PS5 Latest Freebie is a Charming Platformer I Can’t Stop Thinking About

PlayStation 5 has just dropped a new free platformer demo, and it’s something I can’t stop thinking about.

There are a lot of free demos available on PS5, and it can be difficult to find something you might genuinely enjoy. But with that said, the upcoming game Windswept might be something to keep in mind.

It’s a platformer presented in a 2D retro style, and is described as “a love letter to a period of gaming where collectathon platformers reigned supreme, trying again was the norm, and players only had a game manual to guide them.”

You know, like Mario.

In Windswept, there are over 40 stages to explore and complete, with each one having a unique set of collectibles and bonus challenges to beat.

“You'll learn every ability in the first stage of the game, after that you're on your own,” reads the description of the game. “Changing your leader gives you an entirely new set of actions to use and master - remember to take your time and things will click eventually...

“Making your way home will be tough, and you'll need to keep trying until you get the hang of things - but for those who find it a walk in the park, there's plenty of hidden challenges along the way to test you! There's no wrong way to play Windswept.”

Windswept is a love letter to the 1990s

The two main characters of Windswept are a duck and a turtle named Marbles and Checkers, and they each have unique abilities. However, that isn’t always enough to complete these challenges. Sometimes, you’ll have to mix and match these techniques and find a playstyle that works for you.

Fans of old-school retro titles should find something to enjoy here, and it might just end up being a great indie platformer for you to check out in-between the bigger releases from this time of the year.

Windswept now has a free demo available to play on PS5, and is available for all users to download. It’s also available on PC via Steam and GOG, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to play the full game version of Windswept, it was released on all platforms last week.

It’s the debut title developed by WeatherFell, an independent developer dedicated to designing retro-style games.

It’s also published by Top Hat Studios, a company that has previously published titles like Labyrinth of the Demon King, Athenian Rhapsody, and Kaichu: The Kaiju Dating Sim.