The latest PlayStation Plus entries due to be added to the service's Essential tier catalog in September have just been announced. The newest Essential selections for PlayStation Plus include Stardew Valley, Psychonauts 2, and Viewfinder. These will be available for members to download into their libraries from September 2 through October 6. After Sony has spent nearly the entire summer celebrating PS Plus' 15th anniversary, the season is now winding down, and the traditionally busy late-year release period is about to hit. Just before that happens, though, these three games offer a nice selection of experiences that are all fitting for the Fall.
August's PS Plus Essential titles, which were Soulslike Lies of P, open-world survival MMO DayZ, and arena fighter My Hero: One’s Justice 2, will be removed from the service on September 1.
Psychonauts 2
Read The Best War Games's Review of Psychonauts 2
Double Fine's sequel to its innovative and mind-bending 2005 original, Psychonauts 2 continues the adventures Razputin “Raz” Aquato, acrobat and psychic investigator-in-training, at a specialized facility where promising students are taught the ins and outs of the human psyche. Psychonauts 2 combines classic platforming action and third-person combat with the studio's trademark humor, all presented through colorful and charming cartoon-style animation while touching on more serious issues and situations.
Featuring more refined gameplay and intuitive design compared to the first title, Psychonauts 2 builds on the story of Raz's time learning the ropes of being a master psychic detective. As Raz literally delves into the minds of various characters, he will discover unsettling secrets lurking in the mental recesses of his friends, mentors, and even enemies in his efforts to sort out their tangled mental states and help them deal with past traumas and various hangups in appropriately themed levels. Working to bring them balance and peace of mind, Raz must heal his comrades and unite them to thwart a greater psychic threat looming in the background.
Psychonauts 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 25, 2021
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Double Fine
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Stardew Valley
Often imitated but yet to be surpassed, developer Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone's extremely popular long-running retro cozy farming and social life sim needs almost no introduction. Rooted in comforting layers of gameplay loops and interactions (though sometimes with surprisingly darker elements beneath the surface), Stardew Valley offers a near-endless amount of playability, and it has also introduced tons of updates and other additional content throughout its nearly 10-year lifespan.
And to further cement its ongoing success, Stardew Valley became Steam's highest-rated indie title to date in June, an impressive achievement that speaks to its enduring appeal and design. Now that it will be cropping up on PlayStation Plus, members can jump into Pelican Town and begin their own endeavors to their heart's content.
Stardew Valley
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- February 26, 2016
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Developer(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
- ConcernedApe
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Simulation
Viewfinder
Read The Best War Games's Review of Viewfinder
A bit of a deeper pull, but a most welcome one, Viewfinder flew a little under the radar upon its initial release in 2023. And although on the surface it may be classified as a "walking simulator," Viewfinder goes much further in its presentation than that label implies. A first-person puzzle game with chill but surreal vibes, its unique mechanic of having players take pictures of various objects and landscapes and then transposing them onto other parts of the game world to progress makes it stand out as a title that cleverly plays with both perspective and genre norms. Fans are in for a treat with Viewfinder's visuals and intuitive gameplay, and it's an excellent choice to round out September's Essential batch.
Viewfinder
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- July 18, 2023
- ESRB
- E For Everyone // Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Sad Owl Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Thunderful Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Platformer
As a final note, it seems September may mark the end of PlayStation Plus' anniversary specials, as Sony has not announced any additional deals or promotions like those from the past few months. Still, the Extra and Premium titles will be revealed in the coming weeks, and subscribers can look forward to what PS+ has in store for those tiers.
