This week Microsoft let the “cat out of the bag” as they announced the Games with Gold games for December. Â So, without dragging things on, here’s what you can expect to download if you have a Xbox Live Gold account:
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing ($14.99 ERP) – Available from December 1-31 on Xbox One
- The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing might be a mouthful of a title, but it’s actually a very simple game to get into – although one with a ton of layers, viewed from an isometric, top-down perspective. You play the title character, and your job is to kick some monster butt while leveling up your weapons, your abilities, and yourself along the way. If you enjoyed any of the games in the Diablo series, or have a penchant for Eastern European mythology, you’ll definitely dig The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing.
Thief ($29.99 ERP) – Available from December 16-January 15 on Xbox One
- Thief is set in a steampunk/Gothic setting. You are Garrett, the Master Thief. Step into the silent shoes of Garrett, a dark and solitary thief with an unrivalled set of skills. The most challenging heists, the most inaccessible loot, the best kept secrets: nothing is out of your reach. Explore the sick and troubled City, from its shady back alleys to the heights of its rooftops. Sneak through the streets, infiltrate heavily-guarded mansions and lurk in every dark corner… unnoticed and unsanctioned. Choose your approach and use Garrett’s arsenal to take down guards silently with your blackjack, use multiple arrow types to manipulate your environment and the enemies within them or use your newly acquired focus abilities to increase the effectiveness of your thieving skills.
CastleStorm ($9.99 ERP) – Available from December 1-15 on Xbox 360
- CastleStorm combines the best elements of tower defense titles like Kingdom Rushand artillery attack titles like Angry Birds. It’s a raucous, colorful medieval romp through multiple levels of physics-based destruction. Vikings take on Knights, and you get to choose which side you want to be on; either way, you’ll get to build your own castle, stock it with defenses, and repel invaders. Or, hire and deploy a force of fearsome raider to take the castle down! You’ll need to mix and match the right kinds of fighters to make sure they can counteract any defenses that you may face. It’ll take guts and some cleverness to get through all the many levels of this highly rated title.
Sacred 3 ($19.99 ERP) – Available from December 16-31 on Xbox 360
- Third in the extremely popular brawler/strategy series, Sacred 3 focuses on cooperative gameplay (both local and online play are available), wherein you choose from a series of characters with unique sets of skills and abilities. They must work together to keep from getting overwhelmed by waves of foes, and can combine their skills in unique ways to solve challenges. Written with a comedic twist, Sacred 3 offers as many laughs as it does moments of action – so look forward to thrills and spills as you swash plenty of buckles with this one!
Bonus: Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising ($9.99 ERP): Available from December 16-31 on Xbox 360
- Games with Gold is adding an extra free game for the holidays Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising. Taking gamers as close to war as they’ll ever want to get, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is a heart pounding military simulator delivering a total combat experience. The game challenges players to survive the chaos and rapidly evolving situations of modern warfare on an exotic island location. Players experience the intensity, diversity and claustrophobia of a modern conflict from the unique perspectives of an infantry marine, a helicopter pilot, a Special Forces officer or a tank commander.
So there you have it, the final Games with Gold for 2015. Â It will be interesting to see what 2016 brings into the fold for Microsoft’s program, until then, have fun with the free titles you downloaded to date.