Sony really went for it. Honestly, looking back at the PlayStation Plus games August 2024 lineup, it’s clear they weren't just filler titles. We’ve all seen those months where the Essential tier feels like a clearance bin of sports titles or "meh" simulators, but August was different. It hit that sweet spot between a massive AAA blockbuster, a cult-classic horror hit, and one of the best indie Metroidvanias ever made.
You probably remember the headliner. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is basically the gold standard for what a modern LEGO game should be. It didn't just retell the stories; it fundamentally changed how we play these things. The camera moved behind the shoulder, the combat got some actual depth, and the scale of the galaxy was just… huge.
But here’s the thing. A lot of people missed the real gems buried in the mid-month updates for Extra and Premium. If you’re just looking at the Essential games, you're only seeing a third of the picture.
The Heavy Hitters: PlayStation Plus Games August 2024 (Essential Tier)
Let’s talk about that initial drop. On August 6, 2024, Sony released three games that basically covered every demographic possible.
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (PS4, PS5): It’s massive. It covers all nine films. If you haven't played it, you’ve probably heard it’s "just for kids," but that’s a total lie. The humor is genuinely sharp, and hunting for Kyber Bricks across Coruscant or Tatooine is the ultimate "listen to a podcast and chill" experience.
- Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (PS4, PS5): This was the controversial one. FNaF is a love-it-or-hate-it franchise. Security Breach moved away from the "sit in a chair and check cameras" vibe into a full-on first-person survival horror game inside a giant neon mall. It was buggy at launch, sure, but by the time it hit PS Plus, most of that was ironed out.
- Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (PS4): This is the one you shouldn't have skipped. It’s a dark fantasy 2D action RPG. Think Hollow Knight but with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and a mechanic where you summon the spirits of defeated knights to fight for you. It’s bleak, it’s hard, and it’s gorgeous.
Most people focused on the Star Wars of it all, but Ender Lilies was the real MVP for the hardcore crowd. It’s the kind of game that usually sits on your wishlist for three years until a subscription service finally pushes you to hit "download."
✨ Don't miss: GameStop in Lancaster Ohio: Why This Location Actually Matters Right Now
Why the Extra and Premium Additions Changed the Game
The mid-month update on August 20 was where things got weirdly intense. Sony added a slate of games to the Extra and Premium catalogs that made the monthly sub feel worth it.
We got The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Yeah, the game everyone already owns. But having it in the catalog meant a whole new wave of PS5 owners could finally experience the 4K/60fps update without digging for a disc. Then there was Cult of the Lamb. That game is basically "Animal Crossing if you started a demonic cult," and it’s dangerously addictive.
But for the older gamers—the ones who remember the PS2 glory days—the real shocker was the TimeSplitters trilogy. Seeing TimeSplitters, TimeSplitters 2, and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect pop up in the Premium Classics catalog was a nostalgia nuke. These games were the kings of couch co-op shooters before Halo and Call of Duty took over the world.
The Full List of What Arrived in August
If you were trying to keep track of the sheer volume of PlayStation Plus games August 2024 brought to the table, it looked basically like this:
Extra Tier Additions:
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4, PS5)
- Wild Hearts (PS5) - EA’s take on Monster Hunter, which is actually surprisingly good.
- Cult of the Lamb (PS4, PS5)
- Ride 5 (PS5)
- Watch Dogs 2 (PS4)
- Sword Art Online: Last Recollection, Alicization Lycoris, Fatal Bullet, and Hollow Realization. Basically, a mountain of SAO content.
- Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker (PS4)
Premium (Classics & VR):
- Vacation Simulator (PS VR2)
- TimeSplitters (PS4, PS5)
- TimeSplitters 2 (PS4, PS5)
- TimeSplitters: Future Perfect (PS4, PS5)
- Sword Art Online: Lost Song (PS4)
What People Got Wrong About This Month
There was this weird narrative online that August was a "weak" month because Security Breach is an indie horror game and LEGO Star Wars is "old."
That’s a narrow way to look at it.
August 2024 was actually one of the most balanced months in recent memory. You had a AAA titan (The Witcher 3), a family-friendly juggernaut (LEGO Star Wars), a viral indie hit (Cult of the Lamb), and a legitimate cult-classic FPS series (TimeSplitters).
The real value wasn't in any single game, but in the variety. If you’re a parent, the kids are set with LEGO and FNaF. If you’re a Metroidvania nerd, Ender Lilies is a 20-hour masterclass. If you want to lose 100 hours of your life to a story, Geralt is right there waiting for you.
💡 You might also like: Why Wii Wii U Games Still Hold the Best Secrets in Gaming
How to Handle These Games Now
Since we’re past August, you can’t "claim" the Essential games anymore if you missed them. That’s the brutal reality of the Essential tier—once that window closes, they're gone unless you buy them.
However, the Extra and Premium games like The Witcher 3 and Cult of the Lamb usually stay in the Game Catalog for several months, sometimes even a year or more. If you have an active Extra or Premium sub, you can still dive into these right now.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the "Last Chance to Play" section: Games leave the Extra/Premium catalog every month. Always prioritize the games you want to play before they rotate out.
- Download Ender Lilies if you have it: If you claimed it in August but never played it, go back. It’s one of those games that starts slow but becomes incredible once you unlock the first few "spirits."
- Don't sleep on Wild Hearts: If you like Monster Hunter but find it too slow, Wild Hearts’ building mechanics (Karakuri) make the combat feel way faster and more creative.
- Nostalgia trip: If you have Premium, load up TimeSplitters 2 and head to the "Siberia" level. It still feels better than half the shooters coming out today.
The PlayStation Plus games August 2024 lineup was a rare moment where Sony seemed to understand that "value" means something different to everyone. Whether you wanted a spooky night in a pizza parlor or a galactic adventure in blocks, the month delivered. Stay updated on the current month's rotation to ensure you don't miss the next big drop, as the Essential games must be added to your library manually before the first Tuesday of the following month.