Sony has officially confirmed the PlayStation Plus monthly games for January 2026, offering UK players a varied and high-value line-up to kick off the new year.
The games will be available to download from Tuesday, 6 January until Monday, 2 February 2026, giving subscribers just under four weeks to add them to their library.
This month’s selection blends fast-paced racing, creative family-friendly adventure, and deep cooperative survival gameplay.
The headline titles are Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper, all included at no extra cost for PlayStation Plus members across the UK.
What games are included in the PlayStation Plus monthly games for January 2026?
Sony’s January line-up includes three full games, with availability across both PS5 and PS4, depending on the title.
As with previous months, once claimed, these games remain playable for as long as the user maintains an active PlayStation Plus subscription.
The PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for January:
Need for Speed Unbound
️ Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
⛏️ Core KeeperFull details: https://t.co/O88vo4P3he pic.twitter.com/cJ1as3mkIN
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) December 31, 2025
The strongest draw for many UK players will be Need for Speed Unbound, which is available exclusively on PS5.
Alongside it, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and Core Keeper are playable on both PS4 and PS5, ensuring older consoles are not left out.
Why is Need for Speed Unbound the standout title this month?
Need for Speed Unbound is the latest mainline entry in EA’s long-running racing franchise and represents a shift in both visual style and tone.
Set in the fictional city of Lakeshore, the game focuses on underground street racing, risk-and-reward gameplay, and evading increasingly aggressive police forces.
Players begin with limited resources and must work their way up through weekly racing challenges to qualify for The Grand, the game’s ultimate racing event.
The title supports solo play as well as online multiplayer with up to three other players, making it particularly appealing to competitive PS5 owners in the UK.
A defining feature of Unbound is its stylised art direction, which combines realistic cars with animated visual effects inspired by street art. This approach divided opinion at launch but has since helped the game stand out in a crowded racing market.
“Need for Speed Unbound delivers a bold new look while staying true to the high-speed police chases the series is known for,” EA said during its release campaign.
Racing games continue to perform strongly on the UK PlayStation Store, especially during the winter months, making this a well-timed inclusion for January.
What does Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed offer UK players?
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a modernised version of the cult-classic adventure game, rebuilt for current PlayStation hardware.
It places players in a whimsical world shaped by Mickey Mouse’s magical paintbrush, which can be used to create, repair, or erase elements of the environment.
Rather than focusing purely on combat, the game encourages creativity and choice. Players can paint objects to restore them or use thinner to remove them entirely, with decisions subtly shaping how the world responds.
Throughout the adventure, players encounter characters drawn from Disney’s long history and unlock bonus content by collecting Disney-themed pins.
For UK households, this title stands out as a more family-friendly option, particularly suited to younger players or shared living-room gaming.
Its platforming challenges are inspired by classic Disney animations, offering a strong sense of nostalgia alongside accessible gameplay.
Why is Core Keeper gaining popularity with PlayStation players?
Core Keeper has quietly built a loyal following since its original release, and its arrival on PlayStation Plus is likely to expand that audience significantly in the UK.
The game is set in a vast underground world filled with biomes, hidden bosses, and evolving challenges.
Players can explore alone or team up with up to seven others online, gathering resources, crafting equipment, building a base, and farming food to survive.
Progression is tied to defeating massive Titans and uncovering the mystery of the Core, a powerful energy source at the centre of the world.
Its blend of sandbox freedom and structured progression has drawn comparisons to games like Minecraft and Terraria, but with a stronger focus on cooperative play.
For UK gamers looking for a longer-term experience rather than a quick playthrough, Core Keeper offers significant depth.
When can UK players download the January 2026 PlayStation Plus games?
The January titles will be available to claim from 6 January 2026, with the offer ending on 2 February 2026. Subscribers should note that the December 2025 games will be removed a day earlier, on Monday, 5 January 2026.
Those titles include Lego Horizon Adventures, Killing Floor 3, The Outlast Trials, Synduality: Echo of Ada, and Neon White.
Any games added to the library before the deadline will remain accessible while the subscription is active.
