Summary

  • PS Plus offers free games to members across all three tiers.
  • The May 2025 lineup includes 2024 Game of the Year nominee Balatro.
  • Balatro is a roguelike deckbuilder that earned rave reviews last year.

PlayStation Plus subscribers across all three tiers will soon be able to play one of the highest-rated games of 2024. Every month, Essential, Extra, and Premium tier PlayStation Plus members are treated to a fresh batch of free games. These free games vary wildly in genre and scope, and as a result, some months are certainly more exciting than others.

The PS Plus free games for 2025 have given fans a huge variety of games to add to their digital libraries. At the time of this writing, the free PS Plus games for April 2025 are still up for grabs, and they are the perfect example of the sheer variety the service can offer. The free PS Plus games for April 2025 are first-person shooter game RoboCop: Rogue City, asymmetric multiplayer horror game The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and role-playing game Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory. Similarly, the free PS Plus games for May 2025, available starting May 6, represent a wide-range of genres as well, though one game stands out as particularly exciting.

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PlayStation Plus Extra subscribers have a new day one game to look forward to in June 2025.

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The free PS Plus games for May 2025 are Ark: Survival Ascended, Balatro, and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun. Ark: Survival Ascended is a popular multiplayer survival game, while Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a old-school-style first-person shooter. Balatro, meanwhile, is a roguelike deckbuilder and the real crown jewel of the PS Plus May 2025 lineup. Balatro was a massive critical and commercial success in 2024, to the point that it was even nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. It didn't win that particular award, but it did pick up the awards for Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Mobile Game.

Free PS Plus Games for May 2025

  • Ark: Survival Ascended (PS5 only)
  • Balatro
  • Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

At first glance, some PS Plus subscribers may not understand why Balatro is such an exciting addition to the lineup. After all, it looks like a basic card game, and those that don't know anything about poker may think it's not for them. Rest assured, Balatro does not require poker knowledge at all, and it's one of the most addictive games in recent memory. It's an exciting blend of luck and strategy and definitely deserved the Game of the Year nomination in 2024.

Balatro being a part of the free PS Plus games for May 2025 lineup opens the door for more people to discover the game that may not have given it a chance because of its retro-style graphics or premise. Here's hoping future free PS Plus games this year are of similar quality as Balatro.

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Balatro Tag Page Cover Art

Balatro
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Strategy
Digital Card Game
Roguelike
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
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Released
February 20, 2024
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
Developer(s)
LocalThunk
Publisher(s)
Playstack
Engine
LÖVE
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Genre(s)
Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike