Every New Game Coming to PS Plus Extra and Premium in May 2025, Ranked

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On the 20th of May, an assortment of fresh games will be incorporated into both the PlayStation Plus Premium and Extra game libraries. This month’s collection offers a diverse selection of games from various genres. Role-playing enthusiasts might appreciate additions like “Soul Hackers” 2 and “Gloomhaven”, while titles such as those from Battlefield, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and Story of Seasons are likely to attract a broader audience to these new PlayStation Plus offerings.

Choosing between ten fresh games can be quite challenging when they’re all released for PS Plus subscribers simultaneously. To make things easier, I’m arranging every upcoming game for the PS Plus Extra and Premium libraries this month, so you have a clear idea of what awaits as you explore these exciting new additions.

10. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted – Full Time Edition (PS4, PS5, PSVR2)

If you’re among the fortunate ones who own a PlayStation VR2 headset and have a penchant for horror games, you should definitely give Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted a try. This game masterfully delivers the chilling, jumpscare-filled horror that this series is known for in an incredibly immersive VR experience, setting it apart as the most terrifying game within the franchise. While I personally don’t lean towards horror games, I believe Help Wanted might not be as impactful if you’re playing it without VR. That’s why it ranked lowest on my list. Unfortunately, there are no new horror games joining PS Plus Extra or Premium this month.

9. Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

A Wonderful Life” is essentially a revamped version of an earlier Harvest Moon game for GameCube and PS2, titled the same way. This game follows the common pattern seen in farming and life simulation games where you gradually grow your farm and connect with town residents over time. Personally, I think “Stardew Valley” still reigns supreme in this genre, but if you’re yearning for a taste of the original or find Stardew Valley’s pixel art too monotonous, “Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life” can provide a refreshing change.

8. Battle Engine Aquila

This month’s throwback selection is the much-loved game “Battle Engine Aquila“, a title that places you in command of a colossal battle machine to combat the wicked military faction known as Muspell. If you enjoy the MechWarrior series, then “Battle Engine Aquila” will likely provide a comparable power-fueled experience. However, be aware that this PS2 game might have some unusual control aspects that may not make it as smooth to play compared to more contemporary titles in this genre. It’s always exciting when PS Plus Premium helps us appreciate the lesser-known corners of PlayStation’s storied history.

7. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy

Even though S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl isn’t available for PS5 yet, a compilation of the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games is now on PS4 and PS5. This set includes the initial game S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, along with its sequels Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat. It’s a great choice for anyone interested in exploring this series, but do be aware that the original games have some rough edges, and this console version doesn’t support all the mods available on PC to enhance the gaming experience. If you’re looking to play S.T.A.L.K.E.R. on PlayStation, this collection is currently your only option.

6. Battlefield V

If you’re looking forward to the next Battlefield installment, take a moment to explore an earlier, less recognized Battlefield V. This game, released in 2018, is the latest addition to the series set during World War II. In my opinion, it surpasses its successor, Battlefield 2042, in several aspects. One unique feature that stands out is the fortification system, allowing players to construct defenses even amidst intense battles – a mechanic I believe deserves more recognition than it currently receives. If you haven’t played Battlefield V since its release, now might be a great time to revisit it as it has been added to the PS Plus game catalog.

5. Gloomhaven: Mercenaries Edition

Perhaps you’ve encountered the board game known as “Gloomhaven,” but have you found out that it has a video game version tailored just for it? This tactical RPG adapted quite seamlessly into digital format, offering a rich strategy-RPG experience while maintaining all the appeal and difficulty of its physical counterpart. Granted, it’s not as expansive or intricate as something like “Baldur’s Gate 3,” but if you appreciate the games developed by Larian Studios, I believe Gloomhaven could be right up your street too.

4. Sand Land

The story of ‘Sand Land’, a masterpiece from the late and renowned Akira Toriyama, is often overlooked. Last year, ILCA and Bandai Namco Entertainment transformed it into an open-world action RPG with great ambition. Although it can become repetitive, ‘Sand Land’ boasts stunning visuals that accurately depict the manga’s art style in 3D. The game also introduces a unique element of creativity through its vehicle-building systems. If you haven’t read ‘Sand Land’ before, this game is worth exploring as it showcases one of Toriyama’s finest works.

3. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Granblue Fantasy is one of those series that may not be on your radar yet, but it’s more popular than you might assume. In the game Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, characters from this franchise face off in a high-intensity fighting game. The visual style, reminiscent of games like Dragon Ball FighterZ, makes it a pleasure to watch, and it offers user-friendly customization options for those new to fighting games. If you’re looking for a new fighting game to learn, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is definitely worth your time investment.

2. Humankind

The game “Humankind” is a captivating 4X strategy title that introduced the Ages system well before it was used by “Sid Meier’s Civilization VII.” In this game, players gradually and tactically lead a civilization through history, with each new era requiring them to adopt a distinct historical culture that shapes their gameplay style for that particular age. Rather than “Civilization VII,” “Humankind” offers an intriguing perspective as it’s always intriguing to observe how two games from different developers approach similar concepts. Although 4X games generally perform better on PC, the console version of “Humankind” can still provide a delightful experience as you steer a civilization through history.

1. Soul Hackers 2

It’s uncommon for a fresh Atlus RPG to appear on the PS Plus platform. However, I’ve found myself quite taken with Soul Hackers 2, even though it may not be as acclaimed as its Persona or Shin Megami Tensei counterparts. The game offers an intriguing sci-fi reimagining of key elements common in Atlus RPGs, such as turn-based combat, demon recruitment, demon fusion, and dungeon exploration. If you’re considering trying out just one new PS Plus game this month, I’d recommend giving Soul Hackers 2 a spin.

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2025-05-19 22:15