2025 is about to draw to a close, and PlayStation Plus Essential remains a strong option for free games as a PlayStation user. Despite the subscription fee increases over the years, there have been months where the lineup has more than justified the cost.
Here are my personal picks for the five best PlayStation Plus Essential offerings of 2025 so far:
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (January 2025)
One of the biggest missteps of last year, Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, was a disappointing attempt at a live-service looter shooter dressed in the trappings of the fantastic Arkhamverse. It became a mark of shame for Warner Bros. Studios and the team behind one of the best superhero games of all time.
One year after its disastrous launch, Suicide Squad became one of the most surprising PlayStation Plus Essential offerings in January. The community didn’t see it coming, but it needed no explanation as Rocksteady had to make back some of its investment somehow.
Despite its polarizing reception, many players who claimed it on PS Plus ended up having a blast mowing down Brainiac’s alien forces. It was a fun, casual game to kick off the year, especially without the $60 price tag looming over it.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard (March 2025)
Suicide Squad was the first hint that PlayStation Plus Essential had become a new home for failed triple-A launches, and BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard was another surprise addition to the service.
For those hesitant to purchase the follow-up to one of the most celebrated fantasy RPGs of all time, the game’s inclusion meant they could dive into Thedas at no extra cost beyond the subscription fee. Players enjoyed their quest to stop the Dreadwolf Solas from destroying the world, but newcomers also echoed the game’s criticisms as its story lacked urgency, and its narrative played things too safe.
Balatro (May 2025)
May brought one of the biggest surprises yet: Sony giving away Balatro to PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers. It almost felt illegal, like handing out one of the most addictive roguelike games for free — akin to the FBI distributing crack to the homeless in the 90s.
There is little to explain about Balatro’s rise as a pop culture phenomenon. If you want the full story, we have a comprehensive guide, but in short, it is gaming’s equivalent of a habit you just cannot break.
Jusant (July 2025)
For a calmer experience, July’s highlight was Jusant, a serene story about a lone adventurer scaling a massive mountain. Gameplay focuses on finding the right handholds as you climb, uncovering ancient secrets from a long-lost civilization along the way.
The game offers a meditative experience, fitting for a title from the studio behind Life is Strange and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.
Lies of P (August 2025)
If Jusant was about relaxation, this title was all about tension. August gave PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers one of the best Soulslike games ever made: Neowiz’s Lies of P.
This reimagined quest to become a real boy is filled with lovecraftian enemies and boss fights that will test both your patience and reflexes. Like most Soulslikes, it is punishing, but also deeply rewarding, capturing much of the magic of FromSoftware’s best work. Even better, its massive expansion, Overture, has just been released, offering players the chance to extend their adventure.
That wraps up the list so far. Mortal Kombat 1 will be a headliner for September's PlayStation Plus Essential offerings, alongside Vanillaware's JRPG, Unicorn Overlord, and many others. With four months left in the year, PlayStation Plus Essential’s 2025 lineup has been decent overall, but the upcoming months will determine whether subscribers will want to spend more to keep their membership going next year.
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