February’s free games through PlayStation Plus and Microsoft’s Games with Gold program are a mix of the old with the relatively new, but all seem worthwhile of your hard drive space. Like we’ve seen from both companies in previous months, it’s a healthy mix of genres and games that should hit a whole range of interests. There are no absolute must-have heavy-hitters this month, but there are some fun nostalgia plays and a few, smaller titles that may have flown under the busy gamer’s radar that are absolutely worth picking up.
First, the PlayStation lineup:
Knack (PS4)
Part of PS4’s launch lineup, Knack wasn’t particularly well-received with its short length and somewhat shallow gameplay. But the price is right at “free,” and it’s the perfect game to pick up one afternoon and goof around with. It’s smooth,
Rime (PS4)
Rime is a heartfelt puzzle/adventure that has some of ICO‘s DNA running through it. At first, it may seem a bit derivative to other third-person puzzle games, but it will quickly grow on you. This was one of last year’s more underrated games, and if you enjoyed the aforementioned ICO or Sony’s own Journey, you’ll be happy to download this.
The rest of Sony’s lineup
Grand Kingdom (PS Vita/PS4)
Spelunker HD (PS3)
Mugen Souls Z (PS3)
Exile’s End (PS Vita)
You can also still pick up Starblood Arena for the PSVR, which is a holdover from last month.
XBox’s Games with Gold program is on a slightly different release timeline than how Sony handles PlayStation Plus’ strict, monthly schedule. So here’s what we’re looking at from the big green monster in Feb:
Shadow Warrior (Xbox One) (February 1 to 28)
Shadow Warrior is a reboot of an obnoxious, in your face ninja Duke Nukem and that’s pretty much all you need to know. The action is fast and furious, and it’s a solid game if you want a ridiculous time.
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India (Xbox One) (February 16 – March 15)
The “Chronicles” series has received generally mixed reviews, much like its big brother in the main Assassin’s Creed series. However, if you’re a fan of platforming and miss the Prince of Persia series dearly, you’ll enjoy the charm of India. It’s overly difficult in some parts (the get spotted, insta-fail missions are incredibly obnoxious) but it’s worth getting if you feel the need for some 2D assassinations.
Split/Second (Xbox 360) (February 1 – 15)
A totally underrated gem of yesteryear, the pure insanity that Split/Second offers racing fans is near second-to-none. It still holds up surprisingly well for a last-gen title.
Crazy Taxi (Xbox 360) (February 16 – 28)
It’s Crazy Taxi. It’s a classic. It’s worth getting just to have around for those times when you want to scream on the couch with your friends while considering a rapidly-changing industry.
