The 17 best games in PlayStation Plus’ Game Catalog (June 2022)

For generations, PlayStation has been the leader in exclusive games. However, Microsoft has put pressure on Sony with its Game Pass service. In response, PlayStation introduced its new PlayStation Plus tier system earlier this week, offering players access to game trials, cloud gaming, and — finally — a catalog of games to play.

It’s that last bonus we’re here to walk you through today. PlayStation Plus Game Catalog can be found in the PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium tiers. It costs $14.99 and $17.99 per month. Game Pass works in a similar way to Game Catalog. The Game Catalog rotates games over time.

While the Game Catalog isn’t going to offer new, first-party Sony games the day they’re released, its library is already starting out in a great place. Sony is offering some of the best AAA games out there for players who subscribe to the higher tiers, taking advantage of the PlayStation 4 and 5’s excellent library of single-player games.

Although the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog is a daunting site to navigate, it can still be very helpful. That’s where we can help. We’ve listed the 17 best games on the service — OK, technically it’s 19 — to help you figure out where to start your Game Catalog journey.

[Ed. note: This list was last updated on June 16, 2022. It will be updated as new games come to the service.]


Batman: Arkham Knight - the Arkham Knight leaping toward Batman

Image: Rocksteady Studios/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Batman: Arkham Knight is the conclusion to Rocksteady’s Batman trilogy, and it goes for broke. Arkham Knight is most well known for its addition of the controversial Batmobile to the nearly every piece of the trilogy’s formula. There are still dungeons to delve into and crimes to solve on the rooftops — but the Batmobile helps players break into new areas, rescue civilians, battle remote-controlled tanks, solve puzzles, and traverse Gotham at high speeds.

However, the Batmobile has not been a household name despite being renowned for its unique design. Arkham KnightIt was so delicious. The third entry explores the relationship between Batman and Joker in surprising ways, and their connection fuels some of the game’s biggest moments and set-pieces.

It’s a worthy finale to the Rocksteady trilogy and a great Batman game to dive into, even if you’ve never played any of the others.

A hunter faces a werewolf in a screenshot from Bloodborne

FromSoftware

Bloodborne This is a PlayStation 4 legend. It takes FromSoftware’s beloved but brutal gameplay and transports it to a gothic Lovecraftian setting. You will be the Hunter and must terrorize Yharnam’s streets, fighting against its hostile inhabitants and solving their mysteries.

A lot of this is Bloodborne does best can also be found in From’s other titles, but unlike Dark Souls and Elden RingBloodborne makes you aggressive. To regain your health, strike the enemy again if you are taking damage. What’s more, the shields and heavy armor found in similar titles are absent here, so it’s more about careful dodges than making a damage-resistant build.

Bloodborne The game was instantly a hit, and it’s still an outstanding PlayStation exclusive because of its blend of flawless gameplay and beautiful vibes.

Celeste - rain falling from purple sky

Image: Extremely OK Games/Matt Makes Games

CelesteIt is an extremely difficult platformer that offers a wide variety of mechanics and worlds. It’s a game that gets brutally difficult over time, and offers even more punishing options once players have mastered its moves. But it’s also an incredible story about mental health, acceptance, and one of the only trans protagonists in video games.

What’s beautiful about Celeste It caters to many players. You can challenge yourself with the game. But if you just want to experience the story and follow the character’s journey, there are accessibility tools to help you overcome the game’s difficulties with ease.

Control’s protagonist, Jesse, aims her gun at a grotesque, floating enemy

Image: Remedy Entertainment/505 Games

Control This is David Lynch’s film made real. This film follows Jesse as she enters the Federal Bureau of Control. It has all the feel of a federal agency, despite its mysterious appearance. However, it’s filled with the unexplained — guns that transform, cursed objects, and more.

The secret to success Control Remedy is so creative in how it uses its atmospheres to tell a story. The Federal Bureau of Control feels like a living being, and you’re constantly stuck in situations that require nuanced thinking to escape. Its bizarre design and mind-bending gameplay are a great example of its genius. Control This is one of our most unusual games.

Death Stranding

Image: Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment

Death StrandingIt is possibly the oddest game that has been released over the last decade. Director’s Cut doesn’t change that. However, this edition of the game does smooth its edges a bit, and helps fine-tune the game into a more palatable — but equally glorious — creation.

Death StrandingIn an apocalyptic setting, you will play Sam the porter. You are responsible for delivering packages to the United States and re-connecting the human race after nuclear fallout.

If it sounds odd, that’s because it is, but creator Hideo Kojima’s bizarre genius shines through with incredible progression systems and a story that will keep you guessing until the very end.

a Revenant in Doom (2016)

Image: id Software/Bethesda Softworks

2016’s DoomIt is built on speed and acrobatics with a killer soundtrack. Doomguy is fast and can use a large arsenal to destroy demonic forces. Guns — both simple and absurd — grenades, fists, chainsaws, and the BFG itself will help you burn your way across Mars and through hell.

It is bloody and brutal, but also surprisingly humorous. Doom makes you feel like a god, capable of clearing any hurdle the game can throw at you, and it doesn’t offer a single dull level in its lengthy campaign.

God of War - Kratos and Atreus meet the World Serpent

Image: SIE Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment

God of War is not only the best game on this list, it’s one of the best games ever made. This beautiful story of fatherhood, forgiveness and childhood seamlessly blends the God of War universe and characters. You won’t be disappointed by its action or ability to solve puzzles.

God of WarThe experience is intimate yet expansive. Each piece of ambient conversation matches perfectly with what’s in front of it. It’s an astounding achievement, and with its range of difficulty and accessibility settings, it’s a must-play for almost anyone.

Jin stands next to a hot spring in Ghost of Tsushima beginner’s guide

Photo: Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon

Ghost of TsushimaThis is an action-packed game that has a compelling storyline and fun characters. This game draws its inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s films and 13th century Japan.

Investigating Ghost of Tsushima’s open world is fun enough, but the different styles it offers players is its most delightful feature. The base can be approached and you may fight your enemies as a Samurai. Or you can take a stealthier path, defeating enemies before they even know you’re there.

This dichotomy plays into the game’s story and world, as the island’s culture changes from one of honor and tradition to that of desperation. And that’s what keeps Ghost of TsushimaIn a sea open-world games, it is memorable

leaping to a platform above purple crystals in Hollow Knight

Team Cherry

Hollow KnightThis is Metroidvania in the small kingdom of bugs. The titular character is your guide. You blast through tunnels to take on more powerful enemies. As you go, you’ll collect new upgrades that help you open doors, solve puzzles, and traverse previously impassable landscapes.

Hollow KnightPopular classics are openly copied, such as Super Metroid. Throwbacks of this nature are very much in demand and have been for quite some time. Hollow KnightIt captures something modern homages often forget: a sense mystery.

How to find your way Hollow KnightThis is a difficult task that requires patience and a willingness to explore and discover.

Spider-Man swinging through New York City with the Empire State Building in the background in Marvel’s Spider-Man

Image by Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment

Marvel’s Spider-Manof its companion standalone game. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, are both available on PlayStation’s Game Catalog. They’re also two of the best superhero games out there.

Both Spider-ManAnd Miles Morales nail the feel of their heroes — swinging through New York City, webbing enemies to the wall, etc. The controls are tuned tightly, so you’re able to deftly maneuver the environment and take on baddies with fluid, acrobatic attacks that feel like they belong in a movie trailer.

The MCU has become as widespread as property today. But Marvel’s Spider-ManThis book is a refreshing breath of air. It takes place in an entirely different world with different characters. Miles’ and Peter’s journeys are both excellent and unique, and shouldn’t be missed by Spidey fans or PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Outer Wilds find Riebeck on Brittle Hollow

Image: Mobius Digital/Annapurna Interactive via Polygon

Outer Wilds is a giant mystery, and the less that’s said about it, the better.

Your small solar system is reset every 22 minutes. Your job is to discover why that’s happening, and put the clues together so you can attempt to stop it.

Outer Wilds you’ll spend much of your time gathering information for the game’s central mystery. You won’t be killing creatures or gaining experience points. Knowledge is the only thing you can gain, and it will take you to new and exciting places. And once you’re finally done, you’ll wish you could erase it all from your memory and play it again.

Prey

The heroes of Prey Mooncrash

Image: Arkane Studios/Bethesda Softworks

Prey is a tense crawl through a recently collapsed advanced society, built with the creativity of Arkane’s other titles. The game begins with one of the most impressive fake-outs ever seen in games and then continues on to the strange and the creepy for the duration. With deep progression and crafting systems, as well as fascinating characters, it’s the modern BioShock.

What makes it special? Prey It creates constant tension which makes you stand out. The primary enemy can blend in with the environment so every cup and random object could be a Mimic that is ready to attack you, stealing your valuable resources. Think about what would happen if everyone in your household ate every single cheese wheel. Skyrim Could endanger your entire life. This all creates a feeling of constant paranoia, and it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll get a jump scare every time you start to feel safe.

The overload overlay in Returnal

Image: Housemarque/Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon

After many years of developing arcade-style games, Retoural is Housemarque’s first attempt at a “AAA” title. After crash-landing on a mysterious planet, you’ll control Selene, a spacefarer with a mysterious past. As you go on your adventure, you’ll discover that Selene is canonically returned to her ship each time she dies. By battling through various environments, you’ll discover new tools and uncover the game’s abundant interlocking mysteries.

It is still a very poor investment of resources. Retoural still holds on to Housemarque’s arcade roots. It’s a roguelite that mixes in bullet hell elements to create a cacophony of lights and sound. But as you improve and find better and better weapons and tools, you’ll learn to navigate between the bullets and dodge your way to victory.

It’s Housemarque’s best and most interesting game to date, and it feels great to play with the haptics in the PS5’s DualSense controller.

Tetris Effect - Effect Mode

Image by Monstars Inc./Enhance Games

Tetris EffectThis is an easy recommendation. It’s the Tetris you know and love, albeit with ever-changing backgrounds, music, and visual designs. There’s an intense hypnotic quality to the stages, allowing you to focus on the colorful environments while your brain automatically places your Tetrominoes.

Tetris Effect beats out some other incredible games on this list not because of its gameplay — again, it’s just Tetris — but because of its vibes. A simple shift in the music or the visual language can drastically affect how you play, and when you marry that to one of the best and most classic puzzle games of all time, it’s an incredible win.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End - Sully and Nate examine documents

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Image: Naughty dog/Sony Interactive Entertainment

Naughty Dog’s final two Uncharted projects are its best. Uncharted 4The tale of Nathan Drake, treasure hunter turned scoundrel, is over. Uncharted: Lost Legacy takes players on an adventure with two of Nate’s frenemies: Chloe FrazerAnd Nadine Ross.

Both titles let players freely explore wide areas while also allowing for the series’ classic set-piece moments. There’s plenty of swashbuckling, but Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy They each have more to offer than any Uncharted title before them. Both games are about companionship — be it with friends, family, enemies, or a combination of the three. The new games bring more life and heart to a blockbuster series that was known for its action and creativity.

Uncharted 4 is the perfect finale for one of the video games’ biggest series, and Lost Legacy It is clear that Naughty Dog has the ability to retain its charm and magic even after Nathan passes away.

Until Dawn - Dr. Alan Hill

Image: Supermassive Games/Sony Computer Entertainment

Up to Dawn It knows exactly what it should be. It’s a narrative- and decision-based teen slasher game set on a Canadian mountain. There’s drama, revenge, Saw-like contraptions, and an endless web of character relationships. It’s a game that initially makes you want to find the quickest demise possible for these horrible teens, but gives each of them a reason for redemption by the end.

The thing is simple, but not too complicated. Up to DawnThe best thing about this story is its ability to jump between the paranormal realm and grounded. Until the story’s climax, it’s not clear who or what forces are at play, and that mystery ensures that both the first and subsequent playthroughs are equally enjoyable.

BJ stands up to a Nazi mech

Image: MachineGames/Bethesda Softworks

Wolfenstein: The New OrderIt is a modern reimagining the old PC game of Nazi-hunting that was released decades ago. B.J. is your role. Blazkowicz is the Nazis’ victor in World War 2. It’s a different America altogether, and B.J. B.J. joins resistance in order to win back

Wolfenstein: The New OrderIt approaches the subject with surprising skill. This book transforms B.J., the famous meathead. Blazkowicz becomes a real, lovable character. The program also works hard to teach players the critical role that rebellion plays in fighting oppression. However, it knows how to laugh and when to slow things down. Two characters take their time to breathe and show their feelings for each other just as the bullets are about to start to fly again.

Our chaotic, modern world is a nightmare. Wolfenstein This is a great tone.

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