What’s new this January 2023 for PlayStation Plus members?

PlayStation Plus subscribers had an amazing set of free games for December. And with how stacked 2023 is looking for new (and delayed) video games, we really didn’t think January’s Essential tier free games would be anything too outstanding.

How wrong we were. January is loaded.

Here are your free games for the month of January:

• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
• Axiom Verge 2
• Fallout 76

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order should come as no surprise since its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, is slated to release on March 17. This is where Cal Kestis’s story begins, set after the events of Episode III and Senator Palpatine’s Order 66. Cal is one of the last Jedi Padawans left in the galaxy and one of their only hopes of survival. You get to go through your Jedi training, learn and craft your powers, and get some sick lightsaber moves out of it, too.

Honestly, however you feel about the whole game, the last chapter will have you on the edge of your seat and gripping your controller.

If you didn’t play Axiom Verge, don’t let that deter you from Axiom Verge 2. There are only a handful of easter eggs referencing the story, you don’t need to know what happened at all to play this one. And if you’re a fan of Metroidvania games, this one is for you.

Axiom Verge 2 doubles down on a lot of what the first one did, introducing two worlds existing on top of each other and you traverse through the Breach to go between the two. There’s fancy technology, lots of new tools/gadgets/skills, and ridiculous bad guys to attempt to take down. And the different biomes will have you intrigued and overwhelmed (in a good way).

The good news is that if you played the first one, you’ll be happy to know that the sequel gives you fast travel. That should be enough to pique your interest.

Last up is Fallout 76, the “redheaded stepchild” of the Fallout franchise. Released to middling reviews in 2018, there have been plenty of improvements that have elevated it above what it was at release.

The bugs have been fixed. NPCs have been introduced. You can fully customize your character. There’s sarcasm. It feels much more like a Fallout game should, so if you wrote it off when it was released four years ago, now’s the time to check it out for free and give it a second chance.

PlayStation Plus Essential tier free games are available to download beginning January 3rd.