A strong lineup

Every month, PlayStation Plus members look forward to discovering which fresh games they will be able to download free to add to their digital collections. From grim, Soulslike action to frenetic zombie survival and anime-powered combat, Sony has provided a remarkably strong three-of-a-kind catalog for August 2025 spanning a broad spectrum of player interests. Lies of P, DayZ, and My Hero One's Justice 2 are among the Essential lineup for this month—a varied and thrilling selection guaranteed to offer hours of enjoyment.

This month celebrates PlayStation Plus's 15th anniversary, which includes free commemorative avatars in addition to the games themselves. Each title is examined more carefully, its unique qualities are investigated, and August is broken down as possibly the best month for PS Plus members in 2025.

Lies of P - A gothic soulslike marvel

Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Genre: Action RPG / Soulslike

Developer: Neowiz Games

Rating: Mature

A Darker retelling of Pinocchio

Arguably the highlight title in this month's selection is Lies of P, an award-winning action RPG that reimagines the classic story of Pinocchio in the style of a grim, blood-soaked Soulslike. Published late in 2023 to great acclaim, this game created its own distinct market by fusing the difficult mechanics of Dark Souls with an originally twisted fairy tale style.

Set in the rotting, Belle Époque inspired metropolis of Krat, players become P—an automaton created by Geppetto—who must fight his way through waves of terrifying puppets, expose sinister conspiracies, and discover the secrets of his own invention. The story is dark, ethically ambiguous, and full of decisions that shape your conclusion, hence layers of narrative complexity and replay value.

Gameplay that demands Precision

Lies of P is remarkable for its fluid, tactical fighting that demands accuracy, patience, and meticulous resource management. Players can modify their weapons, replace hilts and blades, and even improve P's robotic arm with dedicated tools like grappling hooks or flamethrowers.

Boss conflicts are fierce and need several tries as well as knowledge of enemy attack patterns. The learning curve is high, but the payoff is great pleasure when you finally defeat that apparently impossible enemy.

Why it’s a big win for PS Plus

For gamers who may have missed out on this treasure when it first released, getting Lies of P as part of the PS Plus Essential membership is a huge victory. The clear emphasis of August's promotions is the rarity of such a recent and premium title being presented as part of the most basic subscription level.

DayZ: Survive the Apocalypse, your way

Platform: PlayStation 4, also playable on PS5.

Genre: Multiplayer Survival / Open World

Developer: Bohemia Interactive

Rating: Mature

Post-Apocalyptic Sandboxes

DayZ, a challenging multiplayer survival game that has been a standard in the field for years, follows next. Though it lacks the polish of a AAA game, DayZ is loved for its emergent gameplay, surprise interactions, and continuous mechanics. Set in the imaginary postSoviet nation of Chernarus, gamers wake with only the clothes on their backs and must search for food, water, weapons, and shelter to live.

Apart from infected zombies, the planet also has other players—some good, some hostile. There is no map, handholding, or clearly specified targets. Your instinct, ingenuity, and a little of luck decide whether you survive.

Driven Experiences by Players

The player-driven, unscripted nature of DayZ distinguishes it. Each session develops differently. One day you might meet a friendly group of survivors who assist you to establish a home. Stories of treachery, fellowship, and mayhem keep the community coming back. The next, you might be ambushed by a lone sniper hiding in the tree line.

Death is irrevocable; therefore the stress is always high. Death costs you everything and forces you to begin once again. Every decision has real weight and consequence thanks to this mechanism.

Still changing after all these years

Though DayZ first started as a mod over a decade ago, it has kept changing. Vehicles, basebuilding, disease systems, and improved performance have all been added with regular updates. Assuring a steady experience with excellent images and frame rates, the PS4 version runs smoothly and is also backward compatible on PS5.

My Hero One’s Justice 2: Anime Action at Its Most Flashy

Platform: Playable on PlayStation 4 as well as on PS5.

Genre: 3D Arena Fighter

Developer: Byking; Bandai Namco

Rating: Teen

A Love letter to my Hero Academia fans

My Hero One's Justice 2, a vibrant, high-energy arena combat based on the popular anime and manga My Hero Academia, rounds out August's PS Plus selections. Fans of Deku, All Might, and the rest of U.A. High's Class 1A will be in for a feast.

From the anime, the game has a large cast of characters, each with own quirks (superpowers). Whether you're rising with Hawks' wings or releasing Bakugo's explosive attacks, fighting is rapid, spectacular, and faithful to the source material.

Deep though still simple

Though it's beginner-friendly with easy combo inputs and amazing visual effects, the game also has enough elements to reward seasoned players. You can develop three member teams, conduct unique tagin attacks, and unleash deadly ultimate moves.

The single-player story mode lets fans to relive important fights and storylines by covering several arcs from the anime. For competitive play, there are mission modes, local multiplayer, and online matchmaking as well.

A good change of rhythm

My Hero One's Justice 2 presents a more bright and joyful experience following the harsh darkness of Lies of P and the tense survivalist of DayZ. For casual gaming sessions or for enthusiasts wanting to battle it out with their favorite heroes and villains, it's ideal.

Celebrating fifteen years of PlayStation Plus

Sony is celebrating a significant milestone this month—15 years of PlayStation Plus—in addition to the games. They are releasing a set of exclusive anniversary avatars inspired by some of the most famous titles in the PlayStation ecosystem to mark the occasion. These encompass:

• Cyberpunk 2077

• God of War Ragnarök

• Twisted Metal

• Hogwarts Legacy

• Diablo IV

Beginning August 5 for all PS Plus members, independent of tier, these avatars will be provided free of charge. It's a cool little bonus that highlights how far the service has traveled since its introduction in 2010.

Claim August's Games via These Methods:

Beginning Tuesday, August 5, you will have until Monday, September 1 to put the new titles onto your account. Once you claim them, as always, they are yours to retain if your PlayStation Plus subscription is still in effect.

Make sure to claim Diablo IV, The King of Fighters XV, and Jusant, July's lineup, before they vanish on August 4.

Last Thoughts: A Month That's Well Rounded

One of the most robust PlayStation Plus Essential lineups for August 2025 we have seen in months. Every game offers something different to the table:

• Lies of P:

Deep, ambient narrative and difficult action fighting is offered by Lies of P.

• DayZ:

Provides in a vast open environment erratic, emergent survival gameplay.

• My Heron One’s Justice 2:

With quick, flashy, anime-infused brawling, my hero One's Justice 2 brings things out.

August's selection offers something for everyone—a serious Soulsliike fan, a survivalist, or a laid-back anime fighter. This month feels like a true celebration of what PlayStation Plus is all about: variety, value, and community, especially when combined with the 15th anniversary party and free avatar bundle.

Subscribers—whether Essential, Extra, or Premium—have much to anticipate if Sony keeps producing like this.