A year of free games: How PS Plus and Games with Gold compare

There is no doubt that Sony started something which fans loved when it introduced PlayStation Plus. It was the chance to build a library of games for a small yearly cost, and it's a service appreciated by many. So popular did PlayStation Plus become that both Microsoft and to a lesser extent, EA, decided to make their own versions.

When PlayStation Plus first started out it was all about the free games, special discounts and other perks. Now of course, it is a requirement if you want to play online, whereas Xbox LIVE with Gold, which is Microsoft's alternative, is an additional bonus to the always required Xbox LIVE service.

What's great about paying for both of these services is the free games. Sure, they may not always appeal to everyone each month, but when you take a look at the games released this year alone, it's hard not to appreciate the value on offer.

[YinYangGaming]

My personal highlights: Transistor, Infamous: First light, Rocket League & The Walking Dead season 2 on PS+ and with GWG: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Rayman Legends, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Child of Light and The Walking Dead season 1

[nX]

Those were the highlights for me:
- InFamous: First Light
- Rogue Legacy (cross-buy)
- Transistor
- Hohokum (cross-buy)
- Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
- Rocket League
- The Walking Dead: Season Two
- Dragon Fin Soup (cross-buy)

All in all, including PS3/PSV games and discounts, it was a good year even though there were some mediocre months.
PS+ offered the better games again but it's actually not as clear as it was in the last few years.

[FrostedFire]

I can't even describe how much fun I had playing Rouge Legacy on my PS Vita,I would have never given that a chance had it not been for ps plus.

[thejigisup]

I'm thoroughly enjoying dragon fin soup

[Relientk77]

I tried Hohokum, but I wasn't on drugs and couldn't get into it

[nX]

^Dragon Fin Soup is a pretty deep and complex strategy RPG, I wasn't sure about it at first but it's fun once you get the hang of it. Don't run around like crazy, every step and action is a "turn" where you and all enemies move simultaneously, sometimes you have to plan many steps in advance.

About Hohokum, it's just something different. On drugs it's probably even better but it's an refreshing experience in any case.

[mike32UK]

My highlight this year was definitely The Swapper with rocket league being a close second. November and December have been pure disappointment though. December I can understand with the 12 deals of Christmas (which was amazing last year). However, November I expected a heavy hitter with the ps4 turning 2 years old but I qas sorely disappointed

[Relientk77]

I enjoyed

Oddworld New and Tasty
The Unfinished Swan
Rogue Legacy
Ether One
Styx: Master of Shadows
Grow Home
Magicka 2

I didn't get to play these yet:

Broken Age
Gauntlet
Kings Quest

[DivineAssault]

PS Plus is a service i don't mind paying for.. Its well worth $50/yr for all the free stuff you get & i have to thank M$ for making it happen.. If it weren't for them & XBL, we would've never got such a great service..

[LeCreuset]

You would have to thank the hackers for forcing Sony to repair the PSN's image.

Edit: Do not thank the hackers.

[DivineAssault]

Didnt they give all the attendees of E3 a free 3 month subscription when that happened? PS plus was around before that unfortunate incident..

[LeCreuset]

I've had PS+ from inception. They've even had freebies and discounts from inception. But it was nothing like we know it now. That happened after the hack. Trust me, I wouldn't even indirectly give credit to the hackers like I am if it wasn't true. I was pretty upset at the time.

[AG6686]

Free?

[KiwiViper85]

Even if the games aren't up to standard or to your taste, the still gave away $1000 worth of games.

Not to mention the ability to play online multiplayer plus extra discounts.

I payed $60nzd (~$30us) for 1 year.

So while technically not free, its still not worth mentioning.

In every article about GwG/PS+ on N4G.

Everytime...

[HOOHAARR]

I used to look forward to the Plus reveals, not any more! Infamous First Light was the last game I actually downloaded and even that wasn't a full game! The sad fact is I only seem to subscribe now for the game patches and updates!

[KiwiViper85]

Wouldn't you still get those without a subscription?

[HOOHAARR]

Not sure to be honest, I think you only get auto updates with Plus. Which is the only use I seem to get out of my subscription lately! I'll never buy a yearly sub again though I know that!
Sony promised to improve it after hiking the price up too!

[Rookie_Monster]

Going forward, I do hope Sony add a couple of PS2 BC titles monthly with their PS Plus service after their announcement at PSX. Would add more value to PS4 owners with PS Plus.

[LeCreuset]

No. Just no. Newer titles have better appeal. If you want those old games, get them off PSN or find them for a bargain online or at one of the few remaining good brick and mortar game stores.

[Rookie_Monster]

You are misunderstanding what I am saying. I want them to add PS2 BC in addition to what they are offering now so it will be a great counter to what MS is offering with their 2 BC titles for gold subscribers and not replaced those PS4 freebies titles with PS2 titles.

[LeCreuset]

As extra content? I'd be down with that, so long as the quality of the other titles didn't suffer for budgetary reasons.

[Artemidorus]

I'm still playing rocket league all thanks to ps plus.

[neocores]

My god the disagree are strong on this post. I smell haters.

[FallenAngel1984]

Makes you wonder how Microsoft got away with locking half the functionality of the console behind a paywall for 12 years. For 11 years people paid online subscriptions without any free games on a monthly basis. Good thing that Microsoft finally adapted.