PlayStation Plus Essential free games for January 2023 announced

PlayStation Plus Essential’s free games for January 2023 have been announced.

Essential is the base tier of three Plus subscriptions, the one that lets you play games online and lets you add three or more games to your library for free, and you’ll get to access them for as long as you’re subscribed, even if there’s a lapse before a resub.

From January 3, users will be able to claim Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PS4/PS5), Fallout 76 (PS4), and Axiom Verge 2 (PS4/PS5).

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order shouldn’t need any introduction, but just in case, it’s the 2019 single-player adventure set in-between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, like a lot of Disney’s Star Wars projects at the moments.

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Related: Digital Spy’s top 20 games of 2022

Digital Spy gave this a positive review when it launched, citing the successful mix of Uncharted-esque traversal and Dark Souls-lite combat alongside some likeable characters. A sequel, Jedi: Survivor, is coming out in March, so now is the best time to try the first one out — especially if there is some crossover with the Disney+ shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi or Andor.

Fallout 76 is the online-only entry in Bethesda’s post-apocalypse RPG series. It launched to controversy when it released in 2018, but it has received many improvements over the years and has a solid base of dedicated players.

Finally, Axiom Verge 2 is the follow-up to the indie hit that gave players all the classic 2D side-scrolling Metroid action. The sequel adds in some dimension hopping and takes the action to some snowy locations, which is perfect for winter.

axiom verge 2, with a character throwing a weapon at a ship with wings and a child's face in the middle

Thomas Happ Games

Related: God of War Ragnarök announces new mode for 2023

The cheapest way to get a PS Plus subscription is to buy PS Store credit online, then use it to buy yourself a subscription.