Complete list of Games With Gold games

We've compiled a full historical list of Games with Gold titles for both Xbox 360 and Xbox One below. You can use the search box if you're looking for a particular game, or sort chronologically by clicking the arrows at the top of the Release Date column. Xbox Live Gold can be purchased on its own for $10.95/month, or as part of the Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

What is Games with Gold?

Games with Gold is a promotional service that rewards loyal subscribers to the Xbox Live Gold service. Twice a month, subscribers receive a selection of Xbox One games and Xbox 360 games to download and play, free of charge. This offer does not extend to the free Xbox Live subscription; only Xbox Live Gold members have access to the free games.

Microsoft sells Xbox Live Gold subscriptions for $79.95 a year in Australia, but you can often find them cheaper through retailer deals. Once subscribed, you'll have instant access to Games With Gold. Over the course of a year, Games With Gold will typically get you access to over $1000 worth of games.

How does Games With Gold work?

Once you've subscribed to Xbox Live Gold, there is nothing more you need to do to access Games With Gold. You will see a tile appear on your Xbox dashboard, which you can click to view the games that are available for free at that time. Please note that the available games switch over on the 15th of every month, so it's wise to check before and after this date to see what's new. Each round of games is only available for free during that two-week window, and if you don't add them to your library within that time, you won't be able to play them for free after the two weeks have passed.

Microsoft usually offers a mix of both Xbox 360 and Xbox One games as part of Games With Gold. Games downloaded on Xbox 360 will also be available on Xbox One through Backwards Compatibility, assuming you log in to both consoles using the same gamer profile.

When you go to buy a Games With Gold game, the list price will be removed and the word "FREE" will display. You can then proceed to 'buy' the game at no cost. This will add the game to your library, and it'll be yours to keep for as long as you are an Xbox Live Gold subscriber. So even after that month, you will still be able to download and play the game whenever you like.

Tips and Tricks for Games With Gold

Many modern games have quite large download sizes, so always be aware that playing a Games With Gold game could involve downloading anywhere up to 50GB of software. While this is the extreme end of the spectrum, our data show the average download size of an Xbox One game to be 16GB. You will need to account for that in your available download data, and your available hard drive space.

The best way to avoid issues with storage space and data caps is by "buying" a game during the offer window but holding off on downloading it till a later date. This is handy, because you can choose to wait for your monthly data allowance to reset or give yourself time to upgrade your hard drive space. Since "buying" the game added it to your Xbox library, you can download it for free whenever you're able.

Are the games in Games With Gold any good?

You'll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of titles that appear in the Games With Gold service, with some of the biggest blockbusters from the world's most loved developers regularly offered. What we tend to see is developers and publishers using Games With Gold to showcase an Xbox One game that may have just had a sequel announced, or another title in the series nearing release. In this way, it becomes a promotional tool, but who's complaining when there's a free game to be had?

Each month, Games With Gold typically includes at least one smaller indie title as well, but don't automatically dismiss these relatively cheap games as lacklustre affairs. They can be some of the most memorable experiences you can have on an Xbox console.

What is Deals With Gold?

In addition to the monthly free games, Xbox Live Gold subscribers are offered reduced prices on other titles available through the digital Xbox One store. These 'Deals With Gold' offer discounts on everything from big blockbusters to small indies to season passes and downloadable content. They're often quite significant, too, with savings of 60% or more to be had. Titles that are featured in Deals With Gold can often be found right next to their Games With Gold counterparts via the Xbox dashboard. Just remember that, like Games With Gold, Deals With Gold are only available for a limited time.

Games with Gold FAQ

• How did Games with Gold start?

  Games With Gold was originally intended as a one-off show of thanks to loyal Xbox Live subscribers, but it proved so popular after its July 2013 debut that Microsoft decided to make it permanent. Since then, the program has given away over 250 games totalling up to thousands of dollars worth of entertainment.

• Are the Games with Gold really free?

  Games offered through Games With Gold aren't technically "free" since you need to pay for Xbox Live Gold in order to access them. You'll need to keep paying if you want to hold onto them, too, as you'll lose access to all your Games With Gold games if you let your Xbox Live Gold subscription lapse at any point.

• How much does Xbox Live Gold cost?

  The easiest way to purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription is directly through the Microsoft Store on your Xbox console or your computer. A 12-month subscription will set you back $79.95, a three-month subscription will cost you $29.95 and a one-month subscription will run you $10.95. However, if you shop around, you can often find online retailers selling subscriptions at a cheaper price.

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Last verified 29 Sep 2017

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