Games with Gold: July 2015

Starting this month, Xbox Live Gold members will get two new Games with Gold every month for Xbox One, up from one game previously. And there’s more good news: July’s free games look particularly impressive across both consoles.

One related note: Games with Gold will work differently with Xbox One going forward, compared to how this plan works with Xbox 360.

You may recall that Games with Gold provides Xbox Live Gold subscribers with two free games for Xbox 360 each month, with the first being made available from the first day of the month through the 15th, and the second being made available from the 16th through the end of the month. On Xbox One, one game will be made available on the 1st and 16th, as with the Xbox 360. But each Xbox One will be available for 30 days (vs. 15-ish for the Xbox 360 games). So this month’s second free Xbox One will be available from July 16 until August 15, for example.

Anyway, here’s what Xbox Live Gold subscribers can get for free this month:

Xbox One

For the entire month of July, Xbox One gamers can obtain the AAA title Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag for free. This game normally costs $29.99 and is a “swashbuckling adventure set during the Golden Age of Pirates [that] puts players in the shoes boots of Edward Kenway, a pirate captain trained by Assassins. Gamers sail the high seas in the dreaded Jackdaw in search of adventure and treasure while embroiled in the ancient war between Assassins and Templars. assassin and pirate, as he sails the seas – exploring, taking prizes, and discovering the secrets of ancient civilizations.”

From July 16 through August 15, Xbox One gamers can snag So Many Me (Store link not available yet), normally $14.99. This is “a charming puzzle-platformer starring Filo and his band of misfit clones, who must use their wits to overcome devious traps and a slew of evil minions.”

Xbox 360

Those with Xbox 360 can grab Plants vs. Zombies—normally $14.99 ERP—for free through July 15. This classic tower-defense strategy game probably needs no introduction, but if you’re not familiar with this title, or don’t own it on 360, it’s absolutely worth a look.

From July 16 through July 31, Xbox 360 owners get Gears of War 3 for free. This third person shooter is the conclusion of the original Gears trilogy and normally costs $19.99. Once again, you play Marcus Fenix, “the grizzled war hero and leader of Delta Squad. Eighteen months after the fall of the last human city, the war against the Locust rages on. Meanwhile, deep beneath the surface, a fearsome new threat is infecting the planet from within. With survivors scattered and civilization in ruins, time is running out for Marcus and his comrades as they fight to save the human race.”