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The 15 Best PlayStation Now Subscription Games You Should Play Right Now

Sony launches a new Netflix-style subscription service today that lets gamers play dozens of PlayStation 3 games.

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We're getting closer to the day when we'll finally kiss gaming consoles goodbye.

Sony's PlayStation Now service has been in beta since last year, giving gamers a way to rent titles from a library of hundreds of PlayStation 3 games. Sounds like a good deal, right? Well, not exactly. While we might remember the old Blockbuster way of renting games (shelling out a couple of dollars to play a title for a few days), Sony's structure is a bit different. A typical PlayStation Now game can run anywhere between $2.99 for four hours, $5.99 for seven days, $7.99 for 30 days, or $14.99 for 90 days—or sometimes even higher. For four hours you're essentially paying for a demo, and if you're going to spend $14.99 for a rental, shelling out $10 to $15 more will straight-up buy you the game in most cases.

Today, however, the company is launching a Netflix-style PlayStation Now subscription service that just might be worth the money. For $19.99 a month, users can stream more than 100 PS3 games for as long as they want, whenever they want, on many devices, from tablets, phones, smart TVs, and other Sony consoles. The shift from consoles to cloud-based gaming is taking its largest step forward yet.

Here are The 15 Best PlayStation Now Subscription Games available today. Happy gaming!

Ico

Ico was one of the first titles released for PlayStation 2, and it was remade in HD for the PlayStation 3. The game centers on two characters: Ico, who was born with horns, and Yorda, the daughter of the queen who rules the castle where they live.

The puzzle-platformer uses minimal dialogue, has beautiful dreamlike graphics, and was nominated for several "Game of the Year" awards. Director Guillermo del Toro said both Ico and its spiritual successor, Shadow of the Colossus, are "masterpieces" and influence his directing. You won't have to spend too long guiding Yorda from the castle: The game takes around four hours to beat. Perfect for a lazy Sunday.

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Shadow of the Colossus

Speaking of which, Shadow of the Colossus follows a man named Wander who travels the land on horseback looking for colossi (the giant creatures you see above) to slay, all in the name of saving a girl named Mono. There are no other towns or people to talk to, and the only enemies are the colossi. The challenge comes from finding the weakness of each colossi, and then exploiting it.

Shadow of the Colossus, made by the same team behind Ico, has already won numerous awards for its design and quality.

God of War: Ascension

Ascension takes place a decade before the first God of War game. Kratos was tricked by Ares, the God of War, into killing his own wife and child. He then breaks the blood oath he has to Ares and is sent off to be punished. He eventually escapes away from his captors and is set on a quest to seek redemption and clarity in avenging his family.

It's a beautifully designed game that comes with the same fast-paced combat you'd expect from the God of War series.

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Nights Into Dreams

The Sega CD classic was remade in HD for the PlayStation 3. Nights Into Dreams places you in control of two characters, Claris and Elliot, and their colorful adventures in Nightopia and Nightmare. Both characters are able to merge with Nights (above) who flies. The game is split into seven levels, three of which users control Claris, and three where they control Elliot. Both characters share the final level.

Nights Into Dreams was considered one of the most innovative games ever when it was originally released in 1996.

Final Fantasy XIII

Final Fantasy XIII is filled with a beautiful musical score, awesome characters, and fast-paced action. The game takes place in the city-world of Cocoon, where the government is killing off citizens who have been in contact with another world called Pulse. Lightning, an ex-soldier, launches a mission to save her sister, who's now the servant of a god-like being from this world.

While XIII might not top its predecessor, it has earned positive reviews for its battle system and graphics.

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Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

This action-adventure title puts you in the role of Nathan Drake, the supposed descendent of Sir Francis Drake, who's seeking the treasure of El Dorado, along with journalist Elena Fisher and Victor Sullivan. The game earned great reviews for its stunning graphics, gameplay, and suspense, and can be considered a mix of the Tomb Raider and Prince of Persia franchises.

Resident Evil 5 Gold

Resident Evil 5's Gold edition offers everything from the original game, along with new playable episodes. It also introduces Versus, a competitive multiplayer mode that features two online game types: Slayers, where players earn points by killing Manjini (the infected), and Survivors, where players kill each other while trying to avoid Manjini.

While Resident Evil 5 strays away from the horror style of the original titles, it'll still keep you on your toes.

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Batman Arkham City

In this Caped Crusader game, players are thrown into Arkham City, the maximum security center for all of Gotham City's most heinous criminals. This is one of the best action-adventure games ever made, one with a variety of missions and side quests and a strong story that's worthy of one of comics' greatest superheroes. Simply put, it's a classic.

Killzone 3

Killzone 3 is considered one of the Playstation 3's best shooters. The visuals and gameplay are impressive, but critics panned the game for its lackluster voice acting, which became distracting during what were supposed to be emotional set-pieces. Although it doesn't pack the same punch as Killzone 2Killzone 3 is more than enough to satisfy your sci-fi gaming needs.

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Saints Row IV

This isn't a perfect game—it's even cheesy at times. But Saints Row IV isn't meant to be some emotional story-driven drama. The Third Street Saints are now the leaders of the world and have to save humanity from an alien invasion. This is one of those titles you'll want to pick up when you're looking for a good time.

Red Faction: Guerrilla

Set on Mars, Red Faction: Guerrilla takes place a half-century after the original game. One of its best features is that players can destroy much of the planet (as horrible as that might sound). There are a ton of mission that place you against the Earth Defense Force, the oppressive regime that you're trying to take down as a part of the new Red Faction movement. The multiplayer modes are one of the Red Faction: Guerrilla's centerpieces.

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Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time

This follow-up to Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction sees the duo trying to reunite with each other after Clank is captured by the evil Dr. Nefarious. The space adventure is one of the best in the Ratchet and Clank series, with challenging puzzles, vivid graphics, and crazy weapons, and the game finally answers some of the questions (like the characters' origins) that gamers have been curious about.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 follows ninja Ryu Hayabusa as he hunts down the Demon Statue, which was stolen from the Hayabusa Village. This edition was famously toned down from other versions to minimize blood and gore, but it's still a top-notch title, especially for newcomers. (The gameplay may start to feel repetitive to gamers who've followed the series.)

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The Last of Us

Considered one of the greatest titles of the last generation, The Last of Us is a narrative-driven game. The world has been brought to its knees by an infection that turns humans into cannibals, and only scattered packs on survivors and those in quarantine zones are left.

You play as Joel, who's tasked with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie outside of one of the quarantine zones, which, for an experienced smuggler should be an easy task, but quickly turns awry. Instead of blasting your way to freedom, you'll be required to use stealth to advance through the levels, much like in Metal Gear Solid.

BioShock Infinite

A true masterpiece, BioShock Infinite combines great storytelling and fun combat. You play as former agent Booker DeWitt, who must save a woman named Elizabeth who's in a lost city in the sky. If you don't end up subscribing to PlayStation Now, do yourself a favor and purchase this one.

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The Full List:


  • Alpha Protocol


  • Anomaly Warzone Earth


  • Batman Arkham City


  • Ben 10 Omniverse


  • Ben 10 Omniverse 2


  • BioShock Infinite


  • BIT.TRIP Presents… Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien


  • BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger


  • BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma


  • BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend


  • Bound by Flame


  • Chime Super Deluxe


  • Contrast


  • Crazy Taxi


  • Critter Crunch


  • Cuboid Ultimate Bundle


  • Darksiders


  • Darksiders 2


  • de Blob 2


  • Dead Island/em>


  • Dead Island Riptide


  • Dead or Alive 5


  • Dirt 3


  • Dirt Showdown


  • Dynasty Warriors 7


  • Earth Defense Force 2025


  • echochrome


  • El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron


  • Enslaved: Odyseey to the West


  • F1 2013


  • Final Fantasy XIII


  • God of War: Ascension


  • Grid 2


  • Grid Autosport


  • Guacamelee!


  • Hakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi


  • Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational


  • Ico


  • inFamous


  • Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days


  • Killzone 3


  • LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes


  • LocoRoco Cocoreccho!


  • Lumines Supernova


  • Madagascar 3: The Video Game


  • Metal Slug


  • Metal Slug 2


  • MotorStorm Apocalypse


  • MX vs ATV: Reflex


  • Nascar 14


  • NBA 2K14


  • Nights Into Dreams


  • Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2


  • Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising


  • Overlord: Raising Hell


  • Overlord 2


  • Pac-Man Championship Edition DX


  • Papo & Yo


  • Piyotama


  • Planet Minigolf


  • Port Royale 3: Gold


  • Pure Chess


  • Rainbow Moon


  • Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time


  • Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault


  • Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus


  • Record of Agarest War


  • Red Faction: Guerilla


  • Renegade Ops


  • Resident Evil 5 Gold


  • Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game


  • Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken


  • Saints Row 2


  • Saints Row The Third: The Full Package


  • Saints Row IV


  • Shadow of the Colossus


  • Shatter


  • Siren: Blood Curse Episodes 1 – 12


  • Skullgirls Encore


  • Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time


  • Sniper Elite V2


  • Soldner – X: Final Prototype


  • Sonic CD


  • Sonic Generations


  • Sonic the Hedgehog: Episode 1


  • Sonic the Hedgehog: Episode 2


  • Spelunky


  • Super Street Fighter IV


  • Tales From Space: About a Blob


  • The King of Fighters XIII


  • The Last of Us


  • The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief


  • The Sly Collection


  • The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season


  • Tokyo Jungle


  • Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune


  • Vessel


  • Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown


  • Warmhammer 40,000: Space Marine


  • Warhawk


  • XCOM: Enemy Within


  • Zen Pinball 2: Zen Pinball Classics


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