PS5 Drops 2 New Free Game Experiences, No PS Plus Required

Steam Next Fest officially gets underway today, allowing PC users access to hundreds of free demos for upcoming titles.

They’re not the only ones who could unearth the next indie hit though.

While on a much lesser scale, PS5 users can also sample several indie delights, as two free game demos have landed on the PlayStation Store.

You don’t need a PlayStation Plus subscription to dive in. Simply head to the PlayStation Store and search the relevant titles.

A Tower Defence Game and A Narrative-Driven Adventure

Let’s begin with Starfall Defenders, a tower defence game from EntwicklerX.

Players will, quite obviously, defend their various towers against enemies, unlocking upgrades and power-ups as they progress.

They can also “improve their gameplay by placing mines, blocking walls and electric fields directly on the path, and taking control of a tower’s direction and target”.

“This player-controlled action is a unique feature within a defence game that allows players to directly hit their enemies,” the synopsis reads.

You’ll earn coins for defeating bosses and saving lives which you can use to purchase upgrades, plus you’ll unlock new maps as you work your way through the game.

There are eight upgradable towers: gun, laser, fireblaster, EMP, cannon, rocket, flak, and artillery.

The damage, fire rate, and range of each tower can be upgraded.

The demo already has a four-star rating on the PlayStation Store, so it’s off to a good start.

If you prefer adventure games, you may want to try out Virtual Ties Isekaijoucho Träumerei.

This one is fairing even better. An impressive 68% of players awarded it a perfect score of five out of five.

“After returning from Tokyo to the island where he once lived, Yu Kirishima, the protagonist, reunites with his childhood friend, Sekai Minase,” the synopsis begins.

“Sekai, who had once dreamed of becoming an idol, now seems to have lost her sparkle and is on the verge of giving up on that dream.

“Wanting to see her smile again, Yu makes a proposal—to debut as a virtual idol named “Isekaijoucho”, based on an illustration he drew himself.”

It plays pretty much like a visual novel, so it’s most definitely a game aimed at those who enjoy a good story.

These may be the most recent demos on the store, but there’s plenty else to choose from.

Under The Island’s demo recently arrived. That’s a delightful pixel-art RPG for fans of The Legend of Zelda or Stardew Valley.

I also have to highlight Mina The Hollower which is certain to appeal to the Hollow Knight fans amongst you.

I’ll finish by bringing up the fact that Planet of Lana II has a new demo out as well.

If you haven’t played the original Planet of Lana, I’d urge you to try out this Ghibli-esque adventure. It’s one of my favourite games of all-time.

It’s worth keeping an eye on the PlayStation Store’s demo selection as it’s constantly being updated, despite being overlooked.