Wednesday 4 February 2015

Free Games: February 2015

What's Better Than Free Games?

Absolutely nothing, so here's a list of what you can get for nothing this month:

XBox One

#IDARB

This month, Games with Gold is offering the rather unique #IDARB for free to any subscribers with an XBox One. #IDARB is...well...the best explanation is their own:

#IDARB is a chaotic 8-player eSport jumping jetpack future arena ball game that is as inspired by Bomberman and Smash Bros. as it is by cans of soda, paint-by-number books, and driving five miles faster than the speed limit.

It's like a pixelly game of space-football, stuffed with pop-culture references and spoofs thereof. Where else are you going to find a game that flashes a rage-quit meme when someone quits early?



XBox 360

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

For the first half of the month, Games with Gold is giving XBL's last-gen users a free copy of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. It's a fun top-down puzzle-adventure game, where the player simultaneously controls two brothers, Naiee and Naia - one with each thumb stick - on their quest to save their dying father.


Sniper Elite V2

During the second half of this month Games with Gold will be giving 360 users the opportunity to become Lietenant Karl Fairburne and snipe their way through World War II Germany. If your reaction to this news is along the lines of "**** not another third-person military-themed shooter" then stop right there - between it's heavy focus on sniping (bet you didn't see that coming!), slightly-horrific-but-still-awesome X-Ray kill cams allowing you to see precisely the damage you've inflicted on your target's skeletons, and the ability to kill enemies by shooting and blowing up grenades attached to their belts, Sniper Elite V2 is set apart from the rest.



PlayStation 4

Transistor

Next-gen (can we still call it that?!) PlayStation Plus members can get their hands on this sci-fi RPG for free at the moment. Set in the city of Cloudbank, the player controls Red, a famous singer who was almost the victim of an assassination ordered by the Camerata. Left with The Transistor, the greatsword that was to end her life, Red must track down the villains and stop them. Transistor's most notable feature is it's Turn() system, which allow the player to freeze time, whether to assess the situation and plan their next attack, take cover, or set traps. However what truly sets it apart is it's breathtaking artwork and stellar soundtrack, which sold close to 50,000 copies within two weeks of release.




Apotheon

Also free to PlayStation Plus' PS4 members is Apotheon, a 2D platformer based on Greek mythology. Explore Mount Olympus, kill all sorts of mythological creatures with all sorts of weapons, and battle the Gods who have turned their backs on humanity. There's also a pretty neat 1v1 multiplayer mode which will allow you to duel with your friends. And you could learn something about the Ancient Greeks! Whoever said that killing stuff can't be educational?



PlayStation 3

Yakuza 4

Ever wanted to go fishing in Tokyo's red light district without leaving your house? Well now you can, and all for free with PlayStation Plus! Yakuza 4 follows four characters whose lives have been woven together by a conspiracy, and all set in a startlingly accurate recreation of Tokyo's seediest neighbourhood. 


Thief

.......
.......
.......

Sorry, had to run and install this because PlayStation Plus are giving away this absolute gem this month! Become the master thief Garrett, sneak your way around The City, stealing from the rich and pick-pocketing guards. Although, if you're a fan of the older Thief games then you might want to give this one a miss, as it appeals mainly to newer fans and has left many an old one quite disappointed.


PlayStation (All)

Rogue Legacy

Free on PS4, PS3 and PS Vita through Playstation Plus this February is Rogue Legacy, a rogue-lite platform game where you aim to fight through dungeons and defeat the bosses that await you. What makes this game unique is that when you die you're replaced by a randomly generated heir of yours - but as in real life, genetics can be...interesting. You could be colourblind, dyslexic, or be generated with one of several other genetic anomalies, which can actually have their advantages, such as those with dwarfism being able to fit into small spaces. This also means that Rogue Legacy has a huge replay value, especially as when you've completed the game you can start a New Game + and tackle it all again...and again...until you've mastered every class...and then probably repeat it all again, because this is addictive.


PlayStation Vita

Kick & Fennick

Kick & Fennick is a brand new platform adventure for PS Vita about a little boy with a very big gun

Uh....what?!
You play as said little boy, Kick, as he goes on an adventure with his recently aquired robot friend Fennick, through 45 levels full of enemy robots, magnets, teleporters and more, using that great big gun. The gameplay - a combination of shooting and jumping - is simple but fun, and the colourful world it's all set in is pleasing on the eye. All in all, this looks set to be a fun game good for eating up your spare time. And best of all, it's free thanks to PlayStation Plus!



Steam

Rise of Incarnates

Bandco's brand-new free-to-play multiplayer will be arriving on Steam this month. Play as 'incarnates' - humans with powers drawn from ancient mythologies - in 2v2 matches set in battle arenas around the world. It's worth mentioning that this is Early Access though, and not the finished product, so anyone downloading this should be aware that it may not be very polished. But, it's free, so what have you got to lose? Check out the free comic explaining the backstory and then go and grab it from Steam.



Origin

Theme Hospital

This one doesn't really need explaining, does it? The classic strategy sim is still available for free through Origin's On The House scheme, and is a great way to waste an hour or 20 and possibly give yourself a nervous breakdown.



GOG.com

If you own a PC and you haven't done already, then go and so sign up at GOG.com now as they give you a bunch of free games for doing so! 

However, if you have already signed up, then go and check out their free games page because they occasionally change what's free and you might find something that you haven't already claimed.

That's It For Now...

...however, if any other free games sneak up on us, I'll update to reflect that, so check back soon. In the meantime, enjoy your free games!