Microsoft once again served up 48 video games, for Xbox 360 and Xbox One, to Xbox Live Gold subscribers in 2018. Were they any good? What would they cost otherwise? What do the numbers say about the value of this Xbox Live Gold benefit?
We’ll try to answer that question this year as we have the past four years. To that, however, we’ve added a few more questions: How old is the game? Did Microsoft publish it? What publisher did Games With Gold use the most?
These questions may shed light on where these free games programs are headed, particularly as the previous console generation ages and the Xbox One’s backward compatibility program continues to pile up old titles.
Getting Started
In all, there were 48 games in Xbox Live Games With Gold for 2018, with an average critical score of 76.9 and a combined retail price (as of yesterday) of $866.28. The review average of this year’s free games is 1.1 points better than 2017 but the total dollar value is sharply lower, by $163.24
All Xbox 360 games in Games With Gold are compatible with Xbox One.
January
- Tomb Raider: Underworld
- Army of Two
- Zombi
- The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing 3
Average score: 72.25
Average age: 5.9 years
Total value: $53.96
February
- Split/Second
- Shadow Warrior
- Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India
- Crazy Taxi
Average score: 69.75
Average age: 5.1 years
Total value: $69.96
March
- Superhot
- Quantum Conundrum
- Brave: The Video Game
- Trials of the Blood Dragon
Average score: 70.25
Average age: 5.6 years
Total value: $69.96
April
- Dead Space 2
- The Witness
- Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
- Cars 2: The Video Game
Average score: 81.5
Average age: 4.7 years
Total value: $129.96
May
- Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Vanquish
- Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage
- Super Mega Baseball 2
Average score: 86
Average age: 4.06 years
Total value: $79.96
June
- Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
- Smite
- Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
- Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia
Average score: 73.75
Average age: 4.375
Total value: $59.97
July
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction
- Assault Android Cactus
- Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
- Death Squared
Average score: 82.5
Average age: 4.13 years
Total value: $56.96
August
- Forza Horizon 2
- For Honor
- Dead Space 3
- Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Average score: 75.5
Average age: 4.17 years
Total value: $99.96
September
- Livelock
- Prison Architect
- Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars
- Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World
Average score: 74.75
Average age: 4.71 years
Total value: $69.96
October
- Hitman: Blood Money
- Overcooked!
- Victor Vran
- Stuntman: Ignition
Average score: 78.5
Average age: 6.7 years
Total value: 83.75
November
- Battlefield 1
- Race the Sun
- Assassin’s Creed
- Dante’s Inferno
Average score: 81.25
Average age: 4.9 years
Total value: $54.96
December
- Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
- Dragon Age 2
- QUBE 2
- Never Alone
Average score: 77.25
Average age: 6.6 years
Total value: $59.96
By the Numbers:
Average score: 76.9
Average price: $18.05
Average age: 4 years, 11 months
Highest scoring month: May (86)
Highest dollar value month: April ($129.96)
Month with newest games on average: March (3 years, 9 months.)
Lowest scoring month: February (69.75).
Lowest dollar value month: January ($53.96)
Month with oldest games on average: October.
Free games published by Microsoft: 1 (Forza Horizon 2).
Publisher with the most titles: Ubisoft, 8. (Assassin’s Creed, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, For Honor, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction, Trials of the Blood Dragon, Zombi.)
Total value: $866.28
Platform Averages
Xbox 360: 76.63 score, 7 years, 9 months, $15.19 per title.
Xbox One: 77.25 score, 1 year, 20 days, $20.91 per title.
Highest rated Xbox 360 game: Dead Space 2 (90).
Highest rated Xbox One game: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (95)
Highest price Xbox 360 game: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed ($29.99).
Highest price Xbox One game: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate ($49.99).
Lowest rated Xbox 360 game: Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two and Crazy Taxi (59).
Lowest rated Xbox One game: Trials of the Blood Dragon (57).
Lowest price Xbox 360 game: Stuntman: Ignition ($3.74)
Lowest price Xbox One game: Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia, Livelock and Race the Sun ($9.99)
Review score ranges
90 and up: 2
80 to 89: 19
70 to 79: 20
60 to 69: 4
59 and below: 3
Price ranges
$40 and up: 1
$30 to $39.99: 2
$25 to $29.99: 4
$20 to $24.99: 2
$15 to $19.99: 16
$10 to $14.99: 9
$5 to $9.99: 11
$4.99 and under: 3