5 fantastic PS Plus games to enjoy during the holiday season.

      The PlayStation 5 enables access to an extensive library of games, with many more on the horizon. If you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you may be surprised by the variety of titles available to you right now.

      It’s important to note that the PlayStation Plus games mentioned here are from the Extra and Premium tiers of the service, which grant access to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue. However, Essential subscribers can still enjoy five games this month, including LEGO Horizon Adventures, The Outlast Trials, Neon White, and others.

      With that clarification made, let’s explore some of the top games to enjoy during the Holidays, especially if you haven’t tried any of them yet.

      The Last of Us

      Sony

      We’re starting off strong with The Last of Us. Whether you’ve been following the HBO series, haven’t played any of the games yet, or are waiting for updates on a potential sequel, you should definitely check this series out.

      The original game was released in 2013 for the PS3 and received a remaster for PS4. Now, the PS5 features a complete remake made for the current generation. The Last of Us Part 1 (the official title) significantly enhances the visuals of a game that was starting to feel outdated and includes the Left Behind expansion, which was previously sold separately on PS3, along with features taking advantage of the DualSense controller.

      I’m bending the rules a bit with this entry, as The Last of Us Part 2 further enriches the overall narrative. If you haven’t played the sequel, you’re in luck – The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is a visually enhanced version of the original 2019 PS4 game, renowned for its unflinching depiction of a cycle of violence and, in my view, is a significantly improved game in many ways.

      Play one or both, but if you’re new to the franchise, be prepared to be captivated.

      Cyberpunk 2077

      CD Projekt Red

      Much has been said about the rocky launch of Cyberpunk 2077, especially if you played it on PS4 back in 2020. The game was nearly unplayable, leading to its removal from sale by Sony.

      Thus, it’s impressive that five years later, Cyberpunk 2077 has transformed into one of the best RPGs available.

      Shifting away from The Witcher’s fantasy world, the game immerses you in Mike Pondsmith’s gritty, neon-soaked Night City, which is both stunning and populated with unforgettable characters and sets.

      The game offers incredible flexibility, letting players shape their character, V, to fit their preferred playstyle. Want to morph your arms into deadly blades? You can slash through enemies. Prefer stealth and hacking? That’s an option too.

      Although PlayStation Plus does not include the spy-thriller-esque Phantom Liberty expansion, it does offer the free updates from patch 2.0, which launched in 2023, adding new weapons, improving NPC AI, introducing vehicle combat, and overhauling the in-game Perk system for greater flexibility.

      If you experienced it on console back in 2020, this is one comeback story that truly lives up to the hype.

      Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

      Sony/Marvel

      Certainly, the sequel is a larger, more extravagant game featuring two Spider-Men, but Marvel’s Spider-Man remains a fantastic first chapter in Insomniac Games’ expanding universe of comic book adventures.

      In this installment, Peter Parker has embraced his powers and is becoming adept at heroics when chaos ensues due to a new group led by Mr. Sinister. Peter’s dual life intersects in unexpected ways, featuring a variety of classic supervillains and exciting plot twists.

      The Remaster simply enhances the visuals and smoothness of the PS4 original, meaning the satisfying web-slinging and dynamic combat are still intact.

      Additionally, PlayStation Plus includes the standalone Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, which builds on the original game with a new Spider-Man. If you're preparing for the next main entry and 2026’s Wolverine, this is an excellent way to catch up.

      Returnal

      Sony

      Roguelite games are quite common nowadays, but Returnal stands out as one of the more intriguing options, and it comes from an experienced studio to boot.

      Housemarque, known for titles like Super Stardust and Dead Nation on PS3, may have reached its pinnacle with Returnal. The game follows Selene Vassos, a pilot stranded on Altropos. Each time she dies, she returns to the crash site, with the environment shifting each run.

      Combat against various monsters featuring bullet hell elements and impressive use of the DualSense’s haptic triggers never becomes monotonous, thanks to Selene’s nimble controls and the fact that each attempt teaches you something new for your next run.

      With the Ascension update, the game now allows for cooperative play with