January's batch of free PlayStation Plus games are now available to add to your gaming library. From today through February 2nd, PS Plus members can claim Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper for free, allowing you to play any of these games at any time as long as you maintain a PlayStation Plus membership.
As a quick recap, Need for Speed Unbound is the latest installment in EA's long-running racing series. Released in 2022, the game was developed by Criterion, which introduced a unique art style to the series by blending graffiti art and cel-shading with realistic graphics of other Need for Speed games.
Receiving generally favorable reviews upon release, Need for Speed Unbound takes place in the ficional open-world Lakeshore City, inspired by Chicago, and follows a newcomer's rise through the street racing scene. The story mode sees you race through weekly qualifiers in order to earn a spot in The Grand tournament, while avoiding the heat from police.
The game I'm personally most excited to dive into is Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, a remake of Junction Studios' 2010 platformer that originally released for the Nintendo Wii. Since I never owned a Wii, I never had the chance to play the original game, which may be a blessing in disguise since it wasn't exactly the best experience due to clunky camera angles and controls. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, while not perfect, is said to have fixed many of these gameplay issues.
The story follows the iconic Mickey Mouse on an adventure 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. Gameplay aside, Epic Mickey is perhaps best known for revitalizing public interest in Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the direct predecessor to Mickey Mouse which Walt Disney first created for Universal.
The third and final free game for January to claim right now is Core Keeper, a survival sandbox game where you explore a vast cavern filled with creatures, relics, and resources. Although a smaller title, Core Keeper received positive reviews upon release including praise for its co-op gameplay, intricate crafting systems, and open-world exploration.
Need for Speed Unbound is available for PlayStation 5, while Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and Core Keeper can be downloaded for PS5 and PS4. All three games will be available to add to your library until February 2nd.