Father’s Day is right around the corner, celebrating the fathers and parental figures in our lives. I played a ton of games with my Dad growing up, and his participation in the hobby became a foundation of who I am today as a writer and creator.
With PlayStation Plus on PS4 and PS5, there are a ton of great games you can play with the father figure in your life. Extra has tons of games to play and enjoy, while Premium brings in classic titles that can be fantastic blasts from the past. Here are a few great games to check out:
EA Sports Madden NFL 26
Publisher: EA
Developer: EA Orlando
Passing the ball back and forth with dad feels like a time honored tradition, why not take it to the field in EA Sports Madden NFL 26? Even for those non-gamer dads who may be looking to play something familiar, the Madden series is easily approachable and fun to play. With EA Sports Madden NFL 26 doing plenty of work to make it feel more realistic than ever before, it’s a great way to get some healthy competition going.
Rally Cross
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: 989 Studios
For those looking to kick it old school, diving into Rally Cross is a great track to hit. Originally released on PS1 back in 1997, Rally Cross offers plenty of off-road and rally racing for all the dads that can’t get enough of cars ripping at high speeds. Who knows, this may dig up some old memories from their own younger years if they gamed back on the PS1.
The Jackbox Party Pack 9
Publisher: Jackbox Games
Developer: Jackbox Games
The Jackbox series has become a mainstay at family functions. Being able to play a number of simple to understand, ridiculous to have fun with games from the comfort of your phone is easy enough for all ages to understand. Neither of my parents has touched a console in years, but we’ve had many laughs across the Jackbox titles. The Jackbox Party Pack 9 has a great collection to choose from, from backstory crafting in Junktopia, to acting like reality TV stars in Roomerang, it’s a game that the whole family can enjoy.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Sumo Digital, XDev
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is bursting with co-op creativity. From levels dedicated to music tracks that sync up with the beat, to huge boss battles, it’s really charming and tons of fun. Platformers are easier to understand than other genres, and being able to play with your dad or father figure can bring plenty of laughs. Add on the ridiculous outfits that you and Dad can don on your Sackboys, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a breezy and fun experience that you can easily lose hours to.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Publisher: Team17
Developer: Team17, Ghost Town Games
If you’re looking to add some utter chaos to Father’s Day, look no further than Overcooked! All You Can Eat. The collection brings together both of the Overcooked titles, meaning there are tons of levels to yell at each other while playing. This series is another one that’s become a common sight at your family events, where working together to cook and fill orders becomes a yelling match (totally all in love and jest).
Hot Shots Golf 2
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Clap Hanz
Why not round out a lovely Father’s Day afternoon by doing one of the most dad things you could possibly do and hit the links? Hot Shots Golf 2 brings classic golf gaming to PlayStation Plus, allowing you and your loved ones to bust out those irons and woods and hit some eagles. This is another classic series that your father figure may have played in their younger years, so take a trip down memory lane and see who reigns supreme as the ultimate golfer.
There’s plenty more to experience across the PlayStation Plus catalog when celebrating your dad or father figure on Father’s Day. There are hundreds of games to choose from, whether it’s modern games dad may have missed, or revisiting old favorites from childhood. I
‘ll definitely be challenging my dad to some golf and bringing in the rest of the family for some mini-games. With my own daughter starting to grow up, I’m excited to see what worlds she falls in love with to maybe revisit years down the road on PlayStation.