Top 10 Games We Wish Were On PlayStation Plus Premium

We'd love to play the classic PS2 #Sly and #Ratchet games, as well as any modern #GranTurismo game on PlayStation Plus Premium.

Published: July 23, 2022 12:00 PM /

By: Chris Penwell

PlayStation Plus Premium has a wide range of games available, and that's certainly clear as we've covered the best games from 14 different genres since the launch of the service. However, there are many games that PlayStation Plus Premium is still missing. From many classic retro treasures to the underrated PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, here are the games we hope to see come to the service.

The Best Games on PlayStation Plus Premium

10 - Warhawk Returning With New Servers

One of the first great games of the PS3, Warhawk sadly had its servers shut down in 2019, but this multiplayer cult classic could have a revival with PlayStation Plus Premium. It's so beloved that fans created their own servers, but PlayStation could make it easier by bringing them back officially. The game is like a small-scale Battlefield without the filler.

You can zip around in trucks and planes, strategize taking over points, and even hide in the hills sniping from above. It was thrilling to play with your friends. It also has a majestic soundtrack to go along with the action. This classic game should be brought back and would be a delight to the many PS3 fans who adored it. While you're at it, give us back Starhawk as well.

9 - Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of the Cursed King

One Square Enix game that's beloved but has never been seen on modern consoles is Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of the Cursed King. Yes, it has been released on the Nintendo 3DS and mobile systems, but being able to play this majestic JRPG on a TV would be the best option. Arguably better than Dragon Quest XI, the turn-based combat in VIII is strategic, nerve-wracking, and above all, crisply designed. Figuring out how to defeat certain bosses with the resources and the abilities you have mustered is sheer bliss.

In addition, this game has a thrilling story with memorable characters and wonderful fantasy locations to explore. The music is also phenomenal with the magical themes of "Strange World - Marching Through the Fields," "Mysterious Tower," and "Over the Sorrow," which will each help enrapture you into the landscapes and story of Dragon Quest VIII. It would be great to see this PS2 game release as a classic on PlayStation Plus Premium.

8 - More Licensed PS1, PS2, and PS3 Games From our Childhood

PS1 Games PlayStation Plus Premium

Many of us as kids played movie-licensed PS1 and PS2 games, and some of them were actually stellar titles. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is a successful co-op experience, while Disney's Skate Adventure gave a fun cartoon take on the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise. We currently have one tie-in game based on Toy Story 2 on PlayStation Plus Premium, and we'd like to see more. It doesn't have to revolve around kids games either. We could have the excellent hack-and-slash The Lord of the Rings games based on The Two Towers and Return of the King, in addition to the intriguing RPG The Third Age.

Those who have been enjoying the free-to-play Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel could enjoy the PS1 classic Forbidden Memories, which was extremely difficult for 10-year-old me and likely many other kids. The Simpsons also has a great legacy on the PS2 and PS3 with The Simpsons Game and Hit & Run, which many have been clamoring for a remake of but would take a port in a heartbeat.

7 - FIFA and Madden

EA Sports is entirely absent from PlayStation Plus Premium's lineup of games, and there is a huge subsector of casual gamers who would subscribe just for these two titles: FIFA and Madden. The FIFA and Madden series of games are nowhere to be seen, and Xbox Game Pass currently features the latest entries. To stay equal with their main competition, Sony should purchase the rights to have them on PlayStation Plus Premium.

FIFA 22 and Madden 22 are fun games to boot up. They're graphically stunning with the Frostbite Engine, and they both feature engaging single-player storylines that can be completed in a weekend. It would make sense for both EA and PlayStation to have them available on the service, as the Ultimate Team modes brought in over $1.5 billion alone. PlayStation would take a cut, so it would likely be in both companies' interest to keep FIFA and Madden as openly available as possible.

6 - PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale PlayStation Plus Premium

Before the success stories of MultiVersus, Brawlhalla, and Rivals of Aether, there is one platform fighter that was criticized heavily in 2012: PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. Many called it a plain rip-off of Super Smash Bros, but to those who played PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, there was a hook that kept people checking out the game, despite the online issues.

Instead of knocking opponents out of the field, the game had you take out foes with super moves. The fun came in when you had to make reliable combos to make the super moves hit. A meter is built for the number of hits you laid down on your opponents, and there's an entertaining risk/reward system in place. There were multiple levels of supers that were more effective as the bar grew.

The Level 3 super was similar to a Final Smash, where you can get two to five knockouts rather than a solemn one or two knockouts with a Level 1. This system is what made PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale truly stand out from the Super Smash Bros. series.

Despite lacking the much-requested Crash and Spyro, we still had some favorites among the cast including Kratos, Nathan Drake, Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, and Kat from Gravity Rush. There were no standout third-party characters, however, with strange decisions like Isaac Clarke, Big Daddy, and most notably Dante from the maligned DmC: Devil May Cry reboot. I hope this fighting game one day has a sequel because there's so much potential, but it would be cool to see PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale on PlayStation Plus Premium with all the DLC unlocked.

5 - The Classic Sly Cooper Quadrilogy

PlayStation is a company with so much platforming heritage and yet, that isn't reflected heavily within the current PlayStation Plus Premium catalog. One such critical franchise that's missing is the Sly Cooper series. It has an art style that has aged like a fine wine with a cool graphic novel look, and the platforming is stellar throughout.

You play as a raccoon on a mission to find the Thievius Raccoonus, a book that his family has relied upon for generations. It was stolen from him at a young age, and now it's his lifelong mission to get it back page by page. As opposed to the guns showcased in both Jak & Daxter and Ratchet & Clank, Sly relies on stealth and his cane to get the better of his enemies. It's a lighthearted adventure with plenty of great bosses throughout the series and excellent level design. The Sly Cooper quadrilogy would be welcome with open arms on PlayStation Plus Premium, especially when you realize that the original three games were on PlayStation Now before.

4 - The Ratchet & Clank Collection

Ratchet & Clank Collection PlayStation Plus Premium

A classic platforming trilogy from PlayStation is also missing from PlayStation Plus Premium: the first three Ratchet & Clank games. Despite there being a package of brilliant HD remasters of them on the PS3, this collection strangely missing. It wasn't even on PlayStation Now.

The original three Ratchet & Clank games are super engaging with funny dialogue, rad weapons, and overall imaginative world designs. The bosses are also fun to wrap your head around as you blast your way through the game. PlayStation should want to preserve its history for years to come, and including the original Ratchet & Clank Collection on its latest service would be testament to that.

It would also allow this collection to be more accessible, as the price of this collection in used game stores is going up. At the time of writing, it's around $42 for a complete physical copy, according to Price Charting. Oh, and while you're at it, bring Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart to PlayStation Plus Premium as well.

3 - Destiny 2 + All DLC

Now that PlayStation is the official owner of Bungie, it's about time all of the available DLC is included for all PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers. Xbox Game Pass has done so in the past, so it would be a good counter to PlayStation Plus' rival.

Destiny 2 has exceptional gunplay with responsive controls from the makers of Halo. Each weapon feels great to control and delivers that punch you want from a first-person shooter. In addition, the sci-fi story has enraptured millions of fans, despite a weak start in the prior game. The game's constantly being updated with new content, but to really gravitate players to this games-as-a-service title, adding the DLC to PlayStation Plus Premium would be a smart business decision from Sony.

2 - Any Modern Gran Turismo Game

Gran Turismo 7 PlayStation Plus Premium Racing

Arguably the biggest omission on PlayStation Plus Premium is any modern Gran Turismo game. We understand why Gran Turismo 7 may not be on there as it only released in March 2022, but including Gran Turismo Sport would be a slamdunk on PlayStation Plus Premium for the time being.

This particular series is beloved by racing fans for its detailed graphics, accurate driving physics, and sheer amount of cars that can be driven through some marvelous courses around the world. There are some decent racing games on PlayStation Plus Premium, including Ride 4 and Wreckfest, but Gran Turismo Sport and Gran Turismo 7 are heads and shoulders above the rest.

1 - Day-One PlayStation Exclusives Like God of War: Ragnarok

God of War Ragnarok PlayStation Plus Premium

There is one thing that Xbox Game Pass will always have the upper hand on PlayStation Plus Premium on: day-and-date exclusives on their service day one. Xbox was able to deliver the outstanding Halo Infinite to Game Pass subscribers for no extra charge, which was a mindblowing deal.

"The level of investment that we need to make in our studios would not be possible, and we think the knock-on effect on the quality of the games that we make would not be something that gamers want," said PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan to GamesIndustry.biz when explaining why their big first-party titles won't be on the service day one.

However, as the economy continues to slide downwards in 2022, it may be a good idea to emphasize the power of PlayStation Plus Premium for it to be a massive success. Cheaper monthly payments is way more captivating than a full-on $70 purchase, and a highly anticipated game like God of War: Ragnarok would drastically increase the subscriber numbers for PlayStation Plus Premium.

Also, despite many playing Halo Infinite on Xbox Game Pass, it was the second best-selling physical game in its launch month (NPD Group via GamesBeat), just next to the titan Call of Duty: Vanguard. That word of mouth could help PlayStation in the long run and would give people a reason to subscribe to PlayStation Plus Premium.