PlayStation Plus new free game is certified 9/10 that'll consume your life

The best game of 2024 is on its way to PlayStation Plus, and no, I am not joking. Don’t download this banger if you value your free time.

Great news! The PlayStation Plus Essential Monthly Games line-up for May has just been announced.

Even greater news! One of the games you can grab at no extra cost this month is Balatro. If you don’t know why this is incredible news, then, clearly, you haven’t played Balatro yet.

Look, any day I get to write about Balatro is a good day, because goddamn this game slaps. I don’t think I invested more time in any other game in 2024, and I still boot it up every few days just to feel something.

Developed by a single person, the much-beloved LocalThunk, Balatro is a roguelike deck builder that essentially treats poker like a game of Slay the Spire.

Take a look at Balatro in action below.

It doesn’t sound like the most exciting prospect on paper, especially if you’ve never actually played poker, but it took me exactly 10 minutes to become consumed by Balatro.

It is the most dopamine-inducing game I’ve ever played, and it makes you feel like an absolute genius when you figure out the optimal play during a boss fight.

Speaking of Slay the Spire, that game is in my top three of all time… and I think Balatro isn’t far off its spot in my list. There are days I’m frozen by indecision because I can’t decide which of the two I want to play. Neither will ever leave my currently downloaded Steam titles.

Anyway, don’t just take my word for it, because Balatro currently has a 90/100 score on Metacritic. Frankly, I think that’s a little low, and I will be writing strongly worded letters to any reviewers who gave it less than a 9/10.

Balatro is hitting PlayStation Plus on 6 May, so I highly suggest booking a few days off work so you can fall down the rabbit hole. I’m gonna go play some Balatro right now. God, I love Balatro. I’m so jealous you all get to play Balatro for the first time. Take a shot every time I say Balatro.