I still remember how PS Plus rolled out the red carpet in 2023. It was the kind of year where Sony’s subscription service kept winking at me every month, practically daring me to clear my backlog. Essential, Extra, and Premium all pulled their weight, but Extra especially felt like a kid in a candy store — grabbing beloved indies, first-party AAA giants, and nostalgic classics with both hands. Looking back from 2026, that lineup still feels ridiculously stacked. If you missed it, don’t worry; most of these games are still available on the service, and they’re absolutely worth your time.
Let me tell you, January started with a bang. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order swooped in right before its sequel, Survivor, launched in April. That timing was no accident — it was Sony saying, “Here, catch up before the new one drops.” Respawn’s lightsaber adventure felt like a return to form for Star Wars games, and having it on PS Plus meant I could finally see what all the fuss was about without dropping extra cash. The combat was tight, the story had heart, and Cal Kestis’ journey hooked me from the first planet.
Then came Horizon Forbidden West in February. Aloy’s second adventure was a first-party heavyweight that expanded everything from the first game — bigger world, sharper combat, and a story that kept me guessing. It originally launched alongside Elden Ring, so plenty of folks slept on it. PS Plus gave it a second wind, and the Burning Shores DLC arriving just a couple months later made the timing feel almost too perfect. I sank dozens of hours into hunting machines and never once regretted it.
March brought The Legend of Dragoon to Premium, and oh boy, the nostalgia hit hard. Fans have been begging for a remake for years, and while that still hasn’t happened, Sony clearly heard the love. This PS1 classic may show its age, but its hybrid combat — real-time commands mixed with turn-based strategy — still feels unique. I booted it up expecting a quick trip down memory lane and ended up playing for hours. It’s easily the best Premium addition of the year, and that’s saying something given how nostalgia-heavy that tier can be.
Also in March, Tchia arrived on Extra, and it was unlike anything else on the list. A tropical open-world adventure where you can climb, glide, swim, and sail — but the real magic is soul-jumping into any animal or object you see. Want to fly as a bird? Go for it. Roll around as a tire? Why not? I spent an embarrassing amount of time possessing random critters just to see what would happen. It’s quirky, charming, and quietly one of the most creative games Sony has ever given away.
April brought Doom Eternal, and sometimes you just need to rip and tear, you know? This one is pure, unfiltered power fantasy. No complicated puzzles, no moral dilemmas — just demons, shotguns, and a soundtrack that makes you want to punch through a wall. It was already a few years old by then, but that didn’t matter. PS Plus gave me the perfect excuse to unleash my inner slayer.
May was a double whammy. Humanity launched day one on Extra — a puzzle game where you guide a stream of humans as a glowing Shiba Inu. Simple concept, endlessly compelling execution, plus a level editor that let creative players build their own madness. Then Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart landed, showing off exactly what the PS5 can do with its instant portal-hopping between dimensions. The story was delightful, the characters were lovable, and the gameplay was pure fun. If you waited until 2023 to play it, PS Plus made sure you had no excuse left.
June added Rogue Legacy 2, a roguelike metroidvania where every death sends one of your descendants into the fray. Each character has a different class and quirks — some are colorblind, some have vertigo, some are just plain weird — and that randomness kept me coming back for “just one more run” that inevitably turned into three hours. It’s the kind of game that eats your weekend and asks for seconds.
And then there was Alan Wake Remastered in July, timed perfectly before Alan Wake 2 dropped in October. Remedy’s connected universe is a rabbit hole worth falling into, and this remaster let me experience the first game with fresh eyes. The story is as weird and atmospheric as ever, and knowing it fed into the larger narrative made every clue feel like a puzzle piece.
Honestly, 2023 was a year where PS Plus felt less like a rental service and more like a curated gift box. Sony didn’t just dump old games — it timed releases, highlighted hidden gems, and respected its community’s nostalgia. From lightsaber duels to soul-jumping adventures, there was something for every mood. If you’re reading this in 2026 and wondering what to play next, start here. These games haven’t aged a day in spirit, and they’re still waiting for you.
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