Last updated on November 29, 2025
Sony is wrapping up 2025 with a surprisingly generous PlayStation Plus Essential lineup. From family‑friendly action to grim co‑op horror, December’s selection gives PS4 and PS5 owners five very different games to dig into over the holidays. All titles will be available to claim from December 2, 2025, until January 5, 2026, as long as you have an active PS Plus Essential subscription.
LEGO Horizon Adventures (PS5)
The headline addition this month is LEGO Horizon Adventures, a playful spin on Guerrilla’s Horizon series built specifically for PS5. It retells Aloy’s fight to save a post‑apocalyptic Earth, but swaps realistic visuals for colourful LEGO environments, breakable structures and light‑hearted humour. The game supports local and online co‑op, so you can explore robot‑filled ruins, solve simple puzzles and hunt for collectibles with friends or family on the couch.
Killing Floor 3 (PS5)
If you prefer gore over bricks, Killing Floor 3 delivers co‑op action‑horror for up to six players on PS5. This sequel once again pits you against waves of bio‑engineered mutants, encouraging smart team compositions, constant movement and heavy use of its brutal melee and gunplay systems. Seasonal events and a strong focus on replayable missions make it a good option for groups looking for a shooter to play throughout December.
The Outlast Trials (PS5, PS4)
Sticking with horror but shifting the focus to stealth, The Outlast Trials is set in the same twisted universe as the earlier Outlast games. Instead of exploring alone, you can take part in sadistic “trials” either solo or with up to three other players online, relying on gadgets, hiding spots and coordination rather than weapons. The game’s jump scares and oppressive atmosphere won’t be for everyone, but horror fans get one of the month’s most intense experiences on both PS4 and PS5.
Synduality Echo of Ada (PS5)
Synduality Echo of Ada brings a futuristic, dystopian flavour to the lineup, mixing extraction‑shooter elements with mech combat. You play as a Drifter venturing to the surface to gather AO Crystals, then retreating to safety before rival players and hostile creatures wipe you out and confiscate your haul. Managing risk versus reward, upgrading your mech and learning the maps are key to long‑term progression, making this a good pick for players who enjoy looter‑shooter style systems.
Neon White (PS5, PS4)
The final game, Neon White, is a stylish first‑person action platformer that feels very different from everything else in the bundle. Each level plays like a speed‑running puzzle, asking you to chain together movement abilities and weapon “cards” to eliminate demons as fast as possible while chasing leaderboard times. With its anime‑inspired presentation and gradually rising difficulty curve, Neon White is perfect for short, intense sessions on either PS4 or PS5.
Should You Be Excited About December?
Five games instead of the usual three makes December’s PS Plus Essential drop stand out immediately. Between a big new first‑party‑linked title in LEGO Horizon Adventures, two flavours of horror, an experimental extraction shooter and a beloved indie action game, the range of genres is unusually broad. Just remember to claim November’s titles before December 2, then add these new games to your library during the December 2–January 5 window so you can keep them as long as your subscription remains active.
