Psychonauts 2, Stardew Valley, and Viewfinder headline a stacked month for PS Plus subscribers.
September is shaping up to be one of those months where PlayStation Plus Essential really feels like a no-brainer for anyone with a subscription. The list of games for the month has been officially revealed, and honestly, it’s hard not to call this one of the stronger news articles we’ve seen in a while. With the lineup of games that is on the menu, there’s something here for almost every type of player to feast on.
Let’s start with the headliner: Psychonauts 2. Yes, it’s still a Microsoft-developed title, but that doesn’t stop it from being an absolute gem for PlayStation owners. The game is a sequel nearly two decades in the making, and Double Fine managed to tick almost every box, especially with the humor and storytelling, while transforming the game into a modern 3D action-platformer.
It’s imaginative, it’s funny, and it’s weird in all the right ways—and if you somehow skipped it and don’t know what all the rave is about, now is the time to find out for yourself.
Moving on, the second big game doesn’t really need much of an introduction. Stardew Valley is, at this point, a cultural phenomenon. What started as a love letter to Harvest Moon evolved into a farming and life simulation that has quickly set the standard for what players should come to expect from a game in the sim genre.
The beauty of Stardew Valley isn’t just in planting crops and tending animals—it’s in the way the game keeps surprising you with new layers. Simply put, it is one of the best indie experiences out there.
For newcomers, it’s the type of game that can take up hours of your screen time without you ever even realizing. As for the Stardew Valley veterans, you already know the deal. Either way, it’s hard to argue that this isn’t a massive win for September’s lineup.
Now for the wildcard entry: Viewfinder. This one may not be as widely known as the other two, but it’s the David amongst the Goliaths in this lineup. At its core, it’s a puzzle game built around the clever use of an instant camera. So you snap photos, then hold those photos up in the world, and suddenly the objects in the picture become real, reshaping the space around you.
The idea is simple, but it is executed wonderfully. It’s all about bending perception and having a knack for solving puzzles. It’s one of those titles that flew under the radar for many people, but the PS Plus addition is exactly what a game like this could have asked for.
All three games will be available to download starting September 2, so make sure to mark your calendars, PS Plus subscribers. And if you’re still holding off on last month’s picks, don’t forget—Lies of P, DayZ, and My Hero One’s Justice 2 will be leaving the service on September 1. It’s worth grabbing those if you haven’t already.
What stands out about this selection is the variety. You’ve got a story-driven platformer, a farming sim that eats time like no tomorrow, and an experimental puzzle game. It’s the kind of mix that shows why the Essential tier, often overlooked in favor of the higher-priced plans, can still pack plenty of value.
