PlayStation Plus has several kinds of access, and mixing them together makes a recommendation unreliable. Monthly Games must be claimed during their window; the Extra and Premium Game Catalog is a separate rotating collection. For a clearly verifiable starting point, this shortlist focuses on November’s Monthly Games, announced by Sony and checked on 6 November 2026. Sony states a claim window from 3 to 30 November. Previously offered Monthly Games are not automatically claimable now.
Editorial illustration, not a game screenshot.
Which game should you choose?
- Monster Train 2: Choose it if you want to consider combinations and positioning rather than rely on reflexes. Its deckbuilding battles give a single-player session a clear tactical focus and reward experimenting with different strategies. Sony lists the PS5 edition for this monthly selection. It is not a PS4 recommendation, and repeated runs are part of the appeal rather than a sign that the game has failed to advance.
- Dead Island 2: Choose it for action-horror built around close combat and a deliberately pulpy setting. The option of playing with friends makes it useful when you want a shared activity with a continuing campaign structure. Sony lists PS5 and PS4 versions and up to three-player online co-op. Its graphic violence makes it a poor default family recommendation despite the holiday-like setting.
- Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered: Choose it if revisiting older adventure design is the attraction. The collection offers a way to compare original-looking presentation with refreshed graphics while following a different style of exploration and problem-solving. Sony lists PS5 and PS4 editions. Remastered presentation does not mean these adventures follow every modern convention, so allow time to learn their movement and expectations.
| Game | Best fit | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Monster Train 2 | Solo deckbuilding strategy | PS5 monthly game |
| Dead Island 2 | Action-horror alone or together | PS5 and PS4; graphic violence |
| Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered | A classic adventure collection | PS5 and PS4; older design |
Choose by your priority. Comparison by play preference, not a numerical score.
What matters before you start?
Monthly Games are included with Essential and the higher Extra and Premium tiers. Add the intended games to your library during the stated claim window; merely noticing them on a blog post is not redemption. Continued access normally requires an active qualifying subscription. That is different from an Extra or Premium catalogue title, which can leave the service independently of whether you previously installed it. Check the edition and entitlement displayed by your signed-in regional store, particularly when you already own a trial, disc copy or another version with a similar title.
Make the choice fit your routine
Start with Monster Train 2 for tactical solo play, Dead Island 2 for violent cooperative action or Tomb Raider for classic exploration. PS5 games bought outright are another option if continued subscription access does not suit your habits. Free PS5 games are a separate category again: a free-to-play download should not be described as a monthly entitlement. For any specific Game Catalog purchase decision, consult the current regional catalogue and its last-chance notices first. A short claim window rewards checking dates, but it does not oblige you to play everything immediately.