Assassin's Creed Odyssey Free PS4

Did you know that you can download and play Assassin's Creed Odyssey for free right now on PlayStation 4? It's true! The game's totally free to try until Monday, so you've got a whole weekend to get stuck in -- at the time of writing this article, anyway.

And no, this isn't some kind of weird sponsored post (we don't do those). I'm writing this soapbox because I think a lot of people require some escapism right now, and Assassin's Creed Odyssey provides that in abundance. It's a truly gigantic open world game that you can get completely lost in for hours at a time, and if you're staying home this weekend because of the ongoing coronavirus situation, then I can't recommend it enough.

If you're already convinced then I'd suggest that you stop reading and start your download now. The only drawback to this free weekend trial is that the file size is huge, weighing in at around 100GB. Thank the Greek gods for rest mode, eh?

Assassin's Creed Odyssey Free PS4

I reviewed Assassin's Creed Odyssey back when it launched near the end of 2018. I gave it an 8/10, but in hindsight I don't think my review really gets to the heart of what makes the game so compelling. 8/10 is obviously a great score, but even long after the review had been published, I found myself going back to Odyssey time and time again. The weekly quests and numerous, major updates certainly helped the title maintain its appeal, but there's much more to Odyssey's charm than continued support.

Put simply, I think it's just a really fun game to play. The controls are smooth, the world is vast, and there's always a distinct sense of adventure. Granted, it's quite far removed from being a traditional Assassin's Creed title, but as an action role-playing game -- as a grand adventure -- I think it's brilliant.

Odyssey really sells this idea that you're, well, taking part in an odyssey. Despite its gargantuan size, the open world is seamless. You can travel from one end of the map to another, even sailing across open seas in the process, and you'll never encounter a loading screen. Every mountain can be climbed, every bustling city can be examined and explored. With Odyssey, and Assassin's Creed Origins before it, I think Ubisoft has crafted two of the most engrossing open worlds in gaming.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey Free PS4

With that in mind, I honestly think these worlds are overlooked -- dismissed as soulless cookie-cutter maps that sacrifice character for sheer size. But that's inaccurate. Just take the time to walk through the streets of Athens and the game's dedication to detail is almost immediately apparent. From the architecture to the way that citizens carry out their daily routines, it is, again, a world that you can get totally lost in.

And hey, the action's pretty good as well. Combining a bunch of different weapon types with magical abilities that operate on a cooldown, it's not the most in-depth or the most satisfying combat that you'll find on PS4, but it's rock solid and has a real edge to it once you're proficient. The game offers a great mix of close-quarters skull-cracking, long range bow twanging, and adrenaline-inducing stealth. And the best part is that you're free to play however you like.

I've spent a ridiculous amount of time playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey, but even now, just writing about it, I still feel the urge to boot it up. I'd be tempted to call it comfort food in game form, but I think that's underselling it. It's not a perfect game, but at its core it's an engrossing, thoroughly enjoyable experience -- and it's well worth checking out this weekend.

Have you played Assassin's Creed Odyssey? Will you be giving it a shot this weekend? Embark on an epic journey in the comments section below.