The month of June has finally arrived and whilst most of us are waiting in anticipation for the exciting announcements that are likely to come out of E3, there are still plenty of gaming releases to keep focused on beforehand. For those with an active Xbox Live Gold subscription, a new month means new games – new games you won’t be spending a single penny extra on thanks to the fantastic Xbox Live Games With Gold scheme. So without further ado, let’s jump into the Xbox One and Xbox 360 titles you’ll be able to download free of charge throughout June and find out just how good or bad they are.
NHL 19 – Xbox One – 1st– 30th June – Instant Download
If you’ve been much of a sporting fan over the years chances are you’ve either bought a particular yearly title on release, or have at least been able to nab it out of the EA Access Vault thanks to the fantastic frequent additions to the super cheap service. But if you’re looking for something a little different to the usual run of play then jumping into NHL 19 isn’t at all going to be a bad shout.
With the utmost realism flying out of every inch of ice, and visuals that truly represent lifelike depictions of the sport, Ice Hockey fans all over the world will be more than happy to see this dropping for free.
What would NHL bring for the non super fan though? Well like all good sporting titles, NHL 19 lives, breathes and thrives on competition, and with Ultimate Team, Online modes and a fantastic Career mode bringing the joys of the ice to life, there is enough content here to keep any fan of sport going for months. Yes NHL 20 may be just around the corner but if you’re after a pit stop into a new sporting interest then jumping into to the award-winning ice-hockey series with a free download this month is no doubt one of the best ways to do so.
Rivals of Aether – Xbox One – 16th June–15th July – To Be Considered!
Party games are a tough one to recommend. Yes, of course it’s always great to sit down with a group of couch-based friends and enjoy some competitive combat for bragging rights, but let’s be honest, with the ease of the online world, who really has the time to do that these days!
Of course, with the inclusion of A.I. as a possibility in each match, Rivals of Aether can be enjoyed solo too, and with it running a fully featured solo campaign, this is without a doubt one of the better party games we’ve see arrive within the Games With Gold scheme for some time.
If you struggle to gather a group of appropriate gamers in one place though, then chances are the best features of this one are going to prove out of reach. It’s definitely the local multiplayer in which this one shines.
Portal: Still Alive – Xbox 360 – 1st–15th June – Instant Download
Puzzle games are usually my Kryptonite in all honesty, but even as a anti-puzzler, there was no way Portal could ever go unnoticed in my simplistic mind. Should you have yet to dive into the madness of the world of Portal, then Portal: Still Alive will surely be one you cannot afford to miss this month.
It may be an Xbox 360 title and may already have an even better sequel available on Xbox Backwards Compatibility, but with challenging puzzles, humorous characters and some of the finest storytelling, Valve’s incredible Portal series was always going to hit home with all manner of gamers.
It may not provide a full 1000 Gamerscore but if you’re after a game that can reel you in until the early hours, then this portal placing, rage inducing, masterpiece is certainly one you cannot be without in your gaming library.
It’s exciting, it’s different, it’s full of character and it’s a game that we still see high on the Top 10 game lists all these years after it’s original 2008 release.
Earth Defense Force 2017 – Xbox 360 – 16th-30th June – Ignore!
It seems like each month there is always at least one game included in the Games With Gold freebies that lets us down, and whilst I don’t like to push players away from a game, Earth Defense Force isn’t one I’m going to sit here and recommend you flock to.
For those unaware of it, the Earth Defense Force series is one that brings third person shooting of alien hordes into a reality, as you become the latest member of the very team hell bent on saving the world. With the latest weapons and equipment you are the best hope to humanity but if you’re hoping the excitement of that opener is priming you for a Independence Day-style masterpiece, then you’re hoping for too much.
In fact, you should lower those expectations, slap on a small budget and think more about the original Godzilla films in order to become more in-tune with the overall quality on show. Of course, with numerous titles in the series, there is always going to be someone out there who will find plenty of joy, but for those who are becoming accustomed to gaming in 2019, Earth Defense Force 2017 isn’t going to be a game you remember all too fondly.
So, that’s it for the free Xbox One and Xbox 360 titles coming about via the Xbox Games With Gold scheme in June 2019. Do you agree with these opinions on the latest offerings? Will you be jumping into any of the free additions in the hope for some quality time? Let us know in the comments below or via our usual social channels.
