As the year draws to a close, the final month of free games on subscription services for 2021 has come. It's been a year of fierce competition between subscription services, and while PlayStation Now isn't the most popular service, it has proved itself this year with some excellent offerings. There have been rumors that this service may soon be absorbed by PS Plus and become a tiered subscription, as PS Plus is certainly the Sony subscription service with a lot more users. However, PlayStation Now has been receiving more attention, and subscribers should take advantage of the service's attractive December line-up.
In particular this year, PS Now's October games were highly praised, and while December isn't quite as robust an offering, it does include classic games that are stuff to keep players busy over the Christmas period. The two Final Fantasy games up for grabs this month also emphasize the ongoing migration of the Final Fantasy franchise from Xbox Game Pass to PS Now, though it is unclear if the games are leaving Xbox Game Pass for licensing reasons or simply as part of its rotation of titles. However, another December addition to PS Now has attracted a decent amount of controversy recently - Grand Theft Auto 3: Definitive Edition.
Grand Theft Auto III: Definitive Edition
As part of the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition, this remaster of the classic PS2 game received a lot of derision concerning the trilogy's performance as a remaster. While the overall reactions to the GTA remastered trilogy have been well-documented, PS Now including the game does give subscribers the ability to check it out for no additional cost. Considering the trilogy's poor reception but the deep love fans have of these games, Grand Theft Auto 3: Definitive Edition coming to PS Now is a smart decision from Sony, especially for GTA fans who are cautious about spending money on the remastered trilogy. However, unlike the other games added to the service this month, GTA 3 is not a permanent addition, and will only be available until January 31st.
Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD Remaster
The Final Fantasy series is hugely popular and has a number of really excellent games. Final Fantasy 10 is one of the more popular games of the series, and its sequel 10-2 serves as a light-hearted and whacky follow-up to 10's impactful storyline. Again, the addition of these games is a huge boon for the service, and they join other big titles from the series such as Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 8. Those unfamiliar with the game now have a great opportunity to discover Tidus' journey to defeat Sin and Yuna's adventures as a sphere hunter in this high definition remaster, while fans of the series get the chance to enjoy some classic Final Fantasy games while excitedly waiting for the upcoming Final Fantasy 16.
Final Fantasy 10 follows Tidus and is set in a world called Spira. The game has all of the trappings of great Final Fantasy games, with a huge world to explore and plenty of opportunities to grind and become overpowered. The combat style did change slightly in 10 compared to others in the series, and there are definitely moments in the game that can feel very frustrating to play, but overall it's a classic for a reason. Like Final Fantasy 7, the success of this game comes mainly from an immersive story set in a captivating imaginary world. Final Fantasy 10-2 is a big tonal shift from the first game and features plenty of silly Final Fantasy style fun. While the sequel may not be for everyone, it's definitely worth trying after FF 10.
John Wick Hex
John Wick Hex is an interesting and surprising game. While the John Wick action films have been hugely successful, there is never a guarantee that a successful action film will translate well to games. John Wick Hex was originally released in 2019 and is a strategy game. While strategy may not be the first genre associated with the high octane action of John Wick films, it does make sense in this game and has been utilized with care by the developers. Essentially, players must make quick and strategic decisions based on their surroundings in the game to fight like the titular character of the series.
The gameplay has been compared to X-COM, and it makes more sense for the character of John Wick than standard FPS gameplay might. There are limited resources in the game, and players get a chance to think as John Wick would. There is a clear love of the films apparent in the game, so fans of the franchise should definitely check it out even if they don't love strategy games. Again, the PlayStation Now subscription gives the perfect opportunity for players to give any games they might be unsure of a chance.
Spitlings
For an entirely different gaming experience, PlayStation Now is also adding Spitlings this month. Spitlings is a fun and chaotic multiplayer in which players control the titular Spitling creatures for some arcade-style gaming. While the other games up for offer this month have immersive stories and huge worlds to explore, Spitlings is a simple and cute game that offers addictive, and at times challenging, gameplay to be shared with friends or family. While this may not be PlayStation Now's most exciting offering, it is one of the many smaller and fun games offered by the service. If players are putting in the hours to complete Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2 or any of the other long games on the service, fun games like Spitlings offer a change of pace.
December has been another good month for PlayStation Now subscribers, and the growing competition between subscription services is becoming more apparent. At 9.99 dollars a month, PlayStation Now isn't the cheapest gaming subscription service, but it is increasingly proving its value with coveted additions like Final Fantasy and the Grand Theft Auto games. Both Splitlings and John Wick give subscribers a chance to explore different types of games, which most subscription services also do. Gamers are thus becoming increasingly spoiled for choice when it comes to picking the best subscription services, though this can also be frustrating since no one service offers every game players might want.