Gaming is an expensive hobby, with new AAA titles frequently pushing past the $70 mark. But whether you are still rocking the trusty PlayStation 4 or you’ve upgraded to the lightning-fast PlayStation 5, you don’t actually need to spend a dime to build an incredible library of games.
Sony’s ecosystem is packed with massive, high-quality games that are completely free. Here is everything you need to know about navigating the world of free PlayStation games, from the best titles you can download right now to how the PlayStation Plus system works.
Category 1: True “Free-to-Play” Games (No PS Plus Required!)
The best secret in PlayStation gaming is that you do not need a PlayStation Plus subscription to play free-to-play online games. If a game is completely free to download from the PlayStation Store, you can jump into online multiplayer without paying for Sony’s premium subscription service.
Here are some of the biggest and best free-to-play titles available on both PS4 and PS5 right now:
The Heavy-Hitting Shooters
- Call of Duty: Warzone: The massive, ever-evolving battle royale experience. Drop in, loot up, and fight to be the last squad standing.
- Fortnite: Epic Games’ cultural phenomenon continues to dominate. Between the classic Battle Royale, zero-build mode, LEGO survival, and user-created maps, it is essentially five games in one.
- Apex Legends: A fast-paced, hero-based battle royale with some of the tightest movement and shooting mechanics in modern gaming.
- The Finals: A chaotic, team-based arena shooter where the environment is entirely destructible. If you can’t find a door, just blow a hole in the wall.
Massive RPGs and Adventures
- Genshin Impact: A gorgeous, open-world action RPG that rivals The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in scope. Explore Teyvat, build a team of unique characters, and follow a massive, ongoing storyline.
- Honkai: Star Rail: From the makers of Genshin Impact, this is a visually stunning, turn-based sci-fi RPG. You board the Astral Express and travel from planet to planet unraveling cosmic mysteries.
- Warframe: You are a space ninja. With over a decade of updates, this action-RPG features an incredible amount of content, weapons, and solar systems to explore.
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Casual, Sports, and Party Games
- Rocket League: Soccer, but with rocket-powered RC cars. It is easy to learn but incredibly difficult to master.
- Fall Guys: A hilarious, physics-based obstacle course game where you compete against dozens of other players in a vibrant, game-show-like setting.
- The Sims 4: The base game for the ultimate life simulator is now entirely free to play. Build houses, create dramatic storylines, and manage your Sims’ lives.
Category 2: PlayStation Plus “Free” Games
You will often hear gamers talk about the “free monthly games” on PlayStation. This refers to PlayStation Plus, Sony’s paid subscription service. While these games require a paid membership, they add immense value to your console.
Sony revamped PS Plus into three distinct tiers:
- PS Plus Essential: The cheapest tier. This grants you access to online multiplayer (for paid games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III or EA Sports FC) and gives you three free games every month. Once you claim these monthly games, they are yours to keep and play as long as you maintain an active PS Plus subscription.
- PS Plus Extra: Includes everything in Essential, plus access to the Game Catalog—a rotating library of hundreds of fantastic PS4 and PS5 games. It functions very much like Netflix for gaming.
- PS Plus Premium: Includes everything in the lower tiers, plus access to the Classics Catalog (PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP games), cloud streaming, and timed game trials for brand new releases.
How to Find the Best Free Games on Your Console
Finding free games on the PlayStation Store is incredibly simple:
- Boot up your PS4 or PS5 and navigate to the PlayStation Store icon on the far left of your dashboard.
- Scroll down or use the top menu to find the Collections or Explore tab.
- Look for a dedicated tile that says Free to Play.
- This section is curated by Sony and will show you the most popular free games, new free-to-play releases, and even free demos for upcoming titles.
Pro-Tip for PS5 Owners: Don’t forget about Astro’s Playroom! This game comes pre-installed entirely for free on every PlayStation 5 console. Not only is it a brilliant, nostalgic platformer celebrating PlayStation history, but it also serves as a fantastic tutorial for the incredible haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of the DualSense controller.
