Best indie games on PS Plus Extra
If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary to play, an indie game is often the way to go. And thankfully, there are plenty of excellent indie games on PS Plus Extra and Premium.
If you’re a subscriber to Sony’s gaming on demand service, there’s a huge range of excellent titles you can play at no extra cost. From roguelikes to puzzle games to action games to platformers – and just about everything in between – there’s an indie game for everyone.
But which indie games are the best on PS Plus Extra? We’ve done the legwork so you don’t have to. The games we’ve chosen here cover a wide range of genres, and they all come highly rated by us. So if you want something that’s a little less mainstream, something that might be a bit of a hidden gem, keep on reading to see our picks of the best indie games on PS Plus Extra.
1. Indika
You won’t have played anything quite like Indika before, and that’s what makes this one of the best indie games on PS Plus Extra. It’s a story-driven affair that sees you step into the shoes of a nun. But she’s no ordinary nun: with the devil on her shoulder, she’s torn between good and evil.
This forms of the basis of Indika’s story, with you wrestling a malevolent force. It’s a very surreal and short adventure, but it’s one that will keep you gripped throughout. It makes use of unique mechanics, and it looks absolutely stunning.
2. Another Crab’s Treasure
If you’re a Soulslike fan, then Another Crab’s Treasure is a game for you. A cartoonish game about a crab might not look or sound like a Soulslike, but that’s what makes it so wonderful.
Developer Aggro Crab has made a game with the tough combat of games like Dark Souls, but combined it with a whimsical world, where you play as a crab equipped with a fork to use as a weapon. Perhaps the best thing about Another Crab’s Treasure is the wealth of difficulty options that makes this widely accessible to players of all skill levels.
Read our review of Another Crab’s Treasure
3. Arcade Paradise
We absolutely love Arcade Paradise, for a lot of different reasons. Part simulation, part arcade game compilation, this game has you slowly but surely turning a laundrette into a fully-fledged arcade. You’ll need to man your laundrette at first, but when you notice that the few arcade machines in the back make way more money than spinning clothes ever will, you start to expand.
Over time, you’ll have a full arcade to take care of. But when you’re not picking up litter or fixing up broken machines, you can play them yourself. And there are some absolutely excellent games here. Blockchain’s our favourite. That alone makes this one of the best indie games you can play on PS Plus Extra.
Read our review of Arcade Paradise
4. Road 96
Road 96 is a seriously interesting prospect. It’s procedurally generated in some respects, meaning every time you play will be different. But it’s also heavily story-driven, telling the story of a group of young people who are looking to flee their country amidst political unrest. It’s seriously topical while also being funny and over the top, and if you want to play something a little different with a killer narrative, you should consider giving this one a try.
Trying to make a journey to the border is never straightforward, and you’ll end up hitch-hiking, getting caught up in fraught situations, and needing to beg, borrow and steal your way to safety. We love the characters you meet along the way, and it’s a game that’ll stick with you for a long time.
5. Untitled Goose Game
If you haven’t yet played Untitled Goose Game, where have you been? This wonderful little adventure puts you in control of a very naughty goose. Making your way around a small village, you’ll get to cause utter chaos while also solving small puzzles to get where you need to be.
There is a story to play through, of course, but much of the joy of Untitled Goose Game is being a naughty little goose. Whether you’re running off with the farmer’s keys or interfering with some kids playing football, there’s a huge amount of fun to be had here.
6. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
Did you like the Life is Strange series? Lost Records: Bloom & Rage very much shares the same DNA, largely because it comes from the developer of the first Life is Strange game. This is Don’t Nod’s attempt at going fully independent, self-publishing rather than working with Square Enix. And the result is something very special indeed.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage released in two parts, but the whole thing is now available to play in one go. It tells the story of Swann and her friends, split over two timelines. One timeline takes us back to the 90s, when Swann and her friends were teenagers. Something happened that summer that changed their friendships forever, and now, 20 years later, they’re meeting up again for the first time to finally talk about what happened. Is something supernatural at play? Did something terrible happen? You’ll need to play to find out, but it’s a game that will keep you gripped.
Read our review of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
7. Celeste
Celeste might just be one of the most celebrated indie games of recent years, and it’s yours to play as part of your PS Plus Extra subscription. This platforming game can be tough as nails, but its in-depth accessibility options means that it’s playable by everyone.
Its pixel art is sumptuous, and alongside its engaging platforming gameplay you’ll get to enjoy a story of the titular Celeste overcoming her personal struggles. It’s pretty touching, really.
8. Deliver Us The Moon
Combining puzzles, exploration and storytelling, Deliver Us The Moon is a sci-fi fuelled story about a lone astronaut’s mission to save the Earth. You see, a plan to send energy from the moon to Earth failed some years ago, and you’ve been sent into space to figure out what went wrong.
Explore abandoned space stations, uncover a captivating story, and test your brain with a range of puzzles along the way. This isn’t the longest game in the world – you’ll be done in around five hours – but it’ll keep you captivated throughout.
Read our review of Deliver Us The Moon
9. Cris Tales
If you’re a fan of old-school JRPGs, you’ll want to take note of Cris Tales. It takes the exploration and combat of classic role-playing games and drops it in a new, shiny package.
Complete with gorgeous 2D visuals, Cris Tales tells a compelling story, sees you fighting against a range of fearsome foes, and challenges you to use a variety of interesting skills – including time manipulation – during combat. It’s beautiful, compelling, and one of our favourite JRPGs of recent years – despite not coming from Japan.
10. Hotshot Racing
We love Hotshot Racing. This colourful arcade racing game is brilliant whether playing solo or with friends, and we just can’t get enough of it. There’s a a wealth of content thanks to various maps and tracks, and there are plenty of characters to race against (or play as), too.
If you’re into racing games, this is without a doubt one of the best indie games you can jump into on PS Plus Extra. It packs in the spirit of old-school arcade racing games into a new, shiny package – and we need more games like this.
