The new year is starting with a bang—at least if you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber.
Sony announced the January 2022 lineup of free PS Plus games this week, and the leaks were once again correct.
This is one of the strongest offerings from Sony in a long time, with three very different titles that are all pretty damn good.
Here’s what you can look forward to on PS4 and PS5 in January 2022.
DIRT 5 (PS5, PS4)
The popular racing game zooms onto PS Plus next month for both PS4 and PS5, meaning you’ll get the native PS5 version if you have that console and not just backward compatibility.
IGN’s Luke Reilly gave the PS5 version an 8/10 writing:
“Dirt 5 represents a complete about-face for the main Dirt series, shedding virtually all semblance of simulation in favour of an unabashed, arcade-inspired racing experience that draws from just about every influence you can name except its direct predecessor. It’s not especially deep, and there isn’t as much variety in the career mode as it claims, but it’s fast, frantic, and extremely handsome, and the wild and wacky stunt track editor truly has its hooks in me.”
Deep Rock Galactic (PS5, PS4)
A 4-player co-op game about space dwarves battling through procedurally generated worlds for loot and glory? Yes please! Sign me up!
Game Informer’s Matt Miller gives the game an 8.5/10, writing:
“The great triumph of Deep Rock Galactic is transforming drudgery into something thrilling, repeatable, and fun. You work for a corporation that cares more about minor profits than your survival. You are sent into dark caves to hack away small quantities of minerals. And your rewards are paltry compared to the risk you face, squaring off against massive alien bugs that hunger for your flesh. Yet as a stalwart space dwarf doing what he does best, you’re having a grand time, because the game’s systems contrive to transform that work into something magical.”
Persona 5 Strikers (PS4)
I really enjoyed Persona 5 Strikers a lot more than I thought I would. That’s because, while I adore the Persona series, I really don’t care that much for Dynasty Warriors, and this game is a hybrid of the two. Fortunately, it really captures the style and vibe of Persona while simply transforming it from a turn-based RPG to something far more action-packed.
GameSpot’s Michael Higham gives the game an 8/10, concluding:
“For all its shortcomings, Persona 5 Strikers reminds me why I loved the Phantom Thieves to begin with and shows how they've matured since we last saw them. Once you get your head around it, the action-RPG combat is a challenging thrill, and no one can pull off flourishes in the same fashion as these characters. I almost forgot I was playing a musou-style game developed by Koei Tecmo and Omega-Force, and I think that's a testament to how sharp Strikers is as a Persona game. If you have any love for Persona 5, what say you save the world one more time with some old friends?”
So that’s three very-well reviewed and received games in one month of PlayStation Plus. Not a single stinker.
That’s pretty awesome! Usually, even in pretty good months, there will be some kind of letdown or disappointment. Last month it was the “Challenger Edition” of Godfall that had PS Plus subscribers upset.
This time around? All roses and sunshine, space dwarves and racecars, and a healthy dose of demon-slaying action. Not a bad way to kick off the new year.
Happy 2022, young padawans!
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