There’s literally something for everyone in February’s star games with gold offerings, from classic shooters to Indiana Jones.
If the Games with Gold started strong in January 2021, February will keep the party on a high. To begin with, forget the usual four titles – if you have an Xbox Series X | S or have an Xbox One, you get five this month. Even more remarkable is that the mix is incredibly strong, with classic, well-judged and endearing titles from the entire spectrum of the Xbox library.
Sure, it’s pretty preloaded. You start with one of last year’s top shooters and one of the defining titles for survival horror, but to end the month with a killer indie platform and a classic 360-person shooter is nothing to go by. to sneeze. As always, these games are available to Xbox Live Gold members for a limited time, but once they claim, they are free to keep and play as long as your Xbox Live Gold account is active.
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RAT 5
A flagship title since the Xbox 360, Gears of war has the chance to stay beaten in the public eye by slowly revamping itself over time. 2019’s Rat 5 focuses for the first time ever on a female character, placing players in the boots of COG Soldier Kait Diaz as she embraces her legacy as the daughter of the Locust Horde’s Queen.
Rat 5 was well received with its initial release, with reviews ranging from calling it the best of the series to date and a solid progress that has stopped just catching the shame Gears of war‘s feeling. Xbox Game Pass owners enjoy it Rat 5 since the launch, but it will be available all month for any Gold subscribers yet to dive.
Developed by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios, Rat 5 can be free on Xbox Series X from February 1st to February 28th | S and Xbox One for Xbox Live Gold members.
RESIDENT EVIL
Everyone is currently losing their head Resident Evil Village‘s beautiful aesthetic and the striking “Tall Lady”, but Xbox gives Gold members the chance to go back to where it all began. The original Resident Evil has become a cult classic thanks to its engaging acting and sleek style, as well as the cheesiness of its live-action intro scenes.
Today, Resident Evil is perhaps one of the easiest playable games in the world. The game was revised for the GameCube in 2002 as part of an exclusive deal with Capcom, but the remake was widely released as the standard version of the title. The remake is almost as popular as the original, though the option to replace tank controls with more modern analog controls can make avoiding zombies pretty trivial. Still, this is the perfect opportunity to revisit the original before losing yourself Resident Evil Village later this year.
Developed by Capcom Production Studio 4 and published by Capcom, Resident Evil 4 can be free on Xbox Series X from February 1st to February 28th | S and Xbox One for Xbox Live Gold members.
DANDARA: TESTING OF FEAR ISSUE
Inspired by the legend of an Afro-Brazilian fighter, Dandara is a unique 2D platform with Metroidvania elements. The titular Dandara does not move by walking or running, but by jumping through the stage between white platforms and attacking while standing still. The result is a dark beautiful puzzle game with a unique and memorable gimmick.
Dandara was originally a 2018 version on multiple platforms, but many reviewers felt it was held back by design choices that were clearly intended for the game’s original intent as a mobile title. Still, it was well received and a serious match of the year. The Trials of Fear Edition expands on the original title, adding three new areas, as well as a new boss, powers, mechanics and more.
Developed by Long Hat House and published by Raw Fury, Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition can run from February 16 to March 15 on Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One for Xbox Live Gold members.
INDIANA JONES AND THE EMPEROR’S TOMB
If you’m excited about Bethesda’s teasing of a new Indiana Jones game, there is no better time than now to go back to one of the better Indy titles. Indiana Jones has the best history of play; show and click on titles like The Fate of Atlantis has become classic, while more modern excursions such as The Staff of Kings have been dudes.
The Imperial Tomb falls square in the middle. This 2003 version for the original Xbox, PlayStation 2, Windows and Mac was praised for its tone and story, which successfully captured the franchise in a way that few expected after it had been quiet for so long. It’s still an early 00’s 3D action adventure title based on a licensed property, and so it suffers from the expected problems with controls and graphics.
Developed by The Collective and published by LucasArts, Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb can be owned for free on Xbox Series X from February 1 to February 15 | S, Xbox One and Xbox 360 for Xbox Live Gold members.
LOST PLANET 2
Set ten years after the original version Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, Lost Planet 2 returns players to EDN III. As the ice begins to melt and the dangerous planet begins to warm up, it is not rescue, but a new terrifying jungle environment filled with gruesome monsters and massive bases.
Lost Planet was introduced as a big part of the seventh generation gaming consoles to give praise and strong reviews, but it never seemed to really catch on. Lost Planet 2 sits with comfortable 68% on Metacritic, with follow-up Lost Planet 3 at an even lower 61%. Yet it is a well-known franchise with a unique concept that has lent itself to a strong multiplayer component. Can we see a Lost Planet soon to be persecuted or revived?
Developed and published by Capcom, Lost Planet 2 can be free on Xbox Series X from February 15 to February 28 | S, Xbox One and Xbox 360 for Xbox Live Gold members.
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