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Seven must-play PS Plus Extra games to try on PS5 and PS4

After a month with the service, we have come up with seven must-play PS Plus exra games on PS4 and PS5 that you should check out as soon as you can

PS Plus Extra Must Play Games: The main characters in Desperados 3 can be seen in art

PS Plus Extra and Premium have been with us all for around a month now and after playing dozens of games available with the new service, it’s clear that there are some incredible experiences to be had on this new subscription tier. But if you’re not sure where to start, let us help with our recommendations for the top seven PS Plus Extra games to try right now.

These games are all vastly different from each other too, giving you a taste of all PS Plus has to offer. From shooting games, to stealth, to chaos and mayhem, and colourful, relaxing vibes, these games have it all. And they’re all available on both the PS4 and PS5, so you will be able to play all of them.

So, if you’ve been hit with choice paralysis or you just don’t know where to start with PS Plus Extra, allow us to help.

Here are our picks for seven must-play experiences on PS Plus Extra:

PS Plus Extra Must Play Games: The player can be seen attacking some enemies

Ashen (PS4)

Ashen is one of the most underrated souls-likes out there. Elden Ring has been the talk of the town this year, but when Ashen was quietly released just before the holidays a few years ago, it was criminally underplayed.

It is an indie take on the Souls-like genre, but the world, atmosphere, lore, and striking visual design of bosses are just as good as anything FromSoftware has done. Its structure is a lot more free flowing asking you to explore and complete around a dozen quests while you meet vendors and build up your outpost, tackling tougher and tougher threats as you enter each new area.

It takes a while to get going, but once you get stuck in, it’s easy to lose yourself in the beautiful landscapes Ashen has to offer.

PS Plus Extra Must Play Games: The player can be seen shooting some enemies on a level

Darksiders Genesis (PS4)

Darksider Genesis is a spinoff of the popular Darksiders series. While almost all of them are over the shoulder, Genesis takes the top-down view and lets you play as either War or Strife as you complete a series of linear levels, murdering hordes of enemies, and collecting loot on the way.

The fast-paced nature of the combat and the ease of the controls is hugely engaging. You can even team up with a friend in local or online co-op to work your way through levels together, using each other’s powers to take advantage of enemy weaknesses.

If you skipped the Darksiders series as a whole, use Genesis as an introduction.

PS Plus Extra Must Play Games: The player is stealthing around to avoid being detected

Desperados 3 (PS4)

From top-down action combat with Darksiders Genesis to top-down stealth-action with Desperados 3. Released a few years ago, Desperados 3 flew under the radarfor the most part, but it is a fantastic tactical game that really thrives on consoles with excellent controls.

Using a mixture of abilities and equipment, you switch between characters and work your way through levels as you uncover a story filled with the classic wild-west thrills and tricks you would expect.

Desperados 3 requires a significant amount of patience as you will try – and fail – to complete scenarios over and over again until you find the golden path. But, not checking it out when you have access to it would be depriving yourself of one of the best tactical-stealth games on modern consoles.

PS Plus Extra Must Play Games: The player can be seen farming some slimes

SLIME RANCHER (PS4)

If nothing here has captured your attention yet and you want a far more chill experience, may I direct you to Slime Rancher?

If you want to relax for an evening or over a weekend, build your own ranch of adorable slimes, and explore a beautiful and calming world, then Monomi Park’s farming experience is a great one.

It’s colourful, mellow, and incredibly soothing and in 2022 that is just the medicine all of us need from time to time. And if you fall in love with the world, you’ll be pleased to know that the Slime Rancher 2 release date isn’t too far away.

PS Plus Extra Must Play Games: Francis Vendetti can be seen playing the guitar on an alien planet

The Artful Escape (PS5, PS4)

The Artful Escape is by far the barmiest game on this list. You play Francis Vendetti, a man who goes on a colourful kaleidoscopic adventure across the cosmos to discover who he is and define himself after spending his entire life in the same remote village.

The gameplay is rather simple as a platformer and the only challenging thing you’ll need to do is match button patterns to play Francis’ guitar as you glide across galaxies.

The Artful Escape is about the journey and at just about four or five hours long, the game can be beaten in an afternoon. It might be short, but you would be a fool not to give what is arguably one of the most visually striking games in years a go.

The Last of us remake will let you see a giraffe and feel it too: Multiple cars can be seen smashing around on the track

Wreckfest (PS5, PS4)

Crashing cars in games can be incredibly satisfying, especially when you can see paints and pieces of metal go flying.

Wreckfest knows how satisfying that is and makes it the entire hook of the experience. Whilst other games on this list are all about relaxation or immersing yourself in a beautiful world, Wreckfest is just pure unadulterated fun. And, if you choose to play on PS5, you get some great upgrades that really help it stand out.

So, if you like destruction derby or just have an urge to destroy things, Wreckfest should find a nice little home on your hard drive.

PS Plus Extra Must Play Games: The four protagoinists can be seen fending off against zombies

Zombie Army 4: Dead War (PS4)

If Call of Duty Zombies hasn’t quite been doing it for you in recent years, Zombie Army 4: Dead War is a great game that replicates that experience with snappy shooting and a whole lot of gore.

While Call of Duty opts for survival, the majority of the fun in Zombie Army 4 comes from making your way through the levels and campaigns that take place in various locales, from an old city to war-torn jungles. As you upgrade your weapons, enhance your abilities, and work together with friends or brave it alone, you will take on harder and harder difficulties of challenges and missions.

So, if you are looking for something that is instantly gratifying and mindless fun, you can’t do much better than Zombie Army 4: Dead War.

So, now you have seven experiences to check it, why not begin playing on PS5 or check out our other recommendations for Sony’s console. These include the best PS5 games and best PS5 RPGs.