As
we
sprint
into
May
and
toward
our
inevitable
collective
demise,
it’s
time
for
Sony
to
unveil
another
batch
of
“free”
PlayStation
Plus
Essential
games.
So
let’s
see
what
we’ve
got,
shall
we?

These
games
will
be
available
to
claim
from
May
6
until
June
2.
And
as
always,
make
sure
to
add
them
to
your
library
even
if
you
don’t
want
to
play
them
right
now.
They
will
remain
available
to
you
so
long
as
you
have
an
active
subscription.

Despite
a
rumour
just
the
other
week
suggesting
we
would
be
getting
the
Until
Dawn
Remake,
the
horror
title
is
nowhere
to
be
found.
Instead,
we’re
kicking
off
with

ARK:
Survival
Ascended
(PS5).

“Are
you
ready
to
form
a
tribe,
tame
and
breed
hundreds
of
species
of
dinosaurs
and
other
primeval
creatures,
explore,
craft,
build,
and
fight
your
way
to
the
top
of
the
food-chain?”
yells
the
official
PlayStation
Blog
as
it
drives
us
around
in
a
jeep.
“Your
new
world
awaits
in
this
survival
sim,
reimagined
from
the
ground-up
with
Unreal
Engine
5,
with
high-end
graphic
features,
advanced
physics
systems
and
quality
of
life
revamps
in
every
area.
Ark:
Survival
Ascended
includes
access
to
all
of
Ark’s
worlds,
including
Scorched
Earth,
Aberration,
Extinction,
Ark
Genesis
Part
1,
Ark
Genesis
Part
2,
and
more.
The
game
supports
public
online
multiplayer
for
up
to
70
players,
private-session
multiplayer
for
up
to
8
players,
and
local
split-screen
for
2
players.”

Then
we’ve
got
an
indie
superstar
in
the
form
of

Balatro
(PS4,
PS5).
Developed
by
just
one
guy,
Belatro
managed
to
pick
up
numerous
Game
of
the
Year
awards
and
has
sold
over
5
million
copies.
I’ve
been
very
curious
to
try
this
one,
so
I’m
excited
to
see
it
being
offered
up
this
month.
Here’s
the
blurb:

“In
this
poker-inspired
roguelike
deck
builder,
it’s
all
creating
powerful
synergies
and
winning
big.
Play
illegal
poker
hands,
discover
game-changing
jokers
and
trigger
outrageous
combos
in
this
roguelike
strategy
experience.
Combine
valid
poker
hands
with
unique
joker
cards
in
order
to
create
varied
synergies
and
builds.
Earn
enough
chips
to
beat
devious
blinds,
all
while
uncovering
hidden
bonus
hands
and
decks
as
you
progress.
You’re
going
to
need
every
edge
you
can
get
in
order
to
reach
the
boss
blind,
beat
the
final
ante
and
secure
victory.”

Finally,
we
get
to
serve
the
Emperor
by
killing
the
xeno
scum
in

Warhammer
40K:
Boltgun
(PS4,
PS5),
a
boomer-shooter
where
you
play
as
a
Space
Marine
and
shoot
everything
in
the
face.
Again,
this
is
a
game
I’ve
been
meaning
to
get
around
to,
so
now
I
have
the
perfect
excuse.

“Load
up
your
Boltgun
and
plunge
into
battle
headfirst!
Experience
a
perfect
blend
of
Warhammer
40,000,
classic,
frenetic
FPS
gameplay
and
the
stylish
visuals
of
your
favourite
90’s
retro
shooters.
Play
a
battle-hardened
Space
Marine
on
a
perilous
mission
across
the
galaxy,
as
they
battle
against
the
Chaos
Space
Marines
and
daemons
of
Chaos.
In
glorious
boomer
shooter
style,
unleash
your
devastating
Space
Marine
arsenal
as
you
blast
through
an
explosion
of
sprites,
pixels
and
blood.
Run,
jump
and
charge
across
huge
levels
to
shoot,
shred
and
slice
the
worst
heretics
across
the
galaxy!”

All
said
and
done,
this
months
three
games
have
a
value
of
just
over
£70.
Obviously,
that
isn’t
taking
into
account
how
often
they
can
be
bought
at
discounted
prices.