As an avid PlayStation fan, having access to free games every month is one of my favorite parts about being a PlayStation Plus subscriber. But with different membership tiers and hundreds of titles spread across multiple generations of PlayStation consoles, it can be tricky to track down all the free games available to you.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through how to find and access every free PS Plus game – from brand new monthly releases to hidden retro classics. Whether you‘re a new PS Plus member or a longtime veteran, use these tips to explore the full extent of Sony‘s gaming vaults!
What is PlayStation Plus?
For those unfamiliar, PlayStation Plus (commonly shortened to PS Plus) is Sony‘s premium online service that provides a variety of benefits and perks to PlayStation owners.
At its most basic level, a PS Plus membership enables online multiplayer gaming, cloud game saves, share play abilities, special discounts, and a few free games each month.
However, Sony expanded the service in June 2022 by introducing two higher membership tiers that grant access to huge catalogs of downloadable PS4, PS5, and classic PlayStation titles.
Here‘s a quick overview of the 3 main PS Plus membership levels:
PlayStation Plus Essential
Price: $9.99/month, $24.99/3 months, $59.99/year
Benefits: Online multiplayer, 2 monthly PS4 games, 1 monthly PS5 game, exclusive discounts, cloud storage, Share Play
PlayStation Plus Extra
Price: $14.99/month, $39.99/3 months, $99.99/year
Benefits: All Essential tier benefits plus catalog of ~400 downloadable PS4 and PS5 games
PlayStation Plus Premium
Price: $17.99/month, $49.99/3 months, $119.99/year
Benefits: All Extra tier benefits plus catalog of ~700 additional "classic" games from PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3
Now let‘s explore how you can find and access every free game included with a PS Plus membership!
Adding Each Month‘s Free PS Plus Games
The most straightforward free games to grab are the monthly PlayStation Plus games provided to Essential tier subscribers.
Here‘s how to find and add these regularly rotating freebies:
On your PS4 or PS5 home screen, scroll all the way to the right side.
Select the PlayStation Plus icon.
Go down to the Monthly Games section.
Click "Add to Library" on each of the free titles to add them to your permanent collection.
Sony announces the new lineup of free monthly games on the last Wednesday of every month. The games are then available to download for the full next month.
For example, February 2023‘s free PS Plus games were announced on January 25th and will remain available for free until February 28th.
On average, PS Plus subscribers get around 24 free games per year – 2 PS4 games each month plus 1 extra PS5 game. That‘s up to $480 worth of games for only a $60 annual membership!
Pro Tip: You can add that month‘s free PS Plus games through the PlayStation mobile app even if you don‘t own a PS4 or PS5 yet. This will let you rapidly build a library for when you do get a console.
Finding Previously Claimed PS Plus Games
As long as you maintain an active PS Plus membership, you‘ll retain access to every monthly PS Plus game you‘ve previously redeemed.
But with dozens of accumulated free games, how do you find the ones buried deep in your library?
Here are some handy tips for uncovering those long-forgotten PS Plus freebies:
On your PS4 or PS5 home screen, go all the way to the right to access your full Purchased games collection.
Use the dropdown menu to filter your entire library down to just PlayStation Plus titles.
Further sort your library by Recently Added so your most recent PS Plus acquisitions appear at the top.
If you‘re unable to find a previous PS Plus monthly game, double check that your PS Plus membership didn‘t expire. You need an active membership to access previously downloaded free games.
I like to add each month‘s PS Plus freebies to a custom "PS Plus" folder on my home screen. This makes it easy to keep all my free games neatly organized and accessible.
Downloading Games from the PlayStation Plus Catalog
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members gain access to a Netflix-style catalog of games available for unlimited downloading.
The PlayStation Plus Extra catalog contains around 400 PS4 and PS5 games. New titles are regularly added – recent additions have included Horizon Forbidden West, Borderlands 3, and more.
Meanwhile, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers also get access to a classics catalog with around 700 beloved PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 games remastered for modern PS4/PS5 consoles.
Here‘s how you can explore and download games from these extensive catalogs:
On your home screen, go to the PlayStation Plus icon and select "Game Catalog"
Browse or search for games that interest you
Select any game then choose "Download to PlayStation [4/5]"
Downloaded games will appear on your home screen – just select to start playing!
Helpful tip: If your downloads get interrupted, you can check the status and manually queue games from your Game Library. Just head to the PlayStation Plus section and select "Game Catalog".
Making the Most of PS5‘s PlayStation Plus Collection (Ends May 2023)
PlayStation 5 owners have access to a special PS Plus library called the PlayStation Plus Collection – but only for a limited time.
This collection comprises 20 defining PS4 games enhanced to take advantage of PS5 capabilities. It‘s an amazing way for new PS5 owners to experience some of Sony‘s best last-gen titles on their shiny new console.
The collection includes exclusives like God of War (2018), Uncharted 4, Bloodborne, Monster Hunter World, Mortal Kombat X, and more.
However, Sony recently confirmed the PlayStation Plus Collection will no longer be available for PS5 consoles after May 9, 2023.
So if you own a PS5 and haven‘t redeemed these classics yet, I highly recommend adding any that interest you to your library before then. Once redeemed, you‘ll retain permanent access to every PS Plus Collection game.
Here are the steps to grab these PS4 freebies while you still can:
Sign in to your PS5 console with your PS Plus account.
Scroll down to the PlayStation Plus tile on your home screen.
Select "PlayStation Plus Collection" under the Game Catalog section.
Click "Add to Library" on any PS4 games you want for free.
Comparing PlayStation Plus Membership Tiers and Prices
Sony now offers PlayStation Plus at 3 pricing tiers, so it helps to compare the differences between Essential, Extra, and Premium to decide which plan is right for your gaming needs and budget.
Here‘s a breakdown of each tier‘s pricing and key benefits:
| Essential | Extra | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $9.99 | $14.99 | $17.99 |
| Quarterly Price | $24.99 | $39.99 | $49.99 |
| Annual Price | $59.99 | $99.99 | $119.99 |
| Online Multiplayer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Monthly Games | 2 PS4 + 1 PS5 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Game Catalogs | 400 PS4/PS5 | 400 PS4/PS5 + 700 classics | |
| Discounts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cloud Saves | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
The Extra and Premium tiers are better values if you want to explore a huge library of PlayStation games. But for casual players mainly interested in online play and free monthly games, Essential gets the job done for less.
One tip is buying discounted PS Plus membership cards from retailers like Amazon or Best Buy, which often knock 15-20% off the regular yearly price.
Expert Tips for Getting the Most from PlayStation Plus
To gain more insider advice, I spoke with Ryan Stuart, editor at the popular PlayStation Lifestyle blog.
Here are Ryan‘s top pro tips for new and existing PS Plus subscribers:
"Always add the free monthly PS Plus games to your library – even if you don‘t plan to play them right away. You never know when you might get the itch to try them down the road.
Check the PlayStation Store every Tuesday for new PS Plus deals and discounts on games. You can save up to 60% just for being a member.
Don‘t forget to upload your PS4 game saves to the cloud if you have PS Plus. This protects you from losing hundreds of hours of progress if your system gets damaged or stolen.
Disable auto-renewal to avoid surprise charges at the end of your subscription term. Sony makes it a bit tricky to turn off auto-renew, so pay close attention.
Give the Premium classics catalog a shot if you haven‘t experienced many retro PlayStation games. Playing iconic PS2 games like Dark Cloud and Ape Escape on my PS5 has been a blast from the past!"
Ryan‘s insightful tips will ensure you don‘t miss out on any PlayStation Plus perks or savings.
One Player‘s Journey: My 10 Years as a PS Plus Subscriber
To provide a first-hand account of what it‘s like being a longtime PlayStation Plus member, I also spoke with Gamers Paradise podcast host Antony Stevens. Antony shared his experiences and top advice from over a decade of PS Plus membership:
"I‘ve been a PlayStation Plus subscriber since the service first launched in 2010. Over the past 10+ years, PS Plus has evolved so much and continues getting better. The sheer amount of free games I‘ve gotten is unbelievable – it‘s easily saved me thousands in game purchases.
My favorite part about PS Plus is discovering amazing new game franchises I might never have played otherwise. Titles like Control, Hollow Knight, and Metal Gear Solid V were free monthly games that became some of my all-time favorite series.
For new PS Plus members, I highly recommend diving deep into the retro game catalog on Premium. Experiencing these classic PS1 and PS2 games again with fresh eyes and modern conveniences has been a total nostalgia trip.
Occasionally revisit your PS Plus game library and download any intriguing games you added months or years ago. Revisiting these forgotten freebies feels like getting brand new games for free all over again!"
Antony‘s perspective demonstrates the incredible value longtime PS Plus members gain from being committed subscribers. If you play your PlayStation console regularly, a PS Plus membership pays for itself many times over through free games.
Final Tips to Maximize PlayStation Plus
Here are a few final tips to ensure you squeeze every last drop of value from your PlayStation Plus membership:
Check your Subscription details and turn off "Auto-Renew" if you prefer manually renewing each term.
Revisit your PlayStation Plus game library regularly to rediscover forgotten freebies.
Follow PlayStation news sites to stay on top of new PS Plus game announcements and updates.
Take chances on PS Plus monthly games outside your usual genres – you never know when you‘ll discover new gaming passions!
Save your PS Plus membership voucher codes from Black Friday or other holiday sales if you find great deals.
Enjoy All the Free Games!
Hopefully this guide provides everything you need to unlock the full benefits of a PlayStation Plus membership. Follow the tips outlined here to explore and access the hundreds of excellent free games across PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra and Premium.
What PS Plus freebies are you most excited to play next? Let me know in the comments, and enjoy all the gaming goodness courtesy of your PlayStation Plus subscription!
