January 2017 PS+ Free Games Predictions

The Bigger Game

Normally, Sony’s lineup of games for PS+’ Instant Games Collection contains one ‘bigger’ game that headlines the rest of them. As the PS3 and Vita start to fade further into the background, it’s likely that 2017 will start to see the rise of bigger PS4 games featuring in monthly lineups, and January will just be the start.

January 2017 has two candidates for its bigger free PS+ game. We predict that you could get your hands on Sucker Punch’s 2014 action-adventure game, InFamous Second Son. Considering we’ve already had the story DLC, First Light, as a PS+ free game before, it seems right that we’d eventually be offered the full experience for free.

On top of that, Second Son was one of the oldest games that received a patch to make use of the PS4 Pro’s additional power. If Sony wants to truly showcase what its new console can do, the best way it can do so is by making the games that make use of the additional horsepower more accessible to owners.

Alternatively, Sony may opt to throw its family-friendly 2016 hit Ratchet and Clank, up for free to PS+ subscribers. Considering the game offers enjoyable gameplay for all ages, as well as releasing at a ‘budget’ price, the game seems like a prime candidate for January’s offering. Ratchet and Clank was another game that received PS4 Pro support, too, providing further incentive for Sony to offer it and showcase just what its new hardware is capable of.

Indies

The free PS+ games lineup often includes a couple of indie titles, as well. While maybe not as expensive to purchase as some of the bigger titles, indies can still offer some excellent experiences that you simply cannot get anywhere else.

Our two predictions for this category come in the form of Jonathan Blow’s puzzler, The Witness, and the upcoming Flame in the Flood. The Witness, having released in January this year, challenges players to solve a number of different puzzles littering a vibrant and beautiful island. Each solution leads them closer to uncovering the mystery at the heart of the island, and many puzzles will teach players the skills they need to solve other ones further down the line. Considering January will be the anniversary of The Witness’ release on PS4, and how critically acclaimed the game has been, it seems like the perfect choice for Sony to kickstart their PlayStation Plus offerings of 2017 off with.

Alternatively, there’s a good chance that Sony could opt to do as it’s done before with the likes of Rocket League and other indie titles and opt to release a new title for free on PlayStation Plus. One such indie that could do exactly that is The Flame in the Flood: Complete Edition. Due to release Jan. 2017, The Flame in the Flood is a procedurally-generated game set in “post-societal America” where players control a woman and her dog. You’ll need to scavenge for supplies, craft tools, and fend off predators if you’re to survive in this tough environment. Considering the game released to a fairly positive critical reception this year on Xbox One and PC, releasing it as part of PlayStation Plus’ Instant Games Collection may help it to get it in front of players, as well as help to kick the year off with a bang.

VR Games

Finally, there’s a good chance that Sony may reward those who have picked up one of its PlayStation VR headsets with a free game via PlayStation Plus. While the library of VR games is pretty limited at the time of writing, there’s still a couple of titles that’d be perfect for January’s free PS Plus title.

Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is one of the better PSVR experiences you can pick up right now. While it’s a little light on content, its on-rails shooting gameplay has a ton of replayability, especially if you’ve got a bunch of friends battling it out for the top score on the leaderboards. As one of the more successful PSVR launch titles, it’d be a welcome addition to January’s PlayStation Plus lineup, and would perfectly showcase what PSVR is capable of to new adopters of the headset.

Alternatively, Ubisoft’s recently released Eagle Flight could also make for an interesting addition to January’s PlayStation Plus lineup. Having received fairly positive reviews and offering something pretty unique in comparison to the other PSVR titles out there, Eagle Flight might just be the kind of big name title to help promote Sony’s VR headset.

What games do you think will make their way to Sony’s PS+ Instant Games Collection in January? Let us know down in the comments below.