PS Plus Free Games for January 2026 Explained

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January is proving to be a great month for PlayStation Plus members. Sony is starting 2026 by offering a diverse selection of games instead of focusing on just one major title. Like always, the games chosen are meant to appeal to all PlayStation players – they’re different enough to offer variety, but still easy recommendations for subscribers who want to build up their game library without spending more money.

As a subscriber, I’m really excited about the free games coming next January! On January 6th, 2026, we’ll be able to download Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper. It’s a great mix – you’ve got fast-paced street racing, a fresh take on a classic Disney platformer, and a fun, cooperative survival game to play with friends. Honestly, it’s a more varied selection than we usually get, which is awesome!

Need for Speed Unbound

Read Game Rant’s Review of Need for Speed Unbound

Need for Speed Unbound is an open-world racing game taking place in Lakeshore City, a fictional take on Chicago. Players earn money by winning races, which they can use to upgrade their cars and enter bigger competitions each week. Like other games in the series, the more you race, the more attention you attract from the police (called ‘Heat’), creating a challenging balance between taking risks and escaping pursuit. Unbound stands out with its unique art style, combining cel-shading and graffiti with realistic cars. However, it still delivers the classic Need for Speed experience – easy-to-learn arcade driving, extensive car customization, and both a solo story campaign and online multiplayer.

Need for Speed Unbound’s Features at a Glance

  • OPEN-WORLD STREET RACING across Lakeshore City, a fictional urban environment inspired by Chicago.
  • SIGNATURE VISUAL ART STYLE blending cel-shading and graffiti with realistic car models.
  • HEAT SYSTEM where police notoriety rises as you race and evade law enforcement.
  • DEEP CAR CUSTOMIZATION with body kits, paint, wraps, and performance tuning.
  • WEEKLY RACE CYCLE with qualifiers leading to the big Lakeshore Grand event.
  • SINGLE-PLAYER CAMPAIGN with narrative elements and character focus.
  • MULTIPLAYER and online modes with races and shared events.
  • WIDE ROSTER OF CARS (around 140 vehicles) to collect and drive.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

Check Out Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed on OpenCritic

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is an updated version of the original Disney Epic Mickey game, first released on Nintendo Wii in 2010. It’s a 3D platformer where you explore a world called Wasteland as Mickey Mouse. You use paint and thinner to change the environment – restoring or erasing objects to solve puzzles, open new paths, and affect how levels are designed. This new version features improved graphics, controls, and extra movement options, but still focuses on classic platforming, simple combat, and letting your choices impact the game.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed’s Features at a Glance

  • FULL REMAKE of the classic Epic Mickey with new visuals and rebuilt in Unreal Engine 4 for modern systems.
  • PLAY AS MICKEY MOUSE in a vibrant 3D platformer adventure through Wasteland, a world of forgotten Disney characters.
  • MAGIC PAINTBRUSH MECHANICS let you use paint to restore and thinner to erase parts of the world, affecting the environment and secrets.
  • CHOICES IMPACT YOUR JOURNEY and outcomes, with decisions shaping certain parts of the story.
  • EXPANDED MOVEMENT AND ABILITIES including dash, sprint, and ground pound not present in the original.
  • ENHANCED CONTROLS and quality of life updates over the original Wii version.
  • PHOTO MODE AND ADDITIONAL COLLECTIBLES like art and pins to unlock in-game extras.
  • EXPLORATION OF CLASSIC DISNEY-INSPIRED LEVELS, with both 3D and themed 2D segments.

Core Keeper

Check Out Core Keeper on OpenCritic

Core Keeper is a sandbox survival game where you explore a vast, randomly generated underground world. You’ll dig for resources, create tools and equipment, and build a base as you venture outwards from your starting point to discover new areas and unlock new abilities. The game features combat, farming, fishing, cooking, and challenging boss fights, and you can enjoy it all by yourself or with friends. While it shares similarities with other survival crafting games, fans of Stardew Valley and Terraria will likely find a lot to love.

Core Keeper’s Features at a Glance

  • UNDERGROUND MINING SANDBOX ADVENTURE where you explore a procedurally generated cavern full of secrets, resources, and creatures.
  • SURVIVAL, CRAFTING, AND BUILDING SYSTEM with tools, workstations, farms, and bases to expand your underground home.
  • COMBAT AND BOSS BATTLES against powerful foes that unlock new progression elements and rewards.
  • SKILL PROGRESSION SYSTEM that improves abilities like mining, combat, farming, and movement through repeated use.
  • MULTIPLAYER CO-OP FOR UP TO 8 PLAYERS letting you team up with friends to explore and survive together.
  • FOOD, FARMING, PETS, AND OTHER SYSTEMS including cooking, gardening, fishing, and animal care.
  • MULTIPLE BIOMES AND WORLD MODES with distinct materials, enemies, and challenges plus creative or difficulty options.
  • EXPLORATION TOOLS LIKE PORTALS AND MAPS to help navigate the sprawling subterranean world.

PS Plus free games for January 2026 will be available to play on January 6, 2026.

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2026-01-02 21:05