Look, if you’re still treating your PlayStation Plus subscription like a "set it and forget it" bill, you're probably missing the best parts of your library. Or worse, you’re losing games you thought you owned.
The landscape for PS Plus games just hit a massive turning point this month. We aren't just talking about the usual monthly drop; Sony basically just drew a line in the sand between the PS4 era and the PS5 future. If you haven't checked your "Monthly Games" tab since New Year's, you’re in for a bit of a shock.
The January 2026 Lineup is Actually Massive
Honestly, this is one of the strongest starts to a year I've seen in a long time. Sony usually coasted through January with "filler" titles, but they dropped the hammer this time.
The big news? Resident Evil Village and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth are finally hitting the Game Catalog for Extra and Premium members on January 20th. It’s a huge move. Especially since Resident Evil: Requiem is slated for next month, Capcom clearly wants everyone caught up on Ethan Winters' trauma before the next nightmare begins.
But here is the breakdown of what's landing right now:
- Essential Tier (Claim by Feb 2): Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper.
- Extra/Premium Catalog (Coming Jan 20): Resident Evil Village, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Darkest Dungeon II, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, and The Exit 8.
- Classics (Premium Only): The legendary Ridge Racer (the original PS1 version) is finally back with rewind features.
Ridge Racer is a vibe. If you didn't grow up with that iconic announcer shouting at you, you haven't lived.
The "End of PS4" Bombshell
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Sony quietly dropped a notice this week that effectively ends the "PS4 Guarantee" for the Essential tier.
For years, we got at least one PS4-compatible game every month. Starting now, Sony is prioritizing the PS5 ecosystem. This means if you’re still rocking a PS4 Pro, your PS Plus games library might start looking a lot thinner. You’ll still have access to your old claims, sure. But the new freebies? They’re going to be PS5-only more often than not.
It’s a cold move. But with the PS5 Pro now being the standard for "enthusiasts," the old hardware is finally being moved to the legacy pile.
Why Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a Must-Play
If you’ve never touched a Yakuza or Like a Dragon game, Infinite Wealth is a weird, beautiful place to start. You’re essentially playing a turn-based RPG set in Hawaii. One minute you’re having a deeply emotional conversation about fatherhood, and the next you’re literally summoning a giant crawfish to pinch your enemies.
It’s absurd. It’s also one of the most content-heavy games ever put on the service. You could easily sink 100 hours into the "Dondoko Island" animal-crossing-style minigame alone. Getting this as part of the PS Plus games catalog is a steal.
Don't Sleep on the Indies
Everyone talks about Resident Evil, but The Exit 8 is the one that will actually keep you up at night. It’s a "walking simulator" based on Japanese underground passageways.
The rules are simple:
- Don't overlook any anomalies.
- If you see something weird, turn back immediately.
- If everything is normal, keep going.
It’s "liminal space" horror at its peak. Short, sweet, and genuinely unnerving. Then you have A Little to the Left, which is basically a game about organizing your junk while a cat tries to ruin your life. It's the perfect palate cleanser after being chased by Lady Dimitrescu in Village.
The Essential Tier Strategy
You have until February 2nd to claim Need for Speed Unbound. Even if you don't plan on playing it today, claim it.
I’ve seen so many people lose out on titles because they thought "I’ll get to it later." Once that window closes, it’s gone. Core Keeper is also a hidden gem here—think Stardew Valley meets Minecraft but in a dark, glowing cave system. It’s got 8-player co-op, which is perfect if your friend group is looking for something new to grind.
👉 See also: Why Every Wordle Fan Obsesses Over the Five Letter Word Ending in ER
Final Actionable Steps for Your Library
To make sure you're getting the most out of your sub this month, do this:
- Manual Claim Check: Go to the PlayStation Store on your console, hit the PS Plus icon, and manually "Add to Library" Need for Speed Unbound and Epic Mickey. Do not just "Download"—make sure they are in your permanent library.
- Storage Management: Resident Evil Village and Infinite Wealth are hefty. You’re looking at about 120GB of combined space. If you’re still on a stock PS5 SSD, it’s time to delete those "I'll play it eventually" demos.
- Check Your Saves: If you played the Resident Evil Village demo years ago, those saves might still be in your cloud. Download them now so you can skip the intro if you’ve already seen it.
- Premium Members: Go play Ridge Racer for 10 minutes. The haptic feedback on the DualSense makes the old-school drifting feel surprisingly modern.
The era of the PS4 is fading, and the PS Plus games list for January 2026 is the clearest evidence yet. It's a "move up or miss out" moment for the community.