5 PS Plus Games to Play This Week

The summer drought is finally here: heavy-hitters like Death Stranding 2 have been released, and while we’ve got plenty to look forward to over the next handful of months, things are certainly going to be slower than the first half of 2025. And that’s something to be grateful for, because as the modern gamer is all too aware, there’s no shortage of great games promising to pad out a hefty backlog. This is doubly true if one has a subscription service like PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium.

So, if you’re looking for a stopgap game to fill the void between now and something like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater next month, PS Plus has you covered. Indeed, PlayStation owners have a veritable deluge of high-quality games waiting for them on PS Plus’ higher tiers, and the following recommendations have been hand-picked with novelty and tight scheduling in mind: none of the following games are massive, 100-hour endeavors, making them easy to juggle alongside each other, especially if you hop between games often like I do. These suggestions are also just slightly beneath the surface of the mainstream, so as to not be overly obvious mentions like Bloodborne or Cyberpunk 2077.

ANNO: Mutationem

First cab off the rank is ANNO: Mutationem, a severely underrated indie science-fiction RPG set in a delectable cyberpunk world. If unique and eye-popping visuals are your thing, then this game might just be a perfect fit: ANNO Mutationem mixes 2D sprites with detailed 3D environments to create a decidedly distinct artistic landscape. With a head-bobbing soundtrack to boot, ANNO: Mutationem is certainly a treat for the senses.

But it’s more than just a pretty face; ANNO Mutationem weaves a compelling story of corruption and technology, its open-world is surprising and multifaceted, and its combat, while not revolutionary, is hard-hitting and addictive. For fans of games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Dead Cells, ANNO: Mutationem is a logical next stop.

How long to beat ANNO: Mutationem: the main campaign will run you about 12 hours, but a completionist playthrough can take about 20 hours.

ANNO: Mutationem

Released: January 10, 2022
ESRB: Teen // Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
Developer(s): ThinkingStars
Publisher(s): Lightning Game
Engine: Unity
Number of Players: 1

Arcade Paradise

Simulation games are really a dime a dozen these days. I’m not quite sure what it is about completing menial tasks in a low-stakes virtual environment that is so captivating to so many people, but after playing Arcade Paradise, I’m starting to understand the appeal. In this game, players are tasked with running a reliable but unexciting laundromat while their father, the owner, is out of town. But the ABCs of doing laundry and running a business quickly take a backseat to the real money-maker: expanding the back room of the business with a bevy of arcade games.

You’ll alternate between taking care of front-of-house laundry business—cleaning, drying, and picking up garbage—and investing in new, more profitable arcade cabinets. What’s great is that you can actually play all of these games, and they are surprisingly fun. The basics of Arcade Paradise might be fairly standard management-sim fare, but the game’s original arcade creations are what give it its flavor. If you like simulation games and are looking for something lightweight and refreshing, then Arcade Paradise could very well be your jam.

How long to beat Arcade Paradise: 25-30 hours, with a 100% run running as long as 50 hours.

Arcade Paradise

Released: August 11, 2022
ESRB: T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence, Lyrics
Developer(s): Nosebleed Interactive
Publisher(s): Wired Productions
Engine: Unity

Citizen Sleeper

Let’s slow it down a bit: Citizen Sleeper is another thought-provoking sci-fi RPG like ANNO: Mutationem, but with a more narrow focus on storytelling. The gameplay boils down to setting up a selection of five dice, which can be used for dialog and skill checks during a given in-game day. There are other resources to be managed as well, which lends the game a sense of strategy as you move through its heart-wrenching, relatable, and often unsettling narrative. The Citizen Sleeper story is quite a compelling one indeed, and you’ll want to squeeze every drop out of its rich world, which makes its relatively short runtime feel jam-packed with value.

How long to beat Citizen Sleeper: it’s a fairly lean game, focusing on quality over quantity, so a standard playthrough will only run you about 7 hours.

Citizen Sleeper

Released: May 5, 2022
ESRB: T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Language
Developer(s): Jump Over the Age
Publisher(s): Fellow Traveller
Engine: Unity

Night in the Woods

Another story-driven game, Night in the Woods is considerably more grounded than Citizen Sleeper, which is odd, since its cast is comprised solely of anthropomorphic animals. But just like something like Bojack Horseman, the emotional impact of Night in the Woods‘ narrative isn’t at all softened by its non-human cast. If anything, the choice to make every character an animal heightens its surreal, dream-like nature.

Night in the Woods follows Mae Borowski, a cat who has just dropped out of college (the story really is good, trust me). Returning to her hometown of Possum Springs, she expects to pick up where she left off, but it quickly becomes clear that this won’t be possible—and there’s something deeper, and more terrifying, bubbling beneath the surface. It’s a powerful tale about friendship, family, regret, and smashing neon lights with baseball bats, and you’re definitely liable to shed a few dignified tears by the time you roll credits—don’t say I didn’t warn you.

How long to beat Night in the Woods: the main campaign clocks in at about 9 hours, but a completionist playthrough can land you close to 25.

Night In The Woods

Released: February 21, 2017
ESRB: T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
Developer(s): Infinite Fall
Publisher(s): Infinite Fall
Engine: Unity

Session: Skate Sim

In honor of Tony Hawk: Pro Skater 3+4‘s release, I thought I’d throw a wrench into the works and recommend an alternative. Session: Skate Sim is a response to the dearth of skateboarding games that fans of the genre have suffered in the modern age, serving as something of a spiritual successor to the likes of the Skate franchise. Indeed, Session: Skate Sim lives up to its name by being a true skating simulation, taking Skate‘s ingenious joystick-flicking mechanics to the next level by prompting players to use both joysticks: the left stick for the left foot, and the right stick for the right. Not only that, but you have to use the joysticks to land tricks as well—the game won’t just set the board down on the ground for you.

It’s definitely not for everyone, but for those who like games with unique mechanics that are tough to master, Session: Skate Sim is one of the best skating games on the market. The skill ceiling for Session is in the stratosphere, so you’ll be able to squeeze quite a good bit of gaming time out of this one, if you so please.