The good news is that Sony provides several great avenues for PS5 owners to download premium games to their console without spending a dime. By taking advantage of the PlayStation Plus subscription service, free-to-play multiplayer titles, the PlayStation Collection instant game library, and limited time demos, you can build up an exciting game library from zero to hero at no cost.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore each option for scoring free games in detail, including tips for maximizing the savings and getting the most entertainment value from your PS5. Whether you‘re a new player just getting started or a seasoned veteran looking to expand your library, this overview will help unlock the world of complimentary gaming waiting for you on PlayStation.
Let‘s dive in!
An Overview of Free Game Options for PS5 Owners
First, here is a high-level glimpse at the paths to free games available once you get your hands on the powerful PS5 console:
PlayStation Plus Subscription
Sony‘s premium online service provides subscribers with:
- 2-3 free games per month (depends on your tier)
- Access to online multiplayer and other benefits
- 100GB cloud storage for saves
- Exclusive discounts on content
A Plus sub nets you anywhere from 24 – 36 free games per year to keep as long as you remain a member.
Free-to-Play (F2P) Games
- 10+ F2P multiplayer titles available with full access
- Includes hits like Fortnite, Genshin Impact, Apex Legends
- No PS Plus required for online multiplayer
- In-game purchases optional
PlayStation Collection
- 20 top PS4 games available for PS5 owners
- Includes exclusives like God of War, Uncharted 4, Ratchet and Clank
- Permanently added to your library once claimed
Limited Time Trials and Demos
- Free timed trials of upcoming releases
- Limited demo access ranging from 1-10 hours
As you can see, PlayStation makes it easy and enticing to score free gaming content across the board. Now let‘s explore each option more in-depth.
Getting the Most from PlayStation Plus Monthly Games
PlayStation Plus is Sony‘s premium online gaming service with three membership tiers available:
| Tier | Monthly Free Games | Price |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation Plus Essential | 2 | ~$60 per year |
| PlayStation Plus Extra | 2 | ~$100 per year |
| PlayStation Plus Premium | 3 | ~$120 per year |
The more you pay, the more free monthly games you get – up to 36 per year if you spring for PlayStation Plus Premium.
Based on the average cost of a PS5 game ($70), a year of PlayStation Plus can save you anywhere from $480 to $840 worth of games depending on the tier. That‘s some serious savings!
To grab your monthly freebies:
- Visit the PlayStation Store on the first Tuesday of each month when new titles go live.
- "Add to Library" any games you are interested in trying.
- Redeeming the games adds them permanently to your library – ready to download anytime as long as your Plus membership stays active.
- Download at your leisure directly from your library to start playing. Enjoy!
Pro Tip: Even if you don‘t plan to play a title right away, add any intriguing picks to your library so you don‘t miss out. You never know when the mood will strike down the road!
Let‘s check out some of the recent giveaways PlayStation Plus members have enjoyed:
| Month | Free PS Plus Games |
|---|---|
| October 2022 | Injustice 2, Hot Wheels Unleashed, Superhot |
| September 2022 | Need for Speed Heat, Granblue Fantasy Versus, Toem |
| August 2022 | Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Tony Hawk‘s Pro Skater 1 + 2, Little Nightmares |
| July 2022 | Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan, Arcadegeddon |
As you can see, the monthly selection varies wildly, bouncing between revered AAA blockbusters and unique indie experiences. You won‘t love every game, but you‘re guaranteed to find some fun freebies each month to build up your backlog.
Over the course of a year, you could amass a staggering lineup without spending an extra cent. Let‘s look at the value potential of each tier‘s giveaways in a year:
| Tier | Yearly Free Games | Total Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Playstation Plus Essential | 24 | ~$1,680 |
| Playstation Plus Extra | 24 | ~$1,680 |
| Playstation Plus Premium | 36 | ~$2,520 |
No matter which tier you choose, PlayStation Plus represents ridiculous savings compared to buying games at full retail price. It takes the financial risk out of trying new titles each month.
To ensure you never miss out on additions to your library, be sure to enable auto-download and notifications:
- Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Auto-Download.
- Toggle on auto-downloads for game updates and PS Plus monthly games.
- Open your notifications settings and enable notifications for PlayStation Plus announcements.
With those steps complete, each month‘s offerings will automatically download to your console and you‘ll get a handy on-screen notification when they go live. Easy peasy – no more forgetting freebies!
Now let‘s explore the world of complimentary F2P experiences waiting for you on PS5.
Enjoying Free-to-Play (F2P) Games to the Fullest
The free-to-play games model has exploded in popularity over the past decade. According to research firm NewZoo, over 75% of digital game revenue came from F2P titles in 2021.
For console gamers, this market shift translates to immediate access to hit multiplayer games without upfront purchase requirements. PlayStation now offers F2P gamers a smorgasbord of polished experiences across diverse genres.
While F2P titles allow in-game purchases, you can enjoy hundreds of hours of entertainment without spending an additional penny. Here are some of the most popular free PlayStation games spanning key genres:
Shooters
- Apex Legends
- Destiny 2
- Call of Duty: Warzone
MOBA
- Dota 2
- Smite
Battle Royale
- Fortnite
- Cuisine Royale
Fighting
- Brawlhalla
- Killer Instinct
Card Battler
- Roguebook
- Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
RPG
- Genshin Impact
- Path of Exile
Racing
- Rocket League
Platformer
- Fall Guys
- Knockout City
With so many F2P options readily available, you could enjoy endless multiplayer mayhem without putting a dent in your wallet.
And since F2P games allow online multiplayer without a PlayStation Plus subscription, it removes a frequent barrier to entry.
To discover new free gaming treasures, be sure to:
- Browse the "Free to Play" category on the PlayStation storefront
- Follow gaming news sites for coverage of new F2P launches
- Take occasional chances on intriguing F2P titles even outside your typical genres
The quality and depth of F2P experiences today rivals premium $60 releases. Now is the perfect time to dive in and elevate your PS5 game nights to the next level.
Up next, we‘ll explore how to unlock a huge catalog of acclaimed PS4 titles by taking advantage of the PlayStation Collection.
PlayStation Collection – Your PS4 to PS5 Free Upgrade Path
Migrating to a new console generation is always a difficult decision with the temptation to stick with your existing library. To help grease the wheels for upgraders, Sony offers the PlayStation Collection.
The PlayStation Collection grants PS5 owners instant access to a curated catalog of 20 generation-defining PS4 games spanning beloved exclusives, blockbuster hits, and critically acclaimed picks.
This serves as both a way for non-PlayStation gamers to catch up on past exclusives and for veteran fans to fill out their backlog with things they may have missed.
According to Sony, the combined value of all 20 games is over $780. Adding them to your library nets you a pretty nice haul of acclaimed games for precisely $0.
Here is the complete PlayStation Collection lineup available for PS5 owners:
- God of War
- Mortal Kombat X
- Batman: Arkham Knight
- Monster Hunter: World
- Fallout 4
- Final Fantasy XV
- The Last Guardian
- The Last of Us Remastered
- Uncharted 4: A Thief‘s End
- Bloodborne
- Days Gone
- Detroit: Become Human
- Battlefield 1
- Infamous Second Son
- Ratchet and Clank
- Until Dawn
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Persona 5
- The Last of Us: Remastered
- Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
That‘s one stellar class of hits from the PS4 era. To add these to your growing PS5 library:
- On your PS5 console, open the PlayStation Collection page in the PlayStation Store.
- Scroll through and add to your library any title you want to download.
- Once claimed, the games are permanently yours and can be downloaded anytime as long as you remain a PSN member.
- Download away and enjoy!
With its mix of genres, cooperative experiences, and trophy hunting potential, the PlayStation Collection is a fool-proof way to plant an instant game garden on your new PS5 right from the start.
Now let‘s discuss how to take advantage of limited time free game trials and demos when they are available.
Getting the Most from Free Game Trials and Demos
Nothing beats getting extended hands-on time with a game for free to determine if it‘s up your alley. PlayStation occasionally offers timed trials or demo access for upcoming games as part of promotional events and game demos.
These are often attached to big releases and allow you to enjoy 1-10 hours of full gameplay for zero cost. It removes the risk from pre-ordering or buying at launch.
For example, in November 2022, Sonic Frontiers will receive a 10 hour free trial starting November 3rd, over a week before its full release. This allows excited fans to get a meaty taste of the new open world experience early.
Free trials also sometimes release shortly after launch as a way to win over hesitant gamers. The massive Harry Potter RPG Hogwarts Legacy will receive a free PS5 trial in February 2023, potentially hooking players who may not have splurged at launch.
To find out about upcoming game trials, bookmark and routinely check sites like:
- PlayStation Blog – Sony‘s official PlayStation news site
- IGN – Premiere games publication
- GameSpot – Gaming news, reviews and forums
Then be ready to pounce when your most anticipated titles receive free demo periods.
In general, tips for making the most of limited time game trials include:
- Claim it fast before the access period expires
- Prioritize titles aligned with your gaming interests
- Set a reminder on your phone for the demo end date
- Download games you foresee buying to carry over progress from the trial
- For shorter trials, focus only on portions you really want to evaluate
With so many awesome free avenues to build your game library, let‘s do a quick recap…
Free Games for My New PS5 – A Quick Recap
Here is a bird‘s eye view of the paths to expanding your PS5 game collection without paying a dime:
- PlayStation Plus – Subscription service with 24-36 free games per year depending on your tier
- F2P Games – 10+ free-to-play multiplayer games spanning popular franchises
- PlayStation Collection – 20 acclaimed PS4 games available for $0 to PS5 owners
- Limited Time Trials – Occasional 1-10 hour free game access to preview titles
Combined you gain access to:
- On average 30+ free games per year with a PlayStation Plus membership
- 20 permanent PlayStation Collection additions
- 10+ forever free multiplayer experiences through F2P
- Timed early hands-on with anticipated games
That selection combined with discounts on purchased games and other perks makes PlayStation Plus a smart bet for new PS5 owners looking to maximize their gaming budget.
But even without a paid subscription, focusing on the PlayStation Collection and Free-to-Play titles will stuff your new console with stellar free content across the spectrum of genres and preferences.
Now let‘s move on to some expert tips for managing your expanding free game library.
Pro Tips for Managing Your Free Games Collection
With so many free gaming opportunities, your new PS5‘s storage space will get gobbled up fast.
Here are some pro techniques for keeping your library lean and your console‘s memory from turning to mush:
- Swapping games – Once you finish a game, delete it and swap in something new from your library to open storage. Save data remains separately.
- Archiving old saves – Offload saves you are done with to external storage or cloud storage to free up GBs.
- Rank by interest – Weigh which titles you are most excited to play soon vs. long-term backlog when juggling space.
- Expand with external storage – Add an external SSD or HDD to move games to that you access less frequently. Makes it easy to swap games back and forth. A cheap way to quadruple your effective space.
- Auto-install off – Disable auto-install of PS Plus monthly games so you can cherry pick when to download new additions.
- Game trials first – Download trials and demos first before full games to evaluate if it is worth the HDD real estate. Delete after if not of interest.
- Don‘t overdo it – Be selective in claiming free games if you know you likely won‘t realistically get around to playing them before they leave PS Plus rotation or are buried forever in your backlog. Quality over quantity!
Using these best practices, you can keep your new PS5 packed with an exciting variety of free gaming goodness without letting your storage choke under the weight of an overzealous download queue.
The Wonderful World of Free PS5 Gaming Awaits
Welcome to next-gen, where you game collection and options for entertainment expand tremendously without increased financial burden.
Sony provides multiple player-friendly paths for gamers of all types to explore new titles without risk. Make PlayStation Plus, F2P games, PlayStation Collection downloads, and limited time trials part of your game discovery ritual.
Bookmark this guide and reference it as you embark on building your impressive library of complimentary gaming experiences. Enjoy and happy downloading! Game on!
