I’m not sure when this trend started, but for some time now, February has been the first release-heavy month of the new year. We’ve got some heavy hitters dropping in Feb, with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Avowed, and Civilization VII being just three among them. So, maybe that’s why this month’s PlayStation Plus update is…a little light.
As detailed on the PlayStation Blog, February’s PlayStation Plus Essentials games are Payday 3, High of Life, and Pac-Man World Re-Pac. These three games will be available for download on February 4.
Our very own Zach Jackson has thrown dozens upon dozens of hours into Payday 2, masking up and robbing banks with mates, memorising layouts and methodically planning the perfect heist. So, when Payday 3 was released in September of 2023, the rest of the WellPlayed crew had high hopes that A) his skills would hold up over time and B) that Payday 3 would be an improvement on the previous game. First of all, Zach’s skills are….dated, but so are Payday 3’s gunplay and progression, so the heat is off him somewhat. I haven’t returned to Payday 3 since launch, so I hope that the game has evolved since then, but my first impressions are on par with our review that slapped a big six on the experience.
To cut straight to it, whether or not you enjoy High on Life will largely depend on your love for Justin Roiland’s sense of humour. If you’re a fan of Rick and Morty, you’ll get a kick out of the random rambling characters and ridiculous scenarios you’ll face across the alien worlds. Outside of the crass humour, High on Life is a relatively competent first-person shooter that puts sentient guns in your hand, replacing those boring pistols and assault rifles you’re used to. The story and premise are as insane as expected, but the gameplay is a bit bland, so it won’t be for everyone. It certainly wasn’t our cup of tea, as we gave it a three in our review, but mileage will definitely vary.
Originally released on the PS1 back in 1999 and then remade in 2004, Pac-Man World is a 3D platformer that sees the insatiable yellow puck make his way to Ghost Island to, and I’m pulling from the game’s official call to action here, “Rescue the Pac-Fam.” Genuinely, Pac-Man World is far more endearing than it has any right to be, with puzzles, platforming and old-school maze-based challenges to complete across the island. If you have nostalgia for the original, you’ll have a blast; if you don’t, it might be worth jumping in anyway.
If you haven’t downloaded Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, you have until February 3 to do so. As always, please remember that you can add these games to your library and download them later if you don’t have any precious space on your hard drive.
Which game will you be downloading first? What games would you like to see in March? Let us know in the comments or on our social media.

Adam's undying love for all things PlayStation can only be rivalled by his obsession with vacuuming. Whether it's a Dyson or a DualShock in hand you can guarantee he has a passion for it. PSN: TheVacuumVandal XBL: VacuumVandal Steam: TheVacuumVandal
