Sony delivered 76 video games for all of its platforms to PlayStation Plus subscribers in 2018 — PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. Were they any good? What would they cost otherwise? What do the numbers say about the value of this PlayStation Plus benefit?
We’ll try to answer that question this year as we have the past four years. To that, however, we’ve added a few more questions: How old is the game? Did Sony publish it? What publisher did PlayStation Plus use the most?
These questions may shed light on where these free games programs are headed, especially as Sony will no longer offer free PlayStation Plus games for the PS3 or the PS Vita in March 2019.
Getting Started
In all, there were 76 games in PlayStation Plus’ instant game collection for 2018, with an average critical score of 69.5 and a combined retail price (as of yesterday) of $1,508.74. The review average of this year’s free games is 1.8 points lower than 2017 but the monetary value is $221.49 more.
January
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4)
- Batman: The Telltale Series (PS4)
- Sacred 3 (PS3)
- The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 (PS3)
- Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness (PS4, PS Vita)
- Uncanny Valley (PS4, PS Vita)
- Starblood Arena (PSVR)
Average score: 66
Average age: 1.74 years
Total value: $157.93
February
- Knack (PS4)
- Rime (PS4)
- Spelunker HD (PS3)
- Mugen Souls Z (PS3)
- Exile’s End (PS Vita)
- Grand Kingdom (PS4, PS Vita)
Average score: 65.8
Average age: 3.75 years
Total value: $96.94
March
- Bloodborne (PS4)
- Ratchet & Clank (PS4)
- Mighty No. 9 (PS4, PS3)
- Legend of Kay (PS3)
- Claire: Extended Cut (PS4, PS Vita)
- Bombing Busters (PS4, PS Vita)
Average score: 69.7
Average age: 2.24 years
Total value: $106.94
April
- Mad Max (PS4)
- TrackMania Turbo (PS4)
- In Space We Brawl (PS4, PS3)
- Toy Home (PS3)
- 99Vidas (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)
- Q*Bert Rebooted (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)
Average score: 60.5
Average age: 3.93 years
Total value: $98.94
May
- Beyond: Two Souls (PS4)
- Rayman Legends (PS4)
- Risen 3: Titan Lords (PS3)
- Eat Them! (PS3)
- King Oddball (PS3, PS Vita)
- Furmins (PS4, PS Vita)
Average score: 69 (nice)
Average age: 4.75 years
Total value: $106.44
June
- XCOM 2 (PS4)
- Trials Fusion (PS4)
- Zombie Driver HD (PS3)
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (PS3)
- Atomic Ninjas (PS3, PS Vita)
- Squares (PS Vita)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (PS4)
Average score: 72.1
Average age: 3.98 years
Total value: $123.94
July
- Heavy Rain (PS4)
- Absolver (PS4)
- Rayman 3 HD (PS3)
- Extreme Exorcism (PS4, PS3)
- Space Overlords (PS4, PS Vita)
- Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma (PS Vita)
Average score: 69.2
Average age: 3.97 years
Total value: $179.93
August
- Mafia 3 (PS4)
- Dead by Daylight (PS4)
- Bound by Flame (PS3)
- Serious Sam 3: BFE (PS3)
- Draw Slasher (PS Vita)
- Space Hulk (PS Vita)
- Here They Lie (PSVR)
- Knowledge is Power
- Destiny 2 (PS4)
Average score: 67.6
Average age: 2.7 years
Total value: $205.91
September
- God of War 3 Remastered (PS4)
- Another World - 20th Anniversary Edition (PS4)
- QUBE Director’s Cut (PS4, PS3)
- Sparkle 2 (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)
- Foul Play (PS4, PS Vita)
Average score: 68.4
Average age: 3.72 years
Total value: $55.95
October
- Friday the 13th: The Game (PS4)
- Laser League (PS4)
- Master Reboot (PS3)
- The Bridge (PS4, PS3, PS Vita)
- Rocketbirds 2: Evolution (PS4, PS Vita)
- 2064: Read Only Memories (PS4, PS Vita)
Average score: 68.8
Average age: 2.47 years
Total value: $81.94
November
- Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition (PS4)
- Yakuza Kiwami (PS4)
- Jackbox Party Pack 2 (PS3)
- Arkedo Series (PS3)
- Burly Men at Sea (PS4, PS Vita)
- Roundabout (PS4, PS Vita)
Average score: 75.3
Average age: 2.47 years
Total value: $140.94
December
- SOMA (PS4)
- Onrush Standard Digital Edition (PS4)
- Steredenn: Classic (PS3)
- SteinsGate (PS3)
- Iconoclasts (PS4, PS Vita)
- Papers, Please (PS Vita)
Average score: 82.8
Average age: 3.2 years
Total value: $152.94
By the Numbers
Average score: 69.6
Average price: $19.85
Average age: 3.2 years
Highest scoring month: December.
Highest dollar value month: August ($205.91)
Month with newest games on average: January (1.74 years)
Lowest scoring month: April (60.5)
Lowest dollar value month: September $55.95
Month with oldest games on average: May (4.75 years old)
Published by Sony: 10
Publisher with the most titles: Sony, 10.
Platform score averages
PlayStation 3: 70.7
PlayStation 4: 64.98
PlayStation Vita: 79.6
Review score ranges
90 and up: 3
80 to 89: 16
70 to 79: 17
60 to 69: 26
59 and below: 14
Price ranges
$40 and up: 4
$30 to $39.99: 6
$25 to $29.99: 9
$20 to $24.99: 2
$15 to $19.99: 19
$10 to $14.99: 7
$5 to $9.99: 27
$4.99 and under: 2