Playstation Plus Free Games For January 2026 Claiming Guide And Subscription Details

Each month, Sony releases a new selection of PlayStation Plus free games for subscribers to download and enjoy. The subscription service has seen continued growth, largely driven by its free game offerings across three distinct membership tiers. Depending on the selected tier—Essential, Extra, or Deluxe—members can access monthly freebies, a deep catalog of titles, or a combination of both. For January 2026, Sony has reverted to a standard triple offering following a larger lineup in December. The available titles for this month include Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper. These games will remain available for claim until Monday, February 2.

Need for Speed Unbound Developed by Criterion, Need for Speed Unbound is the headline title for January. It is a stylized arcade racer available on PS5. The game features both single-player and multiplayer campaigns set in Lakeshore City, which resembles Chicago. The single-player mode focuses on street racing and outrunning the police. As players participate in races, their "Heat" index rises, leading to more intense police pursuits. Progression involves gathering cash, upgrading vehicles, and competing in weekly qualifiers to enter the ultimate street racing contest known as The Grand. Between races, players can customize their vehicles.

The multiplayer component includes an extraction-style mode called "Lockdown." In this mode, players compete against others to steal exotic vehicles, including the BMW M3 GTR, and escape via an extraction truck. The game was originally released on December 2, 2022.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed The second free game for January is a remake of the 2010 Wii classic, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. Available on both PS5 and PS4, this platformer was released on August 27, 2024. It features improved visuals and gameplay, thrusting Mickey Mouse into the Wasteland, a world where forgotten characters and concepts reside. The game utilizes a magic brush mechanic where players use paint to restore harmony or thinner to alter the environment and uncover secrets. Along the way, players encounter iconic characters such as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

Core Keeper Rounding out the January lineup is Core Keeper, a sandbox-survival game released on September 17, 2024, for PS5 and PS4. Set in a procedurally generated underground world, the game allows up to eight players to team up. Gameplay involves harvesting relics and resources, crafting tools, building a base, and exploring a world filled with secrets. It offers a base management experience suitable for players who enjoy mining and survival mechanics.

PlayStation Plus Tiers and Pricing PlayStation Plus offers three subscription levels, each with specific benefits: * PS Plus Essential: This tier provides access to online multiplayer, cloud storage, and the monthly free games. It costs $9.99 monthly, $24.99 quarterly, or $79.99 yearly. * PS Plus Extra: In addition to the Essential benefits, this tier grants access to the Games Catalog, which features a selection of PS4 and PS5 titles. It also includes a selection of Ubisoft titles. The cost is $14.99 monthly, $39.99 quarterly, or $134.99 yearly. * PS Plus Premium: This top tier includes all Essential and Extra benefits, plus access to the Classics Catalog (games from the PS1 and PS2 era) and exclusive game trials for new titles. It costs $17.99 monthly, $49.99 quarterly, or $159.99 yearly.

How to Claim Free Games To claim the monthly free games, an active PlayStation Plus subscription is required. Users can claim titles through the PS5 console or the PlayStation mobile app.

To claim on the PS5: 1. Hold down the left d-pad button on the home screen to access the PlayStation Plus tab. 2. Navigate to the "Monthly Games" section. 3. Select the desired game and click "Add to Library."

To claim via the mobile app: 1. Open the PlayStation app. 2. Tap the Store icon. 3. Navigate to the "Subscriptions" tab.

Historical Context For reference, the PlayStation Plus free games lineup for 2025 included the following: * January 2025: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League * February 2025: High on Life, Pac-Man World: Re-Pac, Payday 3 * March 2025: Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Sonic Colors: Ultimate, TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection * April 2025: Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory, RoboCop: Rogue City, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre * May 2025: Balatro, Ark: Survival Ascended, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun * June 2025: Alone in the Dark, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, Destiny 2: The Final Shape, NBA 2K25 * July 2025: Diablo 4, Jusant, The King of Fighters 15 * August 2025: Lies of P, DayZ, My Hero One’s Justice * September 2025: Psychonauts 2, Stardew Valley, Viewfinder * October 2025: Alan Wake 2, Cocoon, Goat Simulator 3 * November 2025: Stray, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, WRC 24 * December 2025: LEGO Horizon Adventures, Neon White, Killing Floor 3, The Outlast Trials, Synduality: Echo of Ada

While 2025 has concluded, these titles illustrate the variety of games offered previously. The Games Catalog, accessible via the Extra and Deluxe tiers, functions similarly to services like Xbox Game Pass, offering a library of titles beyond the monthly freebies.

Conclusion

PlayStation Plus continues to provide value to subscribers through monthly free game offerings and extensive game catalogs. For January 2026, subscribers can claim Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper until February 2. These titles offer diverse experiences, from high-speed street racing and platforming adventures to cooperative survival gameplay. By understanding the different subscription tiers and the process for claiming games, players can maximize the benefits of their membership.

Sources

1. Beebom - PlayStation Plus Free Games
2. PlayStation Store
3. Gamespot - PlayStation Plus Essential Free Games for January 2026