PS Plus vs. Xbox Games With Gold: Which Free Games Win February?

SONY PS PLUS

PS PLUS VS. XBOX GAMES WITH GOLD: WHICH FREE GAMES WIN February?

PS Plus subscribers have some awesome free content to take advantage of this February across all three of its different hardware offerings. The headline titles for current generation are PS4 launch platformer Knack, and indie puzzle adventure game RiME.

There’s no getting away from the fact that Knack has drawn plenty of criticism over the years. Developed by Sony’s Japan Studio, Knack has some innovative gameplay mechanics in the form of his shapeshifting abilities, but it didn’t quite deliver the sort of groundbreaking experience required to make a splash in a genre as old as the hills. That being said, there’s still some entertainment and novelty to be had here, and it’s exactly the sort of title you’re likely to have wanted to try but not pay full price for. Quite why it’s taken so long to come as a free PS Plus title we’re not sure, and it would have made more sense to hit the Instant Games Collection library before the sequel launched late last year? Regardless, better late than never!

If you’re not in the mood for the whimsical action platforming of Knack, RiME offers a completely different sort of experience. The tranquil adventure game from Spanish developer Tequila Works is a gorgeous blend of Wind Waker-esque graphics and brain-teasing puzzle gameplay. It details the story of a boy washed up on the beaches of a serene island setting. With a small fox companion to help out, players guide the boy through the island’s many puzzles and secrets.

We alluded to highlights across all of Sony’s supported consoles, and that comes in the form of Grand Kingdom for owners of PS Vita. The strategic turn-based RPG was a real highlight when it came to the portable back in 2016. Thanks to cross-buy, Grand Kingdom can be downloaded on PS4, too.

Elsewhere, those sticking to their PS3 consoles can enjoy Spelunker HD, a remaster of the well-known 80s arcade title. It’s hardly an acclaimed title, but is absolutely still worth the download, if only for the four-player multiplayer. There’s also Mugen Souls Z, which is a rather bizarre part visual novel, part role-playing experience about a group of raunchy females that cruise the galaxy in a huge castle dreadnought.

Unfortunately, there’s no free content for PSVR owners in February.

Xbox Games with Gold

PS PLUS VS. XBOX GAMES WITH GOLD: WHICH FREE GAMES WIN February?

Xbox Games with Gold arrives in February with four new games for Xbox One and Xbox 360. It’s worth noting that Zombi, which was available last month via the service, is still free to download until the 15th of the month.

The first February freebie for Xbox One is Shadow Warrior, a reboot of a FPS classic, circa 1997. Players take control of a ninja warrior battling hordes of monsters. Think along the lines of Serious Sam — mindless, violent, and over the top video gaming that feels like a retro blast from the past. It’s plenty of fun in short doses, but certainly not the most nuanced shooter, especially in comparison to more recent titles in the genre.

Later in the month, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India will also be available for download on Microsoft’s flagship console. In contrast to the series’ traditional 3D action, this is a 2.5D side-scroller that offers a different sort of challenge. There’s a fairly decent narrative to enjoy here, brought to life with artistic cutscenes, but you can certainly find better examples of side-scrolling stealth gameplay elsewhere.

Over on the 360, Split/Second is the first of your free games for the month. The Disney-published arcade racer is an adrenaline pumping experience that earned acclaim from critics back in 2010 for its intense action, impressive cinematics, and polished presentation. From Feb. 16, you’ll also be able to download and play the iconic Crazy Taxi. A piece of arcade and console history, the off-the-wall open-world racer is hardly a stellar video game, but it’s a fun distraction nonetheless.

Who Wins?

PS PLUS VS. XBOX GAMES WITH GOLD: WHICH FREE GAMES WIN February?

Sony’s PS Plus kicked off 2018 with a bang last month by including Deus Ex: Mankind Divided as its headline free offering. And while keeping up that sort of momentum was always going to be a tall order, we’re still thoroughly impressed by February’s lineup.

Knack might not be Sony’s most accomplished first-party offering, but it’s still a highly polished platformer, and Rime is an intriguing title that will surely have piqued many gamers’ interests. All in all, they represent two games that you’re likely to have considered, but possibly not bothered to invest in previously, and now you can play them for free. That makes a nice change from just being given two random titles to download for the sake of downloading, which is somewhat how we feel about Games with Gold this month.

Ultimately, while we love being gifted AAA experiences via these online services, the important thing is that whatever content we do get is as contemporary and compelling as possible. Sony’s delivered on that this month, and especially considering Grand Kingdom – another recent and acclaimed title – is also available for PS4 owners, Sony’s service comfortably wins February.