3 January 2026

PS Plus Free Games for January 2026 Explained

By newsgame

January is already shaping up to be a solid month for PS Plus subscribers, with Sony kicking off 2026 with variety rather than relying too much on a single headliner. As usual, the monthly lineup aims to appeal to the broad PlayStation audience, with games that feel distinct from one another while still being easy picks for PS Plus subscribers looking to expand their backlog without spending any extra.

That variety shows up clearly in January’s three free games, all of which become available to play on January 6, 2026. Subscribers will be able to claim Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper, covering everything from arcade-style street racing to a reimagined Disney platformer and a cooperative sandbox survival experience. It’s a lineup that features diverse genres, tones, and playstyles, giving January a little more range than the average monthly drop.

Need for Speed Unbound

Read Game Rant’s Review of Need for Speed Unbound

Need for Speed Unbound is an open-world street racing game set in Lakeshore City (inspired by Chicago), where players progress by earning money, upgrading cars, and qualifying for larger weekly events. As per usual in the franchise, races increase the player’s Heat (police notoriety), forcing them to balance risk and reward as escapes become more difficult. While Need for Speed Unbound sets itself apart visually with its blend of cel-shading and graffiti with realistic car models, the core Need for Speed experience remains intact, with a focus on arcade-style handling, deep vehicle customization, and a single-player campaign alongside online multiplayer modes.

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.

Need for Speed Unbound Tag Page Cover Art

Released: December 2, 2022
ESRB: Teen
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

Check Out Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed on OpenCritic

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a remake of the original Disney Epic Mickey (Nintendo Wii 2010), a 3D platformer revolving around exploration and environmental interaction. Players control Mickey Mouse as he moves through Wasteland, using paint to restore objects or thinner to erase them, which affects level layouts, puzzles, and optional paths. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed updates the original game with modern visuals, smoother controls, additional movement options, and quality-of-life improvements, all while keeping its focus on platforming, light combat, and choice-driven progression.

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.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Tag Page Cover Art

Released: September 24, 2024
ESRB: Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence
Developer(s): Purple Lamp

Core Keeper

Check Out Core Keeper on OpenCritic

Core Keeper is a top-down sandbox survival game that features mining, crafting, and exploration in a procedurally generated underground world. Players gather resources, craft gear and tools, and build a base while pushing outward from a central hub to unlock new biomes and progression systems. Combat, farming, fishing, cooking, and boss encounters all factor into long-term progression, and the entire experience can be played solo or cooperatively with others. It might sound like a typical survival crafting game on the surface, but fans of both Stardew Valley and Terraria should find something worthwhile here.

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.

Released: August 27, 2024
ESRB: E For Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence
Developer(s): Pugstorm
Publisher(s): Fireshine Games

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