Not to be outdone, Microsoft has given up their slate of free games being offered up for free to its Xbox Live Gold users for December 2017 – and that’s whether you’re an Xbox 360 or an Xbox One gamer, though you’re missing out if you’re still on the last gen.
Even if you are, you’re grabbing Child of Eden, perhaps the best Kinect game ever made, and the weirdly awesome Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death. If you’re on the Xbox One you’re getting those two and a whole lot more to fill your plate this festive season. Read on for all the awesome details.
On Xbox Live Gold in December 2017
Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide (XB1)
Looking for something fun and fairly mindless to play with pals this month? Warhammer: The End Times is a Left 4 Dead-esque co-op action game, only with a fantasy theme instead of zombies. Reviews were solid, plus it’s Xbox One X-enhanced if you’ve got the latest and greatest console.
Tales from the Borderlands (XB1)
An episodic narrative adventure spun off from cartoonish aggro-shooter, Borderlands? That might seem entirely unnecessary, but truth be told, this is one of Telltale’s best story-centric experiences. It’s hilarious even if you don’t know the source games well. The whole first season is free until 15 December.
Back to the Future: The Game (XB1)
If Borderlands isn’t enough Telltale for you this month, you can grab the studio’s episodic take on Back to the Future come 16 December. You’ll get the full five-episode saga here, and while it’s not Telltale’s best work, it’s still an entertaining flashback for fans of the flicks.
Child of Eden (XB1/360)
Child of Eden is a wondrous rhythmic shooter game and the successor to Sega’s classic Rez, as you blast colourful objects that fly into view and contribute to the thumping electronic tunes in the process. It’s playable on both Xbox One and Xbox 360, and you can grab it from 1-15 December. So… now, then. Also, you can play it with Kinect (if you want) on Xbox 360, but not Xbox One – it’s controller-only there.
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death (XB1/360)
Speaking of mindless: Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death is a sort of like an old-school brawler with a God of War-like combat system. It’s sort of goofy and rough around the edges, but it’s supposed to be solidly entertaining. Marlow Briggs is available on the back half of the month, from 16 December.