PlayStation Now has grown quite a bit since it's initial launch in 2014. Sony has made some much needed improvements in the last six months or so, helping the streaming service compete with Xbox Game Pass. Like other streaming services, new games are added to the service while other games are removed. However, this month came with a nice surprise for players of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds who weren't ready to see PUBG go: the game (originally announced to leave PS Now on March 3) will be extending its stay.
In addition to this good news, PS Now subscribers will gain access to eleven games including racing games, action-RPGs, AAA shooters and one of last year's most critically acclaimed titles.
Control
Last year's Game of the Year according to outlets like IGN, Game Informer and EGM, this action-adventure is now available to download and stream until August 31. Despite critical acclaim, many gamers didn't get to experience Control's impressive and unique physics-based combat and environmental effects, so its presence on PS Now will, hopefully, encourage more people to try out this technically impressive game.
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round
Fans of arcade-style fighting games should check out this 2015 title from Team Ninja, also known for making Ninja Gaiden, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order and the upcoming Nioh 2. The latest entry in the Dead or Alive series released last year, so players who are curious about the franchise (or turned off by Dead or Alive 6's more graphic violence, poorly received story mode and minimal online features) might want to check this one out first.
Nascar Heat 3
Fans of Nascar and racing games can now play this 2018 game with PS Now. Nascar Heat 3 adds the Xtreme Dirt Tour as a part of its expanded Career Mode. Plus, at-track stories that give live updates on the other drivers in your race and enhanced AI make for an even more life-like experience.
Nights of Azure and Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon
Both the 2015 action-RPG and its 2017 sequel are now on PS Now. The game follows Arnice, a half-demon woman tasked with protecting her friend, Lilysse, a newly-chosen Saint. Throughout the game, Arnice struggles with her humanity and her demonic side.
The sequel tells a separate story with a new cast of characters, though some characters from the first game appear or are referenced. Set some years after the original, in Bride of the New Moon, another half-demon girl, Aluche, must guard her friend, the priestess Liliana. While the games received mixed reviews from critics, fans of JRPGs and anime might want to give the Nights of Azure games a chance.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII and Warriors All-Stars
This 2016 installment in the long-running turn-based tactical strategy simulator has been added to PS Now. The game is a perfect choice for fans of the Civilization series or gamers interested in Chinese culture and history.
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms franchise actually inspired the Dynasty Warriors spin-off series, which has released crossover spin-off games of their own including Hyrule Warriors, One Piece: Pirate Warriors and Persona 5 Scramble. One of these games, Warriors All-Stars, also joins the PS Now library this month. This game is a crossover the includes various characters owned by Koei Tecmo from series like Dead or Alive, Toukiden: The Age of Demons, Nights of Azure and Ninja Gaiden.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Until August 31, PS Now subscribers will be able to play the final chapter of Lara Croft's origin trilogy. The game follows its iconic protagonist as she ventures through the jungles of the Americas trying to stop the Mayan Apocalypse. Shadow of the Tomb Raider was critically acclaimed upon its release in 2018 for its graphics and Lara Croft's characterization. With its stunning graphics, challenging puzzles and new stealth mechanics, this game has something for everyone.
Toukiden 2 and Toukiden Kiwami
PS Now has even more options for fans of action-RPGs. Toukiden 2 is a 2016 game set in Feudal Japan, where players control a Slayer who has awakened after 10 years. The Slayers were trained to rid the world of supernatural threats and prevent the monster Oni from taking over the world.
Toukiden Kiwami is an enhanced edition of the first game, which originally released in 2014 for the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation Portable. Kiwami has twice the content of the original game, meaning there are more enemies, playable characters and story content for players to experience.
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
Finally, fans of first-person shooters can play access one of the best games of 2017 on PS Now. The game takes a very different path depending on a single choice made early on, so even fans who have already played through The New Colossus once should consider checking out this title again. For those who haven't played it yet, the game follows William "B.J." Blazkowicz as he fights to liberate America from the Nazi regime in this alternate history in which the German won World War II. Whether you're a Wolfenstein fan, waiting for DOOM Eternal or just interested in shooting Nazis, this game is a good option for you.