Starting Tuesday (January 6th), PlayStation Plus subscribers will have access to a trio of new games. The first batch of free monthly games on the PSN for 2026 is looking a little modest, with an eclectic mix of titles that didn’t quite set the world on fire.
The first three free games for PlayStation Plus subscribers this year are arcade racer Need For Speed: Unbound, 3D platformer Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and indie co-op mining sandbox Core Keeper.
This stands in stark contrast to the December 2025 lineup, which you can get until Monday (January 5th). Last month’s PS Plus free games were Lego Horizon Adventures, Killing Floor 3, The Outlast Trials, Synduality: Echo of Ada, and Neon White.
Fast and Awkward
The Need for Speed franchise has seen better days. As of the time of writing, EA has shelved the franchise, according to Speedhunters contributor Matthew Everingham, and a big part of that is the lukewarm reception of Need for Speed: Unbound.
Released in 2022, the game scored decently among critics, but that did not translate into the live-service success EA expected it to be. NFS Unbound is a competent arcade racer that has a unique art style and is a fun pastime, but it crumbles under the pressure of the franchise legacy.
Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse
When it first came out in 2010, Epic Mickey failed to make a dent, with journalists and players alike feeling it fell short of contemporary platformers. The 2024 remake by Purple Lamp, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, did not have such issues.
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Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is an upgrade to just about every aspect of the 2010 release. The gameplay loop is nothing revolutionary, but it doesn’t need to be when you have over a dozen hours of fun platforming action that tugs on those Disney kid heartstrings like the Kingdom Hearts titles of yore.
Back to the Mines
If Minecraft has taught us anything, it is that the average city-dweller has an unexplainable draw to going underground with friends to mine, and occasionally die due to things exploding. It’s just science.
The average city-dweller has an unexplainable draw to going underground with friends to mine
Core Keeper is a 2024 top-down co-op sandbox for up to eight players, and it lets you craft, explore, fight, and occasionally die as you poke around the Core. This bastard child of Stardew Valley, Minecraft, and Terraria is the most exciting pick from the PlayStation Plus freebies in January.
PlayStation Plus Free Games for 2026
Here is a list of all free monthly games for PlayStation Plus subscribers, including previous, current, and future titles.
January 1st to January 5th
- Lego Horizon Adventures
- Killing Floor 3
- The Outlast Trials
- Synduality: Echo of Ada
- Neon White
January 6th to February 2nd
- Need for Speed: Unbound
- Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
- Core Keeper
10 Best PS Plus Essential Games Of 2025
The best that the PS Plus Monthly catalog had to offer this year.
- Security Camera Installation – indoor/outdoor IP CCTV systems & video analytics
- Access Control Installation – key card, fob, biometric & cloud‑based door entry
- Business Security Systems – integrated alarms, surveillance & access control
- Structured Cabling Services – voice, data & fiber infrastructure for new or existing builds
- Video Monitoring Services – 24/7 remote surveillance and analytics monitoring
Author: 360 Technology Group
