While this past month’s PS Plus games prove a tough act to follow, PlayStation has upped the ante by offering not just two but three games for July. PS Plus members will have access to Rise of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K20, and Erica. If that wasn’t enough, a free theme celebrating the 10th anniversary of PS Plus will also be on offer. The anniversary likely explains why we’ll get three games instead of two this month.
Interestingly, in offering Rise of the Tomb Raider, Sony decided to skip over the 2013 original game in the reboot series in favor of the 2015 sequel. This isn’t a bad thing, however, as both games are fantastic. In our review of Rise of the Tomb Raider, we said that “while not a complete masterpiece, [it] is pretty damn close to being one in the Action-Adventure genre.” The game originally debuted as an Xbox exclusive, but then arrived on PlayStation a year later as Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration. This version of the game includes all the DLC for the game as well as content exclusive to PlayStation. It also happens to be the one coming to PS Plus.
There isn’t too much to say about NBA 2K20. If you’re a fan of the long-running basketball franchise, you know what you’re getting into. While the 2k Games series has proven popular over the years, NBA 2K20 has marked a lower point in the franchise due to monetization and in-game advertising. That being said, the base game will be free on PS Plus, so if you enjoy the core mechanics it’s still a great game.
This month, the cherry on top of this PS Plus sundae is Erica, the bonus third game for July. In the game, which is really an interactive movie, players take on the role of a woman trying to solve the murder of her father. If you’re familiar with the Netflix special Bandersnatch, you’ll be familiar with the conceit of this game. Fully acted scenes tell a story with multiple outcomes and endings depending on players’ choices.
PS Plus members will be able to download these games from July 7th to August 3rd, according to the PlayStation Blog. Since PS Plus began on June 29th, 2010, a free theme will arrive sometime this week. For PlayStation owners without PS Plus, the service will offer a free online multiplayer weekend on July 4th. That being said, if you don’t have the service and you’re thinking about getting it, this may be the month to do so.
