Deep Rock Galactic and the Plus of PS Plus

Free games are almost always appreciated, but not always reliable. If you’re a PS Plus subscriber, there’ve probably been months where you’ve waited till the last minute to snag the month’s free games. If you’re like me, there are even months when the games have come and gone without a download at all. I’d advise you not to let this month be one of those times. More than being just a great time killer, one of this month’s offerings has really made me think about the value a free, pre-selected game can offer.

Deep Rock Galactic is the perfect game to pull the trigger on sooner than later if only to save it for the next time the co-op stars align. Assuming the role of one of four character types, squadding up with three other friends/strangers (or getting paired with a robot companion while soloing), and hitting the mines FPS-style is an experience of simple joys and great rewards. The controls are tight and responsive, the world and its dwarf leads have a ton of character and charm, and everything feels balanced for both functionality and fun.

More than just being a great game, which certainly would have been enough, it encapsulates what free PS Plus games need: a strong opening. It’s so easy to bounce off a free downloadable experience among a bevy of things you chose to pay for, especially if it’s something you haven’t ever heard of or had plans to play previously. Deep Rock Galactic does itself a great service by starting with a snappy 10-minute tutorial to wet your whistle just enough, without ever boring you or overloading you with comprehensive systems you’ll forget once the training wheels come off. You especially know a tutorial is good when its single-player experience gets you amped for what’s mainly billed as a co-op one.

After this, you’re immediately dropped into a freely explorable hub base that strikes a near-perfect balance between fun, functionality, and mysteriousness. Sure, there are a lot of systems to take in, but it just feels like being dropped into something obtuse and playful and wonderful all at once. Just like being a kid and checking out a new playground, you’ll pick up on how to have your version of fun before too long. You may walk up to a terminal to purchase some upgrades … or your wandering may lead to the hidden (and moveable) soccer ball and goals. You could end up browsing through outfit options or finding a way to turn the gravity off. Altogether, it’s the perfect foundation on which to build a sense of flexible fun and cohesive momentum.

PS Plus’ monthly games show that not every service needs to be expansive as something like Xbox’s Game Pass (or even the lesser PS Now). Smaller, more bite-sized curations can carry a ton of weight. Yes, you can say what you will of the lack of agency or choice. Sometimes you’re just not going to be interested in what’s being offered or you may even unfortunately already own the game(s) being showcased that month.

On the plus side, taking away options and having a set experience can sometimes be exactly what’s needed to really dig in and embody something. It’s the difference between spanning the near-infinite selections of streaming services vs. being left to roam the confines of a brick-and-mortar Blockbuster. As in the case of receiving something the quality of Deep Rock Galactic, sometimes, less is truly more.