Subscription services have gradually become one of the most popular forms of media delivery around. In the early-late 2000s, streaming services were the shiny new thing, with companies like Netflix being the first to really popularize the model. Now, subscription services dominate the entertainment industry, with just about every big movie company having their own dedicated platform. The gaming scene also has its own fair share of subscription services, with Xbox Game Pass widely considered to be the best value. But the PlayStation Plus Premium does give the Microsoft service a run for its money.
Rolled out just a month ago, PlayStation Plus' brand-new tiers are being received fairly well by the general community. While the Essential tier offers the same benefits PS Plus has always had, the new Extra and Premium tiers offer a fairly impressive catalog of titles. Though both tiers offer the same collection of PS4 and PS5 games, the key difference between the Extra tier and the more expensive Premium tier is that PS Plus Premium also offers a solid range of classic PS3, PS2, PSP, and PS1 games. Although the current selection is pretty good, it could be better, and there are a handful of games that would be great to see on the PS Plus Premium service.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Right now, the PSP is criminally underrepresented on PlayStation Plus Premium. The PSP was a pretty groundbreaking piece of tech for the handheld console market back in the day, but aside from nostalgia, it isn't often remembered by the gaming public of today. But that's not to say the PSP didn't have a great library of games, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker may just be one of the console's best offerings.
Though Metal Gear Solid had a few entries on the PSP, Peace Walker is generally considered to be the best, with pretty stunning visuals and gameplay that manages to capture the series' console counterparts surprisingly well. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker sees players take on the role of Snake once more, this time in Costa Rica in 1974. Gameplay is split into two distinct sections, the first of which sees players manage an army, while the other follows the standard Metal Gear Solid stealth-infiltration approach. Unfortunately, Konami seems to be doing something strange with the Metal Gear license at the minute, removing the MGS games from PS Now just before it closed down and still not adding them back with the new PS Plus service.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
One of the most iconic PlayStation 1 games of all time, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is an absolute must-have for PlayStation Plus Premium. While fans of the series can pick up Symphony of the Night in the Castlevania Requiem or Anniversary collections, having the classic title on PS Plus Premium would help to bring in newcomers to the series, as the new PS Plus tiers are specifically designed to bring new experiences to all types of players.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, for those that don't know, sees players traverse a castle in the hunt for Dracula. Exploring the castle will give the player more gear and upgrades, which in turn open up more rooms in the castle, a gameplay loop now described as Metroidvania. It's challenging, spooky, and nostalgic, and it's also one of the most iconic games of all time.
Tomb Raider
Another PlayStation 1 classic, the 1996 Tomb Raider definitely deserves a spot on PS Plus Premium's library. Revisiting it today, Tomb Raider is a little difficult to play, with some very clunky controls and some finicky platforming making the experience a little frustrating. But when all is said and done, the original Tomb Raider is a huge piece of gaming history, and it belongs on PS Plus Premium. Though the current PS1 library on PS Plus Premium is slim, it could eventually become a haven for classic titles, and the perfect example of game preservation in action.
Silent Hill 2
The PlayStation 2 offerings on PS Plus Premium are a bit more expansive than the PS1 and PSP libraries, but there's always room for more, and Silent Hill 2 would be the perfect addition. Again, much like the rest of this list, Silent Hill 2 is intrinsically tied to the PlayStation 2. Whenever gamers mention the PS2 in conversation, a handful of games are guaranteed to be brought up, and Silent Hill 2 is almost always one of them.
Released in 2001, Silent Hill 2 was a groundbreaking psychological horror game, pushing the technical limits of the console to its max in only its second year. The story of James Sunderland and his terrifying trip to Silent Hill is an infamous one in the gaming world, with a twist that's just as iconic as the game's Pyramid Head antagonist. Despite its somewhat dated visuals, Silent Hill 2 is still one of the scariest horror games in existence.
Spider-Man 2
A 2004 game that's still somehow included in "best licensed games ever" discussions, Spider-Man 2 remains a beloved PlayStation 2 game. With a groundbreaking web-swinging physics system, a huge open-world, a plethora of upgrades, and some truly fun Spidey-supervillain interactions, Spider-Man 2 is far more than just a nostalgic video game. It may be a nightmare to try and secure the license from Marvel/Sony nowadays, but if it's at all possible, it would be truly spectacular to see Spider-Man 2 head to PlayStation Plus Premium.