Yesterday Xbox and Microsoft announced the latest batch of Games with Gold free games for the upcoming month. A direct competitor to Sony’s PlayStation Plus, many consider the Games with Gold service to be the superior of the two, and that’s even more evident when you compare the two services higher paid subscription services, Gamepass and the Extra and Premium tiers of the respective services.
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With that said, the latest offerings from Xbox aren’t setting the world alight, and whilst it may be good news for indie developers to see these front-and-center on the service, most gamers are less enthused.
Games with Gold – June 2023
Two very different narrative adventures are the order of the day, as detailed below. Whilst neither are AAA in stature, they do offer some genuinely unique gameplay, and how many other games can you get so hands on as a pig farmer, like in Adios?
Adios (June 1-30)
“One choice can change everything. You are a pig farmer in Kansas who has finally had enough of your role helping the mob dispose of bodies on your farm. Your hitman friend tries to convince you to change your mind as the two of you go about the errands of the day. He knows what saying no means. This is a meditative thoughtful game that reflects on morality and spirituality with compelling writing and phenomenal voice acting. Will this be goodbye?”
Described by some as having ‘a great story to tell but not being a great game’ is not necessarily a great way to persuade anyone to play this game, but with some truly unconventional and non-traditional gameplay you’ll find yourself more inquisitive than satisfied by the whole experience.
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The Vale: Shadow of the Crown (June 16th-July 15th)
“You can close your eyes and listen. This is one of the most unique adventures you’ll experience that leverages sound and haptic controller feedback in an audio-based adventure. Break down the barriers between you as the player and your character as you feel your enemy’s breath, listen to the crunching of footsteps or the clang of weapons. Combat is intense and very different than other combat and fantasy games.”
Not many games currently out there rely more heavily on audio and haptic feedback compared to actual visual gameplay, but The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is definitely one to boast that title. Audio has long been as important to video games as is the visual component, but this title takes it one step further and really makes you feel as if you’re the character you’re inhabiting.
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