The Best Lesser-Known Games On PS Plus

I’ve had the pleasure of delving into this smorgasbord of gaming goodness and let me tell you, it’s been quite the adventure! From the captivating narrative of The Forgotten City to the unique puzzle-solving mechanics of The Pedestrian, there’s a little something for everyone.

For PlayStation Plus subscribers like yourself who are accustomed to your complimentary selection of monthly games, it’s worth noting that if you’re subscribed to the PS Plus Extra tier or higher, there’s significantly more value to be gained from this service.

This collection showcases popular titles from well-known brands, such as Uncharted, Doom, and Bloodborne, along with critically acclaimed indie games like Celeste, Undertale, Dead Cells, and Dave the Diver.

Undoubtedly, some of the best of the best Playstation games are already available to boot up.

If you’re searching for less mainstream but still enjoyable titles, you’ll find many hidden gems in the selection offered by the PS Plus Extra service.

Let’s examine some unique ones that really catch the eye. While some might be less familiar compared to others, they all deserve greater recognition than they typically receive.

Animal Well

A Masterful Metroidvania

The Best Lesser-Known Games On PS Plus

In today’s gaming landscape, there’s no shortage of Metroidvania-style adventures for enthusiasts. However, Animal Well manages to stand out as something fresh and unique within this genre.

Guiding my round, orange avatar figure through the maze of the deep well, the unsettling and constantly shifting atmosphere of this realm captivated me, leaving me eagerly anticipating each new revelation.

The controls are intuitive, the platforming feels responsive and enjoyable, and the game is packed with hidden areas and exciting locations to discover. It’s my opinion that Animal Well has emerged as the standout Metroidvania title available on PlayStation Plus.

2024 Game Awards recognized the game as a contender for the title of Best Independent Game, yet it merits the focus and playtime from even more gamers.

Children of Morta

A Rogue-Lite Role-Playing Family Affair

At first glance, Children of Morta instantly grabbed my attention due to its stunning visuals and engaging storytelling. The plot revolves around the Bergsons, a group of selectable characters who all possess special abilities, working together to safeguard their home from the encroaching evil known as The Corruption.

In this game, battles run deep as you uncover new abilities and weapons for each character. Plus, the dungeons are randomly generated, ensuring that no two gaming sessions will be identical. It’s a delightful blend of heartwarming storylines, rogue-like mechanics, and swift-paced action, all set against an intriguing backdrop of fantasy and science fiction.

If you appreciated the mix of thrilling action and intricate narrative found in Hades, then you’re likely to find another game equally appealing as well.

Grime: Definitive Edition

A Challenging Sci-Fi Side-Scroller

It doesn’t take long to jump into Grime: Definitive Edition and discover that it’s part of the ever-growing group of great Souls-Like games coming out in recent years.

As a seasoned gamer, I find myself honing my character – a striking resemblance to Midra from Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. I’m investing points in Strength and Dexterity, fine-tuning them for optimal weapon handling. Parries are proving to be crucial in the heat of battle, making me feel like a true combat maestro. Balancing my character’s health and stamina is an intricate dance, each move carefully calculated to ensure survival. The narrative seems abstract, yet it keeps me hooked, drawing me deeper into its enigmatic world. Lastly, the pseudo-bonfire system is merciless – every respite must be earned, making victories all the more rewarding.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel that Grime stands out uniquely amidst the gaming landscape. Its blend of FromSoftware-inspired mechanics with smooth side-scrolling platforming is simply unparalleled. The game immerses you in an alien world that oozes grime and unease, populated by unsettling creatures just begging to be demolished. It’s a strange, gross, and cool combination that works perfectly together.

In this game, I found immense joy exploring fresh equipment and weaponry for testing, an experience that stood out distinctly within the side-scrolling genre. This novelty helped maintain the excitement by preventing the gameplay from feeling repetitive or monotonous.

Metal: Hellsinger

If Doom Guy Was A Rock Star

In the world of gaming, the Doom series has always been associated with heavy metal tunes, but this time around, we’ve got a game that pushes this union to a new level.

Showcasing melodic input from musicians hailing from iconic heavy metal groups like Lamb of God, Trivium, and System of a Down, Metal: Hellsinger offers an exhilarating blend of rhythm shooter and slasher genres. In this game, striking your attacks in sync with the pulsating in-game music yields extra damage.

In this scenario, it falls upon you to guide your protagonist, The Mysterious One, on a grueling expedition through the depths of Hell, in an attempt to regain her lost voice and recollections.

As you become accustomed to the rhythm and peculiar timing of this game, few others provide the same sense of satisfaction as tearing (and head-banging) your way through them.

Even if you’re not a metalhead, this game shreds.

Prodeus

A Chaotic And Brutal Retro-Style FPS

A brief look at Prodeus could easily lead someone to believe it resembles an authentic 2.5D Doom shooter from its appearance alone. However, this initial impression may be misleading, as Prodeus is not a simple imitation of the original games.

Prodeus is not just a simple imitation; it’s a meticulously crafted missive, rich in depth and insight, subtly exploring the themes of Artificial Intelligence and corruption.

Similar to the action-packed, chaotic, and gory games that inspired it, Prodeus is a fast-paced First-Person Shooter (FPS) boasting stunning retro-style graphics. By blending the formula of an original Doom game with modern elements while preserving its pixelated origins, the creators have achieved a remarkable result.

And yes, I did still main the shotgun. It’s as simple yet brutally effective as it always is.

Roguebook

Stylish Deck-Building With Tabletop Elements

If you’re fond of top-tier board games, the mechanics of Roguebook might captivate you. This game shares many elements with a more recognized title, Slay the Spire, and builds upon its deck-building structure and combats. However, it offers a broader overworld for interaction, making the card-based battles part of a richer, more immersive experience.

Characters gain ink from every interaction, which allows them to unveil fresh pathways and chapters within an enigmatic storybook where they are currently confined.

As a huge Slay the Spire fan, I thought the combat felt comfortingly familiar, while still boasting the fun added twist of controlling multiple party members. It’s a dance between offense and defense as you swap your characters around on screen.

There’s nothing quite like powering through a run while skillfully managing a well-balanced deck of cards, guiding your characters towards the next exciting turn of events.

Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin

Gorgeous Platformer Meets Rice Farming Sim

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin narrates the tale of a once carefree, slightly intoxicated deity who’s grown tired of her responsibilities.

Following an unlucky accident, she finds herself spiritually assigned to unite with a motley crew of people to purge an island of wickedness and cultivate rice fields to restore a destroyed offering.

The game offers a delightful mix of experiences, switching from exhilarating side-scrolling battles using a fantastic grappling hook system to a relaxing rice farming sequence back on the farm.

As a devoted enthusiast, I find myself immersed in a continuous cycle of combat, resource collection, and farming – all while maintaining that perfect balance between a comfortable ambiance and adrenaline-pumping gameplay. This game offers swift movement and exhilarating combo sequences that keep me on my toes, making it an unforgettable experience!

The Forgotten City

A Narrative Time Loop Mystery With Multiple Endings

Developing The Forgotten City on its own makes for quite an intriguing tale. Initially conceived as a mod for Skyrim, it gained such immense popularity that it transformed into a fully independent and self-contained adventure.

In the aftermath of waking up with amnesia on a riverbank, The Forgotten City swiftly immerses you in a realm brimming with murder, enigma, and temporal displacement. The ambiance of Ancient Rome is strikingly authentic and teems with diverse non-player characters to interact – and perhaps eliminate.

The kicker with this title is that on top of everything else, it’s hilarious. Your first Ancient Roman encounter will tell you the year is 817 A.U.C., to which you can respond, “that doesn’t help me. Is this before or after Christ?” Expect this writing tone to continue as you explore your way to one of multiple game endings.

The Pedestrian

An Amazingly Creative Puzzle Game

“The Pedestrian stands out as a distinctive puzzle game playable on PlayStation platforms. In this game, you guide a character resembling a stick figure often found on bathroom doors or traffic crossings. Your mission is to help your friend navigate through street signs and television screens, solving one intriguing puzzle after another.

This game also includes some jumping puzzles, but the core gameplay revolves around manipulating signs to create new passages, linking ladders, searching for keys, and operating elevator switches to access what lies ahead for our brave stick figure hero. It’s a cleverly designed brain-teaser that combines charm, aesthetics, and construction tasks.

Tinykin

A Unique Pikmin-Like With Radical Platforming

If you’re a PlayStation owner with a softspot for Nintendo, like me, allow me to introduce Tinykin. Immediately, this title is clearly pulling from games like the Pikmin series: Your crash-landed main character, Milo, gathers, leads, and throws around creatures called Tinykin to solve puzzles, gather human artifacts, and settle disputes between warring factions of bugs.

Exploring becomes exciting as you glide over surfaces like skating on a bar of soap, grind along edges and wires to access new spots. Additionally, Milo can navigate across gaps by floating inside a protective bubble.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, everything about this game feels fantastic to manage. Plus, the art style that reminds me of Cartoon Network is just a delight to gaze upon!

2024-12-11 20:09