PS Plus to get superb PS5 RPG with 87% on Metacritic

The latest batch of games coming to the PlayStation Plus game catalogue includes a Japanese action RPG that scored very highly when it was originally reviewed.

Bandai Namco's Tales of Arise will be available from 20 February 2024 to PS Plus Extra and Premium members, and it currently scores an impressive 87% on Metacritic. It's joined by several excellent AAA titles too, with Assassin's Creed Valhalla also being added to the service, plus Need for Speed Unbound and The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition.

The latter two will be for PlayStation 5 owners only, while the others can also be download by members still on PS4. But it is Tales of Arise that steals the show, as it combines classic JRPG story progression with a neat combat engine.

It's remarkably the 17th game in the Tales series, which stretches back to 1995's Tales of Phantasia, originally released for the PSOne. In fact, a couple of other former entries will also be available from 20 February – Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia – albeit to PS Plus Premium subscribers exclusively.

Arise ups the ante when it comes to gameplay though, with the series' battle engine tweaked for a more modern feel. And while there's no multiplayer support this time around, there's great interaction between different characters during fights that makes it feel like your party is more alive.

Also being added to the catalogue available to PS Plus Extra and Premium members are Lego Worlds, Lego Jurassic World, Roguebook, Rogue Lords, and Tales of Zestria (yet another in the Tales series).

How much is PS Plus and what do you get?

PS Plus membership is split into three tiers, with Essential, Extra and Premium, but only the latter two gives you access to the ever changing library of games to download or stream.

PS Plus Extra costs £10.99 / $14.99 a month and includes the same benefits as Essential membership (online play, discounts and a handful of free games), but also you to download and play games from the main library of 300+ titles.

PS Plus Premium is more expensive, at £13.49 / $17.99 a month, but adds cloud streaming and an extended library of classic and retro games.