The PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for January 2026 were Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and Core Keeper—three picks built around street racing, a paint-and-thinner platform adventure, and open-ended mining and crafting. The claim window ran from January 6 through February 2, 2026, and has ended.
What were the PS Plus Essential games for January 2026?
Sony announced three Monthly Games on December 31, 2025. PlayStation Plus members could add them to their library from January 6 to February 2, 2026. These were Monthly Games, not additions to the separate Extra and Premium Game Catalog.
| Game | Platforms in the lineup | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|
| Need for Speed Unbound | PS5 | Street racing and high-speed driving |
| Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed | PS4, PS5 | 3D platforming and shaping the world with paint and thinner |
| Core Keeper | PS4, PS5 | Mining, crafting, exploration and sandbox progression |
Sony cautions that Monthly Games lineups can vary by region. For regional availability, check the PlayStation Store for your country.
How the three games differ
Need for Speed Unbound: street racing
The PS5 entry is the lineup’s straightforward driving choice: a street-racing game about racing to the top. It suits players looking for fast races rather than platforming or a sandbox loop.
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Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed: platforming and world interaction
Available on PS4 and PS5, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a 3D platform adventure set among forgotten Disney characters, including Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Mickey uses paint and thinner to affect the adventure and its alternate world. The official PlayStation page also lists DualSense vibration and trigger effects for the PS5 version.
Core Keeper: a mining sandbox
On PS4 and PS5, Core Keeper offers a one-to-eight-player mining sandbox adventure. Its activities include exploring, mining, gathering resources, crafting, building a base, gardening, fishing, caring for animals and fighting bosses. It is the broadest open-ended option of the three, with progression built around what players uncover and make.
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Can you still claim the January 2026 games?
No. The January Monthly Games claim period ended February 2, 2026. The announcement describes a limited monthly claim window; it does not establish that these titles remain available as Monthly Games now. Check your regional PlayStation Store for current purchase or subscription availability. If you added a Monthly Game to your library during its claim period, access is subject to the applicable PlayStation Plus membership terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the PS4 lineup means
Sony had said in January 2025 that PS4 games would stop being a key benefit of Monthly Games and the Game Catalog beginning in January 2026, while remaining possible occasionally. The January lineup included PS4 versions of Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and Core Keeper. So the change did not mean PS4 titles would disappear from Monthly Games entirely.
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