October 2026 Free Games for PlayStation Plus Unveiled

On Wednesday, Sony unveiled the latest lineup of free Essential games for PlayStation Plus subscribers. As usual, there’s a diverse selection to enjoy: F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 will be available for download starting October 6.

EA continues to dominate the sports genre with F1 25, the newest installment in the Formula One series. This game received a paid expansion in June that introduces new teams, drivers, and cars for the 2026 season. Players can race offline in the Konnersport Career and My Team modes, or challenge their skills against others in online competitions.

Hunt: Showdown 1896 offers a thrilling first-person extraction shooter experience. Set in the rugged American Frontier, you’ll face off against terrifying monsters across four unique maps. The game adds an extra layer of excitement as you compete against other Hunters to secure valuable loot. You can choose to go it alone or team up with one or two friends.

In contrast, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 presents a vibrant and colorful shooter experience. With the planet under threat, it’s your mission to defend it in either single-player or four-player co-op modes. You can assemble a squad from over 100 characters and equip them with more than 600 weapons and accessories to aid in your fight against giant voxel enemies.

F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 will be available until November 2. Don’t forget, you can still grab September’s free PlayStation Plus Essential games—Chained Echoes, Sniper Elite: Resistance, Wobbly Life, and MLB The Show 26—until October 5.

PlayStation Plus Essential is the entry-level tier of Sony’s subscription service, providing online multiplayer access, a monthly selection of free PS4 and PS5 games, cloud storage, and discounts on PlayStation Store purchases. The subscription costs $79.99 annually, $27.99 for three months, or $10.99 monthly, following a price increase across all tiers in May.

As we reach the midpoint of 2026, the gaming landscape has been filled with standout titles.