PlayStation drops 6 huge free downloads, no PS Plus needed

The dust has settled following Summer Game Fest, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end.

The event's various showcases brought us tons of reveals, announcements, and updates - and I’ve added so many new titles to my wishlists.

Fair to say though, it can be very easy for games to get lost in all of the noise at this time of year.

One way to avoid such a fate is to launch a demo, instantly offering players a taste of what you’ve just unveiled and thus keeping the game fresh in their minds.

Well, that’s exactly what many devs and studios have done, with plenty of new demos having recently landed on the PlayStation Store.

There’s a huge amount of choice, but I’m going to highlight six games that I don’t think you should miss sampling this weekend.

Let’s start with Cairn from The Game Bakers, one of the standout reveals of Sony’s State of Play for me.

This one’s a climbing survival-adventure game where Aava will attempt to be the first person to summit Mount Kami.

Alongside finding a safe route up the mountain, you’ll have to manage Aava’s fatigue and hunger, and make sure she doesn’t injure or over-exert herself.

With no UI to tell you when any of that is happening, you’ll have to closely pay attention to Aava’s behaviour.

Are you a fan of the Terrifier films? Then SELECTAVISION’s Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is the demo for you.

This one’s a pixel graphics retro-inspired beat em’ up; players will assume the role of Art The Clown, unleashing as much misery and gore as possible.

The Nioh 3 Alpha demo is another one for those of you yearning for combat.

Of course, Nioh 3 is the latest entry in the acclaimed Koei Tecmo series.

This demo is only available until 18 June and will introduce you to the dark samurai RPG’s intense combat systems.

If you do complete this demo, you’ll unlock a unique helmet to use in the full version of the game come release, should you purchase it.

Thunderful Publishing has launched a demo for Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, an action roguelite set in a world known as Random.

“Play as Queen Aleksandra and her die-companion Fortune as you battle twisted foes, wield powerful relics and abilities, and roll the dice to escape this nightmarish realm,” reads the synopsis.

Unfortunately for this one, progress does not transfer over to the full version upon release.

If it’s a HD voxel top-down shooter that you’re after, ANNIE: Last Hope is the demo that you’re looking for.

From NiuGamer, players will assume the role of Annie who is separated from her fiance after an invasion of unknown creatures hits amidst the 1990s.

Annie sets out to reunite with her partner, but ends up on a perilous journey that uncovers the mystery behind the invasion.

Finally, you may want to check out Through The Nightmares, presented by Pingle Studio.

This is a “hardcore” platformer where you’ll play as size-shifting spirit the Sandman who’s attempting to save children from the kingdom of Morpheus, “the mad god of dreams”.

These are just a few of the many titles on offer, so don’t forget to head on over to the demo section of the PlayStation Store the next time you’re in need of something to play.