PS Plus: Free Games for January, 2016

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PS Plus: Free Games for January, 2016
Andy Lum Sony Computer Entertainment America

As we look forward to the New Year, we’re excited to share our January 2016 PlayStation Plus lineup with everyone. This month our PS4 games pay homage to a couple classic, fan-favorite titles, while updating the gameplay and graphics to PS4!

Hardware: Rivals makes its exclusive debut on PlayStation Plus. Get behind the wheel of a powerful tank or mobile attack jeep in this arcade-style, vehicle combat game. Inspired by the PS2 classic Hardware: Online Arena, Hardware: Rivals lets you challenge your friends or enter the online multiplayer arena on your own and experience epic vehicular mayhem with multiple maps, game modes, and special events.

If you need a breather from all the vehicle-on-vehicle combat, you can always turn to the twisted Mexican folklore of Grim Fandango Remastered. As Manny Calavera, travel agent for the Department of Death, you’ll guide poor souls to their eternal rest. Crime. Skeletons. Romance. You’ll experience it all in this update to the beloved adventure game.

These PS4 games are free for PlayStation Plus members starting on the first Tuesday of January, and you can find the full list of PlayStation Plus games below.

Full Lineup:

  • Dragon Age: Origins, PS3
  • Grim Fandango Remastered, PS4, PS Vita
  • Hardware: Rivals, PS4
  • Legends of War Patton, PS Vita
  • Medal of Honor Warfighter, PS3
  • Nihilumbra, PS Vita

Before you go, we want your feedback! Please leave us a comment below and tell us what you think of the lineup. Thank you for stopping by.

Until next time! Enjoy.

grim fandango remasteredhardware: rivalsPlayStation 4playstation gamesplaystation plus

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1,405 Comments

  • dude7001
    December 30, 2015 at 12:44 pm PST

    Too busy playing cod black ops3

  • babysig
    December 30, 2015 at 12:47 pm PST

    I use to love the PSN Plus Games but for the last 4 months or so its just been crappy games that maybe a 10 year old might enjoy, like most if wasn’t for playing online i would drop this membership and i think Sony know this, that is why they make it mandatory to play online you must have one. this is my 1st time posting but i always read he comments of others month after month and i see a lot of you are happy with the crap you getting, happy for yuh…..P.S Sony whats up with a NEW or the Original Einhänder game i would pay for either.

  • bobbycracky
    December 30, 2015 at 12:47 pm PST

    well i own dragon age 2 because it had just gone on sale when i finally got a ps3 so i’m happy about origins, warfighter has horrendous reviews but i am kind of intrested so i’m not totally dissapointed so thanks EA http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/27/medal-of-honor-warfighter-review

  • dude7001
    December 30, 2015 at 12:48 pm PST

    I like hardware rivals what’s the diference between beta a and full version?

  • Mollarom
    December 30, 2015 at 12:55 pm PST

    Maybe there’s some sort of bet going among the Sony crew on which lineup of games will get the least amount of downloads. This one’s certainly a contender.

  • Thiago_Consolaro
    December 30, 2015 at 12:59 pm PST

    If it wasn’t for multiplayer I would never subscribe for PS+

  • moog
    December 30, 2015 at 1:00 pm PST

    More junk. DA:I must be almost 6 years old.

  • PapaHaunts
    December 30, 2015 at 1:11 pm PST

    Straw that broke the camel’s back here. I was only keeping PS+ so I could play SFV online, but I can just as easily get that for my PC. Sony, your service is not worth the money and the ancient games you dust off to give the illusion of value is out right insulting.

  • OmarTheKiller101
    December 30, 2015 at 1:13 pm PST

    Finnaly, two PS Plus free games that lut a smile on my face..

  • Golgren480
    December 30, 2015 at 1:14 pm PST

    Wow, so happy with my membership to Playstation Plus over the last several years. I have a huge collection of awesome titles and I continue to get more. I have Dragon Age Origins on 360, but would love to play it again for the trophies and nostalgia sake. It’s one of my favorite titles on last gen.

    Legends of War Patton, looking forward to this on the portable. I always play with headphones on so I can sit there with a **** eating grin on my face at work while I’m blowing stuff up. Curious if this game has online?

    Grim Fandango Remastered, I think it was E3 when they announced this. I didn’t want to puke up the 10-20 – ish bucks for it, but I remember the crowd going nutts. Respectively so, it looks like pure artistic joy. Can’t wait.

    Thanks again Playstation!

  • zedoardo
    December 30, 2015 at 1:16 pm PST

    Hi Andy,
    The games are all good, but to be honest, it’s about time we get some AAA freebies for PS4. The caliber of the PS3 games are top notch and, even though the PS4 games are amazing too in their own right, I think I can say everyone is just waiting for some AAA action (even if they were release titles).

  • olaff81
    December 30, 2015 at 1:17 pm PST

    I just want to say that while Grim Fandango is great, it was never going to receive the warmest of welcomes unless it was combined with a much bigger PS4 game for this month. Coupling it with an arena battle game is not going to get the desired response here.

    So many people received PS4s for Christmas, and the weak Jan. lineup isn’t how you make a great first impression.

    Last month Sony gave us 1 chapter ONLY of a complete game for Christmas. This is a slap in the face. BAH HUMBUG.

    To top it off, it seems that everything that goes on a really deep sale just gets rolled into the IGC a month, or 2 later. I guess lesson learned here… I’m not buying Flash Sale stuff anymore. I’m looking at you Grim Fandango, Blood Dragon, and Beyond Good And Evil. This seems poorly managed at best, and predatory at worst, Sony. I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE.

    I’m only a Plus member for online play at this point. I used to get pumped for the IGC. Hard to be excited anymore.

    Sony claims they want our comments, but I bet they don’t care AT ALL about them.

    (And to the anti complainers: We ARE paying for these games, and we ARE REQUIRED to pay for the service if we want to play online. Please stop with the silly counter arguments)

  • Luciformation
    December 30, 2015 at 1:20 pm PST

    Really disappointing. Again. Last month had Gauntlet and Freedom Wars, at least.

    You’d think they’d start the new year out stronger. Oh well, I guess.

    • hundreddollarsox
      December 30, 2015 at 2:45 pm PST

      RIIIIIIGHT…you would have thought that they would have started 2016 out with a bang for all the new users that received a PS4 for Christmas or just the sheer fact that it’s 2016…but sadly…NOPE!!!!!!!!! STRAIGHT IN THE TOILET. STRAIGHT IN THE TOILET, well at least thanks sony for showing their new users what to expect with PS+…………GARBAGE, because what was once a value added premium purchase has turned into a stinking pile of pooh

  • RAYRAY594
    December 30, 2015 at 1:22 pm PST

    I swear most of these pages are for whining cry babies. Don’t like it, don’t buy it .Oh yeah get over it it’s 50 bucks a year.

    • x-rayer
      December 30, 2015 at 1:33 pm PST

      Agreed. There are so many ‘ifs’ & ‘buts’ in this comment section I get the feeling being over at Siliconera again. Has anybody every considered PS+ to also be a good way of getting games at a steep discount? I profit that way all the time.

    • hundreddollarsox
      December 30, 2015 at 2:54 pm PST

      HEY Ray, since you have no problem giving your money away, i’ll send you my email address and you can send 50 dollars to my paypal account. ANd dont cry to me and say, that’s not what you mean, or not what you’re saying, because that is EXACTLY what you are saying.

      Any human being that doesn’t feel as though their hard earned money was well spent has a right to say so, and NOTHING is going to change that..not YOU, not SONY….NOBODY.

    • KILLAKLWN
      December 31, 2015 at 10:31 am PST

      People are seriously still paying $50? I get $35 yearly cards on sale every November even though my re-up is in June.

  • CraddaPoosta
    December 30, 2015 at 1:28 pm PST

    Time to let my subscription lapse. This is beyond pathetic.

    Why did I bother buying a Vita? To get 6-year-old PSP games? To get even MORE iOS ports? The most powerful handheld gaming console on the planet, and you’re giving us games that came out FOUR YEARS AGO and were designed for phones?

    You started off last January with a bang. This isn’t even a whimper.

    Medal of Honor – Warfighter has a stellar IGN rating of 4/10. MetaCritic and GameRankings have it at 55%. I wish this was funny. It’s just sad.

    Your only saving grace this month is Dragon Age, but then again, anyone who really wanted to play that would have bought it at some point in the SIX YEARS since it came out. It’s literally five bucks on Steam, right now. Just to head off anyone trying to argue “You are only paying about four bucks a month for PS+”; for another dollar, I could permanently own Dragon Age – Origins on PC.

    0.5 out of 7, Sony. What a terrible way to welcome all of your new PS4 and PS Vita owners to the Sony family.

  • Heisenberg1780
    December 30, 2015 at 1:29 pm PST

    You’re excited Sony? Excited to give us yet more ****** games? This is terrible, a free to play along with an old remaster of a game that is worth $5. Bull**** service yet again. I’m switching to Xbox. I’m trading my PS4 in and I’ll be happy. You guys are terrible

  • drahanthelord
    December 30, 2015 at 1:41 pm PST

    really…i was hoping for second son and some other random indie but this is what we get for ps4, but for ps3 i guess its okay even though i can pick up both the games and end up paying maybe 11 bucks at max and the ps vita….. was i wrong hoping for some jrpg?

  • JuggaloHomie4321
    December 30, 2015 at 1:44 pm PST

    Can’t wait to play Hardware Rivals played the beta and enjoyed it and I also wanted to play Grim Fandango never played the original back in the day but now I can play it on ps4 and also I wanted to ask if we could get updates on the F2P titles coming like APB Reloaded and So on there’s been no news

  • Scottypalooza
    December 30, 2015 at 1:45 pm PST

    A very disappointing start to 2016 by Sony for PS4, very disappointing.

  • elchorno
    December 30, 2015 at 1:45 pm PST

    Not too bad of a month. Grim Fandango is Fantastic and The Hardware Rivals beta was fun. Too bad I bought Nihilumbra for $2.50 last night when the store updated, but oh well.

  • Teridian
    December 30, 2015 at 1:48 pm PST

    Wow, I usually run to Sony’s defense, but this is laughably bad. Its clear Sony is transitioning PS+’s purpose to online gameplay (which didn’t used to cost anything) rather than free games, which is what originally attracted customers to their base. Don’t get too cocky Sony….

  • x9zachattack5x
    December 30, 2015 at 1:50 pm PST

    Make Patton the Vita version please. Don’t screw us over with the PSP version please. :(

  • Whodares86
    December 30, 2015 at 1:57 pm PST

    Any chance of the Grim Fandango theme being made available for purchase or free download for NA users? I know the EU users were given a free download code in the PS+ Free January Games announcement email.

  • WinkyDaAtomizer
    December 30, 2015 at 1:58 pm PST

    Never being a PC kid, I haven’t played the much beloved Grim Fandango. Having put in 100+ hrs. in DA: Inquisitor, never playing the earlier entries, I’m very excited to to play DA: Origins. Great lineup.

  • FeLiPe_MachiN3
    December 30, 2015 at 2:00 pm PST

    This is why i dont have PS+ anymore… This games are cheap indies and grim has been on sale before and it was like $4. Online sucks and fortunately i dont like online games that much so i dont need that unworthy sub.

    If you’re not into online games, save that money and you better buy a good game.

    $50 for this games and bad service is a rip-off.

  • rudetoy
    December 30, 2015 at 2:00 pm PST

    It almost seems as if Sony is purposely trying to make the monthly PS PLUS list worse and worse, as the ultimate middle finger to us.

    • hundreddollarsox
      December 30, 2015 at 2:57 pm PST

      Yes, one has to wonder, dont they? It certainly feels that way. It certainly feels like US vs THE EVIL CORPORATION

  • BPinter
    December 30, 2015 at 2:01 pm PST

    Great month for PS3 players. I thoroughly enjoyed MOH Warfighter. Dragon Age, while not my cup of tea, was supposed to be great.

    Good month for Vita players: Legends of War Patton has been on my to-do list for a while now but the $30 price tag has always kept it on my list. Nihilumbra looks interesting. I got caught-up in the Grim Fandango hype when it was released… it is rough around the edges and lost interest halfway through.

    As for PS4…. not the best month. As previously mentioned, Grim Fandango didn’t do it for me and Hardware: Rivals doesn’t appear to be a game I’d be interested in.

  • Kishnabe
    December 30, 2015 at 2:02 pm PST

    I see my post was deleted.

    Again, the PSP game is a terrible choice when the same game name has a Vita version. If you had a pick to make a PSP game, there were far better options like Breath of Fire, Persona, Metal Gear and so on.

    An indie title would be better than this PSP game. Again Invizanimals was a poor choice.

    Looking back at Jan 2015….it was spectacular…we could have at least had a similar start to PSPlus 2016.

    Grim Fandango is great….already bought months ago.

    PS4 should have at least one AAA title every 6 months….last time was First Light in 2015 January.

    I don’t mind PS1 and PSP games, they should however be a better showcase since they are just as cheap as most indies.

    No more Invizanimals and History PSP games. More like God Eater, LocoRoco and Monster Hunter Portable. Those are actual quality vita games.

    This is the first month that I will not play any of the PSPLUS releases..

    • x9zachattack5x
      December 30, 2015 at 2:05 pm PST

      Upset about the PSP version as well

    • x9zachattack5x
      December 30, 2015 at 2:05 pm PST

      Just got the Vita for Xmas so this is a big foot in the face.

    • davidstubbs
      December 30, 2015 at 4:30 pm PST

      I agree with you, why not use a bunch of worthy psp titles like Persona 3 FES or Monster Hunter Freedom Unite? What’s the issue with not using games like that?

      Some PS2 games should be used as well with the whole bakcwards compatiblility thing going on; seriously if they put like Ace COmbat 4 and Silent Hill 2 for one month that would be all I needed

    • Akmaljon
      December 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm PST

      First light is not AAA.

  • TwinDad
    December 30, 2015 at 2:03 pm PST

    Looks like a great lineup. Most titles are well respected. Looks like I made out for my $4/month mystery bag of games.

    I understand that is what it is, a mystery box. You pick, I play. I don’t believe I will ever have you pick 6 $60 games, that isn’t realistic. I know they are going to be picked from the bargain bin.

    • hundreddollarsox
      December 30, 2015 at 2:23 pm PST

      But, it’s not JUST about the QUALITY of the games…it’s the prices, the sales, the discounts..if it were just about us not receiving Triple A titles, or just the sales or discounts being lackluster,then, I probably wouldnt bother, but it’s the combination of all those things and when the price of digital media is more than physical media, when every other retailer discounts old games and Sony is STILL trying to bang us for full price…yeah..i have a problem with that. I have a BIG PROBLEM with that.

      Why did it take soooo long for UNTIL DAWN to go on sale????? When it was on sale, why was it still more expensive than most retailers had it being sold for a physical copy? That’s just ONE example…i could devote paragraphs and pages to all the things i think are wrong here.

    • hundreddollarsox
      December 30, 2015 at 2:24 pm PST

      I understand Sony is a for profit company, but does it take us consumers so much for granted that it doesnt think it needs to be competitive or do they think they have a monopoly on the GAME STRATOSPHERE and will charge us and give us anything they damn well want and we just have to accept it and swallow it.?

      I’m dont understand all the fan-boy automatons who act upset when people voice their grievances. You all sound like a bunch of Nazi camp sympathizers and I totally dont get it.

  • whereymyconary
    December 30, 2015 at 2:06 pm PST

    So plus… I will agree it’s gotten worse since the ps4 has come out. I’m assuming that’s cause the cost of supplying 3 systems of free games has gone up but their budget is probably the same. But that said my only requirement is one game a month. I own all 3 so it gives them good odds and they did supply. Almost bought grim a good few times so happy it’s free, honestly might check out the rocket league/twisted metal game but probably won’t like it since it’s a multiplayer intensive.

  • iAmarice
    December 30, 2015 at 2:07 pm PST

    Lame. Such lame titles… guess I’ll see what sucky ones XBL has.

  • Super_Aggro_Crag
    December 30, 2015 at 2:16 pm PST

    yet another joke of a month

  • gabet03
    December 30, 2015 at 2:21 pm PST

    Come on Sony you need to step your game up already can we stop being cheap and get some good titles that are worth downloading like seriously we pay for plus we should be awarded with some good titles

  • rudetoy
    December 30, 2015 at 2:28 pm PST

    @hundreddollarsox- “I’m dont understand all the fan-boy automatons who act upset when people voice their grievances. You all sound like a bunch of Nazi camp sympathizers and I totally dont get it.”

    TOTALLY agree. Whether they like our comments or not, PS PLUS is a *PAID* service. We expect quality for what we pay for. If you pay for a meal in a restaurant and it’s garbage, don’t you have the right to complain? Don’t we have the right to complain?

    You don’t see a + next to my avatar anymore because I am no longer a subscriber, after month after month of substandard + titles. If more people chose not to re-subscribe, MAYBE Sony would listen.

    The selection used to be much better a couple of years ago. Now, the monthly lineup is laughably bad. Only the most game-starved player would embrace these as “quality titles”.

  • Prc_No9
    December 30, 2015 at 2:29 pm PST

    Dear Sony, you have only been asking this ? For over 6 months now & the PS+ subscribers have made it perfectly clear that they want some AAA titles on the PS4 yet you still shove nothing but indies down there throats. Don’t ask the ? If you are not going to act on it, which actions speak louder than words & you are not backing words up with actions..

  • cossie1300
    December 30, 2015 at 2:30 pm PST

    Come on sony you gave us the beta of hardware rivals for free and now just updated it to full game and even though grim fandango is a game thats supposed to be good its still a megadrive game. Ps4 owners are constantly complaining that your offerings for ps4 is absolute garbage just look at Your competition for this month coming from microsoft KILLER INSTINCT FFS!!! sony get your heads out of your asses your competition is constantly doing it bigger and better than you.

  • CCatalysts
    December 30, 2015 at 2:35 pm PST

    Already played Grim Fandango on Steam, but I may replay it for a platinum. Never heard of Hardware: Rivals, but I’m pretty picky about what multiplayer games I play.

  • BoltWiz1973
    December 30, 2015 at 2:36 pm PST

    A suggestion for February: Unravel for free for Plus members!

  • krazyman27
    December 30, 2015 at 2:55 pm PST

    A month ago I joked that Grim Fandango would be a Plus game in January. It was a joke! I actually thought it was inconceivable that they would put out Broken Age, then Walking Dead Season 2, then King’s Quest, and follow that up with ANOTHER point and click adventure game. But they did it, four months in a row now… They took a genre that I thought was fairly interesting and made me never want to play one of these games again. Congrats Sony.

    Underneath the sarcasm I hope you see my actual feedback – you oversaturated with these games and I really don’t see me having any desire to renew my subscription next month. Pretty disappointing.

  • PhillyDukez
    December 30, 2015 at 3:08 pm PST

    As a PS4 owner (and a fan of most PS Plus free games) I’m bit disappointed in Januarys lineup :\. I am excited for Grim Fandango, but after playing the Hardware Rivals Beta, I found it to be lackluster, and don’t really anticipate a huge following for the release. I will give it another shot though.

  • PhillyDukez
    December 30, 2015 at 3:08 pm PST

    After releasing the PS2 games during December, I really think Sony missed a great opportunity here to put an old well-known and loved title as a surprise release. This could be anything from Sly Cooper, God of War or even something like Shadow of the Colossus (all license pending). This would also be a great way to get gamers to hop on board your exclusive titles and will slightly increase future sales with these titles.

    Those in charge of the PS Plus lineups every month, I know it is hard to get contracts, and arrange these deals and get them out on time, but please… listen to your fans. We give our input for a reason, and after months of false promises and information coming late, we are still here to support you. If this means we get the PS Plus lineup a week later to secure certain deals, by all means, we will survive and understand. I believe you guys will eventually find your niche market with these games. I have loved many lineups and indie games in the past and will continue to support you in all of your efforts.

    Sincerely,
    A Dedicated Sony Fan

  • Metus1988
    December 30, 2015 at 3:14 pm PST

    I can’t believe Sony is starting off the new year by letting Microsoft CRUSH them

  • Qu3st39
    December 30, 2015 at 3:23 pm PST

    Not a great month in general, though Id like to try both PS4 options. Of course if I get one game a month I enjoy on VITA or PS4, it is easly worth the $30-$40 a year. Combined with some great sales many months, and I feel like I am getting 3 times or greater the cost.

  • themadnader
    December 30, 2015 at 3:26 pm PST

    I’m happy if I get at least one game that I had considered buying and one shot in the dark I’d never have bought. Fortunately I own all 3 systems so every month PS+ has met my expectations.

    I’m stoked for Grim Fandango, especially since it’s on PS4 AND Vita. Totally would have already bought this, but I had a feeling it may be a PS+ game and was so glad I held out. This one makes the month for me.

    DA:O is a fantastic pick – I already own it, but if you haven’t you’re in for a treat. Hardware: Rivals looks like it could be fun for a few hours of mindless action.

    Legends of War: Patton looks like it could be a real gem: a History Channel branded tactical war game looks like a great addition to my Vita library. And while I doubt I’d plunk down any money on yet another, pretty platformer with a handpainted look, Nihilumbra also looks like it could provide me with a few hours of entertainment to say the least.

    IMHO, the only real stinker in the bunch is Medal of Honor. Not normally a big fan of semi realistic shooters, this one seems to have pretty bad reviews. I’ll tag it, but doubt it will ever be played on my PS3.

    All in all not a bad month!

  • samwise180
    December 30, 2015 at 3:26 pm PST

    A massive let down, at least allow there to be more ps3/ps4 crossover games. Or, you know, a large title as a gift to everyone over the new year and an apology to everyone for the massive Xmas & New Years disappointment.

  • cooljcat
    December 30, 2015 at 3:27 pm PST

    Yes I remember playing Hardware Rivals in the Beta! I can’t believe it’s almost here! Happy New Year! :D

  • XxImSpeshulxX
    December 30, 2015 at 3:42 pm PST

    Playstation, please give us some better titles, or maybe give us a list of games that as a community we vote on to have games we enjoy. The last good free game was rocket league!

  • livingwithoutyou
    December 30, 2015 at 3:42 pm PST

    Well I like this month so there. Hardware Rivals was badass during the beta. Grim Fandago should be good. Dragon Age Origins I have always wanted to play. And the others I know nothing about but will try to see whats what.

  • x9zachattack5x
    December 30, 2015 at 3:43 pm PST

    Can you guys at least update this PS Plus Update to say PSP next to Patton as well? Very misleading.

  • Skarletlightning
    December 30, 2015 at 3:48 pm PST

    PS+ is great value to me at least. Even on months where I may only like 1 game (Dragon Age in this case), it gives me the chance to try new games that i never would have otherwise (the rest of them). Also you still have access to many great PS3 titles if you’ve been collecting the free ones. I do see how newcomers may feel underwhelmed though. Coming from Xbox360 I’m accustomed to paying for multi-player anyway. Free games are just a bonus.

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