PlayStation Plus remains a venerable service for the passionate PlayStation gaming fan. Subscribers at various membership tiers enjoy an array of perks from online multiplayer access to free games every month. For July 2022, Sony has assembled a diverse lineup of titles across genres and budgets not to be overlooked!
According to the official PlayStation Blog, the three PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games offered for free this month are:
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It‘s About Time
- The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
- Arcadegeddon
In this guide, we will analyze each title in-depth, assess the overall month‘s quality, and determine whether upgrading tiers is recommendable. Let‘s dive in dear reader!
A Generous Assortment of Genres & Franchises
PlayStation Plus regularly supplies subscribers with free games that would normally cost $60 or more. With careful curation, Sony attempts to provide fan favorites, acclaimed hits, and hidden indie gems covering a spectrum of genres each month.
The three PS Plus July headliners feature:
- Crash Bandicoot 4 – An iconic mascot platformer
- Man of Medan – A cinematic multiplayer horror game
- Arcadegeddon – A zany cartoon shooter with campaign & multiplayer
This forms a solid mix of game types. The presence of Crash is sure to delight longtime PlayStation patrons eager to follow his wacky adventures. Man of Medan continues PlayStation‘s rich history with story-driven titles in the vein of The Last of Us. Finally, Arcadegeddon caters to the competitive online crowd.
Let‘s explore each free game in greater depth to help inform your download choices this month.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It‘s About Time
Crash Bandicoot occupies a beloved spot in many ‘90s kids gaming memories. After years without a proper new entry, fans finally received the true sequel they deserved with Crash Bandicoot 4 in 2020. Lush new graphics brought the madcap marsupial into stunning high-definition while maintaining the tough-as-nails platforming action the series excelled at.
- Developer: Toys For Bob
- Release Date: October 2nd, 2020
- Accolades:winner – The Game Awards 2020 – Best Action/Adventure
The game picks up after the events of Crash Bandicoot: Warped as Neo Cortex and Dr. N. Tropy escape their interdimensional prison. It‘s up to Crash and sister Coco to track them down with the aid of mysterious quantum masks which add unique mechanics like phase shifting and gravity alteration.
Across lush jungle, desert, snowy, and dinosaur-filled levels, players spin, jump, bash crates, collect wumpa fruit, and thwart the maniacal doctors‘ schemes through 100+ platforming challenges averaging 10 hours each. Completionists can easily sink 50+ hours for 100% completion stopping at nothing to snag all gems and obstacles.
Critics hailed Crash 4 as a faithful throwback to PS1-era platforming with dazzling updated visuals but felt some elements hadn‘t evolved with modern times. Still, strong sales numbers for a rare single-player focused title indicated enduring fan goodwill towards the Marsupial Mascot.
Any platforming aficionados or subsystem fans shouldn‘t hesitate to relive childhood memories with Crash‘s latest dynamite adventure!
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
Supermassive Games cemented themselves as masters of interactive horror with 2015‘s acclaimed PlayStation 4 exclusive Until Dawn. Their follow-up project aims to produce shorter, more replayable scary stories releasing annually. Man of Medan represents the first entry showcasing impressive production values and clever branching storytelling.
- Developer: Supermassive Games
- Release Date: August 2019
- Playtime: 4-10 hours
The setup envisions a group of young friends going diving to find a rumored WWII wreck. Things take a sinister turn when they end up trapped on the ghost ship Ourang Medan subjected to truly nightmarish events. The player must guide all members safely through a gauntlet of decisions and quick-time events to avert disaster.
With adjustable difficulty and multiplayer support, friends can work together to tease out the optimal story path. Strong acting, chilling atmosphere, and meaningful choices make this an ideal PlayStation Plus freebie for horror fans. Just be warned – the scares come strong soPlaying alone late at night is not recommended for the faint of heart!
Reviewers praised the Hollywood quality presentation but dinged the genre for somewhat limiting interactivity and replay value. For the price of free however, PlayStation Plus subscribers will find gripping supernatural thrills await in Man of Medan!
Arcadegeddon
For those seeking something more light-hearted, the neon-lit shooter extravaganza Arcadegeddon supplies over-the-top multiplayer action and a cheeky campaign story. Harkening to chaotic hits like Splatoon and Fortnite, developer IllFonic has crafted an addictive trip down memory lane updated for modern sensibilities.
- Developer: IllFonic
- Release Date: July 2022
- Playtime: 10+ hours
The solo/co-op storyline envisions the last local arcade fighting back against an evil corporation looking to take over the world with a virus infecting the in-game metaverse. Gilly, the upbeat arcade owner, recruits players to tackle missions, unlock weapons, and eradicate the threats plaguing the virtual realm.
In multiplayer mode, up to four can dive into various objective-based match types against AI or human-controlled opponents with full character customization. There‘s plenty of goofy weapons, costumes, and power-ups allowing for absurd avatar designs topping leaderboards through skillful shooting.
Reactions praised Arcadegeddon‘s surprising depth, strong core mechanics, and potential for long-term appeal via seasonal content updates. Fans of online mayhem or gamers seeking less violent couch competition can find plenty to enjoy here.
The Breakout Indie Smash – Stray
While not included in the monthly free PlayStation Plus games, subscribers would be remiss not to highlight the breakout release that has captured the gaming zeitgeist in recent weeks – Stray.
On July 19th, Annapurna Interactive launched the console exclusive on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 centering around an adorable lost cybercity cat. Enraptured by the premise, gamers have catapulted Stray to record sales and popularity as the unlikely game of the summer. Let‘s analyze why it has made such a major splash.
- Developer: BlueTwelve Studio
- Release Date: July 19th, 2022
- Sales: #1 on global Steam charts within 48 hours of release
Stray sends players into a sprawling, decaying cityscape as an injured ginger cat separated from family. Without traditional combat abilities, one must rely on agile movements like leaping across gaps or knocking objects down to progress. Ancient helper droids guide your character towards potential escape while avoiding urban threats like having nine lives to spare!
Along the journey, clever environmental puzzles, lush atmospheric visuals, and emotional resonance slowly unravel mysteries behind the fallen society. As the only organic lifeform present, a sense of loneliness and longing pervades the cat‘s meandering trek made impactful through subtle storytelling.
Critical reception unanimously praised Stray‘s confident vision realizing a novel concept executed humanely. The unique perspective, intuitive controls, and charm swiftly won over the internet leading to fan art and memes celebrating the game. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can experience Stray free as of launch via the subscription Game Catalog.
For the affordable membership fee, the additional perk of playing 2022‘s breakout indie darling makes ditching the base Essential tier a prudent move!
PlayStation Plus July 2022 – Well Worth the Price of Admission
While some months feature AAA heavy hitters, the July 2022 PlayStation Plus free game selection spotlights some hidden gems primed for discovery across genres and preferences. Here‘s a quick snapshot verdict on each:
- Crash Bandicoot 4 – A pulsating platforming "greatest hits" package honoring PlayStation mascot history.
- Man of Medan – Inventive multiplayer horror perfect for dimly lit summer nights.
- Arcadegeddon – Overloaded shoot ‘em up chaos ideal for loud couch competition.
Factoring in the mega popularity of Stray as a Game Catalog bonus for mid-upper tiers, PlayStation Plus retains immense value even at full membership prices. Let‘s compare what players gain at each tier to showcase why upgrading has become an tempting proposition:
| Essential | Extra | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Free Games | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online Multiplayer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Exclusive Discounts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Game Catalog Access | No | 400+ PS4/PS5 Games | 400+ PS4/PS5 Games |
| Cloud Streaming | No | No | Yes |
| Trials | No | No | Yes |
With sought-after titles like Spiderman, Ghost of Tsushima, Death Stranding and Demon‘s Souls populating the game catalog, access to hundreds of PlayStation classics on-demand alone nearly justifies the Extra cost. Factoring in server-based cloud streaming for lag-free play, Premium constitutes an enviable value – but the base two tiers should satisfy most players.
As July 2022 demonstrates, even PlayStation Plus Essential outshines the growing field of competitor subscription services thanks to well-considered free title lineups packing surprises month after month. Treat yourself and bask in PlayStation’s ever-generous gifts before the PlayStation Plus monthly games for July 2022 vanish into the night!
