August has arrived, and with it, a brand new selection of Games with Gold for Xbox players. Like always there are four games up for grabs this month, two for the Xbox One and two for the 360. Don’t worry though, all 4 are downloadable and playable on the Xbox One. Two games have already released with two more scheduled for an August 16th release and obviously, all 4 are completely free for those with an active Xbox Live Gold or an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. This month is looking pretty strong, with some great Xbox One titles to gear us up for upcoming releases and a couple smaller titles too. Let’s check them out.
August 1st Xbox One – Gears of War 4
First up this month we have a truly legendary third-person shooter, Gears of War 4. Just in time to get you excited for Gear of War 5’s upcoming release, Gears of War 4 takes place 25 years after the events of Gears of War 3 and follows J.D, Del and, Kait as they escape from their village after a brutal attack and must uncover the origin of a dangerous new enemy all whilst trying to save their loved ones. Aside from the games solid campaign, there’s also a hoard style survival mode and of course online multiplayer. There are even challenges to complete in Gears 4 which will unlock some special rewards for you in Gears of War 5 when it releases September 10th for Xbox Games Pass on Xbox One and Windows 10. Solid third-person shooting mechanics, great visuals and a compelling story which is just about to be expanded on in Gears 5. Gears of War 4 is a must-play for those of you who haven’t already.
Gears of War 4 scored a Metacritic score of 84 and a user score of 6.6. Check out the trailer below:
August 1st Xbox 360 – Torchlight
On the Xbox 360 for August 1st, we have Torchlight. A smaller game coming from the creators of Diablo, Torchlight is a top-down “dungeon runner” so to speak where you choose between three classes; Destroyer, Alchemist or Vanquisher. There are randomized dungeon levels to crawl through, hordes of beasts and enemies to slay and more loot to grab than you could ever hope for. It’s obviously an acquired taste, but for what it is Torchlight looks like a pretty fun time, with some great looking graphics and some core solid gameplay. If you end up loving Torchlight you’re in luck, as its sequel Torchlight 2 is right around the corner launching September 3rd.
Torchlight is sitting pretty with a solid Metacritic score of 81 and a user score of 7.7. Give the trailer a watch below:
August 16th Xbox One – Forza Motorsport 6
On the Xbox One for August 16th, we have one of the best racing games of this generation. Forza Motorsport 6. Forza obviously won’t be to everyone’s taste but for any racing enthusiasts out there it is a must-play. With over 450 different cars to customize and race with, across 26 world-famous locations in all sorts of weather conditions, Forza Motorsport 6 is truly an epic racer. Its visuals are stunning and its gameplay is solid, seriously if you’re into motorsport and you haven’t picked up Forza Motorsport 6 yet, I highly recommend you give it a try.
Forza Motorsport 6 has a Metacritic score of 87 and a user score of 7.7. You can check out the trailer down below:
August 16th Xbox 360 – Castlevania Lords of Shadow
Finally this month, on the Xbox 360 for August 16th we have Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. You play as Gabriel Belmont in his quest to defeat an evil order known as the Lords of Shadow and resurrect his wife. You must cross a devastated world, to end the Lords of Shadow unholy rule and finally bring back balance. This one looks a little dated, which is to be expected but has some seriously intense-looking third-person combat not too dissimilar to that of old God of War titles.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow has a Metacritic score of 83 and a user score of 7.9. Watch the trailer below:
So, that does it for August’s Games With Gold lineup. To redeem your titles simply head to the Gold section on your Xbox One, 360 or at Xbox.com/gameswithgold and your new titles should appear in the ready to install section. Gears of War 4 and Forza Motorsport look like solid choices to me, but what are your thoughts on this months lineup? let us know down below or over on Twitter.