PlayStation Plus subscribers will have access to a mixed lineup of racing, platforming, and survival gameplay in January 2026, as Sony Interactive Entertainment adds three titles to its Essential tier. Beginning January 6, subscribers can download Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper at no additional cost. All three games will remain available through February 2, giving players just under a month to claim them.
The most prominent release in the lineup is Need for Speed Unbound, a 2022 entry in the long-running racing franchise published by Electronic Arts and developed by Criterion Games. Available exclusively for PlayStation 5 through the subscription, the game takes a slightly different approach from earlier installments by slowing progression and encouraging players to invest time in a single vehicle. Rather than rapidly unlocking new cars, Unbound emphasizes customization, upgrades, and risk-reward decisions tied to in-game police chases and street races. While its stylized visual effects divided opinion at launch, the core mechanics were widely viewed as a more deliberate and focused take on arcade racing.
Also joining the January 2026 PlayStation Plus Essential lineup is Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, a modernized version of the Wii-era platformer originally released in 2010. The remake, which arrived in 2024, updates visuals and performance while preserving the structure of the original game. Players control Mickey Mouse as he navigates the fractured world of Wasteland, using paint and thinner to reshape environments and influence how the story unfolds. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed will be available to subscribers on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, making it accessible across console generations.
Rounding out the month is Core Keeper, a top-down sandbox survival game developed by Pugstorm. First released in 2022, Core Keeper blends base-building, exploration, and crafting within an underground cavern setting. While often compared to Terraria due to its perspective and progression systems, the game leans heavily into cooperative play and long-term survival mechanics. Players familiar with titles like Valheim, Don’t Starve, or Stardew Valley may recognize many of its design ideas. Core Keeper will be available on both PS4 and PS5.
Subscribers still have a limited window to claim December 2025’s PlayStation Plus Essential games, which include Lego Horizon Adventures, Neon White, The Outlast Trials, Killing Floor 3, and Synduality Echo of Ada. Those titles remain available until January 5, 2026.
PlayStation Plus Essential represents the entry-level tier of Sony’s subscription service, offering online multiplayer access, monthly downloadable games, cloud saves, and store discounts. Pricing currently stands at $79.99 per year, $24.99 for three months, or $9.99 on a monthly basis. While the tier does not include a rotating catalog of older titles, it continues to serve as the baseline option for players primarily interested in online access and monthly game additions.
