So, you've spent your entire weekend playing video games (at least as much as you could while working/adulting/dealing with life shenanigans), you've put tons of hours into Death Stranding 2 (and left a review on The Best War Games), and you need something new to play. You have an entire backlog you should be working through, but that's just not going to do it for you. The continued excellence of PS Plus's catalog has a little something for everyone, and it may hold the key to your existential dilemma.
There are a few interesting, upcoming PS5 releases for July from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 on July 11 to Wuchang: Fallen Feathers on July 24, but that's a future-you game. You need a new-you game. The following PS Plus recommendations are meant to factor in someone looking for something juicy to sink their teeth into for a few weeks, at least reaching THPS 3+4 if not longer.
PS Plus Free Games for July 2025 Are Available Now
Available to All PS Plus Subscribers
As fans know, PS Plus adds three free games to its Essential tier every month. Essentially, this is a 3-for-1 recommendation because you may enjoy all three, but if just one of them catches your eye, there's no better time to dive in. The PS Plus free games for July 2025 are Diablo 4, Jusant, and The King of Fighters 15. It's worth noting that, while Diablo 4 has all the content players could want, Jusant and The King of Fighters 15 come in much shorter—at least campaign-wise. However, why just pick one game for the week when you could pick all three (or these and other recommendations)?
- How Long to "Beat" Diablo 4: 25-35 hours for the campaign, but there are plenty more who want it.
- How Long to Beat Jusant: 4.5-8 hours
- How Long to Beat The King of Fighters 15: 1-2 hours for the main campaign, but there's plenty more for those who want it.
Jusant is a puzzle-platform game where a lone wanderer climbs a tower filled with artifacts of a forgotten civilization. It's a game like PEAK, at least in genre and approach, but it's a little more serious and meditative. KOF 15, meanwhile, is a fighting game for those who want a little pressure in their gaming. Fighting game fans who have never played KOF owe it to themselves, but luckily, it's accessible for newcomers. And finally, Diablo 4 is the latest entry in the longstanding ARPG franchise, complete with all the dungeon-crawling, loot-chasing, and demon-killing fans could want for a long or short while, depending on their preference.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action-RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot.
Embark on the epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
You're Running Out of Time to Play Dying Light 2: Stay Human on PS Plus
Available on PS Plus Extra
Dying Light 2: Stay Human is a prime example of a game you should play now. Not only is it chunky in terms of content, but it is a showcase of Techland's commitment to its community, with the game receiving tons of support over the years. Techland listened to fan feedback, addressing everything from parkour with updates to firearms with Dying Light 2's Reloaded Edition, and the game is much stronger today than it was at launch. In fact, if you've played it before, it's well worth revisiting, but you only have until July 15 to do so. Dying Light 2 and other games will be removed on PS Plus then.
- How Long to Beat Dying Light 2: 20 hours for the main campaign. However, this number can easily climb to 40-50 (even up to 80+) depending on how much players engage with side quests.
Plus, Dying Light: The Beast releases in August. While it's a new storyline and returns to Kyle Crane as the protagonist, it's a great way to immerse yourself in the world ahead of that launch, as well as build a foundation to understand how Dying Light: The Beast improves on the franchise.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
WHERE TO PLAY
It’s been 20 years since the events of the original game. The virus won, and humanity is slowly dying. You play as Aiden Caldwell, a wandering Pilgrim who delivers goods, brings news, and connects the few remaining survivor settlements in barren lands devastated by the zombie virus. However, your true goal is to find your little sister Mia, who you left behind as a kid to escape Dr. Waltz's torturous experiments. Haunted by the past, you eventually make the decision to confront it when you learn that Mia may still be alive in Villedor — the last city standing on Earth.
You quickly find yourself in a settlement torn by conflict. You’ll need to engage in creative and gory combat, so hone your skills to defeat hordes of zombies and make allies. Roam the city, free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot in remote areas, and be wary of the night. With every sunset, monsters take control of the streets.
Another Crab's Treasure
Available on PS Plus Extra
Love Soulslike games? Then let me introduce you to one of my favorites. It's a little different and more colorful, but seriously, my Mount Rushmore of Soulslike games is Bloodborne, Lies of P, Elden Ring, and Another Crab's Treasure. It does something completely fun and different from the standard Soulslike game, and it's probably the easiest on my Mount Rushmore. That's not to say it's easy, however, unless you want to give Kril a gun.
Players still need to learn patterns, prepare adequately, and stubbornly force themselves into being patient to win boss fights, but there's more story and plenty of humor in the experience. It's a must-play for Soulslike fans in my opinion, even if it's not exactly the worldbuilding the genre is known for, and it'd be a great follow-up if you recently beat Lies of P's Overture DLC.
- How Long to Beat Another Crab's Treasure: 15-20 hours
Plus, if you're enjoying viral co-op climbing game PEAK, then what better way to support co-developer/publisher Aggro Crab than also checking out their other game? Who knows, if you're nice, maybe Aggro Crab will add cannibalism to PEAK.
Another Crab's Treasure
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 81%
- Released
- April 25, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Aggro Crab
- Publisher(s)
- Aggro Crab
- Engine
- Unity
WHERE TO PLAY
As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell, and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean.
TRASH OR TREASURE?
In this undersea society, trash is not only a way of life, but a valuable resource, used for everything from fashion to firearms. But with the presence of trash comes a mysterious infection known as the Gunk, which could spell doom for the entire ocean.
LEARN FROM NATURE
As Kril explores the ocean, he'll gain a variety of Umami Techniques—powerful attacks learned from the denizens of the seas. Punch your enemies with the overwhelming might of a Mantis Shrimp, ensnare them with the horrifying Bobbit Worm, and much more.
UNEXPLORED DEPTHS
The ocean goes deeper than one can imagine. Fight your way through kelp forests, coral reefs, sand castle cities, and even the unfathomable darkness of the deep-sea trenches, all in the name of getting back your prized shell.
Frostpunk: Console Edition
Available on PS Plus Extra
Maybe you want some challenge this week, but maybe you're not into Soulslike games. That's totally valid. In that case, I'd recommend the console edition of Frostpunk. Not only is it rare for a strategy game to play so well on consoles, but it's good prep work if you want to jump into the franchise. Frostpunk 2 has been available on PC for some time now, but Frostpunk 2's console release on PlayStation and Xbox is slated for this summer. It may end up slipping back a little further, but it's a good time to jump in now. Frostpunk is a city-building survival game and easily one of the lynchpins of the genre.
- How Long to Beat Frostpunk: 15-20 hours (with plenty of potential for more)
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 92%
- Released
- April 24, 2018
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Mild Sexual Themes, Mild Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Publisher(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Engine
- Liquid Engine
- Franchise
- Frostpunk
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- City Builder, Survival
The Jak and Daxter Games
Available on PS Plus Premium
So, I play video games and have a Master's degree in English, which is noteworthy because neither is decidedly related to math. I know what the headline says, I know I am off-track, but listen to me, play Jak and Daxter if you've never done so before. They are some of the best games on PS Plus Premium if you're paying for that tier, and they're simply iconic. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is a platformer/melee game, but it sets the world stage for the more expansive sandboxes of Jak 2 and Jak 3. Of everything listed below, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier is the only one that's really skippable; all others are must-plays for all PlayStation fans. And if you start one, you're going to spend your week enamored by its charm (if you can forgive the age).
- How Long to Beat Jak and Daxter: The Precursor's Legacy: 12 hours
- How Long to Beat Jak 2: 15-20 hours
- How Long to Beat Jak 3: 12-18 hours
- How Long to Beat Jak X Combat Racing: 10-15 hours
- How Long to Beat Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier: 8-12 hours
- How Long to Beat Daxter: 8-12 hours
And, as a final note, if you've played all of these recommendations—maybe you should be hitting that back catalog. I'm just sayin'.
- Released
- December 4, 2001
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Engine
- Kinetica
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter a world of magic, adventure, exploration, and discovery where enormous vistas and endearing characters lead you to places beyond your imagination. Test your wits and your skills as you embark on a journey to reverse your best friend's transformation into a furry Ottsel, even as he entangles you in his amusing antics.
Discover twisted corruption and battle the sinister minds behind this chilling plot. Light Eco. Precursor Technology. Power Cells. Dark Eco. What does it all mean? Only one person holds the secret behind the power of the mysterious Eco. Together you must now take on these endeavors.