PlayStation Plus: August 2016 free games announced

In a post on the Official PlayStation Blog, the PlayStation Plus free games for August 2016 were announced.

Here is the full lineup :

Tricky Towers (PS4)

Tricky Towers is a physics-based puzzler that’s at its best when you’re competing against friends. With local and online multiplayer for two to four players, the game shines as you race to stack your tower while casting spells to disrupt your opponents. The gameplay is fast, fun, and addictive, as you’ll find yourself coming back for more. So gather your friends or join them online and enjoy the mayhem of Tricky Towers.

Rebel Galaxy (PS4)

Rebel Galaxy is a swashbuckling space adventure, with action-packed combat, exploration, discovery, trade, and “negotiation” with the outlandish denizens at the edge of the known universe.  As the commander of an immensely powerful star destroyer, you’ll battle pirates, explore anomalies, befriend aliens, scavenge battle wreckage, mine asteroids, and discover artifacts.

Choose your path as a roguish do-gooder, crafty space-trader or power-hungry privateer – or maybe a little of each! Buy larger and more powerful craft with your hard-earned credits, and outfit them with a variety of wicked weapons and defenses. Set in a galaxy of fantastic sights, and secrets to be found, Rebel Galaxy is above all a space epic of adventure, exploration, and combat.  The edge of the universe is a pretty dangerous place, so watch your back.

Yakuza 5 (PS3)

The legendary dragon returns to the criminal underworld of Yakuza. Kazuma Kiryu, once known as the Dragon of Dojima, was living a quiet life as a taxi driver in Hakata after severing all his ties with the underworld. However, at the dawn of the bloody war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance, Kazuma is forced to accept his inescapable fate and returns to a life filled with crime and violence to protect his loved ones.

Yakuza 5 continues the epic story of Kazuma Kiryu and 4 other protagonists, Haruka Sawamura, Taiga Saejima, Tatsuo Shinada and Shun Akiyama. The saga plays out across 5 major Japanese cities – Tokyo, Osaka, Hakata, Nagoya and Sapporo. Yakuza 5 also features “Another Drama” which is a series of extensive sub-plots that focus on each protagonist. The battle system and customization system have been enhanced from Yakuza 4 and various mini-games are available in the well-known locales from the series including infamous night clubs and popular CLUB SEGA locations.

Retro/Grade (PS3)

Play a classic Shoot ‘Em Up… in reverse! Navigate deadly enemy waves and un-fire attacks in Retro/Grade, a mind-bending rhythm game by 24 Caret Games. Pick up a DUALSHOCK®3 wireless controller or a PlayStation®3 guitar controller and help Rick Rocket restore the continuity of space-time, before a temporal anomaly rips the universe a new time-hole!

Patapon 3 (Vita)

The critically-acclaimed rhythm-based adventure game is now available offering new quests, increased customization and all-new online battles. Play the campaign with your friends, go head-to-head, or take on a clan of other Patapon gamers with network play for up to eight people. You can also customize your tribe with different weapons and abilities before you head into battle in the greatest portable adventure of rhythm and war.

Ultratron (Vita, PS3, PS4)

Experience the addictive gameplay of old-school arcade favorites, updated for the 21st century, with unique upgrades, player responsive difficulty, and a subtle system of tactics combined with classic gameplay. Ultratron is a twin-stick arena shooter inspired by some of the best classics arcade gaming has to offer, updated and improved for the 21st century.The last human in the universe has been slain by evil killer robots.

As the last remaining humanoid battle droid, you’ll be fighting through over 40 arcade levels to finally take on the four giant boss ‘bots of the apocalypse. An arcade game on steroids, Ultratron combines risk-reward arena gameplay with an upgrade system, responsive difficulty, pet drones, special weapon abilities, and online leaderboards. (Two player drop-in co-op mode on the PS3™ system and PS4™ system). This Cross-Buy product entitles you to download the PS3™ system, PS4™ system and ‘PS Vita’ system versions.

The descriptions and links above are taken directly from the Official PlayStation Store website.

I don’t know much about the PS4 games available in August but I am indeed curious to see what they are about. I’m very happy with next months PS3 games and to see Yakuza 5 on the list! With the upcoming Yakuza 0 and Yakuza 6, it’s a happy surprise to be able to play the most recent of the already released games in the franchise in North America.

Retro/Grade, a twin-stick shooter that can be played with a guitar controller?! OK, being a huge Rock Band fan, I NEED to try this.

I never had the chance to own any Patapon game, so playing the third one will be a indeed be a pleasure.

I’ve never heard of Ultratron, so experiencing a new indie game will be pleasant, mainly because I’m a fan of twin-stick shooter games.

These are just a few of my thoughts on the free PlayStation Plus games for August but what do you think? Are you happy with the titles available? Let us know what you think in the comments and the RGM forums.