PlayStation Plus is constantly adding games of every genre variety, but it can be harder to find strong inclusions for specific niches. While Soulslike games are a dime a dozen these days, the PS Plus library of options is a bit more limited, especially if you’ve already exhausted obvious options like Bloodborne, Demon’s Souls, and Nioh.
Luckily, the PlayStation Plus monthly game lineup for May contains a real treat for Soulslike fans. Two, actually, if you count the Sekiro-inspired Metroidvania Nine Sols. Even those who stick to strict genre definitions, though, would find it hard to claim that one of the free games doesn’t deliver most of the staple features that FromSoft established.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Is Free Through PS Plus
Along with Nine Sols and EA Sports FC 26, PlayStation Plus is adding Wuchang: Fallen Feathers as a free monthly title on May 5. While this Soulslike fought an uphill battle against performance issues at launch and some controversial post-launch changes, it easily secured a place among my favorite games of 2025 and favorite Soulslikes in general.
Admittedly, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers isn’t the most original Soulslike. Although its Ming Dynasty setting is a far cry from FromSoft’s dark fantasy worlds, most core elements of Wuchang‘s gameplay and presentation shy away from reinventing the wheel. If you’ve played Dark Souls, Bloodborne, or Sekiro, very little in Wuchang will feel fundamentally unfamiliar.
Imitating FromSoft successfully is still tough, though. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, to its credit, makes it look effortless. Mazelike areas tap into the genius of FromSoft level design in a way that puts the awkward invisible walls of Black Myth: Wukong to shame. The surplus of traps and enemy ambushes has been toned down since launch, but even when the land mines were at their most plentiful, poking at the corners of every level was a true pleasure.
It’s also a good-looking game in a way that few Unreal Engine 5 titles are, embracing an interest in stylization that rivals actual FromSoft works. The interesting area design is bolstered by strong color choices and environmental details, which make exploration rewarding even when there’s no treasure chest to be found. Toss in some memorable boss designs that range from gorgeous to grotesque (or a seamless mix of both), and this could very well become a proper screenshot simulator.
Wuchang’s Combat Is Intensely Satisfying
At times, Wuchang embraces the Sekiro side of its inspirations. While the art of parrying isn’t required for every boss, some demand the relentless aggression and exacting rhythm that defines Sekiro, and defeating them grants a similar satisfaction to conquering foes like Genichiro Ashina. Wuchang never gets quite as hard as Sekiro‘s toughest trials, but it still delivers the level of challenge that you’d expect from any proper Soulslike.
While I generally lack much of an interest in character builds, I also found myself surprisingly interested in Wuchang‘s approach to skills and abilities. The ability to freely respec encouraged me to tailor my set-up for each tough fight, and some fun weapon abilities offer unique rewards for aggression or interesting ways to wrest control of the battlefield in your favor. After almost exclusively hacking my way through Elden Ring with the Bloodhound’s Fang due to a terminal case of Smithing Stone aversion, Wuchang made for a nice change.
Controversy Shouldn’t Keep You Away From This Soulslike
Nine months after release, the biggest drawback to Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is the controversy surrounding its narrative updates. Certain enemies and bosses central to Chinese history can no longer be killed, which arguably affects some of the original story and themes of the game (I’m not enough of an expert to give a nuanced take on the issue, but it seems like a shame).
I also wish the game had stuck to its guns on some aspects of balance. Complaints about certain challenges and the widespread use of traps led to patches dialing certain elements back, but I didn’t find anything to be especially unfair when playing before the updates. If anything, any degree of unfairness that was present felt like a throwback to the middle-finger-forward design of the original Dark Souls, which I sometimes prefer to games that dump all the challenge into the boss fights.
Whether Wuchang‘s updates have been for better or worse, the basic fun factor of the game remains intact, so I wouldn’t let complaints about the changes turn you off from checking it out. The PlayStation Plus availability is the perfect excuse, as subscribers have nothing to lose by giving it a go.
For those who don’t have PlayStation Plus, it’s also currently available through Xbox Game Pass for Ultimate and PC subscribers. If you’re not invested in either ecosystem or averse to subscriptions altogether (join the club), Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is currently 30% off on Steam. No matter who you are, there’s never been a better time to shake off any reluctance generated by criticism and play the coolest Soulslike of 2025.
- Released
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July 24, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
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Leenzee
- Publisher(s)
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505 Games
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
