Key Takeaways

  • PS Plus Essential’s August 2026 lineup is Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition, Big Walk, and Signalis, all live now through August 31.
  • Big Walk launches day one on PS Plus, which almost never happens for a new release with a 93 on Metacritic.
  • All three are worth claiming even if you only end up playing one of them seriously.

Jump to:

This Month’s Lineup

PlayStation dropped its August 2026 PS Plus Essential games today, and it’s one of the stronger months I’ve seen in a while. You’re getting Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition, Big Walk, and Signalis, all claimable now through August 31. Sony confirmed the lineup on the PlayStation Blog last week, and I like the mix here. You’ve got an open-world action game, a cooperative indie, and a horror game, so there’s something for basically every mood.

I already covered July’s PS Plus drop with Avatar and Rise of the Ronin, and this month keeps that momentum going. Sony’s clearly trying to win back some goodwill after a few quieter months.

Big Walk Is the Real Headline

Big Walk is the one I’m most excited about. It’s from House House, the same studio behind Untitled Goose Game, and it’s a cooperative adventure built entirely around communication with your friends. It launched today as both a retail release and a free PS Plus claim on the same day, which almost never happens. New games usually sit for a year before they hit the service.

It’s sitting at a 93 on Metacritic right now, and GameSpot called it one of the best co-op games of the year. If you’ve got a regular squad you play with, this is the one to grab first.

Big Walk’s release date trailer, right as it drops into PS Plus.

Since Big Walk leans on co-op, this is also a good excuse if you need a backup controller for whoever’s crashing on your couch this weekend. The DualSense in Midnight Black is the one I’d grab, it matches basically every PS5 setup.

Dying Light 2 and Signalis

Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition is the bigger, more familiar name here. If you skipped it at launch, this is the version to play. It bundles in the post-launch content and runs on both PS5 and PS4, and the parkour combat still feels great years later.

Signalis is the one people sleep on. It’s a retro-styled survival horror game that leans hard into the PS1-era aesthetic, and it’s genuinely unsettling in a way most modern horror games don’t bother trying anymore. PS4 only, but don’t skip it just because it’s not flashy.

Should You Actually Claim These

Yes, and don’t wait. All three are free through August 31, and once they roll off the service you’re paying full price like everyone else. I’d start with Big Walk if you’ve got people to play with, then bounce to Signalis if you want something quieter and creepier. Dying Light 2 is the easy pickup for whenever you’ve got a long weekend to burn.

Sony’s also tossing in a free MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls PS Plus Pack starting August 6, so keep an eye on the store for that too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the PS Plus free games for August 2026?

Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition, Big Walk, and Signalis, all available to PS Plus Essential members from August 4 through August 31.

When can I claim the PS Plus August 2026 games?

They’re live now as of August 4 and stay claimable through August 31, 2026.

Is Big Walk worth playing?

Yes. It’s sitting at a 93 on Metacritic and is built specifically for co-op play with friends, which makes it a standout even in a strong month.

Does Dying Light 2 support PS4?

Yes, the Reloaded Edition is available on both PS5 and PS4.

What else comes with PS Plus in August 2026?

Starting August 6, all PS Plus members can also claim a free MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls PS Plus Pack from the PlayStation Store.