PlayStation Plus Essential Games for August 2025, Explained

by

In August 2025, the PlayStation Plus Essential collection includes more games originally designed for PS4 than for PS5, even though they can all be played on the newer console. However, since it was announced that the service will shift its focus to PS5 games starting from January 2026, these classic titles may not be available for long. For August 2025, the lineup includes the games Lies of P, DayZ, and My Hero One’s Justice 2.

On August 5th, PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers can anticipate receiving the following titles. Each of these games will remain accessible in your collection until September 1st.

1) Lies of P

In August, “Lies of P” takes center stage and rightfully claims the premier position. This critically-acclaimed 2023 Soulslike game by budding developer Round8 Studio has garnered widespread praise upon release, averaging a score of 82 from various reviews.

In a similar vein to games like Bloodborne, Lies of P draws inspiration from Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, yet it carves its own unique path rather than being a mere amalgamation of other franchises. This RPG truly shines by innovating and adding its distinctive flair to its evident influences. Its combat, heavily reliant on parrying, delivers an electrifying experience, boasting a more dynamic response compared to many of its strategically-focused counterparts. Mastery is essential, as the system demands it. The variety of standard enemies is commendable and they all complement the intricately designed game world, but the bosses truly highlight the game’s potential. These multi-stage battles serve as the epic showdowns they were meant to be, offering a near indescribable feeling of accomplishment upon victory. The customizable weapon system and Legion Arm abilities also provide numerous playstyles, ensuring that combat is not only deep but also highly rewarding.

This narrative occasionally proves challenging to navigate, yet it doesn’t solely depend on item descriptions and notes for comprehension. Instead, it offers a more immediate and engaging lore that expands beyond Collodi’s original work, posing profound questions about human nature. Although the absence of a vocal protagonist somewhat limits these themes, the narrative’s slightly clearer approach compared to other Soulslike stories facilitates easier understanding of its most compelling aspects.

Over time, Round8 has released several updates that have substantially impacted the game. Initially, they adjusted some bosses to be less challenging post-launch. Later on, they included a few aesthetic items and collaborative gear from Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. However, these changes are minor compared to their latest major update. This update introduced two new difficulty modes that are easier, two boss rush modes, and several user-friendly features such as a small progress bar in the upper right corner indicating how much more players need to level up, the ability to level up at any checkpoint, and the option to exchange Ergo chunks directly from the level up screen. These are just a few examples of the improvements made in this update.

This update aligns with the release of the Overture expansion pack, which unfortunately won’t be accessible for PlayStation Plus members. Priced at $29.99, this substantial Downloadable Content (DLC) offers numerous new locations, a prequel narrative, several fresh weapon options, and an ample amount of boss battles. The Overture expansion showcases the mastery that Round8 has demonstrated in creating the base game, as it includes some of the finest elements from Lies of P.

2) DayZ

Among the games listed, DayZ is the oldest, having been released on consoles in 2019, a short while after its initial PC launch. Initially, it was met with criticism, garnering an average score of 41 upon release. However, this score may not fully represent the game today, as it has undergone numerous updates since then. At any given moment, approximately 50,000 players are simultaneously playing DayZ on Steam alone. Remarkably, it achieved its peak concurrent player count on Steam in 2024, five years after the early access release.

DayZ is a survival-themed video game where players are dropped onto a vast landscape and must figure out how to stay alive. To do so, they need to gather resources and supplies, while also dealing with both zombies and other human players. Interactions between players can take many forms, making the game not just about competition but also collaboration – or betrayal! This freedom of interaction creates unique, emergent stories that have made this genre (and this game) very captivating.

The game DayZ has undergone numerous updates, implying it has received numerous bug fixes and content additions, as demonstrated by its exceptionally long list of update records. Nevertheless, the console adaptations of DayZ don’t match the richness of the original PC version.

In addition to what’s included with PlayStation Plus for DayZ, there are a couple of extra premium DLC packs that you might be interested in. The “Last King of DayZ” and “Frostline” packs each offer ammo, gear, and skins, priced at $29.99 and $39.99 respectively. However, the “Frostline Expansion,” which was released in 2024, is not a cosmetic pack but a more substantial addition that costs $26.99. This expansion introduces a new snow-covered biome named Sakhal, which significantly alters the survival mechanics due to extreme cold making various tasks more challenging. Initially met with controversy, developer Bohemia Interactive has since addressed some of the complaints about this expansion, such as the scarcity of lootable locations, in subsequent updates.

3) My Hero One’s Justice 2

The game titled “My Hero One’s Justice 2” is a combat-style video game inspired by the popular anime show “My Hero Academia,” which was launched in the year 2020. It garnered mostly moderate responses (with some exceptions), earning an average rating of 69.

This 3D combat game, packed with nods to the original series, explores different aspects of it. The larger character roster (41 characters in the initial release) and underdeveloped storyline allow players to experience the show in a playable format, but it may not offer much new content beyond that. The fundamental arcade mode and arduous mission mode aren’t particularly engaging either. Essentially, it’s a multiplayer fighter (with occasional camera issues) that might not provide the depth found in more conventional fighting games. Once you grasp a character’s basic attacks, counters, and unblockables, there isn’t much else to explore. However, the destructible environment and flashy special moves add an exciting visual flair to the battles.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my time with My Hero One’s Justice 2. Post-launch, it’s received some awesome updates like a photo mode, an English dub, Intruder events featuring tough CPU opponents that appear after certain online matches, and balance adjustments to keep the game fair. It’s also been packed with plenty of paid downloadable content, such as 10 fresh fighters and eight costume packs to customize my characters. There are even two season passes priced at $19.99 each, but they only offer new fighters and different item packs that can only be unlocked with the season pass.

Read More

2025-08-02 17:11