There’s still time to get your free December games if you have Xbox Live Gold or Game Pass. This month, the games are valued at a total of $74.96 with a combined gamerscore of 3,200. They are available for a limited time only for Xbox Live Gold/Games with Gold members while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will continue to include these games in addition to hundreds of others. These were the games unveiled by Dean Shimabukuro, the Sr. Marketing Program Manager for Xbox, on their official news site:
The Raven Remastered
Available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, The Raven Remastered is an action/adventure game taking place in London, 1964. A ruby has been stolen from the British Museum and a raven’s feather has been left as a calling card, suggesting the legendary master thief who disappeared years before, The Raven, may have a copycat. The remaster enhances the graphics of this whodunit in this point and click adventure game. James (@oKidUKo) of The Xbox Hub says: “The Raven is back, but their legacy neither enhances or tarnishes this return. Maybe check it out in the sale if you enjoy a good Poirot-esque story.” The game is ordinarily $29.99 ERP and available on Games with Gold from December 1st to December 31st.
Bleed 2
Also available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Bleed 2 features the return of Wryn, the world’s last remaining hero, in her arcade-style quest to defeat villains all over the world. The player can not only shoot their opponents but also stylishly dodge and reflect bullets back at them. There are seven levels, more than 25, and four difficulty levels. Players can also enjoy three different modes: Arcade Mode, Challenge Mode, and Endless Mode. Metro GameCentral mentions the game’s short length and basic graphics as possible deterrents but sums up the game by saying: “We know the name is probably putting a lot of people off – since it sounds like some naff ‘90s first person shooter – and the screenshots probably aren’t helping either, but this is one of the best 2D action games we’ve played in a long while. And one that won’t bleed your wallet dry either.” This game retails for $14.99 and is available for free on Games with Gold from December 16th to December 21st.
Saints Row: Gat out of Hell
The first of the backward compatible games on this list, Saints Row: Gat out of Hell is a standalone game that also serves as an epilogue to Saints Row IV. In this action/adventure game, the player takes control of Johnny Gat as he and Kinzie Kensington travel to Hell to save the leader of the 3rd Street Saints from Satan, taking on the Devil and even belting out into song on occasion. Though the personal highlight for me is that you can unlock an armchair with chain guns attached to it, one of my favorite weapons of all-time. Ken Mckown, Editor-in-Chief of ZTGD, compliments the game: “For those never venturing into Saints Row IV this is a must-buy, and for those that did, Gat Out of Hell is a solid expansion that should satiate the hunger for the inevitable Saints Row V we all hope is coming sooner rather than later.” This game, which is ordinarily $15.99, was available for free on Games with Gold from December 1st to December 15th. While it’s no longer free on Games with Gold, it can still be played for free using the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Stacking
The second backward compatible game, Stacking is an action/adventure and roleplaying game in which you take control of living Russian stacking dolls, each with their own special abilities, to solve puzzles and challenges. It is the brainchild of Tim Schafer’s award-winning Double Fine Productions. Gaming Excellence’s Daniel Acaba praises the game, which he clarifies is “actually an adventure game in disguise.” He says overall that “Stacking is a fantastic game with some actual content, challenge (so long as you avoid the hint system) and it has a whole lot of charm.” The game normally retails for $14.99 and is available for free on Xbox Live Gold from December 16th to December 31st.
Which games have you been checking out for December 2020? Let us know in the comments below.
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