If you’re someone who pays for a gaming subscription service, and you really like to get your money’s worth, then you’ll probably feel like there is nothing better than a new game dropping straight into the catalog for you to play without needing to break the bank.

It’s a wonderful feeling and really helps to justify the constant stipend that leaves your account on a monthly basis, as one new game you would otherwise have paid full price for can justify practically half a year’s subscription.

As someone who is a PlayStation boy at heart, I am acutely aware of Sony’s shortcomings, and one of them has always been that their subscription service has always paled in comparison to Xbox Game Pass in terms of value.

However, in recent years, they have attempted to combat this by offering a wider variety of day-one releases, and while they don’t offer quite as many as their Microsoft rivals, some are still better than none.

So, if you’re considering committing to or renewing your PlayStation Plus subscription and want to see just how often new games pop up on the service on day one, you’re in the right place.

As Playstation Plus is an ever-changing product and new games come thick and fast, we will endeavor to update this list regularly with any Day One releases that pop up on the catalog. We will be including both Essential and Extra additions on this list, as well as the Free Games given away courtesy of the service.

Every Day One PlayStation Plus Game

Resogun

Resogun was the first ever game to drop on day one via Playstation Plus, and is one of the few games that, if claimed at the time, you owned outright. So, in PlayStation Plus terms, it’s a real relic.

However, the same can’t be said of the timeless gameplay, as this bullet hell epic essentially takes the age-old Space Invaders formula and drags it into the modern age of gaming.

The gameplay is fast-paced, slick, and insanely addictive, and best of all, it’s currently on the PS Plus Catalog if you weren’t around all the way back in 2013. So, if you’re a fan of dodging seemingly endless amounts of projectiles, this is the one for you.

Rocket League

It may be easy to forget that Rocket League used to be a pay-to-play game, considering its FTP Epic Games-owned status these days, but it was very much the case. That is, unless you picked it up for free courtesy of a PS Plus Subscription.

Many did, and that was a huge factor as to why this soccer meets RC racing hit took off. But, to its credit, it would have likely succeeded regardless due to the addictive and unique gameplay that is easy to pick up but a real task to master, which is exactly what you want from an Esports title.

These days, Rocket League is a free-to-play title and a staple of the Esports scene, but who knows whether that would have been the case if Psyonix didn’t give this one away to PS Plus subscribers nearly a decade ago.

Bugsnax

It would be quite some time after Rocket League before we would see another Day One Drop from Sony, but in alignment with the launch of the PS5, all PS Plus subscribers were treated to a new cozy smash hit in the form of Bugsnax.

Bugsnax is a game all about exploring an island bursting at the seams with cute, food-themed bugs, and your job as a journalist and researcher, is to catch and collect these bugs, not to mention find a missing person that you’re just dying to interview.

It’s a game that has gameplay not too dissimilar to Pokemon Snap, where catching each critter is a puzzle in and of itself. Plus, despite the cutesy vibes, it actually hides a dark narrative under the surface.

It may not have been a system seller when the PS5 launched, but it was a nice little bonus for those who got their hands on a PS5 early.

Destruction All-Stars

I think it’s safe to say that most of us will be familiar with the destruction derby sub-genre courtesy of the Twisted Metal franchise, which really paved the way for more demolition derby hits. However, not every game in the sub-genre can be a smash hit, as proven by Destruction All-Stars.

It’s a shame that this game didn’t hold a player base, really, as the core gameplay is actually rather interesting, offering a tactical, last-man-standing sort of feel with an arena-based drive-to-survive format.

Everything feels rather fluid and bombastic, and visually, the game looks pretty sharp, too. But, as is proven by far too many live service games, you need that initial spark, and Destruction All-Stars failed to excite fans.

It’s a game that can still be played today, and personally, I think it still has something to offer driving game fans. But, as you might have gathered, mileage may vary.

Maquette

As someone who actively helped with the playtesting for Maquette, this is one that I was very excited about long before any of the hype for this Annapurna title was realized. However, despite this initial excitement, this all but faded when I played the final product.

To Maquette’s credit, the concept is phenomenal, as the game uses fractal map design to create worlds within worlds, and a handful of incredible initial puzzles that use this fractal design to great effect.

However, as the game goes on, the puzzles become more obtuse and disjointed, and critically, far less satisfying to complete. Not to mention, despite an eye-catching art style, the core narrative is rather lukewarm, to say the least.

It’s one I can’t wholeheartedly recommend due to its flaws and shortcomings, but as a free game via PS Plus, it wasn’t the worst thing we have ever received as a free title. Not by a long shot.

Oddworld: Soulstorm

As someone who grew up during the PSX boom, I know just how much of a cash cow Abe’s Oddessy was back in the day, and ever since, there has been a steady stream of 2D platformers starring the lovable Mudokon.

So, naturally, it was only right for Sony to give fans a modern Oddworld title to usher in the PS5 era, and while it does hit a lot of the same notes of the series to date, I think even Sony would say they expected more of a return from this one.

However, despite the relatively dismal financial return on this one, Soulstorm is still a credible entry in the Oddworld collection, and one that captures the oppressive vibe of the world Abe inhabits, as well as delivers the minion-based puzzle platforming the series is famous for.

It’s mad to even say this, but due to the lukewarm reception of Soulstorm on launch, this one could actually be considered a modern underrated gem. So, if you liked the Oddworld games of old, this one is more of the same with some modern polish.

Operation: Tango

As any co-op gamer will know, these games are at a premium these days due to the demands on the developer that co-op games bring. And, due to this shortage, it’s even less likely that a subscription service will hand deliver one to you.

However, that is exactly what Sony did when they gave PS Plus subscribers Operation Tango, an espionage-fuelled co-op title oozing with class.

It’s a game that riffs on the Keep Talking And No One Explodes formula, as one player will have access to key information, while the other will need to perform all the crucial spy-like actions. But, the only means of delivering that info is via speech.

This inevitably leads to weird interpretations, clumsy mistakes, and chaos throughout, meaning this spy epic is less James Bond and more Johnny English, but deep down, that’s what we all really want.

Hunter’s Arena: Legends

They can’t all be winners, and Hunter’s Arena: Legends is the real runt of the litter amongst the current PlayStation Day One Releases.

Part of the problem was down to the fact that most battle royales worth their salt at the time of release were and still are free to play; however, that only tells part of the story here.

Because, when you take a step back and look at Hunter’s Arena for what it is, it’s just a rather bog-standard and uninteresting attempt to cash in on the Battle Royale craze.

Sure, with a bit more unique ideas this could have been a For Honor adjacent multiplayer hit worth checking out, but alas, it wasn’t to be.

It’s an overcomplicated, uninteresting, and unsatisfying title, and the quicker we all forget about it, the better.

First Class Trouble

From one Day One multiplayer flop to another, but in the case of First Class Trouble, at least there was an attempt to provide something engaging to potential players.

First Class Trouble is a social deduction game, akin to the likes of Among Us, and the goal here is to catch the imposters that would dare pose as a first-class resident aboard the ISS Alithea.

In theory, it’s a cool concept with a space-based epic meets Bioshock aesthetic, and the more complex gameplay and tasks within each game is a real boon for anyone that wants more depth than something like Among Us.

However, the game wasn’t all that well-received at launch, and sadly, the developers decided to leave the game to rot, which has led to the game’s slow demise as very few players can be found in the lobbies today.

However, if you can wrangle a few friends to play, this one still has a lot to offer and might just teach you a thing or two about the dangers of classism.

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Contrary to the last two entries, not all the day-one multiplayer games on Playstation launched to a dismal reception, and in fact, Fall Guys probably benefited from the choice to drop on PS Plus just as much as the aforementioned Rocket League, as it got loads of eyes on this zany title.

Fall Guys is essentially if Takeshi’s Castle was a video game, as it places you in a loaded lobby with lots of players, and your goal is to complete a series of tasks and obstacle courses accurately to avoid being eliminated from the game.

So you need to be an astute platformer, a keen puzzle solver, a team player, and even then, one chaotic moment could cost you dearly. But, that’s part of the charm of this incredible Epic-owned hit.

It’s not quite as popular as it was when it first exploded onto the scene, but it’s still well worth checking out if you’re in the mood for some wacky, competitive co-op.

Tchia

Tchia was a game that I was immensely excited about ahead of launch, and when I heard that it would be a day-one drop, I was elated, to say the least.

But, as with all games that get immense hype, it can be hard to live up to it, and that was the case with Tchia, which wasn’t the world-beater I had hoped for. However, it still is an indie open-world title with a lot to offer.

With the awe-inspiring New Caledonian setting, the wealth of mini-games, and the Pixar-esque storyline, there is plenty to sink your teeth into here. Plus, the soul-jumping mechanic is one of the most unique traversal mechanics in gaming history.

However, it is a game that is destined to give you open-world fatigue. It’s a game with absolutely terrible combat mechanics, and it’s a little derivative of modern Zelda titles in places. That said, though, even if it is a mixed bag, it’s still worth checking out, in my humble opinion.

Meet Your Maker

As far as the multiplayer games on this list go, this one is easily the most ambitious of them all, and it’s a shame that it didn’t quite take off.

Meet Your Maker was a game cut from the same cloth as games like Super Mario Maker, where players would be able to create deadly obstacle course levels for other players to take on, and then those taking on said challenge would race to get the best time possible.

It effectively combined the creative aspects of a Media Molecule game like Dreams with the intense nature of a first-person shooter, and for all the world, it seemed like a nailed-on hit.

However, due to a high skill ceiling, a terrible ranking system, and a troubled onboarding process, everyone who wanted to give this game a chance was ultimately left annoyed and frustrated, leading to the near-extinct player base today.

Sea Of Stars

Serving as my personal pick for the best PS day one offering ever, Sea of Stars is a JRPG epic set in the same universe as The Messenger, and offers players a retro meets modern adventure that feels like a love letter to Chrono Trigger, and the golden era of JRPGs.

The game is keen to be more than just a Chrono Trigger clone, and knows when to shoot for nostalgia and when to innovate. For example, the game uses retro pixel graphics but with the addition of modern lighting effects. Or you have the classic turn-based combat with the addition of dynamic inputs.

Not to mention, this game weaves a 30+ hour campaign that is chock full of epic boss encounters, memorable moments, corny writing, and everything else you could ever wish for from a classic JRPG.

It’s truly an indie game masterpiece that captures the lightning in a bottle that JRPGs seemed to bottle so frequently in the 1990’s. So, if you want a nostalgia trip with a whole bunch of modern tricks up its sleeve, Sea of Stars is a brilliant option.

Moving Out 2

If you’ve ever played the chaotic co-op game Overcooked, you’ll know that Team17 has some pedigree when it comes to co-op games that will make you lose all your friends in a violent rage.

Overcooked is definitely the flagship franchise in this regard, but Moving Out is a game that plays second fiddle beautifully and offers an equally frantic and fun experience centered around moving houses.

Anyone who has done it will know that it’s a laborious and unenjoyable task, but Moving Out makes it a calamitous and cartoonish blast, and the sequel takes this framework and dials it up to eleven.

It’s all about working fast and efficiently while avoiding all the silly hazards that would stop you from loading the moving van. So, if you’ve milked Overcooked for all it’s worth, this one is a great alternative.

DKO: Divine Knockout

If you’re a PlayStation user and you love fighting games, you’ll likely be acutely aware of the lack of standout platform fighters to play.

This was something that DKO: Divine Knockout sought to remedy, essentially trying to fill the Super Smash-shaped hole over on PlayStation, and initially, it all looked very promising.

The game had a decent roster of balanced characters, an art-style that was reminiscent of games like SMITE, and simple character kits to master, making it all feel accessible.

However, much like the other multiplayer games on this list, the game wouldn’t get the traction it needed, and the developers all but abandoned the project and watched it slowly die.

Thankfully, there are still quite a few indie platform fighters holding down the fort, but it’s a little disappointing looking back, as this could have been something.

Teardown

Ever since the days of Crysis chugging along on your ill-equipped PCs of yesteryear, we all longed for a game where we could blow everything in sight to kingdom come, and Teardown is a game that gives us everything we could ever want.

Using LEGO-adjacent world design and particle physics, players can plan grand heists and destroy literally everything in the scene down to the tiniest molecule as they go about securing the goods.

Think of this one as a much more action-packed and loud take on Shadows of Doubt, as this offers a sandbox world to shape or destroy as you please. Not to mention it has a pretty nifty campaign mode too.

It’s a game for all the cool guys that don’t look at explosions. So slip on some black shades and calmly walk away from the demolition you’ve all so willingly caused.

Animal Well

When it comes to debut indies, they don’t get much more revolutionary than the likes of Animal Well, a Metroidbrainia that does the unthinkable and actually uses a Metroidvania format to make that stupid genre name make sense.

Animal Well is an enigmatic Metroidvania that places you in a surreal pixel menagerie, and only through exploring, experimenting and problem-solving will you be able to make sense of this alien setting.

The game is full of secrets, meticulously crafted puzzles, and a wealth of items that re-invent the wheel when it comes to Metroidvania powerups.

it’s a deceptively dark, atmospheric, and unapologetically clever title that is easily one of the best day-one offerings ever on Playstation, and it’s well worth playing via the PS Plus catalog today.

The Plucky Squire

Rarely do you get a game that truly captures the feel of childhood whimsy. But, in a year where we had more than our fair share of family-friendly hits, we were gifted The Plucky Squire as a day one PS release.

This game sees you play as Jot, a storybook hero who has been unceremonially kicked out of his storybook by his nemesis, and only by learning how to navigate the real-world beyond your storybook home will you be able to save the day.

This leads to gameplay that meshes traditional top-down Zelda hack-and-slash and puzzles with outlandish 3D platforming and mini-games.

I will concede that the jump between perspectives isn’t always seamless, but the ambition here is incredible, and to deliver a game that lives up to this ambition is quite a feat.

It’s a cozy, colorful, and worthwhile indie game that is well worth playing, and if you have a kiddo to sit down and play with you, all the better, as this is one for the whole family.

Dave The Diver

We do have to specify right away that Dave The Diver was very much a smash hit of 2023, so a true day one release this one was not when it arrived on PS Plus in 2024.

However, in terms of this game’s jump to consoles, Dave The Diver was available on day one, and it was a real boon for PlayStation fans, as they already knew they were getting an absolute gem without any need to take a chance on an unknown little indie.

Dave The Diver is a wonderful game that has a dual approach. Half of your in-game day is spent diving and catching fish, and then your evenings are spent serving up these delicious creatures in your local sushi restaurant.

The gameplay loop is excellent, but remains fresh throughout, thanks to the cartoonish writing, the silly mini-games, and the rewarding sense of progression throughout. It’s one of the best cozy indie games of modern times, and one you absolutely need to check out.