PlayStation Plus’ latest free game is a must-play for subscribers

It was debatable, back when the overhaul of PlayStation Plus was rolled out in June, whether or not upgrading to the new, pricier Extra or Premium tiers was actually worth it. The two boasted some excellent game libraries even at launch, but with extremely popular titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man, Miles Morales and Horizon Zero Dawn making up a large portion of the collection, they tended to be more exciting for people totally new to PlayStation, rather than dedicated, longtime fans.

However, more and more games have been added every month, and now I feel we’ve finally seen an addition that, if you’ve not played it before, makes upgrading your subscription to try it absolutely worth it. I’m talking about Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition. I know, a bit of a mouthful, but you’d best believe that this is one of the best JRPGs of all time, and now is the perfect time to experience it if you haven’t already, as it was part of the wave of games to hit PS Plus Extra in October.

Take a look at the trailer for Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition below.

Dragon Quest XI (don’t worry, I’m not going to say the full name every time) is set in the mediaeval fantasy world of Erdrea, and follows the tale of a mysterious young lad with a terrible haircut and a bizarre mark on his hand. I wonder if that could be important? (Exaggerated wink.) Spoiler alert (but not really), it is - this mark reveals our protagonist’s identity to be the Luminary - the chosen one and reincarnation of a legendary hero of old.

Despite being destined to do great things, not everyone is on Team Luminary. Upon setting out on his quest and revealing himself to the King of Heliodor, we find out that he and his men believe the Luminary to be an evil entity (dubbed the Darkspawn). As such, our young hero is tasked with saving the world and avoiding the King’s army while doing so. Because the former wasn’t too much of an ask in the first place.

I’m fully aware that this basic plot synopsis sounds like a pretty generic JRPG story, but trust me when I say that it’s absolutely fantastic - there’s so much that I’d love to say that would ruin the experience of playing it yourself. It might look like a quirky and colourful title, and it is for the most part, but when it wants to hit you with those emotions (and believe me, it will), it doesn’t pull any punches. The story is also very well paced - if you see the whole thing through, it’ll probably take you around 80-90 hours to complete, and yet somehow, none of this feels excessive or packed out for no reason. It’s a game that doesn’t take forever to get interesting, and then continues to build on that for its entire runtime. There are so few titles of this length that actually manage to do this as well as Dragon Quest XI does.

The characters you’ll meet are a huge part of what make it great. Each one of your party members, from the kindhearted thief Erik, to the flamboyant performer Sylvando, and the strong-willed mage Veronica all feel fully developed by the time the credits roll, and the brilliant voice acting only adds to their charm.

Visually, the game is lovely - the bright colours and a gorgeous art style combine to form a vibrant and captivating world. What’s more, Definitive Edition also boasts the option to play in a 2D pixel art style, so if you prefer a retro feel to your JRPGs, it’s got you covered. Oh, and did I mention that the soundtrack slaps? Because it does.

Look, basically, all I’m trying to say is that if you’re yet to set foot in Erdrea, please do. The game is currently free to download for those subscribed to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium, so if you’re already signed up to that, this is so worth your time. There’s a free 10-hour demo available on the PlayStation Store, too, so if you’re an Essential tier subscriber (or don’t use PS Plus at all), you can give it a go that way, too.