PS Plus Free Games for January 2026 Set up 3 goals and hit them all

PlayStation Plus 2025 sets a very high bar for itself when it comes to games offered for free with PS Plus Essential. 2025 saw acclaimed titles Alan Wake 2, Psychonaut 2and The lie of p Come to PlayStation Plus' Essential tier, including the smaller hits high in life, a strayand Viewfinder. PS Plus also ended 2025 with a bang, offering a total of five free games in December. LEGO Horizon Adventures, Killing Floor 3and outlast tests, among others.

Naturally, there was a lot of pressure on PlayStation Plus to hit it out of the park with free games for January 2026. For some fans, PS Plus didn't live up to their high expectations this month. But with three very different titles currently available, PlayStation Plus' free games for January 2026 target three specific audiences that are sure to embrace at least some of what's on offer this month, groups that are likely to be satisfied.

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PS Plus Essential Free Game for January 2026: Need for Speed Unbound

Target One: The Casual Race Fan

Probably the most split PlayStation Plus free game for January 2026, Speed is essential for unbound Originally released back in December 2022. Along with the old game, some PS Plus members are disappointed. Speed is essential for unboundThis month is included because it was available on PS Plus Extra and Premium until August 2024. In other words, PS Plus is double-dipping with games again, and many fans have already played them on PS Plus.

it said, Speed is essential for unbound Still a solid game that many casual fans of the racing genre will appreciate having in their PlayStation library. Speed is essential for unbound OpenCritic sits at a top critic average of 75, meaning it's far from the best-reviewed entry. Needed for speed franchise, but it's also far from bad. In general, critics thought not Unbound The series did a lot of work to advance it, but its art style was vibrant and its gameplay mechanics were well-polished. This makes it worthy of a few hours of game time, especially with PS Plus.

Speed is essential for unbound Marking the long-awaited return of Criterion games to the franchise since the last entry in 2012: Need for Speed: Most Wanted. As can be expected from standards-evolved Needed for speed game, Unbound A vibrant open world full of side activities and collectibles, along with a wide suite of customization options for a plethora of different vehicles. While hardcore racing games may not gel with fans UnboundWith its fast-paced, arcade-y driving mechanics, fans of the casual racing genre can easily lose themselves in the game's thoroughly enjoyable story and multiplayer modes.

The Speed Unbound tag page is essential for cover art

issued: December 2, 2022
ESRB: teenager
publisher(s): Electronic Arts

PS Plus must-have free game for January 2026 – Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

Target Two: Family-friendly platformer fans

A remake of the 2010 Nintendo Wii exclusive, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is an engaging 3D platformer that is suitable for younger gamers while still having plenty for older audiences to enjoy. As its name suggests, players take on the role of Mickey Mouse, who is tasked with saving the world with a magical paintbrush. The gameplay sees players playing through various Disneyland-inspired environments, bringing life to the world around them through painting, and using paint thinner to defeat enemies and clear obstacles.

The original 2010 version of the Epic Mickey It earned a mixed reception from critics, but the 2024 remake received a slightly lukewarm reception, sitting at a top critic average of 77 on OpenCritic. Most are considered critics Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Adding to the game's charm through new easter eggs and references, streamlining some of the frustrating gameplay elements of the 2010 game, is a huge improvement over the original. gave Epic Mickey: Rebrushed’s source material, vibrant aesthetic, captivating world-building, and relatively simple gameplay mechanics, this is a classic game for young players looking to try their hand at 3D platformers, and for older players alike.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Tag Page Cover Art

issued: September 24, 2024
ESRB: Everyone 10+ // Fantasy violence
developer(s): Purple light

PS Plus must-have free game for January 2026: Core Keeper

Goal Three: Survival Crafting Sandbox Fans

The most critically acclaimed game to date in the January 2026 line-up of PlayStation Plus Essentials (currently sitting at an 87 top critic average on OpenCritic). Core Keeper A sandbox crafting survival game that should appeal not only to fans of the genre but also to fans of the games. Stardew Valley and Terraria. Released on Steam Early Access in March 2022 and given a full 1.0 launch in August 2024, Core Keeper The game is played from a top-down perspective and sees players exploring a procedurally generated underground world filled with fantastical dangers and otherworldly architecture.

Core Keeper The official Nintendo Switch 2 version will be getting on January 28, 2026, coinciding with the release of the 'Void & Voltage' update that will be available on all platforms.

Same as the game Minecraft and the arkThe general goal of Core Keeper Players continue to create more elaborate equipment so that they can continue to explore and mine their surroundings, and in turn gain more valuable resources which are then needed to craft better gear. It's a simple gameplay loop that's worn well over the last decade or so, but Core Keeper It manages to keep things fresh by offering some pulse-pounding combat and boss fights, a rewarding and constant sense of progression, and wrapping it all up in a beautiful pixel art style.

Cherry on Core KeeperThe icing on the cake is that the entire game can also be played in 2-8 player drop in/drop out online co-op. Getting new multiplayer experiences for free with PlayStation Plus is always a positive thing, especially when they're like games Core KeeperThat feels tailor-made for bite-sized, relaxing gaming sessions with friends and loved ones.

issued: August 27, 2024
ESRB: E For All // Mild fantasy violence
developer(s): Pugstorm
publisher(s): Fireshine Games