Playstation Plus March 2018 Free Games Complete Guide To Bloodborne Ratchet Clank And More

Dec. 3, 2025, 7:05 a.m.

Tags: march psn

The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.

Introduction

In March 2018, Sony offered PlayStation Plus subscribers a selection of free games across multiple platforms, including notable titles such as Bloodborne and Ratchet & Clank for PS4. The subscription service continued its tradition of providing free games each month, though with an important future change on the horizon. Sony announced it would discontinue offering free games for PS3 and PS Vita consoles starting March 8, 2019, shifting focus exclusively to PS4 titles. Additionally, a limited-time discount of 25% off a one-year PlayStation Plus membership was available during this period, making it an opportune time for new subscribers to join the service.

March 2018 PlayStation Plus Free Games Lineup

The free games offered to PlayStation Plus subscribers in March 2018 varied slightly by region, with North American and Japanese markets receiving different selections. For North American subscribers, the complete lineup included:

Bloodborne (PS4)
Ratchet & Clank (PS4)
Mighty No. 9 (PS3/PS4 via Cross-Buy)
Claire: Extended Cut (PS Vita/PS4 via Cross-Buy)
Bombing Busters (PS Vita/PS4 via Cross-Buy)
Legend of Kay (PS3)

Japanese subscribers received a different set of games: - The Darkness II (PS3) - Downwell (PS4/PS Vita) - Bloodborne (PS4) - Metal Slug Anthology (PS Vita)

These games were available for download for the duration of March 2018, with the Japanese titles accessible until April 3, 2018.

Platform-Specific Game Details

PS4 Games

The PS4 platform received two primary free games in March 2018:

Bloodborne, released in 2015, is an action RPG developed by From Software. Set in the ancient city of Yharnam, which has been cursed with a terrible plague, the game features a challenging combat system described as "bloody, gruesome and awesome" by one source. Bloodborne became available for download from March 6, 2018.

Ratchet & Clank, a 2016 release, is a remake of the original 2002 PS2 game, rebuilt from the ground up for the PS4. The game is technically based on the Ratchet & Clank animated film, which itself was an adaptation of the first game in the franchise. Sources describe it as looking "positively stunning" on the PS4.

PS3 Games

PS3 subscribers received two free games in March 2018:

Mighty No. 9, available via Cross-Buy, is described as the "troubled spiritual sequel to Mega Man" with a long development history that resulted in middling reviews. The game features fast-paced platforming and shooting mechanics.

Legend of Kay is an action-platformer inspired by N64-era games such as Super Mario 64 and Banjo Kazooie. The game follows a cat protagonist named Kay as he embarks on a quest to save his village from invasion.

PS Vita Games

PS Vita owners received two free games through Cross-Buy:

Claire: Extended Cut is a 2D pixel art horror game featuring "disturbing images and intense music." The game follows a young woman searching for her missing sister in a mysterious town.

Bombing Busters is described as "basically a slightly reskinned Bomberman," featuring classic bomb-dropping gameplay with updated visuals.

Cross-Buy Benefits

PlayStation Plus subscribers benefited significantly from Cross-Buy functionality in March 2018, which allowed games purchased or obtained for free on one platform to be available on other platforms at no additional cost. This feature provided PS4 owners with five free games instead of just two, as they could also claim:

Mighty No. 9 (also available on PS3)
Claire: Extended Cut (also available on PS Vita)
Bombing Busters (also available on PS Vita)

Similarly, PS3 and Vita owners could access the PS4 versions of these games without additional purchase. This Cross-Buy system enhanced the value proposition of PlayStation Plus membership for users with multiple consoles.

PlayStation Plus Membership Discount

In March 2018, Sony offered a 25% discount on one-year PlayStation Plus memberships, reducing the price from $79.95 AUD to $59.95 AUD. This promotional offer provided an incentive for new subscribers to join the service and for existing members to renew their subscriptions at a reduced rate.

The discount highlighted the benefits of PlayStation Plus membership, which include: - Access to free games each month across multiple platforms - Cloud-based save functionality - Multiplayer gaming capabilities - Exclusive discounts on games in the PlayStation Store

Future Changes to PlayStation Plus Free Games

A significant announcement regarding the future of PlayStation Plus free games was made in March 2018. Sony confirmed that, effective March 8, 2019, it would discontinue offering free games for PS3 and PS Vita consoles. The company stated it would focus exclusively on providing free PS4 titles moving forward.

This announcement served as notice to PS3 and PS Vita owners that the program for these platforms would end in slightly more than a year. However, Sony clarified that all games already released through the PlayStation Plus program would remain available for download by subscribers who had claimed them, even after the program's discontinuation.

The decision to phase out PS3 and PS Vita games aligns with Sony's console lifecycle management, as the PS4 had been the company's primary home console for several years by this point, with the PS5 not yet released.

Additional Free Content: Dungeon Defenders PS Plus Pack

In addition to the monthly free games, PlayStation Plus subscribers received a special DLC pack for Dungeon Defenders II. The Dungeon Defenders PS Plus Pack was available from March 13 until April 10, 2018, and included:

Four Shadow Costumes
One million in gold
Five Defender Packs
Five Campaign Shard Packs
A Ninja Gato pet

This DLC pack appears to have been exclusive to US PlayStation Plus subscribers, according to the available sources. The pack enhanced the base Dungeon Defenders II experience by providing additional cosmetic options and in-game currency.

Conclusion

The March 2018 PlayStation Plus offerings demonstrated Sony's continued commitment to providing value to subscribers through free games and additional content. While the lineup varied by region, North American subscribers received notable titles including Bloodborne and Ratchet & Clank for PS4, along with several Cross-Buy games that expanded the selection for users with multiple consoles.

The announcement regarding the discontinuation of PS3 and PS Vita games in March 2019 marked a significant shift in the program's direction, focusing on the current-generation PS4 platform. Meanwhile, the limited-time discount on PlayStation Plus memberships and the inclusion of bonus DLC content provided additional incentives for both new and existing subscribers.

For PlayStation Plus members, March 2018 represented an opportune time to claim free games before the program's eventual restructuring, with the Cross-Buy functionality maximizing the value of the subscription for users with multiple consoles.