, was originally released on PS3 in 2012. It was published by Sony, and a few years later made its way onto PlayStation Plus in 2016. Journey is widely regarded as a compelling work that shies away from many standard conventions and expectations. While the indie gaming scene was finding its footing more than a decade ago, tons of creative and more experimental titles were released. However, the results were sometimes mixed and a number failed to gain traction, whether due to over-ambition or other contributing factors that could derail an otherwise promising title. Journey, however, was nearly universally hailed and embraced by players and critics upon release.

The title sees fans as a faceless and nameless protagonist riding their magic scarf across a breathtaking range of mountains and deserts hiding mysterious ancient ruins. Players are given no clear goal, and Journey's gameplay is driven largely by curiosity and the sheer joy of navigating the world to discover what wondrous sights await over the next horizon. There's also a unique interactive component, where players can come across other travelers, but only communicate via cryptic gestures; an endearing touch that provides brief moments of connection and respite from isolation. Journey's simple but satisfying mechanics and visually stunning levels created a supremely contemplative gaming experience.

Journey has since become a renowned and fondly viewed title. It was nominated for and won several major game awards, including those at DICE and the BAFTAs. Perhaps most impressively, it was the first and so far only video game soundtrack nominated for (though it did not win) a Grammy in 2013. Sword of the Sea will see some of the visionaries who brought Journey to life returning to collaborate again on a game that promises another incredible yet soothing ride through an equally enthralling world.

Sword of the Sea Coming to PS Plus Extra in August is a Perfect Full-Circle Moment

Sword of the Sea is developed by Giant Squid, responsible for Abzu and The Pathless. The former resembles Journey's design in many ways, and the studio itself is home to Matt Nava, who served as art director on Journey, and is now in the director role for Sword of the Sea. Composer Austin Wintory is returning to score it, and with both games' desolate but vibrant vibes on display, Sword of the Sea will likely feature a similarly beautifully evocative soundscape.

Sword of the Sea launches on PlayStation Plus Extra on August 19. As Xbox Game Pass has been seen to be stealing the subscription show a bit this year, this is a big win for PS Plus. Given that Sword of the Sea shares so much in common with Journey, and the latter's history with Sony, it is an excellent choice for a Day One PS+ Extra title. Sword of the Sea is perfect for Journey fans or any players who might have missed it, but are looking for an engaging, thoughtful, and laid-back title with stunning art and audio.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image