PS Plus March 2026: All Free Games and What to Play First
March's PlayStation Plus lineup might be the strongest we've seen in months. Four games, four completely different vibes, and something for basically everyone in the house.
March 1, 2026 · 6 min read
Ex-competitive player turned writer. If a game has a ranked mode, I've probably grinded it. I write about what's worth your sweat.
March's PlayStation Plus lineup might be the strongest we've seen in months. Four games, four completely different vibes, and something for basically everyone in the house. Whether you're into hunting giant monsters, managing adorable slimes, hitting the links, or diving into an MMO with years of content, this month has you covered.
All four games become available to claim on March 3, 2026. Here's what you're getting and why each one is worth your time.
Monster Hunter Rise (PS5, PS4)
Monster Hunter Rise
Capcom Development Division 2 · Capcom
Mar 26, 2021
Rise to the challenge and join the hunt! In Monster Hunter Rise, the latest installment in the award-winning and top-selling Monster Hunter series,…
If you've ever been curious about the Monster Hunter series but felt intimidated by the complexity, Rise is your entry point. Capcom designed this one to be more accessible without sacrificing the depth that longtime fans love.
You play as a Hunter in Kamura Village, taking on increasingly massive creatures using one of 14 different weapon types. Each weapon plays completely differently. The hammer is slow and devastating. The dual blades are fast and aggressive. The hunting horn lets you buff your team while bonking monsters on the head. Finding your weapon is half the fun.
What makes Rise special is the Wirebug mechanic. You get a grappling hook that opens up vertical movement and flashy new attacks. Combat feels faster and more mobile than previous entries. Hunts that would take 30 minutes in older games might take 15 here, which is perfect if you're squeezing in sessions between real life responsibilities.
There's also a massive amount of content. The base game plus the Sunbreak expansion (sold separately) can easily eat 200+ hours if you want to craft every armor set and master every weapon. Or you can just play through the main story in 30 hours and call it done. Your choice.
Slime Rancher 2 (PS5)
Slime Rancher 2
Monomi Park
Sep 23, 2025
Continue the adventures of Beatrix LeBeau as she journeys across the Slime Sea to Rainbow Island, a land brimming with ancient mysteries, and burst…
This one's for when you want to relax. Slime Rancher 2 drops you on Rainbow Island where you run a ranch full of bouncy, colorful slimes. You feed them, collect their "plorts," sell those plorts for profit, and use the money to expand your ranch and explore new areas.
It sounds simple because it is. And that's the point. There's no fail state. No pressure. Just you, your vacuum gun, and hundreds of adorable slimes that make the most satisfying little sounds when they're happy.
The sequel adds new slime types, new areas to explore, and quality of life improvements that make managing your ranch easier. If you played the first game, you know exactly what you're getting. If you haven't, prepare to lose entire evenings to "just one more expedition."
This is also a fantastic game to play with kids watching. The slimes are cute, the world is colorful, and there's nothing stressful happening. My kids call it "the blob game" and they're not wrong.
PGA Tour 2K25 (PS5)
Golf games are having a moment, and PGA Tour 2K25 is one of the better ones. This isn't an arcade experience. It's a simulation that rewards patience, course management, and actually learning how to read greens.
The career mode is deep. You create a golfer, start on minor tours, and work your way up to competing against real PGA pros. The course selection is excellent, featuring real world locations you've probably seen on TV.
What separates this from other golf sims is the feel. The swing mechanics require timing and precision without being frustrating. You'll shank shots into the rough plenty of times, but when you stripe one down the fairway, it feels earned.
Fair warning: this is a slower paced game. A full 18 holes takes about an hour. But if you're looking for something chill to play while listening to a podcast, this is perfect.
The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road (PS5, PS4)
The Elder Scrolls Online
ZeniMax Online Studios · Bethesda Softworks
Apr 4, 2014
Every legend starts somewhere and in The Elder Scrolls Online, it starts with you. Write your story into a vibrant chapter of Tamriel’s distant pas…
Here's where the value gets ridiculous. This isn't just the base ESO game. The Gold Road Collection includes the base game plus multiple expansions worth hundreds of hours of content. You could play this exclusively for a year and not see everything.
Elder Scrolls Online has come a long way since its rocky 2014 launch. It's now a legitimate MMO with strong single player content, flexible class building, and one of the better free to play models in the genre (though this collection means you won't need to worry about that).
The Gold Road expansion specifically adds the West Weald region, new scribing mechanics for customizing abilities, and a storyline that ties into broader Elder Scrolls lore. If you bounced off ESO years ago, it's worth another look.
One note: this is an always online game with ongoing updates. If you're looking for something you can play offline during travel, this isn't it. But if you want an MMO that respects solo players while offering group content when you want it, ESO delivers.
Which One Should You Play First?
Depends on your mood:
- Want action? Start with Monster Hunter Rise. The early hunts are approachable and the combat clicks fast.
- Want to relax? Slime Rancher 2. No stakes, just vibes.
- Want something slow and precise? PGA Tour 2K25. Put on some background noise and hit the course.
- Want endless content? ESO. You're not finishing this one anytime soon.
The nice thing about PS Plus is you can claim all four and decide later. They'll sit in your library until you're ready. March 3 is the date. Don't sleep on this lineup.