4 highlights from August's PlayStation Plus catalog update

Sony's August 2026 update for the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Classics Catalog is live. The monthly refresh brings a mix of massive modern RPGs, indie darlings, and a couple of deep cuts from the PS1 and PS2 eras. Sony's tiered subscription model has settled into a predictable rhythm since its 2022 revamp. The Essential tier gives you a few games to keep, and the Extra and Premium tiers act as a rotating library.

This month's drop leans heavily into medieval combat and auto-shooting roguelites. The retro additions are the real draw this time around. Still, the modern headliners are undeniably heavy hitters. The subscription service continues to be a great way to try games you might have missed at launch. Here are the four games PlayStation highlighted today.

4. Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire

The 2001 PlayStation adaptation of the animated film is a standard licensed action-platformer. Eurocom developed the game during a time when every major theatrical release received a mandatory console tie-in. You play as Milo Thatch and several other members of the expedition crew. The game asks you to drive, jump, and puzzle your way through 14 missions, and it closely follows the plot of the movie.

It is not exactly a lost masterpiece of the 32-bit era. However, it is a solid piece of nostalgia for anyone who grew up with the film. The Classics Catalog version includes the usual modern quality-of-life upgrades like up-rendering, rewind, and quick save states. These tools make the clunkier platforming sections much easier to digest today. It is exactly the kind of mid-tier licensed game that makes the Premium tier interesting.

3. Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams

Capcom's fourth main Onimusha game shifted the series away from pre-rendered backgrounds and into a fully 3D camera system. Released late in the PlayStation 2 lifecycle in 2006, it is a combo-heavy hack-and-slash. You can swap characters on the fly to utilize different weapons and abilities.

The combat here still holds up well. The game also includes a massive amount of content, spanning two discs in its original physical release. It is a much more action-oriented experience than the survival horror roots of the first game. The story follows Soki, a warrior with the power of the Black Oni, as he fights against Hideyoshi Toyotomi's demonic army. Premium subscribers can now play it with improved resolution and save states.

2. Vampire Survivors

Luca Galante's breakout hit defined the reverse bullet hell genre. You move a little pixel character around a field. The game automatically fires weapons at thousands of approaching monsters. It sounds simple, but the progression loop is incredibly dense. You constantly unlock new characters, weapons, and passive items that combine into screen-clearing attacks.

The game won a BAFTA for Best Game after its full release in 2022. It is cheap to buy outright, but having it in the Extra tier makes it dangerously easy to lose an entire weekend. The PlayStation version includes all the base game content that made it a viral sensation. It is the perfect palate cleanser between longer, story-heavy games.

1. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Warhorse Studios released this massive historical RPG early last year. It continues the story of Henry of Skalitz in 15th-century Bohemia. The game leans hard into simulation and realism. You have to manage your hunger, sleep, and the condition of your equipment. The first-person melee combat requires precise timing and directional strikes.

It is not a game you can rush through. The sequel expands on everything the 2018 original built, offering a massive open world filled with political intrigue and brutal civil war. The environments are stunning, and the attention to historical detail is unmatched in the genre. If you have the patience for its deliberate pacing and complex swordplay, it is a massive addition to the subscription service.

The update is live now for active subscribers. The modern games require the Extra tier. The PS1 and PS2 titles are locked behind Premium. Sony usually rotates games out of the Extra catalog after a year or so, so you have plenty of time to check these out. The Classics Catalog games tend to stick around permanently once they are added.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is available on Humble Bundle for $23.99 (60% off).

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