*Lords of the Fallen* Takes the Lead! Are April’s PS Plus Free Games Worth It?

From the days of poring over lists of upcoming releases in console magazines, to later refreshing the monthly free games lineup every month, my anticipation for this kind of “blind box” surprise has never really changed. Especially after living through the least inspiring years of Chinese-made games, I understand even better the simple wish players have: if we’re paying for a subscription, at the very least, don’t let it buy us a stomach full of disappointment. Sony’s newly announced PlayStation Plus free games for April 2026 are available for both PS5 and PS4, and can be claimed by Essential, Extra, and Premium subscribers alike. Of the three new monthly freebies, if I could only download one first, my vote would go to Lords of the Fallen.

First up, my top recommendation: Lords of the Fallen. This is a textbook soulslike fantasy action game, clearly drawing close to Dark Souls, Demon’s Souls, and Elden Ring. It’s hard to say it delivers any earth-shattering originality in either art direction or systems, but its fundamentals are solid and the overall polish is fairly complete. More importantly, its visuals on the current PS5 platform still hold up very well. The ruins, the monsters, the oppressive atmosphere of its environments all carry a distinctly old-school dark fantasy flavor—like stepping with one foot into the headquarters of an evil sect in a wuxia story: eerie, yet impossible not to keep moving forward.

Beyond nostalgia, Lords of the Fallen is also hitting a good moment to jump in. The game received a major new update in April, with its online co-op mode significantly revamped, making it far more worth trying now for players who want to tackle the game with friends than it was at launch. And with Lords of the Fallen 2 expected to arrive in 2026, using this month’s free offering to catch up on the previous game is both cost-effective and a convenient way to see whether this style is really for you. My advice is simple: if you like soulslikes and still haven’t bought it, you can basically just download it this time. If you’ve never cared for high-difficulty action games, though, then no matter how refined it is, it still may not be for you.

In second place is the Tomb Raider remastered collection. It includes the three titles released from 1996 to 1998: Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2: Starring Lara Croft, and Tomb Raider 3: Adventures of Lara Croft. Both visuals and controls have been improved, and Lara has also been given several additional outfits. For longtime players, this kind of remaster feels like pulling an old sword out of storage: the scabbard may be worn, but the edge is still there. But for newer players used to a modern pace, its age will still be very obvious, and that’s something worth being mentally prepared for in advance. So it’s better suited to two kinds of people: those who genuinely want to catch up on the classics, and archaeology-minded players willing to accept the design logic of older games.

As for the third title, Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream, the verdict this time is less generous. Based on the information currently available, the judgment is fairly straightforward: of the three, it’s the least satisfying performer. Its main issues lie in weak balance, some muddled design ideas, and a heavier-than-desirable sense of gameplay repetition. Put bluntly, it looks lively at first, but grows tiring over time—like watching the same set of moves performed again and again: an impressive opening, but not much staying power. If you’re already a Sword Art Online fan, you can give it a try for the IP alone; but if you’re simply looking for a monthly free game with real staying power, this clearly shouldn’t be your top priority.

Coming back to the lineup itself, this month’s PS Plus free games are actually structured quite clearly: one soulslike meant to carry the lineup, one classic remaster aimed at collectors and nostalgia, and one co-op action game that leans more heavily on fan appeal. If you really want to ask, “Is it worth the subscription price?” I think most players will at least get a fairly positive answer because of Lords of the Fallen. It’s not a disastrous month by any means, though it’s not exactly an all-timer either. The worst thing for a free games lineup is when every title is mediocre; thankfully, this time there’s a proper main course. But if we’re talking about the kind of stunning surprise that makes you slap the table in admiration, it’s still missing that spark—the kind that takes you back to the thrill of first encountering The Legend of Sword and Fairy years ago.