Honestly, the PS Plus free games November 2024 lineup felt like a social experiment Sony was running on us. One day you’re getting a high-octane racer that makes you feel like a kid again, and the next, you’re trying to figure out which of your friends is a literal supernatural murderer in a brand-new Death Note game. It was a weird time.
If you’ve been following the service for a while, you know that some months feel like a victory lap and others feel like Sony is just clearing out the back of the warehouse. November 2024 was somewhere in the middle—a mix of "wait, I already have this" and "what on earth is this new thing?"
Let's break down what actually happened with the titles and why some people were genuinely annoyed.
🔗 Read more: Wordle Today August 19: Why This Specific Word Is Stressing Everyone Out
The Essential Lineup: Toys, Ghosts, and "Anime Among Us"
The three games that hit the Essential tier on November 5 were Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and the day-one release of Death Note Killer Within.
On paper, that’s a solid variety.
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 is surprisingly deep. You aren't just pushing plastic cars around; you’re managing skill trees and jumping motorbikes over kitchen counters. It’s got that arcade snap that a lot of modern racers lack. If you have kids—or just a nostalgic soul—this was easily the highlight.
Then there’s Ghostwire: Tokyo. This was the controversial one.
Why? Because it had already been on the PS Plus Extra catalog. For a lot of subscribers, seeing it pop up as an "Essential" freebie felt like a double-dip. If you already played it back in 2023, this slot in the November lineup was basically a dead zone for you. But, for the folks who only pay for the basic tier, it was a huge win. Walking through a neon-soaked, deserted Tokyo while blasting spirits with finger-magic is an aesthetic if nothing else.
The Death Note Curveball
The real wildcard was Death Note Killer Within.
Nobody saw this coming. It launched day-and-date on PS Plus. Basically, it’s a social deduction game—think Among Us but with more "I am justice" monologues. You’re either Kira trying to write names in the book or L trying to figure out who the hell is killing everyone.
It uses these weird little pawn-like avatars that look like board game pieces. It's quirky. It's janky. And it’s surprisingly addictive if you have a group of ten people who actually use their mics. Without mics, though? It’s a mess.
PS Plus Extra and Premium: The Heavy Hitters Arrived Late
If the Essential games were the appetizer, the Extra and Premium additions on November 19 were the 16-ounce steak. Sony dropped some massive names here, including:
- Grand Theft Auto V (Yes, again, but it’s the PS5 version)
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human
- Like a Dragon: Ishin!
- Chivalry 2
- Digimon Survive
Adding Grand Theft Auto V is always a safe bet for Sony. Even though everyone and their grandmother owns three copies of this game, it still pulls numbers. But the real star for many was Dying Light 2. Parkouring through a zombie-infested city with the improved physics and updated "Good Night, Good Luck" mechanics made it a very "meaty" addition for the winter months.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! was another standout. It’s a spin-off of the Yakuza series set in the 1860s. Instead of neon lights and karaoke bars, you’ve got swords, revolvers, and a very intense story about the end of the samurai era. It’s dense. It’s long. It's exactly the kind of game you want in a subscription service because it saves you $60 on a 50-hour experience.
The Retro Goldmine in Premium
For the Premium subscribers, the Classics Catalog actually pulled some weight in November. We got Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Blood Omen 2.
With the remasters of Soul Reaver on the horizon at the time, getting to play the top-down original was a great history lesson. We also saw Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 join the service. These are Insomniac Games' shooters from the PS3 era that have been trapped on old hardware for way too long. Playing them via streaming isn't perfect, but it's better than not playing them at all.
What Most People Got Wrong About This Month
A lot of the "online discourse" focused on how Ghostwire: Tokyo was free on the Epic Games Store at the same time. People were screaming that Sony was giving away "free" games that were actually free elsewhere.
Context matters.
Most console players don't care what's happening on the Epic Games Store. If you play on a PS5 in your living room, a PC giveaway doesn't help you. The value of the ps plus free games november 2024 wasn't about exclusivity; it was about rounding out a library.
Also, a common misconception was that Death Note was just a cheap licensed game. While it isn't a AAA masterpiece, Bandai Namco actually put some thought into the roles. Playing as L and actually having to manage investigative resources feels very different from the tasks in Among Us.
How to Get the Most Out of These Titles Now
If you claimed these games back in November, you still have access to them as long as your subscription is active. Here is how I’d suggest approaching them if they’re sitting in your "To Play" pile:
- Don't sleep on Hot Wheels. Use the track editor. The community-made tracks are genuinely insane and feel like something out of a fever dream.
- Play Ghostwire with headphones. The sound design of the spirits (Visitors) whispering as you walk past alleyways is the best part of the game.
- Find a Discord for Death Note. Playing with randoms who don't talk makes the game pointless. It’s a "social" game—be social.
- Try Like a Dragon: Ishin! even if you hate RPGs. The combat is more like a brawler, and the "Trooper Card" system lets you summon literal lightning bolts.
The ps plus free games november 2024 didn't change the world, but they provided a weirdly specific vibe for that time of year. Whether you were racing toy cars or solving supernatural crimes, there was a lot to dig into if you looked past the initial "repeat" complaints.
To ensure you don't miss out on future value, make sure your "Auto-Renew" settings are where you want them, as Sony's price hikes since late 2023 mean you should be hunting for wallet top-up deals rather than paying full price through the console.
Check your library now to confirm Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 and Ghostwire: Tokyo are fully licensed to your account. If you added them during the November window, they should show a "purchased" status with a $0.00 value in your transaction history.