playstation plus Set a very high bar for 2025, at least when it comes to games available for free through PS Plus Essential. 2025 saw the following acclaimed titles: alan wake 2, Psychonaut 2and P's lie Come to the Essential tier of PlayStation Plus with smaller hits like: High on life, strayand viewfinder. PS Plus also ended 2025 with a bang, giving away a total of five free games in December, including: lego horizon adventure, Killing Floor 3and final test, Among them.
Naturally, there was a lot of pressure on PlayStation Plus to release free games in January 2026. For some fans, PS Plus didn't live up to high expectations this month. But with three very different titles currently available, PlayStation Plus' Free Games for January 2026 is aimed at three specific audiences who will certainly be receptive to at least some of the content on offer this month, and that group is likely to be satisfied.
Best local co-op and split-screen games on PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Plus has something for everyone, and that includes awesome couch co-op and split-screen games. The best of Sony's services are:
PS Plus Essential Free Game for January 2026: Need for Speed Unbound
Goal 1: Casual Racing Fans
Perhaps the most divisive PlayStation Plus free game of January 2026. Need for Speed Unbound was originally released in December 2022. Coupled with the fact that it's an older game, this may be disappointing for some PS Plus subscribers. Need for Speed Unboundis included this month because it was available on PS Plus Extra and Premium until August 2024. That means PS Plus is doubling down on games again, and many fans will have already played these games on PS Plus.
in other words, Need for Speed Unbound It's a solid game that many casual fans of the racing genre will want to have in their PlayStation library. Need for Speed Unbound It has a top critic average of 75 on OpenCritic. This means that it is far from the highest rated item on OpenCritic. Need for Speed franchise, but it's far from the worst. Critics generally didn't think this way. unbound It did a lot to advance the series, but its art style was vibrant and its gameplay mechanics were thoroughly polished. It's well worth playing for a few hours, especially with PS Plus.
Need for Speed Unbound Criterion Games marks the long-awaited return to the franchise following its final release in 2012. Need for Speed: Most Wanted. As can be expected from the development of standards Need for Speed game, unbound It offers a vibrant open world filled with side activities and collectibles, along with extensive customization options for a variety of vehicles. Hardcore racing game fans may not like it, but unbound's fast pace, arcade-like driving mechanics, and fans of the casual racing genre will find it easy to fall in love with the game's thoroughly enjoyable story and multiplayer modes.
- released
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December 2, 2022
- ESRB
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heartbreak
- publisher
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electronic arts
PS Plus Essential Free Game for January 2026 – Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
Goal 2: Fans of family-friendly platform games.
It is a remake of the 2010 Nintendo Wii exclusive. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a charming 3D platformer suitable for slightly younger gamers, but with plenty to enjoy for an older audience as well. As the name suggests, players take on the role of Mickey Mouse, tasked with saving the world with his magic paintbrush. Gameplay sees players running through a variety of Disneyland-inspired environments, bringing the world around them to life through painting, and using paint thinner to defeat enemies and remove obstacles.
The original version from 2010 is epic mickey Although it received a mixed response from critics, the 2024 remake received a slightly warmer reception, scoring a top critic average of 77 on OpenCritic. Most critics considered Epic Mickey: Rebrush It's a significant improvement over the original, with new Easter eggs and references adding to the game's charm while streamlining some of the 2010 game's more frustrating gameplay elements. given Epic Mickey: Rebrush's source material, vibrant aesthetic, engaging world-building, and relatively simple gameplay mechanics make this a great game for younger gamers looking to try their hand at 3D platformers and older players looking for a nostalgic big hit.
- released
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September 24, 2024
- ESRB
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Ages 10+ // Fantasy Violence
- developer
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purple lamp
PS Plus Essential Free Game for January 2026: Core Keeper
Goal 3: Survival Crafting Sandbox Fans
It's by far the most critically acclaimed game in PlayStation Plus Essentials' January 2026 lineup (currently sporting a top critic average of 87 on OpenCritic). core keeper is a sandbox crafting survival game that will appeal not only to fans of the genre, but also to fans of games like: Stardew Valley and terraria. It was released on Steam Early Access in March 2022, with a full 1.0 release in August 2024. core keeper Played from a top-down perspective, players explore a procedurally generated underworld filled with fantastical dangers and supernatural architecture.
core keeper will release the official Nintendo Switch 2 Edition on January 28, 2026, coinciding with the release of the 'Void & Bolt' update, available on all platforms.
Similar to games like: minecraft and arkThe general goal is core keeper The idea is to continue crafting increasingly sophisticated tools so that players can continue to explore and mine their surroundings, ultimately earning them more valuable resources to craft better gear. It's a simple gameplay loop that's been around a lot for the past decade or so. core keeper It offers pulse-pounding combat and boss fights, provides a rewarding and consistent sense of progression, and tops it all off with a stunning pixel art style to keep things fresh.
cherry on core keeperThe best part is that the entire game can also be played in drop-in/drop-out online co-op for 2 to 8 players. Getting a new multiplayer experience for free through PlayStation Plus is always a positive thing. This is especially true when these games are: core keeperIt feels tailor-made for bite-sized, leisurely gaming sessions with friends and loved ones.
- released
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August 27, 2024
- ESRB
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E For Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence
- developer
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pugstorm
- publisher
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fireshine game
