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As 2022 rolls in, a new set of free games is coming with it for Xbox and PlayStation’s subscription programs. Xbox Game Pass is swapping some of its older titles for new additions, while PlayStation Plus is offering another strong set of three free titles for subscribers to keep. PlayStation Now is also offering a set of six new games, and despite some people’s reservations about cloud streaming, it continues to justify its existence with a strong library.
The games coming to PlayStation Now in January 2022 are Mortal Kombat 11, Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age, Fury Unleashed, Unturned, Super Time Force Ultra, and Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition. It’s a strong lineup and will prove even more valuable for certain kinds of players. While Final Fantasy 12, Super Time Force, and Kerbal Space Program are single-player only, half of these six games have strong multiplayer components. Multiplayer fans should definitely take a look at PlayStation Now as it draws near its eighth anniversary, as it offers many great multiplayer games in both streamable and downloadable forms.
PlayStation Now’s January Games Are Great For Offline Multiplayer
Of the three January games sporting multiplayer features, the most obvious one is Mortal Kombat 11. Being a traditional fighting game, MK11 focuses on single combat between two characters. There are some special towers in the Towers of Time that allow for multiple characters to fight as a team, but duels are strictly enforced in regular play. Having a friend or opponent physically present to fight is ideal for many fighting games, and if Mortal Kombat 11 is downloaded through PS Now, there will be no need to worry about delay induced through streaming. While this version lacks the additional characters and story expansion of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, it will still give players all the multiplayer goodness they could ask for.
Fury Unleashed is a 2D roguelike shoot-em’-up, and it plays great with a friend. Players can work together to blaze a path through fast-paced levels in an ever-changing comic book, upgrading their weapons and abilities all the while. Unturned, the remaining multiplayer game of the set, may lack the visual stylings of its peers but makes up for it with the experience it provides. Survivors in Unturned's open-world sandbox can work together to survive in offline splitscreen play. An extra pair of hands may be enough to turn the tides against the zombie hordes as players scrounge for supplies and gain experience by beating back the undead onslaught.
PlayStation Now’s January Games Have Many Online Features
While Fury Unleashed simply emulates its offline co-op experience when playing online, the other two titles offer unique experiences when played online. Good online play is essential for a fighting game, especially during a time when local play is becoming harder to set up. Mortal Kombat 11 provides a rollback netcode that ensures connection issues will not interfere too much with matches. MK11 also offers co-op towers in its Towers of Time that can be tackled with one or two friends. While one player fights, others can either tag in in real-time or offer helpful buffs. It’s an interesting way to experience Mortal Kombat outside of the typical competitive elements.
Unturned is the last of PlayStation Now’s new multiplayer titles, and like its inspiration Minecraft, playing online revolutionizes the experience. Thanks to dedicated servers, up to twenty-four players can share one Unturned world and work to survive with each other — or just survive each other. The amount of chaos playing with a full server would generate is immense, but that’s part of multiplayer’s charm. All of these features, online and offline, go a long way towards making January 2022’s PlayStation Now offering a set to remember for multiplayer fans.