News: Free PlayStation Plus Games for May 2025 - Full Lineup and Deepdive
✪ Game Lineup Overview
The free PlayStation Plus games for May 2025, as announced, include Ark: Survival Ascended, a remastered
survival adventure with dinosaurs; Balatro, a strategic poker-themed deck-builder; and Warhammer 40,000:
Boltgun, a retro-style first-person shooter set in the Warhammer universe. These games are available for
download from May 6 to June 2, 2025, offering PS Plus subscribers a diverse range of gaming experiences.
✪ Ark: Survival Ascended
Ark: Survival Ascended is a remastered version of the 2017 hit Ark: Survival Evolved, developed by Studio
Wildcard. This iteration leverages Unreal Engine 5, offering enhanced graphics, advanced physics, and
quality-of-life improvements. Players are thrust into a prehistoric island environment, tasked with survival
tasks such as gathering resources, crafting tools, and taming a vast array of dinosaurs and other creatures.
The game supports extensive multiplayer features, including public online sessions for up to 70 players, private
sessions for up to 8, and local split-screen for two players, making it ideal for cooperative play.
The game includes all previous DLC worlds, such as The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, and both
parts of Ark Genesis, providing a rich and expansive world to explore. However, it’s worth noting that while the
game has been praised for its visual fidelity and depth, Steam user reviews indicate a "Mixed" reception, with
59% positive feedback out of 67,782 reviews, largely due to technical issues like frame rate drops and crashes
during its early access phase on Steam. Despite this, the PS5 version may offer a smoother experience, potentially
mitigating some of these concerns.
✪ Balatro
Balatro, developed by LocalThunk and published by Playstack, is a poker-themed roguelike deck-building game
that has garnered significant acclaim since its release in February 2024. It combines traditional poker hands
with innovative mechanics, where players use a standard 52-card deck enhanced by Joker cards, each with unique
effects that modify scoring and gameplay. The objective is to earn enough chips to defeat "blinds," progressing
through procedurally generated runs with increasing difficulty, culminating in a boss blind.
The game’s strategic depth lies in discovering synergies between Jokers, such as multipliers for specific hands
or additional redraws, creating a highly replayable experience. Balatro has received "Overwhelmingly Positive"
reviews on Steam, with 97% positive feedback from 118,514 users, and was nominated for Game of the Year in 2024,
highlighting its addictive and innovative gameplay. Its psychedelic visuals and synthwave soundtrack further enhance
its appeal, making it a standout title for card game and roguelike enthusiasts.
✪ Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, developed by Auroch Digital and published by Focus Entertainment, is a first-person
shooter set in the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000. Released in May 2023, it’s designed as a "boomer
shooter," emulating the fast-paced, pixelated style of 1990s classics like Doom. Players control Malum Caedo,
a Space Marine of the Ultramarines Chapter, tasked with battling Chaos forces on the Forge World Graia. The
gameplay focuses on visceral combat, with a variety of weapons including the Boltgun, chainswords, and plasma
guns, and features modern enemy AI to enhance the experience.
The game’s retro aesthetics, combined with modern gameplay mechanics, have earned it "Very Positive" reviews
on Steam, with 91% positive feedback from 13,113 users. It also includes an expansion, "Forges of Corruption,"
adding further content. Reviews praise its homage to retro shooters while noting some limitations in variety,
but it remains a strong offering for fans of the franchise and shooter genre.
✪ Platform-Specific Enhancements
On the PS5, these games leverage the console’s capabilities for an enhanced experience. Ark: Survival Ascended
benefits from faster load times and improved visual fidelity, enhancing immersion in its expansive world. Balatro
utilizes the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback for a tactile card-playing experience, while Warhammer 40,000:
Boltgun employs adaptive triggers to simulate weapon recoil, adding to the shooting dynamics.
✪ Value and Reception
The inclusion of these games in the PS Plus lineup, especially recent and highly rated titles like Balatro, offers
significant value to subscribers. Ark: Survival Ascended’s mixed PC reception is noted, but its comprehensive content
and PS5 optimizations may appeal to survival game fans. Balatro’s critical acclaim and Boltgun’s niche appeal in
retro shooters ensure a diverse and engaging offering, catering to a broad audience.
✪ Conclusion
In conclusion, the May 2025 PlayStation Plus games-Ark: Survival Ascended, Balatro, and Warhammer 40,000:
Boltgun-offer a rich tapestry of gaming experiences, available from May 6 to June 2, 2025. Whether players
seek survival challenges, strategic deck-building, or retro shooting action, this lineup ensures something
for everyone, enhancing the value of a PS Plus subscription.