We are in the early days of a new month, so it's time to take stock of our backlogs. But thanks to services like PlayStation Plus, backlogs are not as simple as they once were: players now have access to dozens, if not hundreds, of new games through such services. Nevertheless, gaming audiences press on, delving into these catalogs time and again for fresh experiences.
Looking at what PS Plus has been offering, this isn't surprising. The subscription service has been on a roll lately, with recent arrivals like Diablo 4 and Cyberpunk 2077 serving up hard-hitting AAA thrills alongside lighter indie fare. This trend is continuing, as the Essentials tier of the platform is getting a fresh batch of titles, and the back-catalog is as robust as ever. If you want a touch of guidance when navigating this sometimes-overwhelming collection, then read on.
The PS Plus Essentials July lineup, composed of Diablo 4, Jusant, and King of Fighters 15, will no longer be available starting August 5.
5 PS Plus Games to Play This Week (July 7-July 11)
If you're looking for something to play on PS Plus this week, while ignoring your back catalog, here are a few great gaming recommendations.
PS Plus Essentials Free Games Drop August 5
- Lies of P
- DayZ
- My Hero One's Justice
Starting Tuesday, all PS Plus subscribers will be treated to the regular monthly refresh, and it's quite a good one this time around. Lies of P is the obvious headliner here, having made a huge splash in the action games scene back in 2023, and again recently with the Overture expansion. The air of prestige and reverence hanging about the game is well-deserved, though, as it manages to present a world, combat system, and narrative that rivals much of FromSoftware's best. Indeed, if you're a soulslike fan, Lies of P needs to be at the top of your must-play list.
DayZ and My Hero One's Justice are a bit more modest by comparison, but welcome additions nonetheless. Still massively popular despite its crowded genre space, hardcore survival MMO DayZ is an easy recommendation for fans of unique multiplayer shooters. Meanwhile, My Hero One's Justice is a decent choice for anime brawler fans; with simple but satisfying gameplay, it's able to offer a strong, if restrained, arena fighter experience.
- How long to beat Lies of P: 29–60 hours.
- How long to "beat" DayZ: there's no end goal, but many players report that it takes around 100 hours to see all DayZ has to offer, according to HowLongToBeat.
- How long to "beat" My Hero One's Justice: 5–11 hours.
Lies of P
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
WHERE TO PLAY
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.
You are a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters and untrustworthy figures standing between you and the events that have befallen the world of Lies of P.
You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat - a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city's elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 35 GB (November 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
Available on PS Plus Extra
If the new Essentials games aren't speaking to you, and you want to take a gander at some slightly deeper cuts, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy isn't a bad place to start. Still a fairly ambitious game, Guardians of the Galaxy is certainly more quaint and reined-in than your average AAA superhero outing. The action-RPG offers a linear, charming story following the titular space-farers, and while the gameplay is solid, the real star is the writing: this game may have the best version of the Guardians of the Galaxy to date.
- How long to beat Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: 17–25 hours.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 86%
- Released
- October 26, 2021
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Eidos Montreal
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Dawn Engine
- Franchise
- Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel
WHERE TO PLAY
Fire up a wild ride across the cosmos with a fresh take on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. In this third-person action-adventure game, you are Star-Lord, and thanks to your bold yet questionable leadership, you have persuaded an oddball crew of unlikely heroes to join you. Some jerk (surely not you) has set off a chain of catastrophic events, and only you can hold the unpredictable Guardians together long enough to fight off total interplanetary meltdown.
Use Element Blasters, tag-team beat downs, jet boot-powered dropkicks, nothing’s off-limits. If you think it’s all going to plan, you’re in for a world of surprises, with the consequences of your actions guaranteed to keep the Guardians on their toes.
In this original Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy story, you’ll cross paths with powerful new beings and unique takes on iconic characters, all caught in a struggle for the galaxy’s fate. It’s time to show the universe what you’re made of. You got this. Probably.
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 18 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
Celeste
Available on PS Plus Extra
Moving on from "great" to "phenomenal," we have Celeste, an indie platformer that will make you cry, shout in frustration, and leap in triumph, all with disturbing regularity. The 2D side-scroller follows Madeline, a young woman battling internal demons, as she attempts to climb the treacherous Mt. Celeste. The movement mechanics are deceptively simple, every level feels unique and refreshing, and appropriately clicky controls, a killer soundtrack, and a forgiving checkpoint system all lend the game a sense of momentum and style. The introspective, emotional narrative is just the cherry on top.
- How long to beat Celeste: 8–14 hours (up to 40 for completionists).
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- January 25, 2018
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Extremely OK Games
- Publisher(s)
- Extremely OK Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight, hand-crafted platformer from the creators of multiplayer classic TowerFall.
A narrative-driven, single-player adventure like mom used to make, with a charming cast of characters and a touching story of self-discovery
A massive mountain teeming with 700+ screens of hardcore platforming challenges and devious secrets.
Brutal B-side chapters to unlock, built for only the bravest mountaineers
IGF “Excellence in Audio” finalist, with over 2 hours of original music led by dazzling live piano and catchy synth beats.
The controls are simple and accessible - simply jump, air-dash, and climb - but with layers of expressive depth to master, where every death is a lesson. Lightning-fast respawns keep you climbing as you uncover the mysteries of the mountain and brave its many perils.
- Engine
- microsoft xna
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- January 25, 2018
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- January 25, 2018
- PS5 Release Date
- January 24, 2018
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- January 25, 2018
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 9 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 1 GB (November 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
Prey
Available on PS Plus Extra
Here's another game that deserves more attention: often considered one of Arkane Austin's best works, Prey is a can't-miss immersive sim. Of course, fans of Arkane and immersive sims probably don't need this recommendation, but even genre newcomers can find something to love in Prey. There are plenty of opportunities for emergent and experimental gameplay, but Prey can also be enjoyed as a fairly straightforward action-RPG, if one so chooses. It's this flexibility, coupled with a strong story and setting, that makes Prey particularly crowd-pleasing, and more accessible than many give it credit for.
- How long to beat Prey: 16–30 hours.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 75%
- Released
- May 5, 2017
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Engine
- id Tech 4
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Prey
WHERE TO PLAY
In Prey, you awaken aboard Talos I, a space station orbiting the moon in the year 2032. You are the key subject of an experiment meant to alter humanity forever – but things have gone terribly wrong. The space station has been overrun by hostile aliens and you are now being hunted. As you dig into the dark secrets of Talos I and your own past, you must survive using the tools found on the station -- your wits, weapons, and mind-bending abilities. The fate of the Talos I and everyone aboard is in your hands.
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 16 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 37 GB (October 2022)
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium