From The Last of Us Part I to Sword of the Sea, these are our must‑play Game Catalog picks for Extra/Premium subscribers this month.
PlayStation Plus in August 2025 feels less like a subscription service and more like an all-you-can-eat buffet of gaming greatness. Whether you’re in the mood to swing through neon-lit skylines, grind out loot until your thumbs ache, or dive into narrative epics that put Hollywood to shame, PS Plus has stacked its library like a kid who just discovered cheat codes. But with hundreds of titles staring you down, the real question is: where do you even start? Don’t worry—we’ve done the grinding, questing, and inevitable rage-quitting for you. Here are the 16 absolute best games on PlayStation Plus right now.
16. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (2021)
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade isn’t just back—it’s back in high definition. This slickly enhanced version of the 2020 original brings Midgar to life on PS5 with sharper textures, richer lighting, and smoother performance, giving both newcomers and veterans a new reason to wander its neon-lit streets. You can toggle between "Graphics Mode" for jaw-dropping 4K visuals or "Performance Mode" for silky 60 FPS responsiveness. But the real hook? FF7R Episode Intermission, a full extra chapter starring Yuffie Kisaragi on a daring Materia-stealing mission—and it’s baked right in. Whether you're hacking through Shinra’s forces or exploring Midgar’s underbelly with Yuffie, the expansion adds sharp new combat moves—in true ninja style—and fresh emotional depth. With faster loading, a photo mode, and narrative brilliance that still dazzles, Intergrade isn’t just a remake—it’s a full-fledged reawakening.
15. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (2022)
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is the treasure you don’t need a map to find—just a PlayStation Plus subscription. This bundle packs Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, both remastered for PS5, and both brimming with the kind of cinematic spectacle that makes popcorn jealous. Nathan Drake’s globe-trotting swan song delivers jaw-dropping set pieces, heartfelt goodbyes, and enough crumbling ruins to keep OSHA inspectors awake at night. Meanwhile, Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross steal the spotlight in Lost Legacy, proving that charisma and quick wits can rival any grappling hook. Enhanced visuals and buttery-smooth frame rates make every gunfight, chase, and cliff-hanger feel like you’re starring in the world’s most expensive action movie. Whether you’re scaling precarious cliffs in Madagascar or chasing ancient relics through India, this collection is the perfect excuse to relive Naughty Dog’s masterclass in storytelling and spectacle—or discover it for the first time.
14. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021 )
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is what happens when Pixar crashes headfirst into Saturday-morning cartoons—and then hands you the controller. This PS5 showpiece doesn’t just look gorgeous; it flexes the hardware with instant dimension-hopping that feels like pure sorcery. One moment you’re battling robo-pirates in a swamp, the next you’re yanked through a rift into a neon city where hoverboards zoom overhead. The lovable duo is joined by Rivet, a resistance fighter from another dimension, whose charm and banter give the series fresh spark. Combat is gloriously chaotic: expect screen-shaking explosions, weapons that defy logic (the Topiary Sprinkler literally turns enemies into garden ornaments), and action that rarely lets you breathe. Between the smooth 60 FPS performance mode and the jaw-dropping ray tracing visuals, it’s both a technical marvel and a joyride of creativity. Simply put, Rift Apart isn’t just a game—it’s the kind of interdimensional adventure that makes owning a PS5 feel worth it.
13. Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is Lara Croft at her most vulnerable—and her most formidable. The trilogy’s finale drops you deep into the jungles of South America, where every vine, temple, and tomb feels alive with danger. This isn’t just about raiding crypts for shiny trinkets; it’s about grappling with the consequences of Lara’s choices as she accidentally triggers an apocalyptic Mayan prophecy. The story is darker, more introspective, and drenched in atmosphere, but it still delivers the pulse-pounding spectacle fans expect—think collapsing ruins, white-knuckle escapes, and enough puzzles to make Indiana Jones sweat. Gameplay balances stealth, exploration, and brutal combat, letting you stalk enemies like a jaguar or charge in guns blazing. Enhanced visuals on PS5 make the dense foliage, shimmering waters, and torchlit tombs stunning to behold, while the challenge tombs themselves offer some of the series’ best brainteasers. Equal parts blockbuster thrill ride and intimate character study, Shadow is Lara at her most human—and most heroic.
12. Sword of the Sea (2025)
Sword of the Sea turns deserts into oceans you can ride. From Giant Squid (Abzû, The Pathless) and Journey art director Matt Nava, this elegant adventure hands you a hoversword—part skateboard, part surfboard—and asks you to flow. Carve dunes, link grabs and grinds, and build speed as buried ruins bloom into rolling waves. It’s serene one moment, pulse‑quick the next, with colossal‑creature encounters that punctuate the glide. Austin Wintory’s score swells and fades like the tide as you cut a line through a world that shifts from wind‑carved sands to glistening waters and snow‑dusted peaks. There’s no busywork here—movement, discovery, and striking vistas you’ll want to screenshot. Best of all, it arrives day one in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, so Extra and Premium subscribers can drop in and ride immediately. If Journey made you feel small and The Pathless made you feel swift, Sword of the Sea makes you feel weightless—and invites you to keep chasing the perfect run.
11. Shadow of the Colossus (2018)
Shadow of the Colossus (2018) isn’t just a game—it’s an elegy carved in stone and sky. Bluepoint Games’ stunning remake takes Fumito Ueda’s 2005 masterpiece and transforms it into one of the most breathtaking experiences on PlayStation. You play as Wander, a lone figure armed with little more than a sword, a bow, and his loyal horse, Agro, on a desperate quest to resurrect a fallen girl. The price? Hunting down sixteen colossal beings that tower like gods over a desolate, dreamlike world. Each battle is both a puzzle and a spectacle, as you cling to fur, scale crumbling armor, and strike at glowing weak points while hanging on for dear life. On PS5 via backward compatibility, Performance Mode delivers fluid 60fps, making every vista and encounter feel almost mythic. Minimalist, melancholic, and hauntingly beautiful, Shadow of the Colossus remains one of gaming’s purest works of art—an unforgettable journey of love, sacrifice, and giants brought low.
10. Detroit: Become Human (2018)
Detroit: Become Human asks a question that science fiction has wrestled with for decades: what happens when machines stop obeying and start feeling? Set in a near-future Detroit where androids serve humanity in every role imaginable, Quantic Dream’s cinematic adventure throws you into the lives of three very different androids—Connor, Kara, and Markus—as their choices ripple into a full-blown civil rights movement. Gameplay revolves around branching narratives and quick decisions, where even a single hesitation can mean survival, betrayal, or death. Unlike traditional action games, the tension here comes from moral dilemmas and the weight of your choices; one playthrough might see androids rising in peaceful protest, while another erupts into violent rebellion. Gorgeous visuals, nuanced performances, and a haunting score elevate the storytelling, while PS5 hardware ensures smooth performance and razor-sharp detail. Whether you treat it as an interactive movie or a philosophical thought experiment, Detroit: Become Human remains one of the most emotionally charged experiences on PlayStation Plus.
9. Returnal (2021)
Returnal is part bullet-hell fever dream, part psychological thriller—and entirely unrelenting. You step into the space boots of Selene, an astronaut stranded on the hostile, ever-shifting planet Atropos, where death isn’t the end but a cruel reset button. Each time you fall to alien monstrosities or your own hubris, the world reshapes itself, forcing you to adapt, improvise, and fight smarter. Combat is lightning-fast and hypnotically fluid, blending third-person shooting with dazzling waves of neon projectiles that turn every arena into a dance of survival. The DualSense controller sings here, with haptic feedback making every raindrop, reload, and trigger pull visceral. Beneath the chaos, Returnal spins a haunting narrative about memory, loss, and obsession, unraveling through cryptic visions and eerie house sequences that drip with atmosphere. Now fully optimized on PS5 with added modes for co-op and endless survival, Returnal is punishing, beautiful, and addictive—a looping descent into madness you won’t want to escape.
8. Assassin's Creed Valhalla (2020)
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla lets you live out your Viking saga with an axe in one hand and destiny in the other. You play as Eivor, a fierce warrior leading their clan from the icy shores of Norway to the fertile lands of ninth-century England, carving out a place in history one raid at a time. The game’s world is massive and alive, blending breathtaking landscapes, bustling settlements, and epic battles against both Saxon kings and mythic beasts. Combat is brutal and satisfying—dual-wield axes, rain arrows, or sneak through enemy camps with classic Assassin finesse. But Valhalla isn’t just about conquest; it’s about community. Building and upgrading your settlement adds a personal stake, while branching storylines let you forge alliances, make hard choices, and shape your clan’s fate. With stunning visuals, deep RPG systems, and an atmospheric soundtrack, Valhalla is both an epic action game and a meditation on honor, legacy, and the price of glory. Skål to that.
7. Far Cry 6 (2021)
Far Cry 6 drops you into the heart of a revolution—and hands you the tools to light the fuse. Set on the fictional Caribbean island of Yara, a paradise shackled under the iron grip of dictator Antón Castillo (brought chillingly to life by Giancarlo Esposito), the game casts you as Dani Rojas, a reluctant freedom fighter turned guerrilla hero. The formula is classic Far Cry: vast open world, chaotic firefights, and a bag of outlandish toys to cause mayhem. Improvised “Resolver” weapons—think CD-launching guns or motorcycle-engine flamethrowers—turn every skirmish into creative carnage. The island itself is gorgeous and diverse, from dense jungles to neon-soaked cities, giving you plenty of ground to conquer and chaos to sow. Add in companions like Chorizo the wheelchair-bound dachshund and Guapo the crocodile, and the absurdity balances perfectly with the tension of toppling a tyrant. Explosive, over-the-top, and endlessly fun, Far Cry 6 is pure sandbox rebellion at its most entertaining.
6. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
Cyberpunk 2077 is a neon-drenched plunge into the heart of Night City, where ambition is currency and survival is never guaranteed. You step into the boots of V, a mercenary chasing fame, fortune, and a cure for the digital ghost of Johnny Silverhand—played with rockstar swagger by Keanu Reeves—haunting your head. Once infamous for its rocky launch, the game has since been transformed into a polished, content-rich RPG that finally delivers on its promise. Customizable builds let you hack, slash, shoot, or sweet-talk your way through the city’s seedy underbelly, while branching choices make every decision feel weighty and irreversible. Night City itself is the star—a sprawling, vertical metropolis buzzing with life, danger, and style, begging to be explored from its glittering corporate towers to its gritty back alleys. With expanded updates, smoother performance, and its acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 has evolved into the definitive sci-fi role-playing experience on PlayStation Plus.
5. Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut (2021)
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is a samurai epic that plays like a love letter to Akira Kurosawa and the golden age of Japanese cinema. You take on the role of Jin Sakai, a noble samurai forced to blur the lines of honor in order to defend his homeland from the Mongol invasion. The open world of Tsushima is breathtaking—rolling fields of pampas grass, crimson maple forests, and storm-lashed coastlines make every moment feel like a living painting. Combat is razor-sharp and deeply satisfying, letting you duel foes in cinematic standoffs or strike from the shadows as the feared “Ghost.” The Director’s Cut adds the lush Iki Island expansion, which enriches Jin’s journey with new enemies, heartfelt storylines, and challenging battles. Enhanced visuals, haptic feedback, and 3D audio on PS5 make the immersion almost overwhelming. Equal parts meditative and exhilarating, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut isn’t just one of the best PlayStation exclusives—it’s a masterpiece of storytelling and style.
4. God of War: Ragnarok (2022)
God of War: Ragnarök is the kind of sequel that doesn’t just raise the bar—it swings it like Kratos’s Leviathan Axe. Picking up where the 2018 reboot left off, this mythic saga plunges you into the icy end times of Norse legend. Kratos and his son Atreus face prophecies, gods, and monsters as they navigate a story that’s as intimate as it is apocalyptic. The combat is brutal yet elegant, blending bone-crunching melee with fluid weapon-switching and runic powers, while boss battles deliver some of the most jaw-dropping encounters in the series’ history. Every realm feels alive, from the fiery pits of Muspelheim to the frozen wastes of Midgard, brought to life with jaw-dropping visuals and impeccable sound design. Yet at its heart, Ragnarök is about family—about trust, destiny, and the bonds that carry us through even the end of the world. Cinematic, heartfelt, and thunderously epic, it’s not just a game—it’s a saga worth remembering.
3. Death Stranding Director’s Cut (2021)
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is Hideo Kojima’s strangest, boldest vision—equal parts post-apocalyptic odyssey and existential meditation on connection. You play as Sam Porter Bridges, a lone courier trekking across a fractured America where invisible creatures stalk the land and rain literally ages anything it touches. Armed with cargo, gadgets, and a stubborn will, Sam must reconnect isolated survivors by delivering hope (and packages) across treacherous landscapes. The Director’s Cut enhances the journey with new tools, expanded missions, and smoother performance, making traversal less punishing but no less haunting. Between its sweeping vistas, eerie sound design, and star-studded cast (Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux), the game blurs the line between cinematic storytelling and gameplay like nothing else. It’s slow, strange, and often beautiful—a game about walking, yes, but also about rebuilding bridges, both literal and emotional. For those willing to embrace its oddities, Death Stranding Director’s Cut is one of the most unique experiences on PlayStation Plus.
2. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020)
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales swings into action with heart, swagger, and a soundtrack that hums with Brooklyn energy. Set in a snow-covered New York, this standalone adventure puts you in the sneakers of Miles, a teenager learning to balance life, responsibility, and the heavy weight of being Spider-Man. The story is more compact than Peter Parker’s 2018 outing, but it’s packed with emotional punch—exploring themes of identity, family, and what it means to step into your own legacy. Combat is a thrilling ballet of acrobatics and gadgets, with Miles’s unique bio-electric “Venom” powers and camouflage adding fresh layers of strategy and spectacle. Traversal remains an absolute joy, with fluid web-swinging that makes even a quick trip across Harlem feel exhilarating. Enhanced by ray tracing, lightning-fast loading, and immersive DualSense feedback, the game doesn’t just look next-gen—it feels next-gen. Shorter, yes, but undeniably sweet, Miles Morales proves Spider-Man’s mantle is big enough for more than one hero.
1. The Last of Us: Part I (2022)
The Last of Us: Part I (2022) isn’t just a remake—it’s a resurrection. Naughty Dog rebuilt their 2013 classic from the ground up for PS5, giving Joel and Ellie’s harrowing journey a level of detail and immersion that feels almost unbearably real. From the flicker of firelight in abandoned homes to the anguish in a character’s eyes, every moment is sharpened into something unforgettable. You guide Joel, a weary smuggler, and Ellie, a sharp-witted teenager immune to the infection ravaging humanity, across a ruined America where danger lurks in both clicker-infested ruins and desperate human survivors. The updated AI makes encounters more tense, while improved controls and DualSense haptics elevate combat into a brutal, visceral struggle for survival. But it’s the story—a devastating exploration of love, loss, and the choices we make—that continues to define modern gaming. The Last of Us: Part I is as gut-wrenching as it is gorgeous, and a must-play crown jewel on PlayStation Plus.
PlayStation Plus in August 2025 is less a subscription and more a passport to gaming greatness. From Midgar’s neon alleys to Tsushima’s windswept fields, from cyberpunk dystopias to Viking sagas, the lineup proves there’s no single “best” way to play—just countless worlds worth losing yourself in. Whether you crave heart-pounding horror, sweeping open worlds, or cinematic storytelling that could give Hollywood an inferiority complex, this month’s selection has you covered. The only real challenge? Deciding which download button to smash first. So charge that controller, clear some hard drive space, and dive in—because with these 16 gems, PlayStation Plus isn’t just keeping pace with gaming’s golden age, it’s setting the standard.
