3 new PS Plus games that you should play this weekend (December 20-22)

By Tomas Franzese Published December 20, 2024

Frey in Square Enix's Forspoken. — Square Enix.

The latest batch of new PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium game catalog additions was released this week. As a result, PS Plus subscribers have a ton of new options when it comes to what to play as we approach what is many people’s holiday break. Games from this most recent batch are what I’m recommending people check out this weekend. One of the titles is technically a Christmas game, so it’s fitting to play this time of year, while my other recommendations are good options if you’re looking for something to play with others.

Forspoken

Forspoken - Official Launch Trailer

Square Enix’s Forspoken is a high-profile action RPG console exclusive that was released on PlayStation 5 in 2023. While its quip-heavy dialogue definitely isn’t for everyone, the way it incorporates the player’s magical abilities into combat and traversal is truly exhilarating. Dashing through large fields, surfing on top of water, and launching bullet-like streams of rocks at enemies is immensely satisfying. Forspoken’s Isekai adventure technically begins with the main character, Frey, being whisked away from New York City around Christmas. That technically makes this a Christmas game, giving you all the more reason to check it out this weekend.

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The PS5 version of Forspoken is now available to PlayStation Plus Extra subscribers. It’s also on PC.

Rabbids: Party of Legends

Rabbids: Party of Legends - Launch Trailer | PS4 games

Now that we know that a new Rayman game is in the works, we can appreciate the Rabbids games for what they are: light and breezy kids’ games that are meant to be fun for the whole family. Rabbids: Party of Legends really leans into that as a minigame collection that is meant to be played with others. If you’re looking for a party game to play over the holiday, but don’t own a Nintendo Switch and Super Mario Party Jamboree, then consider downloading and playing Rabbids: Party of Legends.

The PS4 version of Rabbids: Party of Legends is available now as part of the PS Plus Extra game catalog.

PHOGS!

Phogs! - Launch Trailer | PS4

Finally, if you’re looking for a lighthearded, wacky co-op game to play with someone else, PHOGS! offers up a good time. In PHOGS!, you control a pair of dogs linked together by their stretchy bellies and have to complete different platforming and puzzle challenges. Split control of the dogs with another person on the same controller, and you have the makings of a pretty hilarious co-op experience. It’s the perfect kind of game to play with your non-gamer friends to create memorable moments around the holidays.

PS Plus Extra subscribers can play the PS4 version of PHOGS! It’s also available on PC, Switch, and Xbox One.

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A former Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese now reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…

Gaming

3 new PS Plus games you should play this weekend (January 10-12)

Key art for the Deathstroke season of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

A new batch of monthly PlayStation Plus Essential games dropped earlier this week. Differing from the mid-month PS Plus Extra and Premium Catalog drops, this is a group of three games available from now until February 4 that PS Plus subscribers from all tiers can redeem. It's one of the more eclectic PS Plus Essential months in some time, as it features a disappointing shooter based on the Suicide Squad comics from DC, a remaster of a 2010 racing game from EA, and a hilarious pseudo-sequel to an infamous indie game from the early 2010s. If you're wondering what you should be playing on your PS4 or PS5 this weekend, these are the games that you should be starting with.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was an ambitious live-service shooter from Rocksteady, the developer behind the Batman: Arkham games. It's now infamous for flopping hard upon its release; revisiting the game one year later, I still have mixed feelings about it. As the game gets its final content update this month, WB Games offers Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League for free to any PS Plus subscriber who wants it. While I wouldn't recommend playing this game because it's good, it's a gaming curiosity worth claiming and having as part of your game library in case you ever want to check it out.

Gaming

3 PS Plus games you should play this weekend (January 3-5)

Key art for Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut.

While 2025 has just begun, we already know about some of the biggest games coming to the PlayStation 5 this year. Ghost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and Grand Theft Auto VI, in particular, stand out as potential defining PS5 releases for 2025 right now. Luckily for those of us who subscribed to PlayStation Plus Extra, the predecessors to all three of those games are available to play as part of the Sony game subscription service's catalog. As such, those games make up my list of recommendations for new PS Plus Extra games to play to kick off the new year.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut - Announcement Trailer | PS5, PS4

Sucker Punch Productions will release Ghost of Yotei later this year, giving us yet another open-world action-adventure game set in Japan. While it isn't a direct sequel, I still think it's a good idea to check out Ghost of Tsushima before playing Ghost of Yotei. Sucker Punch Productions' last game instantly cemented Ghost as a new hallmark series for Sony; the enhanced Director's Cut version of the game is still one of the best-looking titles that you can play on PS5. And while I'm not quite as fond of the story and gameplay compared to other games, if you enjoy games like Assassin's Creed Mirage or Red Dead Redemption 2, then Ghost of Tsushima's realistic open world will really immerse you. After playing Ghost of Tsushima, you'll have a better understanding of the foundation that Ghost of Yotei will be building on and will more clearly see how it evolves and improves upon that formula.

Gaming

3 Xbox Game Pass games you should play this weekend (January 3-5)

Key art for Doom Eternal

While questions still surround Xbox's multiplatform strategy as we head into 2025, we know it at least has a healthy number of first-party exclusives on the way. Classic series like Doom and Fable will be coming back with new games, while Obsidian Entertainment will deliver two choice-driven RPGs before the year ends. As we're in a bit of a lull when it comes to new Xbox Game Pass games right now, I'll recommend that subscribers to Microsoft's gaming subscription service check out games related to Xbox's biggest 2025 games this weekend.
Doom Eternal
Doom: Eternal - E3 2018 Trailer

Doom: The Dark Ages will be released sometime this year, continuing the modern Doom series with a new first-person shooter full of medieval flair. As such, it makes sense to check out the other Doom titles on Game Pass. While every game in the series (except the VR one) is available through Game Pass, I'd recommend Doom Eternal, the most recent new game in the series. Released in 2020, Doom Eternal continues to build on the foundation established by the 2016 reboot. It features hardcore action, but also makes each shootout feel like a puzzle that needs to be solved, as players must find the best ways to shoot enemies, execute them to get some ammo back, and stay healthy. It's one of my favorite FPS games in recent memory, and it will get you hyped for the series' return later this year.

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