The Xbox Games with Gold lineup for December, which includes movie tie-ins Jurassic World Evolution and Toy Story 3, has been revealed a few days before the start of the month. As usual, the Games with Gold offerings for December feature a mix of big names and some games that players might have overlooked.
The “big name” titles on Xbox Game's with Gold's November list were Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter and the more than 15 year old Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter, which came just in time to give players their Jedi fix before Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was released. Earlier this summer, the free selection of Xbox games included Castlevania: Symphony of the Night in July and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow in August. Players who enjoyed those games will have something extra to look forward to in December.
In addition to games based on two of the most recognizable movie franchises around, December’s free Games with Gold lineup includes a great entry from a long-running and beloved game series, Castlevania. The list is rounded out by a lesser-known but still intriguing card battler. Here’s the full schedule from Microsoft:
- Insane Robots: Available December 1 to 31 on Xbox One
- Jurassic World Evolution: Available December 16 to January 15 on Xbox One
- Toy Story 3: Available December 1 to 15 on Xbox One and Xbox 360
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD: Available December 16 to 31 on Xbox One and Xbox 360
Jurassic World Evolution is a management sim that lets players run their own Jurassic Park, and one of the best received game adaptations of movies in recent years, with Screen Rant giving it 4/5 stars. Toy Story 3 wasn’t quite as well reviewed, but might still be interesting for fans of the series. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD takes the venerable series back to its 2D roots after its 3D detour in the first Lords of Shadow. Probably the least known game in the group is Insane Robots, a card battler that already has plenty of fans and is likely to gain a few more when it’s available for free.
Overall, it might not be the strongest month ever for Games with Gold, but it’s one packed with games that players might have overlooked when they first came out. It would be easy for anyone to let two game adaptations of movies, a 2D sidescroller and a card battler slip past their radar when they were first released, but that’s not to say they aren’t worth a look now. December’s Games with Gold selection might not be the most exciting at first glance, but it once again proves its worth giving games another chance at finding an audience.
Source: Microsoft