Xbox Games With Gold Year-End Free Game Offerings And How To Access Them

The Xbox Games With Gold program has been a cornerstone benefit for Xbox Live Gold members since its inception, offering free digital games each month. This article examines the year-end free game offerings through this program across multiple years, highlighting what games have been available, when they were offered, and how Xbox owners could access these free titles. The program has evolved since its inception in 2013, expanding from Xbox 360 to include Xbox One and later Xbox Series X|S consoles, with Microsoft consistently providing free games to its subscriber base at the end of each year.

Historical Overview of Games With Gold at Year-End

The Games With Gold program was first announced for Xbox 360 in 2013 and has since expanded to include newer Xbox consoles. Each month, Microsoft typically offers four free games - two for Xbox One (and later Xbox Series X|S) and two for Xbox 360, though this pattern has varied over time. The year-end offerings have often been particularly notable, sometimes including major titles or celebrating milestones in the program's history.

In December 2013, Microsoft's Games with Gold program closed out its first year by offering Gears of War (December 1-15) and Shoot Many Robots (December 16-31) for Xbox 360. This established the pattern of rotating free games midway through the month that would continue in subsequent years. Microsoft announced at this time that the Games with Gold program would continue on Xbox 360 as an "ongoing benefit" and would be extended to Xbox One starting in 2014.

By 2014, the program had expanded to include Xbox One, with June marking the one-year anniversary of Games with Gold. In June 2014, Xbox One subscribers received Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Halo: Spartan Assault, while Xbox 360 owners could download Charlie Murder, Dark Souls, and Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition. This five-game offering across platforms was notable for including Microsoft's first free offerings for Xbox One.

The program continued to evolve, with Xbox 360 games offered through Games With Gold supporting Xbox One backwards compatibility, effectively giving Xbox One owners with Gold subscriptions access to four free games each month rather than just two. This expanded value proposition became a key selling point for the Xbox Live Gold membership.

December 2017 Games With Gold Offerings

The end of 2017 brought several notable free games through the Games With Gold program. For December 2017, Xbox Live Gold members could download:

• Back to the Future: The Game
• Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide
• Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death

Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide, in particular, stood out as a cooperative first-person action game set in the Warhammer universe. The game features players fighting against Skaven (ratmen) in a similar style to Left 4 Dead, with challenging gameplay and a reward system that encouraged players to complete difficult objectives for better equipment. The game's difficulty was noted in contemporary coverage, with players needing to work together to hold off relentless Skaven hordes, especially at higher difficulties.

Back to the Future: The Game, which continued to be available into early January 2018, offered a different experience as an adventure game based on the popular film franchise. Meanwhile, Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death provided an action-oriented experience for Xbox 360 owners.

These December 2017 games transitioned into the January 2018 lineup, which included:

January 2018 Games With Gold Lineup

The first month of 2018 continued the established pattern of Games With Gold offerings, with four free games split across Xbox One and Xbox 360 platforms:

Xbox One: - The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III (January 1-31) - Zombi (January 16 - February 15)

Xbox 360: - Tomb Raider: Underworld (January 1-15) - Army of Two (January 16-31)

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III marked the game's launch on Xbox One and came with unspecified Xbox One X enhancements, taking advantage of the then-new console's improved hardware. Zombi, a modified version of the Wii U launch game ZombiU, provided a survival horror experience for Xbox One owners.

For Xbox 360 players, Tomb Raider: Underworld offered exploration and adventure gameplay, while Army of Two provided cooperative action gameplay. As with all Xbox 360 Games With Gold titles, these supported Xbox One backwards compatibility, meaning Xbox One owners with Gold subscriptions could access all four games during January 2018.

December 2020 Games With Gold Offerings

As 2020 came to a close, Microsoft continued the Games With Gold tradition with several free games for Xbox Live Gold members. December 2020 saw:

• The Raven Remastered
• Saints Row IV Gat Out Of Hell (available until December 15)
• Stacking
• BLEED 2

The Raven Remastered and Saints Row IV Gat Out Of Hell were available earlier in December, with Saints Row IV Gat Out Of Hell being removed from the free offerings on December 15. Later in the month, Stacking and BLEED 2 were added to the lineup.

Stacking, developed by Tim Schafer's Double Fine Productions and originally released in 2011 for Xbox 360, offered a unique puzzle experience featuring Russian stacking dolls. Players could jump into more than 100 unique dolls and use their special abilities to solve various puzzles and challenges in a vintage world. The game's distinctive premise and Double Fine's reputation made it a notable addition to the December lineup.

BLEED 2 provided a contrasting experience as a fast-paced action-platformer game, offering a manic and energetic gameplay experience that complemented the more contemplative nature of Stacking.

All of these December 2020 games were available to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox 360 owners with active Xbox Live Gold subscriptions. The availability period typically extended until the middle of the following month, with Stacking and BLEED 2 remaining free until January 15, 2021.

How to Access Games With Gold Freebies

Accessing Games With Gold freebies is straightforward for Xbox Live Gold members:

1. Ensure an active Xbox Live Gold subscription is maintained
2. Navigate to the Xbox Store on the respective console (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or Xbox 360)
3. Browse the "Games With Gold" section or search for specific titles
4. Download the games at no additional cost

Games remain accessible as long as the subscription is active and the games are downloaded during their promotional period. Once downloaded, games can be played indefinitely even if the subscription lapses, though online multiplayer functionality requires an active Gold subscription.

The program has maintained consistent patterns over the years: - Games are typically available from the first to the fifteenth, and then from the sixteenth to the end of the month - Xbox 360 games support backwards compatibility on Xbox One - Xbox Series X|S can access Xbox One Games With Gold titles through the console's backwards compatibility features - New games are added around the middle of each month, coinciding with the removal of that month's first set of free games

Conclusion

The Xbox Games With Gold program has consistently provided value to subscribers through year-end free game offerings. From its inception in 2013 with titles like Gears of War and Shoot Many Robots, through expansion to Xbox One with games like Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Halo: Spartan Assault, and continuing with diverse offerings like Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide, Stacking, and BLEED 2, the program has evolved while maintaining its core value proposition.

Year-end offerings have often been particularly notable, sometimes including major titles or celebrating milestones in the program's history. The consistent pattern of rotating free games midway through each month has created a predictable rhythm for subscribers, while the inclusion of games across different genres and from various publishers has provided variety.

For Xbox owners with Gold subscriptions, these free games represent significant value, effectively expanding their game libraries at no additional cost. The backwards compatibility features that allow Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S owners to play Xbox 360 Games With Gold titles have further enhanced this value, effectively doubling the number of free games available each month for owners of newer consoles.

As Microsoft continues to evolve the Games With Gold program, subscribers can expect the year-end offerings to remain a highlight of the service, providing both entertainment and value as each year concludes.

Sources

1. January 2018 Xbox One And 360 Free Games With Gold Announced
2. Freebie Feelers... Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide
3. Xbox Games With Gold freebies switch up as Stacking and BLEED 2 go free
4. December Games With Gold freebies are Gears of War, Shoot Many Robots
5. Games With Gold doles out Xbox One freebies in June