The Bigger Game – Mafia III
It’s about that time again for Microsoft to announce what free games will be offered for free through Games with Gold for the upcoming month of November 2019.
While we wait for that official list, we have a few predictions as to what those free games might be based on Microsoft’s choices in the past as well as some outside factors.
Usually one larger game headlines the list, and for next month we suspect Mafia III from developer Hangar 13 and publisher 2K Games will be that AAA game.
Mafia III has already been offered for free on PS Plus back in August 2018, and Microsoft has been known to pick the same games as Sony months or sometimes years later (and vice versa).
It stands to reason that if a developer is willing to offer its game for free on one console, it will likely consider offering it for free on another through an almost identical subscription-based service.
Microsoft has also shown it is very comfortable with offering 2K games on Games with Gold, like Bioshock Infinite in March 2015, Mafia II in May 2015, Borderlands in March 2016, WWE 2K16 in August 2016, Borderlands 2 in March 2017, and more.
The relationship between 2K and Microsoft has already been clearly established, so 2K games are always going to be more likely Games with Gold contenders compared to new game development company games.
Mafia III is also often on sale, sometimes being offered for less than $15 on Xbox One.
The Smaller Game – The Jackbox Party Pack
After the larger game, usually a smaller indie make the Games with Gold list as well.
For November 2019, we believe the original 2014 Jackbox Party Pack would be a perfect pick.
There are currently five Jackbox Party Packs released, with the sixth dropping this month on Oct. 17. Not a single one has been offered on Games with Gold, while PS Plus offered The Jackbox Party Pack 2 back in November 2018.
They are a collection of party games, and the original pack is a great introduction to all the other collections in the series.
With the newest pack being released so recently, it makes sense for Microsoft to offer an earlier pack for free to encourage players to try out the newer ones.
It’s also worth mentioning all the Jackbox Party Packs very frequently go on sale, both individually and in combo packs with each other.
It’s honestly surprising that not a single Jackbox Party Pack has yet to be offered on Games with Gold, especially with the second one currently being offered on Xbox’s Game Pass.
Make sure to check back in the next few weeks for Microsoft’s reveal of its official Games with Gold line-up for November 2019.
Published: Oct 17, 2019 09:00 am