Tricky Towers, an all-new puzzle game from developer WeirdBeard, is the first freebie you’ll be getting on PlayStation 4. The Tetris-like competitive multiplayer game supports both local and online multiplayer and bears some resemblance to Super Famicon’s Tetris Battle Gaiden. PlayStation 4 owners will also get Rebel Galaxy, a space combat game that IGN praised for its combat system and “vast explorable galaxy.”
On PlayStation 3, subscribers will receive Yakuza 5. The open-world crime game was originally released in Japan nearly four years ago, but just saw a Western release in December. It should be the perfect appetizer for Yakuza 0, which will be hitting both North America and Europe in January. Neon spaceship shooter Retro/Grade will also be free on the system all month.
Vita owners will be getting another free PSP game this month: Patapon 3. The action-rhythm title was released in 2011 — shortly before the Vita’s launch — and received lukewarm reviews, with criticism directed at its repetition and difficulty. Ultratron, which will also be available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, is the Vita’s other free game in August and continues the month’s spaceship-heavy theme. Drawing clear inspiration from classic arcade shooters, the game’s aesthetic mixes retro visuals with crisp, quick gameplay.
While not the best month we’ve seen from PlayStation Plus, the service continues to offer a wide variety of games that fans might otherwise not take for a spin. Given the number of PSP games coming to the Vita recently, however, we have to wonder if Sony plans to offer more Vita-exclusive games through the program in the future.