Welcome to the weekend! It's a bit quiet before the January storm at the moment, with both Hitman 3 and The Medium set to arrive over the next couple of weeks, but we've still got some new Xbox Game Pass titles, three excellent Free Play Days games and two more Xbox Games with Gold to take advantage of this weekend.
Here's what we're playing over the next couple of days:
Fraser Gilbert, News Editor
I'm really impressed with the quality of titles on offer in Xbox Free Play Days this week, and given that I haven't tried Star Wars: Squadrons yet, I'm planning to blitz through it over the next few days if I can. At the very least, I want to get through the single-player campaign - I'm not sure I'll be any good at the multiplayer!
You might have guessed, but I'm definitely in a Star Wars mood at the moment, so I've also been jumping back into Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order following its recent next-gen update, and it's playing better than ever. I'm actually only about a third of the way through it, so there's plenty for me to discover still.
And finally, I've downloaded the new Xbox Games with Gold title Dead Rising to sample over the weekend. I've played a lot of Dead Rising games, but never the first one, and I hear it's the best. It sounds like it requires a lot of patience though, so I'm interested to see whether my attention span can stick with it for the long haul.
Have a great weekend, folks!
Daniel Hollis, News Reporter
Having just binged Hitman 1 & 2 ahead of the final instalment, I’m looking to take a break from games in that vein. So I’ll be diving into some indie game this weekend, relaxing before some AAA releases drop over the next few weeks.
I’ve really been enjoying Hollow Knight. Its world is mysterious and constantly tempting me to explore just one more zone. I’d always heard its difficulty was punishing, but so far it's been fairly manageable, but no doubt something will come and tear me apart soon.
Outside of that, I’m looking to replay Little Nightmares ahead of the sequel next month. Its inclusion into Games with Gold is a perfect excuse to pick it up again. It’s a really thrilling adventure, with some truly grotesque setpieces. If you’re a fan of horror or 2D puzzle-platformers, it’ll definitely be down your alley.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Which Xbox games will you be playing this weekend? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 42
I'll definitely be playing a bit of Dead Rising at some point. It's been years since I've played it, so it'll be nice to dive back in.
I'm also still hooked to Hitman 2 (including the first game's levels), and I'll likely still be playing it right up until the third game is downloaded!
With only a few more days tilll Hitman 3 (Pre-downloading now on Xbox 1) i aint playing much till it releases.
Nintendo Switch: New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Xbox 1: freeplay weekend of Dragon Ball Fighterz
Ps4: Detroit Become Human
Hoping to finally finish Valhalla this weekend, it just seems to go on...and on. More Hyrule Warriors on the Switch too.
PS4 Pro: Days Gone
Xbox One X: Recore: Definitive Edition
I'll try and get some more time into A Way Out in co-op and keep playing Day of the tentacle.
About to finish Shadows of the Damned. A great game from the twisted mind of Suda51. The first of the games I'm going to play as a trip down memory lane. Next up: Metal Gear Solid 3. Thank you MS for backward compatibility!
Hivebusters!! Honestly I’ve seen demons souls and Hivebusters is pretty damn close to looking just as good, it’s a clear step up from Gears 5 imo.
I’m gutted though having to restart it I restarted chapter 4 after missing something and it wiped all of my upgrades I’d collected. Seems like a design flaw.
Will be playing Haven, Man of Medan and Need for Speed: Payback on Game Pass. Payback is very fun so far and is heavily reminiscent of the Forza Horizon games. Man of Medan is pretty meh so far, but hopefully the scary part will be good. Finally, Haven was a surprise to me when I started it up yesterday. It's basically as the developers described it: "Journey meets Persona". You glide around open areas like in Journey, while interacting with your partner and growing their relationship through dialogue choices like in Persona. It's a very unique game so far, I can't wait to play more of it.
On 360 I'll be playing Far Cry Evolution. I've wanted to progress through this series but the early games have been rather tough to get through. However, Evolution feels much better and more fun than the previous games. It's also way shorter, so I'm hoping that I can finish it up this weekend so that I can move on to Far Cry 2.
I'm giving Assassin's Creed Valhalla another go, I played it at launch but never got passed Norway which I didn't find particularly interesting. Started again this morning and I'm enjoying it more than back then so far and I'm looking forward to getting to England and seeing the main part of the game
On Xbox I’m playing Planet Coaster, F1 2020, Gears tactics, and Just Cause 4. On Switch I’m playing Hades.
Xbox One: Batman Return to Arkham, Currenty playing through Arkham Asylum..
Nintendo Switch: Pokemon Shield, Trying to complete my pokedex..
PS5 - Mafia Definitive Edition having watched Goodfellas in 4k last night in the mood!
Series X - bouncing between Forza Horizon 4 and Twin Mirror
Switch - Mario Galaxy trying to finish before 3D World hits.
@LtSarge i enjoyed Haven. The soundtrack is pretty great and nothing like them grav boots. I hope you enjoy it
Gears Tactics
Splatoon 2 (Switch) - Playing in the SplatFest! Gotta rep the Super Star!
Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two (Windows Store) - Starting Episode 4 this weekend.
Halo: Spartan Assault (Windows Phone) - Going for the completion now.
Orbital (Windows Phone) - Still just starting out.
@Krzzystuff Thanks mate! Oh yeah, I forgot to comment on the soundtrack. It is indeed very good, I'll probably even look it up later on since it's really catchy!
I am playing the original Dead Space off Game Pass from EA Play.
The game is still amazing all these years later.
@Fenbops
This happened to me too and was super frustrating. Thankfully, not having the upgrades didn’t make finishing the DLC too difficult.
They need to patch that, in my opinion.
Decided to check out Madden 20 on Gamepass, it's ok definitely not as refined as Mutant Football League but it's fun. Also got back into Forza Horizon 3 after reinstalling it on my Series X and if I get time Cold War.
@LtSarge if I recall correctly the whole soundtrack is by one band/artist.
Call of duty and I tried Grounded on the Xbox series X. It looks amazing.
The Little Nightmares 2 demo has renewed my excitement for that so when I'm finished with that I think I'm gonna go back through the first one as I never actually got round to finishing the DLC despite really enjoying the main game.
Definitely recommend people checking it out now it's on Games with Gold.
I have inventory to do this weekend at work, so that means I'm working 3pm-midnight tonight and 6pm-3:00am tomorrow. I won't be playing much, but I will be trying to make more progress in Dragon Quest XI S on my Series X. I'll also try and dabble in Hades and/or Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze on my Switch. I'm also going to have to watch the Chiefs game tomorrow before work as well. It's going to be a busy weekend.
I'll be playing NBA 2K21, Dirt 5 and some Fifa 21 all on my Xbox Series X.
Just 1k Yakuza Like a Dragon a few days ago, today im actually working for who-knows-how-long, but once I have a time this weekend I hope to grab something.... not decided yet.
Hoping to grab something short this time, last two games (Yakuza and Valhalla) have been huge beasts.
Hear Little Nightmares is very short even if I try to 1k it, so maybe that...
Is Dead Rising free if you have game pass ultimate? Game pass Ultimate replaces the basic Gold and it's free on Gold.
Four Kings casino & slots
Racing games! I got my Series X day 1 (never had an Xbox One), and immediately started playing Horizon 2, and quickly moved on to 3. I'd been waiting years to play the Horizon games, and enjoyed them so much it sucked me into the Motorsport games too, which I was not really bothered about previously.
This weekend I decided to spend the rather large sum on getting a Logitech G923 wheel and a Playseat Challenge. Lots of Forza 7, F1 2019 and Assetto Corsa all thanks to Game Pass. I'll be getting Project Cars 2 when I feel I've exhausted this lot, but can't imagine that will be soon.
COD Zombies, but on PlayStation with some friends, and definitely interested in SW Squadrons too. Hope I'll find the time.
Started to play Yakuza Zero. Never played Yakuza game before, so it should be interesting.
@ymo1965 Yes! Ultimate includes Gold as part of the package.
I've just finished the main storylines of the first Destiny,
so I started Destiny 2, on Series X. And it's awesome. The game is beautifull (4K 60 fps) , and reminds me very much of Halo in design and gameplay (for obvious reasons).
I know the game is in a kind of bad buzz now, cause Bungie took out paid content (!!!) from the game... But for a new player like me, it's really great.
@FraserG If it's free on game pass ultimate, why isn't it showing as owned in my games list?
YIIK looks really cool I think I might give it a go. Other than that, finishing Streets of Rage 4 and some of the Forza Horizon 4 update.
@Kefka2589 pretty sure I’m playing this game until I’m 90 :/
Is that name I forget. Lol yeah on Act 3 although I thought act 2 ended well enough with enough redemption arcs etc not sure the ground hog day thing is necessary, but now I’m going to be force to go costume hunting so..
@ymo1965 It’s free with Gold, which is included in Ultimate - in other words, Games with Gold are not listed along with the games on GamePass. You have to search for the game in the store, or find the game through the Gold “tab” or whatever you want to call it, and you will be able to download it for no extra cost 👍😎👍
@everynowandben Thanks for this info. I did find it and install it. Will it remain as owned on the XSX? I know a lot of titles will disappear eventually. Will this remain on your Xbox to download in months to come. I am an XBOX360 user, so this new Xbox leaves me a little 'behind the times' :0)
@ymo1965 So, Xbox One games will remain “claimed” and you will have access to them as long as Gold is active on your account. 360 and original Xbox titles will remain “owned” on your account forever to my knowledge.
However, if you don’t at least start downloading the game while it is available (“claiming” the game - you can immediately cancel the download if you want to, and it still counts as “claimed” or “owned”) you will not have access to it later when it is no longer part of Games with Gold, even if you had an active subscription at the time the game was available. For example, if your Gold subscription was active 2 months ago but you forgot to claim one of the games, you can no longer claim it.
Hopefully that all made sense! Feel free to ask questions! People on this site are typically helpful and kind to each other 😃
@everynowandben Huge thanks. Appreciate the time you took to type it all out. Much clearer now 👌😁👍
Fallout 76
Minecraft Dungeons
State of Decay 2
I did notice that I have some games on my 360 that didn't pass over to the XSX. Is there a reason for that?
Tap here to load 42 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...