Sony's next-gen console comes out this November, and with it a ton of fantastic games coming both on launch as well as within a few months of the console's release. The PS5 finally had its big September reveal event, and with pricing and release date information, came a ton of new game announcements for the console's near future. Alongside all of the new games came a much more surprising announcement, something probably no player was expecting: the PlayStation Plus Collection.
At launch, several of the PS4's biggest hits will be available to download and play instantly on the next-gen hardware. As an added "PlayStation Plus benefit" on the PS5, some of the biggest first and third-party PS4 games will be free to all players. All that's required is players have an active PlayStation Plus subscription, and then "simply download games and start playing." Obviously this isn't an overt competition with Xbox Game Pass, but it does at least allow players to clear some gaps in their gaming enjoyment from last generation. Here's what's been announced for the program, coming at launch on PS5:
God of War
The beautiful reinvention of PlayStation's classic series makes its way to PS5. God of War (2018) transformed Kratos into a killing machine that was genuinely likeable, alongside his charming son Atreus. The two embark on a quest through Norse mythology that helped define the PS4's success and the last console generation overall. Especially on the heels of God of War's sequel announcement for 2021, players will want to revisit the adventure that started it all.
Bloodborne
A Soulsborne oft-missed by fans who didn't have a PS4, Bloodborne marked a major shift forward for Souls-like games. Many of the innovations made in Bloodborne carried on into several other successful titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Dark Souls 3. Taking place in a distinct Victorian/Lovecraftian universe, many were impressed by its highly unique world and properly challenging gameplay.
Monster Hunter: World
Bringing the Monster Hunter series to next-gen, Monster Hunter: World marked a proper return from the Capcom franchise that hadn't released a new entry since Monster Hunter 4 on Nintendo 3DS. Hunters jumped into a completely modernized and highly detailed world, full of all sorts new and returning monsters to chase after. All of the signature depth of customization and progression is there in Monster Hunter: World, and makes its rightful return on PS5.
Final Fantasy 15
Noctis' long-awaited adventure makes its way to PS5 as well with Final Fantasy 15. The storied franchise's long awaited entry marked a pretty significant change from previous games, eschewing the turn-based combat entirely for more action-oriented encounters. Players could also explore a fully open world, a first for Final Fantasy, throughout the majority of the game. While the multi-tiered media approach of Final Fantasy 15 was controversial for some, it was still one of the more interesting stories in recent years from the franchise.
Fallout 4
Releasing after the powerhouse of Skyrim, Fallout 4 was the first next-gen game from Bethesda's post-apocalyptic adventure. Players explored a retro-futuristic Boston after emerging from several hundred years of cryogenic sleep inside Vault 111. Classic Fallout staples were bolstered by an all-new, fully voiced protagonist, alongside improved shooting mechanics and a unique base-building mechanic. While it wasn't the most compelling Fallout stories, the game was still a blast to explore.
Mortal Kombat X
For the fighting game fans out there, Mortal Kombat X makes its way onto PS5 as well. While it's not the newest game in the series, Mortal Kombat X was the next-gen entry for the series at the time, and brought along several gameplay additions. Character variations added competitive depth to all characters, and the game had an absolutely bonkers story on the level of Fast and Furious' insanity.
Uncharted 4
Serving as the grand finale for Nathan Drake, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End ended the series with a huge blockbuster bang. Many of the story innovations from The Last of Us served as inspiration for many of the character moments and story beats throughout Uncharted 4. The game felt just as good to play as it looked, as the graphical fidelity in Uncharted 4 is some of Naughty Dog's best work.
Ratchet & Clank
As a proper reboot of another classic PlayStation franchise, Ratchet & Clank put the series back on the map on PS4. The original game in the series was rebuilt from the ground up with modern visuals, but still felt familiar for veteran fans. While the animated film didn't rollover so well, as with most video game movies, Ratchet & Clank was received well enough to prompt a sequel with Rift Apart for PS5.
Days Gone
The PlayStation's premier take on Zombies, Days Gone, also jumps on to the collection. Deacon explores the Pacific Northwest amongst the zombie apocalypse in a packed open world full of dangerous hordes of infected. While it might not be the most thrilling in terms of open world elements, the game truly shines in its tense moments of World War Z-like zombie groups attacking from all sides.
Until Dawn
Bringing the slasher-film horror aesthetic to games, Until Dawn was a campy and thrilling horror joyride on PS4. Players attempt to survive a horror adventure through multiple perspectives, with each choice potentially being a character's last. While it's largely jump scares and tacky quick time events, that's the point of Until Dawn's nature. The game never takes itself too seriously, and it's better for it.