Sony Interactive Entertainment has confirmed the selection of monthly games for PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers in January 2026. The list includes the racing game Need for Speed Unbound, the remake Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and the survival sandbox Core Keeper. The titles will be available for redemption from January 6th, remaining on the platform until February 2nd.
This month’s offering follows an atypical December 2025, which made five games available instead of the usual three, raising community expectations. The current announcement, returning to the standard format, generated a heated debate among players, with opinions ranging from satisfaction with the variety to criticism for the inclusion of a title already offered in a higher tier of the service.
Subscribers of all levels of the service (Essential, Extra and Premium) will be able to add the three games to their digital library at no additional cost. Once redeemed within the deadline, games can be played at any time, as long as the PS Plus subscription remains active. This month’s selection also marks the consolidation of the company’s new strategy, with an increasing focus on titles for the PlayStation 5.
The High Speed Highlight for PS5
Need for Speed Unbound is positioned as the main attraction of the January selection, being an exclusive title for PlayStation 5 within the Essential offer. Desenvolvido by Criterion Games and originally released in 2022, the game revitalized the franchise with a unique visual style that mixes realistic elements with cel-shaded graphics inspired by street art and anime. Gameplay focuses on underground racing in the city of Lakeshore, where players need to build and customize their vehicles to compete in weekly heats, culminating in the final challenge known as The Grand. The game’s structure is split between a single-player campaign with an engaging narrative and a robust, separate multiplayer mode, allowing players to explore the open world and compete online. The title makes intensive use of PS5 features, such as the haptic feedback of the DualSense controller and the fast load times provided by the SSD, to offer a more immersive and responsive racing experience. Sua inclusion in the Essential tier is an opportunity for a new audience to experience the adrenaline of dynamic police chases and the deep car customization that define the game.
The renewed nostalgia of Disney Epic Mickey
Disney Epic Mickey: Controlando Mickey Mouse, players use a magic brush with the power to use paint to restore the world or paint thinner to change it and erase elements of the scene. Essa’s core mechanics of painting and dissolving not only solve puzzles, but also influence the narrative and fates of characters, including Oswald, the Coelho Sortudo, one of Walt Disney’s earliest creations.
Developed by Purple Lamp, the remake updates the graphics to high definition, significantly improves the controls and camera, which were points of criticism in the original release, and guarantees more fluid gameplay, running at 60 frames per second on PlayStation 5. The adventure is a true homage to the history of Disney, full of references, secrets and collectibles that explore the company’s legacy. The ability to shape the environment and character of Mickey based on your choices of using paint or thinner brings a unique depth to the genre, appealing to both new players and nostalgic fans of the original.
Adventure and survival in Core Keeper
Core Keeper offers a different experience from the other two titles, being a mining and adventure sandbox with support for up to eight players in online cooperative mode. The game, available for PS4 and PS5, places players in an ancient and mysterious cave, where they must explore, collect resources and build a base to survive against hostile creatures.
With a top-down perspective, the game is often compared to titles like Terraria and Stardew Valley, combining elements of dungeon exploration, combat, farming and item crafting. Players can develop their skills in different areas such as mining, fishing and combat to become more efficient.
Exploring a procedurally generated world ensures that each playthrough is unique, with new biomes, enemies and secrets to discover. The highlight is the fight against giant bosses, the Titãs, which require strategy and cooperation to be defeated, unlocking valuable rewards and access to new areas.
Opinions divided among players
The gaming community’s reaction to the January list was mixed, with intense discussions on forums like Reddit and social media. Muitos praised the variety of the selection, which covers the racing, platform and survival genres, catering to different tastes.
The main point of controversy, however, was the inclusion of Need for Speed Unbound. The game was already available in the PlayStation Plus Extra catalog between February and August 2024, which generated frustration among subscribers in the most expensive tiers, who felt a lack of added value in this month’s offer.
On the other hand, Disney Epic Mickey:Rebrushed was widely celebrated for the opportunity to revive a classic with modern improvements, sparking nostalgia for many. The remake’s critical reception was positive, highlighting its fidelity to the source material while correcting its technical flaws.
Core Keeper, meanwhile, was seen as a solid addition, especially for those who enjoy cooperative games. Seu’s previous success on PC, with very positive reviews, created favorable expectations for its arrival on consoles, being considered by many as the hidden gem of January’s selection.
Platforms and subscription requirements
To redeem the January games, you must have an active PlayStation Plus subscription at any of the levels: Essential, Extra or Premium. Todos subscribers have access to the same monthly games as a fundamental benefit of the service.
In terms of compatibility, Need for Speed Unbound is a new generation exclusive title and can only be played on PlayStation 5.
How to add games to your library
The process for redeeming games is simple and can be done directly through the console or through the PlayStation App application on mobile devices. Players should navigate to PlayStation Store and access the dedicated PlayStation Plus section, where monthly games will be highlighted.
Simply select each of the three titles and choose the option to “Add to Biblioteca”. Nenhuma additional charge will be made. It is important to check the available storage space on the console, as games can take up considerable space on the HD or SSD. The recommendation is to carry out the redemption as soon as possible so as not to miss the deadline on February 2nd.
The new focus of the service for 2026
The January selection reinforces Sony’s strategy of prioritizing the PlayStation 5 in the PS Plus ecosystem. With the console’s installed base growing globally, the company has focused on offering titles that take advantage of the latest hardware, as is the case with Need for Speed Unbound. The maintenance of cross-gen games, such as Epic Mickey and Core Keeper, still guarantees support for the millions of players who remain on PlayStation 4, but the trend is for exclusive PS5 titles to become increasingly common in monthly offers throughout the year.
