PlayStation Plus offers games across three different delivery mechanisms: monthly free games claimed by all subscribers, the PS Plus Extra game catalog, and the PS Plus Premium classics catalog. Knowing what is currently available — and which games are worth prioritizing before they leave — is the practical question this guide answers. We also cover the most common specific title questions: is RDR2 on PS Plus, is Horizon Zero Dawn on PS Plus, and dozens more.
For a full breakdown of which PS Plus tier you need to access each type of game, see our guide to PS Plus Essential vs Extra vs Premium explained.
How PS Plus Games Work: Three Types
| Game Type | Available On | What Happens When It Leaves |
| Monthly free games | Essential, Extra, Premium | Claim before deadline — stays in library while subscribed |
| PS Plus Extra catalog | Extra, Premium | Locks when removed from catalog — download and play while available |
| PS Plus Premium classics | Premium only | Locks when removed — PS1/PS2/PSP downloads; PS3 streaming only |
The most important habit with PS Plus: claim monthly free games immediately when they are announced, even if you are not going to play them right away. Once claimed, they stay in your library for as long as you are subscribed. The Extra and Premium catalogs work differently — you can always add catalog games to your library, but they lock when Sony removes them, so prioritize any you want to play before removal deadlines.
PS Plus Monthly Games — July 2026
PS Plus monthly games for July 2026 are announced on the last Wednesday of June and become available on the first Tuesday of July. For the current confirmed monthly lineup, the PlayStation Blog is the first-party source — Sony announces monthly games there before they go live.
Monthly games typically include two to three titles covering a mix of genres. Recent months have included a mix of AA and indie titles alongside occasional AAA inclusions. The first Tuesday of each month is when new games go live and previous month games stop being claimable — if you have not claimed last month’s games, do so before the first Tuesday of the current month.
When do PS Plus monthly games reset?
PS Plus monthly games reset on the first Tuesday of each month. New games go live at midnight Pacific Time (3am Eastern). The previous month’s games stop being claimable at the same time. Games you already claimed remain in your library — only the ability to claim new copies of the leaving games ends.
Why are my PS Plus monthly games not showing up?
If claimed monthly games are not appearing in your library, the most reliable fix is: sign out of PSN on your PS5 or PS4, sign back in, and check your library again. This refreshes your entitlement check with Sony’s servers. If games are still missing after this, check that your subscription is active in Settings > Users and Accounts > Account > PlayStation Subscriptions.
Is RDR2 on PS Plus?
Red Dead Redemption 2 has appeared in the PS Plus Extra catalog at various points — it is one of the most requested and most discussed PS Plus catalog inclusions. However, catalog game availability changes, and RDR2’s presence in the Extra catalog is not permanent. For the most current status, check the PS Plus Extra catalog directly on your PS5 or PS4, or on the PlayStation website under PS Plus > Game Catalog.
Red Dead Online (the multiplayer component of RDR2) requires PS Plus Essential to play — as a paid game’s multiplayer mode, it is not exempt from the standard PS Plus online requirement. If RDR2 is in the Extra catalog while you are subscribed, playing Red Dead Online through that catalog access still requires at least Essential tier.
Is Horizon Zero Dawn on PS Plus?
Horizon Zero Dawn has appeared in the PS Plus Extra catalog and has also been offered as a PS Plus monthly free game in the past. Sony occasionally adds major first-party PlayStation titles to the Extra catalog or offers them as monthly games after a delay of 12+ months following their retail release. Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition has had multiple PS Plus appearances.
For current availability, check the PS Plus game catalog directly. If it is currently in the catalog, it is downloadable with an Extra or Premium subscription. If it has rotated out, you can purchase it at frequent sale pricing — Horizon Zero Dawn regularly goes on sale for $5-10 on the PlayStation Store.
Is Ghost of Tsushima on PS Plus?
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut has appeared in the PS Plus Extra catalog. Like other major PlayStation exclusives, its catalog availability is not permanent — Sony adds and removes first-party titles from the Extra catalog on its own schedule. Check the current Extra catalog for availability. The Legends multiplayer mode of Ghost of Tsushima requires PS Plus Essential to play online regardless of how you accessed the base game.
Common PS Plus Game Questions — Answered
| Game | On PS Plus? | Notes |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog and as monthly game |
| Ghost of Tsushima | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog |
| RDR2 | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog; check current availability |
| Hollow Knight | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog; indie classic worth claiming |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | Not at launch | No PS Plus inclusion announced as of 2026; purchase required |
| Black Myth: Wukong | Not confirmed | Major 2024 release; no PS Plus inclusion announced |
| Minecraft | No | Minecraft is a paid game on PS; not included in any PS Plus tier |
| Borderlands 3 | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog |
| Terraria | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog |
| Sea of Stars | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog |
| Overcooked 2 | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog; good co-op pick |
| Oblivion Remastered | No | Major 2025 release; no PS Plus inclusion announced |
| NBA 2K24 | Periodically | Previous year 2K titles regularly appear in Extra catalog |
| Darksiders Genesis | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Periodically | Sequel to Zero Dawn; has appeared in Extra catalog |
| God of War Ragnarok | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog after delay |
| Spider-Man Remastered | Periodically | Has appeared in Extra catalog |
PS5 Hidden Gems on PS Plus Worth Playing
The PS Plus Extra catalog includes several excellent games that are underplayed relative to their quality. These are worth downloading if they are in the current catalog:
Action / Adventure
- Returnal: One of the most technically accomplished PS5 exclusives — a bullet-hell third-person shooter with roguelite structure and an extraordinary audiovisual presentation. Genuinely challenging. Has appeared in PS Plus.
- Control: Remedy Entertainment’s paranormal action game set in the brutalist Federal Bureau of Control. One of the best game worlds of its generation. Has appeared in PS Plus Extra.
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits: A smaller-budget game with AAA-tier animation quality. Charming, engaging combat, and a genuinely beautiful art style. Has appeared in PS Plus.
RPG
- Tales of Arise: The best entry in the Tales series in years — a traditional JRPG with fast-paced action combat and a compelling story. Has appeared in PS Plus Extra.
- Scarlet Nexus: An anime-style action RPG with a psychokinesis combat system that is more innovative than most AAA titles. Has appeared in PS Plus Extra.
- Sea of Stars: A retro-inspired turn-based RPG with some of the most creative battle mechanics in the genre. Has appeared in Extra.
Indie highlights
- Hollow Knight: The benchmark indie metroidvania — hundreds of hours of precise, beautifully crafted content. Has appeared in Extra.
- Hades: The roguelite that made the genre mainstream — endlessly replayable, exceptional writing, incredible music. Has appeared in Extra.
- Disco Elysium: One of the most narratively ambitious games ever made — a pure dialogue and stat-based RPG with no combat. Has appeared in PS Plus.
PS Plus Games Leaving — How to Check
Sony announces PS Plus Extra and Premium catalog removals with approximately 30 days’ notice. The announcements appear on the PlayStation Blog, in the PlayStation App push notifications, and in the ‘Leaving Soon’ section of the PS Plus catalog on your console. The most reliable way to catch games before they leave:
- Check the PlayStation Blog monthly for ‘PS Plus — Games Leaving’ posts
- Enable PlayStation App notifications — Sony sends push notifications for upcoming removals
- Check your library: if you have downloaded a catalog game, playing it is fine — but it will lock when removed regardless of download status
- Purchase before removal: if a leaving game is one you want permanent access to, buy it during the removal window — the PlayStation Store often discounts titles in the month they leave PS Plus
For the full guide on PS Plus tiers, pricing, and what each subscription actually covers, see our breakdown of PS Plus Essential vs Extra vs Premium.
For the official current PS Plus monthly games and catalog, see the PlayStation Plus games page. For community tracking of PS Plus catalog additions and removals, see the r/PlayStationPlus subreddit.
PS Plus PlayStation RPG Games — What the Catalog Covers
The PS Plus Extra catalog has consistently been strong for RPG players — both Japanese RPGs and Western action RPGs appear regularly. The catalog has included major JRPG releases from Bandai Namco and Square Enix, indie RPGs from smaller studios, and action RPGs across the difficulty spectrum from accessible to punishing.
• Turn-based RPGs that have appeared: Sea of Stars, Disco Elysium, various Persona titles, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
• Action RPGs: Tales of Arise, Scarlet Nexus, NieR: Automata, Bloodborne (via PS Premium classics), various FromSoftware titles
• Western RPGs: Control, various Ubisoft RPGs via Ubisoft+ Classics (Assassin’s Creed series), Dragon Age titles
PS4 Free Games Monthly — Legacy Library
PS Plus has been offering monthly free games since 2010, and the accumulated catalog of previously offered monthly games represents one of the platform’s most underappreciated archives. Games offered as monthly free games in previous years include some of the most critically acclaimed titles of their generations — many PS4 owners built substantial libraries through PS Plus monthly games without realizing the total value they were accumulating.
For players who subscribed during the PS4 era and are now on PS5, all previously claimed PS4 monthly games remain in the library and playable through PS5 backward compatibility. The transition from PS4 to PS5 did not reset claimed game libraries.
The PS Plus catalog is most valuable when treated as a complement to purchased games rather than a replacement for them. Use the catalog to explore genres and developers you would not normally pay full price for, and use it to replay games you missed at launch — both uses extract significant value from a subscription you are likely already paying for online multiplayer alone.
PS Plus game availability changes every month — the catalog that exists today is not the catalog that existed six months ago, and it will be different six months from now. Checking regularly and claiming games you want before they leave is the most important habit for getting maximum value from your subscription.
The official PlayStation Blog and the PlayStation App are the two most reliable sources for current catalog status, monthly game announcements, and leaving-soon warnings — bookmark both and check them at the start of each month.
PS Plus Extra and Premium represent the best ongoing value when you actively use the catalog — subscribers who check monthly additions, claim games before removal deadlines, and explore genres they would not normally pay for are extracting far more value than the monthly price would suggest.
The games listed in this guide as ‘periodically available’ are worth adding to your wishlist so you are notified when they return to the catalog — Sony does occasionally recycle popular titles back into PS Plus Extra after they have been absent for a period.
Subscribe, explore, and claim consistently — that is the formula for making PS Plus genuinely worthwhile beyond just the online multiplayer access most subscribers use it for.
Beyond the monthly free games and catalog access, PS Plus Extra and Premium represent some of the best ongoing value in console gaming when you actively use what is available — the subscribers who get the least value are those who pay for the subscription, play only online multiplayer, and never explore the catalog that came with their tier.
Bottom Line
| Monthly games reset | First Tuesday of each month — claim before deadline |
| Best habit | Claim monthly games immediately — even if not playing now |
| Catalog games leaving | Check PlayStation Blog and App for 30-day advance notice |
| RDR2 on PS Plus | Periodically — check current Extra catalog for status |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | Periodically — check current catalog |
| Minecraft on PS Plus | No — paid game, not in any PS Plus tier |
| Best hidden gem | Hollow Knight, Hades, Returnal, Control — all have appeared in Extra |
| Official source for current catalog | playstation.com/en-us/ps-plus/games |
Frequently Asked Questions
What games are free on PS Plus this month?
PS Plus monthly games are announced on the last Wednesday of each month and go live on the first Tuesday. For the current confirmed lineup, check the PlayStation Blog at blog.playstation.com — Sony posts the monthly game reveal there first. The games are also listed in the PS Plus section of the PlayStation Store on your console.
Is RDR2 on PS Plus?
Red Dead Redemption 2 has appeared in the PS Plus Extra catalog at various points but its availability changes. Check the current PS Plus Extra catalog on your PS5 or at playstation.com for the most up-to-date status. If available, it is playable with an Extra or Premium subscription.
Is Minecraft on PS Plus?
No. Minecraft is a paid game on PlayStation and is not included in any PS Plus tier. PS Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium do not include Minecraft in any of their game libraries. Minecraft must be purchased outright from the PlayStation Store.
What are the best games on PS Plus right now?
The best games to prioritize in the PS Plus catalog depend on what is currently available — the catalog changes monthly. Consistently strong titles that have appeared include Hollow Knight, Hades, Returnal, Control, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Tales of Arise, and Sea of Stars. Check the current Extra catalog on your PS5 for what is available right now.
When do PS Plus monthly games reset?
PS Plus monthly games reset on the first Tuesday of each month at midnight Pacific Time (3am Eastern). New games become claimable and previous month’s games stop being claimable at the same time. If you have already claimed last month’s games, they remain in your library regardless of the reset.
