We are just getting past the halfway point of 2025, if you can believe it, and there’s a wealth of hard-hitting game releases in the rear window. Unexpectedphenomena likeClair Obscur: Expedition 33and surefire hits likeDeath Stranding 2have been dominating the markets and the media in recent months, and promising upcoming games likeMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eaterare sure to occupy gamers' attention for the foreseeable future.
That said, we’re still in the classic midsummer lull, where high-profile releases have slowed down, and the industry cools off before the holiday season. As such, audiences may be looking for some fresh experiences to fill this awkward gaming gap, and services likePlayStation Plusfacilitate this end, no doubt. We’ve prepared a smorgasbord ofPS Plusgames that players should explore this week, focusing on variety above all else. Indeed, if you’re looking for a mid-year palette cleanser, read on.
Free PlayStation Plus Essentials games for July 2025—Diablo 4,Jusant, andKing of Fighters 15—are still available.
Syphon Filter
Available on PS Plus Premium
In honor of asemi-newMetal Gear Solidgamelaunching soon, I thought I’d recommend a similar, but sadly less enduring, stealth-action franchise.Syphon Filterdefinitely leans more into the action side of the equation, with solid shooting and movement mechanics, especially for the time—the game was released in 1999 as a PS1 exclusive. While it shows its age, and it’s not much of a surprise why it got eclipsed byMetal Gear,Syphon Filteris more than deserving of some love from modern audiences.
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Directive: Eliminate the Syphon Filter Virus"Intelligence has confirmed the development of bio-warfare weapons.Gabe, you are our only chance to destroy the Syphon Filter virus. You’vebeen cleared to use lethal force to complete your directives."- MarkinsonLOGAN, GABEOperative profile: CLASSIFIEDEDUCATION:M.A. degree, Biochemistry, Rockefeller Institute, B.S. degree, Biology and Chemistry, M.I.T.GUERRILLA WARFARE EXPERT:Counter-terrorism, Special Reconnaissance, Direct Assault and Stealth ExpertCOMBAT WEAPONRY SPECIALIST:Silenced 9mm Handgun, Nightvision Rifle, M-16 Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Taser, M-79 Grenade Launcher and moreNAVIGATIONAL EXPERT:13 real world, open 360-degree environmentsMASTER MARKSMAN:Proficient in 4 Targeting Modes, Ability to keep enemies in target while kneeling, crouching, strafing, walking, rolling, climbing, jumping and running
Jak 3
Another bona fide classic,Jak 3is perhaps the most easily accessible, crowd-pleasing game in theJak & Daxterfranchise. With a healthy dose ofGTAinspiration,Jak 3is a fun, quirky, fantastical sci-fi open-world with plenty of unique mechanics. The game boils down to a combination of platforming, shooting, and driving gameplay, which makes it feel dynamic and consistently surprising, and its narrative is quite strong as well. For those seeking a traditional yet ambitious PS2-era experience, it’s hard to do much better thanJak 3.
Jak 3was developed by Naughty Dog, released just three years before the firstUnchartedgame.
Jak and his faithful companion Daxter are thrust in the middle of an unforgiving Wasteland where survival of the fittest takes on new meaning. With potent weapons, armor, and vehicles, Jak also discovers that there is an emerging power inside him - the ability to balance Dark Jak and Light Jak. Questions about the mysterious Precursors, the mythical Mar, the fate of the world and the enigmatic Jak himself will be answered, as this most exciting adventure unfolds.
A Hat in Time
Available on PS Plus Extra
If you want something a little more crunchy and consistently entertaining,A Hat in Timemight be right up your alley. It’s clearly inspired by seminal platformers likeSuper Mario 64andBanjo-Kazooie, but with enough twists of its own to be worth it for genre veterans.A Hat in Time’s platformingis satisfying and expressive, its world is charming and adorable, and its level design is multilayered and engaging. In short, it ticks all the platforming boxes, and does so in spectacular fashion, so it’s well worth a college try on PlayStation Plus.
A Hat in Time is a cute-as-heck 3D platformer featuring a little girl who stitches hats for wicked powers.In A Hat in Time you play as a tiny space-travelling girl with a big tophat. Her adventure is halted when all her fuel, the Time Pieces, is lost and scattered across a nearby planet. Hat Kid must now jump, fight and stitch new hats to make her way into every nook and cranny of this new world to restore her fuel and resume her journey. On her way, she’ll bump into the menacing Mafia of Cooks, the goofy birds of Dead Bird Studio, the spooky shadows of Subcon Forest, and more!
Batman: Arkham Origins
Available on PS Plus Premium (Streaming Only)
Though it’s not as highly regarded as its Rocksteady-developed counterparts,Batman: Arkham Originsis still a strong outing for the Caped Crusader. From a storytelling perspective, it’s fascinating to see anearly version of theArkhamuniverse, which has become one of the most iconic renditions of theBatmanmythos. As far as gameplay, it’s not exactly revolutionary, but it nails the meat-and-potatoes mechanics of theArkhamfranchise, with satisfying combat, serviceable stealth, and clever puzzles.
Bound
It’s always amazed me thatBoundnever reached the same cultural heights as games likeAbzuandJourney, since it hits a lot of the same marks. Though not very mechanically deep,Boundis a visually stunning, deceptively emotional game about identity, family, and the past, where players must dance through a dreamscape to defeat a mysterious monster. The game is laden with symbolic meaning, and while its plot is vague and metaphorical, it’s understandable enough to evoke some degree of passion.Boundis criminally underrated, as far as I’m concerned, and more than worthy of some extra attention.
Bound transports you into a beautiful, fantastical world that exists in the mind of a woman revisiting the memories of her childhood. Use dance moves to traverse vast environments filled with platforming challenges. As the game progresses, the introspective story unfolds through powerful metaphor and imagery, adding emotional depth to the protagonist’s journey.
