PlayStation Plus confirms 4 free games for September, includes underrated RPG

PlayStation Plus subscribers can claim a free, underrated RPG that’s well worth checking out, alongside three other exciting games arriving with the September 2026 Essential line-up.

Despite PlayStation Plus becoming more expensive in recent months, Sony’s subscription service still offers plenty of value, particularly when compared to the cost of buying a newly released AAA game outright.

Depending on your tier, PS Plus gives subscribers access to hundreds of games, ranging from major blockbusters and indie favourites to retro classics.

Naturally, the higher your PlayStation Plus tier, the more benefits and games you have access to, with additional perks including cloud streaming, game trials and more.

However, it may not matter how strong the latest PS Plus games are if gamers follow through with the planned “PlayStation Blackout” protest, which could see some players putting down their controllers in the week ahead and beyond.

What is the underrated RPG coming to PlayStation Plus in September 2026?

The underrated RPG in question is Chained Echoes, the acclaimed indie RPG originally released in 2022. Developed by Umami Tiger and published by Deck13 and WhisperGames, the game quickly earned praise for its deep turn-based combat, memorable story and classic 16-bit-inspired presentation.

Despite what the headline reads, perhaps calling Chained Echoes “underrated” might seem strange when you consider that the RPG holds an impressive 91 Metacritic score on PC, earning it a coveted “Must-Play” accolade. Despite its critical success, however, Chained Echoes may not have reached the same mainstream audience as some AAA RPGs.

That’s perhaps unsurprising given its indie origins, although the game appears to have performed well on Steam. Depending on the sales estimate, Chained Echoes is believed to have sold up to around 400,000 copies on Steam, which is a particularly impressive figure for an indie RPG. Speaking of Steam, Chained Echoes is currently rated “Very Positive” from over 4,600 user reviews.

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What’s the story of Chained Echoes?

“Chained Echoes is a story-driven JRPG where a group of heroes travel around the vast continent of Valandis to bring an end to the war between its three kingdoms,” reads the synopsis of the game.

“In the course of their journey, they will travel through a wide array of diverse landscapes spanning from wind-tanned plateaus and exotic archipelagos to sunken cities and forgotten dungeons. Take up your sword, channel your magic or board your Mech. Chained Echoes is a 16-bit SNES-style RPG set in a fantasy world where dragons are as common as piloted mechanical suits.”

What else is coming to PlayStation Plus next month?

Joining Chained Echoes in the PlayStation Plus September 2026 Essential line-up are Sniper Elite Resistance, Wobbly Life and MLB The Show 26. All three games will be available to PS Plus Essential, Extra and Premium subscribers from Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

Once the September games arrive, the PS Plus Essential games for August 2026 will leave the lineup. If you haven’t already claimed this month’s games, it’s worth doing so as soon as possible to make sure you don’t miss out.

Chained Echoes is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.