While PlayStation Plus wasn't always required for online play, the premium online service for Sony's console has been around for a long time. Launching with the PS3, among other perks, PS Plus also included a selection of free games each month. Starting in 2010, a selection of two or three PS3, PSP, PS Vita, and/or even PS TV games would be made available to subscribers to redeem and download. Now in 2020, with the next-gen PS5 finally available to the lucky few who've gotten their hands on them, PS Plus brings a new option for monthly free games.
Even though the PS5 has just launched, already Sony has begun doling out a generous slate of PS Plus games alongside Sony's latest console. Launching with the console, Bugsnax became the first official PS5-only PS Plus game. More recently, December's PS Plus game for PS5 was Worms Rumble, marking the second game to launch as a PS5 PS Plus offering (though its PS4 version as available as well). As PS5's selection of free PS Plus games continue to expand over the next few years, it's clear PS5 will get just as many heavy hitters as under the radar titles on release day.
Grand Theft Auto 5: Enhanced Edition
This game almost seems like an inevitability, especially with the Grand Theft Auto sequel reportedly in development. Through Grand Theft Auto Online's massive success, Grand Theft Auto 5 is somehow sneaking another enhanced edition on to the PS5, becoming the third re-release of the 2013 phenomenon that's sold millions upon millions of copies. Not only has Grand Theft Auto 5 become one of the best-selling video games of all time, but its staying power has far outweighed some of the longest-lasting life cycles of games in existence.
Grand Theft Auto 5 as a whole has only been given away for free once, specifically on the Epic Games Store for PC back in May. It's very likely this was a sign of what's to come for next-gen consoles, although probably a little while after official release. Considering Red Dead Online's standalone release is still being sold at $5 (eventually bumping up to $20), Grand Theft Auto Online may get the same deal.
Godfall
Probably going to be a little ways away, but it's already clear that Godfall could jump on the PS Plus train at some point. That's not to say the game deserves to be free or anything like that, but may receive better attention that way. PS5's timed-exclusive "looter slasher" is a short but relatively sweet action combat game that's more like the opposite style of PS Plus game compared to GTA 5. Godfall would be one of the many PS Plus games that gets its limelight for a brief period of time while it's free. Plus, with the new $70 price tag on PS5, Godfall's already hooked the hardcore audience at this point. Perhaps eventually the wider gaming audience will get their chance to try it on PS Plus.
Demon's Souls
Again, another example of a PS Plus game that probably won't be offered on the service for a while, but Demon's Souls may be a pretty safe bet. Practically every other Bluepoint Games remake/remaster has showed up on the service for PS4. Uncharted: the Nathan Drake Collection and Shadow of the Colossus' remake both eventually made their way to the PS Plus free games program last generation.
The game that kicked of the notorious high-difficulty action-RPG series makes a lot of sense as a PS Plus game not only for that reason, but also because the origins of Dark Souls started with this game. Those who missed the game's exclusivity on PS3 will finally have a chance to try it in the best version possible, and perhaps be enticed to try even more Soulsborne games in the future.
Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered
Considering Marvel's Spider-Man was the best-selling PS4 exclusive game last generation, it may come to PS Plus on PS5 sooner than expected. Right now, players can get Marvel's Spider-Man in remastered form alongside Spider-Man: Miles Morales' ultimate edition, but it could release standalone on PS Plus later on. The game sold like gangbusters on PS4, so it wouldn't be surprising that in a few months or a year from now, Spider-Man Remastered ends up releasing standalone as a free game.
Licensed comicbook hero games had largely been a mixed bag until Spider-Man released, so if for any reason players are in the minority of those who didn't play the game, PS Plus could hook them up in 2021.
The Pathless
Launching alongside the PS5, The Pathless has the potential to be a surprise hit on PS Plus if it releases relatively soon. Like Bugsnax before it, it's very possible PlayStation could be ramping up its indie offering for PS5 via PS Plus. PS Plus generally adds heavy-hitting triple-A titles that have been out for a little while, but Fall Guys launching as a PS Plus launch titles (especially in 2020) made the game's popularity explode alongside its Twitch popularity. Even if The Pathless doesn't necessarily have the same widespread appeal comparatively, adding that game to PS Plus would give that game so much more exposure.