Sony has confirmed the list of games that will be available to subscribers of the PlayStation Plus service from January 6th. The selection for the first month of the year includes the racing game Need for Speed Unbound, the platform adventure Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and the exploration sandbox Core Keeper. Titles can be added to players’ libraries until February 2nd.
The offer covers all subscription levels, from Essential to Premium, ensuring that a broad user base has access to the new games. This month’s selection highlights a clear diversity of genres, seeking to cater to different player profiles, from those who prefer high-speed action to those looking for cooperative experiences or nostalgic narratives.
Subscribers should pay attention to the deadline to redeem the previous month’s games. Titles offered in December 2025, such as Lego Horizon Adventures, will only be available for download until January 5th, one day before the release of the new catalog.
Need for Speed Unbound accelerates on PS5
The big highlight of the month is Need for Speed Unbound, developed by Criterion Games and released exclusively for the PlayStation 5. The game transports players to the fictional city of Lakeshore, where the objective is to compete in illegal street races to reach the main event, known as The Grand. The game structure is divided into distinct campaigns for single-player and multiplayer modes, offering independent experiences focused on separate progression. The gameplay is marked by intense police chases and a weekly qualification system that increases the tension with each race.
Visually, Unbound differentiates itself by combining realistic graphics with graffiti-style animation effects, creating a unique artistic identity for the franchise. Vehicle customization is one of the pillars of the experience, allowing detailed performance adjustments and a wide range of aesthetic options for the cars. The immersion is complemented by a global soundtrack that mixes renowned artists with talents from the underground scene, reinforcing the urban and contemporary atmosphere of the title. The game requires strategy to manage winnings and avoid capture by the police, making each decision crucial to success in Lakeshore.
Magic reimagined in Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed comes to PS4 and PS5 as a faithful remake of the acclaimed 2010 classic, originally released for Nintendo Wii. Nesta adventure, players take control of Mickey Mouse on a journey through Páramo, an alternate world that serves as home to forgotten Disney characters and attractions. The central mechanic revolves around the magic brush, which allows the player to use paint to restore parts of the world or thinner to erase them, changing the setting and directly influencing the unfolding of the story. The player’s choices shape the fate of the Páramo and its inhabitants, including the Oswald, the Coelho Sortudo, the first star created by the Walt Disney. The remake brings significant improvements, such as modernized controls, high-definition visuals and new movement abilities for Mickey, such as dash and sprint, which streamline exploration and combat.
Cooperative Exploration in Core Keeper
Available on PS4 and PS5, Core Keeper offers an open-world mining adventure with support for up to eight players online. In the game, the character awakens in an ancient cave full of creatures, resources and secrets to be uncovered.
The gameplay is based on the exploration of procedurally generated biomes, where you need to collect materials to build bases, create more advanced tools and equipment. Progression involves improving skills in various areas, such as mining, combat and farming.
In addition to exploration and construction, players can dedicate themselves to activities such as fishing, cooking and fighting gigantic bosses that guard the mysteries of the core. The cooperative experience is the big draw, encouraging teamwork to survive and thrive in the vast underground world.
Platforms and access to new games
The distribution of games between platforms is an important point. Need for Speed Unbound is an exclusive new generation title that can only be played on PlayStation 5. On the other hand, Disney Epic Mickey:
The games will be available for redemption starting the first Tuesday of the month, January 6, and remain accessible in the player’s library as long as the PlayStation Plus subscription is active. Sony warns that availability may vary depending on region, and it is recommended to check your local PlayStation Store on the release date to confirm access.
Service transition and strategy
The January selection reinforces Sony’s strategy of offering a diverse catalog to maintain the perceived value of the PlayStation Plus service. The inclusion of a PS5-exclusive big-budget title like Need for Speed Unbound serves as an incentive for adoption of the new platform.
At the same time, the presence of a nostalgic remake and an independent game with strong cooperative appeal demonstrates the intention to cover a wide range of tastes and preferences. Essa variety is essential for retaining subscribers at different levels of the service.
The PlayStation Plus remains essential not only for access to monthly games, but also for enabling online multiplayer, offering exclusive PlayStation Store discounts, and providing cloud storage for game saves.
Monthly games make up the main benefit of the Essential plan, but are also granted to subscribers at levels Extra and Premium, who have an expanded catalog of hundreds of other titles for download and streaming.
Last call for December games
Players have just a few more days to secure the games offered in December 2025. The list includes titles such as Lego Horizon Adventures, Killing Floor 3, The Outlast Trials, Synduality Echo of Ada and
It is crucial that interested subscribers add these games to their library before the deadline. Once redeemed, they remain in the user’s account and can be played at any time, as long as the PlayStation Plus subscription remains active.
What to expect from the January selection
The first wave of PlayStation Plus games of the year sets a standard for quality and variety, mixing the adrenaline of street racing with the creativity of a magical world and team survival, ensuring the PlayStation community starts the year with new adventures to explore.