While PlayStation Plus is needed for online multiplayer and other perks on PlayStation consoles, it is not necessary for users to grab four free downloadable demos that are available right now. The four demos that do not require PS Plus include remakes of Dragon Quest 7 and Front Mission 3, and all four demos are for games that will fully release in the early parts of 2026.
As a monthly subscription service, PlayStation Plus offers PS5 and PS4 users with various games as part of the deal. However, what freebies PlayStation console users get depends on which of the three paid tiers they are subscribed to, with the Essential tier at $9.99 per month being the least expensive. This tier usually gets two to three free games each month, with January’s PS Plus offers being Core Keeper, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Need For Speed Unbound. Additional perks are available exclusively at the Extra and Premium tiers, which come with the respective monthly costs of $14.99 and $17.99.
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PS Plus Is Not Needed for These Four RPG Demos
Though PS Plus is nice for all that it offers, there are four good demos that PlayStation users can download and try out at no added cost. As part of the Dragon Quest franchise’s 40th anniversary celebrations, players can download a lengthy demo of Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined for PS5. The game is a turn-based RPG that features the whimsical character designs of the late Akira Toriyama and is a retelling of the PS1 classic that first launched in 2000. Any progress made in the demo of Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined will carry over into the main game once it launches on February 5, and players can earn a new outfit for Maribel in the process.
Another upcoming turn-based RPG, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon, is also on the docket for PS4 and PS5 users to download. However, there are also two different demos for players to experience, the Story Demo and the Battle Demo. Although Trails Beyond the Horizon was first released in Japan in September 2024, the latest entry in The Legend of Heroes franchise will make its Western debut on January 15.
The other two demos each offer something different compared to Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined and Trails Beyond the Horizon. Front Mission 3: Remake is a turn-based strategy RPG that allows players to control and pilot military robots and mechanized weapons. The demo of Front Mission 3: Remake offers players a taste of what to expect once the game arrives on January 30. Finally, Cassette Boy is a pixel-inspired RPG that allows players to rotate the world between 2D and 3D spaces, giving new perspectives to complete their objectives. The free Cassette Boy demo is now available ahead of the game’s January 14 launch.
What Else Doesn’t Require PS Plus to Play?
Although PS Plus is a requirement for online multiplayer functionality on some PS4 and PS5 games, there are some notable exceptions to this rule. PS Plus is not needed for free-to-play games that require an internet connection, including Fortnite and Marvel Rivals. Plus, MMORPGs like Final Fantasy 14 that require a separate subscription to play do not require PS Plus. However, some unique perks are available for PS Plus users to claim, with Fortnite occasionally offering free cosmetics that are otherwise unobtainable, and Final Fantasy 14 granting adventurers an extra free teleport slot.
While 2026 is already off to a fast start for game releases, sometimes it can be difficult for players to see what games are worth trying before purchasing. Fortunately, with PlayStation offering four free demos of anticipated titles for players to try out before launch, time will tell how successful each demo will be in driving up sales of their respective games.
- Released
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February 5, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
Source: ScreenRant
