PlayStation Plus May versus Xbox Games with Gold free games lineup - Which is best?

Both Sony and Microsoft have revealed their free games lineups for May 2020, and neither looks fantastic. While the PlayStation Plus lineups have been killing it for several months now, this month it isn't as easy to pick a clear winner, but this won't stop us from trying.

First up, we take a look at the PlayStation Plus and Xbox Games with Gold lineups, then deliver our verdict on which is best.

• Read more: PS5 reveal event set for June, new rumour claims

PlayStation Plus May 2020 lineup

The PlayStation Plus May 2020 free games lineup isn't as great as what we've come to expect, as it features two niche titles, one of which feels like watching paint dry when you play it.

The titles below will be available to PlayStation Plus subscribers from 5th May to 1st June 2020.

• Cities: Skylines - PlayStation 4 Edition
• Farming Simulator 2019

Xbox Games with Gold May 2020 lineup

The Xbox Games with Gold May 2020 free games lineup features, as always, four games. Two are Xbox One titles, and two are Xbox 360 titles which you can play on the Xbox One thanks to backwards compatibility.

Check out the free games lineup Xbox Live Gold subscribers can look forward to below, including their availability dates:

• V-Rally - Available 1st to 31st May on Xbox One
• Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr - Available 16th May to 15th June on Xbox One
• Sensible World of Soccer - Available 1st to 15th May on Xbox One & Xbox 360
• Overlord II - Available 16th to 31st May on Xbox One & Xbox 360

Which free games are best?

Neither of the free game lineups are mind-blowing, but we now have to decide which is best. Our decision is based on the quality of the titles, gameplay experience, as well as value for money. 

First up, the PlayStation Plus May 2020 free games lineup only has two games, compared to Xbox Games with Gold May 2020 with four games, so that's a bit of a win for Xbox.

The PlayStation Plus lineup has two niche games, while the Xbox Games with Gold covers a wider variety of genres. 

We are going for quality of quantity here. The highest-rated game in both lineups is Cities: Skylines and Sensible World of Soccer, with an 81/100 reviewer rating for both on Metacritic. Farming Simulator 2019 sits at 64/100 from reviewers.

The Games with Gold ratings are:

• V-Rally - 64/100
• Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr - 71/100
• Sensible World of Soccer - 81/100
• Overlord II - 75/100

Looking at the average scores for both lineups, there is a winner.

• PlayStation Plus - 72.5 average
• Games with Gold - 72.75 average

While we do keep in mind two of the Xbox Games with Gold titles are very old, one simply cannot ignore the PlayStation Plus May 2020 lineup is very niche, and from personal experience, I think Farming Simulator 19 is the worst of all six free games.

Cities: Skylines is the best of the lot, however, it narrowly couldn't help Sony win against Microsoft this month. 

• Read more: PS5 games to be revealed in next Official PlayStation Magazine issue

The winner is Xbox Games with Gold May 2020.