PS5 Has 4 New Demos You Should Check Out, No PS Plus Required

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You don’t need a PlayStation Plus subscription to try out four free demos currently available for PlayStation. These demos include remakes of Dragon Quest 7 and Front Mission 3, and offer a sneak peek at games launching in early 2026. PlayStation Plus is typically required for online play and other benefits, but it’s not needed to download and play these specific demos.

PlayStation Plus is a monthly subscription service that gives PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 owners access to a variety of games. The specific games you get depend on which of the three subscription levels you choose. The most affordable option, Essential, costs $9.99 a month and typically includes two or three free games – January’s offerings are Core Keeper, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Need For Speed Unbound. If you upgrade to the Extra or Premium tiers (priced at $14.99 and $17.99 monthly, respectively), you’ll receive even more benefits.

PS Plus Is Not Needed for These Four RPG Demos

PlayStation users have access to four free game demos, even if they don’t subscribe to PS Plus. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Dragon Quest, a substantial demo of Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined for PS5 is available. This turn-based RPG features charming character designs by the late Akira Toriyama and is a remake of the popular PlayStation 1 game from 2000. Importantly, any progress you make in the demo will transfer to the full game when it releases on February 5th, and you can even unlock a special outfit for Maribel while playing.

Fans of turn-based RPGs have another game to look forward to: The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon, which is coming to PS4 and PS5. Before the full game releases on January 15th, players can try out two different demos – one focused on the story and another on the battles. While it was originally released in Japan in September 2024, this latest installment in The Legend of Heroes series will be available in Western regions starting January 15th.

Beyond Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined and Trails Beyond the Horizon, two other demos offer unique experiences. Front Mission 3: Remake is a strategy RPG where you command military robots, and its demo provides a preview of the full game, launching January 30th. Cassette Boy is a pixel-art RPG with a clever twist: you can switch between 2D and 3D perspectives to solve puzzles and progress. A free demo for Cassette Boy is available now, before its January 14th release.

What Else Doesn’t Require PS Plus to Play?

Generally, you need PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) to play games online with others on PlayStation 4 and 5. However, there are a few exceptions. If a game is free to play but still requires an internet connection – like Fortnite and Marvel Rivals – you don’t need PS Plus. Also, if a game like Final Fantasy 14 requires its own separate subscription, PS Plus isn’t necessary. While not required, PS Plus members can still get special benefits in some games, such as free cosmetic items in Fortnite or an extra teleport slot in Final Fantasy 14.

2026 is shaping up to be a big year for new games, but it can be hard to know which ones are worth buying. Luckily, PlayStation is letting players try out four promising games with free demos. It will be interesting to see if these demos encourage people to purchase the full games when they release.

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2026-01-10 05:04