PlayStation Plus Subscribers have until July 7th to download and claim one of the Essential tier's best games in no time. The essential tier of PS Plus games is sometimes referred to as the free game tier, simply because it does not have access to the PS Plus Extra and Premium directories, and because the tier is “required” to play online multiplayer games on PS Plus.
As of this writing, the next list of PS Plus free games (for July to August) has yet to be revealed, but PlayStation is expected to do so on July 1st. However, PS Plus follows a monthly pattern, so fans know that the new free games should be added on Tuesday, July 7, when the other games rotate out. And to prevent one of those classic “don't forget to claim it before it rotates out” moments for Essential users, it's worth pointing out that time is running out before June's current PS Plus free games can be claimed.
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PS Plus subscribers can't miss Grounded
On July 7, the new, as-yet-unannounced PS Plus free games will roll in, but until then, PS Plus users can still downloadd Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2and Warhammer 40K: Darktide. Darktide is a co-op first-person shooter that is essentially Left 4 Dead in Warhammer 40K universe, while Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a platformer similar to Super Smash Bros. but with a Nickelodeon focus. And while both games sell in their own right, there is a reason for the survival game Based is the headline game. It is available to both PS4 and PS5 subscribers.
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Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, Groundd takes a simple idea – shrinking players down to the size of an ant – and turns it into a full-on survival crafting game set in a huge backyard world. Players gather resources, craft equipment, build bases, and fight oversized insects while slowly unraveling the mystery behind their miniature situation. It's the “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” video game. Despite its “small size”, it quickly established itself as one of the greats in the survival genre. Since its original launch, Grounded has built a strong reputation through consistent updates. The game added new regions, enemies, equipment, and systems over time, steadily expanding into a much larger survival experience than it began as. By the time it reached PlayStation and PS Plus, it was already a fully mature version of Obsidian's vision, which is part of why its inclusion on the service stands out compared to more typical monthly rotations.
In addition, there is an additional benefit. Grounded 2 is heading to PS5 in Early Access on August 11th, so now is a smart time for all PlayStation users to jump into the original, especially while it's still part of PS Plus Essential. The first game lays the full foundation of Obsidian's survival formula (shrink down, survive enemies, and build up gear and bases in co-op), giving players the core systems that the sequel clearly expands on. Getting it now means players can experience the full point of origin sooner Grounded 2 will, and before then continuing to develop these ideas further on PS5.
The important detail for PS Plus subscribers is that Based no need to download or play before July 7th – only claimed. As long as it is added to a library before the deadline, it remains available under an active PS Plus Essential subscription. After that date, however, it will no longer be available to claim, and new users will have to purchase it separately if they miss the window.
With the PS Plus Essential lineup set to rotate on July 7, Based sits in that awkward but familiar position of being one of the best games on the list and one of the easiest to forget to redeem.
