When Xbox Live first reared its head in 2002, millions flocked to the subscription service just to be able to play online multiplayer matches with their friends. For the first decade or so, that novelty didn’t wear off. Fans were happy to shell out a few bucks a month to be able to play the likes ofHalo 3,Gears of War 2, andCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfarewith their friends. But as time went on, the player-base started wanting more for its money, so along cameXbox Games with Gold.
Debuting in 2013, Xbox Games with Gold had very humble beginnings, simply offering players two free games every month, alongside the usual Xbox Live benefits. In just a year, this offering was pushed to four free games every month, and though not all of them were big AAA titles, they were all free games, and the gaming public wasn’t all that used to getting free games at that point. But times have changed once again, and with the rise of PlayStation Plus, Prime Gaming, and theEpic Games Store’s free offerings, players are no longer content with just any old free games. Thankfully, the latest Xbox Games with Gold offerings have been a treat for just about any type of gamer.
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August’s Games With Gold Cater For All Audiences
It’s sometimes the case that all four free games on Xbox Games with Gold in any given month will all offer fairly similar experiences. For instance, sometimes Xbox might offer a fewtop-down roguelikesat once, or several city-builder and management games. This month, each and every game offered with Games with Gold is completely distinct from one another, offering entirely different gameplay styles and in the process ensuring that all types of gamers are satisfied with at least one of the free games on offer.
The first of these games isCalico, which is currently available on Games with Gold and will be up until August 31. Developed by Peachy Keen Games and released in December 2020,Calicois an adorable,pastel-colored community sim gamewhere the player is tasked with building their own cat cafe. Fans ofAnimal Crossingare sure to feel right at home withCalico, with the bulk of gameplay revolving around setting up furniture and decorating the cafe, customizing every inch to suit the player’s own creative design. After finding cats in the wild, players can pick them up, name them, and bring them home, where they can then interact with them with toys and food. With a gorgeous, bright visual style, plenty of cartoon silliness, and a central task that focuses around creativity and freedom,Calicois the perfect game for anyone looking to unwind for a few hours.
Next up isScourgeBringer, another 2020 release, this time developed by Flying Oak Games and E-Studio. Available now up until September 15,ScourgeBringeris a fast-paced roguelite platformer that puts an emphasis on speed, and a wide range of movement. With some incredibly responsive controls at their disposal, players can zip aroundScourgeBringer’s 2D environments with ease, gunning down and slashing through foes while dashing across the arena. Boasting both a fluid movement system and a satisfying combat system,ScourgeBringermay just scratch thatHollow Knightitch while fans wait forSilksong.
One of the two retro offerings in this month’s Games with Gold,Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mineis one of the most beloved Indie games of all time. Releasing in 2013, right around the big Indie boom alongside titles likeSuper Meat Boy,LIMBO, andFez,Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mineis a top-down heist game that can be played in both single-player and co-op. Players choose from a range of classes, each of which has its own unique set of skills, and embark on the perfect heist. They then use their abilities to manipulate guards, hack into cameras, sneak past civilians, and tunnel to freedom. For those looking for a more challenging, intensive co-op game,Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mineis the perfect choice, and players can pick it up from now until August 31.
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August’s Games With Gold Got Fans Hyped For Saints Row
While the firstSaints Rowshowed some real potential,Saints Row 2was the first entry in the franchise that really stood out from the crowd, with a bustling open-world, a uniquely dark sense of humor, and a cast of colorful characters that elevated the story higher than it had any right to be. Throw in some tight gunplay, driving mechanics, and a vast selection of wacky side activities and minigames, andSaints Row 2easily becomes one of themost memorable and genuinely fun open-world titles of all time.
This month’s inclusion ofSaints Row 2is also extremely fitting, as the brand newSaints Rowis slated for release at the end of the month. Though the newSaints Rowis designed to be a reboot of sorts for the franchise, featuring abrand-new Saints gangseparated entirely from the Third Street Saints, it seems as though it’s going share much of the same features and themes of its predecessors. So, before players make their way to Santo Ileso, it’d be fitting to first take a trip to Stilwater, just to see how far the franchise has come in the last decade or so.
