Key Takeaways
- Resident Evil Village and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth headline January's PlayStation Plus lineup
- Nine games total join PS Plus Extra/Premium on January 20, with most available on both PS5 and PS4
- Ridge Racer arrives as the sole Premium Classics addition for the month
- Four games will leave the service in January, including Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
PlayStation Plus Game Catalog Expands With Major Titles
Sony has unveiled the complete lineup of games joining PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers on January 20, delivering one of the strongest monthly additions in recent memory. The announcement follows the January Essential games reveal, which included Need For Speed Unbound, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper.
Nine games join PS Plus this month
The January catalog additions arrive strategically ahead of major franchise releases. Resident Evil Village joins the service just weeks before Resident Evil Requiem launches, giving subscribers the perfect opportunity to experience Ethan Winters' latest nightmare. Similarly, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth arrives ahead of February's Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties release.
Complete January 2026 Game Catalog Lineup
PlayStation Plus Extra subscribers gain access to eight new titles spanning multiple genres:
Horror and Survival
- Resident Evil Village (PS5, PS4) - The eighth mainline entry shifts survival horror to a remote European village teeming with bioweapons and the franchise's tallest antagonist
- A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead (PS5) - A single-player horror experience based on the blockbuster film franchise, requiring absolute silence to survive deadly alien creatures
- Darkest Dungeon II (PS5, PS4) - Roguelike road trip action combining turn-based combat with psychological management of flawed heroes
[IMAGE: Resident Evil Village Lady Dimitrescu castle | Alt: The imposing castle from Resident Evil Village with Lady Dimitrescu | Caption: Village returns before Requiem]
Racing and Simulation
- Expeditions: A MudRunner Game (PS5, PS4) - Scientific expeditions across arid deserts and rugged forests using all-terrain vehicles and high-tech tools
- Art of Rally (PS5, PS4) - Stylized top-down racing inspired by rally's golden era, featuring 91 stages across seven countries and vintage cars from the 60s through 80s
RPG Games and Adventure
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS5, PS4) - Ichiban Kasuga travels to Honolulu searching for his birth mother, joined by Kazuma Kiryu in an expansive turn-based RPG
- The Exit 8 (PS5, PS4) - A short walking simulator set in Japanese underground passageways where players must identify anomalies to escape an endless loop
- A Little to the Left (PS5, PS4) - Over 100 cozy puzzles about organizing household objects, complicated by a mischievous cat causing chaos
Infinite Wealth takes series to Hawaii
Premium Tier Gets Classic Racing Title
PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers receive one additional title this month: Ridge Racer (PS5, PS4). The legendary PS1 launch title returns with modern enhancements including up-rendering, rewind functionality, quick save features, and custom video filters. The arcade racing classic showcases the intense drifting gameplay that helped establish PlayStation's reputation in the mid-90s.
PS1 classic returns enhanced
The addition continues a pattern of Ridge Racer releases across platforms, following the N64 version joining Nintendo Switch Online in January 2025 and the arcade original launching in June 2025. This coordinated rollout has sparked speculation about a potential new entry in the dormant franchise.
Games Leaving PlayStation Plus in January
Four titles will depart the Game Catalog on January 20:
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name - Kazuma Kiryu's side story between Yakuza 6 and Like a Dragon
- SD Gundam Battle Alliance - Action RPG featuring mobile suits from across the Gundam franchise
- Sayonara Wild Hearts - Rhythmic action game about riding motorcycles and skateboarding through dreamscapes
- Monopoly Plus - Digital adaptation of the classic board game
Subscribers interested in these titles have until January 19 to download and play them.
Strategic Timing Ahead of Major Releases
Sony's decision to include both Resident Evil Village and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth demonstrates strategic catalog management. By offering previous entries before major franchise releases, PlayStation creates natural marketing opportunities while providing value to subscribers.
Resident Evil Village originally launched in May 2021 to critical acclaim, selling over 10 million copies worldwide. The game's addition to PS Plus Extra positions it perfectly for players wanting to experience Ethan Winters' story before Resident Evil Requiem arrives later this year.
Roguelike sequel tests hero resolve
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth represents the series' evolution into turn-based combat, launched in January 2024. The game received widespread praise for its enhanced RPG mechanics, Hawaiian setting, and the return of both Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu as dual protagonists.
January's additions strengthen PlayStation Plus Extra's value proposition significantly. The inclusion of two major 2024 releases within their first year demonstrates Sony's commitment to providing recent AAA titles alongside indie gems.
The variety across genres ensures broad appeal - horror fans get Resident Evil Village and A Quiet Place, RPG Games enthusiasts receive Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Darkest Dungeon II, while racing fans can enjoy Art of Rally and Expeditions: A MudRunner Game.
For Premium subscribers, the Ridge Racer addition may seem modest compared to previous months featuring multiple Classics titles. However, the enhanced PS1 version includes quality-of-life improvements that modernize the 1994 release without compromising its arcade authenticity.
Background on PlayStation Plus Tiers
PlayStation Plus operates across three subscription tiers:
Essential ($9.99/month) - Monthly games, online multiplayer, cloud storage Extra ($14.99/month) - Everything in Essential plus 400+ Game Catalog titles Premium ($17.99/month) - Everything in Extra plus Classics library, game trials, and cloud streaming
The Game Catalog receives new additions monthly, typically announced mid-month for release on the third Tuesday. Sony maintains a rotating selection, regularly removing older titles to make room for fresh content.
January marks the first Game Catalog update of 2026, setting a strong precedent for the year ahead. The combination of recent AAA releases, quality indie titles, and a classic addition demonstrates Sony's multi-pronged approach to catalog curation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the January 2026 PlayStation Plus games be available?
All nine Game Catalog and Classics titles will be available to download and play starting January 20, 2026. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can access these games through the PlayStation Store on PS5 and PS4 consoles. The games will remain in the catalog indefinitely unless Sony announces their removal in future months.
Do I need PlayStation Plus Premium to play all January games?
No, you only need PlayStation Plus Extra to access eight of the nine games. Ridge Racer is the only title requiring Premium membership, as it's part of the Classics library. All other games including Resident Evil Village and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth are available to Extra subscribers.
Will Resident Evil Village include the Winters' Expansion DLC?
The announcement does not specify whether the PlayStation Plus version includes the Shadows of Rose DLC or additional content from the Gold Edition. Typically, PS Plus Game Catalog versions include the base game only, with DLC available for separate purchase. Check the PlayStation Store listing on January 20 for confirmation.
Can I keep playing these games if my subscription expires?
No, Game Catalog titles require an active PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium subscription to play. If your subscription lapses, you'll lose access to these games until you resubscribe. This differs from Essential monthly games, which remain playable as long as you maintain any PS Plus tier.