Balatro has taken the PlayStation Plus community by storm. As part of the Essential tier of PlayStation Plus, subscribers receive a selection of free games each month. However, not all games resonate equally with the audience. While some titles fail to make an impact, others, like Balatro, capture significant attention.

The free PS Plus games for May 2025 are now available for download. PS5 users can enjoy Ark: Survival Ascended, while PS4 and PS5 players have access to Balatro and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun. Although Ark: Survival Ascended was expected to be the standout title, Balatro has stolen the spotlight.

Unsurprisingly, Balatro has become a sensation on PS Plus. Data from Game Trends, shared by True Trophies, reveals that Balatro is the most popular among the three free PS Plus games for May 2025. It also ranks as the third most popular free PS Plus game of the year so far, trailing only RoboCop: Rogue City and High on Life.

Latest Game Information

For those unfamiliar with Balatro, it is a roguelike deckbuilder where players aim to score as many points as possible. Despite its retro aesthetic and poker-inspired mechanics, the game has won over players with its addictive gameplay. In fact, Balatro was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards last year—a decision that surprised many who hadn’t experienced the game firsthand.

Now that Balatro is available as a free PS Plus title, even more gamers can discover its appeal. Fans of the game will also be pleased to know that Balatro collaborations are ongoing, with new cosmetics inspired by other roguelikes and popular games being added regularly. As Balatro continues to grow in popularity, the expanding player base may lead to even more exciting updates and collaborations.

It's important to note that Balatro is accessible to all PS Plus subscribers, regardless of their subscription tier. While the monthly free games are a perk of the Essential tier, they are also available to PS Plus Extra and Premium members.