The PlayStation 5 gives you the opportunity to play a huge catalog of games, and there are many more games to come, but you’ll be surprised at how many you can try out now as a PlayStation Plus subscriber.
As a word of caution, the PlayStation Plus games on this list are in the mid- and high-tier (Extra and Premium) tiers of the service because they provide access to the PlayStation Plus game catalog. However, Essential subscribers can still grab five games this month, including LEGO Horizon Adventures, The Outlast Trials, Neon White and more.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the best games for the holidays, especially if you haven’t touched any of them yet.
The Last of Us
We’re off to a good start here with The Last of Us, and whether you’ve seen the HBO TV show, haven’t touched any of the games yet, or are waiting for news on the next entry (if there is one), you should definitely check it out again.
The original game launched as a PS3 title in 2013, and while there was a remaster for the PS4, the PS5 now has an all-new remake designed for the current generation of consoles. Not only is The Last of Us Part 1 (that’s the official title) a much better-looking version of a game that’s showing its age, but it also includes the Left Behind expansion, which previously had to be purchased separately for PS3, and PS5 features like DualSense functionality.
I’m also cheating a little with this entry, because it’s hard not to feel like The Last of Us Part 2 helps make the whole story feel whole. If you haven’t played the sequel yet, you’re in luck – The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is (as the name suggests) a prettier version of the 2019 PS4 original that unflinchingly portrays a cycle of violence, but is also, in my opinion, a far better game in many ways.
Play either or both, but if you’re new to the series, prepare to be blown away.
Cyberpunk 2077
A lot has been written about the initial launch of Cyberpunk 2077, especially if you jumped on PS4 in 2020. The game was completely broken, which caused Sony to remove it from sale.
It’s all the more impressive that five years later, Cyberpunk 2077 has developed into one of the best role-playing games ever.
Eschewing the fantasy setting of Mike Pondsmith’s grimy, neon-lit metropolis of Night City from The Witcher, the game is absolutely gorgeous and full of unforgettable characters and set pieces.
It’s also incredibly flexible, with player character V fitting into almost any playstyle you want. Do you want to turn your arms into deadly blades? You can cut through your enemies. Do you prefer a combination of stealth and hacking? That is also an option.
PlayStation Plus does not include the spy thriller-like Phantom Liberty expansion, but does include the free updates included in patch 2.0, also released in 2023. The update adds new weapons, improves AI for NPCs, introduces vehicle combat, and reworks the in-game perk system for more flexibility.
If you played it on console in 2020, rest assured – this is a comeback story worth the hype.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Sure, the sequel is a bigger, flashier game with not one but two Spider-Men, but Marvel’s Spider-Man is a great first chapter in Insomniac Games’ growing comic book universe.
With Peter Parker in control of his powers and having a good hand at this hero stuff, everything goes wrong when a new group led by Mr. Sinister arrives. Peter finds both sides of his life colliding in surprising ways, with appearances from a whole host of classic supervillains and a few twists along the way.
The remaster is just that: a prettier, smoother version of the PS4 original, meaning the same satisfying web-throwing and acrobatic combat come as standard.
Also included on PlayStation Plus is the standalone Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, which builds on the first game with a new Spidey star. If you want to catch up on the second numbered entry and 2026’s Wolverine, this is a great way to do it.
return
Roguelite games may be a dime a dozen these days, but there’s an argument to be made that Returnal might be one of the more compelling games – and it comes from a studio with a legacy, too.
Housemarque is responsible for titles like Super Stardust and Dead Nation in the PS3 era, and Returnal could be its crowning achievement. It stars Selene Vassos, a pilot who is stuck on Altropos. Every time she dies, she returns to the crash that brought her here, and with each run the world changes too.
Fighting all sorts of monsters with bullet-hell style combat and some excellent uses of the DualSense’s haptic triggers simply never gets boring because Selene feels so nimble to control and each run teaches or grants you something new that you can use next time.
Since the Ascension update, the game can also be played in co-op mode with a friend. As a reminder: Saros will be released in March. It is considered a spiritual successor to Returnal.
Planet Coaster 2
Slightly different from the rocking and shooting on this list, Planet Coaster 2 is that rare beast: a management sim that plays well on a controller.
Originally launched in 2024, Planet Coaster 2 takes its predecessor’s park and roller coaster design and takes it to new levels with the introduction of water parks that are highly customizable beyond slides and pools.
Whether you want to spend your time building the most unlikely rides possible within the laws of gravity, enjoy playing with your customers, or just want to browse the in-game creation suite to ride other people’s roller coasters, Planet Coaster 2 is worth a look.
Updates this year also include the ability to customize video billboards and synchronize ride launches.
