Every month, PlayStation Plus members get a bunch of new games to enjoy, and April was no exception. Subscribers to all three PS Plus tiers get three Monthly Games* near the beginning of the month, and then new additions for the Game Catalogue (Extra and Deluxe) and Classics Catalogue (Deluxe only) land a couple of weeks later.
That’s a lot of new stuff to play! To help you sort the “Yeahs!” from the “Yeah… nahs”, we’re rounding up our picks of the best PlayStation Plus additions each month.
A little belatedly (sorry!), here are our highlights from the April update for PlayStation Plus.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau
PS5 | Extra, Deluxe
I know a lot of folks are getting sick of metroidvanias. But even if that’s you, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is worth a look, because while it doesn’t try to reinvent the exploration platformer wheel, the way it ties genre-staple mechanics into its storytelling is impressive.
Tales of Kenzera is both a very personal tale of loss and an homage to the cultures and oral folkloric traditions of the Bantu peoples. A young shaman’s quest to resurrect his departed father is a journey in learning to cope with grief, the Metroid-inspired, maze-like map giving literal form to a process that’s never straightforward. The tales of Zau’s ancestors, handed down through the stories told by his elders, are what gives him the strength to find his way through—the tools that unlock new paths and ways of navigating the maze.
For the metroidvania fans who still can’t get enough, even in this time of plenty (guilty), Tales of Kenzera: Zau ticks all the right boxes. But it’s the story it tells and the way it unfolds that leaves a lasting impact.
– Matt
Dave the Diver
PS4, PS5 | Extra, Deluxe
Take one part subaquatic action adventure, one part fishing game, and one part restaurant management sim and you get Dave the Diver. By day, go spearfishing in Blue Hole—a mysterious underwater dungeon of sorts. By night, help run a sushi spot with a delectable menu made up of fish (and other things…) gathered on your dives. Turn your profits into better gear so you can dive deeper and find rarer, tastier kaimoana, and so it goes on.
That simple loop of hunting and hospitality would be enough to make a compelling game, but the brilliance of Dave the Diver is in how effectively it builds on that foundation. A light roguelike touch, layered progression systems, vibrant characters, story that’s both intriguing and delightfully absurd, and a big dose of humour all help turn a neat idea into a fantastic game.
– Matt
Raji: An Ancient Epic
PS4, PS5 | Extra, Deluxe
Raji: An Ancient Epic feels a bit like an indie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. It’s got a similar atmosphere and mythical theme, a similar blend of rhythmic combat and environmental puzzles, even a similar setting—after all, India and Persia share a long history and plenty of cultural influence on each other.
But more than that, it’s a fascinating window into Indian myths and folklore that aren’t nearly as well known as they should be. A clever narrative approach weaves ancient legends through a heartfelt story of one girl’s quest to rescue her kidnapped brother, as witnessed by a trio of Hindu gods. Energetic voice performances bring these tales vividly to life, and a beautiful rendition of ancient India begs to be explored.
– Matt
Construction Simulator
PS4, PS5 | Extra, Deluxe
My digger-obsessed child’s first video game wasn’t Super Mario or Minecraft, but Construction Simulator—so it has a bit of a special place in my heart. But even aside from that, it’s another entry in the ever-growing list of ” ‘mundane’ job simulators that are oddly relaxing”. Sometimes the best way to unwind with a game isn’t saving the world or shooting hordes of bad guys, but hopping behind the controls of an excavator, scooping some dirt, and helping fix a road or build a park.
And, like its other “job simulator” brethren, Construction Simulator unveils an enticing degree of depth once you start getting into its little details. A wide array of vehicles from licensed manufacturers like Caterpillar, Bobcat, and Palfinger provide a window into the fascinating intricacies of how these machines work. A well-constructed campaign mode provides a smooth introduction to the complexities of construction work, and a decent assortment of jobs leave plenty of scope to mess around. Playing this game, I can see why my kid is so enamoured with these machines!
– Matt
MediEvil (PS1 Classic)
PS4, PS5 | Deluxe
The 2019 remake of MediEvil (also on PlayStation Plus) got a lot of middling reviews, in part because of clunky controls and outdated elements of game design. The PS1 original also has clunky controls and things that feel outdated by modern standards, but they somehow feel much more manageable here. Some of that will be that this is more clearly a product of its time—every part of it looks and feels like a game from 1998, so it’s easier to accept the quirks of early 3D action games. Part of that is the rewind and save state features built into the PlayStation Classics emulation software.
But honestly? It most just feels like the pieces come together more cohesively than in the remake. It’s a game built within the constraints of decades-old tech and game design practice, and built to work within those constraints. That lends it a certain timelessness, and I’m a little surprised at how well it plays in 2024—speaking as someone who never played the original (no rose-tinted glasses here) and disliked the remake precisely because of how dated it felt.
– Matt
* Monthly Games need to be claimed within the one-month window they’re included in PlayStation Plus, after which they remain playable as long as you have an active subscription. The Game Catalogue and Classics Catalogue, on the other hand, are standard subscription libraries in that the games are there when they’re there and gone when they’re gone.
