PlayStation Plus subscribers eager to discover the free PS4 and PS5 games for January 2025 will need to exercise extra patience this time around. Due to how the dates fall, Sony won’t unveil the next batch of games until January 1 at 4:30 PM GMT, with the titles becoming available for download on the morning of January 7.

While the delay might be disappointing, there’s a silver lining: subscribers have additional time to redeem December’s impressive lineup of free games, headlined by the critically acclaimed co-op adventure It Takes Two.

From the creators of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and A Way Out, It Takes Two offers a unique blend of puzzles, humor, and heartfelt storytelling. The game invites players to work together as they navigate challenges after being transformed into dolls by a magical spell. With an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam, it’s a must-play for fans of co-op adventures.

Joining the roster is the strategy game Aliens: Dark Descent, which has earned an 88% user score on Steam. In this real-time combat game, players command a squad of Colonial Marines tasked with stopping a Xenomorph outbreak on Planet Lethe. Featuring permadeath mechanics, the stakes are higher than ever, as every decision can result in permanent losses for your squad.

The final offering for PS Plus Essential members is TemTem, a creature-collecting MMO inspired by Pokémon. Players can tame over 165 creatures, explore seven islands, and battle other "Tamers" in a vibrant online world. With features like dungeon exploration, creature breeding, and home building, TemTem offers an expansive adventure for fans of the genre.

Though the wait for January’s lineup feels longer than usual, the quality of December’s offerings provides plenty to keep gamers entertained in the meantime.