Sword of the Sea is one of the latest games to hit the Extra tier of PlayStation Plus, and it's also one of the year's highest-rated games. While PlayStation Plus doesn't get nearly as many day one games as Xbox Game Pass does, the ones it has gotten this year have been relatively heavy hitters. For example, the critically-acclaimed Blue Prince was added to PS Plus Extra back in April, while the beloved co-op survival game Abiotic Factor joined the service in July.
Day one games are an occasional perk of the Extra tier of PlayStation Plus, which is the middle tier of the service. With a PS Plus Extra subscription, subscribers get the monthly free games and online multiplayer access afforded by the lower Essential tier, plus access to a large library of PS4 and PS5 games that rotate in and out of availability. For the most part, day one games are available on PS Plus Extra for a year or so before they're removed, so subscribers have plenty of time to check them out.
PlayStation Plus is Absolutely on Fire Right Now
Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service has its ups and downs, but it has been adding some incredible games as of late.
Sword of the Sea is One of the Highest-Rated Games of 2025
The latest day one PS Plus Extra game continues the service's hot streak. Day one PS Plus Extra game Sword of the Sea has earned rave reviews from critics, cementing itself as one of the year's best new game releases. At the time of this writing, Sword of the Sea has an 86 overall rating according to review aggregate site OpenCritic, with a great deal of praise for its striking visuals and engaging gameplay. Many of the reviews point out that Sword of the Sea can be completed in just a few hours, and while some consider that a downside of the game, others have pointed to its short runtime as something that elevates it.
Sword of the Sea, for the uninitiated, is the latest game from Giant Squid, the studio that previously worked on well-received games like Abzu and The Pathless. Sword of the Sea is the studio's highest-rated game to date, and it's a must-play for PS5 owners, especially if they are signed up for PS Plus Extra and can play it without paying anything beyond what they already do for their subscription. Those that aren't interested in signing up for PS Plus for whatever reason should note that Sword of the Sea is available at a budget price of $29.99.
Now that Sword of the Sea has been added to the PS Plus Extra lineup, there are no more day one games confirmed for the service for the rest of 2025. A PlayStation State of Play is rumored to be taking place in September, though, and there are usually PS Plus-related announcements at those events, so fans should keep an eye out.
Sword of the Sea
- Released
- August 19, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Giant Squid
- Publisher(s)
- Giant Squid
- Number of Players
- Single-player
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Exploration
