Good news for PS5 players: a cult strategy game from the PS4 era is now available for free, without even needing PS Plus. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogunthe critically acclaimed real-time tactical game, comes to the next-gen console with a free upgrade.
Originally released in 2016 on PS4, the title is finally arriving on PS5 and PS5 Pro, just in time to prepare the ground for its expansion Aiko’s Choiceexpected on December 6. A discreet release, but one that clearly deserves attention.
A cult PS4 game that returns for free on PS5
Developed by Mimimi Productions, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun offers a total immersion in Japan of the Edo period. We play a group of five shadow specialists, each with unique skills, responsible for protecting a new Shogun through espionage, infiltration and assassination missions.
Which makes the announcement even more attractive: players who already owned the game on PS4 can benefit from a free upgrade to PS5 versionat no additional cost. But even newcomers can download it without a PS Plus subscription – a rarity worth noting.
On Steam, the game still displays the “extremely positive” rating and a user score of 85 on Metacritica sign of its warm welcome among fans of demanding tactics and precise gameplay.
Why this return now?
The return of Shadow Tactics on the front of the stage owes nothing to chance. The standalone expansion of the game, Aiko’s Choicealready available on PC since 2021, is about to be released on PS5 on December 6, 2025. This PS5 version of the base game therefore arrives at the right time, to allow a new generation of players to discover the universe before diving into this additional content.
At the same time, those who wish to try it now can also benefit from a 90% off promotion on Steamaccompanied by a free demo. Whether you’re a PS4 veteran or a new PS5 player, this tactical gem clearly deserves a place in your library.