PS4 and PS5 owners have had to wait a little longer than normal for news regarding the next batch of PlayStation Plus games. Now that the month is officially underway, Sony has finally confirmed the free titles that will soon be available through its premium subscription service for the next few weeks. Having leaked ahead of the reveal for the second time in succession, to mixed public reception, subscribers may be unsurprised to see the three games that are coming their way.
Available from next Tuesday all the way till October 4, PS Plus users will be able to get their hands on three strikingly different games when it comes to genre, mechanics, and even aesthetic style. For those that have managed to track down a PS5, Overcooked: All You Can Eat headlines the month. Meanwhile over on the PlayStation 4, players have a pair of action titles to dive into courtesy of Hitman 2 and Predator: Hunting Grounds. While none of the games can claim to be especially surprising, each still offers plenty of potential fun for subscribers.
Overcooked: All You Can Eat
While this month's PlayStation Plus offerings break from the recently established tradition of a brand new PS5 game making its debut through the service, Sony has still managed to serve up a delightful feast for owners of its latest console. Released at the launch of the PS5 last year, Overcooked: All You Can Eat is the main course meal for next generation users in September. Channeling the couch co-op themed multiplayer antics that have made the franchise a beloved experience for so many, this cooking simulator compilation should prove to be chaotic fun for new players as well.
Essentially acting as the ultimate realization of the franchise, Ghost Time Games has stuffed the All You Can Eat package with all of the content previously found in Overcooked and Overcooked 2, whilst sprinkling in some new features on top for good measure. These include seven brand new kitchens, three extra chefs, improved 4K visuals, and 60 FPS performance. On top of all of that, the original game's content has also been remastered to better match the sequel's quality as well. Being a party style game ensures that Overcooked: All You Can Eat will likely be a recurring addiction for PS Plus subscribers long after it leaves the service's monthly rotation.
Hitman 2
Not to be confused with the PS2 title from 2002 that carries the same name, Hitman 2 is the first game on offer that's available to both PS4 and PS5 PS Plus subscribers during the month of September. Developed by IO Interactive and published by Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, following the development team's split with franchise partner Square Enix, this stealth action shooter once again follows the story of infamous master assassin, Agent 47. Armed with an array of guns, gadgets, and household appliances, players undertake a range of assassination missions whilst completing specific objectives and challenges.
Picking up the action after 2016's episodic Hitman soft-reboot, the direct sequel once again sees the bald well-dressed murderer jet off around the globe to some gorgeous sandboxes, this time in hot pursuit of the mysterious "Shadow Client." The fact that Hitman 2 dropped its predecessor's episodic release format, helps ensure that newcomers to the series don't need to have experienced Agent 47's bloody past to appreciate the game's stealth mechanics.
Owners of the original Hitman can also experience all of that game's content in an updated and improved format through Hitman 2 as well. PS5 owners will also have more bonus options available to them, provided that they own a copy of the next generation Hitman 3. Players can import all of the maps, missions, and progress to Hitman 3, complete with exclusive features like DualSense support and improved graphical performance.
Predator: Hunting Grounds
The final offering in this month's PlayStation Plus update is Illfonic's Predator: Hunting Grounds. As the first title to feature the iconic extraterrestrial Yautja as a sole focus in over a decade. Being the follow up to the studio's first breakout horror hit, Friday the 13th: The Game, only exacerbated anticipation further. In a lot of ways this isometric team based multiplayer shooter mirrors that original experience in terms of genre, concepts, and mechanics. Sadly the comparisons don't stop there, with critical reception and overall quality being comparable between the two, ensuring that the game subsequently was unable to live up to pre-release hype.
Subscribers who dive into the game will instantly notice the Friday the 13th similarities, as the game takes its team vs solo player concept and blends it with the tropical aesthetic that made the original Predator a cinema classic. In Hunting Grounds, players are shuffled into one of two camps as they load into a match; playing as either the titular superpowered hunter, or a member of a four-person human fireteam.
There's a host of different classes, perks, weapons, and loadouts for each side too, which greatly extends replayability and adds to what is admittedly an exhilarating idea. However, several technical issues ranging from floaty first person gunplay, all the way to choppy framerates, bring down the experience.
Overall the game's reception wasn't overtly positive, but that still doesn't mean there isn't a B movie-esque charm to it that's fun to mess around in with friends. Being funded and published by Sony has also ensured that Predator: Hunting Grounds has been routinely supported since its April 2020 release with monthly content drops, maps, and modes. Even though its arrival on PS Plus might not guarantee further support going forward, the influx of new PS4 and PS5 players will likely extend its longevity for a little while longer.
PlayStation Plus subscribers on PS4 and PS5 get a handful of free games every month.