Sony is ringing in the New Year with three free games as part of its PlayStation Plus membership. Announced today, PS Plus members of all tiers will receive three games in January: Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper.
The reveal has been met with mixed reaction from the PlayStation community, many of whom are disappointed with the free offerings. But to be honest, I'm not sure what people are expecting. To me, it's a pretty solid lineup featuring a good, but not great racing game, a remake of an old but beloved platformer, and an intriguing relatively new survival sandbox game.
Need for Speed Unbound is the latest title in the long-running racing series, but it did release back in 2022. Set in the fictional open-world "Lakeshore City" (inspired by Chicago, Unbound follows a newcomer's rise through the street racing scene, while navigating the twists and turns that come with. The game features separate single and multiplayer campaigns and tons of customization options Developed by Criterion, Unbound was met with mostly positive reviews, including praise for its unique art style which merged graffiti art and cel-shading with the more realistic graphics of other Need for Speed games. Need For Speed Unbound will be free on PlayStation 5 beginning next month.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is the game I'm most excited to play. A remake of Junction Point Studios' 2010 platformer for the original Nintendo Wii, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed was released in September 2024. In the original Epic Mickey, players take on the role of the iconic mouse and embark on a journey through Wasteland, a realm of forgotten Disney characters. Equipped with a magical brush, players can paint to restore beauty and harmony or thinner to alter the environment and uncover hidden secrets.
Epic Mickey wasn't the perfect platformer upon release, with most of the criticism directed towards its clunky camera work and controls, but it was praised for its visuals unique gameplay. It also helped reintroduce the world to the more mischievous and adventurous sides of Mickey's personality, while also re-igniting public interest in Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the direct predecessor to Mickey Mouse which Walt Disney first created for Universal. Unfortunately, I never owned a Wii, so I never got the chance to play the original Epic Mickey; however, I hear Epic Mickey: Rebrushed addresses many of the game's control and camera issues. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed will be playable for free on PS5 and PS4.
As a side note, the history behind Oswald is definitely a fascinating one, especially with how The Walt Disney Company acquired his rights, so I suggest reading up on it if you find yourself interested in the character after playing. And then check out the sequel game, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, which lets you play as Oswald in the optional co-op mode.
The third and final free game for the month of January will be Core Keeper, a survival sandbox game where you explore a vast cavern filled with creatures, relics, and resources. Although this is probably the smallest game on the list, Core Keeper received favorable reviews with praise for its co-op gameplay, intricate crafting systems, and open-world exploration. Core Keeper will also be free for PS5 and PS4.
All three of these PS Plus games will be available for all PlayStation Plus members beginning Tuesday, January 6th. You'll be able to add them to your library until Monday, February 2nd. And as a quick reminder, you have until Monday, January 5th to claim December's free PS Plus games.