PS Plus Essential January 2026 Poll
Image: Push Square

We hope you're ready for another whole year of judging PS Plus games, because we're about to kick things off with January 2026's PS Plus Essential lineup.

This selection was announced over the holidays, so you might have actually missed it while you were busy gorging on all kinds of delicious food and drink. But have no fear, we're here to provide a quick recap.

As per usual, three PS5 games are up for grabs, two of which are also available on PS4.

The headliner is probably Need for Speed Unbound — the somewhat stylised racer from 2022. A super solid drive-'em-up by almost all accounts.

Then we've got something much different with Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, an enhanced remaster of the 2010 Nintendo Wii platformer. Reviews weren't quite as kind over a decade later, but it's still a welcome addition to PS Plus, especially since it comes with a slew of gameplay updates.

And finally, there's Core Keeper. Released in 2024, this is a survival sandbox with an emphasis on mining. You've probably heard that kind of description about a million times at this point, but Core Keeper's got all the makings of an addictive time sink — and you can play it cooperatively with up to seven other players.

So, what do you think of 2026's first PS Plus Essential offering? As always, vote in our polls, and then give us an honest opinion — good or bad — in the comments section below.

Are you happy with your PS Plus Essential games for January 2026? (2,084 votes)

  1. Yes, very happy5%
  2. Yeah, mostly happy15%
  3. Meh, they're okay20%
  4. Nah, they could be better22%
  5. No, it's a crap selection36%
  6. I don't have PS Plus2%

Which PS Plus Essential game for January 2026 are you most looking forward to? (1,709 votes)

  1. Core Keeper6%
  2. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed29%
  3. Need for Speed Unbound10%
  4. None of them, to be honest52%
  5. I don't have PS Plus3%