PlayStation Plus is having a good year, especially with some of the games chosen for the latter part of 2025. With previous popular picks like DayZ, Lies of P, and last month's somewhat surprising but incredibly welcome inclusion of Stardew Valley, Sony's subscription service is proving its value is still strong. The three titles for October's PlayStation Plus Essential tier have now been announced, with members soon to add Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3, and Cocoon to their libraries starting on October 7. These PS Plus announcements coincided with the previously rumored State of Play, which took place on September 24, where Sony showcased some highly anticipated games like Marvel's Wolverine and Nioh 3.
September also marked the 30th anniversary of PlayStation's launch in North America and Europe. Sony invited gamers to share their memories of PS via social media, with some chosen to be included in an official highlight reel to celebrate the milestone.
Alan Wake 2
Read The Best War Games's Review of Alan Wake 2
As October is the traditional scary season, PS+ subscribers who were expecting a notable horror game to be added may be pleased to receive one of the best ones of the past few years. After a 13-year-long wait since the original, Remedy Entertainment's 2023 follow-up to the writer Alan Wake's encounter with a powerful reality-warping entity and his descent into a maddening journey marked a new chapter for the IP and the studio.
Alan Wake 2 picks up after the same in-universe time gap, introducing a new protagonist, FBI agent Saga Anderson, who teams up with the titular author against the Dark Presence to undo its terrifying plans and right the world. Focusing more on classic survival horror design compared to the original, Alan Wake 2 won multiple TGA 2023 awards and sets up the next leg of Remedy's Connected Universe, making it a perfect PS+ pick for the month.
Alan Wake 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- October 27, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Epic Games
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Alan Wake
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 17 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
Remedy's most recent release, FBC: Firebreak, is an FPS co-op extraction title based on the world of Control, and the studio is also known to be working on Control 2.
Cocoon
Read The Best War Games's Review of Cocoon
Published by Annapurna and developed by Geometric Interactive, Cocoon is also directed by Jeppe Carlsen, whose previous credits include designing indie platforming puzzle classics Limbo and Inside. Cocoon is a bit more relaxed in terms of tone and mood, as well as much more visually vibrant compared to those, but it is an equally captivating and engaging experience. The premise and nature of the puzzles are the real stars of the show, as players must navigate an insect-like character through multiple, layered alien worlds of increasing complexity.
Along with its clever use of the above mechanics, Cocoon boasts a beautiful watercolor art style and a unique soundtrack composed entirely of synthetic sounds rather than recorded ones. Cocoon is a thoughtful and satisfying journey, and its inclusion makes for another PS Plus cozy game.
Cocoon
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- September 29, 2023
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Geometric Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Annapurna Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 5 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 3 GB (November 2023)
Goat Simulator 3
Read The Best War Games's Review of Goat Simulator 3
A much wackier game, the Goat Simulator series began as a joke side experiment by Coffee Stain Studios during an internal game jam, never intended for release. But after the developer posted test footage, it became a viral hit, with players requesting a full-length version. Goat Simulator 3, which is technically the second entry, utilizes a physics system that touts unpredictable jankiness and odd bugs as major features.
It makes for an incredibly fun and funny ride, especially when joined by up to 3 friends to maximize the carnage that the rampaging ruminants can cause. For fans looking to have a blast getting up to all sorts of hilarious hijinks as an unhinged animal, Goat Simulator 3 provides it in spades.
Goat Simulator 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 72 /100 Critics Rec: 49%
- Released
- November 17, 2022
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Coffee Stain North
- Publisher(s)
- Coffee Stain Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Goat Simulator
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical or Horizontal
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-4 Players
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 4 GB (December 2023)
Sony also announced a few titles for PS Plus Extra and Premium at the State of Play ahead of the usual window. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered will be added to Extra on September 26, also known as The Last of Us Day. Premium will receive two classic fighting games, Soulcalibur 3 and Tekken 3, as well as Tomb Raider Anniversary, though it's not clear yet if these will be for October or sometime later. In the meantime, members can look forward to the above Essential picks hitting PS+ soon.
