Best PS Plus Games

On June 13, 2022, Sony launched its new PlayStation Plus in North America. Split into three tiers, this model combines the previous version of PS Plus with PS Now; depending on which level someone subscribes to, they will gain access to certain services and games.

• PlayStation Plus Essential ($9.99/month): This tier is the equivalent of the old PS Plus. A subscription includes online access, monthly free games, and discounts.
• PlayStation Plus Extra ($14.99/month): Along with the Essential tier benefits, Extra provides access to hundreds of PS4 and PS5 games.
• PlayStation Plus Premium ($17.99/month): Along with the Essential and Extra tier benefits, Premium includes a library of classic games (PS3, PS2, PSP, and PS1), trials, and cloud streaming in certain regions.

PS Plus Premium has over 700 games covering more than two decades of PlayStation history. Such a huge collection can be overwhelming, and the PS Plus app does not make it very easy to browse through the library; as such, it can be useful to know this tier’s highlights before investing in a subscription. Each month, Sony adds a handful of new games. While most of these are PS5 and PS4 releases, they are occasionally accompanied by a few classic titles.

Let’s take a look at some of the best PlayStation Plus games.

Updated on January 5, 2025, by Mark Sammut: PlayStation Plus has revealed its Essential games for the start of 2025. The picks are polarizing, to say the least, but one title is an all-time great.

• 	Resident Evil 2 (2019)	Dragon Ball FighterZ
  Platform(s)	PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One	Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox One
  Released	2019-01-25	2018-01-26
  Developer(s)	Capcom	Arc System Works
  Genre(s)	Horror	Fighting
  How Long To Beat	9 Hours	12 Hours

While it remains to be seen whether PS Plus Extra and Premium start 2025 on the right note, Sony has confirmed that a couple of pretty major games will be saying their goodbyes in January 2025. Presuming nothing else is announced, 11 games are set to depart on the 21st of the month. Let’s highlight the biggest removals:

• Resident Evil 2 – Arguably the standout exit for January 2025, Capcom’s 2019 remake of the PS1 classic is a top contender for the decorated franchise’s best game, a statement that is not made lightly. While not devoid of action elements, Resident Evil 2 focuses primarily on horror, guiding players through two campaigns that follow Leon and Claire as they try to survive an outbreak in Raccoon City. Chased by an obsessive Tyrant and poorly equipped to handle the sheer volume of infected roaming the city, players have to manage their inventory, solve cryptic puzzles, and slowly piece together a convoluted but engaging story. While playing through both storylines might be difficult to complete within the game’s remaining PS Plus time, players should be able to complete a single campaign.
• Dragon Ball FighterZ – Arc System Works is synonymous with the fighting landscape, specifically the anime subgenre. All the developers’ games are fantastic in their own right, but Dragon Ball FighterZ stands out for two major reasons: the license and its accessibility. Arc managed to piece together a combat system that is easy to pick up but difficult to master, delivering simplicity while not sacrificing depth. As brilliant as FighterZ is, the game is difficult to recommend solely for its offline content, and there is no point in learning the basics of the competitive scene for just a short period. The title has three single-player arcs that could theoretically be completed in a week or two, but they get repetitive pretty quickly.

1

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe (January 2025 PS Plus Essential)

Available From January 7 To February 3

PS Plus Essential’s January 2025 lineup seems to have attracted a mixed response, at least going by the online reception. Perhaps expectations were set a bit too high due to it being the first month of the year, which might have inspired hope that Sony would go big with its selection. That proved to not be 100% the case, although all three games have their value.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has a pretty awful reputation, which likely contributed to the fact that it is already on PS Plus despite being less than a year old. Rocksteady’s open-world game has plenty of issues, but this is the perfect opportunity to give it a try if someone has been on the fence.

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered is a decent racing game, nothing more and nothing less. While technically offering free-roam, the campaign is structured around selecting missions and jumping directly into races. Consequently, the game works splendidly as a “pick up and play” option to kill an hour or two. The controls are great and accessible too.

Neither of those titles screams “best PS Plus game ever,” but January 2025’s last project could arguably make that grade. 2013’s The Stanley Parable is rightfully hailed as one of the greatest indie games ever, particularly for its clever writing and subversion of gaming conventions. 2022’s Ultra Deluxe is a remaster that goes well beyond the standard practices behind those types of releases. This version builds upon its predecessor, offering new content that is substantial and of similar quality. Regardless of somebody’s familiarity with the original, they should try out The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe. It is short too.

2

Grand Theft Auto 5

Return To Los Santos

Removed from PS Plus Extra in June 2024, GTA 5 only stayed away for a couple of months, returning as part of the November 2024 lineup. Obviously, Rockstar’s game is among the most popular projects of all time, so it is a big deal in a vacuum. That said, some of that excitement is hurt by its “leave and bring back” cycle.

Still, GTA 5 is great, and there is nothing really that can change that. The story campaign has likely been experienced by most people at this point, but the PS4 and PS5 versions available on PS Plus could be worth trying if somebody only played the original PS3 release. GTA Online is the ultimate time sink too.

3

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A Top-Contender For The Best RPG Of All Time

For most months, picking the biggest new PS Plus Extra game is just a matter of personal taste; however, August 2024 was not one of those months. That’s not meant as a criticism of games like Wild Hearts or Watch Dogs 2, but rather a celebration of CD Projekt Red’s RPG masterpiece. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a landmark release for the genre, establishing a new era that emphasized storytelling, secondary content, and world-building more than ever before. While not flawless, the 2015 game is arguably timeless, at least up to this point. Hard as it is to believe, The Witcher 3 has been out for nearly a decade, and its shadow continues to loom large over RPGs and even CD Projekt Red specifically.

Due to its popularity and relative accessibility, Wild Hunt is probably not a new game for most PS Plus subscribers. Certain projects are so big that they stop being exciting additions to subscription services, simply since most people would already own them. Still, there must be a few exceptions who have never loaded up Geralt’s final (full) chapter, and they can now experience the best console iteration since PS Plus Extra has both the PS5 and PS4 versions. They will find an ambitious and (at times) overwhelming open-world RPG with fully realized characters, immersive exploration, rich side quests, and a unique combat system.

4

Cult Of The Lamb

Make Friends, Defeat Non-Believers, And Resurrect A God

Is this the cutest cult simulator of all time? Cult of the Lamb is an unapologetically dark roguelite that follows a Lamb as they diligently work to set the stage for their god’s return, a process that involves defeating four bishops, recruiting plenty of followers, and the occasional sacrifice. Roguelikes are a dime-a-dozen nowadays, and the genre can be automatically written off if someone does not see the appeal of endlessly replaying the same loop.

In cases like this, roguelites can act as a fun middle-ground between the replayable nature of roguelikes and more story-driven adventures, and Cult of the Lamb walks this line expertly. While, for the most part, players will revisit the same four (randomly generated) dungeons to try and clear them out and take out their bosses, they will constantly be recruiting new characters for their town/cult, which will further unlock new mechanics and upgrades.

Most importantly, Cult of the Lamb is just an absolute sinister delight that revels in macabre imagery and ideas. Along with just being very dark, the humor frequently hits the mark as it constantly pushes the envelope. Furthermore, the gameplay is rock-solid as well, be it the dungeon runs or the town-management aspect. The latter is arguably the best part of the game, as the followers have a ton of personality and evolve alongside the Lamb and cult.

5

TimeSplitters 2 And Future Perfect

Two All-Time Classic FPS Games That Are Great Solo Or With A Friend

• 	TimeSplitters 2	TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
  PS Plus Availability	Premium	Premium
  Platform(s)	PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox (Original), GameCube, PlayStation 2	PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox (Original), GameCube, PlayStation 2
  Released	2002-10-08	2005-03-21
  Developer(s)	Free Radical Design	Free Radical Design
  Genre(s)	FPS	First-Person Shooter

While The Witcher 3 was the biggest PS Plus game of August 2024, an argument could be made that it was not the most exciting. In a move that was a long time coming, Free Radical Design’s TimeSplitters trilogy finally made its way to modern systems, with all three PS2 games landing on the PS4 and PS5. These are mostly straight ports of the original versions, and they do show their age in a few ways. However, they are still fantastic console shooters that represent the genre at its early best, especially TimeSplitters 2 and Future Perfect.

Both entries are great, and they also shine in somewhat different areas. In terms of pure gunplay, TimeSplitters 2 is arguably the superior of the two games, and it still sits among the best shooters of all time. Although containing something resembling a plot, the story mode is mostly just a series of extraction-style maps, all of which are well-designed and a blast to master. As the franchise’s title suggests, players travel through time, ensuring the stages have quite a bit of variety to them. Co-op is supported as well.

Future Perfect has a far more robust and prominent story that creates a cohesive adventure rather than a loosely connected jumble of maps. While not high art, the campaign is fun in the way that a blockbuster can be. The gameplay is quite good, although it is notably less intense and frantic than TimeSplitters 2. Nothing wrong with that, but Future Perfect feels a touch less special in this area.

6

The Last Of Us: Remastered

Naughty Dog’s Definitive Masterpiece

Systems

Advertisement

PS Plus Availability

Premium

Advertisement

Released

July 29, 2014

Advertisement

While the PlayStation 3 had a somewhat slow start to life, the console bowed out in style. Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us is a haunting action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun with infected creatures. The narrative follows the grizzled Joel and the immune Ellie as they travel across the United States in search of a group rumored to be able to craft a cure.

The journey is tough, brutal, and unforgettable. Both of the main characters undergo a great deal of development, particularly Joel, while The Last of Us raises questions of morality through its ambiguous narrative. Even though PS Plus does not have the PS5 remake, the PS4 remaster of The Last of Us holds up well and offers a fantastic means to experience an industry-defining gaming story.

7

Bloodborne

FromSoftware’s Lovecraftian PS4 Soulslike

Your changes have been saved

Advertisement

My List

My Favorite Games
My Played Games
My Games Wishlist

Advertisement

Bloodborne

Systems

Advertisement

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium

Advertisement

Released

March 24, 2015

Advertisement

FromSoftware has cornered the hard-hitting action RPG genre through its immaculate Dark Souls trilogy, and that looks set to continue with Elden Ring. Out of all the studio’s many great games, Bloodborne might just be FromSoftware’s magnum opus.

Boasting a Gothic aesthetic and reflex-based combat that demands aggression from players, Bloodborne delivers a kinetic experience that delights on a visual, auditory, and gameplay level. Naturally, Bloodborne is not an easy game, but it is one of the most rewarding PS4 exclusives. Consequently, it is easily among the best games on PS Plus.

8

Celeste

Story-Driven 2D Platformer With High Skill Ceiling

Celeste is a highly regarded side-scrolling indie game with a steep learning curve and an absorbing narrative. As Madeline, players climb the Celeste mountain, taking on seemingly impossible challenges and dangerous foes in the process.

Celeste‘s campaign guides the character and players on an emotional journey of self-discovery. This voyage is not meant to be easy, and the game makes sure that it is not. The unforgettable story is accompanied by precise gameplay and a soundtrack that ranks among the most memorable of the late 2010s.

9

God Of War

A Great Evolution Of A Great PlayStation Franchise

Your changes have been saved

Advertisement

My List

My Favorite Games
My Played Games
My Games Wishlist

God of War (2018)

Advertisement

Systems

Advertisement

There are a handful of PS Plus games that everyone with an account should play, and 2018’s God of War should be at the top of that list. This “reboot” of the series sees Kratos living in a different part of the world, far from the Greecian roots players are used to seeing him in.

Related

The 10 Best Armor Sets in God of War (& How to Craft Them)

Advertisement

God of War allows players to deck Kratos out in some great armor. Here, we take a look at some of the best armor sets available in the game.

Kratos’ move to Midgard gave developers a chance to shine a spotlight on some different gods, tapping into the deep Scandinavian folklore surrounding the Norse Gods and their mythology. With RPG elements, an incredible story, breathtaking visuals, and some awesome combat mechanics, God of War is a must-play PS Plus game.

10

Dave The Diver

Genre Blend Done Really Well

While not unheard of, Day 1 PS Plus arrivals are rare, with most months not featuring this type of release. Consequently, whenever an exception materializes, it is always a cause for celebration; more importantly, Dave the Diver is an exceptional exception. Technically, Mintrocket’s indie darling has been around since 2023, but it had to wait until April 16, 2024, to make its PlayStation debut, so it still counts as a Day 1 addition. When this year comes to an end, Dave the Diver will almost certainly be remembered as one of the best PS Plus newcomers.

Related

Advertisement

Dave The Diver: 20 Best Recipes, Ranked

These recipes will fetch a pretty penny from customers in Dave the Diver.

Combining restaurant management with fishing, Mintrocket created a package that feels oddly unique, despite sharing similarities with many other projects. As Dave, players have two general responsibilities: catch and serve fish. The former takes up the protagonist’s days, forcing him to constantly make trips into an evolving ocean in search of materials that can be used to create sushi at his restaurant. Naturally, the nights are spent running the establishment, making sure that customers are satisfied. While the management aspect is not as deep as some other titles on the market, Dave the Diver gives players more than enough control to make these segments engaging. However, the fishing element is the game’s highlight and adds the most replay value.

11

Animal Well

Atmospheric Metroidvania With Great Puzzles

One of the best PlayStation Plus games to launch on Day 1, Animal Well is an inspired Metroidvania with simple but effective controls. For the most part, the game sticks very close to the genre’s standard formula of unbound exploration, puzzles, platforming, and the gradual reveal of new items that provide access to different areas; however, Shared Memory succeeded in stitching these well-worn pieces together to create something that feels at least somewhat fresh. A big part of this comes down to Animal Well‘s haunting aesthetic and ambient music, which combine to create a campaign oozing in atmosphere and style, making up for a lack of a conventional story.

Although fun, the platforming sections are quite easy, with most of the jumps providing players with plenty of room for error. However, Animal Well is still pretty darn difficult due to its puzzles, very open nature, and clever boss fights. The game’s brainteasers often require lateral thinking (and clever use of a slink), while the latter could cause players to feel lost on occasion. That said, the in-game map is detailed and useful.

12

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

A Dependable PlayStation IP’s PS5 Debut

Platformer

Third-Person Shooter

Advertisement

Systems

Advertisement

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium

Advertisement

Released

June 11, 2021

Advertisement

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is among the most high-profile PS5 games available on PS Plus Extra. As a console exclusive, this reveal seemed destined to transpire sooner or later, although almost two years from the game’s debut had to pass for this moment to arrive. Rift Apart might very well still be the most beautiful PS5 title on the market, a testament to Insomniac’s mastery of technology and talent for creating vibrant and stunning worlds that would not look out of place in a Pixar movie.

Rift Apart backs up its good looks with fantastic gameplay and an enjoyable story that allows its lovable characters to shine. Although Ratchet and his robotic companion take center stage, they are accompanied by a new playable Lombax in the form of Rivet, who also comes with her own partner. In combat, the characters largely control the same; however, the game does a great job of establishing Rivet’s own identity through her personality.

Ultimately, Ratchet & Clank lives and dies on the strength of its gameplay, and Rift Apart is right up there with the franchise’s best efforts. Ratchet and Rivet have access to a wide assortment of fun weapons, all of which serve a purpose within the campaign.

13

Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age

The Classic Turn-Based JRPG Formula That Never Goes Out Of Fashion

While the Heroes and Builders spin-offs that are on PS Plus Extra are enjoyable, Dragon Quest 11 S is on a whole other level as it is one of the best JRPGs on the PS4. Set in a vibrant world brimming with style and personality, DQ11 delivers familiar but addictive turn-based combat, lovable characters, and a simple but effective storyline.

Rather than reinventing a wheel that has never been broken, DQ11 opts to modernize mechanics and concepts that have been successful for decades. Ultimately, this game just proves that Dragon Quest is timeless. The version on PS Plus Extra expands on the vanilla release in a few neat ways too, including a 16-bit mode.

14

Ghost Of Tsushima: Director’s Cut

Gorgeous Open-World With Unique Historical Japanese Setting

Your changes have been saved

My List

Advertisement

My Favorite Games
My Played Games
My Games Wishlist

Ghost of Tsushima

Systems

Advertisement

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium

Advertisement

Released

July 17, 2020

Advertisement

Insomniac’s Ghost of Tsushima ended the PS4’s life as Sony’s main console on a high, and the Director’s Cut is just a better version of that already great game. Taking place during the Mongolian invasion of Japan, This samurai epic tells a tale of revenge as Jin Sakai seeks to protect Tsushima Island.

Advertisement

Related

11 Best Armor Sets In Ghost Of Tsushima (& How To Get Them)

Armor is a fun way to customize how Jin looks in Ghost of Tsushima. Check out the best armor sets in the game – and how you can get them!

Advertisement

Ghost of Tsushima might be the most beautiful game on PS Plus Premium, and it is not just a looker. The hack and slash combat is a great deal of fun, managing to be deep and also cinematic. Narratively, the title does not do anything too out of the ordinary, but the unique setting helps set GOT apart from the many other open-world games on the market.

15

Returnal

Challenging Roguelike With Incredible Action

Your changes have been saved

My List

My Favorite Games
My Played Games
My Games Wishlist

Advertisement

Returnal

Systems

Advertisement

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium

Advertisement

Released

April 30, 2021

Advertisement

While not quite as recognizable as Naughty Dog or Insomniac, Housemarque has been producing PlayStation gold for more than a decade, and the studio was even picked up by Sony in 2021. Resogun and Alienation are fantastic and easy recommendations for anyone who enjoys shoot ’em ups or top-down shooters, respectively; however, Housemarque’s portfolio seemed to be all leading to one particular project: Returnal. Among the first titles to truly showcase the next-generation hardware, the 2021 release is still comfortably among the best PS5 games, even if it comes with a fairly steep learning curve.

Returnal is a roguelike third-person shooter set on a strange alien planet. As Selene, players will have to make their way through six biomes, all of which are reasonably large, filled with secrets, feature unique enemies, and culminate in spectacular boss fights. Death means returning to the start or the mid-point, depending on how far someone managed to get. As with most roguelikes, players need to find and upgrade their weapons and stats during each run, and things like parasites and artifacts add extra nuance.

While overwhelming at first, Returnal‘s gameplay will eventually feel second nature, transforming players into powerful entities capable of destroying most enemies without breaking a sweat. When this moment strikes, the game becomes even more special.

16

Undertale

The Definitive Indie RPG

The 2010s was the decade of indie games, so much so that it is near impossible to select the independent scene’s crowning achievement for that period. That said, Undertale is undoubtedly one of the top contenders. Inspired by the Mother series, Toby Fox’s RPG follows a child as they explore the Underground, a seemingly typical monster-filled setting for the genre. Obviously, players can decide to adhere to RPG tradition and massacre everything that moves, but they do not have to do that. Undertale does not force anyone to play a certain way, and players can follow a few different routes.

Related

Undertale: 8 Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting The True Pacifist Route

Advertisement

Not killing all the monsters can sometimes be quite challenging. Undertale’s true pacifist route can be made easier with a bit of knowledge going in.

Blending meta-commentary with nuanced world-building and a strong narrative, Undertale is the full package. Anyone remotely interested in RPGs or just gaming in general should give this seminal project a try, and the game’s player-driven structure means multiple playthroughs are encouraged.

17

Monster Hunter Rise

Capcom’s Most Accessible Monster Hunter (That Is Still Great For Veterans)

While no longer exclusive to PlayStation consoles, Monster Hunter will always be associated with Sony’s brand to an extent. In recent years, Capcom has tried to lower the barrier of entry for the franchise, crafting projects that are more accessible in their opening hours, all the while retaining most of the earlier entries’ depth. Monster Hunter Rise is the most beginner-friendly project in the series, and it comes with a short “campaign” that should teach the basics in roughly 10 hours. Just to be clear to people not familiar with Monster Hunter, finishing Rise‘s village quests and rolling the credits only means they have completed the tutorial. Now, they can focus on working through the Gathering Hub missions as they collect resources to craft better equipment, allowing them to take on harder quests that will reward higher-tier resources. Repeat the cycle until the end of time (or until it becomes dull).

Monster Hunter Rise has a fairly simple formula, but it is expected to perfection. Lasting less than an hour at most (and usually considerably shorter), quests drop players in open but not massive maps which will have a few major monsters, including that mission’s specific target. Players will then have to track down the enemy and slowly whack away at their health, all the while utilizing the tools at their disposal. Eventually, the fun comes in the preparation for each hunt, crafting a loadout designed to fully target a monster’s weaknesses while elevating the hunter’s strengths. Rise has a robust selection of weapon types as well, and they all control differently.

18

Remnant 2

Co-Op Soulslike Shooter With High Replay Value

PS Plus has more than a few Soulslike games, reflecting the genre’s explosion in popularity over the last couple of years. In most cases, people’s first exposure will be a FromSoftware project, be it Dark Souls, Elden Ring, or Bloodborne. These are all great places to start, but if the introductory game fails to hit the mark with a new player, they might conclude that Soulslikes are just not for them and ignore any releases by other developers. While most titles take heavy inspiration from the Souls games, the genre has enough variety to offer genuine alternatives that do their own thing. Gunfire’s Remnant games serve as prime examples of Soulslikes with unique identities that set them apart from their contemporaries. The first game is not available on PS Plus, but Sony’s subscription service has the (arguably) superior sequel.

Related

Remnant 2: Best Medic Build

Advertisement

The Medic in Remnant 2 is more than able to solve problems on its own. Here’s a build that’s all about doing as much harm as possible without dying.

Starting with the most “obvious” distinction, Remnant 2 is predominantly a third-person shooter, although melee weapons are available as secondary options. Players steadily gain access to a respectable selection of hand and long guns, with the latter generally acting as a loadout’s main option. While most guns are purchased rather than looted, enemies regularly drop mods and mutators that can be used to modify builds on the fly, providing customization without flooding the inventory. Remnant 2‘s class system is also fantastic.

Remnant 2 is at its best when played in 3-player co-op, to the point that many of the archetypes (classes) and bosses feel tailor-made for parties rather than solo runners. The latter can pick a class that includes a dog companion, so they have an option; however, they might find the campaign to be quite difficult, even on the lowest challenge level. Still, the gameplay is fun, the build variety is solid, and the world-hopping structure is pretty awesome. The bosses are also awesome, including a few that have an impressive sense of scale.

19

Pistol Whip

A Virtual Reality Showcase That Is Also Among The Best Games On PS Plus In General

Your changes have been saved

My List

My Favorite Games
My Played Games
My Games Wishlist

Advertisement

Pistol Whip

Systems

Advertisement

PS Plus Availability

Premium

Advertisement

Released

November 7, 2019

Developer(s)

Cloudhead Games

Advertisement

80% of PS Plus Premium subscribers will ignore Pistol Whip, and they might have no choice since it requires a PS VR2 headset. Consequently, one of the best PS Plus games will only be experienced by a very small group of players; however, anyone who has the required hardware should download Cloudhead’s project ASAP. Sony has been steadily adding virtual reality games to the service since June 2024, and Pistol Whip is currently the top pick in this niche bracket.

So, what is Pistol Whip? Well, it is basically a modern take on the traditional on-rails shooter format, albeit with a beat thrown in for good measure. Across a series of stages, players will work their way through creative and fairly abstract levels filled with enemies that need to be shot down, all while a song plays in the background. While they don’t have to shoot with the rhythm, players earn more points for doing so, and it is just satisfying to pull off.

Although not necessarily the deepest game ever, Pistol Whip is simply fun and a great showcase of virtual reality’s appeal and capabilities.

20

Jeanne d’Arc

Awesome PSP Tactical JRPG

Your changes have been saved

My List

Advertisement

My Favorite Games
My Played Games
My Games Wishlist

Jeanne d’Arc

Systems

Advertisement

PS Plus Availability

Premium

Advertisement

Released

November 22, 2006

Advertisement

Slow as the process has been, Sony is steadily bringing more PlayStation Portable (and PS1/PS2) games to PlayStation Plus, making a few fairly unknown titles available on modern consoles. Premium subscribers have roughly two dozen games at their fingertips, including some fantastic titles that deserve to be readily accessible. While this selection barely makes a dent in the PSP’s vast and impressive library, the fact that minor classics like Size Matters, Ridge Racer 2, and Daxter can now be played with the click of a button is great.

Out of all the PSP games that are part of the Premium tier, Jeanne d’Arc presents a convincing case for being the absolute best. Level-5’s tactical JRPG was well-received in 2006, but its PSP-exclusive caused it to fall into obscurity after a while. Therefore, the announcement that Jeanne d’Arc would be ported to the PS4 and PS5 was a big deal, and the game survived the transition in one piece. As the title suggests, the story takes inspiration from the Hundred Years’ War and Joan of Arc, incorporating historical touches and figures. That said, demons are involved, and the campaign takes plenty of over-the-top turns that drop it squarely into fantasy territory. It is a fine story carried by great characters.

The turn-based combat will likely not hold too many surprises for people familiar with the tactical JRPG subgenre, albeit with a few unique touches (like transformations) that help set it apart from the crowd. The battle system is deep and challenging, which it needs to be since Jeanne d’Arc is quite long. Whether someone is familiar with the PSP original or not, this title is one to check out or revisit.